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Rims C, Uchtenhagen H, Kaplan MJ, Carmona-Rivera C, Carlucci P, Mikecz K, Markovics A, Carlin J, Buckner JH, James EA. Citrullinated Aggrecan Epitopes as Targets of Autoreactive CD4+ T Cells in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2019; 71:518-528. [PMID: 30390384 DOI: 10.1002/art.40768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recognition of citrullinated antigens such as vimentin, fibrinogen, and α-enolase is associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Emerging data suggest that the matrix protein aggrecan is also recognized as a citrullinated antigen. This study was undertaken to directly visualize Cit-aggrecan-specific T cells and characterize them in patients with RA. METHODS Citrullinated aggrecan peptides with likely DRB1*04:01 binding motifs were predicted using a previously published scanning algorithm. Peptides with detectable binding were assessed for immunogenicity by HLA tetramer staining, followed by single cell cloning. Selectivity for citrullinated peptide was assessed by tetramer staining and proliferation assays. Ex vivo tetramer staining was then performed to assess frequencies of aggrecan-specific T cells in peripheral blood. Finally, disease association was assessed by comparing T cell frequencies in RA patients and controls and correlating aggrecan-specific T cells with levels of aggrecan-specific antibodies. RESULTS We identified 6 immunogenic peptides, 2 of which were the predominant T cell targets in peripheral blood. These 2 epitopes were citrullinated at HLA binding residues and shared homologous sequences. RA patients had significantly higher frequencies of Cit-aggrecan-specific T cells than healthy subjects. Furthermore, T cell frequencies were significantly correlated with antibodies against citrullinated aggrecan. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that T cells that recognize citrullinated aggrecan are present in patients with RA and correlate with antibodies that target this same antigen. Consequently, aggrecan-specific T cells and antibodies are potentially relevant markers that could be used to monitor patients with RA or at-risk subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cliff Rims
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington
| | - Hannes Uchtenhagen
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington.,Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington, and Karolinksa Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mariana J Kaplan
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carmelo Carmona-Rivera
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Philip Carlucci
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | | | - Jane H Buckner
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington
| | - Eddie A James
- Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, Seattle, Washington
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Schinnerling K, Rosas C, Soto L, Thomas R, Aguillón JC. Humanized Mouse Models of Rheumatoid Arthritis for Studies on Immunopathogenesis and Preclinical Testing of Cell-Based Therapies. Front Immunol 2019; 10:203. [PMID: 30837986 PMCID: PMC6389733 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent models of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been used over decades to study the immunopathogenesis of the disease and to explore intervention strategies. Nevertheless, mouse models of RA reach their limit when it comes to testing of new therapeutic approaches such as cell-based therapies. Differences between the human and the murine immune system make it difficult to draw reliable conclusions about the success of immunotherapies. To overcome this issue, humanized mouse models have been established that mimic components of the human immune system in mice. Two main strategies have been pursued for humanization: the introduction of human transgenes such as human leukocyte antigen molecules or specific T cell receptors, and the generation of mouse/human chimera by transferring human cells or tissues into immunodeficient mice. Recently, both approaches have been combined to achieve more sophisticated humanized models of autoimmune diseases. This review discusses limitations of conventional mouse models of RA-like disease and provides a closer look into studies in humanized mice exploring their usefulness and necessity as preclinical models for testing of cell-based therapies in autoimmune diseases such as RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katina Schinnerling
- Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, Immune Regulation and Tolerance Research Group, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andrés Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Carlos Rosas
- Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Lilian Soto
- Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, Immune Regulation and Tolerance Research Group, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Unidad de Dolor, Departamento de Medicina, Hospital Clínico Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ranjeny Thomas
- Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Juan Carlos Aguillón
- Programa Disciplinario de Inmunología, Immune Regulation and Tolerance Research Group, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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3
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Falconer J, Lowes K, Furmanski AL, Dyson J, Ng WF, Robinson JH. Intramolecular polyspecificity in CD4 T-cell recognition of Ad-restricted epitopes of proteoglycan aggrecan. Immunology 2014; 142:101-110. [PMID: 24843873 DOI: 10.1111/imm.12238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell recognition of MHC–peptide complexes shows a high degree of polyspecificity extending to recognition of a large number of structurally unrelated peptides. Examples of polyspecificity reported to date are confined to recognition of epitopes from distinct proteins or synthetic peptide libraries. Here we describe intramolecular polyspecificity of CD4 T cells specific for several epitopes within proteoglycan aggrecan, a structural glycoprotein of cartilage and candidate autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis. T-cell hybridomas from aggrecan-immunized mice recognized four structurally unrelated epitopes from the G1 domain of aggrecan, but not other aggrecan epitopes or a variety of other peptide epitopes restricted by the same MHC class II allele. We also showed that the hierarchy of cross-reactivity broadly correlated with the strength of peptide binding to MHC class II. Similar polyspecificity was observed in responses of lymph node cells from peptide-immunized mice, suggesting polyspecificity of a significant proportion of the in vivo aggrecan specific T-cell repertoire. Polyspecific recognition of several epitopes within the same autoantigen may provide a novel mechanism to reach the activation threshold of low-affinity autoreactive T cells in the initiation of autoimmune diseases.
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Non-MHC risk alleles in rheumatoid arthritis and in the syntenic chromosome regions of corresponding animal models. Clin Dev Immunol 2012; 2012:284751. [PMID: 23251214 PMCID: PMC3521484 DOI: 10.1155/2012/284751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2012] [Revised: 08/13/2012] [Accepted: 09/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a polygenic autoimmune disease primarily affecting the synovial joints. Numerous animal models show similarities to RA in humans; some of them not only mimic the clinical phenotypes but also demonstrate the involvement of homologous genomic regions in RA. This paper compares corresponding non-MHC genomic regions identified in rodent and human genome-wide association studies (GWAS). To date, over 30 non-MHC RA-associated loci have been identified in humans, and over 100 arthritis-associated loci have been identified in rodent models of RA. The genomic regions associated with the disease are designated by the name(s) of the gene having the most frequent and consistent RA-associated SNPs or a function suggesting their involvement in inflammatory or autoimmune processes. Animal studies on rats and mice preferentially have used single sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers to identify disease-associated qualitative and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in the genome of F2 hybrids of arthritis-susceptible and arthritis-resistant rodent strains. Mouse GWAS appear to be far ahead of rat studies, and significantly more mouse QTLs correspond to human RA risk alleles.
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von Delwig A, Locke J, Robinson JH, Ng WF. Response of Th17 cells to a citrullinated arthritogenic aggrecan peptide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 62:143-9. [DOI: 10.1002/art.25064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Boots AMH, Hubers H, Kouwijzer M, den Hoed-van Zandbrink L, Westrek-Esselink BM, van Doorn C, Stenger R, Bos ES, van Lierop MJC, Verheijden GF, Timmers CM, van Staveren CJ. Identification of an altered peptide ligand based on the endogenously presented, rheumatoid arthritis-associated, human cartilage glycoprotein-39(263-275) epitope: an MHC anchor variant peptide for immune modulation. Arthritis Res Ther 2008; 9:R71. [PMID: 17645792 PMCID: PMC2206373 DOI: 10.1186/ar2269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2007] [Revised: 06/25/2007] [Accepted: 07/23/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
We sought to identify an altered peptide ligand (APL) based on the endogenously expressed synovial auto-epitope of human cartilage glycoprotein-39 (HC gp-39) for modulation of cognate, HLA-DR4-restricted T cells. For this purpose we employed a panel of well-characterized T cell hybridomas generated from HC gp-39-immunized HLA-DR4 transgenic mice. The hybridomas all respond to the HC gp-39(263–275) epitope when bound to HLA-DR4(B1*0401) but differ in their fine specificities. First, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and T-cell receptor (TCR) contact residues were identified by analysis of single site substituted analogue peptides for HLA-DR4 binding and cognate T cell recognition using both T hybridomas and polyclonal T cells from peptide-immunized HLA-DR4 transgenic mice. Analysis of single site substituted APL by cognate T cells led to identification of Phe265 as the dominant MHC anchor. The amino acids Ala268, Ser269, Glu271 and Thr272 constituted the major TCR contact residues, as substitution at these positions did not affect HLA-DR4(B1*0401) binding but abrogated T cell responses. A structural model for visualisation of TCR recognition was derived. Second, a set of non-classical APLs, modified at the MHC key anchor position but with unaltered TCR contacts, was developed. When these APLs were analysed, a partial TCR agonist was identified and found to modulate the HC gp-39(263–275)-specific, pro-inflammatory response in HLA-DR4 transgenic mice. We identified a non-classical APL by modification of the p1 MHC anchor in a synovial auto-epitope. This APL may qualify for rheumatoid arthritis immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henk Hubers
- NV Organon, Research Laboratories, Oss, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ebo S Bos
- NV Organon, Research Laboratories, Oss, The Netherlands
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Brintnell W, Bell DA, Hill JA, Jevnikar AM, Sette A, Sidney J, Doege K, Cairns E. The Influence of MHC Class II Molecules Containing the Rheumatoid Arthritis Shared Epitope on the Immune Response to Aggrecan G1 and Its Peptides. Scand J Immunol 2007; 65:444-52. [PMID: 17444955 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2007.01931.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Aggrecan has been implied as an autoantigen in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Immunization with aggrecan induces arthritis in BALB/c (H-2(d)) mice but not in other strains of mice [e.g. C57BL/6 (H-2(b))]. In humans, the strongest genetic association with RA is to the shared epitope (SE), and aggrecan peptides are predicted to bind to the SE. Therefore, we hypothesized that C57BL/6 mice transgenic (tg) for the RA SE (DR4 tg mice) may be susceptible to aggrecan-induced arthritis. C57BL/6 and DR4 tg mice were immunized with a mixture of SE-binding aggrecan peptides and tested for immune responses to the corresponding peptides as well as aggrecan. Sustained T- and B-cell immune responses to aggrecan and several of its peptides were detected in DR4 tg mice. C57BL/6 mice showed only transient T-cell responses to different immunizing peptides and little B-cell response. Therefore, an immune response to peptides of aggrecan can be induced experimentally in DR4 tg mice as anticipated from the predicted and actual binding affinities of these peptides for the RA SE. Failure to induce arthritis in these DR4 tg mice may be due to a lack of appropriate non-MHC genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Brintnell
- Department of Medicine, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
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Buzás EI, Végvári A, Murad YM, Finnegan A, Mikecz K, Glant TT. T-cell recognition of differentially tolerated epitopes of cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan in arthritis. Cell Immunol 2005; 235:98-108. [PMID: 16185673 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2004.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2004] [Revised: 08/05/2004] [Accepted: 08/06/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Proteoglycan (PG) aggrecan, a major macromolecular component of cartilage, is highly immunogenic; it induces arthritis in genetically susceptible BALB/c mice. The present study maps the T-cell epitope repertoire of cartilage PG by identifying a total of 27 distinct T-cell epitopes. An epitope hierarchy, accounting for the different effector functions of PG-specific T cells, and determinant spreading, has been found. T-cell responses to four epitopes were associated with arthritis induction. Some of the T-cell epitopes were full T-cell activators, whereas a number of subdominant and cryptic epitopes proved to be partial activators in vitro, inducing either cytokine secretion or T-cell proliferation, but not both. A few T-cell epitopes of the core protein of cartilage PG were clearly recognized by T cells in PG-immunized arthritic animals, but the corresponding peptides did not induce T-cell responses when injected into naive BALB/c mice; thus these T-cell epitopes were designated as "conditionally immunogenic."
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Affiliation(s)
- Edit I Buzás
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Biochemistry, Immunology/Microbiology, and Internal Medicine (Section of Rheumatology), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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9
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van Bilsen JHM, Wagenaar-Hilbers JPA, Grosfeld-Stulemeijer MCJT, van der Cammen MJF, van Dijk MEA, van Eden W, Wauben MHM. Matrix metalloproteinases as targets for the immune system during experimental arthritis. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2004; 172:5063-8. [PMID: 15067089 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.172.8.5063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Novel therapies for rheumatoid arthritis aiming at intervention in the inflammatory process by manipulation of autoreactive T and B lymphocytes receive major interest. However, the development of such therapies is largely hampered by the lack of knowledge of self-Ags recognized during the disease process. Recently, we predicted putative T cell self-epitopes based on a computer search profile. In the present study, the predicted self-epitopes were tested for T cell recognition in two experimental arthritis models, and their arthritogenic capacity was analyzed. Fourteen of n = 51 predicted self-epitopes were recognized during experimental arthritis of which six were able to actively induce arthritis. Interestingly, three of these six peptides were derived from matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), and only T cells responsive to MMP-derived epitopes were able to passively transfer arthritis to naive rats. Moreover, we demonstrate the presence of Abs to MMP-3 during the course of adjuvant arthritis. Together these data indicate that MMPs play a pivotal role as target for T and B cells during the development of inflammatory arthritis. This finding sheds new light on the pathophysiological role of MMPs during arthritis and opens novel possibilities for Ag-specific immunotherapy.
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MESH Headings
- Adjuvants, Immunologic/administration & dosage
- Adoptive Transfer
- Animals
- Arthritis, Experimental/enzymology
- Arthritis, Experimental/immunology
- Arthritis, Experimental/pathology
- Autoantibodies/biosynthesis
- Autoantigens/administration & dosage
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Autoantigens/metabolism
- B-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- B-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/transplantation
- Cartilage, Articular/enzymology
- Cartilage, Articular/immunology
- Diamines/administration & dosage
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/administration & dosage
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/immunology
- Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte/metabolism
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/metabolism
- Humans
- Immune System/enzymology
- Lymph Nodes/enzymology
- Lymph Nodes/immunology
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/administration & dosage
- Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/immunology
- Matrix Metalloproteinases/administration & dosage
- Matrix Metalloproteinases/immunology
- Matrix Metalloproteinases/metabolism
- Peptide Fragments/administration & dosage
- Peptide Fragments/immunology
- Peptide Fragments/metabolism
- Protein Binding/immunology
- Quaternary Ammonium Compounds/administration & dosage
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Lew
- Spleen/enzymology
- Spleen/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/immunology
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/metabolism
- T-Lymphocyte Subsets/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda H M van Bilsen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Szántó S, Bárdos T, Szabó Z, David CS, Buzás EI, Mikecz K, Glant TT. Induction of arthritis in HLA-DR4-humanized and HLA-DQ8-humanized mice by human cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan but only in the presence of an appropriate (non-MHC) genetic background. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 50:1984-95. [PMID: 15188376 DOI: 10.1002/art.20285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether the rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-predisposing class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) can present cartilage proteoglycan (PG) aggrecan, and if so, to determine the epitope repertoire of the human cartilage PG in HLA-transgenic mice and determine whether HLA-transgenic mice develop arthritis in response to immunization with human cartilage PG. METHODS Mice transgenic for HLA-DR2.Ab(0), DR3.Ab(0), DR4.Ab(0), and DQ8.Ab(0), lacking their own (mouse) class II antigens (Ab(0)), on the original (arthritis-resistant) and the arthritis-susceptible BALB/c backgrounds, were immunized with human cartilage PG. The T cell epitope repertoire presented by these class II MHC alleles was determined using a synthetic peptide library (143 peptides of the core protein of human cartilage PG), and arthritis development was monitored and compared in wild-type and HLA-transgenic/congenic BALB/c mice. RESULTS Mice of the 4 HLA-transgenic lines, either on the original mixed, arthritis-resistant background or DR4.Ab(0)- and DQ8.Ab(0)-transgenic/congenic mice on the arthritis-susceptible BALB/c genetic background, responded well to PG immunization (as assessed by T cell responses and antibody and cytokine production), and a number of T cell epitopes along the core protein of human cartilage PG were identified. DR4.Ab(0)- and DQ8.Ab(0)-transgenic mice immunized with human cartilage PG developed arthritis, but only when these class II MHC molecules were present on the arthritis-susceptible (BALB/c) genetic background. CONCLUSION A number of human cartilage PG epitopes can be presented by HLA alleles that predispose to the development of RA, but the epitopes of the cartilage PG presented by HLA-DR4 or HLA-DQ8 can induce arthritis only in the presence of an appropriate genetic (non-MHC) background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sándor Szántó
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
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