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Li W, Elshikha AS, Cornaby C, Teng X, Abboud G, Brown J, Zou X, Zeumer-Spataro L, Robusto B, Choi SC, Fredenburg K, Major A, Morel L. T cells expressing the lupus susceptibility allele Pbx1d enhance autoimmunity and atherosclerosis in dyslipidemic mice. JCI Insight 2020; 5:138274. [PMID: 32493841 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.138274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) present a high incidence of atherosclerosis, which contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in this autoimmune disease. An impaired balance between regulatory (Treg) and follicular helper (Tfh) CD4+ T cells is shared by both diseases. However, whether there are common mechanisms of CD4+ T cell dysregulation between SLE and atherosclerosis remains unclear. Pre-B cell leukemia transcription factor 1 isoform d (Pbx1d) is a lupus susceptibility gene that regulates Tfh cell expansion and Treg cell homeostasis. Here, we investigated the role of T cells overexpressing Pbx1d in low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (Ldlr-/-) mice fed with a high-fat diet, an experimental model for atherosclerosis. Pbx1d-transgenic T cells exacerbated some phenotypes of atherosclerosis, which were associated with higher autoantibody production, increased Tfh cell frequency, and impaired Treg cell regulation, in Ldlr-/- mice as compared with control T cells. In addition, we showed that dyslipidemia and Pbx1d-transgenic expression independently impaired the differentiation and function of Treg cells in vitro, suggesting a gene/environment additive effect. Thus, our results suggest that the combination of Pbx1d expression in T cells and dyslipidemia exacerbates both atherosclerosis and autoimmunity, at least in part through a dysregulation of Treg cell homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ahmed S Elshikha
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Sharkia, Egypt
| | - Caleb Cornaby
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Xiangyu Teng
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Georges Abboud
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Josephine Brown
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Xueyang Zou
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Leilani Zeumer-Spataro
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Brian Robusto
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Seung-Chul Choi
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kristianna Fredenburg
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Amy Major
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Laurence Morel
- Department of Pathology, Immunology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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2
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Tang S, Du X, Yuan L, Xiao G, Wu M, Wang L, Wu S, Duan Z, Xiang Y, Qu X, Liu H, Zou Y, Qin X, Qin L, Liu C. Airway epithelial ITGB4 deficiency in early life mediates pulmonary spontaneous inflammation and enhanced allergic immune response. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:2761-2771. [PMID: 31970850 PMCID: PMC7077534 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung immune responses to respiratory pathogens and allergens are initiated in early life which will further influence the later onset of asthma. The airway epithelia form the first mechanical physical barrier to allergic stimuli and environmental pollutants, which is also the key regulator in the initiation and development of lung immune response. However, the epithelial regulation mechanisms of early-life lung immune responses are far from clear. Our previous study found that integrin β4 (ITGB4) is decreased in the airway epithelium of asthma patients with specific variant site. ITGB4 deficiency in adult mice aggravated the lung Th2 immune responses and enhanced airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) with a house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma model. However, the contribution of ITGB4 to the postnatal lung immune response is still obscure. Here, we further demonstrated that ITGB4 deficiency following birth mediates spontaneous lung inflammation with ILC2 activation and increased infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes. Moreover, ITGB4 deficiency regulated thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) production in airway epithelial cells through EGFR pathways. Neutralization of TSLP inhibited the spontaneous inflammation significantly in ITGB4-deficient mice. Furthermore, we also found that ITGB4 deficiency led to exaggerated lung allergic inflammation response to HDM stress. In all, these findings indicate that ITGB4 deficiency in early life causes spontaneous lung inflammation and induces exaggerated lung inflammation response to HDM aeroallergen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sha Tang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Citic-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Xizi Du
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lin Yuan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Gelei Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengping Wu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Leyuan Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - ShuangYan Wu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhen Duan
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangping Qu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huijun Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yizhou Zou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaoqun Qin
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ling Qin
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chi Liu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Research Center of China-Africa Infectious Diseases, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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3
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Dale BL, Pandey AK, Chen Y, Smart CD, Laroumanie F, Ao M, Xiao L, Dikalova AE, Dikalov SI, Elijovich F, Foss JD, Barbaro NR, Van Beusecum JP, Deger SM, Alsouqi A, Itani HA, Norlander AE, Alexander MR, Zhao S, Ikizler TA, Algood HMS, Madhur MS. Critical role of Interleukin 21 and T follicular helper cells in hypertension and vascular dysfunction. JCI Insight 2019; 5:129278. [PMID: 31013256 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.129278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
T and B cells have been implicated in hypertension, but the mechanisms by which they produce a coordinated response is unknown. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells that produce interleukin 21 (IL21) promote germinal center (GC) B cell responses leading to immunoglobulin (Ig) production. Here we investigate the role of IL21 and Tfh cells in hypertension. In response to angiotensin (Ang) II-induced hypertension, T cell IL21 production is increased, and Il21-/- mice develop blunted hypertension, attenuated vascular end-organ damage, and decreased interleukin 17A (IL17A) and interferon gamma production. Tfh-like cells and GC B cells accumulate in the aorta and plasma IgG1 is increased in hypertensive WT but not Il21-/-mice. Furthermore, Tfh cell deficient mice develop blunted hypertension and vascular hypertrophy in response to Ang II infusion. Importantly, IL21 neutralization reduces blood pressure (BP) and reverses endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation. Moreover, recombinant IL21 impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation ex vivo and decreases nitric oxide production from cultured endothelial cells. Finally, we show in humans that peripheral blood T cell production of IL21 correlates with systolic BP and IL17A production. These data suggest that IL21 may be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of hypertension and its micro- and macrovascular complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bethany L Dale
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Yuhan Chen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Charles D Smart
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Mingfang Ao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Liang Xiao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
| | | | | | | | - Jason D Foss
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
| | | | | | | | | | - Hana A Itani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology
| | - Allison E Norlander
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | | | | | - Holly M Scott Algood
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Digestive Diseases Research Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Meena S Madhur
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.,Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology.,Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Laroumanie F, Korneva A, Bersi MR, Alexander MR, Xiao L, Zhong X, Van Beusecum JP, Chen Y, Saleh MA, McMaster WG, Gavulic KA, Dale BL, Zhao S, Guo Y, Shyr Y, Perrien DS, Cox NJ, Curci JA, Humphrey JD, Madhur MS. LNK deficiency promotes acute aortic dissection and rupture. JCI Insight 2018; 3:122558. [PMID: 30333305 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.122558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aortic dissection (AD) is a life-threatening vascular disease with limited treatment strategies. Here, we show that loss of the GWAS-identified SH2B3 gene, encoding lymphocyte adaptor protein LNK, markedly increases susceptibility to acute AD and rupture in response to angiotensin (Ang) II infusion. As early as day 3 following Ang II infusion, prior to the development of AD, Lnk-/- aortas display altered mechanical properties, increased elastin breaks, collagen thinning, enhanced neutrophil accumulation, and increased MMP-9 activity compared with WT mice. Adoptive transfer of Lnk-/- leukocytes into Rag1-/- mice induces AD and rupture in response to Ang II, demonstrating that LNK deficiency in hematopoietic cells plays a key role in this disease. Interestingly, treatment with doxycycline prevents the early accumulation of aortic neutrophils and significantly reduces the incidence of AD and rupture. PrediXcan analysis in a biobank of more than 23,000 individuals reveals that decreased expression of SH2B3 is significantly associated with increased frequency of AD-related phenotypes (odds ratio 0.81). Thus, we identified a role for LNK in the pathology of AD in experimental animals and humans and describe a new model that can be used to inform both inherited and acquired forms of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Laroumanie
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Arina Korneva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Matthew R Bersi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University (VU), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Liang Xiao
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Justin P Van Beusecum
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yuhan Chen
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mohamed A Saleh
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | | | - Kyle A Gavulic
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bethany L Dale
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, VU, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | | | | | - Daniel S Perrien
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, and
| | | | - John A Curci
- Division of Vascular Surgery, VUMC, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jay D Humphrey
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Meena S Madhur
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), Nashville, Tennessee, USA.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.,Division of Vascular Surgery, VUMC, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Corneal lymphangiogenesis facilitates ocular surface inflammation and cell trafficking in dry eye disease. Ocul Surf 2018; 16:306-313. [PMID: 29601983 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2018.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE While the normal cornea has limited innervation by the lymphatic system, chronic immune-inflammatory disorders such as dry eye (DE) can induce lymphangiogenesis in the ocular surface. Using a conditional knock-down murine model, Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice, this study investigated the role of lymphangiogenesis in the pathophysiology of DE. METHODS DE was induced in both wild type (WT) B6 and Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice. Tissue immunostaining and volumetric gross measurements were used to assess changes in the ocular surface, skin, and lymph nodes (LNs). The expression of lymphangiogenic factors (TNF-α, IL-6/-8/-12/-17, VEGF-C/-D, IFN-γ, VEGFR-2/-3, Lyve-1, and podoplanin) and the frequency of immune cells (CD4, CD11b, and CD207) on the ocular surface and lacrimal glands were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and flow cytometry. RESULTS Compared to WT mice, there were fewer lymphatic vessels and a reduction in lymphangiogenic markers in the ocular surface and skin of Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice. After DE induction, mRNA levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and IFN-γ were significantly reduced in Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice compared to WT mice (p < .01). Surprisingly, the LNs from Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice with DE were significantly smaller and populated by fewer dendritic cells and effector T cells than those from WT mice (p < .001). Furthermore, immunostaining showed corneal nerves in the DE-induced Lyve-1Cre;VEGFR2flox mice were notably intact like in the naïve condition. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of lymphangiogenesis in the cornea effectively attenuates not only the inflammatory response including trafficking of immune cells but also preserves corneal nerves under desiccating stress. Corneal lymphangiogenesis might be a contributing factor in deterioration on the ocular surface homeostasis.
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