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Kim JW, Bae JH, Go GY, Lee JR, Jeong Y, Kim JY, Kim TH, Kim YK, Han JW, Oh JE, Hahn MJ, Kang JS, Bae GU. Epsti1 Regulates the Inflammatory Stage of Early Muscle Regeneration through STAT1-VCP Interaction. Int J Biol Sci 2024; 20:3530-3543. [PMID: 38993551 PMCID: PMC11234217 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.94675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
During muscle regeneration, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) coordinates inflammatory responses critical for activation of quiescent muscle stem cells upon injury via the Janus kinase (JAK) - signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) pathway. Dysregulation of JAK-STAT1 signaling results in impaired muscle regeneration, leading to muscle dysfunction or muscle atrophy. Until now, the underlying molecular mechanism of how JAK-STAT1 signaling resolves during muscle regeneration remains largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate that epithelial-stromal interaction 1 (Epsti1), an interferon response gene, has a crucial role in regulating the IFN-γ-JAK-STAT1 signaling at early stage of muscle regeneration. Epsti1-deficient mice exhibit impaired muscle regeneration with elevated inflammation response. In addition, Epsti1-deficient myoblasts display aberrant interferon responses. Epsti1 interacts with valosin-containing protein (VCP) and mediates the proteasomal degradation of IFN-γ-activated STAT1, likely contributing to dampening STAT1-mediated inflammation. In line with the notion, mice lacking Epsti1 exhibit exacerbated muscle atrophy accompanied by increased inflammatory response in cancer cachexia model. Our study suggests a crucial function of Epsti1 in the resolution of IFN-γ-JAK-STAT1 signaling through interaction with VCP which provides insights into the unexplored mechanism of crosstalk between inflammatory response and muscle regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jee Won Kim
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
| | - Ju-Hyeon Bae
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Ga-Yeon Go
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
| | - Jae-Rin Lee
- Cell and Gene Therapy Products Division, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Cheongju 28159, South Korea
| | - Yideul Jeong
- Research Institute of Aging Related Disease, AniMusCure Inc., Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Jun-Young Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
| | - Tae Hyun Kim
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
| | - Yong Kee Kim
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
| | - Jeung-Whan Han
- Research Center for Epigenome Regulation, School of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Ji-Eun Oh
- Department of Biomedical Laboratory Science, Far East University, 76-32 Daehakgil, Gamgok-myeon, Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk-do, 27601, Korea
| | - Myong-Joon Hahn
- Research Center for Epigenome Regulation, School of Pharmacy, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Jong-Sun Kang
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Suwon 16419, South Korea
- Research Institute of Aging Related Disease, AniMusCure Inc., Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Gyu-Un Bae
- Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Muscle Physiome Research Center, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul 04310, South Korea
- Research Institute of Aging Related Disease, AniMusCure Inc., Suwon 16419, South Korea
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Liao J, Yu X, Huang Z, He Q, Yang J, Zhang Y, Chen J, Song W, Luo J, Tao Q. Chemokines and lymphocyte homing in Sjögren's syndrome. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345381. [PMID: 38736890 PMCID: PMC11082322 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that typically presents with lymphocyte, dendritic cell, and macrophage infiltration of exocrine gland ducts and the formation of ectopic germinal centers. The interactions of lymphocyte homing receptors and addressins and chemokines and their receptors, such as α4β7/MAdCAM-1, LFA-1/ICAM-1, CXCL13/CXCR5, CCL25/CCR9, CX3CL1/CX3CR1, play important roles in the migration of inflammatory cells to the focal glands and the promotion of ectopic germinal center formation in SS. A variety of molecules have been shown to be involved in lymphocyte homing, including tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon (IFN)-α, IFN-β, and B cell activating factor. This process mainly involves the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway, lymphotoxin-β receptor pathway, and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. These findings have led to the development of antibodies to cell adhesion molecules, antagonists of chemokines and their receptors, compounds interfering with chemokine receptor signaling, and gene therapies targeting chemokines and their receptors, providing new targets for the treatment of SS in humans. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between lymphocyte homing and the pathogenesis of SS, and to provide a review of recent studies addressing lymphocyte homing in targeted therapy for SS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahe Liao
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xinbo Yu
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwei Huang
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qian He
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianying Yang
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Chen
- Graduate School, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Weijiang Song
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Immune Inflammatory Disease, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qingwen Tao
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Rheumatism, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Immune Inflammatory Disease, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
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3
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Recombinant Human Proteoglycan 4 (rhPRG4) Downregulates TNFα-Stimulated NFκB Activity and FAT10 Expression in Human Corneal Epithelial Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112711. [DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Dry Eye Disease (DED) is a complex pathology affecting millions of people with significant impact on quality of life. Corneal inflammation, including via the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) pathway, plays a key etiological role in DED. Recombinant human proteoglycan 4 (rhPRG4) has been shown to be a clinically effective treatment for DED that has anti-inflammatory effects in corneal epithelial cells, but the underlying mechanism is still not understood. Our goal was to understand if rhPRG4 affects tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-stimulated inflammatory activity in corneal epithelial cells. We treated hTERT-immortalized corneal epithelial (hTCEpi) cells ± TNFα ± rhPRG4 and performed Western blotting on cell lysate and RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that rhPRG4 had a significant effect on TNFα-mediated inflammation with potential effects on matricellular homeostasis. rhPRG4 reduced activation of key inflammatory pathways and decreased expression of transcripts for key inflammatory cytokines, interferons, interleukins, and transcription factors. TNFα treatment significantly increased phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65, and rhPRG4 significantly reduced both these effects. RNA sequencing identified human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-F adjacent transcript 10 (FAT10), a ubiquitin-like modifier protein which has not been studied in the context of DED, as a key pro-inflammatory transcript increased by TNFα and decreased by rhPRG4. These results were confirmed at the protein level. In summary, rhPRG4 is able to downregulate NFκB activity in hTCEpi cells, suggesting a potential biological mechanism by which it may act as a therapeutic for DED.
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Gut-derived butyrate suppresses ocular surface inflammation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4512. [PMID: 35296712 PMCID: PMC8927112 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-08442-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dry eye is a common ocular inflammatory disorder characterized by tear film instability and reduced tear production. There is increasing evidence that homeostasis of the ocular surface is impacted by the intestinal microbiome. We are interested in investigating the potential role of microbially produced small molecules in mediating the interaction between the intestinal microbiota and the ocular surface. One such molecule is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) produced by certain members of the gut microbiota through fermentation of dietary fiber. Here we show that SCFA transporter SLC5A8 is expressed in vivo in murine conjunctival and corneal epithelium. Pre-treatment of in vitro corneal epithelial cultures or bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) with phenylbutyrate (PBA) reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory Tnf expression. Corneal epithelial cultures and BMDCs isolated from Slc5a8 knockout mice are unable to respond to PBA pre-treatment, suggesting that SLC5A8 is required for the protective effect of PBA. The treatment of mice undergoing desiccating stress (DS) with oral tributyrin, a prodrug form of butyrate, reduces inflammation at the ocular surface in vivo, and this effect partially requires SLC5A8. Finally, expression analysis on conjunctival tissue isolated from mice subjected to DS with and without tributyrin treatment revealed that treatment downregulated genes involved in Type I interferon signaling. Together these data support our hypothesis that SCFAs produced in the gut participate in the maintenance of ocular surface homeostasis.
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Allred MG, Chimenti MS, Ciecko AE, Chen YG, Lieberman SM. Characterization of Type I Interferon-Associated Chemokines and Cytokines in Lacrimal Glands of Nonobese Diabetic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22073767. [PMID: 33916486 PMCID: PMC8038628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22073767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Type I interferons (IFNs) are required for spontaneous lacrimal gland inflammation in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of Sjögren’s disease, but the consequences of type I IFN signaling are not well-defined. Here, we use RNA sequencing to define cytokine and chemokine genes upregulated in lacrimal glands of NOD mice in a type I IFN-dependent manner. Interleukin (IL)-21 was the highest differentially expressed cytokine gene, and Il21 knockout NOD mice were relatively protected from lacrimal gland inflammation. We defined a set of chemokines upregulated early in disease including Cxcl9 and Cxcl10, which share a receptor, CXCR3. CXCR3+ T cells were enriched in lacrimal glands with a dominant proportion of CXCR3+ regulatory T cells. Together these data define the early cytokine and chemokine signals associated with type I IFN-signaling in the development of lacrimal gland inflammation in NOD mice providing insight into the role of type I IFN in autoimmunity development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merri-Grace Allred
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael S. Chimenti
- Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | - Ashley E. Ciecko
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.E.C.); (Y.-G.C.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Yi-Guang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA; (A.E.C.); (Y.-G.C.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
- Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Scott M. Lieberman
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-319-467-5111
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Debreceni IL, Chimenti MS, Serreze DV, Geurts AM, Chen YG, Lieberman SM. Toll-Like Receptor 7 Is Required for Lacrimal Gland Autoimmunity and Type 1 Diabetes Development in Male Nonobese Diabetic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9478. [PMID: 33322152 PMCID: PMC7764018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren syndrome (SS) is an immunologically complex, chronic autoimmune disease targeting lacrimal and salivary glands. Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop inflammation of lacrimal and salivary glands with histopathological features similar to SS in humans including focal lymphocytic infiltrates in the affected glands. The innate immune signals driving lymphocytic infiltration of these glands are not well-defined. Here we evaluate the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 in the development of SS-like manifestations in NOD mice. We created a Tlr7 knockout NOD mouse strain and performed histological and gene expression studies to characterize the effects of TLR7 on autoimmunity development. TLR7 was required for male-specific lacrimal gland inflammation but not for female-specific salivary gland inflammation. Moreover, TLR7 was required for type 1 diabetes development in male but not female NOD mice. RNA sequencing demonstrated that TLR7 was associated with a type I interferon (IFN) response and a type I IFN-independent B cell response in the lacrimal glands. Together these studies identify a previously unappreciated pathogenic role for TLR7 in lacrimal gland autoimmunity and T1D development in male NOD mice adding to the growing body of evidence supporting sex differences in mechanisms of autoimmune disease in NOD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy L. Debreceni
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Michael S. Chimenti
- Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
| | | | - Aron M. Geurts
- Department of Physiology and Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
| | - Yi-Guang Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA;
- Max McGee National Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Scott M. Lieberman
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA;
- Immunology Graduate Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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Contributions of Major Cell Populations to Sjögren's Syndrome. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9093057. [PMID: 32971904 PMCID: PMC7564211 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9093057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is a female dominated autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration into salivary and lacrimal glands and subsequent exocrine glandular dysfunction. SS also may exhibit a broad array of extraglandular manifestations including an elevated incidence of non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma. The etiology of SS remains poorly understood, yet progress has been made in identifying progressive stages of disease using preclinical mouse models. The roles played by immune cell subtypes within these stages of disease are becoming increasingly well understood, though significant gaps in knowledge still remain. There is evidence for distinct involvement from both innate and adaptive immune cells, where cells of the innate immune system establish a proinflammatory environment characterized by a type I interferon (IFN) signature that facilitates propagation of the disease by further activating T and B cell subsets to generate autoantibodies and participate in glandular destruction. This review will discuss the evidence for participation in disease pathogenesis by various classes of immune cells and glandular epithelial cells based upon data from both preclinical mouse models and human patients. Further examination of the contributions of glandular and immune cell subtypes to SS will be necessary to identify additional therapeutic targets that may lead to better management of the disease.
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8
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UBASH3A deficiency accelerates type 1 diabetes development and enhances salivary gland inflammation in NOD mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12019. [PMID: 32694640 PMCID: PMC7374577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68956-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in genetic analyses have significantly refined human type 1 diabetes (T1D) associated loci. The goal of such effort is to identify the causal genes and have a complete understanding of the molecular pathways that independently or interactively influence cellular processes leading to the destruction of insulin producing pancreatic β cells. UBASH3A has been suggested as the underlying gene for a human T1D associated region on chromosome 21. To further evaluate the role of UBASH3A in T1D, we targeted Ubash3a in NOD mice using zinc-finger nuclease mediated mutagenesis. In both 10-week-old females and males, significantly more advanced insulitis was observed in UBASH3A-deficient than in wild-type NOD mice. Consistently, UBASH3A-deficient NOD mice developed accelerated T1D in both sexes, which was associated with increased accumulation of β-cell autoreactive T cells in the spleen and pancreatic lymph node. Adoptive transfer of splenic T cells into NOD.Rag1-/- mice demonstrated that UBASH3A deficiency in T cells was sufficient to promote T1D development. Our results provide strong evidence to further support a role of UBASH3A in T1D. In addition to T1D, UBASH3A deficiency also promoted salivary gland inflammation in females, demonstrating its broad impact on autoimmunity.
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Mechanisms of Disease in Sjögren Syndrome-New Developments and Directions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020650. [PMID: 31963817 PMCID: PMC7013496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sjögren Syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the exocrine glands, mainly salivary and lacrimal glands [...].
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Morthen MK, Tellefsen S, Richards SM, Lieberman SM, Rahimi Darabad R, Kam WR, Sullivan DA. Testosterone Influence on Gene Expression in Lacrimal Glands of Mouse Models of Sjögren Syndrome. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:2181-2197. [PMID: 31108549 PMCID: PMC6528840 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.19-26815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Sjögren syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that occurs almost exclusively in women and is associated with extensive inflammation in lacrimal tissue, an immune-mediated destruction and/or dysfunction of glandular epithelial cells, and a significant decrease in aqueous tear secretion. We discovered that androgens suppress the inflammation in, and enhance the function of, lacrimal glands in female mouse models (e.g., MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6lpr [MRL/lpr]) of Sjögren syndrome. In contrast, others have reported that androgens induce an anomalous immunopathology in lacrimal glands of nonobese diabetic/LtJ (NOD) mice. We tested our hypothesis that these hormone actions reflect unique, strain- and tissue-specific effects, which involve significant changes in the expression of immune-related glandular genes. Methods Lacrimal glands were obtained from age-matched, adult, female MRL/lpr and NOD mice after treatment with vehicle or testosterone for up to 3 weeks. Tissues were processed for analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs using CodeLink Bioarrays and Affymetrix GeneChips. Data were analyzed with bioinformatics and statistical software. Results Testosterone significantly influenced the expression of numerous immune-related genes, ontologies, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways in lacrimal glands of MRL/lpr and NOD mice. The nature of this hormone-induced immune response was dependent upon the autoimmune strain, and was not duplicated within lacrimal tissues of nonautoimmune BALB/c mice. The majority of immune-response genes regulated by testosterone were of the inflammatory type. Conclusions Our findings support our hypothesis and indicate a major role for the lacrimal gland microenvironment in mediating androgen effects on immune gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Kaurstad Morthen
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital/Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara Tellefsen
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital/Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stephen M Richards
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Genetics & Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Scott M Lieberman
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
| | - Raheleh Rahimi Darabad
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Clinical Anesthesia, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
| | - Wendy R Kam
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - David A Sullivan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute of Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, Massachusetts, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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