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van der Woude D, Toes REM. Immune response to post-translationally modified proteins in rheumatoid arthritis: what makes it special? Ann Rheum Dis 2024; 83:838-846. [PMID: 38378236 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224103] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) exhibits common characteristics with numerous other autoimmune diseases, including the presence of susceptibility genes and the presence of disease-specific autoantibodies. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are the hallmarking autoantibodies in RA and the anti-citrullinated protein immune response has been implicated in disease pathogenesis. Insight into the immunological pathways leading to anti-citrullinated protein immunity will not only aid understanding of RA pathogenesis, but may also contribute to elucidation of similar mechanisms in other autoantibody-positive autoimmune diseases. Similarly, lessons learnt in other human autoimmune diseases might be relevant to understand potential drivers of RA. In this review, we will summarise several novel insights into the biology of the anti-citrullinated protein response and their clinical associations that have been obtained in recent years. These insights include the identification of glycans in the variable domain of ACPA, the realisation that ACPA are polyreactive towards other post-translational modifications on proteins, as well as new awareness of the contributing role of mucosal sites to the development of the ACPA response. These findings will be mirrored to emerging concepts obtained in other human (autoimmune) disease characterised by disease-specific autoantibodies. Together with an updated understanding of genetic and environmental risk factors and fresh perspectives on how the microbiome could contribute to antibody formation, these advancements coalesce to a progressively clearer picture of the B cell reaction to modified antigens in the progression of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - René E M Toes
- Rheumatology, Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum, Leiden, The Netherlands
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de Moel EC, Trouw LA, Terao C, Govind N, Tikly M, El-Gabalawy H, Smolik I, Bang H, Huizinga TWJ, Toes REM, van der Woude D. Geo-epidemiology of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: comparison between four ethnically diverse populations. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:37. [PMID: 36890568 PMCID: PMC9993621 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs across the globe in different ethnic populations. Most RA patients harbor anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA); however, it is unclear whether differences exist in autoantibody responses at different geographic locations and between different ethnic groups, which could provide new clues regarding factors underlying autoantibody development. We therefore investigated AMPA prevalence and association with HLA DRB1 alleles and smoking in four ethnically diverse populations on four different continents. METHODS Anti-carbamylated (anti-CarP), anti-malondialdehyde acetaldehyde (anti-MAA), and anti-acetylated protein antibodies (anti-AcVim) IgG were determined in anti-citrullinated protein antibody-positive Dutch (NL, n = 103), Japanese (JP, n = 174), First Nations Peoples in Canada (FN, n = 100), and black South African (SA, n = 67) RA patients. Ethnicity-matched local healthy controls were used to calculate cut-offs. Risk factors associated with AMPA seropositivity in each cohort were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS Median AMPA levels were higher in First Nations Peoples in Canada and especially South African patients, as reflected by percentage seropositivity: NL, JP, FN, and SA: anti-CarP: 47%, 43%, 58%, and 76% (p < 0.001); anti-MAA: 29%, 22%, 29%, and 53% (p < 0.001); and anti-AcVim: 20%, 17%, 38%, and 28% (p < 0.001). Total IgG levels also differed markedly, and when autoantibody levels were normalized to total IgG, differences between cohorts became less pronounced. Although there were some associations with AMPA and HLA risk alleles and smoking, none was consistent across all four cohorts. CONCLUSIONS AMPA against various post-translational modifications could consistently be detected on different continents across ethnically diverse RA populations. Differences in AMPA levels corresponded to differences in total serum IgG levels. This suggests that, despite differences in risk factors, a common pathway may be involved in AMPA development across geographic locations and ethnicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C de Moel
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Leendert A Trouw
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Chikashi Terao
- Department of Genomic Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Nimmisha Govind
- Division of Rheumatology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mohammed Tikly
- Division of Rheumatology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Hani El-Gabalawy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Irene Smolik
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | | - Tom W J Huizinga
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - René E M Toes
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Diane van der Woude
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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Wen HY, Chiang CC, Chen RY, Ni WZ, Weng YQ, Yeh YT, Hsu HC. Immunosensing for Early Detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis Biomarkers: Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies Based on Tilted-Fiber Bragg Grating Biosensor. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:bioengineering10020261. [PMID: 36829755 PMCID: PMC9952665 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10020261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is regarded as a chronic, immune-mediated disease that leads to the damage of various types of immune cells and signal networks, followed by inappropriate tissue repair and organ damage. RA is primarily manifested in the joints, but also manifests in the lungs and the vascular system. This study developed a method for the in vitro detection of RA through cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies and antigens. The diameter of a tilted-fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) biosensor was etched to 50 μm and then bonded with CCP antigens and antibodies. The small variations in the external refractive index and the optical fiber cladding were measured. The results indicated that the self-assembled layer of the TFBG biosensor was capable of detecting pre- and post-immune CCP antigen and CCP peptide concentrations within four minutes. A minimum CCP concentration of 1 ng/mL was detected with this method. This method is characterized by the sensor's specificity, ability to detect CCP reactions, user-friendliness, and lack of requirement for professional analytical skills, as the detections are carried out by simply loading and releasing the test samples onto the platform. This study provides a novel approach to medical immunosensing analysis and detection. Although the results for the detection of different concentrations of CCP antigen are not yet clear, it was possible to prove the concept that the biosensor is feasible even if the measurement is not easy and accurate at this stage. Further study and improvement are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Yi Wen
- Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chin Chiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
| | - Rou-Yu Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Zhi Ni
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Qiao Weng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
| | - Yao-Tsung Yeh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Cheng Hsu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
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Huang M, Xu H. Genetic susceptibility to autoimmunity-Current status and challenges. Adv Immunol 2022; 156:25-54. [PMID: 36410874 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune diseases (ADs) often arise from a combination of genetic and environmental triggers that disrupt the immune system's capability to properly tolerate body self-antigens. Familial studies provided the earliest insights into the risk loci of such diseases, while genome-wide association studies (GWAS) significantly broadened the horizons. A drug targeting a prominent pathological pathway can be applied to multiple indications sharing overlapping mechanisms. Advances in genomic technologies used in genetic studies provide critical insights into future research on gene-environment interactions in autoimmunity. This Review summarizes the history and recent advances in the understanding of genetic susceptibility to ADs and related immune disorders, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and their indications for the development of diagnostic or prognostic markers for translational applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Huji Xu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, The Navel Medical University, Shanghai, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Li K, Wang M, Zhao L, Liu Y, Zhang X. ACPA-negative rheumatoid arthritis: From immune mechanisms to clinical translation. EBioMedicine 2022; 83:104233. [PMID: 36027873 PMCID: PMC9404277 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA) is a hallmark feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which causes chronic joint destruction and systemic inflammation. Based on ACPA status, RA patients can be sub-grouped into two major subsets: ACPA-positive RA (ACPA+ RA) and ACPA-negative RA (ACPA– RA). Accumulating evidence have suggested that ACPA+ RA and ACPA– RA are two distinct disease entities with different underlying pathophysiology. In contrast to the well-characterized pathogenic mechanisms of ACPA+ RA, the etiology of ACPA– RA remains largely unknown. In this review, we summarized current knowledge about the primary drivers of ACPA– RA, particularly focusing on the serological, cellular, and molecular aspects of immune mechanisms. A better understanding of the immunopathogenesis in ACPA– RA will help in designing more precisely targeting strategies, and paving the road to personalized treatment. In addition, identification of novel biomarkers in ACPA– RA will substantially promote early treatment and improve the outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ketian Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Min Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Lidan Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China
| | - Yudong Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China; The Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Institute of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, National Health Commission, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, PR China.
| | - Xuan Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, PR China.
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Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease involving symmetric joints and is generally characterized by persistent pain, tenderness, and destruction of joints. The vast majority of RA patients produce autoantibodies, and immune cell involvement in disease development is well recognized, as is the contribution of other types of cells in synovial tissue, like fibroblasts. It is known that there are major genetic associations with the HLA locus, while multiple non-HLA genetic variants display relatively low risk of RA. Both HLA and non-HLA associations suggest that the profiles of genetic associations for autoantibody-positive vs. autoantibody-negative RA are different. Several alleles of HLA-DRB1 are associated with high risk for autoantibody-positive RA, with the strongest risk characterized by valine at position 11 of the protein sequence (HLA-DRB1*04 and *10 alleles). There is a strong protective effect for the risk of autoantibody-positive RA associated with HLA-DRB1*13 alleles. Although major genetic associations have been known for several years, understanding of the specific mechanisms in the development of increased risk of RA for these variations is work in progress. Current studies focus on the binding of immune receptors involved in recognition of putative peptides in activation of T cells, as well as investigation of cell signaling mechanisms. At least a part of RA risk could be explained by gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. There are currently more than 150 candidate loci with polymorphisms that associate with RA, mainly related to seropositive disease, and new discoveries are anticipated in the future from investigation of diverse human populations. This new research will help create a strong foundation for the continuing process of integrating genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data in studies of RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Padyukov
- Department of Medicine Solna, Division of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
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The Genetic, Environmental, and Immunopathological Complexity of Autoantibody-Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212386. [PMID: 34830268 PMCID: PMC8618508 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in clinical presentation, response to treatment, and long-term outcomes between autoantibody-positive and -negative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) highlight the need for a better comprehension of the immunopathogenic events underlying the two disease subtypes. Whilst the drivers and perpetuators of autoimmunity in autoantibody-positive RA have started to be disclosed, autoantibody-negative RA remains puzzling, also due its wide phenotypic heterogeneity and its possible misdiagnosis. Genetic susceptibility appears to mostly rely on class I HLA genes and a number of yet unidentified non-HLA loci. On the background of such variable genetic predisposition, multiple exogeneous, endogenous, and stochastic factors, some of which are not shared with autoantibody-positive RA, contribute to the onset of the inflammatory cascade. In a proportion of the patients, the immunopathology of synovitis, at least in the initial stages, appears largely myeloid driven, with abundant production of proinflammatory cytokines and only minor involvement of cells of the adaptive immune system. Better understanding of the complexity of autoantibody-negative RA is still needed in order to open new avenues for targeted intervention and improve clinical outcomes.
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Arleevskaya M, Takha E, Petrov S, Kazarian G, Novikov A, Larionova R, Valeeva A, Shuralev E, Mukminov M, Bost C, Renaudineau Y. Causal risk and protective factors in rheumatoid arthritis: A genetic update. J Transl Autoimmun 2021; 4:100119. [PMID: 34522877 PMCID: PMC8424591 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The characterization of risk and protective factors in complex diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has evolved from epidemiological studies, which test association, to the use of Mendelian randomization approaches, which test direct relationships. Indeed, direct associations with the mucosal origin of RA are retrieved with periodontal disease (Porphyromonas gingivalis and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans predominantly), interstitial lung involvement, tobacco smoking and air pollutants. Next, factors directly associated with an acquired immune response include genetic factors (HLA DRB1, PTPN22), capacity to produce anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA), and relatives with a history of autoimmune diseases. Finally, factors can be also classified according to their direct capacity to interfere with the IL-6/CRP/sIL-IL6R proinflammatory pathway as risk factor (body fat, cardiometabolic factors, type 2 diabetes, depressive syndrome) or either as protective factors by controlling of sIL-6R levels (higher education level, and intelligence). Although some co-founders have been characterized (e.g. vitamin D, physical activity, cancer) the direct association with sex-discrepancy, pregnancy, and infections among other factors remains to be better explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Arleevskaya
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - E Takha
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia
| | - S Petrov
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - G Kazarian
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia
| | - A Novikov
- Sobolev Institute of Mathematics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Science, Russia
| | - R Larionova
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - A Valeeva
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia
| | - E Shuralev
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia.,Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine Named After N.E. Bauman, Kazan, Russia
| | - M Mukminov
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - C Bost
- CHU Toulouse, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
| | - Y Renaudineau
- Central Research Laboratory, Kazan State Medical Academy, Kazan, Russia.,CHU Toulouse, INSERM U1291, CNRS U5051, University Toulouse III, Toulouse, France
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Ultra-Low Dose Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Three Birds with One Stone as the Rationale of the 2LARTH ® Micro-Immunotherapy Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136717. [PMID: 34201546 PMCID: PMC8268272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are two cytokines involved in the perpetuation of the chronic inflammation state characterizing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Significant advances in the treatment of this pathology have been made over the past ten years, partially through the development of anti-TNF and anti-IL-1 therapies. However, major side effects still persist and new alternative therapies should be considered. The formulation of the micro-immunotherapy medicine (MIM) 2LARTH® uses ultra-low doses (ULD) of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-2, in association with other immune factors, to gently restore the body’s homeostasis. The first part of this review aims at delineating the pivotal roles played by IL-1β and TNF-α in RA physiopathology, leading to the development of anti-TNF and anti-IL-1 therapeutic agents. In a second part, an emphasis will be made on explaining the rationale of using multiple therapeutic targets, including both IL-1β and TNF-α in 2LARTH® medicine. Particular attention will be paid to the ULD of those two main pro-inflammatory factors in order to counteract their overexpression through the lens of their molecular implication in RA pathogenesis.
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