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Frech M, Danzer H, Uchil P, Azizov V, Schmid E, Schälter F, Dürholz K, Mauro D, Rauber S, Muñoz L, Taher L, Ciccia F, Schober K, Irla M, Sarter K, Schett G, Zaiss MM. Butyrophilin 2a2 (Btn2a2) expression on thymic epithelial cells promotes central T cell tolerance and prevents autoimmune disease. J Autoimmun 2023; 139:103071. [PMID: 37356345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2023.103071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Butyrophilins are surface receptors belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily. While several members of the butyrophilin family have been implicated in the development of unconventional T cells, butyrophilin 2a2 (Btn2a2) has been shown to inhibit conventional T cell activation. Here, we demonstrate that in steady state, the primary source of Btn2a2 are thymic epithelial cells (TEC). Absence of Btn2a2 alters thymic T cell maturation and bypasses central tolerance mechanisms. Furthermore, Btn2a2-/- mice develop spontaneous autoimmunity resembling human primary Sjögren's Syndrome (pSS), including formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) in target organs. Ligation of Btn2a2 on developing thymocytes is associated with reduced TCR signaling and CD5 levels, while absence of Btn2a2 results in increased TCR signaling and CD5 levels. These results define a novel role for Btn2a2 in promoting central tolerance by modulating TCR signaling strength and indicate a potential mechanism of pSS development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Frech
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Heike Danzer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Pooja Uchil
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vugar Azizov
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eva Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Fabian Schälter
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Dürholz
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Daniele Mauro
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Simon Rauber
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Luis Muñoz
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Leila Taher
- Institute of Biomedical Informatics, Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
| | - Francesco Ciccia
- Dipartimento di Medicina di Precisione, University Della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Kilian Schober
- Mikrobiologisches Institut-Klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Magali Irla
- CNRS, INSERM, Centre D'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy (CIML), Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Kerstin Sarter
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mario M Zaiss
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universiät Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.
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