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He X, Liu P, Luo Y, Fu X, Yang T. STATs, promising targets for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 277:116783. [PMID: 39180944 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116783] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Cytokines play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, with over 50 cytokines undergoing signal transduction through the Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) signaling pathway. Recent studies have solidly confirmed the pivotal role of STATs in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Therefore, this review provides a detailed summary of the immunological functions of STATs, focusing on exploring their mechanisms in various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Additionally, with the rapid advancement of structural biology in the field of drug discovery, many STAT inhibitors have been identified using structure-based drug design strategies. In this review, we also examine the structures of STAT proteins and compile the latest research on STAT inhibitors currently being tested in animal models and clinical trials for the treatment of immunological diseases, which emphasizes the feasibility of STATs as promising therapeutic targets and provides insights into the design of the next generation of STAT inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlian He
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Pingxian Liu
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Youfu Luo
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xinyuan Fu
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Tao Yang
- Laboratory of Human Diseases and Immunotherapy, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Immunology and Inflammation, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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2
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Tolomeo M, Cascio A. STAT4 and STAT6, their role in cellular and humoral immunity and in diverse human diseases. Int Rev Immunol 2024:1-25. [PMID: 39188021 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2024.2395274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 and STAT6 play a crucial role in immune cells by transducing signals from specific cytokine receptors, and inducing transcription of genes involved in cell-mediated and humoral immunity. These two different defense mechanisms against pathogens are regulated by two specific CD4+ T helper (Th) cells known as Th1 and Th2 cells. Many studies have shown that several diseases including cancer, inflammatory, autoimmune and allergic diseases are associated with a Th1/Th2 imbalance caused by increased or decreased expression/activity of STAT4 or STAT6 often due to genetic and epigenetic aberrances. An altered expression of STAT4 has been observed in different tumors and autoimmune diseases, while a dysregulation of STAT6 signaling pathway is frequently observed in allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, food allergy, and tumors such as Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Recently, dysregulations of STAT4 and STAT6 expression have been observed in SARS-CoV2 and monkeypox infections, which are still public health emergencies in many countries. SARS-CoV-2 can induce an imbalance in Th1 and Th2 responses with a predominant activation of STAT6 in the cytosol and nuclei of pneumocytes that drives Th2 polarization and cytokine storm. In monkeypox infection the virus can promote an immune evasion by inducing a Th2 response that in turn inhibits the Th1 response essential for virus elimination. Furthermore, genetic variations of STAT4 that are associated with an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus seem to play a role in defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manlio Tolomeo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, A.O.U.P. Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Cascio
- Department of Infectious Diseases, A.O.U.P. Palermo, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Palermo, Italy
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3
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Liu M, Wang S, Liang Y, Fan Y, Wang W. Genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in the type I interferon system (STAT4 and IRF5): association with Asian SLE patients. Clin Rheumatol 2024; 43:2403-2416. [PMID: 38963465 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-024-07046-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease with a polymorphic clinical presentation involving multisystem damages with significant differences in prevalence and disease severity among different ethnic groups. Although genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors have been demonstrated to contribute a lot to SLE, the pathogenesis of SLE is still unknown. Numerous evidence revealed that gene variants within the type I interferons (IFN) signaling pathway performed the great genetic associations with autoimmune diseases including SLE. To date, through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genetic association studies showed that more than 100 susceptibility genes have been linked to the pathogenesis of SLE, among which TYK2, STAT1, STAT4, and IRF5 are important molecules directly connected to the type I interferon signaling system. The review summarized the genetic associations and the detailed risk loci of STAT4 and IRF5 with Asian SLE patients, explored the genotype distributions associated with the main clinical manifestations of SLE, and sorted out the potential reasons for the differences in susceptibility in Asia and Europe. Moreover, the therapies targeting STAT4 and IRF5 were also evaluated in order to propose more personalized and targeted treatment plans in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyao Liu
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Shenglong Wang
- The First Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yujiao Liang
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Yongsheng Fan
- Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, China
| | - Weijie Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310005, China.
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4
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Prakash A, Medved J, Arneja A, Niebuhr C, Li AN, Tarrah S, Boscia AR, Burnett ED, Singh A, Salazar JE, Xu W, Santhanakrishnan M, Hendrickson JE, Luckey CJ. Class switching is differentially regulated in RBC alloimmunization and vaccination. Transfusion 2023; 63:826-838. [PMID: 36907655 PMCID: PMC10851675 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies of human patients have shown that most anti-RBC alloantibodies are IgG1 or IgG3 subclasses, although it is unclear why transfused RBCs preferentially drive these subclasses over others. Though mouse models allow for the mechanistic exploration of class-switching, previous studies of RBC alloimmunization in mice have focused more on the total IgG response than the relative distribution, abundance, or mechanism of IgG subclass generation. Given this major gap, we compared the IgG subclass distribution generated in response to transfused RBCs relative to protein in alum vaccination, and determined the role of STAT6 in their generation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS WT mice were either immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA or transfused with HOD RBCs and levels of anti-HEL IgG subtypes were measured using end-point dilution ELISAs. To study the role of STAT6 in IgG class-switching, we first generated and validated novel STAT6 KO mice using CRISPR/cas9 gene editing. STAT6 KO mice were then transfused with HOD RBCs or immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA, and IgG subclasses were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS When compared with antibody responses to Alum/HEL-OVA, transfusion of HOD RBCs induced lower levels of IgG1, IgG2b, and IgG2c but similar levels of IgG3. Class switching to most IgG subtypes remained largely unaffected in STAT6 deficient mice in response to HOD RBC transfusion, with the one exception being IgG2b. In contrast, STAT6 deficient mice showed altered levels of all IgG subtypes following Alum vaccination. DISCUSSION Our results show that anti-RBC class-switching occurs via alternate mechanisms when compared with the well-studied immunogen alum vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anupam Prakash
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jelena Medved
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Abhinav Arneja
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Conrad Niebuhr
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Andria N. Li
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Soraya Tarrah
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Alexis R. Boscia
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Emily D. Burnett
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Aanika Singh
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Juan E. Salazar
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Wenhao Xu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Manjula Santhanakrishnan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Jeanne E. Hendrickson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chance John Luckey
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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5
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Ke F, Benet ZL, Maz MP, Liu J, Dent AL, Kahlenberg JM, Grigorova IL. Germinal center B cells that acquire nuclear proteins are specifically suppressed by follicular regulatory T cells. eLife 2023; 12:e83908. [PMID: 36862132 PMCID: PMC9981149 DOI: 10.7554/elife.83908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Follicular regulatory T cells (Tfr) restrict development of autoantibodies and autoimmunity while supporting high-affinity foreign antigen-specific humoral response. However, whether Tfr can directly repress germinal center (GC) B cells that acquire autoantigens is unclear. Moreover, TCR specificity of Tfr to self-antigens is not known. Our study suggests that nuclear proteins contain antigens specific to Tfr. Targeting of these proteins to antigen-specific B cells in mice triggers rapid accumulation of Tfr with immunosuppressive characteristics. Tfr then exert negative regulation of GC B cells with predominant inhibition of the nuclear protein-acquiring GC B cells, suggesting an important role of direct cognate Tfr-GC B cells interactions for the control of effector B cell response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ke
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Zachary L Benet
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Mitra P Maz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Jianhua Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Alexander L Dent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Joanne Michelle Kahlenberg
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Irina L Grigorova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan–Ann ArborAnn ArborUnited States
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6
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Prakash A, Medved J, Arneja A, Niebuhr C, Li AN, Tarrah S, Boscia AR, Burnett ED, Singh A, Salazar JE, Xu W, Santhanakrishnan M, Hendrickson JE, Luckey CJ. Class switching is differentially regulated in RBC alloimmunization and vaccination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.11.523608. [PMID: 36712006 PMCID: PMC9882062 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.11.523608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Studies of human patients have shown that most anti-RBC alloantibodies are IgG1 or IgG3 subclasses, though it is unclear why transfused RBCs preferentially drive these subclasses over others. Though mouse models allow for the mechanistic exploration of class-switching, previous studies of RBC alloimmunization in mice have focused more on the total IgG response than the relative distribution, abundance, or mechanism of IgG subclass generation. Given this major gap, we compared the IgG subclass distribution generated in response to transfused RBCs relative to protein in alum vaccination, and determined the role of STAT6 in their generation. Study Design and Methods WT mice were either immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA or transfused with HOD RBCs and levels of anti-HEL IgG subtypes were measured using end-point dilution ELISAs. To study the role of STAT6 in IgG class-switching, we first generated and validated novel STAT6 KO mice using CRISPR/cas9 gene editing. STAT6 KO mice were then transfused with HOD RBCs or immunized with Alum/HEL-OVA, and IgG subclasses were quantified by ELISA. Results When compared to antibody responses to Alum/HEL-OVA, transfusion of HOD RBCs induced lower levels of IgG1, IgG2b and IgG2c but similar levels of IgG3. Class switching to most IgG subtypes remained largely unaffected in STAT6 deficient mice in response to HOD RBC transfusion, with the one exception being IgG2b. In contrast, STAT6 deficient mice showed altered levels of all IgG subtypes following Alum vaccination. Discussion Our results show that anti-RBC class-switching occurs via alternate mechanisms when compared to the well-studied immunogen alum vaccination.
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7
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Fike AJ, Chodisetti SB, Bricker KN, Choi NM, Chroneos ZC, Kaplan MH, Rahman ZSM. STAT4 Is Largely Dispensable for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-like Autoimmune- and Foreign Antigen-Driven Antibody-Forming Cell, Germinal Center, and Follicular Th Cell Responses. Immunohorizons 2021; 5:2-15. [PMID: 33446493 DOI: 10.4049/immunohorizons.2000111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies identified variants in the transcription factor STAT4 gene and several other genes in the STAT4 signaling pathway, such as IL12A, IL12B, JAK2, and TYK2, which are associated with an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other autoimmune diseases. Consistent with the genome-wide association studies data, STAT4 was shown to play an important role in autoimmune responses and autoimmunity development in SLE mouse models. Despite such important role for STAT4 in SLE development in mice and humans, little is known whether and how STAT4 may regulate extrafollicular Ab-forming cell (AFC) and follicular germinal center (GC) responses, two major pathways of autoreactive B cell development and autoantibody production. To our surprise, we found STAT4 to be largely dispensable for promoting autoimmune AFC and GC responses in various autoimmune- and SLE-prone mouse models, which strongly correlated with autoantibody production, and immune complex deposition and immune cell infiltration in the kidney. We further observed that STAT4 deficiency had no effects on AFC, GC, and Ag-specific Ab responses during protein Ag immunization or influenza virus infection. Additionally, CD4+ effector and follicular Th cell responses in autoimmune- and SLE-prone mice and protein Ag-immunized and influenza virus-infected mice were intact in the absence of STAT4. Together, our data demonstrate a largely dispensable role for STAT4 in AFC, GC, and Ab responses in SLE mouse models and in certain foreign Ag-driven responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Fike
- 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
| | - Kristen N Bricker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Nicholas M Choi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
| | - Zissis C Chroneos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
- Department of Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
- Pulmonary Immunology and Physiology Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033; and
| | - Mark H Kaplan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202
| | - Ziaur S M Rahman
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033;
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8
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Ashmawy I, El-Lebedy D, Awadallah E, Marzouk H, Farag Y, Ibrahim AA. Association of FCN2 gene rs3124954 and STAT4 gene rs7582694 polymorphisms with juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis in a sample of Egyptian children. GENE REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2020.100968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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9
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Cytokines and Transgenic Matrix in Autoimmune Diseases: Similarities and Differences. Biomedicines 2020; 8:biomedicines8120559. [PMID: 33271810 PMCID: PMC7761121 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8120559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases are increasingly recognized as disease entities in which dysregulated cytokines contribute to tissue-specific inflammation. In organ-specific and multiorgan autoimmune diseases, the cytokine profiles show some similarities. Despite these similarities, the cytokines have different roles in the pathogenesis of different diseases. Altered levels or action of cytokines can result from changes in cell signaling. This article describes alterations in the JAK-STAT, TGF-β and NF-κB signaling pathways, which are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. There is a special focus on T cells in preclinical models and in patients afflicted with these chronic inflammatory diseases.
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10
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Kadoya H, Yu N, Schiessl IM, Riquier-Brison A, Gyarmati G, Desposito D, Kidokoro K, Butler MJ, Jacob CO, Peti-Peterdi J. Essential role and therapeutic targeting of the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx in lupus nephritis. JCI Insight 2020; 5:131252. [PMID: 32870819 PMCID: PMC7566710 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.131252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major organ complication and cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There is an unmet medical need for developing more efficient and specific, mechanism-based therapies, which depends on improved understanding of the underlying LN pathogenesis. Here we present direct visual evidence from high-power intravital imaging of the local kidney tissue microenvironment in mouse models showing that activated memory T cells originated in immune organs and the LN-specific robust accumulation of the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx played central roles in LN development. The glomerular homing of T cells was mediated via the direct binding of their CD44 to the hyaluronic acid (HA) component of the endothelial glycocalyx, and glycocalyx-degrading enzymes efficiently disrupted homing. Short-course treatment with either hyaluronidase or heparinase III provided long-term organ protection as evidenced by vastly improved albuminuria and survival rate. This glycocalyx/HA/memory T cell interaction is present in multiple SLE-affected organs and may be therapeutically targeted for SLE complications, including LN. A combined immunology and renal pathophysiology study of the local kidney tissue microenvironment in lupus identifies a key role of glomerular endothelial glycocalyx in disease development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Kadoya
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Nephrology/Hypertension, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Ning Yu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ina Maria Schiessl
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anne Riquier-Brison
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Georgina Gyarmati
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Dorinne Desposito
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kengo Kidokoro
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Nephrology/Hypertension, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan
| | - Matthew J Butler
- Academic Renal Unit, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Chaim O Jacob
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - János Peti-Peterdi
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience and Department of Medicine, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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11
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Alunno A, Padjen I, Fanouriakis A, Boumpas DT. Pathogenic and Therapeutic Relevance of JAK/STAT Signaling in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Integration of Distinct Inflammatory Pathways and the Prospect of Their Inhibition with an Oral Agent. Cells 2019; 8:cells8080898. [PMID: 31443172 PMCID: PMC6721755 DOI: 10.3390/cells8080898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Four Janus kinases (JAKs) (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, TYK2) and seven signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) (STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B, STAT6) mediate the signal transduction of more than 50 cytokines and growth factors in many different cell types. Located intracellularly and downstream of cytokine receptors, JAKs integrate and balance the actions of various signaling pathways. With distinct panels of STAT-sensitive genes in different tissues, this highly heterogeneous system has broad in vivo functions playing a crucial role in the immune system. Thus, the JAK/STAT pathway is critical for resisting infection, maintaining immune tolerance, and enforcing barrier functions and immune surveillance against cancer. Breakdowns of this system and/or increased signal transduction may lead to autoimmunity and other diseases. Accordingly, the recent development and approval of the first small synthetic molecules targeting JAK molecules have opened new therapeutic avenues of potentially broad therapeutic relevance. Extensive data are now available regarding the JAK/STAT pathway in rheumatoid arthritis. Dysregulation of the cytokines is also a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and targeting the JAK/STAT proteins allows simultaneous suppression of multiple cytokines. Evidence from in vitro studies and animal models supports a pivotal role also in the pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus and SLE. This has important therapeutic implications, given the current paucity of targeted therapies especially in the latter. Herein, we summarize the currently available literature in experimental SLE, which has led to the recent promising Phase II clinical trial of a JAK inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Alunno
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Ospedale S.M. della Misericordia, Edificio C, 5° piano, Piazzale Menghini 1, 06129 S. Andrea delle Fratte, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Ivan Padjen
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb and University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Antonis Fanouriakis
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece
- Department of Rheumatology, "Asklepieion" General Hospital, 16673 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitrios T Boumpas
- Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Unit, 4th Department of Internal Medicine, "Attikon" University Hospital, 12462 Athens, Greece
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, Medical School, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece and Medical School, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus
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12
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Carrasco Pro S, Dafonte Imedio A, Santoso CS, Gan KA, Sewell JA, Martinez M, Sereda R, Mehta S, Fuxman Bass JI. Global landscape of mouse and human cytokine transcriptional regulation. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9321-9337. [PMID: 30184180 PMCID: PMC6182173 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytokines are cell-to-cell signaling proteins that play a central role in immune development, pathogen responses, and diseases. Cytokines are highly regulated at the transcriptional level by combinations of transcription factors (TFs) that recruit cofactors and the transcriptional machinery. Here, we mined through three decades of studies to generate a comprehensive database, CytReg, reporting 843 and 647 interactions between TFs and cytokine genes, in human and mouse respectively. By integrating CytReg with other functional datasets, we determined general principles governing the transcriptional regulation of cytokine genes. In particular, we show a correlation between TF connectivity and immune phenotype and disease, we discuss the balance between tissue-specific and pathogen-activated TFs regulating each cytokine gene, and cooperativity and plasticity in cytokine regulation. We also illustrate the use of our database as a blueprint to predict TF-disease associations and identify potential TF-cytokine regulatory axes in autoimmune diseases. Finally, we discuss research biases in cytokine regulation studies, and use CytReg to predict novel interactions based on co-expression and motif analyses which we further validated experimentally. Overall, this resource provides a framework for the rational design of future cytokine gene regulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Carrasco Pro
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | | | - Kok Ann Gan
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca Sereda
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Shivani Mehta
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Juan Ignacio Fuxman Bass
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.,Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Wolf SJ, Theros J, Reed TJ, Liu J, Grigorova IL, Martínez-Colón G, Jacob CO, Hodgin JB, Kahlenberg JM. TLR7-Mediated Lupus Nephritis Is Independent of Type I IFN Signaling. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 201:393-405. [PMID: 29884703 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by increased type I IFNs, autoantibodies, and inflammatory-mediated multiorgan damage. TLR7 activation is an important contributor to systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis, but the mechanisms by which type I IFNs participate in TLR7-driven pathologic conditions remain uncertain. In this study, we examined the requirement for type I IFNs in TLR7-stimulated lupus nephritis. Lupus-prone NZM2328, INZM (which lack a functional type I IFN receptor), and NZM2328 IL-1β-/- mice were treated at 10 wk of age on the right ear with R848 (TLR7 agonist) or control (DMSO). Autoantibody production and proteinuria were assessed throughout treatment. Multiorgan inflammation was assessed at the time of decline in health. Renal infiltrates and mRNA expression were also examined after 14 d of treatment. Both NZM2328 and INZM mice exhibited a decline in survival after 3-4 wk of R848 but not vehicle treatment. Development of splenomegaly and liver inflammation were dependent on type I IFN. Interestingly, autoantibody production, early renal infiltration of dendritic cells, upregulation of IL-1β, and lupus nephritis occurred independent of type I IFN signaling. Development of TLR7-driven lupus nephritis was not abolished by the deletion of IL-1β. Thus, although IFN-α is sufficient to induce nephritis acceleration, our data emphasize a critical role for IFN-independent signaling in TLR7-mediated lupus nephritis. Further, despite upregulation of IL-1β after TLR7 stimulation, deletion of IL-1β is not sufficient to reduce lupus nephritis development in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya J Wolf
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.,Immunology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jonathan Theros
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Tammi J Reed
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jianhua Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Irina L Grigorova
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | - Chaim O Jacob
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033; and
| | - Jeffrey B Hodgin
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - J Michelle Kahlenberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109;
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Shi Z, Zhang Q, Chen H, Lian Z, Liu J, Feng H, Miao X, Du Q, Zhou H. STAT4 Polymorphisms are Associated with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders. Neuromolecular Med 2017; 19:493-500. [PMID: 28852993 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-017-8463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
STAT4 plays a crucial role in the functioning of the innate and adaptive immune cells and has been identified as a susceptibility gene in numerous autoimmune disorders. However, its association with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) remains uncertain. Here, we performed a case-control study to determine whether STAT4 contributed to the risk of NMOSD. We tested five STAT4 SNPs in 233 patients with established NMOSD and 492 healthy controls. Chi-square tests and logistic regression analyses were performed with four genetic models, including allelic, additive, dominant, and recessive models, to identify associations with NMOSD. The results of multiple test comparisons were corrected using the Benjamini and Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR-BH). After correcting for multiple test comparisons, the minor alleles of four STAT4 SNPs exhibited significant association with increased risk of NMOSD (rs7574865 T, odds ratio [OR] = 1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-2.08, P corr = 0.000; rs10181656 G, OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.29-2.03, P corr = 0.000; rs10168266 T, OR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.27-2.00, P corr = 0.001; and rs13426947 A, OR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.21-1.90, P corr = 0.004). Identical results were observed in the dominant, recessive, and additive models. In contrast, the G allele of rs7601754 displayed a protective effect against NMOSD (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.36-0.76, P corr = 0.006). Our study indicates that STAT4 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of NMOSD, which provides novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Shi
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hongxi Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Zhiyun Lian
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ju Liu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Huiru Feng
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaohui Miao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qin Du
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 28 Dianxin Nanjie Street, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Jacob CO, Yu N, Yoo DG, Perez-Zapata LJ, Barbu EA, Kaplan MJ, Purmalek M, Pingel JT, Idol RA, Dinauer MC. Haploinsufficiency of NADPH Oxidase Subunit Neutrophil Cytosolic Factor 2 Is Sufficient to Accelerate Full-Blown Lupus in NZM 2328 Mice. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 69:1647-1660. [DOI: 10.1002/art.40141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chaim O. Jacob
- University of Southern California School of Medicine; Los Angeles
| | - Ning Yu
- University of Southern California School of Medicine; Los Angeles
| | - Dae-Goon Yoo
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri
| | | | - Emilia Alina Barbu
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri
| | - Mariana J. Kaplan
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH; Bethesda Maryland
| | - Monica Purmalek
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH; Bethesda Maryland
| | - Jeanette T. Pingel
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri
| | - Rachel A. Idol
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri
| | - Mary C. Dinauer
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; St. Louis Missouri
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Yung S, Yap DYH, Chan TM. Recent advances in the understanding of renal inflammation and fibrosis in lupus nephritis. F1000Res 2017; 6:874. [PMID: 28663794 PMCID: PMC5473406 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.10445.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lupus nephritis is a potentially reversible cause of severe acute kidney injury and is an important cause of end-stage renal failure in Asians and patients of African or Hispanic descent. It is characterized by aberrant exaggerated innate and adaptive immune responses, autoantibody production and their deposition in the kidney parenchyma, triggering complement activation, activation and proliferation of resident renal cells, and expression of pro-inflammatory and chemotactic molecules leading to the influx of inflammatory cells, all of which culminate in destruction of normal nephrons and their replacement by fibrous tissue. Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody level correlates with disease activity in most patients. There is evidence that apart from mediating pathogenic processes through the formation of immune complexes, pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies can bind to resident renal cells and induce downstream pro-apoptotic, pro-inflammatory, or pro-fibrotic processes or a combination of these. Recent data also highlight the critical role of macrophages in acute and chronic kidney injury. Though clinically effective, current treatments for lupus nephritis encompass non-specific immunosuppression and the anti-inflammatory action of high-dose corticosteroids. The clinical and histological impact of novel biologics targeting pro-inflammatory molecules remains to be investigated. Insight into the underlying mechanisms that induce inflammatory and fibrotic processes in the kidney of lupus nephritis could present opportunities for more specific novel treatment options to improve clinical outcomes while minimizing off-target untoward effects. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of pathogenic mechanisms leading to inflammation and fibrosis of the kidney in lupus nephritis in the context of established standard-of-care and emerging therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Yung
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Desmond YH Yap
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Tak Mao Chan
- Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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Wun CM, Piao Z, Hong KT, Choi JY, Hong CR, Park JD, Park KD, Shin HY, Kang HJ. Effect of donor STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 on clinical outcomes of pediatric acute leukemia patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Int Immunopharmacol 2016; 43:62-69. [PMID: 27960128 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/06/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
STAT4 polymorphism, rs7574865 is linked to various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Its T minor allele is associated with higher STAT4 mRNA and protein expression, indicating a stronger skewed immune response than the norm. Although widely studied in autoimmune disease patients and the general population, its effect on immunocompromised subjects is still unknown. Especially in situations, i.e. post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (post-HSCT), where control of the immune response is crucial. Hence, this study investigates if the presence of the T minor allele in donors would affect immunological response and clinical outcomes post-HSCT. Samples from 161 pediatric patients who underwent allogeneic HSCT for acute leukemia and showed complete chimerism by donor cells were obtained. Six clinical outcomes were investigated; hepatic veno-occlusive disease, acute graft-vs-host disease, chronic graft-vs-host disease, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, relapse and overall survival. The TT genotype was found to be significant in the occurrence of CMV infection (P=0.049), showing higher incidence of CMV infection compared to the others. Multivariate analysis confirmed that association of the TT genotype is independent from other variables in CMV infection occurrence (P=0.010). This is the first study on STAT4 polymorphism rs7574865 in allogeneic HSCT as well as immunocompromised patients. As the TT genotype is associated with autoimmune diseases, our results seem at a paradox with current evidence hinting at a different role of STAT4 in normal circumstances versus immunocompromised patients. Further investigation is needed to elicit the reason behind this and discover novel applications for better post-transplant outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Mun Wun
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhe Piao
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Taek Hong
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Yoon Choi
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Che Ry Hong
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - June Dong Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Duk Park
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Young Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Jin Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Jones OY, Alexander PJ, Lacson A, Gok F, Feliz A, Marikar Y, Madivi C, Jones JM, Good RA. Effects of fludarabine treatment on murine lupus nephritis. Lupus 2016; 13:912-6. [PMID: 15645745 DOI: 10.1191/0961203304lu2032oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BXSB mice, a murine model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), were treated with two different doses of fludarabine for a four-week period and examined two weeks after the final dose. Control mice were treated with saline or cyclophosphamide. Mice treated with fludarabine had a significant reduction in renal pathology compared to control mice. Fludarabine-treated mice also had an almost 10-fold increase in percentile of CD8+CD25+ T cells in the spleen and a smaller but significant increase in CD4+CD25+ cells. Mice treated with cyclophosphamide had a greater leucopenia compared to the other groups and a significant reduction in percentile of B220+ cells in peripheral blood and spleen. Serum autoantibody levels to dsDNA did not differ significantly among the groups, but were higher in 4/10 mice treated with fludarabine. Although few trials of fludarabine for human SLE have been conducted, additional studies may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Y Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida All Children's Hospital, St Petersburg, Florida 33701, USA.
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20
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Goropevšek A, Holcar M, Avčin T. The Role of STAT Signaling Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2016; 52:164-181. [DOI: 10.1007/s12016-016-8550-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Liu QF, Li Y, Zhao QH, Wang ZY, Hu S, Yang CQ, Ye K, Li L. Association of STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2015; 39:627-36. [PMID: 26066297 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2015.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Revised: 03/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2015] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Association of Signal transducers and activators of transcription-4 (STAT4) gene polymorphism with susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease have been investigated in a number of epidemiological studies, but the results are inclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis was to more precisely estimate the relationship. METHODS The databases of Pubmed and CBM updated to October, 2014 were retrieved. Random- or fixed-effect model was used to estimate odd radio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95%CI) on the basis of heterogeneity. RESULTS Seven articles containing 2196 Crohn's disease (CD) cases, 1588 ulcerative colitis (UC) cases and 4126 controls were identified. We detected a significant association between STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism and IBD susceptibility in overall population (GG vs. GT+TT, OR=0.855, 95% CI=0.760-0.962, P=0.009), but not in Caucasian and Asian population, respectively. No association was detected between rs7574865 polymorphism and CD susceptibility in overall, Asian and Caucasian population, respectively. Interestingly, a significant association was detected between rs7574865 with UC susceptibility in overall population (G vs. T, OR=0.881, 95% CI=0.798-0.972, P=0.012; GG vs. GT+TT, OR=0.788, 95% CI=0.679-0.914, P=0.002; GG vs. TT, OR=0.683, 95% CI=0.498-0.937, P=0.018) and Caucasians (GG vs. GT+TT, OR=0.833, 95% CI=0.701-0.990, P=0.038; GG+GT vs. TT, OR=0.667, 95% CI=0.456-0.975, P=0.037; GG vs. TT, OR=0.636, 95% CI=0.433-0.934, P=0.021), respectively, and a possible association was found in Asian population (GG vs. GT+TT, OR=0.709, 95% CI=0.503-0.998, P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS STAT4 rs7574865 gene is IBD risk factor, and this gene polymorphism is associated with UC susceptibility, especially in Caucasians. To confirm these findings, further studies with more sample size are required for a definitive conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Fei Liu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Qi-Hong Zhao
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Zheng-Yu Wang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Shuang Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Chao-Qun Yang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Kui Ye
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230601, China.
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Clark KL, Reed TJ, Wolf SJ, Lowe L, Hodgin JB, Kahlenberg JM. Epidermal injury promotes nephritis flare in lupus-prone mice. J Autoimmun 2015; 65:38-48. [PMID: 26305061 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2015.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2014] [Revised: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus is clinically characterized by episodes of flare and remission. In patients, cutaneous exposure to ultraviolet light has been proposed as a flare trigger. However, induction of flare secondary to cutaneous exposure has been difficult to emulate in many murine lupus models. Here, we describe a system in which epidermal injury is able to trigger the development of a lupus nephritis flare in New Zealand Mixed (NZM) 2328 mice. 20-week old NZM2328 female mice underwent removal of the stratum corneum via duct tape, which resulted in rapid onset of proteinuria and death when compared to sham-stripped littermate control NZM2328 mice. This was coupled with a drop in serum C3 concentrations and dsDNA antibody levels and enhanced immune complex deposition in the glomeruli. Recruitment of CD11b(+)CD11c(+)F4/80(high) macrophages and CD11b(+)CD11c(+)F4/80(low) dendritic cells was noted prior to the onset of proteinuria in injured mice. Transcriptional changes within the kidney suggest a burst of type I IFN-mediated and inflammatory signaling which is followed by upregulation of CXCL13 following epidermal injury. Thus, we propose that tape stripping of lupus-prone NZM2328 mice is a novel model of lupus flare induction that will allow for the study of the role of cutaneous inflammation in lupus development and how crosstalk between dermal and systemic immune systems can lead to lupus flare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn L Clark
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tamra J Reed
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sonya J Wolf
- University of Michigan Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lori Lowe
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Hodgin
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - J Michelle Kahlenberg
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that has a broad spectrum of effects on the majority of organs, including the kidneys. Approximately 40-70% of patients with SLE will develop lupus nephritis. Renal assault during SLE is initiated by genes that breach immune tolerance and promote autoantibody production. These genes might act in concert with other genetic factors that augment innate immune signalling and IFN-I production, which in turn can generate an influx of effector leucocytes, inflammatory mediators and autoantibodies into end organs, such as the kidneys. The presence of cognate antigens in the glomerular matrix, together with intrinsic molecular abnormalities in resident renal cells, might further accentuate disease progression. This Review discusses the genetic insights and molecular mechanisms for key pathogenic contributors in SLE and lupus nephritis. We have categorized the genes identified in human studies of SLE into one of four pathogenic events that lead to lupus nephritis. We selected these categories on the basis of the cell types in which these genes are expressed, and the emerging paradigms of SLE pathogenesis arising from murine models. Deciphering the molecular basis of SLE and/or lupus nephritis in each patient will help physicians to tailor specific therapies.
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Wubetu GY, Utsunomiya T, Ishikawa D, Yamada S, Ikemoto T, Morine Y, Iwahashi S, Saito Y, Arakawa Y, Imura S, Kanamoto M, Zhu C, Bando Y, Shimada M. High STAT4 expression is a better prognostic indicator in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 2014; 21 Suppl 4:S721-8. [PMID: 24965572 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-014-3861-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) mediates the intracellular effects of interleukin-12, leading to the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and natural killer cells cytotoxicity. However, the clinical significance of STAT4 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains virtually unknown. METHODS A total of 66 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were enrolled in this study. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine STAT4 and IFNG mRNA expression levels. Tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry was performed to examine CD8(+) T cells, STAT4, and INF-γ proteins. RESULTS STAT4 was differentially expressed in tumor and nontumor tissues (P = 0.001) and positively correlated with IFNG expression (R (2) = 0.506, P < 0.05) and CD8(+) T cell infiltration (R (2) = 0.53, P < 0.001). Significant correlations were observed between STAT4 expression and tumor TNM stage (P = 0.043), hepatic venous invasion (P = 0.003), des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (P = 0.011), tumor size (P = 0.036), and tumor differentiation (P = 0.034). Patients with high STAT4 expression had significantly better recurrence-free survival (P = 0.009). Low STAT4 expression (P = 0.030) and presence of portal venous invasion or hepatic venous invasion (P = 0.006) were independent risk factors for HCC recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Downregulation of STAT4 in HCC indicated aggressive tumor behavior and predicted a worse clinical outcome. STAT4 might be a useful biomarker to identify patients at high risk of recurrence after hepatectomy.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION STAT4, which acts as the major signaling transducing STATs in response to IL-12, is a central mediator in generating inflammation during protective immune responses and immune-mediated diseases. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes that STAT4 is essential for the differentiation and function of a wide variety of immune cells, including natural killer cells, mast cells, dendritic cells and T helper cells. In addition, STAT4-mediated signaling promoted the production of autoimmune-associated components, which are implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and psoriasis. EXPERT OPINION Due to its crucial roles in inflammation and autoimmunity, STAT4 may have promise as an effective therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving STAT4, together with knowledge on the ability of current immunosuppressive treatment to target this process, may open an avenue to novel therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liang
- Anhui Medical University, School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Anhui, PR China
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26
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J DAS, C A, P SG, S C. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Old and New Susceptibility Genes versus Clinical Manifestations. Curr Genomics 2014; 15:52-65. [PMID: 24653663 PMCID: PMC3958959 DOI: 10.2174/138920291501140306113715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Revised: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 11/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most relevant world-wide autoimmune disorders. The formation of autoantibodies and the deposition of antibody-containing immune complexes in blood vessels throughout the body is the main pathogenic mechanism of SLE leading to heterogeneous clinical manifestations and target tissue damage. The complexity of etiology and pathogenesis in SLE, enclosing genetic and environmental factors, apparently is one of the greatest challenges for both researchers and clinicians. Strong indications for a genetic background in SLE come from studies in families as well as in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, discovering several SLE-associated loci and genes (e.g. IRF5, PTPN22, CTLA4, STAT4 and BANK1). As SLE has a complex genetic background, none of these genes is likely to be entirely responsible for triggering autoimmune response in SLE even if they disclosure a potentially novel molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis' disease. The clinical manifestations and disease severity varies greatly among patients, thus several studies try to associate clinical heterogeneity and prognosis with specific genetic polymorphisms in SLE associated genes. The continue effort to describe new predisposing or modulating genes in SLE is justified by the limited knowledge about the pathogenesis, assorted clinical manifestation and the possible prevention strategies. In this review we describe newly discovered, as well as the most studied genes associated to SLE susceptibility, and relate them to clinical manifestations of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- De Azevêdo Silva J
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Addobbati C
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ; Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Sandrin-Garcia P
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ; Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Crovella S
- Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami (LIKA), Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil ; Department of Genetics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Insight into gene polymorphisms involved in toll-like receptor/interferon signalling pathways for systemic lupus erythematosus in South East Asia. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:529167. [PMID: 24741605 PMCID: PMC3987947 DOI: 10.1155/2014/529167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Polymorphisms in genes involved in toll-like receptor/interferon signalling pathways have been reported previously to be associated with SLE in many populations. This study aimed to investigate the role of seven single nucleotide polymorphisms within TNFAIP3, STAT4, and IRF5, which are involved in upstream and downstream pathways of type I interferon production, in SLE in the South East Asian populations. Genotyping of 360 Malaysian SLE patients and 430 normal healthy individuals revealed that minor alleles of STAT4 rs7574865 and rs10168266 were associated with elevated risk of SLE in the Chinese and Malay patients, respectively (P = 0.028, odds ratio (OR) = 1.42; P = 0.035, OR = 1.80, respectively). Polymorphisms in TNFAIP3 and IRF5 did not show significant associations with SLE in any of the ethnicities. Combined analysis of the Malays, Chinese, and Indians for each SNP indicated that STAT4 rs10168266 was significantly associated with the Malaysian SLE as a whole (P = 0.014; OR = 1.435). The meta-analysis of STAT4 rs10168266, which combined the data of other studies and this study, further confirmed its importance as the risk factor for SLE by having pooled OR of 1.559 and P value of <0.001.
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Zhao Y, Wen G, Qiao Z, Xu H, Sun Q, Huang H, Shan S, Mu Z, Zhang J. Effects of tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide on BXSB lupus-prone mice: a pilot study. Lupus 2014; 22:469-76. [PMID: 23554035 DOI: 10.1177/0961203313478302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of uncertain etiology that affects multiple tissues and organs. Arsenic trioxide (ATO) has been used in lupus-prone mice with a regulatory effect on immune abnormality. Tetra-arsenic tetra-sulfide (As4S4), a traditional Chinese medicine, is effective on acute promyelocytic leukemia with mild side effects than ATO. In this study, a pilot study was performed to investigate the effects and the mechanism of As4S4 on the lupus-prone BXSB mice. Improvement of monocytosis (p<0.05) in spleen and decreased serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) (p=0.0277) were observed with As4S4 treatment. As4S4-treated mice exhibited amelioration of skin, liver and renal disease with mild side effects. Histological analysis revealed that As4S4 suppressed immune complex deposition, mesangial proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidney and liver. Our study support that As4S4 selectively suppresses cutaneous lupus and nephritis in BXSB mice and might be a potential treatment for SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Zhao
- Department of Dermatology, Peking University People's Hospital, China
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Li Y, Fang X, Li QZ. Biomarker profiling for lupus nephritis. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2013; 11:158-65. [PMID: 23732627 PMCID: PMC4357827 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2013.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2013] [Revised: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality of SLE patients. The pathogenesis of LN involves multiple factors, including genetic predisposition, epigenetic regulation and environmental interaction. Over the last decade, omics-based techniques have been extensively utilized for biomarker screening and a wide variety of variations which are associated with SLE and LN have been identified at the levels of genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. These studies and discoveries have expanded our understanding of the molecular basis of the disease and are important for identification of potential therapeutic targets for disease prediction and early treatment. In this review, we summarize some of the recent studies targeted at the identification of LN-associated biomarkers using genomics and proteomic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Li
- Department of Immunology and Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Xiangdong Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genome Sciences and Information, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Department of Immunology and Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Corresponding author.
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Jacob CO, Yu N, Guo S, Jacob N, Quinn WJ, Sindhava V, Cancro MP, Goilav B, Putterman C, Migone TS, Stohl W. Development of systemic lupus erythematosus in NZM 2328 mice in the absence of any single BAFF receptor. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 65:1043-54. [PMID: 23334904 DOI: 10.1002/art.37846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2012] [Accepted: 12/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the necessity for any individual BAFF receptor in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS Bcma-, Taci-, and Br3-null mutations were introgressed into NZM 2328 mice. NZM.Bcma-/-, NZM.Taci-/-, and NZM.Br3-/- mice were evaluated for lymphocyte phenotype and BAFF receptor expression by flow cytometry; for B cell responsiveness to BAFF by in vitro culture; for serum levels of BAFF and total IgG and IgG anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; for renal immunopathology by immunofluorescence and histopathology; and for clinical disease. RESULTS BCMA, TACI, and B lymphocyte stimulator receptor 3 (BR3) were not surface-expressed in NZM.Bcma-/-, NZM.Taci-/-, and NZM.Br3-/- mice, respectively. Transitional and follicular B cells from NZM.Br3-/- mice were much less responsive to BAFF than were the corresponding cells from wild-type, NZM.Bcma-/-, or NZM.Taci-/- mice. In comparison with wild-type mice, NZM.Bcma-/- and NZM.Taci-/- mice harbored an increased number of spleen B cells, T cells, and plasma cells, whereas serum levels of total IgG and IgG anti-dsDNA were similar to those in wild-type mice. Despite their paucity of B cells, NZM.Br3-/- mice had an increased number of T cells, and the numbers of plasma cells and levels of IgG anti-dsDNA were similar to those in wild-type mice. Serum levels of BAFF were increased in NZM.Taci-/- and NZM.Br3-/- mice but were decreased in NZM.Bcma-/- mice. Despite their phenotypic differences, NZM.Bcma-/-, NZM.Taci-/-, and NZM.Br3-/- mice had renal immunopathology and clinical disease that were at least as severe as that in wild-type mice. CONCLUSION Any single BAFF receptor, including BR3, is dispensable for the development of SLE in NZM mice. Development of disease in NZM.Br3-/- mice demonstrates that BAFF-BCMA and/or BAFF-TACI interactions contribute to SLE, and that a profound, life-long reduction in the numbers of B cells does not guarantee protection against SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaim O Jacob
- University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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Look M, Stern E, Wang QA, DiPlacido LD, Kashgarian M, Craft J, Fahmy TM. Nanogel-based delivery of mycophenolic acid ameliorates systemic lupus erythematosus in mice. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:1741-9. [PMID: 23454752 DOI: 10.1172/jci65907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to selectively inactivate immune cells with immunosuppressants is a much sought-after modality for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmunity in general. Here, we designed and tested a novel nanogel drug delivery vehicle for the immunosuppressant mycophenolic acid (MPA). Treatment with MPA-loaded nanogels increased the median survival time (MST) of lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice by 3 months with prophylactic use (MST was 50 weeks versus 38 weeks without treatment), and by 2 months when administered after the development of severe renal damage (MST after proteinuria onset was 12.5 weeks versus 4 weeks without treatment). Equivalent and greater doses of MPA administered in buffer were not efficacious. Nanogels had enhanced biodistribution to organs and association with immune cells. CD4-targeted nanogels yielded similar therapeutic results compared with nontargeted formulations, with protection from glomerulonephritis and decreases in IFN-γ-positive CD4 T cells. DCs that internalized nanogels helped mediate immunosuppression, as they had reduced production of inflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-12. Our results demonstrate efficacy of nanogel-based lupus therapy and implicate a mechanism by which immunosuppression is enhanced, in part, by the targeting of antigen-presenting cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Look
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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Buneva VN, Krasnorutskii MA, Nevinsky GA. Natural antibodies to nucleic acids. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2013; 78:127-143. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297913020028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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Genetics of SLE: functional relevance for monocytes/macrophages in disease. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:582352. [PMID: 23227085 PMCID: PMC3511832 DOI: 10.1155/2012/582352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Revised: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Genetic studies in the last 5 years have greatly facilitated our understanding of how the dysregulation of diverse components of the innate immune system contributes to pathophysiology of SLE. A role for macrophages in the pathogenesis of SLE was first proposed as early as the 1980s following the discovery that SLE macrophages were defective in their ability to clear apoptotic cell debris, thus prolonging exposure of potential autoantigens to the adaptive immune response. More recently, there is an emerging appreciation of the contribution both monocytes and macrophages play in orchestrating immune responses with perturbations in their activation or regulation leading to immune dysregulation. This paper will focus on understanding the relevance of genes identified as being associated with innate immune function of monocytes and macrophages and development of SLE, particularly with respect to their role in (1) immune complex (IC) recognition and clearance, (2) nucleic acid recognition via toll-like receptors (TLRs) and downstream signalling, and (3) interferon signalling. Particular attention will be paid to the functional consequences these genetic associations have for disease susceptibility or pathogenesis.
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Abnormal genetic and epigenetic changes in signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. Dig Dis Sci 2012; 57:2600-7. [PMID: 22569826 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-012-2199-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/14/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Changes in the expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) contribute to the development of a variety of autoimmune diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Moreover, epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, are considered a basis for differentiation of T helper cells and regulation of cytokines. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of STAT4 gene in IBD patients and the associations between its genetic and epigenetic alterations in IBD patients. METHODS Blood and colonic mucosa samples were obtained from Korean patients with IBD and healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated, and total RNA and genomic DNA were isolated from the PBMCs and colon mucosa tissues. The mRNA level and DNA methylation status of the promoter were determined by real-time RT-PCR and pyrosequencing, respectively. The chosen SNPs (rs11889341, rs7574865, rs8179673, rs6752770, rs925847, rs10168266, rs10181656, and rs11685878) were genotyped using the TaqMan nuclease assay. RESULTS Elevated expression of STAT4 was observed in the colonic mucosa and PBMCs of IBD patients. IBD patients showed a lower degree of methylation of the STAT4 promoter than did the healthy controls. Moreover, a significant correlation between risk alleles and methylation status at -172 of the STAT4 promoter was observed, and mRNA levels of STAT4 in IBD patients were correlated inversely with the T-risk allele (rs7574865). CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrated that the DNA methylation status of STAT4 is associated with genetic polymorphisms, providing insights into the interactions between genetic and epigenetic aberrances in STAT4 that contribute to the development of IBD.
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Borchers AT, Leibushor N, Naguwa SM, Cheema GS, Shoenfeld Y, Gershwin ME. Lupus nephritis: a critical review. Autoimmun Rev 2012; 12:174-94. [PMID: 22982174 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2012.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Lupus nephritis remains one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis is an important step in identifying more targeted and less toxic therapeutic approaches. Substantial research has helped define the pathogenetic mechanisms of renal manifestations and, in particular, the complex role of type I interferons is increasingly recognized; new insights have been gained into the contribution of immune complexes containing endogenous RNA and DNA in triggering the production of type I interferons by dendritic cells via activation of endosomal toll-like receptors. At the same time, there have been considerable advances in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Corticosteroids have long been the cornerstone of therapy, and the addition of cyclophosphamide has contributed to renal function preservation in patients with severe proliferative glomerulonephritis, though at the cost of serious adverse events. More recently, in an effort to minimize drug toxicity and achieve equal effectiveness, other immunosuppressive agents, including mycophenolate mofetil, have been introduced. Herein, we provide a detailed review of the trials that established the equivalency of these agents in the induction and/or maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis, culminating in the recent publication of new treatment guidelines by the American College of Rheumatology. Although newer biologics have been approved and continue to be a focus of research, they have, for the most part, been relatively disappointing compared to the effectiveness of biologics in other autoimmune diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for renal preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea T Borchers
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, United States
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Jacob N, Jacob CO. Genetics of rheumatoid arthritis: an impressionist perspective. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2012; 38:243-57. [PMID: 22819082 DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2012.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common rheumatic disease. The genetic basis of RA is supported through the identification of more than 30 susceptibility genetic variants. Each of these genes individually makes only a slight contribution to the risk of disease. Moreover, there is significant disparity in the genetic variants associated with different RA subgroups and patient ethnicities, which emphasizes the intricate nature of the disease's pathogenesis, and the complexities involved in large-scale genetic studies. This review evaluates critically the recent literature on the genetic contribution to RA and assesses the methodology used to identify these risk alleles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Jacob
- Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Avenue HMR 703, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
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Sriram U, Varghese L, Bennett HL, Jog NR, Shivers DK, Ning Y, Behrens EM, Caricchio R, Gallucci S. Myeloid dendritic cells from B6.NZM Sle1/Sle2/Sle3 lupus-prone mice express an IFN signature that precedes disease onset. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:80-91. [PMID: 22661089 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus show an overexpression of type I IFN-responsive genes that is referred to as "IFN signature." We found that B6.NZMSle1/Sle2/Sle3 (Sle1,2,3) lupus-prone mice also express an IFN signature compared with non-autoimmune C57BL/6 mice. In vitro, myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) (GM-CSF bone marrow-derived dendritic cells; BMDCs) from Sle1,2,3 mice constitutively overexpressed IFN-responsive genes such as IFN-β, Oas-3, Mx-1, ISG-15, and CXCL10 and members of the IFN signaling pathway STAT1, STAT2, and IRF7. The IFN signature was similar in Sle1,2,3 BMDCs from young, pre-autoimmune mice and from mice with high titers of autoantibodies, suggesting that the IFN signature in mDCs precedes disease onset and is independent from the autoantibodies. Sle1,2,3 BMDCs hyperresponded to stimulation with IFN-α and the TLR7 and TLR9 agonists R848 and CpGs. We propose that this hyperresponse is induced by the IFN signature and only partially contributes to the signature, as oligonucleotides inhibitory for TLR7 and TLR9 only partially suppressed the constitutive IFN signature, and pre-exposure to IFN-α induced the same hyperresponse in wild-type BMDCs as in Sle1,2,3 BMDCs. In vivo, mDCs and to a lesser extent T and B cells from young prediseased Sle1,2,3 mice also expressed the IFN signature, although they lacked the strength that BMDCs showed in vitro. Sle1,2,3 plasmacytoid DCs expressed the IFN signature in vitro but not in vivo, suggesting that mDCs may be more relevant before disease onset. We propose that Sle1,2,3 mice are useful tools to study the role of the IFN signature in lupus pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma Sriram
- Laboratory of Dendritic Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA.
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Definition of IFN-γ-related pathways critical for chemically-induced systemic autoimmunity. J Autoimmun 2012; 39:323-31. [PMID: 22578563 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2012] [Revised: 04/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
IFN-γ is essential for idiopathic and murine mercury-induced systemic autoimmunity (mHgIA), and heterozygous IFN-γ(+/-) mice also exhibit reduced disease. This suggests that blocking specific IFN-γ-related pathways that may only partially inhibit IFN-γ production or function will also suppress autoimmunity. To test this hypothesis, mice deficient in genes regulating IFN-γ expression (Casp1, Nlrp3, Il12a, Il12b, Stat4) or function (Ifngr1, Irf1) were examined for mHgIA susceptibility. Absence of either Ifngr1 or Irf1 resulted in a striking reduction of disease, while deficiency of genes promoting IFN-γ expression had modest to no effect. Furthermore, both Irf1- and Ifng-deficiency only modestly reduced the expansion of CD44(hi) and CD44(hi)CD55(lo) CD4(+) T cells, indicating that they are not absolutely required for T cell activation. Thus, there is substantial redundancy in genes that regulate IFN-γ expression in contrast to those that mediate later signaling events. These findings have implications for the therapeutic targeting of IFN-γ pathways in systemic autoimmunity.
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Berthier CC, Kretzler M, Davidson A. From the Large Scale Expression Analysis of Lupus Nephritis to Targeted Molecular Medicine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 3. [PMID: 23626922 DOI: 10.4172/2153-0602.1000123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Current treatments for LN lack sufficient efficacy as they do not necessarily target the LN responsible pathways and therapeutic responses vary widely in the patient population. LN mouse models have been useful in delineating disease pathogenesis and for testing novel therapies, but they do not entirely represent the events happening in human LN. This review describes how recently developed systems biology technologies can help to integrate current knowledge with large scale experimental data to generate new hypotheses and insight into the regulatory events occurring in LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine C Berthier
- Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and immune complex formation/deposition in target organs such as the kidney. Resultant local inflammation then leads to organ damage. Nephritis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lupus, occurs in approximately 50% of lupus patients. In the present review, we provide an overview of the current research and knowledge concerning mechanisms of renal injury in both lupus-prone mouse models and human lupus patients.
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Summers SA, Phoon RKS, Odobasic D, Dewage L, Kitching AR, Holdsworth SR. Signal transducer and activation of transcription 6 (STAT6) regulates T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 nephritogenic immunity in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis. Clin Exp Immunol 2011; 166:227-34. [PMID: 21985369 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2011.04437.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis is driven by systemic cellular immune responses. A pathogenic role for T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 cells is well established. T-bet, a key transcription factor required for Th1 lineage commitment, and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor-γt (Rorγt), a key Th17 transcription factor, are required for full expression of disease. Similarly, several Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines have been implicated in disease augmentation. The role of Th2 cells in the disease is less clear, although Th2-associated cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, are protective. We sought to determine the role of signal transducer and activation of transcription 6 (STAT6), a key regulator of Th2 responses, in experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis. Compared to wild-type mice, histological and functional renal injury was enhanced significantly in STAT6(-/-) mice 21 days after administration of sheep anti-mouse glomerular basement membrane globulin. Consistent with the enhanced renal injury, both Th1 and Th17 nephritogenic immune responses were increased in STAT6(-/-) mice. Conversely, production of IL-5, a key Th2-associated cytokine, was decreased significantly in STAT6(-/-) mice. Early in the disease process systemic mRNA expression of T-bet and Rorγ was increased in STAT6(-/-) mice. We conclude that STAT6 is required for attenuation of Th1 and Th17 nephritogenic immune responses and protection from crescentic glomerulonephritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Summers
- Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University Department of Medicine, VIC, Australia
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Sanchez E, Nadig A, Richardson BC, Freedman BI, Kaufman KM, Kelly JA, Niewold TB, Kamen DL, Gilkeson GS, Ziegler JT, Langefeld CD, Alarcón GS, Edberg JC, Ramsey-Goldman R, Petri M, Brown EE, Kimberly RP, Reveille JD, Vilá LM, Merrill JT, Anaya JM, James JA, Pons-Estel BA, Martin J, Park SY, Bang SY, Bae SC, Moser KL, Vyse TJ, Criswell LA, Gaffney PM, Tsao BP, Jacob CO, Harley JB, Alarcón-Riquelme ME, Sawalha AH. Phenotypic associations of genetic susceptibility loci in systemic lupus erythematosus. Ann Rheum Dis 2011; 70:1752-7. [PMID: 21719445 PMCID: PMC3232181 DOI: 10.1136/ard.2011.154104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic lupus erythematosus is a clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease. A number of genetic loci that increase lupus susceptibility have been established. This study examines if these genetic loci also contribute to the clinical heterogeneity in lupus. MATERIALS AND METHODS 4001 European-derived, 1547 Hispanic, 1590 African-American and 1191 Asian lupus patients were genotyped for 16 confirmed lupus susceptibility loci. Ancestry informative markers were genotyped to calculate and adjust for admixture. The association between the risk allele in each locus was determined and compared in patients with and without the various clinical manifestations included in the ACR criteria. RESULTS Renal disorder was significantly correlated with the lupus risk allele in ITGAM (p=5.0 × 10(-6), OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.35) and in TNFSF4 (p=0.0013, OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.25). Other significant findings include the association between risk alleles in FCGR2A and malar rash (p=0.0031, OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.33), ITGAM and discoid rash (p=0.0020, OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.33), STAT4 and protection from oral ulcers (p=0.0027, OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.96) and IL21 and haematological disorder (p=0.0027, OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.22). All these associations are significant with a false discovery rate of <0.05 and pass the significance threshold using Bonferroni correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSION Signifi cant associations were found between clinical manifestations and the FCGR2A, ITGAM, STAT4, TNSF4 and IL21 genes. The findings suggest that genetic profiling might be a useful tool to predict disease manifestations in lupus patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Sanchez
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Ajay Nadig
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Bruce C Richardson
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Barry I Freedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kenneth M Kaufman
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Jennifer A Kelly
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Timothy B Niewold
- Section of Rheumatology and Gwen Knapp Center for Lupus and Immunology Research, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Diane L Kamen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Gary S Gilkeson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Julie T Ziegler
- Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carl D Langefeld
- Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Graciela S Alarcón
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Edberg
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michelle Petri
- Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth E Brown
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Robert P Kimberly
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - John D Reveille
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Luis M Vilá
- Department of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Joan T Merrill
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Clinical Pharmacology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Juan-Manuel Anaya
- Center for Autoimmune Diseases Research (CREA), Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Judith A James
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | - Javier Martin
- Instituto de Parasitologia y Biomedicina Lopez-Neyra (CSIC), Granada, Spain
| | - So-Yeon Park
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea
| | - So-Young Bang
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Cheol Bae
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kathy L Moser
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Timothy J Vyse
- Divisions of Genetics and Molecular Medicine and Immunology, Infection and Inflammatory Disease, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Lindsey A Criswell
- Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center for Arthritis, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Patrick M Gaffney
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Betty P Tsao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Chaim O Jacob
- Department of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - John B Harley
- Rheumatology Division and Autoimmune Genomics Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | | | - on behalf of BIOLUPUS and GENLES
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Center for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada-Junta de Andalucía, Granada, Spain
| | - Amr H Sawalha
- Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
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44
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Viegas MS, Silva T, Monteiro MM, do Carmo A, Martins TC. Knocking out of CD38 accelerates development of a lupus-like disease in lpr mice. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2011; 50:1569-77. [DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/ker178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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45
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Jacob N, Guo S, Mathian A, Koss MN, Gindea S, Putterman C, Jacob CO, Stohl W. B Cell and BAFF dependence of IFN-α-exaggerated disease in systemic lupus erythematosus-prone NZM 2328 mice. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2011; 186:4984-93. [PMID: 21383240 PMCID: PMC3074466 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
IFN-α is a potent activator of innate and adaptive immunity, and its administration to preautoimmune (NZB×NZW)F1 mice promotes virulent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease. Given the known contributions of B cells and BAFF to SLE, we evaluated the ability of IFN-α administration to induce disease in wild-type (WT), B cell-deficient, and BAFF-deficient NZM 2328 mice. Whereas WT mice rapidly developed proliferative glomerulonephritis, marked proteinuria, and increased mortality in response to IFN-α administration, B cell-deficient mice developed neither renal pathology nor clinical disease. Moreover, BAFF-deficient mice, despite developing limited glomerular IgG and C3 deposition, also remained free of histological glomerulonephritis and clinical disease. Strikingly, similar T cell expansion and serum IgG responses were observed in adenovirus (Adv)-IFN-treated WT and BAFF-deficient mice despite their disparate pathological and clinical responses, whereas numbers of activated B cells increased in WT mice but not in BAFF-deficient mice. Nonetheless, B cell, plasma cell, and T cell infiltration of the kidneys in Adv-IFN-treated WT mice was similar to that in WT mice treated with Adv-control. Its ability to promote SLE disease in WT mice notwithstanding, IFN-α administration failed to drive the preferential expansion of CD4(+) memory T cells that occurs during the natural course of disease, and glomerular infiltration of macrophages failed to associate with development of disease. These results collectively suggest that therapeutic targeting in SLE of BAFF and/or B cells in SLE could be successful even in states of IFN-α overexpression. Moreover, our results document important biological differences between IFN-α-driven and spontaneous natural SLE disease.
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MESH Headings
- Adenoviridae/genetics
- Animals
- Autoantibodies/blood
- Autoantibodies/immunology
- B-Cell Activating Factor/genetics
- B-Cell Activating Factor/immunology
- B-Cell Activating Factor/metabolism
- B-Lymphocytes/immunology
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Female
- Immunoglobulin G/blood
- Immunoglobulin G/immunology
- Immunoglobulin G/metabolism
- Immunohistochemistry
- Interferon-alpha/genetics
- Interferon-alpha/immunology
- Interferon-alpha/metabolism
- Kidney/immunology
- Kidney/metabolism
- Kidney/pathology
- Kidney Glomerulus/immunology
- Kidney Glomerulus/metabolism
- Kidney Glomerulus/pathology
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/immunology
- Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/metabolism
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/metabolism
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred NZB
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Mice, Knockout
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/genetics
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/immunology
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I/metabolism
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II/genetics
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II/immunology
- Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Time Factors
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Jacob
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Shunhua Guo
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Alexis Mathian
- Service de Médecine Interne 2, CHU Pitié-Salpêtrière, APHP, Paris, France
| | - Michael N. Koss
- Department of Pathology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Simona Gindea
- Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Chaim Putterman
- Division of Rheumatology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461
| | - Chaim O. Jacob
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - William Stohl
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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46
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The multi-faceted influences of estrogen on lymphocytes: toward novel immuno-interventions strategies for autoimmunity management. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2011; 40:16-26. [PMID: 19943123 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-009-8188-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Early studies of the immune system disclosed that, generally, females exhibit stronger responses to a variety of antigens than males. Perhaps as a result of this response, women are more prone to developing autoimmune diseases than men. Yet, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms remain under investigation. Recently, interferon-gamma and the related pro-inflammatory interleukin-12 were found to be under effects of sex steroid hormones, with potential implications in regulating immune cells and autoimmune responses. In B lymphocytes, functional binding sites for estrogen receptors were identified in the promoter of the gene encoding activation-induced deaminase, an enzyme required for somatic hypermutation, and class-switch recombination. The observation that estrogen exerts direct impacts on antibody affinity-maturation provides a potential mechanism that could account for generating pathogenic high-affinity auto-antibodies. Further deciphering the multi-faceted influences of sex hormones on the responsiveness of immune cells could lead to novel therapeutic interventions for autoimmunity management.
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47
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Luan H, Li P, Cao C, Li C, Hu C, Zhang S, Zeng X, Zhang F, Zeng C, Li Y. A single-nucleotide polymorphism of the STAT4 gene is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in female Chinese population. Rheumatol Int 2011; 32:1251-5. [DOI: 10.1007/s00296-010-1767-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2010] [Accepted: 12/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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48
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Inefficient clearance of dying cells in patients with SLE: anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, MFG-E8, HMGB-1 and other players. Apoptosis 2010; 15:1098-113. [PMID: 20198437 DOI: 10.1007/s10495-010-0478-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex disease resulting from inflammatory responses of the immune system against several autoantigens. Inflammation is conditioned by the continuous presence of autoantibodies and leaked autoantigens, e.g. from not properly cleared dying and dead cells. Various soluble molecules and biophysical properties of the surface of apoptotic cells play significant roles in the appropriate recognition and further processing of dying and dead cells. We exemplarily discuss how Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 (MFG-E8), biophysical membrane alterations, High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-nuclear autoantibodies may contribute to the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Up to date knowledge about these key elements may provide new insights that lead to the development of new treatment strategies of the disease.
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49
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Li P, Cao C, Luan H, Li C, Hu C, Zhang S, Zeng X, Zhang F, Zeng C, Li Y. Association of genetic variations in the STAT4 and IRF7/KIAA1542 regions with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Northern Han Chinese population. Hum Immunol 2010; 72:249-55. [PMID: 21167895 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2010.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2010] [Revised: 11/25/2010] [Accepted: 11/25/2010] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease with complex genetic inheritance. Genome-wide association studies have identified SLE susceptibility variations at the IRF7/KIAA1542 locus and with STAT4 gene in European populations. We decided to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IRF7/KIAA1542 region (rs4963128, rs2246614, and rs702966) and in STAT4 (rs7574865 and rs7582694) with SLE disease in a Northern Han Chinese population of 748 patients and 750 healthy controls. Our study indicated a strong association between rs7574865 (odds ratio = 0.68; 95% confidence interval 0.59-0.79; p = 1.57 × 10(-6)) and SLE and between rs7574865 and the production of anti-Sm antibodies. Additionally, rs4963128 and rs2246614 were correlated with a variety of clinical subphenotypes, such as lupus nephritis, arthritis, and the production of anti-SSA/B autoantibodies, despite a lack of significant association between these two SNPs and SLE disease susceptibility in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
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50
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Menke J, Bork T, Kutska B, Byrne KT, Blanfeld M, Relle M, Kelley VR, Schwarting A. Targeting transcription factor Stat4 uncovers a role for interleukin-18 in the pathogenesis of severe lupus nephritis in mice. Kidney Int 2010; 79:452-63. [PMID: 20980973 DOI: 10.1038/ki.2010.438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Polymorphisms in the transcription factor Stat4 gene have been implicated as risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus. Although some polymorphisms have a strong association with autoantibodies and nephritis, their impact on pathophysiology is still unknown. To explore this further we used signal transducers and activators of transcription 4 (Stat4) knockout MRL/MpJ-Fas(lpr)/Fas(lpr) (MRL-Fas(lpr)) mice and found that they did not differ in survival or renal function from Stat4-intact MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. Circulating interleukin (IL)-18 levels, however, were elevated in Stat4-deficient compared to Stat4-intact mice, suggesting that this interleukin might contribute to the progression of lupus nephritis independent of Stat4. In a second approach, Stat4 antisense or missense oligonucleotides or vehicle were given to MRL-Fas(lpr) mice with advanced nephritis. Each of these treatments temporarily ameliorated disease, although IL-18 was increased in each setting. Based on these findings, studies using gene transfer to overexpress IL-18 in MRL-Fas(lpr) and IL-12p40/IL-23 knockout MRL-Fas(lpr) mice reveal a critical role for IL-18 in mediating disease. Thus, the Stat4 and IL-12 (an activator of Stat4)-independent factor, IL-18, can drive autoimmune lupus nephritis in MRL-Fas(lpr) mice. Temporarily blocking Stat4 during advanced nephritis ameliorates disease, suggesting a time-dependent compensatory proinflammatory mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Menke
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
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