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Wen YP, Yu ZG. Identifying shared genetic loci and common risk genes of rheumatoid arthritis associated with three autoimmune diseases based on large-scale cross-trait genome-wide association studies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1160397. [PMID: 37377963 PMCID: PMC10291128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1160397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Substantial links between autoimmune diseases have been shown by an increasing number of studies, and one hypothesis for this comorbidity is that there is a common genetic cause. Methods In this paper, a large-scale cross-trait Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) was conducted to investigate the genetic overlap among rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes. Results and discussion Through the local genetic correlation analysis, 2 regions with locally significant genetic associations between rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and 4 regions with locally significant genetic associations between rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes were discovered. By cross-trait meta-analysis, 58 independent loci associated with rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, 86 independent loci associated with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, and 107 independent loci associated with rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes were identified with genome-wide significance. In addition, 82 common risk genes were found through genetic identification. Based on gene set enrichment analysis, it was found that shared genes are enriched in exposed dermal system, calf, musculoskeletal, subcutaneous fat, thyroid and other tissues, and are also significantly enriched in 35 biological pathways. To verify the association between diseases, Mendelian randomized analysis was performed, which shows possible causal associations between rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, and between rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. The common genetic structure of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease and type 1 diabetes was explored by these studies, and it is believed that this important discovery will lead to new ideas for clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Ping Wen
- National Center for Applied Mathematics in Hunan, Xiangtan University, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Computing and Information Processing of Ministry of Education, Xiangtan University, Hunan, China
| | - Zu-Guo Yu
- National Center for Applied Mathematics in Hunan, Xiangtan University, Hunan, China
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Computing and Information Processing of Ministry of Education, Xiangtan University, Hunan, China
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Zhang HG, McDermott G, Seyok T, Huang S, Dahal K, L'Yi S, Lea-Bonzel C, Stratton J, Weisenfeld D, Monach P, Raychaudhuri S, Yu KH, Cai T, Cui J, Hong C, Cai T, Liao KP. Identifying shared genetic architecture between rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions: a phenome-wide association study with genetic risk scores. EBioMedicine 2023; 92:104581. [PMID: 37121095 PMCID: PMC10173154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) shares genetic variants with other autoimmune conditions, but existing studies test the association between RA variants with a pre-defined set of phenotypes. The objective of this study was to perform a large-scale, systemic screen to determine phenotypes that share genetic architecture with RA to inform our understanding of shared pathways. METHODS In the UK Biobank (UKB), we constructed RA genetic risk scores (GRS) incorporating human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA risk alleles. Phenotypes were defined using groupings of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Patients with an RA code were excluded to mitigate the possibility of associations being driven by the diagnosis or management of RA. We performed a phenome-wide association study, testing the association between the RA GRS with phenotypes using multivariate generalized estimating equations that adjusted for age, sex, and first five principal components. Statistical significance was defined using Bonferroni correction. Results were replicated in an independent cohort and replicated phenotypes were validated using medical record review of patients. FINDINGS We studied n = 316,166 subjects from UKB without evidence of RA and screened for association between the RA GRS and n = 1317 phenotypes. In the UKB, 20 phenotypes were significantly associated with the RA GRS, of which 13 (65%) were immune mediated conditions including polymyalgia rheumatica, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. We further identified a novel association in Celiac disease where the HLA and non-HLA alleles had strong associations in opposite directions. Strikingly, we observed that the non-HLA GRS was exclusively associated with greater risk of the validated conditions, suggesting shared underlying pathways outside the HLA region. INTERPRETATION This study replicated and identified novel autoimmune phenotypes verified by medical record review that share immune pathways with RA and may inform opportunities for shared treatment targets, as well as risk assessment for conditions with a paucity of genomic data, such as GPA. FUNDING This research was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (P30AR072577, R21AR078339, R35GM142879, T32AR007530) and the Harold and DuVal Bowen Fund.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison G Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Greg McDermott
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thany Seyok
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sicong Huang
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kumar Dahal
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sehi L'Yi
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clara Lea-Bonzel
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jacklyn Stratton
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dana Weisenfeld
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Monach
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soumya Raychaudhuri
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Data Science, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kun-Hsing Yu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tianrun Cai
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jing Cui
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chuan Hong
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tianxi Cai
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine P Liao
- Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation, and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA.
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Dankers W, den Braanker H, Paulissen SMJ, van Hamburg JP, Davelaar N, Colin EM, Lubberts E. The heterogeneous human memory CCR6+ T helper-17 populations differ in T-bet and cytokine expression but all activate synovial fibroblasts in an IFNγ-independent manner. Arthritis Res Ther 2021; 23:157. [PMID: 34082814 PMCID: PMC8173960 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-021-02532-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic synovial inflammation is an important hallmark of inflammatory arthritis, but the cells and mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. Previously, we have shown that CCR6+ memory T-helper (memTh) cells and synovial fibroblasts (SF) activate each other in a pro-inflammatory feedforward loop, which potentially drives persistent synovial inflammation in inflammatory arthritis. However, the CCR6+ memTh cells are a heterogeneous population, containing Th17/Th22 and Th17.1 cells. Currently, it is unclear which of these subpopulations drive SF activation and how they should be targeted. In this study, we examined the individual contribution of these CCR6+ memTh subpopulations to SF activation and examined ways to regulate their function. METHODS Th17/Th22 (CXCR3-CCR4+), Th17.1 (CXCR3+CCR4-), DP (CXCR3+CCR4+), and DN (CXCR3-CCR4-) CCR6+ memTh, cells sorted from PBMC of healthy donors or treatment-naïve early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, were cocultured with SF from RA patients with or without anti-IL17A, anti-IFNγ, or 1,25(OH)2D3. Cultures were analyzed by RT-PCR, ELISA, or flow cytometry. RESULTS Th17/Th22, Th17.1, DP, and DN cells equally express RORC but differ in production of TBX21 and cytokines like IL-17A and IFNγ. Despite these differences, all the individual CCR6+ memTh subpopulations, both from healthy individuals and RA patients, were more potent in activating SF than the classical Th1 cells. SF activation was partially inhibited by blocking IL-17A, but not by inhibiting IFNγ or TBX21. However, active vitamin D inhibited the pathogenicity of all subpopulations leading to suppression of SF activation. CONCLUSIONS Human CCR6+ memTh cells contain several subpopulations that equally express RORC but differ in TBX21, IFNγ, and IL-17A expression. All individual Th17 subpopulations are more potent in activating SF than classical Th1 cells in an IFNγ-independent manner. Furthermore, our data suggest that IL-17A is not dominant in this T cell-SF activation loop but that a multiple T cell cytokine inhibitor, such as 1,25(OH)2D3, is able to suppress CCR6+ memTh subpopulation-driven SF activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Dankers
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Current address: Rheumatology Research Group, Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Hannah den Braanker
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra M J Paulissen
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Piet van Hamburg
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Current address: Amsterdam Rheumatology and Immunology Center, Department of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology and Laboratory for Experimental Immunology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nadine Davelaar
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Edgar M Colin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Lubberts
- Department of Rheumatology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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He P, Mo XB, Lei SF, Deng FY. Epigenetically regulated co-expression network of genes significant for rheumatoid arthritis. Epigenomics 2019; 11:1601-1612. [PMID: 31693422 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To identify epigenetically regulated network of genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells significant for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their associated differentially expressed miRNAs and differentially methylated positions (DMPs) were identified. Causal inference test (CIT) identified the causal regulation chains. The analyses, for example, weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA), protein-protein interaction and functional enrichment, evaluated interaction patterns among the DEGs and the associated epigenetic factors. Results: A total of 181 DEGs were identified. The DEGs were significantly regulated by DMPs and/or differentially expressed miRNAs. Causal inference test analyses identified 18 causal chains of DMP-DEG-RA and 16 intermediate DEGs enriched in 'protein kinase inhibitor activity'. BTN2A1 was co-expressed with other 9 intermediate genes and 11 known RA-associated genes and played a pivotal role in the co-expression network. Conclusion: Epigenetically regulated network of genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) contributed to RA. The causal DMPs and key intermediate genes may serve as potential biomarkers for RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei He
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology & Genomics, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive & Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Xing-Bo Mo
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology & Genomics, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive & Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Shu-Feng Lei
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology & Genomics, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive & Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
| | - Fei-Yan Deng
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology & Genomics, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive & Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, PR China
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Sadeghian-Rizi T, Alsahebfosoul F, Kazemi M, Khanahmad H, Jahanian-Najafabadi A. Association of AIRE Polymorphism and the Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis in Iranian Population. Avicenna J Med Biotechnol 2018; 10:110-114. [PMID: 29849988 PMCID: PMC5960056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of neurologic disability in young adults. Recently, the AIRE gene was identified as a genetic risk factor for several autoimmune diseases in genome wide association studies. The aim of this study was to further investigate the possible role of the AIRE gene in susceptibility to MS in Iranian population. Methods: A total of 112 MS patients and 94 ethnically matched controls were included in the study. The Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) (rs1800520, C>G) with a global MAF=0.2282/1143 was selected and genotyped using HRM real-time PCR method. Results: Results showed that AIRE SNP rs1800520 was significantly less common in the MS patients than in healthy controls (17.8 vs. 28.7%, pc=0.032, OR=0.54,95% CI 0.279, 1.042). Also, the frequency of allele G was significantly higher among the control group than in the case group (37.77 vs. 25%, pc=0.014). Interestingly, mRNA transcribed on the rs1800520 SNP showed decreased free energy than the wild type suggesting that its increased stability may be responsible for the different activities of the polymorphic AIRE molecule. Conclusions: This is the first study investigating the relationship between AIRE gene and the susceptibility to MS. These results indicated that the rs1800520 SNP is not a susceptibility gene variant for the development of MS in Iranian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahereh Sadeghian-Rizi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fereshteh Alsahebfosoul
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Kazemi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Khanahmad
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Jahanian-Najafabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Which Environmental Factor Is Correlated with Long-Term Multiple Sclerosis Incidence Trends: Ultraviolet B Radiation or Geomagnetic Disturbances? Mult Scler Int 2017; 2017:4960386. [PMID: 29204297 PMCID: PMC5674510 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4960386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insufficient received ultraviolet B radiation (UV) is regarded as the main environmental risk factor (RF) for MS in vitamin D deficiency hypothesis. Nevertheless, geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) has also been proposed as a potential trigger for MS in GMD hypothesis. The aim of this study was to investigate which of these mentioned RF is correlated with long-term ultradecadal MS incidence. Methods After a systematic search, long-term incidence reports of the United Kingdom (UK), Denmark, Tayside County, Nordland County, the Orkney, and Shetland Islands were selected for this retrospective time-series study. Possible lead-lag relationships between MS incidence, GMD, and UV were evaluated by cross-correlation analysis. Results Significant positive correlations between GMD and MS incidence were seen in Tayside County (at lag of 2 years: rS = 0.38), Denmark (peak correlation at lag of 2 years: rS = 0.53), and UK (at lag of 1 year: rS = 0.50). We found a positive correlation between received UV and MS incidences in the Nordland at lag of 1 year (rS = 0.49). Conclusion This study found significant positive correlations between alterations in GMD with alterations in long-term MS incidence in three out of six studied locations and supports the GMD hypothesis. The observed significant correlation between MS and UV is positive; hence it is not supportive for UV related vitamin D deficiency hypothesis.
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Bystrom J, Clanchy FI, Taher TE, Al-Bogami MM, Muhammad HA, Alzabin S, Mangat P, Jawad AS, Williams RO, Mageed RA. Response to Treatment with TNFα Inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Associated with High Levels of GM-CSF and GM-CSF + T Lymphocytes. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2017; 53:265-276. [PMID: 28488248 PMCID: PMC5597702 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-017-8610-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biologic TNFα inhibitors are a mainstay treatment option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) refractory to other treatment options. However, many patients either do not respond or relapse after initially responding to these agents. This study was carried out to identify biomarkers that can distinguish responder from non-responder patients before the initiation of treatment. The level of cytokines in plasma and those produced by ex vivo T cells, B cells and monocytes in 97 RA patients treated with biologic TNFα inhibitors was measured before treatment and after 1 and 3 months of treatment by multiplex analyses. The frequency of T cell subsets and intracellular cytokines were determined by flow cytometry. The results reveal that pre-treatment, T cells from patients who went on to respond to treatment with biologic anti-TNFα agents produced significantly more GM-CSF than non-responder patients. Furthermore, immune cells from responder patients produced higher levels of IL-1β, TNFα and IL-6. Cytokine profiling in the blood of patients confirmed the association between high levels of GM-CSF and responsiveness to biologic anti-TNFα agents. Thus, high blood levels of GM-CSF pre-treatment had a positive predictive value of 87.5% (61.6 to 98.5% at 95% CI) in treated RA patients. The study also shows that cells from most anti-TNFα responder patients in the current cohort produced higher levels of GM-CSF and TNFα pre-treatment than non-responder patients. Findings from the current study and our previous observations that non-responsiveness to anti-TNFα is associated with high IL-17 levels suggest that the disease in responder and non-responder RA patients is likely to be driven/sustained by different inflammatory pathways. The use of biomarker signatures of distinct pro-inflammatory pathways could lead to evidence-based prescription of the most appropriate biological therapies for different RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Bystrom
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Felix I Clanchy
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Taher E Taher
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Mohammed M Al-Bogami
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Hawzheen A Muhammad
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Saba Alzabin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Pamela Mangat
- Department of Rheumatology, Royal Free Hospital, NHS Fundation Trust London, London, UK
| | - Ali S Jawad
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | | | - Rizgar A Mageed
- Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Innate lymphoid cells in autoimmunity: emerging regulators in rheumatic diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2017; 13:164-173. [PMID: 28148916 DOI: 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are important in the regulation of barrier homeostasis. These cells do not express T cell receptors but share many functional similarities with T helper cells and cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes. ILCs are divided into three groups, namely group 1 ILCs, group 2 ILCs and group 3 ILCs, based on the transcription factors they depend on for their development and function, and the cytokines they produce. Emerging data indicate that ILCs not only have protective functions but can also have detrimental effects when dysregulated, leading to chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases, including asthma, inflammatory bowel disease, graft-versus-host disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis. Elucidation of the cytokine pathways involved in various autoimmune diseases - and the identification of ILCs as potent producers of these cytokines - points towards a potential role for these cellular players in the pathophysiology of these diseases. In this Review we discuss the current knowledge of the role of ILCs in the pathogenesis of rheumatic and other autoimmune diseases.
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Genetic influence of DNAM-1 (DNAX accessory molecule-1) gene polymorphism (rs 763361) on susceptibility and disease activity of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in Egyptian patients. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-017-2406-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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10
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Cooles FAH, Anderson AE, Drayton T, Harry RA, Diboll J, Munro L, Thalayasingham N, Östör AJK, Isaacs JD. Immune reconstitution 20 years after treatment with alemtuzumab in a rheumatoid arthritis cohort: implications for lymphocyte depleting therapies. Arthritis Res Ther 2016; 18:302. [PMID: 27993172 PMCID: PMC5170892 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-016-1188-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Alemtuzumab, an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody, was administered to patients with RA between 1991 and 1994. We have followed a cohort of recipients since that time and previously reported significant delays in immune reconstitution. Here we report >20 years of follow-up data from this unique cohort. Method Surviving alemtuzumab recipients were age, sex and disease duration matched with RA controls. Updated mortality and morbidity data were collected for alemtuzumab recipients. For both groups antigenic responses were assessed following influenza, Pneumovax II and combined diphtheria/tetanus/poliovirus vaccines. Circulating cytokines and lymphocyte subsets were also quantified. Results Of 16 surviving alemtuzumab recipients, 13 were recruited: 9 recipients underwent a full clinical assessment and 4 had case notes review only. Since our last review 10 patients had died from causes of death consistent with long-standing RA, and no suggestion of compromised immune function. Compared with controls the alemtuzumab cohort had significantly reduced CD4+ and CD8+ central memory T-cells, CD5+ B cells, naïve B cells and CD19+CD24hiCD38hi transitional (putative regulatory) B cells. Nonetheless vaccine responses were comparable between groups. There were significantly higher serum IL-15 and IFN-γ levels in the alemtuzumab cohort. IL-15 levels were inversely associated with CD4+ total memory and central memory T cells. Conclusion After 20 years the immune system of alemtuzumab recipients continues to show differences from disease controls. Nonetheless mortality and morbidity data, alongside vaccination responses, do not suggest clinical immune compromise. As lymphodepleting therapies, including alemtuzumab, continue to be administered this work is important with regard to long-term immune monitoring and stages of immune recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faye A H Cooles
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Amy E Anderson
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - Rachel A Harry
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Julie Diboll
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Lee Munro
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Nishanthi Thalayasingham
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | | | - John D Isaacs
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University and National Institute for Health Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Tawa EA, Hall SD, Lohoff FW. Overview of the Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder. Alcohol Alcohol 2016; 51:507-14. [PMID: 27445363 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agw046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a chronic psychiatric illness characterized by harmful drinking patterns leading to negative emotional, physical, and social ramifications. While the underlying pathophysiology of AUD is poorly understood, there is substantial evidence for a genetic component; however, identification of universal genetic risk variants for AUD has been difficult. Recent efforts in the search for AUD susceptibility genes will be reviewed in this article. METHODS In this review, we provide an overview of genetic studies on AUD, including twin studies, linkage studies, candidate gene studies, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). RESULTS Several potential genetic susceptibility factors for AUD have been identified, but the genes of alcohol metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), have been found to be protective against the development of AUD. GWAS have also identified a heterogeneous list of SNPs associated with AUD and alcohol-related phenotypes, emphasizing the complexity and heterogeneity of the disorder. In addition, many of these findings have small effect sizes when compared to alcohol metabolism genes, and biological relevance is often unknown. CONCLUSIONS Although studies spanning multiple approaches have suggested a genetic basis for AUD, identification of the genetic risk variants has been challenging. Some promising results are emerging from GWAS studies; however, larger sample sizes are needed to improve GWAS results and resolution. As the field of genetics is rapidly developing, whole genome sequencing could soon become the new standard of interrogation of the genes and neurobiological pathways which contribute to the complex phenotype of AUD. SHORT SUMMARY This review examines the genetic underpinnings of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), with an emphasis on GWAS approaches for identifying genetic risk variants. The most promising results associated with AUD and alcohol-related phenotypes have included SNPs of the alcohol metabolism genes ADH and ALDH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth A Tawa
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Samuel D Hall
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Falk W Lohoff
- Section on Clinical Genomics and Experimental Therapeutics, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Association of the polymorphisms of TRAF1 (rs10818488) and TNFAIP3 (rs2230926) with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus and their relationship to disease activity among Egyptian patients. Cent Eur J Immunol 2016; 41:165-75. [PMID: 27536202 PMCID: PMC4967658 DOI: 10.5114/ceji.2016.60991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim of the study Recent studies demonstrated the association of tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) (rs2230926) and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 1 (TRAF1) (rs10818488) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in different populations. We aimed at determining whether they confer susceptibility to SLE and RA in Egyptian population and if there is any relation to disease activity and auto-antibodies profile. Material and methods A case-control study involving 105 individuals with RA, 90 with SLE and 75 healthy controls was performed using TaqMan genotyping assay for two SNPs that showed the best evidence of association in the previous Caucasian studies. Results We detected significant differences in G allele frequency of TNFAIP3 (rs2230926) with SLE (p = 0.017*) and RA (OR = 2.333; 95% CI: 1.103-4.935, p = 0.023*) and association with RA disease activity (< 0.001). The A allele of TRAF1 was significantly increased in RA compared to controls(p = 0.049) and with RA activity (p = 0.001), while TRAF1 polymorphism did not exhibit any significant difference in the frequencies of genotypes or alleles in SLE and control (p = 0.280). Conclusions TNFAIP3 is a susceptibility gene to SLE and RA in the Egyptian population and is correlated to disease activity and the presence of autoantibodies while TRAF1 polymorphisms increase the risk of RA but not to SLE in Egyptian populations.
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Abbasi Z, Kazemi Nezhad SR, Pourmahdi-Broojeni M, Rajaei E. Association of PTPN22 rs2476601 Polymorphism with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Celiac Disease in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran. IRANIAN BIOMEDICAL JOURNAL 2016; 21:61-6. [PMID: 27215233 PMCID: PMC5141256 DOI: 10.6091/.21.1.61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2476601 within protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 gene (PTPN22) has been shown to be a risk factor for different autoimmune diseases. This study explored the association of 1858 C/T SNP with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and celiac disease (CD) in a region covering south-west of Iran. Methods: Totally, 52 patients with CD, 120 patients with RA, and 120 healthy subjects were selected. The samples were genotyped for the rs2476601 in PTPN22 gene using the tetra-amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction. Results: The frequency of +1858T risk allele was significantly increased in both RA (P=0.021, OR=2.56, 95%CI=1.19-5.47) and CD (P=0.002, OR=3.87, 95%CI=1.68-8.95) patients, as compared to the control group. However, no association was found between the +1858C/T PTPN22 gene SNP and the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and rheumatoid factor positivity in RA patients. Conclusions: PTPN22 gene could play a crucial role in people’s susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Abbasi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Mahdi Pourmahdi-Broojeni
- Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Elham Rajaei
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Bhattaram P, Chandrasekharan U. The joint synovium: A critical determinant of articular cartilage fate in inflammatory joint diseases. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 62:86-93. [PMID: 27212252 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The synovium constitutes the envelope of articular joints and is a critical provider of synovial fluid components and articular cartilage nutrients. Its inflammation is a predominant feature and cause of joint degeneration in diseases as diverse as rheumatoid, psoriatic, juvenile and idiopathic arthritis, and lupus, gout and lyme disease. These inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) are due to a wide variety of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that trigger, promote, and perpetuate joint destabilization. In spite of this variety of causes, IJDs share main pathological features, namely inflammation of the joint synovium (synovitis) and progressive degeneration of articular cartilage. In addition to being a driving force behind the destruction of articular cartilage in IJD, synovitis is also increasingly being recognized as a significant contributor of articular cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis, a disease primarily due to aging- or trauma-related wear and tear of cartilage surfaces. In view of this important role of the synovium in determining the fate of articular cartilage, this review focuses on its underlying mechanisms in the pathology of IJD. We address the roles of synovial fibroblasts, macrophages and endothelial cells in the maintenance of joint health and in the destruction of articular cartilage integrity during IJD. Molecular mechanisms that have been recently shown to govern the pathological activities of the resident synovial cells are highlighted. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of targeting these new molecular mechanisms for preventing cartilage degeneration due to chronic inflammation are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Bhattaram
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NC-10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Unnikrishnan Chandrasekharan
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue, NC-10, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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Jiang T, Li L, Wang Y, Zhao C, Yang J, Ma D, Guan Y, Zhao D, Bao Y, Wang Y, Yang J. The Association Between Genetic Polymorphism rs703842 in CYP27B1 and Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2016; 95:e3612. [PMID: 27175669 PMCID: PMC4902511 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000003612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent nontraumatic disabling neurological disease among young adults. Previous studies have examined the association of rs703842 in CYP27B1 with MS susceptibility, with inconsistent results reported.The objective of this study is to conduct a systematic literature search and perform meta-analyses to examine whether rs703842 is associated with MS risk.We searched potential literature in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and HuGE by using the following inclusion criteria: studies were on human subjects; the studies were case-control studies; studies included subjects who had MS and those who did not have MS; and the studies provided genotype data for rs703842 for subjects who had and did not have MS, or provided odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for assessing the association of rs703842 with MS, or provided sufficient data for the calculation of OR and the 95% CI. We used random-effects models to calculate the OR as a measure of association. We used I to assess between-study heterogeneity, and a funnel plot and Egger test to assess publication bias.Seven studies published since 2008 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analyses. We found that the C allele was significantly associated with reduced MS susceptibility (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.80-0.89; P < 0.0001). We also found significant association of rs703842 with MS risk using a dominant and a recessive model (both P < 0.0002). Our results remain unchanged if our meta-analysis was limited to studies that included only Caucasian participants (OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.80-0.90; P < 0.0001).Our study has several limitations: The sample size is limited; We were unable to control for some important confounding factors as data for individual participant were not available; and Most of the included studies focus on MS risk in Caucasian. As a result, we could not perform meta-analysis for assessing the relationship in other ethnic groups.In summary, we found that the genetic variant rs703842 in CYP27B1 is associated with MS risk in Caucasians. More studies with larger sample size that control for important confounding factors are needed to validate the findings from this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Jiang
- From the Department of Neurology (TJ, JY), Laizhou People's Hospital, Laizhou, Shandong; Department of Critical Care and Emergency Medicine (LL), The Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan; Emergency Department (LL), Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning; Department of Neurosurgery (YW, DM), Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Brain Tumor Center (CZ), Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Neurosurgery (YG, DZ, YB, YW), The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning; Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center (JY); and Department of Neurological Sciences (JY), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Arya R, Del Rincon I, Farook VS, Restrepo JF, Winnier DA, Fourcaudot MJ, Battafarano DF, de Almeida M, Kumar S, Curran JE, Jenkinson CP, Blangero J, Duggirala R, Escalante A. Genetic Variants Influencing Joint Damage in Mexican Americans and European Americans With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Genet Epidemiol 2015; 39:678-88. [PMID: 26498133 DOI: 10.1002/gepi.21938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Revised: 07/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is heritable, but knowledge on specific genetic determinants of joint damage in RA is limited. We have used the Immunochip array to examine whether genetic variants influence variation in joint damage in a cohort of Mexican Americans (MA) and European Americans (EA) with RA. We studied 720 MA and 424 EA patients with RA. Joint damage was quantified using a radiograph of both hands and wrists, scored using Sharp's technique. We conducted association analyses with the transformed Sharp score and the Immunochip single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data using PLINK. In MAs, 15 SNPs from chromosomes 1, 5, 9, 17 and 22 associated with joint damage yielded strong p-values (p < 1 × 10(-4) ). The strongest association with joint damage was observed with rs7216796, an intronic SNP located in the MAP3K14 gene, on chromosome 17 (β ± SE = -0.25 ± 0.05, p = 6.23 × 10(-6) ). In EAs, 28 SNPs from chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 9, and 21 showed associations with joint damage (p-value < 1 × 10(-4) ). The best association was observed on chromosome 9 with rs59902911 (β ± SE = 0.86 ± 0.17, p = 1.01 × 10(-6) ), a synonymous SNP within the CARD9 gene. We also observed suggestive evidence for some loci influencing joint damage in MAs and EAs. We identified two novel independent loci (MAP3K14 and CARD9) strongly associated with joint damage in MAs and EAs and a few shared loci showing suggestive evidence for association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rector Arya
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and Regional Academic Health Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Edinburg, Texas, United States of America
| | - Inmaculada Del Rincon
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Vidya S Farook
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and Regional Academic Health Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Edinburg, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jose F Restrepo
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Diedre A Winnier
- Research and Information Management, University Health System, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marcel J Fourcaudot
- Division of Diabetes, Department of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - Marcio de Almeida
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and UT Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Satish Kumar
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and Regional Academic Health Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Edinburg, Texas, United States of America
| | - Joanne E Curran
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and UT Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Christopher P Jenkinson
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and Regional Academic Health Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Edinburg, Texas, United States of America
| | - John Blangero
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and UT Brownsville, Brownsville, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ravindranath Duggirala
- South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute and Regional Academic Health Center, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Edinburg, Texas, United States of America
| | - Agustin Escalante
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
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Cribbs A, Feldmann M, Oppermann U. Towards an understanding of the role of DNA methylation in rheumatoid arthritis: therapeutic and diagnostic implications. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis 2015; 7:206-19. [PMID: 26425149 DOI: 10.1177/1759720x15598307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The term 'epigenetics' loosely describes DNA-templated processes leading to heritable changes in gene activity and expression, which are independent of the underlying DNA sequence. Epigenetic mechanisms comprise of post-translational modifications of chromatin, methylation of DNA, nucleosome positioning as well as expression of noncoding RNAs. Major advances in understanding the role of DNA methylation in regulating chromatin functions have been made over the past decade, and point to a role of this epigenetic mechanism in human disease. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder where altered DNA methylation patterns have been identified in a number of different disease-relevant cell types. However, the contribution of DNA methylation changes to RA disease pathogenesis is at present poorly understood and in need of further investigation. Here we review the current knowledge regarding the role of DNA methylation in rheumatoid arthritis and indicate its potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Cribbs
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Oxford, and Botnar Research Centre, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LD, UK
| | | | - Udo Oppermann
- Botnar Research Centre, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Unit, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, and Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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18
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Cribbs AP, Kennedy A, Penn H, Amjadi P, Green P, Read JE, Brennan F, Gregory B, Williams RO. Methotrexate Restores Regulatory T Cell Function Through Demethylation of the FoxP3 Upstream Enhancer in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67:1182-92. [PMID: 25604080 DOI: 10.1002/art.39031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We have previously shown, in a cohort of untreated rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, that the suppressive function of Treg cells is defective. However, other studies in cohorts of patients with established RA have shown that Treg cell function is normal. We hypothesized that treatment may restore Treg cell function and lead to reduced disease activity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether treatment with methotrexate (MTX) can result in epigenetic changes that lead to restoration of the Treg cell suppressive function in RA. METHODS Peripheral blood samples from RA patients were assessed using (3) H-thymidine incorporation to measure Treg cell suppression of T cell proliferation, and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine Treg cell suppression of interferon-γ production. CTLA-4 and FoxP3 expression was measured by flow cytometry and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in Treg cells from healthy individuals and RA patients. CD4+ T cells isolated from healthy individuals were cultured with interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α in the presence or absence of MTX, and FoxP3 expression was determined using qPCR and flow cytometry. Methylation of the FOXP3 upstream enhancer was analyzed by bisulfite sequencing PCR. RESULTS Defective Treg cell function was observed only in RA patients who had not been treated with MTX, whereas Treg cells from MTX-exposed RA patients had restored suppressive function. This restored suppression was associated with increased expression of FoxP3 and CTLA-4 in Treg cells. Bisulfite sequencing PCR of Treg cells cultured in MTX revealed a significant reduction in methylation of the FOXP3 upstream enhancer. CONCLUSION This study identifies a novel mechanism of action of MTX, in which treatment of RA patients with MTX restores defective Treg cell function through demethylation of the FOXP3 locus, leading to a subsequent increase in FoxP3 and CTLA-4 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam P Cribbs
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Identifying strains that contribute to complex diseases through the study of microbial inheritance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:633-40. [PMID: 25576328 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1418781112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been 35 y since Carl Woese reported in PNAS how sequencing ribosomal RNA genes could be used to distinguish the three domains of life on Earth. During the past decade, 16S rDNA sequencing has enabled the now frequent enumeration of bacterial communities that populate the bodies of humans representing different ages, cultural traditions, and health states. A challenge going forward is to quantify the contributions of community members to wellness, disease risk, and disease pathogenesis. Here, we explore a theoretical framework for studies of the inheritance of bacterial strains and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various study designs for assessing the contribution of strains to complex diseases.
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Churchman SM, El-Jawhari JJ, Burska AN, Parmar R, Goëb V, Conaghan PG, Emery P, Ponchel F. Modulation of peripheral T-cell function by interleukin-7 in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16:511. [PMID: 25533722 PMCID: PMC4298067 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-014-0511-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a cytokine essential for T-cell lymphopoiesis, survival and polarization with an emerging role in autoimmunity. We previously demonstrated reduced levels of circulating IL-7 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), although high amounts are expressed in joints, suggesting differences between systemic and synovial effects. We observed healthy levels of IL-7 in 48% of RA patients in clinical remission (CR) and aimed to investigate the consequences of IL-7 deficiency on T-cell responses. Methods We used RA patients with active disease and in CR presenting various levels of IL-7, to investigate its modulatory effects on T cells by analysing responses to phyto-haemagglutinin (PHA), expression of polarization or survival factors, or suppression by regulatory T cells (Tregs). Results IL-7 levels were normal (>10 pg/ml) in 48% of RA patients in CR. Amongst 63 CR patients followed up for 18 months, lack of IL-7 recovery was observed in 13 out of 15 (86%) patients experiencing relapse but only 11 out of 48 (23%) of those who did not (P = 0.0002). Binary regressions showed high significance for below normal IL-7 levels for self-reported maternal family history of arthritis (odds ratio (OR): 7.66, P = 0.006) and a trend for smoking (OR: 3.33, P = 0.068) with no further demographic or clinical associations. Serum IL-7 correlated with restored CD4+T-cell response to PHA (rho = 0.879); this was not related to an increase in T-cell proliferation capacity or expression of survival factors B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) and BCL2-associated protein X (BAX). Expression of Th1 polarization factor (TBET) was also dependent on exposure to IL-7 in vivo (rho = 0.600). In contrast CD25highTregs’ response to PHA was not affected by in vivo IL-7, but their suppression capabilities were related to circulating IL-7 (rho = 0.589). Co-stimulation with IL-7 (mimicking the joint environment) increased responsiveness of CD4+T-cells to PHA, lowering the ability of CD25highTregs to suppress them. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that IL-7 has a critical role in modulating T-cell function in vivo, possibly explaining opposing effects observed systemically and in the joint. Lack of IL-7 recovery in CR by maintaining a suppressed immune system may be a determinant factor in the occurrence of relapse. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13075-014-0511-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Johansson V, Lundholm C, Hillert J, Masterman T, Lichtenstein P, Landén M, Hultman CM. Multiple sclerosis and psychiatric disorders: Comorbidity and sibling risk in a nationwide Swedish cohort. Mult Scler 2014; 20:1881-91. [DOI: 10.1177/1352458514540970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: Psychiatric disorders are known to be prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS). Objective: The objective of this paper is to study comorbidity between MS and bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression in a nationwide cohort and to determine whether shared genetic liability underlies the putative association. Methods: We identified ICD-diagnosed patients with MS ( n = 16,467), bipolar disorder ( n = 30,761), schizophrenia ( n = 22,781) and depression ( n = 172,479) in the Swedish National Patient Register and identified their siblings in the Multi-Generation Register. The risk of MS was compared in psychiatric patients and in matched unexposed individuals. Shared familial risk between MS and psychiatric disorders was estimated by sibling comparison. Results: The risk of MS was increased in patients with bipolar disorder (hazard ratio (HR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–2.2, p < 0.0001) and depression (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.7–2.0, p < 0.0001). MS risk in schizophrenia was decreased (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.9, p = 0.005). The association between having a sibling with a psychiatric disorder and developing MS was not significant. Conclusion: We found a strong positive association between MS and bipolar disorder and depression that could not be explained by genetic liability. The unexpected negative association between MS and schizophrenia might be spurious or indicate possible protective mechanisms that warrant further exploration.
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Tizaoui K, Kaabachi W, Ouled Salah M, Ben Amor A, Hamzaoui A, Hamzaoui K. Vitamin D receptor TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms: a comparative study in patients with Behçet's disease and Rheumatoid arthritis in Tunisian population. Cell Immunol 2014; 290:66-71. [PMID: 24880677 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2014.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent genetic surveys have identified vitamin D receptor (VDR) as a susceptibility gene for several autoimmune diseases. This study was designed to investigate the association of VDR gene polymorphisms with Behçet's disease (BD) and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A case-control study including 151 BD, 106 RA patients and an appropriate number of healthy control subjects were performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) techniques. Association between TaqI polymorphism and BD was marginal under codominant and recessive models (P=0.078 and P=0.058, respectively). After stratification, we found evidence for a significant association between TaqI polymorphism and BD in the elderly subjects (P=0.037). The minor ApaI a allele tended to confer an increased risk for BD susceptibility (P=0.087). BD patients with VDR homozygous AA or aa genotypes were at increased risk for development of erythema nodosum (EN) skin manifestation (P=0.038). No significant association was observed for VDR ApaI and TaqI polymorphisms with RA risk (P>0.05). TaqI and ApaI polymorphisms might be modestly implicated in BD pathogenesis. They could be considered as potential biomarkers in BD rather than susceptibility genes. However, TaqI and ApaI seemed not to be implicated in RA pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalthoum Tizaoui
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Wajih Kaabachi
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Ouled Salah
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amira Ben Amor
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Agnès Hamzaoui
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia; Abdurrahman Mami Hospital, Pneumology Service and Tunis El Manar University, Tunisia
| | - Kamel Hamzaoui
- Tunis El Manar University, Medicine Faculty of Tunis, Division of Histology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences, 15 Rue Djebel Lakdar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia
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Burska AN, Roget K, Blits M, Soto Gomez L, van de Loo F, Hazelwood LD, Verweij CL, Rowe A, Goulielmos GN, van Baarsen LGM, Ponchel F. Gene expression analysis in RA: towards personalized medicine. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2014; 14:93-106. [PMID: 24589910 PMCID: PMC3992869 DOI: 10.1038/tpj.2013.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression has recently been at the forefront of advance in personalized medicine, notably in the field of cancer and transplantation, providing a rational for a similar approach in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RA is a prototypic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a poorly understood etiopathogenesis. Inflammation is the main feature of RA; however, many biological processes are involved at different stages of the disease. Gene expression signatures offer management tools to meet the current needs for personalization of RA patients' care. This review analyses currently available information with respect to RA diagnostic, prognostic and prediction of response to therapy with a view to highlight the abundance of data, whose comparison is often inconclusive due to the mixed use of material source, experimental methodologies and analysis tools, reinforcing the need for harmonization if gene expression signatures are to become a useful clinical tool in personalized medicine for RA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- A N Burska
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomediacal Research Unit, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - K Roget
- TcLand Expression, Huningue, France
| | - M Blits
- Department of Pathology and Rheumatology, Inflammatory Disease Profiling Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L Soto Gomez
- School of law, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - F van de Loo
- Department of Rheumatology Research and Advanced Therapeutics, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - L D Hazelwood
- School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - C L Verweij
- Department of Pathology and Rheumatology, Inflammatory Disease Profiling Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Rowe
- Janssen Research and Development, High Wycombe, UK
| | - G N Goulielmos
- Molecular Medicine and Human Genetics Section, Department of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece
| | - L G M van Baarsen
- Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - F Ponchel
- Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine and Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomediacal Research Unit, The University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
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Isobe N, Oksenberg JR. Genetic studies of multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica: Current status in European, African American and Asian populations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/cen3.12078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Isobe
- Department of Neurology; School of Medicine; University of California; San Francisco CA USA
| | - Jorge R. Oksenberg
- Department of Neurology; School of Medicine; University of California; San Francisco CA USA
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Nagai Y, Imanishi T. RAvariome: a genetic risk variants database for rheumatoid arthritis based on assessment of reproducibility between or within human populations. DATABASE-THE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DATABASES AND CURATION 2013; 2013:bat073. [PMID: 24158836 PMCID: PMC3807080 DOI: 10.1093/database/bat073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune inflammatory disease of the joints and is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. In the past six years, genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified many risk variants associated with RA. However, not all associations reported from GWASs are reproduced when tested in follow-up studies. To establish a reliable set of RA risk variants, we systematically classified common variants identified in GWASs by the degree of reproducibility among independent studies. We collected comprehensive genetic associations from 90 papers of GWASs and meta-analysis. The genetic variants were assessed according to the statistical significance and reproducibility between or within nine geographical populations. As a result, 82 and 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were confirmed as intra- and inter-population-reproduced variants, respectively. Interestingly, majority of the intra-population-reproduced variants from European and East Asian populations were not common in two populations, but their nearby genes appeared to be the components of common pathways. Furthermore, a tool to predict the individual’s genetic risk of RA was developed to facilitate personalized medicine and preventive health care. For further clinical researches, the list of reliable genetic variants of RA and the genetic risk prediction tool are provided by open access database RAvariome. Database URL: http://hinv.jp/hinv/rav/
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Nagai
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa 259-1193, Japan and Data Management and Integration Team, Molecular Profiling Research Center for Drug Discovery, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
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26
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Terao C, Ohmura K, Kawaguchi Y, Nishimoto T, Kawasaki A, Takehara K, Furukawa H, Kochi Y, Ota Y, Ikari K, Sato S, Tohma S, Yamada R, Yamamoto K, Kubo M, Yamanaka H, Kuwana M, Tsuchiya N, Matsuda F, Mimori T. PLD4 as a novel susceptibility gene for systemic sclerosis in a Japanese population. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 65:472-80. [PMID: 23124809 DOI: 10.1002/art.37777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease for which multiple susceptibility genes have been reported. Genome-wide association studies have shown that large numbers of susceptibility genes are shared among autoimmune diseases. Recently, our group identified 9 novel susceptibility genes associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a Japanese population. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the 18 genes that displayed associations or suggestive associations for RA in our previous study are associated with SSc in Japanese. METHODS We performed an association study that included 415 patients with SSc and 16,891 control subjects, followed by a replication study that included 315 patients and 21,054 control subjects. The 18 markers reported to display association with RA were analyzed for their associations with SSc in the first study, and 5 markers were further analyzed in the replication study. The inverse variance method was used to evaluate the associations of these markers with SSc in a combined study. RESULTS In the phospholipase D4 gene (PLD4), rs2841277 displayed a significant association with SSc in Japanese patients (P = 0.00017). We observed that rs2841280 in exon 2 of PLD4 was in strong linkage disequilibrium with rs2841277 and introduced an amino acid alteration. We also observed associations between SSc and rs6932056 in TNFAIP3 and rs2280381 in IRF8 (P = 0.0000095 and P = 0.0030, respectively), both of which displayed associations with SSc in a European population. CONCLUSION We determined that PLD4 is a novel susceptibility gene for SSc in Japanese, thus confirming the involvement of PLD4 in autoimmunity. Associations between SSc and TNFAIP3 or IRF8 were also detected in our Japanese population. SSc and RA appear to share relatively large proportions of their genetic backgrounds.
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Impact of microbes on autoimmune diseases. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2013; 61:175-86. [PMID: 23417246 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-013-0216-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2012] [Accepted: 02/01/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases arise as a consequence of complex interactions of environmental factors with genetic traits. Although specific allelic variations cluster in predisposed individuals and promote the generation and/or expansion of autoreactive T and B lymphocytes, autoimmunity appears in various disease phenotypes and localizes to diverging tissues. Furthermore, the discovery that allelic variations within genes encoding components of the innate immune system drive self-reactive immune responses as well, led to the distinction of immune responses against host tissues into autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. In both categories of disorders, different pathogenic mechanisms and/or subsequent orders of tissue assaults may underlie the target cell specificity of the respective autoimmune attack. Furthermore, the transition from the initial tissue assault to the development of full-blown disease is likely driven by several factors. Thus, the development of specific forms of autoimmunity and autoinflammation reflects a multi-factorial process. The delineation of the specific factors involved in the pathogenic process is hampered by the fact that certain symptoms are assembled under the umbrella of a specific disease, although they might originate from diverging pathogenic pathways. These multi-factorial triggers and pathogenic pathways may also explain the inter-individual divergent courses and outcomes of diseases among humans. Here, we will discuss the impact of different environmental factors in general and microbial pathogens in particular on the regulation/expression of genes encoded within susceptibility alleles, and its consequences on subsequent autoimmune and/or autoinflammatory tissue damage utilizing primarily the chronic cholestatic liver disease primary biliary cirrhosis as model.
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28
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Hu X, Daly M. What have we learned from six years of GWAS in autoimmune diseases, and what is next? Curr Opin Immunol 2012; 24:571-5. [PMID: 23017373 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2012.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 08/30/2012] [Accepted: 09/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have discovered hundreds of common genetic variants that predispose humans to autoimmune diseases, opening up unprecedented potential for elucidating the pathways and processes of disease. To understand the role of these variants in susceptibility, we need to derive mechanistic insight by integration of genetic results with other biological data types and also with careful functional studies. In many cases, such studies have highlighted coherent biological processes at a high level and elucidated specific mechanisms that contribute to autoimmunity and inflammation. The understanding of the genetic component of autoimmune etiology will become more complete as fine-mapping and sequencing data become readily available. A comprehensive catalog of human immune phenotypes could provide a functional basis for assessing genetic influence on immune function and variation in response to therapeutic interventions, as well as for rationally designing new targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinli Hu
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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29
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Gurwitz D. Biomarkers: improving the cost-effectiveness of biological drugs for autoimmune disorders. Drug Dev Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.20464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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