1
|
Liu S, Lagos J, Shumlak NM, Largent AD, Lewis ST, Holder U, Du SW, Liu Y, Hou B, Acharya M, Jackson SW. NADPH oxidase exerts a B cell-intrinsic contribution to lupus risk by modulating endosomal TLR signals. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20230774. [PMID: 38442270 PMCID: PMC10913815 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20230774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have linked loss-of-function mutations in phagocytic NADPH oxidase complex (NOX2) genes, including NCF1 and NCF2, to disease pathogenesis. The prevailing model holds that reduced NOX2 activity promotes SLE via defective efferocytosis, the immunologically silent clearance of apoptotic cells. Here, we describe a parallel B cell-intrinsic mechanism contributing to breaks in tolerance. In keeping with an important role for B cell Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathways in lupus pathogenesis, NOX2-deficient B cells exhibit enhanced signaling downstream of endosomal TLRs, increased humoral responses to nucleic acid-containing antigens, and the propensity toward humoral autoimmunity. Mechanistically, TLR-dependent NOX2 activation promotes LC3-mediated maturation of TLR-containing endosomes, resulting in signal termination. CRISPR-mediated disruption of NCF1 confirmed a direct role for NOX2 in regulating endosomal TLR signaling in primary human B cells. Together, these data highlight a new B cell-specific mechanism contributing to autoimmune risk in NCF1 and NCF2 variant carriers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuozhi Liu
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ursula Holder
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Samuel W. Du
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yifan Liu
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Baidong Hou
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mridu Acharya
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Shaun W. Jackson
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gadjalova I, Heinze JM, Goess MC, Hofmann J, Buck A, Weber MC, Blissenbach B, Kampick M, Krut O, Steiger K, Janssen KP, Neumann PA, Ruland J, Keppler SJ. B cell-mediated CD4 T-cell costimulation via CD86 exacerbates pro-inflammatory cytokine production during autoimmune intestinal inflammation. Mucosal Immunol 2024; 17:67-80. [PMID: 37918715 DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated B cell responses have been described in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients; however, the role of B cells in IBD pathology remained incompletely understood. We here provide evidence for the detrimental role of activated B cells during the onset of autoimmune intestinal inflammation. Using Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome interacting protein deficient (Wipf1-/-) mice as a mouse model of chronic colitis, we identified clusters of differentiation (CD)86 expression on activated B cells as a crucial factor exacerbating pro-inflammatory cytokine production of intestinal CD4 T cells. Depleting B cells through anti-CD20 antibody treatment or blocking costimulatory signals mediated by CD86 through cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4-immunoglobulin (CTLA-4-Ig) diminished intestinal inflammation in our mouse model of chronic IBD at the onset of disease. This was due to a reduction in aberrant humoral immune responses and reduced CD4 T cell pro-inflammatory cytokine production, especially interferon-g (IFN-g) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Interestingly, in addition to B cells isolated from the inflamed colon of Wipf1-/- mice, we also found CD86 mRNA and protein expression upregulated on activated B cells isolated from inflamed tissue of human patients with IBD. B cell activation and CD86 expression were boosted by soluble CD40L in vitro, which we found in the serum of mice and human patients with IBD. In summary, our data provides detailed insight into the contribution of B cells to intestinal inflammation, with implications for the treatment of IBD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Iana Gadjalova
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia M Heinze
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marie C Goess
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Julian Hofmann
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Annalisa Buck
- Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | - Marie-Christin Weber
- Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Maximilian Kampick
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Oleg Krut
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Comparative Experimental Pathology, Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Janssen
- Department of Surgery, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jürgen Ruland
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - Selina J Keppler
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine, Munich, Germany; TranslaTUM, Center for Translational Cancer Research, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany; Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Largent AD, Lambert K, Chiang K, Shumlak N, Liggitt D, Oukka M, Torgerson TR, Buckner JH, Allenspach EJ, Rawlings DJ, Jackson SW. Dysregulated IFN-γ signals promote autoimmunity in STAT1 gain-of-function syndrome. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eade7028. [PMID: 37406138 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade7028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Heterozygous signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) gain-of-function (GOF) mutations promote a clinical syndrome of immune dysregulation characterized by recurrent infections and predisposition to humoral autoimmunity. To gain insights into immune characteristics of STAT1-driven inflammation, we performed deep immunophenotyping of pediatric patients with STAT1 GOF syndrome and age-matched controls. Affected individuals exhibited dysregulated CD4+ T cell and B cell activation, including expansion of TH1-skewed CXCR3+ populations that correlated with serum autoantibody titers. To dissect underlying immune mechanisms, we generated Stat1 GOF transgenic mice (Stat1GOF mice) and confirmed the development of spontaneous humoral autoimmunity that recapitulated the human phenotype. Despite clinical resemblance to human regulatory T cell (Treg) deficiency, Stat1GOF mice and humans with STAT1 GOF syndrome exhibited normal Treg development and function. In contrast, STAT1 GOF autoimmunity was characterized by adaptive immune activation driven by dysregulated STAT1-dependent signals downstream of the type 1 and type 2 interferon (IFN) receptors. However, in contrast to the prevailing type 1 IFN-centric model for STAT1 GOF autoimmunity, Stat1GOF mice lacking the type 1 IFN receptor were only partially protected from STAT1-driven systemic inflammation, whereas loss of type 2 IFN (IFN-γ) signals abrogated autoimmunity. Last, germline STAT1 GOF alleles are thought to enhance transcriptional activity by increasing total STAT1 protein, but the underlying biochemical mechanisms have not been defined. We showed that IFN-γ receptor deletion normalized total STAT1 expression across immune lineages, highlighting IFN-γ as the critical driver of feedforward STAT1 elevation in STAT1 GOF syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kristy Chiang
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Natali Shumlak
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Denny Liggitt
- Department of Comparative Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mohammed Oukka
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | | | | | - Eric J Allenspach
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - David J Rawlings
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Shaun W Jackson
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Corneth OBJ, Neys SFH, Hendriks RW. Aberrant B Cell Signaling in Autoimmune Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213391. [PMID: 36359789 PMCID: PMC9654300 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant B cell signaling plays a critical in role in various systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases. This is supported by genetic evidence by many functional studies in B cells from patients or specific animal models and by the observed efficacy of small-molecule inhibitors. In this review, we first discuss key signal transduction pathways downstream of the B cell receptor (BCR) that ensure that autoreactive B cells are removed from the repertoire or functionally silenced. We provide an overview of aberrant BCR signaling that is associated with inappropriate B cell repertoire selection and activation or survival of peripheral B cell populations and plasma cells, finally leading to autoantibody formation. Next to BCR signaling, abnormalities in other signal transduction pathways have been implicated in autoimmune disease. These include reduced activity of several phosphates that are downstream of co-inhibitory receptors on B cells and increased levels of BAFF and APRIL, which support survival of B cells and plasma cells. Importantly, pathogenic synergy of the BCR and Toll-like receptors (TLR), which can be activated by endogenous ligands, such as self-nucleic acids, has been shown to enhance autoimmunity. Finally, we will briefly discuss therapeutic strategies for autoimmune disease based on interfering with signal transduction in B cells.
Collapse
|
5
|
Acharya M, Jackson SW. Regulatory strategies limiting endosomal Toll-like receptor activation in B cells. Immunol Rev 2022; 307:66-78. [PMID: 35040152 PMCID: PMC8986562 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The recognition of pathogen-associated nucleic acid (NA) promotes effective immunity against invading pathogens. However, endosomal Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation by self-NA also underlies the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). For this reason, the activation thresholds of NA-sensing TLRs must be tightly regulated to balance protective and pathogenic immune responses. In this study, we will provide an overview of the evolutionary mechanisms designed to limit the aberrant activation of endosomal TLRs by self-ligands, focusing on four broad strategies. These include the following: 1) the production of nucleases able to degrade self-DNA and RNA; 2) the cell-specific regulation of endosomal TLR expression; 3) the spatial and temporal control of TLR positioning at a sub-cellular level; and 4) the modulation of downstream TLR signaling cascades. Given the critical role of B cells in lupus pathogenesis, where possible, we will describe evidence for B cell-specific induction of these regulatory mechanisms. We will also highlight our own work showing how modulation of B cell endolysosomal flux tunes NA-sensing TLR activation signals. In the face of inevitable generation of self-NA during normal cellular turnover, these parallel mechanisms are vital to protect against pathogenic inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mridu Acharya
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shaun W Jackson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|