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Koh CH, Kim BS, Kang CY, Chung Y, Seo H. IL-17 and IL-21: Their Immunobiology and Therapeutic Potentials. Immune Netw 2024; 24:e2. [PMID: 38455465 PMCID: PMC10917578 DOI: 10.4110/in.2024.24.e2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies over the last 2 decades have identified IL-17 and IL-21 as key cytokines in the modulation of a wide range of immune responses. IL-17 serves as a critical defender against bacterial and fungal pathogens, while maintaining symbiotic relationships with commensal microbiota. However, alterations in its levels can lead to chronic inflammation and autoimmunity. IL-21, on the other hand, bridges the adaptive and innate immune responses, and its imbalance is implicated in autoimmune diseases and cancer, highlighting its important role in both health and disease. Delving into the intricacies of these cytokines not only opens new avenues for understanding the immune system, but also promises innovative advances in the development of therapeutic strategies for numerous diseases. In this review, we will discuss an updated view of the immunobiology and therapeutic potential of IL-17 and IL-21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choong-Hyun Koh
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Byung-Seok Kim
- Division of Life Sciences, College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Korea
| | - Chang-Yuil Kang
- Research & Development Center, Cellid Co., Ltd., Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Yeonseok Chung
- Laboratory of Immune Regulation, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
| | - Hyungseok Seo
- Laboratory of Cell & Gene Therapy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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Yi P, Cao P, Yang M, Xiong F, Jiang J, Mei Y, Xin Y, Zhao M, Wu H, Lu Q. Overexpressed CD44 is associated with B-cell activation via the HA-CD44-AIM2 pathway in lupus B cells. Clin Immunol 2023; 255:109710. [PMID: 37499961 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109710] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by aberrant development of B cells and excess production of autoantibodies. Our team previously reported that absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) regulates B-cell differentiation via the Bcl-6-Blimp-1 axis. Notably, in keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH)-immunized CD19creAim2f/f mice, the frequency of CD19+CD44+ B cells was decreased, accompanied by a weakened KLH response, indicating that AIM2 deficiency suppressed the antigen-induced B-cell immune response by downregulating the expression of CD44. CD44, a surface marker of T-cell activation and memory, was overexpressed in T cells of SLE patients, but its roles and mechanism in B cells have not been elucidated. In the current work, we revealed that CD44 expression was upregulated in the B cells of SLE patients and MRL/lpr mice, accompanied by elevated AIM2 expression in CD19+CD44+ B-cell subsets, and that its ligand hyaluronan (HA) was also abnormally increased in the serum of SLE patients. Notably, the extrafollicular (EF) region serves as an important site of B-cell activation and differentiation separate from the germinal center, while CD44 expression is concentrated in EF B cells. In addition, in vitro experiments demonstrated that the HA-CD44 interaction stimulated B-cell activation and upregulated the expression of AIM2 and the transcription factor STAT3. Either blocking CD44, knocking down AIM2 expression or suppressing the activity of STAT3 in B cells suppressed B-cell activation and proliferation. Moreover, blocking CD44 downregulated the expression of STAT3 and AIM2, while suppressing the activity of STAT3 decreased the expression of CD44 and AIM2. In summary, overexpressed CD44 in B cells might participate in B-cell activation and proliferation in the EF region via the HA-CD44-AIM2 pathway, providing potential targets for SLE therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yi
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China; Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Pengpeng Cao
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiao Jiang
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Mei
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yue Xin
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mingming Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Haijing Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Qianjin Lu
- Department of Dermatology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenomics, Changsha, Hunan, China; Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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Seth A, Yokokura Y, Choi JY, Shyer JA, Vidyarthi A, Craft J. AP-1-independent NFAT signaling maintains follicular T cell function in infection and autoimmunity. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20211110. [PMID: 36820828 PMCID: PMC9998660 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20211110] [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: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinated gene expression programs enable development and function of T cell subsets. Follicular helper T (Tfh) cells coordinate humoral immune responses by providing selective and instructive cues to germinal center B cells. Here, we show that AP-1-independent NFAT gene expression, a program associated with hyporesponsive T cell states like anergy or exhaustion, is also a distinguishing feature of Tfh cells. NFAT signaling in Tfh cells, maintained by NFAT2 autoamplification, is required for their survival. ICOS signaling upregulates Bcl6 and induces an AP-1-independent NFAT program in primary T cells. Using lupus-prone mice, we demonstrate that genetic disruption or pharmacologic inhibition of NFAT signaling specifically impacts Tfh cell maintenance and leads to amelioration of autoantibody production and renal injury. Our data provide important conceptual and therapeutic insights into the signaling mechanisms that regulate Tfh cell development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Seth
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yoshiyuki Yokokura
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jin-Young Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Justin A. Shyer
- Department of Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Aurobind Vidyarthi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joe Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Immunobiology, School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Tan Z, Wang L, Li X. Composition and regulation of the immune microenvironment of salivary gland in Sjögren’s syndrome. Front Immunol 2022; 13:967304. [PMID: 36177010 PMCID: PMC9513852 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.967304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland dysfunction and inflammation. Patients often have dry mouth and dry eye symptoms, which seriously affect their lives. Improving dry mouth and eye symptoms has become a common demand from patients. For this reason, researchers have conducted many studies on external secretory glands. In this paper, we summarize recent studies on the salivary glands of pSS patients from the perspective of the immune microenvironment. These studies showed that hypoxia, senescence, and chronic inflammation are the essential characteristics of the salivary gland immune microenvironment. In the SG of pSS, genes related to lymphocyte chemotaxis, antigen presentation, and lymphocyte activation are upregulated. Interferon (IFN)-related genes, DNA methylation, sRNA downregulation, and mitochondrial-related differentially expressed genes are also involved in forming the immune microenvironment of pSS, while multiple signaling pathways are involved in regulation. We further elucidated the regulation of the salivary gland immune microenvironment in pSS and relevant, targeted treatments.
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Zhang X, Zou M, Liang Y, Yang Y, Jing L, Sun M, Dong Z, Zhang X, Xiong H, Dong G. Arctigenin inhibits abnormal germinal center reactions and attenuates murine lupus by inhibiting IFN-I pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2022; 919:174808. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2022.174808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Shater H, Fawzy M, Farid A, El-Amir A, Fouad S, Madbouly N. The potential use of serum interleukin-21 as biomarker for lupus nephritis activity compared to cytokines of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Lupus 2022; 31:55-64. [PMID: 34978958 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211063794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lupus nephritis (LN) is a significant consequence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that focuses on evaluation of serum interleukin (IL-) 21 as a diagnostic biomarker of LN activity, compared to B lymphocyte stimulator (BlyS), tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13 (TNF-SF13), and traditional techniques of active LN attempting to compare their diagnostic usefulness. METHODS Serum levels of IL-21, BlyS, and TNF-SF13 during LN were investigated. Twenty-five biopsy-proven, active LN female patients and 15 SLE patients without active LN and 20 healthy controls (HCs) joined this work. RESULTS Serum IL-21 level was significantly higher in active LN group than in inactive LN group. Correlation analysis showed that serum IL-21 levels were significantly correlated with total SLEDAI (r = 0.41, p = 0.03), renal-SLEDAI (r = 0.48, p = 0.04), renal activity index (AI) (r = 0.93; p < 0.001), and 24-h proteinuria (r = 0.51; p > 0.008). Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) revealed the ability of serum IL-21 to discriminate between active and inactive LN with 70% sensitivity at >240 pg/ml cutoff point (AUC 0.809). CONCLUSION For Egyptian SLE patients, serum levels of IL-21 were superior to TNF-SF13 and BlyS and correlated significantly with the activity indexes of LN, indicating a promising role as a potential biomarker of active LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hend Shater
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mary Fawzy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine (Kasr Al-Ainy School of Medicine), 98876Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Alyaa Farid
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Azza El-Amir
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Salwa Fouad
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Neveen Madbouly
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
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Nakayamada S, Tanaka Y. Clinical relevance of T follicular helper cells in systemic lupus erythematosus. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2021; 17:1143-1150. [PMID: 34469695 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2021.1976146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION T helper cells regulate a variety of immune responses and are involved in the pathogenesis of infection, allergy and autoimmune diseases. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, which induce B cell maturation, play an important role in the production of the extremely diverse autoantibodies found in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). AREA COVERED We provide an overview of the plasticity and diversity of Tfh cells in humans and their involvement in the pathology and pathogenesis of SLE. Our review outlines the potential of Tfh cells as a therapeutic target for SLE. EXPERT OPINION Tfh cells are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE based on their plasticity and diversity. Tfh cell differentiation and function are variably regulated by cytokines (IL-12, interferons, IL-2, etc), co-stimulatory molecules (ICOS, CD40L, OX40, etc), and intracellular signals (JAK-STAT, etc). Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying Tfh cell differentiation and function may lead to the development of new therapies for SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakayamada
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Yoshiya Tanaka
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan
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Valentine KM, Mullins GN, Davalos OA, Seow LW, Hoyer KK. CD8 follicular T cells localize throughout the follicle during germinal center reactions and maintain cytolytic and helper properties. J Autoimmun 2021; 123:102690. [PMID: 34274825 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Follicular CXCR5+ PD-1+ CD8 T cells (CD8 Tfc) arise in multiple models of systemic autoimmunity yet their functional contribution to disease remains in debate. Here we define the follicular localization and functional interactions of CD8 Tfc with B cells during autoimmune disease. The absence of functional T regulatory cells in autoimmunity allows for CD8 Tfc development that then expands with lymphoproliferation. CD8 Tfc are identifiable within the lymph nodes and spleen during systemic autoimmunity, but not during tissue-restricted autoimmune disease. Autoimmune CD8 Tfc cells are polyfunctional, producing helper cytokines IL-21, IL-4, and IFNγ while maintaining cytolytic proteins CD107a, granzyme B, and TNF. During autoimmune disease, IL-2-KO CD8 T cells infiltrate the B cell follicle and germinal center, including the dark zone, and in vitro induce activation-induced cytidine deaminase in naïve B cells via IL-4 secretion. CD8 Tfc represent a unique CD8 T cell population with a diverse effector cytokine repertoire that can contribute to pathogenic autoimmune B cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Valentine
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Genevieve N Mullins
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Oscar A Davalos
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Lek Wei Seow
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Katrina K Hoyer
- Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA; Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
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Papillion A, Ballesteros-Tato A. The Potential of Harnessing IL-2-Mediated Immunosuppression to Prevent Pathogenic B Cell Responses. Front Immunol 2021; 12:667342. [PMID: 33986755 PMCID: PMC8112607 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.667342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppressive drugs can partially control Antibody (Ab)-dependent pathology. However, these therapeutic regimens must be maintained for the patient's lifetime, which is often associated with severe side effects. As research advances, our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of auto-reactive B cell responses has significantly advanced. As a result, novel immunotherapies aimed to restore immune tolerance and prevent disease progression in autoimmune patients are underway. In this regard, encouraging results from clinical and preclinical studies demonstrate that subcutaneous administration of low-doses of recombinant Interleukin-2 (r-IL2) has potent immunosuppressive effects in patients with autoimmune pathologies. Although the exact mechanism by which IL-2 induces immunosuppression remains unclear, the clinical benefits of the current IL-2-based immunotherapies are attributed to its effect on bolstering T regulatory (Treg) cells, which are known to suppress overactive immune responses. In addition to Tregs, however, rIL-2 also directly prevent the T follicular helper cells (Tfh), T helper 17 cells (Th17), and Double Negative (DN) T cell responses, which play critical roles in the development of autoimmune disorders and have the ability to help pathogenic B cells. Here we discuss the broader effects of rIL-2 immunotherapy and the potential of combining rIL-2 with other cytokine-based therapies to more efficiently target Tfh cells, Th17, and DN T cells and subsequently inhibit auto-antibody (ab) production in autoimmune patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - André Ballesteros-Tato
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
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Marczynski P, Meineck M, Xia N, Li H, Kraus D, Roth W, Möckel T, Boedecker S, Schwarting A, Weinmann-Menke J. Vascular Inflammation and Dysfunction in Lupus-Prone Mice-IL-6 as Mediator of Disease Initiation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052291. [PMID: 33669022 PMCID: PMC7956579 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease and patients are under an increased risk for cardiovascular (CV) events and mortality. The increased CV risk for patients with SLE seems to be caused by a premature and accelerated atherosclerosis, attributable to lupus-specific risk factors (i.e., increased systemic inflammation, altered immune status), apart from traditional CV risk factors. To date, there is no established experimental model to explore the pathogenesis of this increased CV risk in SLE patients. METHODS Here we investigated whether MRL-Faslpr mice, which develop an SLE-like phenotype, may serve as a model to study lupus-mediated vascular disease. Therefore, MRL-Faslpr, MRL-++, and previously generated Il6-/- MRL-Faslpr mice were used to evaluate vascular changes and possible mechanisms of vascular dysfunction and damage. RESULTS Contrary to MRL-++ control mice, lupus-prone MRL-Faslpr mice exhibited a pronounced vascular and perivascular leukocytic infiltration in various organs; expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the aorta and kidney was augmented; and intima-media thickness of the aorta was increased. IL-6 deficiency reversed these changes and restored aortic relaxation. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that the MRL-Faslpr mouse model is an excellent tool to investigate vascular damage in SLE mice. Moreover, IL-6 promotes vascular inflammation and damage and could potentially be a therapeutic target for the treatment of accelerated arteriosclerosis in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Marczynski
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Myriam Meineck
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Ning Xia
- Institute of Pharmacology, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Huige Li
- Institute of Pharmacology, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (N.X.); (H.L.)
| | - Daniel Kraus
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Wilfried Roth
- Institute of Pathology, Medical Center of the Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Tamara Möckel
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Simone Boedecker
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Andreas Schwarting
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
| | - Julia Weinmann-Menke
- Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, University Center of Autoimmunity, Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany; (P.M.); (M.M.); (D.K.); (T.M.); (S.B.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6131-176774; Fax: +49-6131-17476774
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Tangye SG, Ma CS. Regulation of the germinal center and humoral immunity by interleukin-21. J Exp Med 2020; 217:132621. [PMID: 31821441 PMCID: PMC7037251 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20191638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we review the critical and non-redundant functions of IL-21 in regulating humoral immune responses. We particularly focus on studies in natura—from individuals from inborn errors of immunity that impact on IL-21 production and/or function. Cytokines play critical roles in regulating the development, survival, differentiation, and function of immune cells. Cytokines exert their function by binding specific receptor complexes on the surface of immune cells and activating intracellular signaling pathways, thereby resulting in induction of specific transcription factors and regulated expression of target genes. While the function of cytokines is often fundamental for the generation of robust and effective immunity following infection or vaccination, aberrant production or function of cytokines can underpin immunopathology. IL-21 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced predominantly by CD4+ T cells. Gene-targeting studies in mice, in vitro analyses of human and murine lymphocytes, and the recent discoveries and analyses of humans with germline loss-of-function mutations in IL21 or IL21R have revealed diverse roles of IL-21 in immune regulation and effector function. This review will focus on recent advances in IL-21 biology that have highlighted its critical role in T cell–dependent B cell activation, germinal center reactions, and humoral immunity and how impaired responses to, or production of, IL-21 can lead to immune dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Tangye
- Immunology Theme, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia.,Clinical Immunogenomics Consortium of Australasia, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Cindy S Ma
- Immunology Theme, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales Sydney, Darlinghurst, Australia.,Clinical Immunogenomics Consortium of Australasia, Darlinghurst, Australia
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Wang M, Chen H, Qiu J, Yang HX, Zhang CY, Fei YY, Zhao LD, Zhou JX, Wang L, Wu QJ, Zhou YZ, Zhang W, Zhang FC, Zhang X, Lipsky PE. Antagonizing miR-7 suppresses B cell hyperresponsiveness and inhibits lupus development. J Autoimmun 2020; 109:102440. [PMID: 32201226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2020.102440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to address the biological function of miR-7 in an animal model of systemic lupus erythematosus. METHODS MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice were administrated antagomiR-7 or a scramble control by tail vein for 5weeks. Three groups of animals' tissues were assessed for lupus manifestations by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, and serum was examined for levels of autoantibodies and inflammatory cytokines. Splenic B cell subsets were assessed for intracellular expression of PI3K signaling by FACS. Finally, the ability of the miR-7 antagomir to regulate the expansion of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and B cell hyperresponsiveness was further explored. RESULTS We found that miR-7 was up-regulated in MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice and directly targeted PTEN mRNA in B cells. Up-regulated miR-7 in MRLlpr/lpr lupus B cells was negatively correlated with PTEN expression. Notably, miR-7 antagomir treatment reduced lupus manifestations in MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice. miR-7-mediated down-regulation of PTEN/AKT signaling promoted B cell differentiation into plasmablasts/plasma cells and spontaneous germinal center (GC) formation, whereas miR-7 antagomir normalized splenic B cell subtypes. Besides suppressing the activation of B cells, miR-7 antagomir intervention also down-regulated STAT3 phosphorylation and production of IL-21 and reduced Tfh expansion. CONCLUSION The above data have demonstrated the critical roles of miR-7 not only in regulating PTEN expression and also B cell and Tfh cell function in lupus-prone MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice. Furthermore, the disease manifestations in MRLlpr/lpr lupus mice are efficiently improved by miR-7 antagomir, indicating miR-7 as a potential treatment strategy in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China; Clinical Immunology Centre, Medical Epigenetics Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hua Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jia Qiu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Henan, 471003, China
| | - Hua-Xia Yang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Chun-Yan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yun-Yun Fei
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Li-Dan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Qing-Jun Wu
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yang-Zhong Zhou
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Feng-Chun Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Beijing, 100730, China; Clinical Immunology Centre, Medical Epigenetics Research Centre, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China; National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases (NCRC-DID), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Peter E Lipsky
- RILITE Research Institute and AMPEL BioSolutions, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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13
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Zhu J, Hay AN, Potter AA, Richwine MW, Sproule T, LeRoith T, Wilson J, Hasham MG, Roopenian DC, Leeth CM. Abrogated AID Function Prolongs Survival and Diminishes Renal Pathology in the BXSB Mouse Model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:1091-1100. [PMID: 31988182 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Almost a decade has passed since the approval of belimumab, an mAb directed against B lymphocyte stimulation and the first targeted therapy approved for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) in over 50 y. Although well tolerated, the efficacy of belimumab remains limited and is not labeled for patients suffering from nephritis, the leading cause of patient mortality. We sought to explore alternative targets of autoreactive B lymphocytes through manipulation of affinity maturation. The BXSB/MpJ mouse, a well-established model of human SLE, develops elevated antinuclear Abs and immune complex-mediated nephritis along with other manifestations of SLE-like disease. To limit interfering with critical background genetics, we used CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID; Aicda) directly in BXSB zygotes. Homozygous null mice demonstrated significantly prolonged survival compared with wild-type. Although mice continued to develop plasma cells, splenic follicular structure was restored, and renal pathology was reduced. Mice developed expanded germinal center B lymphocyte populations as in other models of AID deficiency as well as increased populations of CD73+ B lymphocytes. Treatment with the small molecule inhibitor of RAD51, 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulfonic acid, resulted in minimal changes in disease markers in BXSB mice. The prolonged survival in AID-deficient BXSB mice appears attributed primarily to the reduced renal pathology, warranting further exploration, as current therapeutics targeting lupus nephritis are limited and, thus, in great demand.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhu
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Alayna N Hay
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Ashley A Potter
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - Madison W Richwine
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | | | - Tanya LeRoith
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061
| | - John Wilson
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME 04609; and
| | | | | | - Caroline M Leeth
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061;
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14
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Adamichou C, Georgakis S, Bertsias G. Cytokine targets in lupus nephritis: Current and future prospects. Clin Immunol 2019; 206:42-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2018.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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15
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Seth A, Craft J. Spatial and functional heterogeneity of follicular helper T cells in autoimmunity. Curr Opin Immunol 2019; 61:1-9. [PMID: 31374450 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2019.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Follicular helper T cells provide signals that promote B cell development, proliferation, and production of affinity matured and appropriately isotype switched antibodies. In addition to their classical locations within B cell follicles and germinal centers therein, B cell helper T cells are also found in extrafollicular spaces - either in secondary lymphoid or non-lymphoid tissues. Both follicular and extrafollicular T helper cells drive autoantibody-mediated autoimmunity. Interfering with B cell help provided by T cells can ameliorate autoimmune disease in animal models and human patients. The next frontier in Tfh cell biology will be identification of Tfh cell-specific pathogenic changes in autoimmunity and exploiting them for therapeutic purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Seth
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Joe Craft
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Rheumatology, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States.
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16
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Lin J, Yu Y, Ma J, Ren C, Chen W. PD-1+CXCR5−CD4+T cells are correlated with the severity of systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019; 58:2188-2192. [PMID: 31180450 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kez228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
PD-1+CXCR5−CD4+T peripheral helper (Tph) cells, a recently identified T cell subset, are proven to promote B cell responses and antibody production in rheumatoid arthritis, but their role in the pathogenesis of SLE is unknown. We explored the role of Tph in lupus disease development.
Methods
This cohort study included 68 patients with SLE and 41 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. The frequency of PD-1+CXCR5−CD4+T cells was analysed in peripheral blood by flow cytometry. Inducible T-cell costimulator, CD38, MHC-II, IL-21, CXCR3 and CCR6 expression were measured in Tph cells. Comparisons between the two groups were performed, and correlations between Tph cells and other parameters were investigated.
Results
We revealed a markedly expanded population of Tph cells (8.31 ± 5.45 vs 2.86 ± 1.31%, P < 0.0001) in the circulation of patients with SLE (n = 68), compared with healthy controls (n = 41). Tph cells were much higher in the active group than in the inactive group (14.21 ± 5.21 vs 5.49 ± 2.52%, P < 0.0001). Tph cells were significantly associated with SLEDAI score (r = 0.802), ESR (r = 0.415), IgG (r = 0.434), C3 (r = −0.543), C4 (r = −0.518) and IL-21 level (r = 0.628), and ANA titre (r = 0.272). Furthermore, Tph cells were much higher in lupus patients with arthritis, nephritis, rash, alopecia, pleuritis, pericarditis and haematological involvement. Tph cells were associated with CD138+/CD19+ plasma cells (r = 0.518). Furthermore, MHC-II, inducible T-cell costimulator, CD38, and IL-21 expression were all higher in Tph cells from SLE patients compared with healthy controls. CXCR3+CCR6−Tph (Tph1) cells were expanded in the SLE patients.
Conclusion
Our data show that relative number of Tph cells is correlated with disease measures in patients with SLE, suggesting an important role in lupus disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Lin
- Division of Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ye Yu
- Division of Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jilin Ma
- Division of Nephrology, Zhejiang Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Chunyun Ren
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Weiqian Chen
- Division of Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
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17
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Innate and adaptive signals enhance differentiation and expansion of dual-antibody autoreactive B cells in lupus. Nat Commun 2018; 9:3973. [PMID: 30266981 PMCID: PMC6162205 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06293-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoreactive B cells have a major function in autoimmunity. A small subset of B cells expressing two distinct B-cell-antigen-receptors (B2R cells) is elevated in many patients with systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and in the MRL(/lpr) mouse model of lupus, and is often autoreactive. Here we show, using RNAseq and in vitro and in vivo analyses, signals that are required for promoting B2R cell numbers and effector function in autoimmune mice. Compared with conventional B cells, B2R cells are more responsive to Toll-like receptor 7/9 and type I/II interferon treatment, display higher levels of MHCII and co-receptors, and depend on IL-21 for their homeostasis; moreover they expand better upon T cell-dependent antigen stimulation, and mount a more robust memory response, which are characteristics essential for enhanced (auto)immune responses. Our findings thus provide insights on the stimuli for the expansion of an autoreactive B cell subset that may contribute to the etiology of SLE.
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18
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Zheng X, Zhou Y, Yi X, Chen C, Wen C, Ye G, Li X, Tang L, Zhang X, Yang F, Liu G, Li Y, Hou J. IL-21 receptor signaling is essential for control of hepatocellular carcinoma growth and immunological memory for tumor challenge. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1500673. [PMID: 30524894 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1500673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-associated cancer. IL-21 regulates both innate and adaptive immune responses and has key roles in antitumor and antiviral responses. However, the role of IL-21 in HCC development is poorly defined. In the current study, we explored the role of IL-21R signaling in HCC growth by using IL-21R knockout mice and HCC mouse models. We discovered that IL-21R signaling deficiency promoted HCC growth in tumor-bearing mice. We showed that IL-21R deletion reduced T cells infiltration and activation as well as their function but increased the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumor tissues to enhance HCC growth. Furthermore, loss of IL-21R signaling in tumor-bearing mice resulted in an imbalance of the systemic immune system characterized by decreased antitumor immune cells and increased immunosuppressive cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. In addition, we revealed that IL-21R signaling is critical for the expansion of antitumor immune cells in the memory immune response to tumor rechallenge. Finally, we showed that the transcriptional levels of IL-21 in the peritumoral region and IL-21R within the tumor are associated with survival and recurrence of HCC patients. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that IL-21R signaling is essential for controlling the development of HCC and immunological memory response to tumor challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchun Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chengcong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunhua Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guofu Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Libo Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuqiang Yang
- Liver Disease Research Center, The 458th Hospital of PLA, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangze Liu
- Liver Disease Research Center, The 458th Hospital of PLA, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongyin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlin Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Hepatology Unit and Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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19
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Gensous N, Charrier M, Duluc D, Contin-Bordes C, Truchetet ME, Lazaro E, Duffau P, Blanco P, Richez C. T Follicular Helper Cells in Autoimmune Disorders. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1637. [PMID: 30065726 PMCID: PMC6056609 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are a distinct subset of CD4+ T lymphocytes, specialized in B cell help and in regulation of antibody responses. They are required for the generation of germinal center reactions, where selection of high affinity antibody producing B cells and development of memory B cells occur. Owing to the fundamental role of Tfh cells in adaptive immunity, the stringent control of their production and function is critically important, both for the induction of an optimal humoral response against thymus-dependent antigens but also for the prevention of self-reactivity. Indeed, deregulation of Tfh activities can contribute to a pathogenic autoantibody production and can play an important role in the promotion of autoimmune diseases. In the present review, we briefly introduce the molecular factors involved in Tfh cell formation in the context of a normal immune response, as well as markers associated with their identification (transcription factor, surface marker expression, and cytokine production). We then consider in detail the role of Tfh cells in the pathogenesis of a broad range of autoimmune diseases, with a special focus on systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as on the other autoimmune/inflammatory disorders. We summarize the observed alterations in Tfh numbers, activation state, and circulating subset distribution during autoimmune and some other inflammatory disorders. In addition, central role of interleukin-21, major cytokine produced by Tfh cells, is discussed, as well as the involvement of follicular regulatory T cells, which share characteristics with both Tfh and regulatory T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémie Gensous
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Manon Charrier
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Dorothée Duluc
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | | | | | - Estibaliz Lazaro
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre Duffau
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Patrick Blanco
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Christophe Richez
- ImmunoConcept, UMR-CNRS 5164, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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20
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Komai T, Inoue M, Okamura T, Morita K, Iwasaki Y, Sumitomo S, Shoda H, Yamamoto K, Fujio K. Transforming Growth Factor-β and Interleukin-10 Synergistically Regulate Humoral Immunity via Modulating Metabolic Signals. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1364. [PMID: 29963056 PMCID: PMC6010538 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitory cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), are humoral factors involved in the suppressive function of regulatory T cells and play critical roles in maintaining immune homeostasis. However, TGF-β and IL-10 also have pleiotropic effects and induce humoral immune responses depending on conditions, and thus their therapeutic application to autoimmune diseases remains limited. Here, we show that a combination of TGF-β and IL-10, but not single cytokine, is required to suppress B cell activation induced by toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulation. In in vivo analyses, the simultaneous presence of TGF-β and IL-10 effectively suppressed TLR-mediated antigen-specific immune responses and ameliorated pathologies in imiquimod (TLR7 agonist)-induced lupus model and lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. Intriguingly, TGF-β and IL-10 synergistically modulated transcriptional programs and suppressed cellular energetics of both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation via inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)/S6 kinase 1 (S6K1) pathway in TLR-stimulated B cells. On the other hand, enhancement of mTOR signaling and mitochondrial biosynthesis in TLR-stimulated B cells counteracted the synergistic inhibitory effects. The inhibitory cytokine synergy of TGF-β and IL-10 via suppression of energy metabolism was also observed in human TLR-stimulated B cells. There is increasing evidence supporting the importance of adequate metabolic signals in various immune cells to exert their immune function. In this study, we have shown that a previously unrecognized synergy of inhibitory cytokines regulates systemic humoral immune responses via modulating immunometabolism in B cells. Our findings indicate that inhibition of B cell metabolism mediated by two synergistic cytokines contributes to the induction of immune tolerance and could be a new therapeutic strategy for autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Komai
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mariko Inoue
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohisa Okamura
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Functional Genomics and Immunological Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Max Planck-The University of Tokyo Center for Integrative Inflammology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaoru Morita
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Iwasaki
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Sumitomo
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Shoda
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Max Planck-The University of Tokyo Center for Integrative Inflammology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory for Autoimmune Diseases, Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, RIKEN, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Keishi Fujio
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Lupus-like autoimmune disease caused by a lack of Xkr8, a caspase-dependent phospholipid scramblase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:2132-2137. [PMID: 29440417 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1720732115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptotic cells expose phosphatidylserine (PtdSer) on their cell surface and are recognized by macrophages for clearance. Xkr8 is a scramblase that exposes PtdSer in a caspase-dependent manner. Here, we found that among the three Xkr members with caspase-dependent scramblase activity, mouse hematopoietic cells express only Xkr8. The PtdSer exposure of apoptotic thymocytes, splenocytes, and neutrophils was strongly reduced when Xkr8 was absent. While wild-type apoptotic lymphocytes and neutrophils were efficiently engulfed in vitro by phagocytes expressing Tim4 and MerTK, Xkr8-deficient apoptotic cells were hardly engulfed by these phagocytes. Accordingly, the number of apoptotic thymocytes in the thymus and neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity of the zymosan-treated mice was significantly increased in Xkr8-deficient mice. The percentage of CD62Llo senescent neutrophils was increased in the spleen of Xkr8-null mice, especially after the treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. Xkr8-null mice on an MRL background showed high levels of autoantibodies, splenomegaly with high levels of effector CD4 T cells, and glomerulonephritis development with immune-complex deposition at glomeruli. These results indicate that the Xkr8-mediated PtdSer exposure in apoptotic lymphocytes and aged neutrophils is essential for their clearance, and its defect activates the immune system, leading to lupus-like autoimmune disease.
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22
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Abstract
Germinal centers (GCs) are dynamic microenvironments that form in the secondary lymphoid organs and generate somatically mutated high-affinity antibodies necessary to establish an effective humoral immune response. Tight regulation of GC responses is critical for maintaining self-tolerance. GCs can arise in the absence of purposeful immunization or overt infection (called spontaneous GCs, Spt-GCs). In autoimmune-prone mice and patients with autoimmune disease, aberrant regulation of Spt-GCs is thought to promote the development of somatically mutated pathogenic autoantibodies and the subsequent development of autoimmunity. The mechanisms that control the formation of Spt-GCs and promote systemic autoimmune diseases remain an open question and the focus of ongoing studies. Here, we discuss the most current studies on the role of Spt-GCs in autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip P Domeier
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
| | - Stephanie L Schell
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
| | - Ziaur S M Rahman
- a Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Penn State College of Medicine , USA
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23
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Yiu G, Rasmussen TK, Ajami B, Haddon DJ, Chu AD, Tangsombatvisit S, Haynes WA, Diep V, Steinman L, Faix J, Utz PJ. Development of Th17-Associated Interstitial Kidney Inflammation in Lupus-Prone Mice Lacking the Gene Encoding STAT-1. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 68:1233-44. [PMID: 26636548 DOI: 10.1002/art.39535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Type I interferon (IFN) signaling is a central pathogenic pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and therapeutics targeting type I IFN signaling are in development. Multiple proteins with overlapping functions play a role in IFN signaling, but the signaling events downstream of receptor engagement are unclear. This study was undertaken to investigate the roles of the type I and type II IFN signaling components IFN-α/β/ω receptor 2 (IFNAR-2), IFN regulatory factor 9 (IRF-9), and STAT-1 in a mouse model of SLE. METHODS We used immunohistochemical staining and highly multiplexed assays to characterize pathologic changes in histology, autoantibody production, cytokine/chemokine profiles, and STAT phosphorylation in order to investigate the individual roles of IFNAR-2, IRF-9, and STAT-1 in MRL/lpr mice. RESULTS We found that STAT-1(-/-) mice, but not IRF-9(-/-) or IFNAR-2(-/-) mice, developed interstitial nephritis characterized by infiltration with retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor γt-positive lymphocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils. Despite pronounced interstitial kidney disease and abnormal kidney function, STAT-1(-/-) mice had decreased proteinuria, glomerulonephritis, and autoantibody production. Phosphospecific flow cytometry revealed shunting of STAT phosphorylation from STAT-1 to STAT-3/4. CONCLUSION We describe unique contributions of STAT-1 to pathology in different kidney compartments in a mouse model, and provide potentially novel insight into tubulointerstitial nephritis, a poorly understood complication that predicts end-stage kidney disease in SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Yiu
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Tue K Rasmussen
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, and Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Bahareh Ajami
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - David J Haddon
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Alvina D Chu
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | | | | | - Vivian Diep
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Larry Steinman
- Stanford University School of Medicine and Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford, California
| | - James Faix
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Paul J Utz
- Stanford University School of Medicine and Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection, Stanford, California
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24
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Gensous N, Schmitt N, Richez C, Ueno H, Blanco P. T follicular helper cells, interleukin-21 and systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2017; 56:516-523. [PMID: 27498357 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kew297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SLE is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a breakdown of tolerance to nuclear antigens and generation of high-affinity pathogenic autoantibodies. These autoantibodies form, with autoantigens, immune complexes that are involved in organ and tissue damages. Understanding how the production of these pathogenic autoantibodies arises is of prime importance. T follicular helper cells (Tfh) and IL-21 have emerged as central players in this process. This article reviews the pathogenic role of Tfh cells and IL-21 in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hideki Ueno
- Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, Baylor Research Institute, Dallas, TX, USA
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25
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Eri T, Kawahata K, Kanzaki T, Imamura M, Michishita K, Akahira L, Bannai E, Yoshikawa N, Kimura Y, Satoh T, Uematsu S, Tanaka H, Yamamoto K. Intestinal microbiota link lymphopenia to murine autoimmunity via PD-1 +CXCR5 -/dim B-helper T cell induction. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46037. [PMID: 28443628 PMCID: PMC5405410 DOI: 10.1038/srep46037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell lymphopenia results in peripheral homeostatic expansion to maintain the T cell immune system, which is termed lymphopenia-induced proliferation (LIP). LIP is a potential risk for expanding autoreactive clones to become pathogenic in human and murine autoimmune diseases. However, the ontogeny of T cells that induce autoantibody production by autoreactive B cells in LIP remains unclear. Transfer of CD4+CD25− conventional T (Tc) cells into T-cell-deficient athymic nude mice has been previously reported as a LIP-induced autoimmune model which develops organ-specific autoimmune diseases and systemic antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). We show here that via LIP in this model, Tc cells proliferated and differentiated into PD-1+CXCR5−/dim B-helper T cells, which promoted splenic germinal center (GC) formation, provided help for autoantibody-producing B cells, and had distinctive features of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells except that they do not express high CXCR5. Intestinal microbiota were essential for their generation, since depletion of them in recipient mice by antibiotics resulted in a reduction of LIP-induced PD-1+CXCR5−/dim B-helper T cells and an amelioration of autoimmune responses. Our findings will contribute to the elucidation of the mechanism of lymphopenia-induced autoimmunity and autoantibody production, and will pave the way for microbiota-targeted novel therapeutic approaches to systemic autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Eri
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kimito Kawahata
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeyuki Kanzaki
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Imamura
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuya Michishita
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lisa Akahira
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ei Bannai
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noritada Yoshikawa
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasumasa Kimura
- Division of Systems Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Satoh
- Division of Systems Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Uematsu
- Department of Mucosal Immunology, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.,Division of Innate Immune Regulation, International Research and Development Center for Mucosal Vaccine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hirotoshi Tanaka
- Department of Rheumatology and Allergy, IMSUT Hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Rheumatology, Center for Antibody and Vaccine Therapy, IMSUT hospital, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Yamamoto
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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26
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Rawlings DJ, Metzler G, Wray-Dutra M, Jackson SW. Altered B cell signalling in autoimmunity. Nat Rev Immunol 2017; 17:421-436. [PMID: 28393923 DOI: 10.1038/nri.2017.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent work has provided new insights into how altered B cell-intrinsic signals - through the B cell receptor (BCR) and key co-receptors - function together to promote the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. These combined signals affect B cells at two distinct stages: first, in the selection of the naive repertoire; and second, during extrafollicular or germinal centre activation responses. Thus, dysregulated signalling can lead to both an altered naive BCR repertoire and the generation of autoantibody-producing B cells. Strikingly, high-affinity autoantibodies predate and predict disease in several autoimmune disorders, including type 1 diabetes and systemic lupus erythematosus. This Review summarizes how, rather than being a downstream consequence of autoreactive T cell activation, dysregulated B cell signalling can function as a primary driver of many human autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Rawlings
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Genita Metzler
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Michelle Wray-Dutra
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine
| | - Shaun W Jackson
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, 1900 9th Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
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27
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Nakayamada S, Tanaka Y. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in autoimmune diseases. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 39:1-7. [PMID: 27181228 DOI: 10.2177/jsci.39.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Systemic autoimmune diseases are characterized by multiple organ damages, whose pathogenesis caused by the activation of autoreactive T cells reacting against antigens of the body's own tissues and B cells producing autoantibodies. Following the animal studies, Tfh cells have been identified as a critical subset for the formation and function of B cell responses in humoral immunity, but also play an important role in autoimmunity. In fact, circulating Tfh cells are reported to increase and correlate with disease activity and autoantibody production in human autoimmune diseases. However, the evidence from human studies highlighted apparent differences between mouse and human Tfh cell differentiation. Furthermore, there is increased recognition of functional plasticity and diversity of Tfh cells. This may be advantageous in terms of host defense but needs to be borne in mind in thinking about effective therapies for autoimmune diseases. Thus, better understanding of the extrinsic and intrinsic signals that control plasticity and diversity of Tfh cells will have important therapeutic applications to control autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakayamada
- The First Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
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28
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Choi JY, Seth A, Kashgarian M, Terrillon S, Fung E, Huang L, Wang LC, Craft J. Disruption of Pathogenic Cellular Networks by IL-21 Blockade Leads to Disease Amelioration in Murine Lupus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 198:2578-2588. [PMID: 28219887 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is characterized by autoantibody-mediated organ injury. Follicular Th (Tfh) cells orchestrate physiological germinal center (GC) B cell responses, whereas in lupus they promote aberrant GC responses with autoreactive memory B cell development and plasma cell-derived autoantibody production. IL-21, a Tfh cell-derived cytokine, provides instructional cues for GC B cell maturation, with disruption of IL-21 signaling representing a potential therapeutic strategy for autoantibody-driven diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. We used blockade of IL-21 to dissect the mechanisms by which this cytokine promotes autoimmunity in murine lupus. Treatment of lupus-prone B6.Sle1.Yaa mice with an anti-IL-21 blocking Ab reduced titers of autoantibodies, delayed progression of glomerulonephritis and diminished renal-infiltrating Tfh and Th1 cells, and improved overall survival. Therapy inhibited excessive accumulation of Tfh cells coexpressing IL-21 and IFN-γ, and suppressed their production of the latter cytokine, albeit while not affecting their frequency. Anti-IL-21 treatment also led to a reduction in GC B cells, CD138hi plasmablasts, IFN-γ-dependent IgG2c production, and autoantibodies, indicating that Tfh cell-derived IL-21 is critical for pathological B cell cues in lupus. Normalization of GC responses was, in part, caused by uncoupling of Tfh-B cell interactions, as evidenced by reduced expression of CD40L on Tfh cells and reduced B cell proliferation in treated mice. Our work provides mechanistic insight into the contribution of IL-21 to the pathogenesis of murine lupus, while revealing the importance of T-B cellular cross-talk in mediating autoimmunity, demonstrating that its interruption impacts both cell types leading to disease amelioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Young Choi
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Abhinav Seth
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | | | | | - Emma Fung
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605; and
| | - Lili Huang
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605; and
| | - Li Chun Wang
- AbbVie Bioresearch Center, Worcester, MA 01605; and
| | - Joe Craft
- Section of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520; .,Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
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29
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Zhang Z, Feng R, Niu L, Huang S, Deng W, Shi B, Yao G, Chen W, Tang X, Gao X, Feng X, Sun L. Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit T Follicular Helper Cell Expansion Through the Activation of iNOS in Lupus-Prone B6.MRL- Faslpr Mice. Cell Transplant 2017; 26:1031-1042. [PMID: 28105982 DOI: 10.3727/096368917x694660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The aberrant generation or activation of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells contributes to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet little is known about how these cells are regulated. In this study, we demonstrated that the frequency of Tfh cells was increased in lupus-prone B6.MRL-Faslpr (B6.lpr) mice and positively correlated to plasma cell proportions and serum total IgG as well as anti-dsDNA antibody levels. Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly of human umbilical cords (hUC-MSCs) ameliorated lupus symptoms in B6.lpr mice, along with decreased percentages of Tfh cells. In vitro studies showed that the differentiation and proliferation of Tfh cells were markedly suppressed by hUC-MSCs. The production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was dramatically upregulated in hUC-MSCs when cocultured with CD4+ T cells directly, while adding the specific inhibitor of iNOS into the coculture system significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of hUC-MSCs on Tfh cell generation. Interestingly, the efficacy of hUC-MSCs in inhibiting Tfh cells was impaired in the Transwell system, with the reduction of iNOS in both mRNA and protein levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that hUC-MSCs could effectively inhibit Tfh cell expansion through the activation of iNOS in lupus-prone B6.lpr mice, which is highly dependent on cell-to-cell contacts.
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30
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Cruz AC, Ramaswamy M, Ouyang C, Klebanoff CA, Sengupta P, Yamamoto TN, Meylan F, Thomas SK, Richoz N, Eil R, Price S, Casellas R, Rao VK, Lippincott-Schwartz J, Restifo NP, Siegel RM. Fas/CD95 prevents autoimmunity independently of lipid raft localization and efficient apoptosis induction. Nat Commun 2016; 7:13895. [PMID: 28008916 PMCID: PMC5196435 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations affecting the apoptosis-inducing function of the Fas/CD95 TNF-family receptor result in autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disease. However, Fas can also costimulate T-cell activation and promote tumour cell growth and metastasis. Palmitoylation at a membrane proximal cysteine residue enables Fas to localize to lipid raft microdomains and induce apoptosis in cell lines. Here, we show that a palmitoylation-defective Fas C194V mutant is defective in inducing apoptosis in primary mouse T cells, B cells and dendritic cells, while retaining the ability to enhance naive T-cell differentiation. Despite inability to efficiently induce cell death, the Fas C194V receptor prevents the lymphoaccumulation and autoimmunity that develops in Fas-deficient mice. These findings indicate that induction of apoptosis through Fas is dependent on receptor palmitoylation in primary immune cells, and Fas may prevent autoimmunity by mechanisms other than inducing apoptosis. Fas drives apoptosis and mutations in this receptor can cause autoimmunity through failure of cell death. Here, the authors use lpr/lpr mice with palmitoylation-defective mutant Fas to provide evidence that Fas might limit spontaneous autoimmunity through a non-apoptotic mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony C Cruz
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Madhu Ramaswamy
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Claudia Ouyang
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Christopher A Klebanoff
- Center for Cell Engineering and Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.,Center For Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Prabuddha Sengupta
- Cell Biology and Metabolism Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Tori N Yamamoto
- Center For Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.,Immunology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Françoise Meylan
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Stacy K Thomas
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Nathan Richoz
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Robert Eil
- Center For Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Susan Price
- Clinical Genomics Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Rafael Casellas
- Genomics and Immunity Branch, NIAMS, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - V Koneti Rao
- Clinical Genomics Unit, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
- Cell Biology and Metabolism Program, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Nicholas P Restifo
- Center For Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.,Center for Cell-Based Therapy, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Richard M Siegel
- Immunoregulation Section, Autoimmunity Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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31
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Follicular Helper T Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Why Should They Be Considered as Interesting Therapeutic Targets? J Immunol Res 2016; 2016:5767106. [PMID: 27635407 PMCID: PMC5011227 DOI: 10.1155/2016/5767106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by B cell hyperactivity leading to the production of autoantibodies, some of which having a deleterious effect. Reducing autoantibody production thus represents a way of controlling lupus pathogenesis, and a better understanding of the molecular and cellular factors involved in the differentiation of B cells into plasma cells could allow identifying new therapeutic targets. Follicular helper T cells (TFH) represent a distinct subset of CD4+ T cells specialized in providing help to B cells. They are required for the formation of germinal centers and the generation of long-lived serological memory and, as such, are suspected to play a central role in SLE. Recent advances in the field of TFH biology have allowed the identification of important molecular factors involved in TFH differentiation, regulation, and function. Interestingly, some of these TFH-related molecules have been described to be dysregulated in lupus patients. In the present review, we give an overview of the aberrant expression and/or function of such key players in lupus, and we highlight their potential as therapeutic targets.
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32
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Grammer AC, Ryals MM, Heuer SE, Robl RD, Madamanchi S, Davis LS, Lauwerys B, Catalina MD, Lipsky PE. Drug repositioning in SLE: crowd-sourcing, literature-mining and Big Data analysis. Lupus 2016; 25:1150-70. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203316657437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Lupus patients are in need of modern drugs to treat specific manifestations of their disease effectively and safely. In the past half century, only one new treatment has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In 2014–2015, the FDA approved 71 new drugs, only one of which targeted a rheumatic disease and none of which was approved for use in SLE. Repositioning/repurposing drugs approved for other diseases using multiple approaches is one possible means to find new treatment options for lupus patients. “Big Data” analysis approaches this challenge from an unbiased standpoint whereas literature mining and crowd sourcing for candidates assessed by the CoLTs (Combined Lupus Treatment Scoring) system provide a hypothesis-based approach to rank potential therapeutic candidates for possible clinical application. Both approaches mitigate risk since the candidates assessed have largely been extensively tested in clinical trials for other indications. The usefulness of a multi-pronged approach to drug repositioning in lupus is highlighted by orthogonal confirmation of hypothesis-based drug repositioning predictions by “Big Data” analysis of differentially expressed genes from lupus patient samples. The goal is to identify novel therapies that have the potential to affect disease processes specifically. Involvement of SLE patients and the scientists that study this disease in thinking about new drugs that may be effective in lupus though crowd-sourcing sites such as LRxL-STAT ( www.linkedin.com/in/lrxlstat ) is important in stimulating the momentum needed to test these novel drug targets for efficacy in lupus rapidly in small, proof-of-concept trials conducted by LuCIN, the Lupus Clinical Investigators Network ( www.linkedin.com/in/lucinstat ).
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Grammer
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - M M Ryals
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - S E Heuer
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - R D Robl
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - S Madamanchi
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - L S Davis
- Department of Internal Medicine, UTSW Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - B Lauwerys
- Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - M D Catalina
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - P E Lipsky
- AMPEL BioSolutions and RILITE Foundation, University of Virginia Research Park, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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33
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Domeier PP, Chodisetti SB, Soni C, Schell SL, Elias MJ, Wong EB, Cooper TK, Kitamura D, Rahman ZSM. IFN-γ receptor and STAT1 signaling in B cells are central to spontaneous germinal center formation and autoimmunity. J Exp Med 2016; 213:715-32. [PMID: 27069112 PMCID: PMC4854731 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20151722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Spontaneously developed germinal centers (GCs [Spt-GCs]) harbor autoreactive B cells that generate somatically mutated and class-switched pathogenic autoantibodies (auto-Abs) to promote autoimmunity. However, the mechanisms that regulate Spt-GC development are not clear. In this study, we report that B cell-intrinsic IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) and STAT1 signaling are required for Spt-GC and follicular T helper cell (Tfh cell) development. We further demonstrate that IFN-γR and STAT1 signaling control Spt-GC and Tfh cell formation by driving T-bet expression and IFN-γ production by B cells. Global or B cell-specific IFN-γR deficiency in autoimmune B6.Sle1b mice leads to significantly reduced Spt-GC and Tfh cell responses, resulting in diminished antinuclear Ab reactivity and IgG2c and IgG2b auto-Ab titers compared with B6.Sle1b mice. Additionally, we observed that the proliferation and differentiation of DNA-reactive B cells into a GC B cell phenotype require B cell-intrinsic IFN-γR signaling, suggesting that IFN-γR signaling regulates GC B cell tolerance to nuclear self-antigens. The IFN-γR deficiency, however, does not affect GC, Tfh cell, or Ab responses against T cell-dependent foreign antigens, indicating that IFN-γR signaling regulates autoimmune, but not the foreign antigen-driven, GC and Tfh cell responses. Together, our data define a novel B cell-intrinsic IFN-γR signaling pathway specific to Spt-GC development and autoimmunity. This novel pathway can be targeted for future pharmacological intervention to treat systemic lupus erythematosus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip P Domeier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Sathi Babu Chodisetti
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Chetna Soni
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Stephanie L Schell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Melinda J Elias
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Eric B Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Timothy K Cooper
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 Department of Pathology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Daisuke Kitamura
- Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, 162 0825 Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ziaur S M Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
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34
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Yang DJ, Han B. [Roles of interleukin-21 and its receptor in autoimmune diseases]. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2016; 18:466-471. [PMID: 27165599 PMCID: PMC7390374 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2016.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a new member of the interleukin-2 family. It is mainly synthesized and secreted by the activated of CD4(+) T cells and natural killer T cells. IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) is mainly expressed in T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. After binding to its receptor, IL-21 can regulate the activation and proliferation of T cells, B cells, and NK cells through activating JAKs-STATs signaling pathways. As a new immunoregulatory factor, IL-21 and its receptor play important roles in the development and progression of various autoimmune diseases. Regulation of the expression levels of IL-21 and IL-21R and blocking of their signal transduction pathways with blockers may be new treatment options for autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Juan Yang
- Department of pediatric Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
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35
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Yang DJ, Han B. [Roles of interleukin-21 and its receptor in autoimmune diseases]. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2016; 18:466-71. [PMID: 27165599 PMCID: PMC7390374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Interleukin-21 (IL-21) is a new member of the interleukin-2 family. It is mainly synthesized and secreted by the activated of CD4(+) T cells and natural killer T cells. IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) is mainly expressed in T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. After binding to its receptor, IL-21 can regulate the activation and proliferation of T cells, B cells, and NK cells through activating JAKs-STATs signaling pathways. As a new immunoregulatory factor, IL-21 and its receptor play important roles in the development and progression of various autoimmune diseases. Regulation of the expression levels of IL-21 and IL-21R and blocking of their signal transduction pathways with blockers may be new treatment options for autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Juan Yang
- Department of pediatric Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China.
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36
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Ding C, Chen X, Dascani P, Hu X, Bolli R, Zhang HG, Mcleish KR, Yan J. STAT3 Signaling in B Cells Is Critical for Germinal Center Maintenance and Contributes to the Pathogenesis of Murine Models of Lupus. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:4477-86. [PMID: 27183592 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1502043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Ab maturation as well as memory B and plasma cell differentiation occur primarily in the germinal centers (GCs). Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may develop as a result of enhanced GC activity. Previous studies have shown that the dysregulated STAT3 pathway is linked to lupus pathogenesis. However, the exact role of STAT3 in regulating SLE disease progression has not been fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that STAT3 signaling in B cells is essential for GC formation and maintenance as well as Ab response. Increased cell apoptosis and downregulated Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 antiapoptotic gene expression were found in STAT3-deficient GC B cells. The follicular helper T cell response positively correlated with GC B cells and was significantly decreased in immunized B cell STAT3-deficient mice. STAT3 deficiency also led to the defect of plasma cell differentiation. Furthermore, STAT3 deficiency in autoreactive B cells resulted in decreased autoantibody production. Results obtained from B cell STAT3-deficient B6.MRL/lpr mice suggest that STAT3 signaling significantly contributes to SLE pathogenesis by regulation of GC reactivity, autoantibody production, and kidney pathology. Our findings provide new insights into the role of STAT3 signaling in the maintenance of GC formation and GC B cell differentiation and identify STAT3 as a novel target for treatment of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanlin Ding
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202;
| | - Xingguo Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210006, People's Republic of China
| | - Paul Dascani
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202
| | - Xiaoling Hu
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202
| | - Roberto Bolli
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292; and
| | - Huang-Ge Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202
| | - Kenneth R Mcleish
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40202;
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von Scholten BJ, Rosendahl A, Hasbak P, Bergholdt R, Kjaer A, Rossing P, Hansen TW. Impaired coronary microcirculation in type 2 diabetic patients is associated with elevated circulating regulatory T cells and reduced number of IL-21R⁺ T cells. Cardiovasc Diabetol 2016; 15:67. [PMID: 27095356 PMCID: PMC4837587 DOI: 10.1186/s12933-016-0378-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Low-grade systemic inflammation is considered to participate in the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and in diabetic complications. Methods To determine if circulating leukocytes were abnormally regulated in T2D patients, 8-color flow-cytometry (FACS) analysis was performed in a cross-sectional study of 37 T2D patients and 16 controls. Data obtained from the FACS analysis were compared to coronary flow reserve (CFR), assessed by Rb82-PET-imaging, to uncover inflammatory signatures associated with impaired CFR. Results Presence of T2D was associated with T cell attenuation characterized by reduced overall T cell, Th17, IL-21R+, Treg’s and TLR4+ T cells, while the monocyte population showed enhanced TLR4 expression. Further, our data revealed reduced M1-like CD11c expression in T2D which was associated with impaired CFR. In contrast, we show, for the first time in T2D, increased TLR4 expression on CD8 T cells, increased Treg cell number and Treg maturation and reduced IL-21R expression on CD8 T cells to be functionally associated with impaired CFR. Conclusions Our demonstration that HbA1c inversely correlates to several T cell populations suggests that T cells may play disease modulating roles in T2D. Further, the novel association between impaired CFR and regulatory T cells and IL-21R+ T cells imply an intricate balance in maintaining tissue homeostasis in vascular diabetic complications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12933-016-0378-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernt Johan von Scholten
- Department of Diabetic Complications, Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 1, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark.
| | - Alexander Rosendahl
- Diabetes Complications Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.,Department of New Haemophilia, Novo Nordisk A/S, Gentofte, Denmark.,Baxalta Inc, Medical Affairs, Tobaksvej 2, 2860, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Philip Hasbak
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Regine Bergholdt
- Diabetes Complications Research, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Andreas Kjaer
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Nuclear Medicine & PET and Cluster for Molecular Imaging, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peter Rossing
- Department of Diabetic Complications, Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 1, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark.,University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Aarhus University Denmark, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Tine W Hansen
- Department of Diabetic Complications, Steno Diabetes Center, Niels Steensens Vej 1, 2820, Gentofte, Denmark
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Zhang M, Yu G, Chan B, Pearson JT, Rathanaswami P, Delaney J, Ching Lim A, Babcook J, Hsu H, Gavin MA. Interleukin-21 receptor blockade inhibits secondary humoral responses and halts the progression of preestablished disease in the (NZB × NZW)F1 systemic lupus erythematosus model. Arthritis Rheumatol 2016; 67:2723-31. [PMID: 26097207 DOI: 10.1002/art.39233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that is driven in part by chronic B and T lymphocyte hyperresponsiveness to self antigens. A deficiency of interleukin-21 (IL-21) or IL-21 receptor (IL-21R) in mice dramatically reduces inflammation and B and T cell activation in models of autoimmunity, including SLE. However, whether IL-21 is essential for the maintenance and amplification of preestablished inflammation has not been widely examined in various animal models. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of novel mouse IL-21R neutralizing antibodies on recall responses to antigen challenge and on disease progression in the (NZB × NZW)F1 (NZB/NZW) mouse model of SLE. METHODS Humoral and cellular immune responses to immunization with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) were measured in mice dosed with IL-21R blocking antibodies. Progression of nephritis and markers of immune activation was monitored in NZB/NZW mice following different anti-IL-21R treatment regimens. RESULTS IL-21R blockade specifically inhibited secondary IgG responses to SRBC immunization. In NZB/NZW mice, IL-21R blockade completely inhibited the onset of nephritis, which was associated with dramatic reductions in splenomegaly and in B cell and T cell activation. When administered to mice with preexisting disease, anti-IL-21R antibody halted the disease progression and mortality and reversed the nephritis in a subset of mice. Furthermore, treatment cessation was not followed by rapid reemergence of disease. CONCLUSION Our results highlight the importance of IL-21 in promoting humoral recall responses and in sustaining autoimmune inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gang Yu
- Amgen, Inc., Thousand Oaks, California
| | - Brian Chan
- Amgen, Inc., Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Nguyen V, Rus H, Chen C, Rus V. CTL-Promoting Effects of IL-21 Counteract Murine Lupus in the Parent→F1 Graft-versus-Host Disease Model. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2016; 196:1529-40. [DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 12/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra B. Pernis
- Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021; , ,
- Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065;
- David Z. Rosensweig Genomics Research Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021
| | - Edd Ricker
- Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021; , ,
- Graduate Program in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065;
| | - Chien-Huan Weng
- Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021; , ,
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry Cell and Molecular Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY 10065;
| | - Cristina Rozo
- Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021; , ,
| | - Woelsung Yi
- Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021; , ,
- David Z. Rosensweig Genomics Research Center, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY 10021
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Ramani K, Biswas PS. Emerging roles of the Th17/IL-17-axis in glomerulonephritis. Cytokine 2016; 77:238-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2015.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 07/30/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Ballesteros-Tato A. Beyond regulatory T cells: the potential role for IL-2 to deplete T-follicular helper cells and treat autoimmune diseases. Immunotherapy 2015; 6:1207-20. [PMID: 25496335 DOI: 10.2217/imt.14.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-dose IL-2 administration suppresses unwanted immune responses in mice and humans, thus evidencing the potential of IL-2 to treat autoimmune disorders. Increased Tregs activity is one of the potential mechanisms by which low-dose IL-2 immunotherapy induces immunosuppression. In addition, recent data indicate that IL-2 may contribute to prevent unwanted self-reactive responses by preventing the developing of T-follicular helper cells, a CD4(+) T-cell subset that expands in autoimmune disease patients and promotes long-term effector B-cell responses. Here we discuss the mechanisms underlying the clinical benefits of low-dose IL-2 administration, focusing on the role of this cytokine in promoting Treg-mediated suppression and preventing self-reactive T-follicular helper cell responses.
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Wilhelm AJ, Rhoads JP, Wade NS, Major AS. Dysregulated CD4+ T cells from SLE-susceptible mice are sufficient to accelerate atherosclerosis in LDLr-/- mice. Ann Rheum Dis 2015; 74:778-85. [PMID: 24395554 PMCID: PMC4083014 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2013] [Revised: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Accelerated atherosclerosis is a major source of morbidity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the cause of SLE-accelerated atherosclerosis remains unclear. METHODS CD4(+) T cells from C57/Bl/6 (B6) or SLE-susceptible B6.Sle1.2.3 (B6.SLE) mice were transferred into LDLr(-/-), Rag(-/-) mice. T cells were examined for cytokine production and expression of interleukin-10 receptor (IL-10R) and functional markers. T cells were isolated based on FoxP3(GFP) expression and transferred to LDLr(-/-), Rag(-/-) mice to establish a role for B6.SLE effector T cells (Teff) in atherosclerosis. RESULTS Mice receiving whole B6.SLE CD4(+) T cells displayed no other SLE phenotype; however, atherosclerosis was increased nearly 40%. We noted dysregulated IL-17 production and reduced frequency of IL-10R expression by B6.SLE regulatory T cells (Treg). Functional assays indicated resistance of B6.SLE Teff to suppression by both B6.SLE and B6 Treg. Transfer experiments with CD4(+)FoxP3(-) Teff and CD4(+)FoxP3(+) Treg from B6.SLE and B6 mice, respectively, resulted in increased atherosclerosis compared with B6 Teff and Treg recipients. Treg isolated from mice receiving B6.SLE Teff with B6 Treg had increased production of IL-17 and fewer expressed IL-10R compared with B6 Teff and Treg transfer. CONCLUSIONS Transfer of B6.SLE Teff to LDLr(-/-), Rag(-/-) mice results in accelerated atherosclerosis independent of the source of Treg. In addition, the presence of B6.SLE Teff resulted in more IL-17-producing Treg and fewer expressing IL-10R, suggesting that B6.SLE Teff may mediate phenotypic changes in Treg. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide direct evidence of the role of B6.SLE Teff in accelerating atherosclerosis through resistance to Treg suppression.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Atherosclerosis/genetics
- Atherosclerosis/immunology
- Atherosclerosis/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Forkhead Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Mice, Knockout
- Receptors, Interleukin-10/metabolism
- Receptors, LDL/genetics
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J Wilhelm
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jillian P Rhoads
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nekeithia S Wade
- Department of Microbiology, Carter Center for Immunology Research, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Amy S Major
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Tangye SG. Advances in IL-21 biology - enhancing our understanding of human disease. Curr Opin Immunol 2015; 34:107-15. [PMID: 25801685 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2015.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cytokines play critical roles in regulating the development and function of immune cells. Cytokines function by binding specific multimeric receptor complexes and activating intracellular signaling pathways that often involve JAKs and STATs. In addition to contributing to immunity, when production of cytokines is perturbed, they can contribute to disease. IL-21 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced predominantly by CD4(+) T cells and NKT cells. Gene-targeting studies in mice and in vitro analyses of human and murine lymphocytes have revealed central roles of IL-21 in regulating effector functions of T cells, NK cells and B cells. However, recent discoveries of loss-of function mutations in IL21 or IL21R in humans have unveiled unexpected roles for IL-21 in immune regulation. This review will focus on recent advances in IL-21 biology that have highlighted its critical role in normal immunity and how dysregulated IL-21 production can lead to immunodeficiency and autoimmune conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart G Tangye
- Immunology and Immunodeficiency Group, Immunology Research Program, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Australia, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.
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Wu Y, He S, Bai B, Zhang L, Xue L, Lin Z, Yang X, Zhu F, He P, Tang W, Zuo J. Therapeutic effects of the artemisinin analog SM934 on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice via inhibition of TLR-triggered B-cell activation and plasma cell formation. Cell Mol Immunol 2015; 13:379-90. [PMID: 25942599 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2015.13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Revised: 01/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that SM934, a water-soluble artemisinin derivative, was a viable treatment in murine lupus models. In the current study, we further investigated the therapeutic effects of a modified dosage regimen of SM934 on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice and explored its effects on B cell responses, a central pathogenic event in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). When orally administered twice-daily, SM934 significantly prolonged the life-span of MRL/lpr mice, ameliorated the lymphadenopathy symptoms and decreased the levels of serum anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs) and of the pathogenic cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and IL-21. Furthermore, SM934 treatment restored the B-cell compartment in the spleen of MRL/lpr mice by increasing quiescent B cell numbers, maintaining germinal center B-cell numbers, decreasing activated B cell numbers and reducing plasma cell (PC) numbers. Ex vivo, SM934 suppressed the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-triggered activation and proliferation of B cells, as well as antibody secretion. Moreover, the present study demonstrated that SM934 interfered with the B-cell intrinsic pathway by downregulating TLR7/9 mRNA expression, MyD88 protein expression and NF-κB phosphorylation. In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), consistent with the results in MRL/lpr mice, SM934 inhibited TLR-associated B-cell activation and PC differentiation. In conclusion, a twice daily dosing regimen of SM934 had therapeutic effects on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice by suppressing B cell activation and plasma cell formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Wu
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shijun He
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Bingxin Bai
- Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Luyao Zhang
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Xue
- Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zemin Lin
- Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoqian Yang
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Fenghua Zhu
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Peilan He
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Tang
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianping Zuo
- Laboratory of Immunopharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,Laboratory of Immunology and Virology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang X, Lindwall E, Gauthier C, Lyman J, Spencer N, Alarakhia A, Fraser A, Ing S, Chen M, Webb-Detiege T, Zakem J, Davis W, Choi YS, Quinet R. Circulating CXCR5+CD4+helper T cells in systemic lupus erythematosus patients share phenotypic properties with germinal center follicular helper T cells and promote antibody production. Lupus 2015; 24:909-17. [PMID: 25654980 DOI: 10.1177/0961203314567750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies. Recently, a specific highly activated T helper cell subset, follicular helper T (Tfh) cell, has emerged as a key immunoregulator of germinal center (GC) formation and high-affinity antibody production. To identify the pathophysiological role of Tfh cells in SLE patients, we compared the phenotypic and functional properties of circulating Tfh-like cells in lupus patients to GC-Tfh cells, and correlated the percentage of Tfh-like cells with autoantibody production and SLE disease activity. METHODS Peripheral blood was collected from 29 lupus patients and 25 healthy controls. Tonsils were obtained surgically from non-SLE controls and used as a source of GC-Tfh cells. Tfh cells were defined by their signature surface markers (CXCR5, ICOS, CD57, PD-1 and BTLA) via flow cytometry. IL-21 expression levels from Tfh cells were measured by real-time PCR and intracellular staining. The function of Tfh cells was carried out by co-culture of Tfh cells and autologous B cells in vitro. IgG in the culture supernatant was detected by ELISA. RESULTS The frequency of circulating Tfh-like cells was significantly increased in SLE patients compared to healthy controls (p < 0.05). The Tfh-like cells not only display similar phenotypes and signature cytokines with GC-Tfh cells, but also are capable of driving B cells to differentiate into IgG-secreting plasma cells in vitro. In addition, the frequency of Tfh-like cells correlated positively with the percentage of circulating plasmablasts, levels of serum anti-dsDNA antibodies and ANA. CONCLUSION The accumulated circulating Tfh-like cells in lupus patients share phenotypic and functional properties with GC-Tfh cells. Tfh-like cells may serve as perpetuators in the pathogenesis of SLE by enhancing the self-reactive B cell clones to further differentiate into auto antibody-producing plasmablasts, and ultimately cause autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Zhang
- Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - E Lindwall
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - C Gauthier
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - J Lyman
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - N Spencer
- Institute for Applied Cancer Science, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - A Alarakhia
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - A Fraser
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - S Ing
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - M Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - T Webb-Detiege
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA The Univeristy of Queensland, School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - J Zakem
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - W Davis
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA The Univeristy of Queensland, School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Y Sung Choi
- Institute of Translational Research, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - R Quinet
- Department of Rheumatology, Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA The Univeristy of Queensland, School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Yan Q, Du F, Huang X, Fu Q, Chen S, Dai D, Bao C. Prevention of immune nephritis by the small molecular weight immunomodulator iguratimod in MRL/lpr mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108273. [PMID: 25271634 PMCID: PMC4182720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study was performed to investigate the therapeutic effects of iguratimod in a lupus mouse model. METHODS Female MRL/lpr mice were treated with iguratimod, vehicle solution or cyclophosphamide. Proteinuria was monitored and kidney injury was blindly scored by a renal pathologist. Serum anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies were monitored by radioimmunoassay. Kidney IgG and CD20 were stained by immunohistochemistry. Splenic lymphocyte phenotypes were analyzed by flow cytometry. BAFF, IL-17A, IL-6, and IL-21 levels in serum and splenic lymphocytes were detected by ELISA or quantitative PCR. RESULTS Compared with the vehicle-treated controls, MRL/lpr mice treated with iguratimod showed less protenuria, less acute pathological lesions and no chronic changes in the kidneys. There were significant differences in glomerular injury and vasculitis scores, as well as in the semi-quantitative analysis of immune complex deposition between the two groups. Disease activity markers in sera (anti-dsDNA antibodies and immunoglobulin levels) were reduced and hypocomplementemia was attenuated. Lymphocyte expression of BAFF, IL-6, IL-17A and IL-21 was decreased. The abnormal splenic B220+ T cell and plasma cell populations in MRL/lpr mice were reduced by iguratimod treatment, with recovery of the total B cell population and inhibition of B cell infiltration of the kidney tissue. The dosage of iguratimod used in this study showed no significant cytotoxic effects in vivo and no overt side-effects were observed. CONCLUSION Iguratimod ameliorates immune nephritis in MRL/lpr mice via a non-antiproliferative mechanism. Our data suggest a potential therapeutic role of iguratimod in lupus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingran Yan
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Du
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinfang Huang
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiong Fu
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Dai Dai
- Institute of Health Science, Shanghai Institute for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Science and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunde Bao
- Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Shanghai, China
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48
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Di Fusco D, Izzo R, Figliuzzi MM, Pallone F, Monteleone G. IL-21 as a therapeutic target in inflammatory disorders. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2014; 18:1329-38. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.945426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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49
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Deng XM, Yan SX, Wei W. IL-21 acts as a promising therapeutic target in systemic lupus erythematosus by regulating plasma cell differentiation. Cell Mol Immunol 2014; 12:31-9. [PMID: 25088225 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2014.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2014] [Revised: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plasma cells, which secrete auto-antibodies, are considered to be the arch-criminal of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, but there are many cytokines involved in inducing the differentiation of B-cell subsets into plasma cells. Here, we emphasize IL-21, which has emerged as the most potent inducer of plasma cell differentiation. In this review, we focused on the promoting effects of IL-21 on plasma cell differentiation and discuss how these effects contribute to B cell-mediated autoimmune disease.
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Abstract
The initiation and perpetuation of autoimmunity recognize numerous checkpoints, from the genomic susceptibility to the breakdown of tolerance. This latter phenomenon includes the loss of B cell anergy and T regulatory cell failure, as well as the production of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. These mechanisms ultimately lead to tissue injury via different mechanisms that span from the production of proinflammatory cytokines to the chemotaxis of immune cells to the target sites. The pathways to autoimmunity have been widely investigated over the past year and resulted in a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals that has increased by nearly 10 % compared to 2011. We herein follow on the attempt to provide a brief discussion of the majority of articles on autoimmune diseases that were published in the major immunology journals in the previous solar year. The selection is necessarily arbitrary and may thus not be seen as comprehensive but reflects current research trends. Indeed, 2012 articles were mostly dedicated to define new and old mechanisms with potential therapeutic implications in autoimmunity in general, though based on specific clinical conditions or animal models. As paradigmatic examples, the environmental influence on autoimmunity, Th17 changes modulating the autoimmune response, serum autoantibodies and B cell changes as biomarkers and therapeutic targets were major issues addressed by experimental articles in 2012. Further, a growing number of studies investigated the sex bias of autoimmunity and supported different working hypotheses to explain the female predominance, including sex chromosome changes and reproductive life factors. In conclusion, the resulting scenario illustrates that common factors may underlie different autoimmune diseases and this is well represented by the observed alterations in interferon-α and TGFβ or by the shared signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Selmi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy,
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