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Christodoulou-Vafeiadou E, Geka C, Iliopoulou L, Ntari L, Denis MC, Karagianni N, Kollias G. A Novel Human Interleukin-23A Overexpressing Mouse Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol 2024; 76:1085-1095. [PMID: 38361183 DOI: 10.1002/art.42830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interleukin-23 (IL-23) is a crucial cytokine implicated in chronic inflammation and autoimmunity, associated with various diseases such as psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aimed to create and characterize a transgenic mouse model overexpressing human IL-23A (TghIL-23A), providing a valuable tool for investigating the pathogenic role of human IL-23A and evaluating the efficacy of anti-human IL-23A therapeutics. METHODS TghIL-23A mice were generated via microinjection of CBA × C57BL/6 zygotes with a fragment of the human IL23A gene, flanked by its 5'-regulatory sequences and the 3' untranslated region of human β-globin. The TghIL-23A pathology was assessed through hematologic and biochemic analyses, cytokine and antinuclear antibody detection, and histopathologic examination of skin and renal tissues. The response to the anti-human IL-23A therapeutic agent guselkumab was evaluated in groups of eight mixed-sex mice receiving subcutaneous treatment twice weekly for 10 weeks using clinical, biomarker, and histopathologic readouts. RESULTS TghIL-23A mice exhibited interactions between human IL-23A and mouse IL-23/IL-12p40 and developed a chronic multiorgan autoimmune disease marked by proteinuria, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, severe inflammatory lesions in the skin, and milder phenotypes in the kidneys and lungs. The TghIL-23A pathologic features exhibited significant similarities to those observed in human patients with SLE, and they were reversed following guselkumab treatment. CONCLUSION We have generated and characterized a novel genetic mouse model of SLE, providing proof-of-concept for the etiopathogenic role of human IL-23A. This new model has a normal life span and integrates several characteristics of the human disease's complexity and chronicity, making it an attractive preclinical tool for studying IL-23-dependent pathogenic mechanisms and assessing the efficacy of anti-human IL-23A or modeled disease-related therapeutics.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy
- Disease Models, Animal
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Interleukin-23 Subunit p19/genetics
- Interleukin-23 Subunit p19/immunology
- Humans
- Female
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/pharmacology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized/therapeutic use
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Male
- Antibodies, Antinuclear/immunology
- Mice, Inbred CBA
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lida Iliopoulou
- Biomedical Sciences Research Center (BSRC) Alexander Fleming, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | - George Kollias
- BSRC Alexander Fleming, Athens, Greece, and School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Wang X, Deng GM. Animal models of studying the pathogenesis of multi-organ tissue damage in lupus. Clin Immunol 2024; 263:110231. [PMID: 38692449 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Moderate-to-severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by extensive autoantibody deposition and persistent autoinflammation. As the existing animal models are limited in accurately reproducing the pathological characteristics of human SLE, we introduced a novel animal model simulating multi-organ autoinflammation through intra-organ injections. The model closely mimicked key features of SLE, including IgG deposition, inflammation, and tissue damage. The model could be used to assess the roles of IgG, immune cells, cytokines, and Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) in the pathogenesis of autoinflammation. The results obtained from this model could be confirmed by lupus MRL/lpr mice. The review suggested that the diagnostic criteria should be reconsidered to incorporate IgG deposition in tissues and highlighted the limitations of current T-cell and B-cell-focused treatments. To summarize, the IgG deposition model can be used to investigate the pathogenesis and treatment of multi-organ tissue damage associated with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefei Wang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guo-Min Deng
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Leclaire MD, Esser EL, Dierse S, Koch R, Zimmermann JA, Storp JJ, Gunnemann ML, Lahme L, Eter N, Mihailovic N. Microvascular Density Analysis of Patients with Inactive Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-A Two-Year Follow-Up Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Study. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2979. [PMID: 38792521 PMCID: PMC11122300 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This study aims to investigate the long-term effect of inactive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) on the retinal microcirculation measured via optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 24 patients with inactive SLE under hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy were included. The OCT-A data (mainly vessel density (VD) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) data of the superficial and of the deep capillary plexus (SCP, DCP) and the choriocapillaris (CC)) were analyzed and compared between the baseline examination (t0) and 2 years later (t1). Results: At t1, VD in the whole en face SCP and in the CC was notably reduced compared to t0 (SCP: p = 0.001, CC: p = 0.013). VD in the DCP, CRT and FAZ area showed no difference at t1 compared to t0 (DCP: p = 0.128, FAZ: p = 0.332, CRT fovea: p = 0.296). Correlation analysis between the increase in cumulative doses of HCQ between t0 and t1 and the VD of the whole en face SCP did not show any correlation (Spearman r = 0.062 (95% CI -0.367; 0.477). Conclusions: SLE patients demonstrated a decrease in the retinal VD of the SCP and CC over a 2-year period. There was no correlation with the change in cumulative doses of HCQ. These results suggest an ongoing effect of the disease on the retinal and choriocapillary microcirculation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eliane Luisa Esser
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dierse
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Raphael Koch
- Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, University of Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Jens Julian Storp
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Larissa Lahme
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Nicole Eter
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Nataša Mihailovic
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Muenster Medical Center, 48149 Muenster, Germany
- Department of Ophthalmology, Klinikum Bielefeld Gem. GmbH, 33604 Bielefeld, Germany
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Gao Y, Zhou J, Huang Y, Wang M, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Li H, Sun J, Xie Z. Jiedu-Quyu-Ziyin Fang (JQZF) inhibits the proliferation and activation of B cells in MRL/lpr mice via modulating the AKT/mTOR/c-Myc signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023:116625. [PMID: 37236380 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Jiedu-Quyu-Ziyin Fang (JQZF) is a new herbal formula improved based on "Sheng Ma Bie Jia Tang" in the Golden Chamber, has been proved to be effective in the treatment of SLE. The ability of JQZF to prevent lymphocyte growth and survival has been demonstrated in earlier investigations. However, the specific mechanism of JQZF on SLE has not been fully investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY To reveal the potential mechanisms of JQZF inhibiting B cell proliferation and activation in MRL/lpr mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS MRL/lpr mice were treated with low-dose, high-dose JQZF and normal saline for 6 weeks. The effect of JQZF on disease improvement in MRL/lpr mice was studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), histopathological staining, serum biochemical parameters and urinary protein levels. The changes of B lymphocyte subsets in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry. The contents of ATP and PA in B lymphocytes from the spleens of mice were determined by ATP content assay kit and PA assay kit. Raji cells (a B lymphocyte line) were selected as the cell model in vitro. The effects of JQZF on the proliferation and apoptosis of B cells were detected by flow cytometry and CCK8. The effect of JQZF on the AKT/mTOR/c-Myc signaling pathway in B cells were detected via western blot. RESULTS JQZF, especially at high dose, significantly improved the disease development of MRL/lpr mice. Flow cytometry results showed that JQZF affected the proliferation and activation of B cells. In addition, JQZF inhibited the production of ATP and PA in B lymphocytes. In vitro cell experiments further confirmed that JQZF can inhibit Raji proliferation and promote cell apoptosis through AKT/mTOR/c-Myc signaling pathway. CONCLUSION JQZF may affect the proliferation and activation of B cells by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR/c-Myc signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- YiNi Gao
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - JiaWang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - MeiJiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - FengQi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - YiYang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - HaiChang Li
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jing Sun
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - ZhiJun Xie
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Rheumatology of Zhejiang Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
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Li Z, Wang J, Huang Y, Shen Q, Sun L, Xu H, Li Z. Identification of biomarkers that predict renal flare in childhood-onset lupus nephritis with mycophenolate acid. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 117:109900. [PMID: 36863143 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children-onset lupus nephritis (cLN) occurs > 50 % of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is the first-line agent for the induction and maintenance treatment of LN. This study was to explore the predictors of renal flare in cLN. METHODS Data from 90 patients were included in population pharmacokinetic (PK) models to predict MPA exposure. Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline were performed in 61 patients to identify the risk factors for renal flare, baseline clinical characteristics and MPA exposures as potential covariates. RESULTS PK best fitted a two-compartment model of first-order absorption and linear elimination, with delayed absorption. Clearance increased with weight and immunoglobulin G (IgG), but decreased with albumin and serum creatinine. During follow-up of 1040 (658-1359) days, 18 patients experienced a renal flare, after a median time of 932.5 (663.5-1316) days. Each 1-mg·h/L increase of MPA-AUC was associated with a 6 % decreased risk of an event (HR = 0.94; 95 % CI: 0.90-0.98), while IgG significantly increased this risk (HR = 1.17; 95 % CI: 1.08-1.26). ROC analysis showed that MPA-AUC0-12h < 35 mg·h/L and IgG > 17.6 g/L had a good prediction of renal flare. Of restricted cubic spline, the risk of renal flares decreased with higher MPA exposure but reached a plateau when AUC0-12h > 55 mg·h/L, while substantially increases when IgG is > 18.2 g/L. CONCLUSIONS Monitoring MPA exposure together with IgG could be very useful during clinical practice to identify patients with a potential high risk of renal flare. This early risk assessment would allow for the treat-to-target and tailored medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Jinglin Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China
| | - Yidie Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Qian Shen
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China.
| | - Zhiping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China.
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Favor OK, Chauhan PS, Pourmand E, Edwards AM, Wagner JG, Lewandowski RP, Heine LK, Harkema JR, Lee KSS, Pestka JJ. Lipidome modulation by dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation or selective soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition suppresses rough LPS-accelerated glomerulonephritis in lupus-prone mice. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1124910. [PMID: 36875087 PMCID: PMC9978350 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1124910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-accelerated autoimmune glomerulonephritis (GN) in NZBWF1 mice is a preclinical model potentially applicable for investigating lipidome-modulating interventions against lupus. LPS can be expressed as one of two chemotypes: smooth LPS (S-LPS) or rough LPS (R-LPS) which is devoid of O-antigen polysaccharide sidechain. Since these chemotypes differentially affect toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated immune cell responses, these differences may influence GN induction. Methods We initially compared the effects of subchronic intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection for 5 wk with 1) Salmonella S-LPS, 2) Salmonella R-LPS, or 3) saline vehicle (VEH) (Study 1) in female NZBWF1 mice. Based on the efficacy of R-LPS in inducing GN, we next used it to compare the impact of two lipidome-modulating interventions, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation and soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibition, on GN (Study 2). Specifically, effects of consuming ω-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (10 g/kg diet) and/or the sEH inhibitor 1-(4-trifluoro-methoxy-phenyl)-3-(1-propionylpiperidin-4-yl) urea (TPPU) (22.5 mg/kg diet ≈ 3 mg/kg/day) on R-LPS triggering were compared. Results In Study 1, R-LPS induced robust elevations in blood urea nitrogen, proteinuria, and hematuria that were not evident in VEH- or S-LPS-treated mice. R-LPS-treated mice further exhibited kidney histopathology including robust hypertrophy, hyperplasia, thickened membranes, lymphocytic accumulation containing B and T cells, and glomerular IgG deposition consistent with GN that was not evident in VEH- or SLPS-treated groups. R-LPS but not S-LPS induced spleen enlargement with lymphoid hyperplasia and inflammatory cell recruitment in the liver. In Study 2, resultant blood fatty acid profiles and epoxy fatty acid concentrations reflected the anticipated DHA- and TPPU-mediated lipidome changes, respectively. The relative rank order of R-LPS-induced GN severity among groups fed experimental diets based on proteinuria, hematuria, histopathologic scoring, and glomerular IgG deposition was: VEH/CON< R-LPS/DHA ≈ R-LPS/TPPU<<< R-LPS/TPPU+DHA ≈ R-LPS/CON. In contrast, these interventions had modest-to- negligible effects on R-LPS-induced splenomegaly, plasma antibody responses, liver inflammation, and inflammation-associated kidney gene expression. Discussion We show for the first time that absence of O-antigenic polysaccharide in R-LPS is critical to accelerated GN in lupus-prone mice. Furthermore, intervention by lipidome modulation through DHA feeding or sEH inhibition suppressed R-LPS-induced GN; however, these ameliorative effects were greatly diminished upon combining the treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia K. Favor
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Preeti S. Chauhan
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Elham Pourmand
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Angel M. Edwards
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - James G. Wagner
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Ryan P. Lewandowski
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Lauren K. Heine
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Jack R. Harkema
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Kin Sing Stephen Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - James J. Pestka
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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