1
|
Jie J, Gong Y, Luo S, Yang X, Guo K. Genetically predicted associations between circulating cytokines and autoimmune diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1404260. [PMID: 38860028 PMCID: PMC11163916 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1404260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Previous studies have indicated a correlation between cytokines and autoimmune diseases. yet the causality remains uncertain. Through Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis, we aimed to investigate the causal relationships between genetically predicted levels of 91 cytokines and three autoimmune diseases: Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (HT). Methods A bidirectional two-sample MR approach was utilized to assess the causal relationships between cytokines and MS, SLE, and HT. The datasets included 47,429 MS cases and 68,374 controls, 5,201 SLE cases and 9,066 controls, and 16,191 HT cases with 210,612 controls. Data on 91 cytokines comprised 14,824 participants. Causal analyses primarily employed inverse variance weighted, weighted median, and MR-Egger methods, with sensitivity analyses including heterogeneity and pleiotropy assessment. Results Genetically predicted levels of IL-18 (OR = 0.706; 95% C.I. 0.538-0.925), ADA (OR = 0.808; 95% C.I. 0.673-0.970), and SCF (OR = 0.898; 95% C.I. 0.816-0.987) were associated with a decreased risk of MS. IL-4 (OR = 1.384; 95% C.I. 1.081-1.771), IL-7 (OR = 1.401; 95% C.I. 1.010-1.943), IL-10RA (OR = 1.266; 95% C.I. 1.004-1.596), CXCL5 (OR = 1.170; 95% C.I. 1.021-1.341), NTN (OR = 1.225; 95% C.I. 1.004-1.496), FGF23 (OR = 0.644; 95% C.I. 0.460-0.902), and MCP4 (OR = 0.665; 95% C.I. 0.476-0.929) were associated with SLE risk. CDCP1 (OR = 1.127; 95% C.I. 1.008-1.261), IL-33 (OR = 0.852; 95% C.I. 0.727-0.999), and TRAIL (OR = 0.884; 95% C.I. 0.799-0.979) were associated with HT risk. Bidirectional MR results suggest the involvement of CCL19, IL-13, SLAM, ARTN, Eotaxin, IL-22RA1, ADA, and MMP10 in the downstream development of these diseases. Conclusions Our findings support causal relationships between certain cytokines and the risks of MS, SLE, and HT, identifying potential biomarkers for diagnosis and prevention. Additionally, several cytokines previously unexplored in these autoimmune disease contexts were discovered, laying new groundwork for the study of disease mechanisms and therapeutic potentials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Jie
- Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People’s Hospital of Changde City), Changde, China
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Tian J, Liu X, Liang H, Shen Y, Xiang X, Zhu F, Wang X, Liu C, Xu X, Zhang X, Xue Q, Gu Y. Expression of lymphocyte activation gene-3 on CD4 +T cells is regulated by cytokine interleukin-18 in myasthenia gravis. J Neuroimmunol 2024; 388:578308. [PMID: 38325197 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T cell-dependent, B cell-mediated, and complement-dependent autoimmune disease. Lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3; CD223) is an immune checkpoint protein that plays an important role in maintaining autoimmune tolerance and homeostasis. To investigate the cytokine-regulated expression pattern of LAG-3, CD4+T cells were sorted from the peripheral blood of healthy volunteers by density gradient centrifugation and stimulated with various cytokines in vitro. The expression of membrane LAG-3 (mLAG-3), membrane a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain10 (mADAM10) and membrane ADAM17 (mADAM17) on CD4+T cells was detected by flow cytometry; the concentration of soluble LAG-3 (sLAG-3) was detected by ELISA; and the relative expression of genes at the transcriptional level was detected by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). sLAG-3 levels were significantly increased in the peripheral plasma of AChR Ab-positive patients with MG compared to healthy volunteers, while the percentage of mLAG-3 expression on CD4+T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of patients with MG was significantly reduced. IL-18 inhibited mLAG-3 levels on CD4+T cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, the concentration of sLAG-3 in the supernatant increased. After PHA and IL-18 stimulation, ADAM10 and ADAM17 also increased compared to those in the PHA-active group. Moreover, there were significant differences in the expression of mADAM10 and mADAM17 in CD4+T lymphocytes between patients with MG and healthy volunteers. These results suggest that IL-18 may regulate the expression pattern of mLAG-3 in CD4+T cells and sLAG-3 via ADAM10- and ADAM17-mediated pathways, thus affecting the immune effects of CD4+T cells. This study provides a preliminary exploration of the upstream regulatory molecules of the LAG-3 and IL-18/LAG-3 signalling pathways for potential targeted therapy of autoimmune diseases in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingluan Tian
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Hansi Liang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Yu Shen
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Xuanyi Xiang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Cuiping Liu
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou 215031, China
| | - Xueguang Zhang
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China
| | - Qun Xue
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| | - Yanzheng Gu
- Jiangsu Institute of Clinical Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lafi And ZK, Mohammed BJ. Relationship between vitamin D receptor genotypes (FOK1rs2228570) and IL18 gene expression in sample of multiple sclerosis Iraqi patients. Hum Antibodies 2024; 32:1-8. [PMID: 38339924 DOI: 10.3233/hab-230010] [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] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple Sclerosis known as MS, this chronic inflammatory demyelinating condition affects the nervous system. It is a heterogenic and multifactorial disease. The goal of the current study was to investigate the relationship between MS patients' IL18 gene expression and the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism (FOK1rs2228570). OBJECTIVE The aim of the study to investigate the association of vitamin D receptor (FOK1rs2228570) gene polymorphism and pro inflammatory cytokine (IL18) gene expression among multiple sclerosis Iraqi patients. Detection VDR polymorphism and determine whether this SNP is involved in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis and estimation IL18 gene expression and explore its relation with multiple sclerosis susceptibility. METHODS Blood samples were taken from 75 MS patients in Iraq (30 men and 45 women), as well as from 75 volunteers who seemed to be in a favorable state of health and fell within the age range of 20 to 50 years. Tetra-ARMS Polymerase Chain Reaction (Tetra-ARMS PCR) was used to find polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene, and Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure IL18 gene expression. RESULTS The findings from the analysis of VDR gene polymorphism in patients with MS indicated that the wild-type genotype T/T was present in 8 individuals, accounting for 10.6%, the heterogeneous genotype TC was 36 (48%), and the homogeneous genotype CC was 31 (41.3%), whilst T allele frequency was 52(34.6%) and C allele was 98(65.3%) with (P⩽ 0.01) significant difference and even as in control T/T genotype was 49(65.3%), TC genotype was 21(28%), CC genotype was 5(6.66%), T allele frequency was 119(79.3%) and C allele was 31(20.6%) with significant difference (P⩽ 0.001). While estimation of IL18 expression showed high elevation in patients' group (2.59 ± 0.51 fold) by significance difference (P⩽ 0.5) when compared to control group (1.35 ± 0.14 fold). The relationship between IL18 gene expression with VDR variant in MS patients demonstrated a significant rise (2.9 ± 0.51 fold) at CC genotype patients in IL18 folding gene expression, followed by (4.6 ± 0.17 fold) in TC genotype patients and finally (1.4 ± 0.08 fold) in TT genotype patients with highly significant (P⩽ 0.01). CONCLUSION The VDR(FOK1rs2228570) genotype was significantly correlated with IL18 expression in MS patients from Iraq.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ihim SA, Abubakar SD, Zian Z, Sasaki T, Saffarioun M, Maleknia S, Azizi G. Interleukin-18 cytokine in immunity, inflammation, and autoimmunity: Biological role in induction, regulation, and treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:919973. [PMID: 36032110 PMCID: PMC9410767 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.919973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a potent pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in host defense against infections and regulates the innate and acquired immune response. IL-18 is produced by both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells, including monocytes, macrophages, keratinocytes and mesenchymal cell. IL-18 could potentially induce inflammatory and cytotoxic immune cell activities leading to autoimmunity. Its elevated levels have been reported in the blood of patients with some immune-related diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes mellitus, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. In the present review, we aimed to summarize the biological properties of IL-18 and its pathological role in different autoimmune diseases. We also reported some monoclonal antibodies and drugs targeting IL-18. Most of these monoclonal antibodies and drugs have only produced partial effectiveness or complete ineffectiveness in vitro, in vivo and human studies. The ineffectiveness of these drugs targeting IL-18 may be largely due to the loophole caused by the involvement of other cytokines and proteins in the signaling pathway of many inflammatory diseases besides the involvement of IL-18. Combination drug therapies, that focus on IL-18 inhibition, in addition to other cytokines, are highly recommended to be considered as an important area of research that needs to be explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stella Amarachi Ihim
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Shizuoka, Shizuoka, Japan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Sharafudeen Dahiru Abubakar
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Research Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Medical Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
| | - Zeineb Zian
- Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics Research Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Tangier, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco
| | - Takanori Sasaki
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mohammad Saffarioun
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AryoGen Pharmed Inc., Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Shayan Maleknia
- Biopharmaceutical Research Center, AryoGen Pharmed Inc., Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Gholamreza Azizi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- *Correspondence: Gholamreza Azizi,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Cui Y, Yu H, Bu Z, Wen L, Yan L, Feng J. Focus on the Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Multiple Sclerosis: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapeutics. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:894298. [PMID: 35694441 PMCID: PMC9175009 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.894298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is initiated with an aberrant innate immune response in the central nervous system (CNS) and is involved in many neurological diseases. Inflammasomes are intracellular multiprotein complexes that can be used as platforms to induce the maturation and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and pyroptosis, thus playing a pivotal role in neuroinflammation. Among the inflammasomes, the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-, leucine-rich repeat- and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is well-characterized and contributes to many neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and ischemic stroke. MS is a chronic autoimmune disease of the CNS, and its hallmarks include chronic inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. Studies have demonstrated a relationship between MS and the NLRP3 inflammasome. To date, the pathogenesis of MS is not fully understood, and clinical studies on novel therapies are still underway. Here, we review the activation mechanism of the NLRP3 inflammasome, its role in MS, and therapies targeting related molecules, which may be beneficial in MS.
Collapse
|
6
|
Karakaya D, Çakmak Genc G, Karakas Celik S, Aktas T, Bayraktaroglu T, Dursun A. Association between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and Hashimoto thyroiditis. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:6703-6708. [PMID: 34460061 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06659-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT), which is also called lymphocytic thyroiditis, is the most frequent autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), in which T helper-1 lymphocytes mediate the disease. IL-18 is expressed in thyroid follicular cells (TFCs) during HT. The findings of studies aimed at investigating the relationship between IL-18 and HT are highly contradictory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and HT. METHODS AND RESULTS The study included 97 patients diagnosed with HT and 86 volunteers in the healthy control group. The IL18-607C/A (rs1946518) and -137G/C (rs187238) genotypes were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. No significant difference in the mean age or sex was observed between the groups (p = 0.763 and p = 0.658, respectively). The -137 IL18 CG genotype was more frequent in HT patients than in controls. In HT patients, the risk of the IL-18 CG genotype was more than 2.237 times higher (OR 2.237%95 Cl 1.195-4.187, p = 0.039) than that of the G/G genotype. Additionally, the -607 AC genotype was more frequent in the control group than in the HT group (in individuals with the IL18 CG genotype). CONCLUSIONS According to our results, the CG genotype might be a risk factor for HT. Conversely, there is a possibility that the AC genotype plays a protective role against the condition. However, further studies will contribute to new solutions by revealing the molecular and cellular mechanisms of HT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dilek Karakaya
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gebze Medical Park Hospital, Kavak Street No:5, Gebze/Kocaeli, Turkey.
| | - Gunes Çakmak Genc
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Sevim Karakas Celik
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Tugba Aktas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Taner Bayraktaroglu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Dursun
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|