1
|
Graver JC, Jiemy WF, Altulea DHA, van Sleen Y, Xu S, van der Geest KSM, Verstappen GMPJ, Heeringa P, Abdulahad WH, Brouwer E, Boots AMH, Sandovici M. Cytokine producing B-cells and their capability to polarize macrophages in giant cell arteritis. J Autoimmun 2023; 140:103111. [PMID: 37703805 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The lack of disease-specific autoantibodies in giant cell arteritis (GCA) suggests an alternative role for B-cells readily detected in the inflamed arteries. Here we study the cytokine profile of tissue infiltrated and peripheral blood B-cells of patients with GCA. Moreover, we investigate the macrophage skewing capability of B-cell-derived cytokines. METHODS The presence of various cytokines in B-cell areas in temporal artery (n = 11) and aorta (n = 10) was identified by immunohistochemistry. PBMCs of patients with GCA (n = 11) and polymyalgia rheumatica (n = 10), and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) were stimulated, followed by flow cytometry for cytokine expression in B-cells. The skewing potential of B-cell-derived cytokines (n = 6 for GCA and HC) on macrophages was studied in vitro. RESULTS The presence of IL-6, GM-CSF, TNFα, IFNγ, LTβ and IL-10 was documented in B-cells and B-cell rich areas of GCA arteries. In vitro, B-cell-derived cytokines (from both GCA and HC) skewed macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype with enhanced expression of IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-23, YKL-40 and MMP-9. In vitro stimulated peripheral blood B-cells from treatment-naïve GCA patients showed an enhanced frequency of IL-6+ and TNFα+IL-6+ B-cells compared to HCs. This difference was no longer detected in treatment-induced remission. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate positively correlated with IL-6+TNFα+ B-cells. CONCLUSION B-cells are capable of producing cytokines and steering macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Although the capacity of B-cells in skewing macrophages is not GCA specific, these data support a cytokine-mediated role for B-cells in GCA and provide grounds for B-cell targeted therapy in GCA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacoba C Graver
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - William F Jiemy
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Dania H A Altulea
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Yannick van Sleen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Shuang Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Kornelis S M van der Geest
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gwenny M P J Verstappen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter Heeringa
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wayel H Abdulahad
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth Brouwer
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Annemieke M H Boots
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Sandovici
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Arends S, de Wolff L, van Nimwegen JF, Verstappen GMPJ, Vehof J, Bombardieri M, Bowman SJ, Pontarini E, Baer AN, Nys M, Gottenberg JE, Felten R, Ray N, Vissink A, Kroese FGM, Bootsma H. Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren's Syndrome (CRESS): development and validation of a novel outcome measure. Lancet Rheumatol 2021; 3:e553-e562. [PMID: 38287621 DOI: 10.1016/s2665-9913(21)00122-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in primary Sjögren's syndrome used the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) as their primary endpoint. Given the heterogeneous and complex nature of primary Sjögren's syndrome, it might be more appropriate to also assess other clinically relevant disease features. We aimed to develop a novel composite endpoint for assessing treatment efficacy in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: the Composite of Relevant Endpoints for Sjögren's Syndrome (CRESS). METHODS A multidisciplinary expert team selected clinically relevant items and candidate measurements for inclusion in the composite score. For each measurement, cutoff points for response to treatment were chosen based on expert opinion, previously published data on minimal clinically important improvements, and trial data, primarily the week-24 data of the single-centre ASAP-III trial of abatacept versus placebo. CRESS was validated using data from three independent RCTs: one trial of rituximab (TRACTISS), one of abatacept (multinational trial), and one of tocilizumab (ETAP). We calculated the number and percentage of patients who were responders in the separate CRESS items, and the percentage of responders based on the total CRESS at the primary endpoint visits (week 48 for TRACTISS, week 24 for the other two trials). Patients with fewer than three items available for evaluating CRESS response were imputed as non-responders. FINDINGS Based on expert opinion, five complementary items were selected to assess response: (1) systemic disease activity by Clinical ESSDAI (less than 5 points); (2) patient-reported symptoms by EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Patient Reported Index, assessed by a decrease of at least 1 point or at least 15% from baseline; (3) tear gland item by Schirmer's test and ocular staining score, assessed by an increase of at least 5 mm or decrease of at least 2 points, respectively, in patients with abnormal Schirmer's test or ocular staining score findings at baseline, or, in patients with normal baseline values, assessed by no change to abnormal for both; (4) salivary gland item, assessed by unstimulated whole saliva secretion (increase of at least 25%) and salivary gland ultrasonography (decrease of at least 25%); and (5) serology, assessed by rheumatoid factor (decrease of at least 25%) and IgG (decrease of at least 10%). Total CRESS response is defined as response on at least three of five items. Post-hoc assessment of phase 3 trial data showed that CRESS response rates at the primary endpoint visits were 60% (24 of 40) for abatacept versus 18% (seven of 39) for placebo (p<0·0001) in ASAP-III, 49% (33 of 67) for rituximab versus 30% (20 of 66) for placebo (p=0·026) in the TRACTISS trial, 45% (41 of 92) for abatacept versus 32% (30 of 95) for placebo (p=0·067) in the multinational abatacept trial, and 18% (10 of 55) for tocilizumab versus 24% (13 of 55) for placebo (p=0·48) in the ETAP trial. INTERPRETATION The CRESS is a feasible, well-balanced, composite endpoint for use in trials of primary Sjögren's syndrome. As a next step, the CRESS will require validation in a prospective RCT. FUNDING None. TRANSLATION For the Dutch translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne Arends
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Liseth de Wolff
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jolien F van Nimwegen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Gwenny M P J Verstappen
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jelle Vehof
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Michele Bombardieri
- Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, London, UK
| | - Simon J Bowman
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, Birmingham, UK
| | - Elena Pontarini
- Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, London, UK
| | - Alan N Baer
- Department of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marleen Nys
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Braine-l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Jacques-Eric Gottenberg
- Department of Rheumatology, CHU Strasbourg, Centre National de Référence des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques rare Est/Sud-Ouest (RESO), Strasbourg, Alsace, France
| | - Renaud Felten
- Department of Rheumatology, CHU Strasbourg, Centre National de Référence des maladies auto-immunes et systémiques rare Est/Sud-Ouest (RESO), Strasbourg, Alsace, France
| | | | - Arjan Vissink
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Frans G M Kroese
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Hendrika Bootsma
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pringle S, Wang X, Verstappen GMPJ, Terpstra JH, Zhang CK, He A, Patel V, Jones RE, Baird DM, Spijkervet FKL, Vissink A, Bootsma H, Coppes RP, Kroese FGM. Salivary Gland Stem Cells Age Prematurely in Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 71:133-142. [PMID: 29984480 PMCID: PMC6607019 DOI: 10.1002/art.40659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A major characteristic of the autoimmune disease primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is salivary gland (SG) hypofunction. The inability of resident SG stem cells (SGSCs) to maintain homeostasis and saliva production has never been explained and limits our comprehension of mechanisms underlying primary SS. The present study was undertaken to investigate the role of salivary gland stem cells in hyposalivation in primary SS. METHODS SGSCs were isolated from parotid biopsy samples from controls and patients classified as having primary SS or incomplete primary SS, according to the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria. Self-renewal and differentiation assays were used to determine SGSC regenerative potential, RNA was extracted for sequencing analysis, single telomere length analysis was conducted to determine telomere length, and frozen tissue samples were used for immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS SGSCs isolated from primary SS parotid gland biopsy samples were regeneratively inferior to healthy control specimens. We demonstrated that SGSCs from samples from patients with primary SS are not only lower in number and less able to differentiate, but are likely to be senescent, as revealed by telomere length analysis, RNA sequencing, and immunostaining. We further found that SGSCs exposed to primary SS-associated proinflammatory cytokines we induced to proliferate, express senescence-associated genes, and subsequently differentiate into intercalated duct cells. We also localized p16+ senescent cells to the intercalated ducts in primary SS SG tissue, suggesting a block in SGSC differentiation into acinar cells. CONCLUSION This study represents the first characterization of SGSCs in primary SS, and also the first demonstration of a linkage between an autoimmune disease and a parenchymal premature-aging phenotype. The knowledge garnered in this study indicates that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs used to treat primary SS are not likely to restore saliva production, and should be supplemented with fresh SGSCs to recover saliva production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Pringle
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Janneke H Terpstra
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Aiqing He
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pennington, New Jersey
| | | | | | | | - Fred K L Spijkervet
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan Vissink
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrika Bootsma
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Robert P Coppes
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frans G M Kroese
- University of Groningen and University Medical Center, Groningen, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|