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Gupta S, Yamada E, Nakamura H, Perez P, Pranzatelli TJ, Dominick K, Jang SI, Abed M, Martin D, Burbelo P, Zheng C, French B, Alevizos I, Khavandgar Z, Beach M, Pelayo E, Walitt B, Hasni S, Kaplan MJ, Tandon M, Magone MT, Kleiner DE, Chiorini JA, Baer A, Warner BM. Inhibition of JAK-STAT pathway corrects salivary gland inflammation and interferon driven immune activation in Sjögren's disease. Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:1034-1047. [PMID: 38527764 PMCID: PMC11250564 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Inflammatory cytokines that signal through the Janus kinases-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway, especially interferons (IFNs), are implicated in Sjögren's disease (SjD). Although inhibition of JAKs is effective in other autoimmune diseases, a systematic investigation of IFN-JAK-STAT signalling and the effect of JAK inhibitor (JAKi) therapy in SjD-affected human tissues has not been fully investigated. METHODS Human minor salivary glands (MSGs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were investigated using bulk or single-cell (sc) RNA sequencing (RNAseq), immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy and flow cytometry. Ex vivo culture assays on PBMCs and primary salivary gland epithelial cell (pSGEC) lines were performed to model changes in target tissues before and after JAKi. RESULTS RNAseq and IF showed activated JAK-STAT pathway in SjD MSGs. Elevated IFN-stimulated gene (ISGs) expression associated with clinical variables (eg, focus scores, anti-SSA positivity). scRNAseq of MSGs exhibited cell type-specific upregulation of JAK-STAT and ISGs; PBMCs showed similar trends, including markedly upregulated ISGs in monocytes. Ex vivo studies showed elevated basal pSTAT levels in SjD MSGs and PBMCs that were corrected with JAKi. SjD-derived pSGECs exhibited higher basal ISG expressions and exaggerated responses to IFN-β, which were normalised by JAKi without cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS SjD patients' tissues exhibit increased expression of ISGs and activation of the JAK-STAT pathway in a cell type-dependent manner. JAKi normalises this aberrant signalling at the tissue level and in PBMCs, suggesting a putative viable therapy for SjD, targeting both glandular and extraglandular symptoms. Predicated on these data, a phase Ib/IIa randomised controlled trial to treat SjD with tofacitinib was initiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarthak Gupta
- Lupus Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eiko Yamada
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Nakamura
- Adeno-Associated Virus Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Paola Perez
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Thomas Jf Pranzatelli
- Adeno-Associated Virus Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Kalie Dominick
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Shyh-Ing Jang
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mehdi Abed
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Martin
- Genomics and Computational Biology Core, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter Burbelo
- Genomics and Computational Biology Core, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - ChangYu Zheng
- Genomics and Computational Biology Core, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ben French
- Adeno-Associated Virus Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ilias Alevizos
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Zohreh Khavandgar
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Margaret Beach
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eileen Pelayo
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian Walitt
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarfaraz Hasni
- Lupus Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mariana J Kaplan
- Lupus Clinical Trials Unit, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Systemic Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mayank Tandon
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Maria Teresa Magone
- Consult Services Section, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - David E Kleiner
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - John A Chiorini
- Adeno-Associated Virus Biology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan Baer
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Blake M Warner
- Salivary Disorder Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- NIDCR Sjögren's Disease Clinic, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Tasoulas J, Schrank TP, Bharambe H, Mehta J, Johnson S, Divaris K, Hackman TG, Sheth S, Kirtane K, Hernandez-Prera JC, Chung CH, Yarbrough WG, Ferrarotto R, Issaeva N, Theocharis S, Amelio AL. Molecular characterization of the salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma immune landscape by anatomic subsites. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15821. [PMID: 38982149 PMCID: PMC11233590 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66709-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a slow-growing salivary gland malignancy that relapses frequently. AdCCs of the submandibular gland exhibit unique differences in prognosis and treatment response to adjuvant radiotherapy compared to other sites, yet the role of tumor anatomic subsite on gene expression and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) composition remains unclear. We used 87 samples, including 48 samples (27 AdCC and 21 normal salivary gland tissue samples) from 4 publicly available AdCC RNA sequencing datasets, a validation set of 33 minor gland AdCCs, and 39 samples from an in-house cohort (30 AdCC and 9 normal salivary gland samples). RNA sequencing data were used for single sample gene set enrichment analysis and TIME deconvolution. Quantitative PCR and multiplex immunofluorescence were performed on the in-house cohort. Wilcoxon rank-sum, nonparametric equality-of-medians tests and linear regression models were used to evaluate tumor subsite differences. AdCCs of different anatomic subsites including parotid, submandibular, sublingual, and minor salivary glands differed with respect to expression of several key tumorigenic pathways. Among the three major salivary glands, the reactive oxygen species (ROS)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway signature was significantly underexpressed in AdCC of submandibular compared to parotid and sublingual glands while this association was not observed among normal glands. Additionally, the NRF2 pathway, whose expression was associated with favorable overall survival, was overexpressed in AdCCs of parotid gland compared to minor and submandibular glands. The TIME deconvolution identified differences in CD4+ T cell populations between AdCC of major and minor glands and natural killer (NK) cells among AdCC of minor, submandibular, and parotid glands while plasma cells were enriched in normal submandibular glands compared to other normal gland controls. Our data reveal key molecular differences in AdCC of different anatomic subsites. The ROS and NRF2 pathways are underexpressed in submandibular and minor AdCCs compared to parotid gland AdCCs, and NRF2 pathway expression is associated with favorable overall survival. The CD4+ T, NK, and plasma cell populations also vary by tumor subsites, suggesting that the observed submandibular AdCC tumor-intrinsic pathway differences may be responsible for influencing the TIME composition and survival differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Tasoulas
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Travis P Schrank
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Harish Bharambe
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Jay Mehta
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Steven Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kimon Divaris
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Trevor G Hackman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Siddharth Sheth
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Kedar Kirtane
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Juan C Hernandez-Prera
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Christine H Chung
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Wendell G Yarbrough
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Renata Ferrarotto
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natalia Issaeva
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonio L Amelio
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
- Department of Head and Neck-Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, USA.
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Zhu W, Wang Y, Guan Y, Lu Y, Li Y, Sun L, Wang Y. Rapamycin can alleviate the submandibular gland pathology of Sjögren's syndrome by limiting the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:1113-1131. [PMID: 38114798 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01393-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) is also known as autoimmune exocrine gland disease. Previous studies have confirmed that adaptive immunity plays an important role in the development of this disease. But less is known about the role of the innate immune system. METHODS To identify the core pathways, and local infiltrated immune cells in the local immune microenvironment of SS. We verified the activation of these core genes and core signaling pathways in SS model mice by in vivo experiment and transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS Finally, we identified 6 core genes EPSTI1, IFI44L, MX1, CXCL10, IFIT3, and IFI44. All the 6 genes had good diagnostic value. Based on multi-omics sequencing results and experimental studies, we found that cGAS-STING signaling pathway is most relevant to the pathogenesis of SS. By in vivo experiments, we verified that autophagy is the key brake to limit the activation of cGAS-STING signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Maladaptive activation of autophagy and cGAS-STING signaling pathway are central contributors to the SG pathogenesis of pSS patient. Regulating autophagy by rapamycin may be a possible treatment for Sjögren's syndrome in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Zhu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yabei Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yin Guan
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Lu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China
| | - Yehui Li
- Gansu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixia Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yue Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210032, People's Republic of China.
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4
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Kabbashi S, Roomaney IA, Chetty M. Bridging the gap between omics research and dental practice. BDJ Open 2024; 10:16. [PMID: 38438363 PMCID: PMC10912736 DOI: 10.1038/s41405-024-00199-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM The burgeoning field of omics research has witnessed exponential growth in both medicine and dentistry. However, despite more than a decade of advancements, clinical dentistry, particularly in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), has seen limited progress in integrating omics-based approaches into routine practice. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the integration of omics approaches in dentistry, focusing on the challenges and opportunities for translating research findings into clinical practice. METHODS we conducted a literature review using key databases to provide a brief overview of the history of genomics in dentistry. Additionally, we summarised recent breakthroughs in omics relevant to oral health practitioners, emphasising the inadequate translation of omics research into clinical practice. RESULTS Despite significant growth in omics research in both medicine and dentistry, its translation into routine clinical practice in dentistry remains limited. We summarise recent breakthroughs in omics and highlight the gap between research advancements and clinical implementation. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The integration of omics approaches holds promise for enhancing diagnostics, personalised treatment strategies, and preventive measures in dental practice, ushering in a new era of precision oral healthcare. However, several challenges, including infrastructure limitations, cost-effectiveness, and education gaps, hinder the widespread adoption of omics-based approaches in clinical dentistry. A strong commitment to transforming dentistry is required to embrace this transition. This shift has the potential to revolutionise oral healthcare by advancing precision diagnostics and treatment strategies tailored to individual patient needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kabbashi
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, Pathology, and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - I A Roomaney
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, Pathology, and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - M Chetty
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, Pathology, and Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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5
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Mattos-Graner RO, Klein MI, Alves LA. The complement system as a key modulator of the oral microbiome in health and disease. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:138-167. [PMID: 36622855 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2163614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
In this review, we address the interplay between the complement system and host microbiomes in health and disease, focussing on oral bacteria known to contribute to homeostasis or to promote dysbiosis associated with dental caries and periodontal diseases. Host proteins modulating complement activities in the oral environment and expression profiles of complement proteins in oral tissues were described. In addition, we highlight a sub-set of bacterial proteins involved in complement evasion and/or dysregulation previously characterized in pathogenic species (or strains), but further conserved among prototypical commensal species of the oral microbiome. Potential roles of these proteins in host-microbiome homeostasis and in the emergence of commensal strain lineages with increased virulence were also addressed. Finally, we provide examples of how commensal bacteria might exploit the complement system in competitive or cooperative interactions within the complex microbial communities of oral biofilms. These issues highlight the need for studies investigating the effects of the complement system on bacterial behaviour and competitiveness during their complex interactions within oral and extra-oral host sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata O Mattos-Graner
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marlise I Klein
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lívia Araújo Alves
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Sao Paulo, Brazil
- School of Dentistry, Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL), Sao Paulo, Brazil
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He W, Lu Y, Shi R, An Q, Zhao J, Gao X, Zhang L, Ma D. Application of omics in Sjögren's syndrome. Inflamm Res 2023; 72:2089-2109. [PMID: 37878024 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-023-01797-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) face many challenges, and there is an urgent need to develop new technologies to improve our understanding of SS. METHODS By searching the literature published domestically and internationally in the past 20 years, this artical reviewed the research of various omics techniques in SS. RESULTS Omics technology provided valuable insights into the pathogenesis, early diagnosis, condition and efficacy evaluation of SS. It is helpful to reveal the pathogenesis of the disease and explore new treatment schemes, which will open a new era for the study of SS. CONCLUSION At present, omics research has made some gratifying achievements, but there are still many uncertainties. Therefore, in the future, we should improve research techniques, standardize the collection of samples, and adopt a combination of multi-omics techniques to jointly study the pathogenesis of SS and provide new schemes for its treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqin He
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yangyang Lu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Rongjing Shi
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Qi An
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jingwen Zhao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xinnan Gao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Liyun Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China
| | - Dan Ma
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Shanxi Province Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (Rheumatic Diseases), Taiyuan, China.
- Shanxi Province Clinical Theranostics Technology Innovation Center for Immunologic and Rheumatic Diseases, Taiyuan, China.
- Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
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7
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Xiang N, Xu H, Zhou Z, Wang J, Cai P, Wang L, Tan Z, Zhou Y, Zhang T, Zhou J, Liu K, Luo S, Fang M, Wang G, Chen Z, Guo C, Li X. Single-cell transcriptome profiling reveals immune and stromal cell heterogeneity in primary Sjögren's syndrome. iScience 2023; 26:107943. [PMID: 37810210 PMCID: PMC10558796 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration and exocrine dysfunction, particularly affecting the salivary gland (SG). We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate cellular heterogeneity in 11 patients with pSS and 5 non-SS controls. Notably, patients with pSS exhibited downregulated SOX9 in myoepithelial cells, potentially associated with impaired epithelial regeneration. An expanded ACKR1+ endothelial subpopulation in patients with pSS suggested a role in facilitating lymphocyte transendothelial migration. Our analysis of immune cells revealed expanded IGHD+ naive B cells in peripheral blood from patients with pSS. Pseudotime trajectory analysis outlined a bifurcated differentiation pathway for peripheral B cells, enriching three subtypes (VPREB3+ B, BANK1+ B, CD83+ B cells) within SGs in patients with pSS. Fibroblasts emerged as pivotal components in a stromal-immune interaction network, potentially driving extracellular matrix disruption, epithelial regeneration impairment, and inflammation. Our study illuminates immune and stromal cell heterogeneity in patients with pSS, offering insights into therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Zhou Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Junyu Wang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Pengfei Cai
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Zhen Tan
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Yingbo Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Tianping Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Jiayuan Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Songwen Luo
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Minghao Fang
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Guosheng Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Chuang Guo
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230021, China
| | - Xiaomei Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230001, China
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Moingeon P. Artificial intelligence-driven drug development against autoimmune diseases. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:411-424. [PMID: 37268540 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI)-based predictive models are being used to foster a precision medicine approach to treat complex chronic diseases such as autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders (AIIDs). In the past few years the first models of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been produced by molecular profiling of patients using omic technologies and integrating the data with AI. These advances have confirmed a complex pathophysiology involving multiple proinflammatory pathways and also provide evidence for shared molecular dysregulation across different AIIDs. I discuss how models are used to stratify patients, assess causality in pathophysiology, design drug candidates in silico, and predict drug efficacy in virtual patients. By relating individual patient characteristics to the predicted properties of millions of drug candidates, these models can improve the management of AIIDs through more personalized treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Moingeon
- Research and Development, Servier Laboratories, 50 Rue Carnot, 92150 Suresnes, France; French Academy of Pharmacy, 4 Avenue de l'Observatoire, 75006 Paris, France.
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9
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PSMC6 induces immune cell infiltration and inflammatory response to aggravate primary Sjögren's syndrome. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:263-271. [PMID: 36599955 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-022-01107-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that immune cell infiltration is involved in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), while the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, this study aims to explore the key molecular mechanism in immune cell infiltration in pSS based on Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis to acquire the pSS-related module genes. Moreover, pSS-related DEGs and module genes were intersected. Additionally, the correlation between key genes and immune cell infiltration was analyzed by CIBERSORT algorithm. Furthermore, pSS mouse models were established to explore the effects of PSMC6 on immune cell infiltration and inflammatory responses in pSS. A total of 51 DEGs and 334 key module genes were involved in the occurrence of pSS. The immune cell infiltration was correlated with pSS, and PSMC6, highly expressed in pSS samples, may be the key immune gene. In vivo animal experiments demonstrated that PSMC6 was upregulated in pSS, and PSMC6 knockdown could reduce lymphocytic infiltration in salivary glands and lacrimal glands and the levels of related inflammatory factors in the pSS and increase the proportion of Treg cells. Collectively, PSMC6 could induce immune cell infiltration and inflammatory responses to promote the occurrence of pSS, providing us with a potential therapeutic target for treating pSS.
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10
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Exploration of the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome via DNA methylation and transcriptome analyses. Clin Rheumatol 2022; 41:2765-2777. [PMID: 35562622 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-022-06200-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Sjögren's syndrome (SS), a systemic autoimmune disorder, is characterized by dry mouth and eyes. However, SS pathogenesis is poorly understood. We performed bioinformatics analysis to investigate the potential targets and molecular pathogenesis of SS. METHODS Gene expression profiles (GSE157159) and methylation data (GSE110007) associated with SS patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially methylated positions (DMPs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the R package limma. The potential biological functions of DEGs were determined using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Key DMPs were selected by overlap and the shrunken centroid algorithm, and corresponding genes were identified as hub genes, with their diagnostic value assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The potential molecular mechanisms of hub genes were analyzed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and single-gene gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from control and SS patients at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University and Dazhou Central Hospital. The mRNA levels of hub genes were verified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS We identified 788 DMPs and 2457 DEGs between the two groups. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that the DEGs were significantly enriched in T cell activation, leukocyte cell-cell adhesion, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. TSS200, TSS1500, and 1stExon were identified as highly enriched areas of differentially methylated promoter CpG islands (DMCIs). In total, 61 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified by the overlap of 2457 DEGs and 507 genes related to DMPs (DMPGs), of which 21 genes located near TSS200, TSS1500, and 1stExon were selected. Then, three key DMPs and the corresponding hub genes (RUNX3, HLA-DPA1, and CD6) were screened by the shrunken centroid algorithm and calculated to have areas under the ROC curve of 1.000, 0.931, and 0.986, respectively, indicating good diagnostic value. The GSEA results suggested that all three hub genes were highly associated with the immune response. Finally, positive mRNA expression of the three hub genes in clinical SS samples was verified by qRT-PCR, consistent with the GSE157159 data. CONCLUSIONS The identification of three hub genes provides novel insight into molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets for SS. Key Points • Hub genes were screened by DNA methylation and transcriptome analyses. • The relative expression of hub genes in peripheral blood samples was verified by qRT-PCR. • HLA-DPA1 was correlated with the pathogenic mechanism of SS.
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11
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Integrated Network Pharmacology and Mice Model to Investigate Qing Zao Fang for Treating Sjögren's Syndrome. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:3690016. [PMID: 35341135 PMCID: PMC8941571 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3690016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease, and its conventional treatment has exhibited limited therapeutic efficacy. Qing Zao Fang (QZF), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, is used in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome, but its chemical composition is complex, and its pharmacological mechanism is not clear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential mechanism of QZF in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome based on network pharmacology and SS mouse model. The main active components and predicted targets of QZF were analyzed by network pharmacology. The SS mouse model was constructed and divided into 6 groups: control, SS, SS + hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)-treated, SS + low-dose QZF-treated, SS + medium-dose QZF-treated, and SS + high-dose QZF-treated group. Immunohistochemical, ELISA, and qRT-PCR assays were performed to detect the expressions of targets associated with SS. TUNEL staining was used to detect apoptosis. Cumulatively, 230 active compounds and 1883 targets of QZF were identified. There were 227 common targets for QZF and SS. The effective active ingredients were stigmasterol, neocryptotanshinone II, neotanshinone C, miltionone I, and beta-pinene. It mainly acts on biological processes such as inflammatory response, chemokine metabolic process, and immune response as well as pathways such as FoxO signaling pathway, Yersinia infection, HIF-1 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. In SS mice, levels of AKT1, HIF-1α, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17A were increased, while decreased after QZF treatment. In contrast, IL-10 levels were decreased in SS mice and increased in QZF-treated mice. In addition, QZF reduced apoptosis in the submandibular gland tissue compared to SS mice. It can be concluded that the QZF in treatment of SS is the result of the combined action of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. This study improves the understanding of the link between QZF and SS on molecular mechanisms.
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12
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Mucosal immunology of the ocular surface. Mucosal Immunol 2022; 15:1143-1157. [PMID: 36002743 PMCID: PMC9400566 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-022-00551-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The eye is a sensory organ exposed to the environment and protected by a mucosal tissue barrier. While it shares a number of features with other mucosal tissues, the ocular mucosal system, composed of the conjunctiva, Meibomian glands, and lacrimal glands, is specialized to address the unique needs of (a) lubrication and (b) host defense of the ocular surface. Not surprisingly, most challenges, physical and immunological, to the homeostasis of the eye fall into those two categories. Dry eye, a dysfunction of the lacrimal glands and/or Meibomian glands, which can both cause, or arise from, sensory defects, including those caused by corneal herpes virus infection, serve as examples of these perturbations and will be discussed ahead. To preserve vision, dense neuronal and immune networks sense various stimuli and orchestrate responses, which must be tightly controlled to provide protection, while simultaneously minimizing collateral damage. All this happens against the backdrop of, and can be modified by, the microorganisms that colonize the ocular mucosa long term, or that are simply transient passengers introduced from the environment. This review will attempt to synthesize the existing knowledge and develop trends in the study of the unique mucosal and immune elements of the ocular surface.
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Horeth E, Oyelakin A, Song EAC, Che M, Bard J, Min S, Kiripolsky J, Kramer JM, Sinha S, Romano RA. Transcriptomic and Single-Cell Analysis Reveals Regulatory Networks and Cellular Heterogeneity in Mouse Primary Sjögren's Syndrome Salivary Glands. Front Immunol 2021; 12:729040. [PMID: 34912329 PMCID: PMC8666453 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.729040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology which primarily affects the salivary and lacrimal glands resulting in the loss of secretory function. Treatment options for SS have been hampered due to the lack of a better understanding of the underlying gene regulatory circuitry and the interplay between the myriad pathological cellular states that contribute to salivary gland dysfunction. To better elucidate the molecular nature of SS, we have performed RNA-sequencing analysis of the submandibular glands (SMG) of a well-established primary Sjögren’s Syndrome (pSS) mouse model. Our comprehensive examination of global gene expression and comparative analyses with additional SS mouse models and human datasets, have identified a number of important pathways and regulatory networks that are relevant in SS pathobiology. To complement these studies, we have performed single-cell RNA sequencing to examine and identify the molecular and cellular heterogeneity of the diseased cell populations of the mouse SMG. Interrogation of the single-cell transcriptomes has shed light on the diversity of immune cells that are dysregulated in SS and importantly, revealed an activated state of the salivary gland epithelial cells that contribute to the global immune mediated responses. Overall, our broad studies have not only revealed key pathways, mediators and new biomarkers, but have also uncovered the complex nature of the cellular populations in the SMG that are likely to drive the progression of SS. These newly discovered insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular states of SS will better inform targeted therapeutic discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Horeth
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Akinsola Oyelakin
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Eun-Ah Christine Song
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Monika Che
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jonathan Bard
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Core, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Sangwon Min
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jeremy Kiripolsky
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jill M Kramer
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Satrajit Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Rose-Anne Romano
- Department of Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States
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14
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Han MM, Yuan XR, Shi X, Zhu XY, Su Y, Xiong DK, Zhang XM, Zhou H, Wang JN. The Pathological Mechanism and Potential Application of IL-38 in Autoimmune Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:732790. [PMID: 34539413 PMCID: PMC8443783 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.732790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-38 (IL-38), a new cytokine of interleukin-1 family (IL-1F), is expressed in the human heart, kidney, skin, etc. Recently, new evidence indicated that IL-38 is involved in the process of different autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases are a cluster of diseases accompanied with tissue damage caused by autoimmune reactions, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, etc. This review summarized the links between IL-38 and autoimmune diseases, as well as the latest knowledge about the function and regulatory mechanism of IL-38 in autoimmune diseases. Especially, this review focused on the differentiation of immune cells and explore future prospects, such as the application of IL-38 in new technologies. Understanding the function of IL-38 is helpful to shed light on the progress of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao-Miao Han
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xin-Rong Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Shi
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xing-Yu Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Yue Su
- National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,Public Basic College, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - De-Kai Xiong
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xing-Min Zhang
- School of Health Management, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Huan Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China.,National Drug Clinical Trial Institution, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, China
| | - Ji-Nian Wang
- Department of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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15
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Li N, Li L, Wu M, Li Y, Yang J, Wu Y, Xu H, Luo D, Gao Y, Fei X, Jiang L. Integrated Bioinformatics and Validation Reveal Potential Biomarkers Associated With Progression of Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:697157. [PMID: 34367157 PMCID: PMC8343000 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.697157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease of the exocrine glands characterized by specific pathological features. Previous studies have pointed out that salivary glands from pSS patients express a unique profile of cytokines, adhesion molecules, and chemokines compared to those from healthy controls. However, there is limited evidence supporting the utility of individual markers for different stages of pSS. This study aimed to explore potential biomarkers associated with pSS disease progression and analyze the associations between key genes and immune cells. Methods We combined our own RNA sequencing data with pSS datasets from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via bioinformatics analysis. Salivary gland biopsies were collected from 14 pSS patients, 6 non-pSS patients, and 6 controls. Histochemical staining and transmission electron micrographs (TEM) were performed to macroscopically and microscopically characterize morphological features of labial salivary glands in different disease stages. Then, we performed quantitative PCR to validate hub genes. Finally, we analyzed correlations between selected hub genes and immune cells using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Results We identified twenty-eight DEGs that were upregulated in pSS patients compared to healthy controls. These were mainly involved in immune-related pathways and infection-related pathways. According to the morphological features of minor salivary glands, severe interlobular and periductal lymphocytic infiltrates, acinar atrophy and collagen in the interstitium, nuclear shrinkage, and microscopic organelle swelling were observed with pSS disease progression. Hub genes based on above twenty-eight DEGs, including MS4A1, CD19, TCL1A, CCL19, CXCL9, CD3G, and CD3D, were selected as potential biomarkers and verified by RT-PCR. Expression of these genes was correlated with T follicular helper cells, memory B cells and M1 macrophages. Conclusion Using transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis combined with our clinical data, we identified seven key genes that have potential value for evaluating pSS severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengyao Wu
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yusi Li
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Core Facility of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yicheng Wu
- Core Facility of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Haimin Xu
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Danyang Luo
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Gao
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaochun Fei
- Department of Pathology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liting Jiang
- Department of Stomatology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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de Paiva CS, Trujillo-Vargas CM, Schaefer L, Yu Z, Britton RA, Pflugfelder SC. Differentially Expressed Gene Pathways in the Conjunctiva of Sjögren Syndrome Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca. Front Immunol 2021; 12:702755. [PMID: 34349764 PMCID: PMC8326832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.702755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune condition that targets the salivary and lacrimal glands, with cardinal clinical signs of dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca, KCS) and dry mouth. The conjunctiva of SS patients is often infiltrated by immune cells that participate in the induction and maintenance of local inflammation. The purpose of this study was to investigate immune-related molecular pathways activated in the conjunctiva of SS patients. Female SS patients (n=7) and controls (n=19) completed a series of oral, ocular surface exams. Symptom severity scores were evaluated using validated questionnaires (OSDI and SANDE). All patients fulfilled the ACR/EULAR criteria for SS and the criteria for KCS. Fluorescein and lissamine green dye staining evaluated tear-break-up time (TBUT), corneal and conjunctival disease, respectively. Impression cytology of the temporal bulbar conjunctiva was performed to collect cells lysed and subjected to gene expression analysis using the NanoString Immunology Panel. 53/594 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed between SS and healthy controls; 49 DEGs were upregulated, and 4 were downregulated (TRAF5, TGFBI, KLRAP1, and CMKLRI). The top 10 DEGs in descending order were BST2, IFITM1, LAMP3, CXCL1, IL19, CFB, LY96, MX1, IL4R, CDKN1A. Twenty pathways had a global significance score greater or equal to 2. Spearman correlations showed that 29/49 upregulated DEGs correlated with either TBUT (inverse) or OSDI or conjunctival staining score (positive correlations). Venn diagrams identified that 26/29 DEGs correlated with TBUT, 5/26 DEGs correlated with OSDI, and 16/26 correlated with conjunctival staining scores. Five upregulated DEGs (CFB, CFI, IL1R1, IL2RG, IL4R) were uniquely negatively correlated with TBUT. These data indicate that the conjunctiva of SS patients exhibits a phenotype of immune activation, although some genes could be inhibitory. Some of the DEGs and pathways overlap with previous DEGs in salivary gland biopsies, but new DEGs were identified, and some of these correlated with symptoms and signs of dry eye. Our results indicate that gene analysis of conjunctiva imprints is a powerful tool to understand the pathogenesis of SS and develop new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia S. de Paiva
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Claudia M. Trujillo-Vargas
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
- Grupo de Inmunodeficiencias Primarias, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Laura Schaefer
- Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Zhiyuan Yu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Robert A. Britton
- Center for Metagenomics and Microbiome Research, Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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17
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Moustardas P, Yamada-Fowler N, Apostolou E, Tzioufas AG, Turkina MV, Spyrou G. Deregulation of the Kallikrein Protease Family in the Salivary Glands of the Sjögren's Syndrome ERdj5 Knockout Mouse Model. Front Immunol 2021; 12:693911. [PMID: 34305928 PMCID: PMC8292930 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.693911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The purpose of this study was to identify differentially expressed proteins in salivary glands of the ERdj5 knockout mouse model for Sjögren's syndrome and to elucidate possible mechanisms for the morbid phenotype development. At the same time, we describe for the first time the sexual dimorphism of the murine submandibular salivary gland at the proteome level. Methods We performed Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in salivary gland tissues from both sexes of ERdj5 knockout and 129SV wildtype mice. The resulting list of proteins was evaluated with bioinformatic analysis and selected proteins were validated by western blot and immunohistochemistry and further analyzed at the transcription level by qRT-PCR. Results We identified 88 deregulated proteins in females, and 55 in males in wildtype vs knockout comparisons. In both sexes, Kallikrein 1b22 was highly upregulated (fold change>25, ANOVA p<0.0001), while all other proteases of this family were either downregulated or not significantly affected by the genotype. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a possible connection with the downregulated NGF that was further validated by independent methods. Concurrently, we identified 416 proteins that were significantly different in the salivary gland proteome of wildtype female vs male mice and highlighted pathways that could be driving the strong female bias of the pathology. Conclusion Our research provides a list of novel targets and supports the involvement of an NGF-mediating proteolytic deregulation pathway as a focus point towards the better understanding of the underlying mechanism of Sjögren's syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petros Moustardas
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Center for Clinical, Experimental Surgery & Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Naomi Yamada-Fowler
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Eirini Apostolou
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios G. Tzioufas
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria V. Turkina
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Giannis Spyrou
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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18
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Verstappen GM, Gao L, Pringle S, Haacke EA, van der Vegt B, Liefers SC, Patel V, Hu Y, Mukherjee S, Carman J, Menard LC, Spijkervet FKL, Vissink A, Bootsma H, Kroese FGM. The Transcriptome of Paired Major and Minor Salivary Gland Tissue in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Front Immunol 2021; 12:681941. [PMID: 34295332 PMCID: PMC8291032 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.681941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While all salivary glands (SGs) can be involved in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), their respective role in pathogenesis remains unclear. Our objective was to assess immunopathway activation in paired parotid and labial gland tissue from biopsy-positive and biopsy-negative pSS and non-SS sicca patients. Methods Paraffin-embedded, paired parotid and labial salivary gland tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from 39 pSS and 20 non-SS sicca patients. RNA was extracted, complementary DNA libraries were prepared and sequenced. For analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), patients were subdivided based on fulfillment of ACR-EULAR criteria and histopathology. Results With principal component analysis, only biopsy-positive pSS could be separated from non-SS sicca patients based on SG gene expression. When comparing the transcriptome of biopsy-positive pSS and biopsy-negative non-SS sicca patients, 1235 and 624 DEGs (FDR<0.05, log2FC<-1 or >1) were identified for parotid and labial glands, respectively. The number of DEGs between biopsy-negative pSS and non-SS sicca patients was scarce. Overall, transcript expression levels correlated strongly between parotid and labial glands (R2 = 0.86, p-value<0.0001). Gene signatures present in both glands of biopsy-positive pSS patients included IFN-α signaling, IL-12/IL-18 signaling, CD3/CD28 T-cell activation, CD40 signaling in B-cells, DN2 B-cells, and FcRL4+ B-cells. Signature scores varied considerably amongst pSS patients. Conclusion Transcriptomes of paired major and minor SGs in pSS were overall comparable, although significant inter-individual heterogeneity in immunopathway activation existed. The SG transcriptome of biopsy-negative pSS was indistinguishable from non-SS sicca patients. Different patterns of SG immunopathway activation in pSS argue for personalized treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenny M. Verstappen
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Lu Gao
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Sarah Pringle
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Erlin A. Haacke
- Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Bert van der Vegt
- Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Silvia C. Liefers
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Vishal Patel
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Yanhua Hu
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Sumanta Mukherjee
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Julie Carman
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Laurence C. Menard
- Immunology, Cardiovascular, Fibrosis Thematic Research Center, Translational Early Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Frederik K. L. Spijkervet
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Arjan Vissink
- Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Hendrika Bootsma
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Frans G. M. Kroese
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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