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Hardtke-Wolenski M, Landwehr-Kenzel S. Tipping the balance in autoimmunity: are regulatory t cells the cause, the cure, or both? Mol Cell Pediatr 2024; 11:3. [PMID: 38507159 PMCID: PMC10954601 DOI: 10.1186/s40348-024-00176-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a specialized subgroup of T-cell lymphocytes that is crucial for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing excessive immune responses. Depending on their differentiation route, Tregs can be subdivided into thymically derived Tregs (tTregs) and peripherally induced Tregs (pTregs), which originate from conventional T cells after extrathymic differentiation at peripheral sites. Although the regulatory attributes of tTregs and pTregs partially overlap, their modes of action, protein expression profiles, and functional stability exhibit specific characteristics unique to each subset. Over the last few years, our knowledge of Treg differentiation, maturation, plasticity, and correlations between their phenotypes and functions has increased. Genetic and functional studies in patients with numeric and functional Treg deficiencies have contributed to our mechanistic understanding of immune dysregulation and autoimmune pathologies. This review provides an overview of our current knowledge of Treg biology, discusses monogenetic Treg pathologies and explores the role of Tregs in various other autoimmune disorders. Additionally, we discuss novel approaches that explore Tregs as targets or agents of innovative treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Hardtke-Wolenski
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
- University Hospital Essen, Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstraße 55, Essen, 45122, Germany
| | - Sybille Landwehr-Kenzel
- Hannover Medical School, Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany.
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Transplant Engineering, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany.
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Mahla RS. B cells clonality and primary Sjögren's syndrome: comment on the article by Arvidsson et al. Arthritis Rheumatol 2024; 76:313-314. [PMID: 37691295 DOI: 10.1002/art.42698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
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Sato-Fukuba M, Arakaki R, Ushio A, Otsuka K, Nagao R, Matsuzawa S, Tawara H, Tsunematsu T, Ishimaru N. CD4 + T-cell-dependent differentiation of CD23 + follicular B cells contributes to the pulmonary pathology in a primary Sjögren's syndrome mouse model. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1217492. [PMID: 37475871 PMCID: PMC10354287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1217492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the function of exocrine glands, such as the lacrimal and the salivary glands. Extraglandular lesions and malignant lymphoma also occur during the progressive stage of pSS. We have, herein, focused on the pulmonary lesions of pSS and have aimed clarifying their pathophysiological mechanism by comparing the glandular with the extraglandular lesions observed in a mouse model of pSS. Results The histopathological analysis of lung tissues obtained from NFS/sld mice that have undergone neonatal thymectomy was performed. Moreover, in vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted along with immunological analyses in order to characterize the unique phenotypes of the pulmonary lesions identified in these pSS model mice. Inflammatory lesions with a bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue-like structure were identified in the lungs of pSS model mice. In addition, relative to salivary gland lesions, pulmonary lesions showed increased CD23+ follicular B (FB) cells. In vitro and pulmonary B cells were more readily driven to CD23+ FB cell phenotype than salivary gland B cells in pSS model mice. Furthermore, the CD23+ FB cell differentiation was found to be enhanced in a CD4+ T-cell-dependent manner under a Th2-type condition in the lungs of herein examined pSS model mice. Discussion A Th2-type response in the pSS lung may promote the progression of autoimmune lesions through an enhanced abnormal differentiation of B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Sato-Fukuba
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
- Department of Oral Medicine, Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Rieko Arakaki
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Aya Ushio
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Otsuka
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Ruka Nagao
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Shigefumi Matsuzawa
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tawara
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Takaaki Tsunematsu
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Naozumi Ishimaru
- Department of Oral Molecular Pathology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
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Hart M, Walch-Rückheim B, Friedmann KS, Rheinheimer S, Tänzer T, Glombitza B, Sester M, Lenhof HP, Hoth M, Schwarz EC, Keller A, Meese E. miR-34a: a new player in the regulation of T cell function by modulation of NF-κB signaling. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:46. [PMID: 30718475 PMCID: PMC6362007 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-1295-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
NF-κB functions as modulator of T cell receptor-mediated signaling and transcriptional regulator of miR-34a. Our in silico analysis revealed that miR-34a impacts the NF-κB signalosome with miR-34a binding sites in 14 key members of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Functional analysis identified five target genes of miR-34a including PLCG1, CD3E, PIK3CB, TAB2, and NFΚBIA. Overexpression of miR-34a in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells led to a significant decrease of NFΚBIA as the most downstream cytoplasmic NF-κB member, a reduced cell surface abundance of TCRA and CD3E, and to a reduction of T cell killing capacity. Inhibition of miR-34a caused an increase of NFΚBIA, TCRA, and CD3E. Notably, activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells entrails a gradual increase of miR-34a. Our results lend further support to a model with miR-34a as a central NF-κB regulator in T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hart
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Walch-Rückheim
- Institute of Virology and Center of Human and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Kim S Friedmann
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Tänzer
- Institute of Virology and Center of Human and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Glombitza
- Institute of Virology and Center of Human and Molecular Biology, Saarland University Medical School, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Martina Sester
- Department of Transplant and Infection Immunology, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Hans-Peter Lenhof
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Markus Hoth
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Eva C Schwarz
- Biophysics, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421, Homburg, Germany
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Hart M, Kern F, Backes C, Rheinheimer S, Fehlmann T, Keller A, Meese E. The deterministic role of 5-mers in microRNA-gene targeting. RNA Biol 2018; 15:819-825. [PMID: 29749304 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2018.1462652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022] Open
Abstract
MiRNAs play a central role in physiological and pathological processes. Both for the biological understanding and for their clinical application, it is essential to understand the interaction of miRNAs and their targets. Target identification largely hinges on in-silico prediction, which requires a complete consideration of miRNA binding sites within the UTRs of target genes. Here, we show that 5-mer sites might also play an essential role for human miRNA-target binding. We implemented and employed an algorithm to all pairs of 2,588 human miRNAs annotated in miRBase and the 3' UTRs of 16725 genes (>43 million combinations). Our in-silico analysis showed a highly significant enrichment (p = 1.4 × 10-69) of 5-mer binding sites in 3' UTRs across all experimentally validated miRNA-target gene pairs. We next confirmed the central role of 5-mer binding sites by reporter assays and demonstrated that two non-canonical 5-mer sites of miR-34a in the 3' UTR of T-cell receptor alpha (TCRA) have a significantly stronger influence on its posttranscriptional regulation than the canonical binding sites. These observations indicate an essential role of 5-mer binding sites for the miRNA targeting in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hart
- a Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University , Homburg , Germany
| | - Fabian Kern
- b Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Christina Backes
- b Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | | | - Tobias Fehlmann
- b Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Andreas Keller
- b Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University , Saarbrücken , Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- a Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University , Homburg , Germany
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Retamozo S, Flores-Chavez A, Consuegra-Fernández M, Lozano F, Ramos-Casals M, Brito-Zerón P. Cytokines as therapeutic targets in primary Sjögren syndrome. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 184:81-97. [PMID: 29092775 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary Sjögren syndrome (SjS) is a systemic autoimmune disease that may affect 1 in 1000 people (overwhelmingly women) and that can be a serious disease with excess mortality due to severe organ-specific involvements and the development of B cell lymphoma; systemic involvement clearly marks the disease prognosis, and strongly suggests the need for closer follow-up and more robust therapeutic management. Therapy is established according to the organ involved and severity. As a rule, the management of systemic SjS should be organ-specific, with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents limited to potentially-severe involvements; unfortunately, the limited evidence available for these drugs, together with the potential development of serious adverse events, makes solid therapeutic recommendations difficult. The emergence of biological therapies has increased the therapeutic armamentarium available to treat primary SjS. Biologics currently used in SjS patients are used off-label and are overwhelmingly agents targeting B cells, but the most recent studies are moving on into the evaluation of targeting specific cytokines involved in the SjS pathogenesis. The most recent etiopathogenic advances in SjS are shedding some light in the search for new highly-selective biological therapies without the adverse effects of the standard drugs currently used (corticosteroids and immunosuppressant drugs). This review summarizes the potential pharmacotherapeutic options targeting the main cytokine families involved in the etiopathogenesis of primary SjS and analyzes potential insights for developing new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad Retamozo
- Sjögren Syndrome Research Group (AGAUR), Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases Josep Font, CELLEX-IDIBAPS, Spain; Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Biomédicas de Córdoba (IUCBC), Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (INICSA-UNC-CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina; Department of Autoimmune Diseases, ICMiD, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandra Flores-Chavez
- Sjögren Syndrome Research Group (AGAUR), Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases Josep Font, CELLEX-IDIBAPS, Spain; Biomedical Research Unit 02, Clinical Epidemiology Research Unit, UMAE, Specialties Hospital, Western Medical Center, Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS), Guadalajara, Mexico; Postgraduate Program of Medical Science, University Center for Biomedical Research (CUIB), University of Colima, Colima, Mexico; Department of Autoimmune Diseases, ICMiD, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Consuegra-Fernández
- Immunoreceptors del Sistema Innat I Adaptatiu, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco Lozano
- Immunoreceptors del Sistema Innat I Adaptatiu, Institut D'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi I Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Immunologia, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Manuel Ramos-Casals
- Sjögren Syndrome Research Group (AGAUR), Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases Josep Font, CELLEX-IDIBAPS, Spain; Department of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Autoimmune Diseases, ICMiD, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pilar Brito-Zerón
- Sjögren Syndrome Research Group (AGAUR), Laboratory of Autoimmune Diseases Josep Font, CELLEX-IDIBAPS, Spain; Autoimmune Diseases Unit, Department of Medicine, Hospital CIMA-Sanitas, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Autoimmune Diseases, ICMiD, Hospital Clínic Barcelona, Spain
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Tissue resident memory T cells in the human conjunctiva and immune signatures in human dry eye disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45312. [PMID: 28345628 PMCID: PMC5366884 DOI: 10.1038/srep45312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-recirculating resident memory (TRM) and recirculating T cells mount vigorous immune responses to both self and foreign antigens in barrier tissues like the skin, lung and gastrointestinal tract. Using impression cytology followed by flow cytometry we identified two TRM subsets and four recirculating T-subsets in the healthy human ocular surface. In dry eye disease, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed two clusters of patients with distinct T-cell signatures. Increased conjunctival central memory and naïve T cells characterized Cluster-1 patients, and increased CD8+ TRMs and CD4+ recirculating memory T cells characterized Cluster-2 patients. Interestingly these T-cell signatures are associated with different clinical features: the first signature correlated with increased ocular redness, and the second with reduced tear break up times. These findings open the door to immune-based characterization of dry eye disease and T-subset specific immunotherapies to suppress T-subsets involved in disease. They may also help with patient stratification during clinical trials of immunomodulators.
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Pan Z, Horton CG, Lawrence C, Farris AD. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells and type 1 interferon promote peripheral expansion of forkhead box protein 3(+) regulatory T cells specific for the ubiquitous RNA-binding nuclear antigen La/Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-B. Clin Exp Immunol 2016; 186:18-29. [PMID: 27227559 PMCID: PMC5011359 DOI: 10.1111/cei.12817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding nuclear antigens are a major class of self-antigen to which immune tolerance is lost in rheumatic diseases. Serological tolerance to one such antigen, La/Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-B (La), is controlled by CD4(+) T cells. This study investigated peripheral tolerance to human La (hLa) by tracking the fate of hLa-specific CD4(+) T cells expressing the transgenic (Tg) 3B5.8 T cell receptor (TCR) after adoptive transfer into lymphocyte-replete recipient mice expressing hLa as a neo-self-antigen. After initial antigen-specific cell division, hLa-specific donor CD4(+) T cells expressed forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3). Donor cells retrieved from hLa Tg recipients displayed impaired proliferation and secreted interleukin (IL)-10 in vitro in response to antigenic stimulation. Transfer of highly purified FoxP3-negative donor cells demonstrated that accumulation of hLa-specific regulatory T cells (Treg ) was due primarily to expansion of small numbers of donor Treg . Depletion of recipient plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), but not B cells, severely hampered the accumulation of FoxP3(+) donor Treg in hLa Tg recipients. Recipient pDC expressed tolerogenic markers and higher levels of co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules than B cells. Adoptive transfer of hLa peptide-loaded pDC into mice lacking expression of hLa recapitulated the accumulation of hLa-specific Treg . Blockade of the type 1 interferon (IFN) receptor in hLa Tg recipients of hLa-specific T cells impaired FoxP3(+) donor T cell accumulation. Therefore, peripheral expansion of Treg specific for an RNA-binding nuclear antigen is mediated by antigen-presenting pDC in a type 1 IFN-dependent manner. These results reveal a regulatory function of pDC in controlling autoreactivity to RNA-binding nuclear antigens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z.‐J. Pan
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology ProgramOklahoma Medical Research Foundation
| | - C. G. Horton
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology ProgramOklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma City
- Department of Biological SciencesSouthwestern Oklahoma State UniversityWeatherfordOKUSA
| | - C. Lawrence
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology ProgramOklahoma Medical Research Foundation
| | - A. D. Farris
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology ProgramOklahoma Medical Research Foundation
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterOklahoma City
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