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Higuchi R, Tanaka K, Saito Y, Murakami D, Nakagawa T, Nutt SL, Ohkawa Y, Baba Y. Type I interferon promotes the fate of Toll-like receptor 9-stimulated follicular B cells to plasma cell differentiation. PNAS Nexus 2024; 3:pgae152. [PMID: 38659975 PMCID: PMC11042664 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae152] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The activation and differentiation of B cells into plasma cells (PCs) play critical roles in the immune response to infections and autoimmune diseases. Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) responds to bacterial and viral DNA containing unmethylated CpG motifs and triggers immune responses in B cells; however, abnormal recognition of self-DNA by TLR9 can cause autoimmune diseases. When stimulated with TLR9 agonists, follicular (FO) B cells, a subset of B cells residing in the FO regions of secondary lymphoid organs, exhibit a propensity for activation but fail to give rise to PCs. The factors that enable the transition of TLR9-activated FO B cells from activation to differentiation into PCs remain unclear. In this study, we show that type I interferon-alpha (IFNα) signaling causes FO B cells activated by CpG stimulation to differentiate into PCs. Although CpG stimulation alone only temporarily increased interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) expression in FO B cells, co-stimulation with both CpG and IFNα enhanced and maintained high IRF4 expression levels, ultimately enabling the cells to differentiate into PCs. Overexpression of IRF4 in FO B cells results in CpG-induced PC transition without IFN signaling. Furthermore, co-stimulation of TLR9 and IFNα receptors significantly enhanced mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, which regulates IRF4 expression and PC generation. These findings suggest that IFNα may play a key role in promoting the fate of PC differentiation in FO B cells activated by TLR9 stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Higuchi
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Kaori Tanaka
- Division of Transcriptomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yuichi Saito
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Daisuke Murakami
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakagawa
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Stephen L Nutt
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Yasuyuki Ohkawa
- Division of Transcriptomics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Baba
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan
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Kumar V, Stewart JH. cGLRs Join Their Cousins of Pattern Recognition Receptor Family to Regulate Immune Homeostasis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1828. [PMID: 38339107 PMCID: PMC10855445 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031828] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognize danger signals such as PAMPs/MAMPs and DAMPs to initiate a protective immune response. TLRs, NLRs, CLRs, and RLRs are well-characterized PRRs of the host immune system. cGLRs have been recently identified as PRRs. In humans, the cGAS/STING signaling pathway is a part of cGLRs. cGAS recognizes cytosolic dsDNA as a PAMP or DAMP to initiate the STING-dependent immune response comprising type 1 IFN release, NF-κB activation, autophagy, and cellular senescence. The present article discusses the emergence of cGLRs as critical PRRs and how they regulate immune responses. We examined the role of cGAS/STING signaling, a well-studied cGLR system, in the activation of the immune system. The following sections discuss the role of cGAS/STING dysregulation in disease and how immune cross-talk with other PRRs maintains immune homeostasis. This understanding will lead to the design of better vaccines and immunotherapeutics for various diseases, including infections, autoimmunity, and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Kumar
- Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30310, USA;
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Sato H, Inoue Y, Kawashima Y, Konno R, Ohara O, Kuwana M, Kobayashi N, Takezaki S, Akioka S. In-depth proteomic analysis of juvenile dermatomyositis serum reveals protein expression associated with muscle-specific autoantibodies. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023; 62:3501-3506. [PMID: 37052527 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead165] [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: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The clinical symptoms and complications of JDM differ depending on the type of muscle-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) present. We aimed to identify protein expression profiles specific for MSAs that characterize various clinical features by comprehensively analyzing the proteins present in the serum of patients with JDM. METHODS We analysed sera from patients with JDM that were positive for anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) antibodies (n = 5), anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) antibodies (n = 5) and anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 alpha or gamma subunit (TIF1-γ) antibodies (n = 5), and evaluated healthy controls (n = 5) via single-shot liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) in data-independent acquisition mode, which is superior for comparative quantitative analysis. We identified different protein groups based on MSAs and performed pathway analysis to understand their characteristics. RESULTS We detected 2413 proteins from serum MS analysis; 508 proteins were commonly altered in MSAs, including many myogenic enzymes and IFN-regulated proteins. Pathway analysis using the top 50 proteins that were upregulated in each MSA group revealed that the type I IFN and proteasome pathways were significantly upregulated in the anti-MDA5 antibody group alone. CONCLUSION Although JDM serum contains many proteins commonly altered in MSAs, the pathways associated with clinical features of MSAs differ based on protein accumulation. In-depth serum protein profiles associated with MSAs may be useful for developing therapeutic target molecules and biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Sato
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuzaburo Inoue
- Department of General Medical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kawashima
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryo Konno
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Osamu Ohara
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masataka Kuwana
- Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Nippon Medical School Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norimoto Kobayashi
- First Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, Nagano Red Cross Hospital, Nagano, Japan
| | - Shunichiro Takezaki
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shinji Akioka
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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Krämer B, Knoll R, Bonaguro L, ToVinh M, Raabe J, Astaburuaga-García R, Schulte-Schrepping J, Kaiser KM, Rieke GJ, Bischoff J, Monin MB, Hoffmeister C, Schlabe S, De Domenico E, Reusch N, Händler K, Reynolds G, Blüthgen N, Hack G, Finnemann C, Nischalke HD, Strassburg CP, Stephenson E, Su Y, Gardner L, Yuan D, Chen D, Goldman J, Rosenstiel P, Schmidt SV, Latz E, Hrusovsky K, Ball AJ, Johnson JM, Koenig PA, Schmidt FI, Haniffa M, Heath JR, Kümmerer BM, Keitel V, Jensen B, Stubbemann P, Kurth F, Sander LE, Sawitzki B, Aschenbrenner AC, Schultze JL, Nattermann J; Deutsche COVID-19 OMICS Initiative (DeCOI). Early IFN-α signatures and persistent dysfunction are distinguishing features of NK cells in severe COVID-19. Immunity 2021; 54:2650-2669.e14. [PMID: 34592166 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Longitudinal analyses of the innate immune system, including the earliest time points, are essential to understand the immunopathogenesis and clinical course of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Here, we performed a detailed characterization of natural killer (NK) cells in 205 patients (403 samples; days 2 to 41 after symptom onset) from four independent cohorts using single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics together with functional studies. We found elevated interferon (IFN)-α plasma levels in early severe COVD-19 alongside increased NK cell expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) and genes involved in IFN-α signaling, while upregulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced genes was observed in moderate diseases. NK cells exert anti-SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) activity but are functionally impaired in severe COVID-19. Further, NK cell dysfunction may be relevant for the development of fibrotic lung disease in severe COVID-19, as NK cells exhibited impaired anti-fibrotic activity. Our study indicates preferential IFN-α and TNF responses in severe and moderate COVID-19, respectively, and associates a prolonged IFN-α-induced NK cell response with poorer disease outcome.
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Abstract
Macrophages possess mechanisms for reinforcing the integrity of their endolysosomes against damage. This property, termed inducible renitence, was previously observed in murine macrophages stimulated with LPS, peptidoglycan, IFNγ, or TNFα, which suggested roles for renitence in macrophage resistance to infection by membrane‐damaging pathogens. This study analyzed additional inducers of macrophage differentiation for their ability to increase resistance to lysosomal damage by membrane‐damaging particles. Renitence was evident in macrophages activated with LPS plus IFNγ, PGE2, or adenosine, and in macrophages stimulated with IFN‐β, but not in macrophages activated with IL‐4 or IL‐10. These responses indicated roles for macrophage subtypes specialized in host defense and suppression of immune responses, but not those involved in wound healing. Consistent with this pattern, renitence could be induced by stimulation with agonists for TLR, which required the signaling adaptors MyD88 and/or TRIF, and by infection with murine norovirus‐1. Renitence induced by LPS was dependent on cytokine secretion by macrophages. However, no single secreted factor could explain all the induced responses. Renitence induced by the TLR3 agonist Poly(I:C) was mediated in part by the type I IFN response, but renitence induced by Pam3CSK4 (TLR2/1), LPS (TLR4), IFNγ, or TNFα was independent of type 1 IFN signaling. Thus, multiple pathways for inducing macrophage resistance to membrane damage exist and depend on the particular microbial stimulus sensed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda O Wong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matangi Marthi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Amanda Haag
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Irene A Owusu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Christiane E Wobus
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Joel A Swanson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Gong W, Guo X, Zhang Y. Depletion of MicroRNA-373 Represses the Replication of Hepatitis C Virus via Activation of Type 1 Interferon Response by Targeting IRF5. Yonsei Med J 2018; 59:1181-1189. [PMID: 30450852 PMCID: PMC6240574 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2018.59.10.1181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a risk of chronic liver disease and threatens a significant number of people worldwide. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are linked to the regulation of hepatocarcinogenesis. Although miR-373 is required for HCV infection, the underlying mechanisms of miR-373 involvement in HCV replication remain elusive. MATERIALS AND METHODS Quantitative reverse transcription PCR assays were performed to detect the abundances of miR-373 and HCV RNA either in Huh 7.5 cells or liver biopsy specimens with HCV infection. Luciferase assay was employed to probe the interactions between miR-373 and interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5). Western blot was conducted to investigate the effect of miR-373 and IRF5 on HCV replication and activation of type 1 interferon (IFN) response in JFH1-infected Huh 7.5 cells. RESULTS HCV infection appeared to be caused by increased miR-373 expression. Addition of miR-373 promoted HCV RNA expression, while miR-373 depletion led to an inhibitive effect on HCV replication. Concordantly, IRF5, as a direct target, was limited by miR-373 in JFH1-infected Huh 7.5 cells. In addition, introduction of IRF5 protected HCV replication in the presence of abundant miR-373. Furthermore, the miR-373-mediated inhibitory effect on type 1 IFN response was ablated following IRF5 accumulation. CONCLUSION miR-373 abrogation reduced HCV replication via activation of type 1 IFN responses by targeting IRF5 in JFH1-infected Huh 7.5 cells, suggesting a promising therapeutic for treating HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weifeng Gong
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an, China.
| | - Xiaobo Guo
- Hematological Research Institute, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yangmin Zhang
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Xi'an Central Hospital, Xi'an, China
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Marsman C, Lafouresse F, Liao Y, Baldwin TM, Mielke LA, Hu Y, Mack M, Hertzog PJ, de Graaf CA, Shi W, Groom JR. Plasmacytoid dendritic cell heterogeneity is defined by CXCL10 expression following TLR7 stimulation. Immunol Cell Biol 2018; 96:1083-1094. [PMID: 29870118 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play a critical role in bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems. pDCs are specialized type I interferon (IFN) producers, which has implicated them as initiators of autoimmune pathogenesis. However, little is known about the downstream effectors of type I IFN signaling that amplify autoimmune responses. Here, we have used a chemokine reporter mouse to determine the CXCR3 ligand responses in DCs subsets. Following TLR7 stimulation, conventional type 1 and type 2 DCs (cDC1 and cDC2, respectively) uniformly upregulate CXCL10. By contrast, the proportion of chemokine positive pDCs was significantly less, and stable CXCL10+ and CXCL10- populations could be distinguished. CXCL9 expression was induced in all cDC1s, in half of the cDC2 but not by pDCs. The requirement for IFNAR signaling for chemokine reporter expression was interrogated by receptor blocking and deficiency and shown to be critical for CXCR3 ligand expression in Flt3-ligand-derived DCs. Chemokine-producing potential was not concordant with the previously identified markers of pDC heterogeneity. Finally, we show that CXCL10+ and CXCL10- populations are transcriptionally distinct, expressing unique transcriptional regulators, IFN signaling molecules, chemokines, cytokines, and cell surface markers. This work highlights CXCL10 as a downstream effector of type I IFN signaling and suggests a division of labor in pDCs subtypes that likely impacts their function as effectors of viral responses and as drivers of inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper Marsman
- Divisions of Immunology and Molecular Immunology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Fanny Lafouresse
- Divisions of Immunology and Molecular Immunology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Yang Liao
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Division of Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Tracey M Baldwin
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Lisa A Mielke
- Divisions of Immunology and Molecular Immunology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, VIC, 3084, Australia
| | - Yifang Hu
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Division of Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Matthias Mack
- Department of Internal Medicíne/Nephrology, University Hospital Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss Allee 11, 93042, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Paul J Hertzog
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Carolyn A de Graaf
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Division of Molecular Medicine, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Wei Shi
- Division of Bioinformatics, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Joanna R Groom
- Divisions of Immunology and Molecular Immunology, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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Pott J, Stockinger S. Type I and III Interferon in the Gut: Tight Balance between Host Protection and Immunopathology. Front Immunol 2017; 8:258. [PMID: 28352268 PMCID: PMC5348535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal mucosa forms an active interface to the outside word, facilitating nutrient and water uptake and at the same time acts as a barrier toward the highly colonized intestinal lumen. A tight balance of the mucosal immune system is essential to tolerate harmless antigens derived from food or commensals and to effectively defend against potentially dangerous pathogens. Interferons (IFN) provide a first line of host defense when cells detect an invading organism. Whereas type I IFN were discovered almost 60 years ago, type III IFN were only identified in the early 2000s. It was initially thought that type I IFN and type III IFN performed largely redundant functions. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that type III IFN exert distinct and non-redundant functions compared to type I IFN, especially in mucosal tissues. Here, we review recent progress made in unraveling the role of type I/III IFN in intestinal mucosal tissue in the steady state, in response to mucosal pathogens and during inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Pott
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford , Oxford , UK
| | - Silvia Stockinger
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine , Vienna , Austria
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Abstract
Protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor 22 (PTPN22) represents a strong susceptibility gene which is shared by many autoimmune diseases. Exploring the mechanism behind this association could help to understand their pathogenesis as well as to identify novel therapeutical targets. Recently, multiple mouse models including knock-out, knock-in, knock-down and transgenic mice were generated to delineate PTPN22s function in this context. Depending on the genetic background, mouse PTPN22_619W mutation results in spontaneous autoimmunity, essentially replicating the risk effect of the PTPN22_620W in human autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, findings from mouse models shed new light on both cellular as well as molecular mechanisms of the effect of PTPN22 on adaptive and innate immunity. Here we review recently emerged evidence of the interconnection between mouse PTPN22 and autoimmunity. We also discuss the consistence and discrepancy between findings derived from human and mouse studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Zheng
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity, The Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, 361005 Xiamen, China
| | - Frank Petersen
- Priority Area Asthma and Allergy, Research Center Borstel, 23845, Borstel, Germany
| | - Xinhua Yu
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity, The Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen University, 361005 Xiamen, China; Priority Area Asthma and Allergy, Research Center Borstel, 23845, Borstel, Germany.
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Abstract
Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma, SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by vasculopathy, inflammation, and fibrosis that can lead to loss of organ function. Type I interferons (IFNs) are family of cytokines that mitigate the deleterious effects of viral and bacterial infections in the innate immunity system. Past several years, research efforts have been focused on the role of type I IFN and IFN-inducible genes in the pathogenesis of SSc. Polymorphisms in the Interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-5, IRF7, and IRF8 are associated with SSc, Similarly, polymorphism of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-4, has been established as a genetic risk factor of SSc. IRFs and STAT4 proteins are key activators of type I IFN signaling pathways. An IFN signature (increased expression and activation of IFN-regulated genes) has been observed in the peripheral blood and skin biopsy samples of patients with SSc. Furthermore, a plasma IFN-inducible chemokine score correlated with markers of disease severity and autoantibody subtypes in SSc. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the role of type I IFNs and IFN-inducible genes in the pathogenesis of SSc and their potential role as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghua Wu
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunogenetics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston , Houston, TX , USA
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