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Ah Kioon MD, Laurent P, Chaudhary V, Du Y, Crow MK, Barrat FJ. Modulation of plasmacytoid dendritic cells response in inflammation and autoimmunity. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:241-256. [PMID: 38553621 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13331] [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] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the subsequent recognition that endogenous nucleic acids (NAs) could serve as TLR ligands have led to essential insights into mechanisms of healthy immune responses as well as pathogenic mechanisms relevant to systemic autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis, NA-containing immune complexes serve as TLR ligands, with distinct implications depending on the additional immune stimuli available. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), the robust producers of type I interferon (IFN-I), are providing critical insights relevant to TLR-mediated healthy immune responses and tissue repair, as well as generation of inflammation, autoimmunity and fibrosis, processes central to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. In this review, we describe recent data characterizing the role of platelets and NA-binding chemokines in modulation of TLR signaling in pDCs, as well as implications for how the IFN-I products of pDCs contribute to the generation of inflammation and wound healing responses by monocyte/macrophages. Chemokine modulators of TLR-mediated B cell tolerance mechanisms and interactions between TLR signaling and metabolic pathways are also considered. The modulators of TLR signaling and their contribution to the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases suggest new opportunities for identification of novel therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paôline Laurent
- HSS Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Vidyanath Chaudhary
- HSS Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yong Du
- HSS Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mary K Crow
- HSS Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Mary Kirkland Center for Lupus Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Franck J Barrat
- HSS Research Institute, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
- David Z. Rosensweig Genomics Research Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
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Di Maggio G, Confalonieri P, Salton F, Trotta L, Ruggero L, Kodric M, Geri P, Hughes M, Bellan M, Gilio M, Lerda S, Baratella E, Confalonieri M, Mondini L, Ruaro B. Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis: An Overview. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7775-7802. [PMID: 37886934 PMCID: PMC10604992 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100490] [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: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by significant fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, with the main involvement of the lungs, kidneys, heart, esophagus, and intestines. SSc is also characterized by macro- and microvascular damage with reduced peripheral blood perfusion. Several studies have reported more than 240 pathways and numerous dysregulation proteins, giving insight into how the field of biomarkers in SSc is still extremely complex and evolving. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present in more than 90% of SSc patients, and anti-centromere and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies are considered classic biomarkers with precise clinical features. Recent studies have reported that trans-forming growth factor β (TGF-β) plays a central role in the fibrotic process. In addition, interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), interleukin receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transducer and activator of transcription signal 4 (STAT4), pyrin-containing domain 1 (NLRP1), as well as genetic factors, including DRB1 alleles, are implicated in SSc damage. Several interleukins (e.g., IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-35) and chemokines (e.g., CCL 2, 5, 23, and CXC 9, 10, 16) are elevated in SSc. While adiponectin and maresin 1 are reduced in patients with SSc, biomarkers are important in research but will be increasingly so in the diagnosis and therapeutic approach to SSc. This review aims to present and highlight the various biomarker molecules, pathways, and receptors involved in the pathology of SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Di Maggio
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Paola Confalonieri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Francesco Salton
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Liliana Trotta
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Luca Ruggero
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Metka Kodric
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Pietro Geri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Michael Hughes
- Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester & Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M6 8HD, UK;
| | - Mattia Bellan
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
- Center for Autoimmune and Allergic Disease (CAAD), Università del Piemonte Orientale (UPO), 28100 Novara, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero–Universitaria, Maggiore della Carità, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Michele Gilio
- Infectious Disease Unit, San Carlo Hospital, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Selene Lerda
- Graduate School, University of Milan, 20149 Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Baratella
- Department of Radiology, Cattinara Hospital, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Confalonieri
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Lucrezia Mondini
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Barbara Ruaro
- Pulmonology Unit, Department of Medical Surgical and Healt Sciencies, Hospital of Cattinara, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy; (G.D.M.); (M.K.); (P.G.); (L.M.)
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Liem SIE, Neppelenbroek S, Fehres CM, Wevers BA, Toes REM, Allaart CF, Huizinga TWJ, Scherer HU, De Vries-Bouwstra JK. Progression from suspected to definite systemic sclerosis and the role of anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. RMD Open 2023; 9:rmdopen-2022-002827. [PMID: 36746531 PMCID: PMC9906376 DOI: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002827] [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: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Early diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is important to start therapeutic interventions timely. Important risk factors for progression to SSc are the SSc-specific autoantibodies, of whom anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies (ATA) are the most frequent. ATA is associated with a severe disease course. A more detailed characterisation of the ATA-response in SSc might increase insights in preclinical disease stages and improve prognostication. To address this we identified all patients with suspected very early ATA-positive SSc, defined as all patients who are ATA-positive not fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2013 criteria, in the Leiden Combined Care in Systemic Sclerosis (CCISS)-cohort and found very low numbers. METHODS This triggered us to search the literature on the ATA prevalence in patients with suspected very early SSc and contribution of the SSc-specific autoantibodies to progression from suspected very early to definite SSc. To increase insights on the ATA-response in suspected very early SSc, we then evaluated the association between the ATA-response and time between onset of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) and first non-RP symptom, as a proxy for progressing to definite SSc, in all patients with ATA-positive SSc from the Leiden CCISS-cohort. RESULTS In short, included studies show that prevalence of ATA is much lower in suspected very early SSc than in populations fulfilling ACR/EULAR 2013 criteria. After 1-15 years of follow-up, only 52% of the patients with suspected very early SSc progress to definite SSc. ATA-IgG levels tend to be higher in patients with ATA-positive SSc with more rapid disease progression. CONCLUSION Although a role of ATA in disease progression is suggested, more studies on the ATA response in suspected very early SSc are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie I E Liem
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sam Neppelenbroek
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cynthia M Fehres
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Brigitte A Wevers
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - René E M Toes
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelia F Allaart
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tom W J Huizinga
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hans Ulrich Scherer
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Specific Autoantibodies and Microvascular Damage Progression Assessed by Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in Systemic Sclerosis: Are There Peculiar Associations? An Update. Antibodies (Basel) 2023; 12:antib12010003. [PMID: 36648887 PMCID: PMC9844325 DOI: 10.3390/antib12010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Specific autoantibodies and nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) findings are serum and morphological diagnostic hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as useful biomarkers which stratify the microvascular progression and prognosis of patients. METHODS The aim of our narrative review is to provide an update and overview of the link between SSc-related autoantibodies, used in clinical practice, and microvascular damage, evaluated by NVC, by exploring the interaction between these players in published studies. A narrative review was conducted by searching relevant keywords related to this field in Pubmed, Medline and EULAR/ACR conference abstracts with a focus on the findings published in the last 5 years. RESULTS Our search yielded 13 clinical studies and 10 pre-clinical studies. Most of the clinical studies (8/13, 61.5%) reported a significant association between SSc-related autoantibodies and NVC patterns: more specifically anti-centromere autoantibodies (ACA) were associated more often with an "Early" NVC pattern, whereas anti-topoisomerase autoantibodies (ATA) more frequently showed an "Active" or "Late" NVC pattern. Five studies, instead, did not find a significant association between specific autoantibodies and NVC findings. Among the pre-clinical studies, SSc-related autoantibodies showed different mechanisms of damage towards both endothelial cells, fibroblasts and smooth muscle vascular cells. CONCLUSIONS The clinical and laboratory evidence on SSc-related autoantibodies and microvascular damage shows that these players are interconnected. Further clinical and demographic factors (e.g., age, sex, disease duration, treatment and comorbidities) might play an additional role in the SSc-related microvascular injury whose progression appears to be complex and multifactorial.
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Palazzo R, Stefanantoni K, Cadar M, Butera A, Riccieri V, Lande R, Frasca L. Heparin-Independent and Heparin-Dependent Anti-CXCL4 Antibodies Have a Reciprocal Expression in a Systemic Sclerosis Patients' Cohort. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11040077. [PMID: 36546902 PMCID: PMC9774936 DOI: 10.3390/antib11040077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic disease characterized by skin/internal organ fibrosis, vasculopathy and autoimmunity. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 4 (CXCL4) is an early SSc biomarker that predicts worse disease outcome. We previously reported that CXCL4 is an autoantigen in SSc, and anti-CXCL4 antibodies correlated with IFN-I and were more abundant in patients with lung fibrosis. However, it is unclear whether antibodies to CXCL4 in SSc are only directed to CXCL4 or recognize complexes formed by CXCL4 and heparin. Here, by analyzing an SSc cohort, we addressed the occurrence of circulating heparin-dependent VS heparin-independent anti-CXCL4 antibodies and their relationship with a few disease parameters. We found that heparin-dependent, like the heparin-independent antibodies, are higher in SSc as compared to healthy donors; they are detectable in 24% and 30% of the SSc patients, respectively, and appear inversely correlated and mutually exclusive. Like the heparin-independent antibodies, heparin-dependent antibodies correlated with digital ulcers. However, in contrast to heparin-independent antibodies, heparin-dependent antibodies did not correlate with IFN-I, but were largely expressed in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. This pilot study indicates that heparin-dependent antibodies are worth studying in larger SSc cohorts to address whether they discriminate SSc sub-groups with different pathological characteristics and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Palazzo
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Stefanantoni
- Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marius Cadar
- Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Butera
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Riccieri
- Department of Clinical, Internal, Anesthesiological and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico, 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Lande
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Loredana Frasca
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Kakkar V, Assassi S, Allanore Y, Kuwana M, Denton CP, Khanna D, Del Galdo F. Type 1 interferon activation in systemic sclerosis: a biomarker, a target or the culprit. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2022; 34:357-364. [PMID: 36125916 PMCID: PMC9594133 DOI: 10.1097/bor.0000000000000907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Activation of the type 1 interferon (T1 IFN) pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc) by an increasing number of studies, most of which share key findings with similar studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we will focus on the evidence for T1 IFN activation and dysregulation in SSc, and the rationale behind targeting the pathway going forward. RECENT FINDINGS An increased expression and activation of T1 IFN-regulated genes has been shown to be present in a significant proportion of SSc patients. TI IFN activation markers have been found to predict and correlate with response to immunosuppressive treatment as well as severity of organ involvement. As inhibition of the IFN-α receptor has been proven to be effective in active SLE, benefit may be seen in targeting the IFN pathway in SSc. SUMMARY The role played by T1 IFN and its regulatory genes in SSc is becoming increasingly evident and strikingly similar to the role observed in SLE. This observation, together with the benefit of type 1 IFN targeting in SLE, supports the notion of a potential therapeutic benefit in targeting T1 IFN in SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kakkar
- Department of Rheumatology, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Shervin Assassi
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yannick Allanore
- INSERM U1016 UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Masataka Kuwana
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Dinesh Khanna
- University of Michigan Scleroderma Program, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Francesco Del Galdo
- Department of Rheumatology, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Dyball S, Rodziewicz M, Mendoza-Pinto C, Bruce IN, Parker B. Predicting progression from undifferentiated connective tissue disease to definite connective tissue disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Autoimmun Rev 2022; 21:103184. [PMID: 36031048 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2022.103184] [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: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD) encapsulates a broad range of conditions including incomplete forms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), some of whom progress to a formal clinical diagnosis over time. This systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis aimed to identify clinical and laboratory features and biomarkers that can predict progression of UCTD. METHODS A systematic literature search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Randomized Controlled Trials. Abstracts and full-text manuscripts were screened by two reviewers. Publications were included if they included at least 20 UCTD patients, a minimum of six months of follow up, and provided data on at least one risk factor for developing a defined CTD. The QUIPS tool was used to assess risk of bias (RoB) and GRADE for grading the quality of the evidence. The study is registered with PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021237725). RESULTS Fifty-nine studies were included in the SR, and forty-one in the meta-analysis. The predictors for progression to SLE with the highest certainty of evidence included those with younger age (MD -5.96 [-11.05-0.87 years]), serositis (RR 2.69 [1.61-4.51]), or the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies (RR 4.27 [1.92-9.51]). For SSc, the highest certainty of evidence included puffy fingers (RR [3.09 [1.48-6.43]), abnormal nailfold changes (NFC) (avascular areas [RR 5.71 (3.03-10.8)] or active or late SSc pattern [RR 2.24 (1.25-4.01)] and anti-topoisomerase-I (RR 1.83 [1.45-2.30]). No novel biomarkers were included in the meta-analysis; however HLA molecules, regulatory T cell shift, pro-inflammatory cytokines and complement activation products were identified as potential predictors for evolution of disease. CONCLUSIONS Clinical and immunological parameters may predict which patients with UCTD progress to definitive disease; however, the heterogeneous nature and RoB in most studies limits the ability to apply these results in routine clinical practice. Limited data suggest that some novel biomarkers may provide additional predictive value but these will need larger well designed studies to fully delineate their clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Dyball
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
| | - Mia Rodziewicz
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK
| | - Claudia Mendoza-Pinto
- Centre for Epidemiology Versus Arthritis, Division of Musculoskeletal and Dermatological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK; Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Research Unit Specialties Hospital UMAE-CIBIOR, Mexican Social Security Institute, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Ian N Bruce
- National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Ben Parker
- National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Autoantibodies are hallmark findings in systemic sclerosis (SSc), often present prior to disease onset. Clinical diagnosis and prognosis of SSc have long relied on the antitopoisomerase - anticentromere - anti-RNA polymerase antibody trichotomy. However, many more autoantibodies found in SSc are being actively investigated for insights into triggering events, mechanisms of tolerance break, and connections to tissue damage. This review examines recent studies on SSc autoantibodies and the early events that lead to their development. RECENT FINDINGS Recent work has elucidated potential connections between human cytomegalovirus infection, silicone breast implants, and malignancy to SSc autoantibody development. At the level of the dendritic cell:T cell interaction, where tolerance is broken, new studies identified shared motifs in the peptide-binding domains of SSc-associated human leukocyte antigen alleles. Immunological analysis of SSc patient B cells has uncovered several anomalies in the regulatory capacities of SSc naïve and memory B cell populations. Expanding efforts to uncover new SSc autoantibodies revealed anti-CXCL4, anticollagen V, and other autoantibodies as potential players in disease pathogenesis. SUMMARY Further research into the role of autoantibodies in SSc development may uncover new mechanism-guided therapeutic targets. In addition, a better understanding of autoantibody associations with SSc disease outcomes will improve clinical care.
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Greinacher A, Selleng K, Mayerle J, Palankar R, Wesche J, Reiche S, Aebischer A, Warkentin TE, Muenchhoff M, Hellmuth JC, Keppler OT, Duerschmied D, Lother A, Rieg S, Gawaz MP, Mueller KAL, Scheer CS, Napp M, Hahnenkamp K, Lucchese G, Vogelgesang A, Flöel A, Lovreglio P, Stufano A, Marschalek R, Thiele T. Anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies causing VITT do not cross-react with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Blood 2021; 138:1269-1277. [PMID: 34280256 PMCID: PMC8294553 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021012938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a severe adverse effect of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 COVID-19 vaccine (Vaxzevria) and Janssen Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine, and it is associated with unusual thrombosis. VITT is caused by anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies activating platelets through their FcγRIIa receptors. Antibodies that activate platelets through FcγRIIa receptors have also been identified in patients with COVID-19. These findings raise concern that vaccination-induced antibodies against anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein cause thrombosis by cross-reacting with PF4. Immunogenic epitopes of PF4 and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were compared using in silico prediction tools and 3D modeling. The SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and PF4 share at least 1 similar epitope. Reactivity of purified anti-PF4 antibodies from patients with VITT was tested against recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. However, none of the affinity-purified anti-PF4 antibodies from 14 patients with VITT cross-reacted with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Sera from 222 polymerase chain reaction-confirmed patients with COVID-19 from 5 European centers were tested by PF4-heparin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and PF4-dependent platelet activation assays. We found anti-PF4 antibodies in sera from 19 (8.6%) of 222 patients with COVID-19. However, only 4 showed weak to moderate platelet activation in the presence of PF4, and none of those patients developed thrombotic complications. Among 10 (4.5%) of 222 patients who had COVID-19 with thrombosis, none showed PF4-dependent platelet-activating antibodies. In conclusion, antibodies against PF4 induced by vaccination do not cross-react with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, indicating that the intended vaccine-induced immune response against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is not the trigger of VITT. PF4-reactive antibodies found in patients with COVID-19 in this study were not associated with thrombotic complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Greinacher
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Kathleen Selleng
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Julia Mayerle
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital Munich, and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) (partner site Munich), Munich, Germany
| | - Raghavendra Palankar
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Jan Wesche
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Reiche
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Andrea Aebischer
- Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Friedrich-Loeffler Institut, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Theodore E Warkentin
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, and Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Maximilian Muenchhoff
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Virology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, and DZIF, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Oliver T Keppler
- Max von Pettenkofer Institute, Virology, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, and DZIF, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Duerschmied
- Heart Center Freiburg University, Cardiology and Angiology I and Medical Intensive Care, Medical Center
| | - Achim Lother
- Heart Center Freiburg University, Cardiology and Angiology I and Medical Intensive Care, Medical Center
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, and
| | - Siegbert Rieg
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine II, Faculty of Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Meinrad Paul Gawaz
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karin Anne Lydia Mueller
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Tübingen, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Matthias Napp
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, and
| | | | - Guglielmo Lucchese
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Antje Vogelgesang
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Piero Lovreglio
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy; and
| | - Angela Stufano
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy; and
| | - Rolf Marschalek
- Institute of Pharmacology Biology, Biocenter, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Thomas Thiele
- Institute of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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