1
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Zhu HX, Yang SH, Gao CY, Bian ZH, Chen XM, Huang RR, Meng QL, Li X, Jin H, Tsuneyama K, Han Y, Li L, Zhao ZB, Gershwin ME, Lian ZX. Targeting pathogenic CD8 + tissue-resident T cells with chimeric antigen receptor therapy in murine autoimmune cholangitis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2936. [PMID: 38580644 PMCID: PMC10997620 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46654-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by autoreactive T cell response against intrahepatic small bile ducts. Here, we use Il12b-/-Il2ra-/- mice (DKO mice) as a model of autoimmune cholangitis and demonstrate that Cd8a knockout or treatment with an anti-CD8α antibody prevents/reduces biliary immunopathology. Using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, we identified CD8+ tissue-resident memory T (Trm) cells in the livers of DKO mice, which highly express activation- and cytotoxicity-associated markers and induce apoptosis of bile duct epithelial cells. Liver CD8+ Trm cells also upregulate the expression of several immune checkpoint molecules, including PD-1. We describe the development of a chimeric antigen receptor to target PD-1-expressing CD8+ Trm cells. Treatment of DKO mice with PD-1-targeting CAR-T cells selectively depleted liver CD8+ Trm cells and alleviated autoimmune cholangitis. Our work highlights the pathogenic role of CD8+ Trm cells and the potential therapeutic usage of PD-1-targeting CAR-T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Xian Zhu
- Chronic Disease Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shu-Han Yang
- Chronic Disease Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cai-Yue Gao
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Hua Bian
- Chronic Disease Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Min Chen
- Chronic Disease Laboratory, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rong-Rong Huang
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian-Li Meng
- Guangdong Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Li
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haosheng Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Ying Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases and Xijing Hospital of Digestive Diseases, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Liang Li
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhi-Bin Zhao
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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2
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Hebbandi Nanjundappa R, Shao K, Krishnamurthy P, Gershwin ME, Leung PSC, Sokke Umeshappa C. Invariant natural killer T cells in autoimmune cholangiopathies: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic implications. Autoimmun Rev 2024; 23:103485. [PMID: 38040101 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2023.103485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) constitute a specialized subset of lymphocytes that bridges innate and adaptive immunity through a combination of traits characteristic of both conventional T cells and innate immune cells. iNKT cells are characterized by their invariant T cell receptors and discerning recognition of lipid antigens, which are presented by the non-classical MHC molecule, CD1d. Within the hepatic milieu, iNKT cells hold heightened prominence, contributing significantly to the orchestration of organ homeostasis. Their unique positioning to interact with diverse cellular entities, ranging from epithelial constituents like hepatocytes and cholangiocytes to immunocytes including Kupffer cells, B cells, T cells, and dendritic cells, imparts them with potent immunoregulatory abilities. Emergering knowledge of liver iNKT cells subsets enable to explore their therapeutic potential in autoimmne liver diseases. This comprehensive review navigates the landscape of iNKT cell investigations in immune-mediated cholangiopathies, with a particular focus on primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis, across murine models and human subjects to unravel the intricate involvements of iNKT cells in liver autoimmunity. Additionally, we also highlight the prospectives of iNKT cells as therapeutic targets in cholangiopathies. Modulation of the equilibrium between regulatory and proinflammatory iNKT subsets can be defining determinant in the dynamics of hepatic autoimmunity. This discernment not only enriches our foundational comprehension but also lays the groundwork for pioneering strategies to navigate the multifaceted landscape of liver autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kun Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116023, China
| | - Prasanna Krishnamurthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schools of Medicine and Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.
| | - Patrick S C Leung
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Channakeshava Sokke Umeshappa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, IWK Research Center, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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3
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Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is the most common of the autoimmune liver diseases, in which there is chronic small bile duct inflammation. The pathophysiology of PBC is multifactorial, involving immune dysregulation and damage to biliary epithelial cells, with influences from genetic factors, epigenetics, the gut-liver axis, and environmental exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inbal Houri
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University of Toronto, 9th Floor Eaton Building, North Wing 219-B, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University of Toronto, 9th Floor Eaton Building, North Wing 219-B, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada.
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4
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Yang Y, Zhao RC, Zhang F. Potential mesenchymal stem cell therapeutics for treating primary biliary cholangitis: advances, challenges, and perspectives. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:933565. [PMID: 35923849 PMCID: PMC9339990 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.933565] [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: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a cholestatic autoimmune liver disease characterized by the gradual destruction of small intrahepatic bile ducts that eventually leads to liver cirrhosis, failure, and even carcinoma. The treatment options for PBC are limited, and the main treatment choices are the US Food and Drug Administration–approved ursodeoxycholic acid and obeticholic acid. However, many patients fail to respond adequately to these drugs and the adverse effects frequently lead to low life quality. For patients with end-stage PBC, liver transplantation remains the only effective treatment. Given their low immunogenicity, prominent immunomodulation property, differentiation potential, and tissue maintenance capacity, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are emerging as new options for treating liver diseases, including PBC. Accumulating evidence from basic research to clinical studies supports the positive effects of MSC-based therapy for treating PBC. In this review, we characterized the underlying roles and mechanisms of MSCs for treating liver diseases and highlight recent basic and clinical advances in MSC-based therapy for treating PBC. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives for MSC-based therapy in clinical application are discussed, which could help accelerate the application of MSCs in clinical practice, especially for refractory diseases such as PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanlei Yang
- Clinical Biobank, National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Medical Science Research Centre, Medical Science Research Centre, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- Beijing Key Laboratory, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Fengchun Zhang, ; Robert Chunhua Zhao,
| | - Fengchun Zhang
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Fengchun Zhang, ; Robert Chunhua Zhao,
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Gerussi A, Paraboschi EM, Cappadona C, Caime C, Binatti E, Cristoferi L, Asselta R, Invernizzi P. The Role of Epigenetics in Primary Biliary Cholangitis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094873. [PMID: 35563266 PMCID: PMC9105933 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a rare autoimmune disease of the liver, affecting mostly females. There is evidence that epigenetic changes have a pathogenic role in PBC. Epigenetic modifications are related to methylation of CpG DNA islands, post-translational modifications of histone proteins, and non-coding RNAs. In PBC, there are data showing a dysregulation of all these levels, especially in immune cells. In addition, epigenetics seems to be involved in complex phenomena such as X monosomy or abnormalities in the process of X chromosome inactivation, which have been reported in PBC and appear to influence its sex imbalance and pathogenesis. We review here historical data on epigenetic modifications in PBC, present new data, and discuss possible links among X-chromosome abnormalities at a genetic and epigenetic level, PBC pathogenesis, and PBC sex imbalance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Gerussi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.G.); (C.C.); (E.B.); (L.C.)
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Elvezia Maria Paraboschi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy; (E.M.P.); (C.C.); (R.A.)
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Claudio Cappadona
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy; (E.M.P.); (C.C.); (R.A.)
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Chiara Caime
- Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.G.); (C.C.); (E.B.); (L.C.)
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Eleonora Binatti
- Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.G.); (C.C.); (E.B.); (L.C.)
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Cristoferi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.G.); (C.C.); (E.B.); (L.C.)
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Rosanna Asselta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Italy; (E.M.P.); (C.C.); (R.A.)
- Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, IRCCS, Via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Italy
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy; (A.G.); (C.C.); (E.B.); (L.C.)
- European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER), San Gerardo Hospital, 20900 Monza, Italy
- Correspondence:
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Yang Y, Choi J, Chen Y, Invernizzi P, Yang G, Zhang W, Shao TH, Jordan F, Nemeria NS, Coppel RL, Ridgway WM, Kurth M, Ansari AA, Leung PSC, Gershwin ME. E. coli and the etiology of human PBC: Antimitochondrial antibodies and spreading determinants. Hepatology 2022; 75:266-279. [PMID: 34608663 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The increased frequency of urinary tract infections in patients with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and the cross-reactivity between the lipoyl domains (LD) of human pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (hPDC-E2) and Escherichia coli PDC-E2 (ePDC-E2) have long suggested a role of E. coli in causality of PBC. This issue, however, has remained speculative. We hypothesized that by generating specific constructs of human and E. coli PDC-E2, we would be able to assess the specificity of autoantibody responses and define whether exposure to E. coli in susceptible hosts is the basis for the antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) response. APPROACH AND RESULTS Importantly, the reactivity of hPDC-E2 LD (hPDC-E2LD) affinity-purified antibodies against hPDC-E2LD could only be removed by prior absorption with hPDC-E2LD and not ePDC-E2, suggesting the presence of unique human PDC-E2 epitopes distinct from E. coli PDC-E2. To identify the autoepitope(s) present in hPDC-E2LD, a more detailed study using a variety of PDC-E2 constructs was tested, including the effect of lipoic acid (LA) on ePDC-E2 conformation and AMA recognition. Individual recombinant ePDCE2 LD domains LD1, LD2 and LD3 did not react with either AMA or antibodies to LA (anti-LA), but in contrast, anti-LA was readily reactive against purified recombinant LD1, LD2, and LD3 expressed in tandem (LP); such reactivity increased when LP was precultured with LA. Moreover, when the three LD (LD1, LD2, LD3) domains were expressed in tandem in pET28a or when LD1 was expressed in another plasmid pGEX, they were lipoylated and reactive to PBC sera. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, our data are consistent with an exposure to E. coli that elicits specific antibody to ePDC-E2 resulting in determinant spreading and the classic autoantibody to hPDC-E2LD. We argue this is the first step to development of human PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA.,School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jinjung Choi
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA.,Division of RheumatologyCHA University Medical CenterBundangKorea
| | - Ying Chen
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- International Center for Digestive HealthDepartment of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Milan-BicoccaMilanItaly
| | - Guoxiang Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Weici Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Ti-Hong Shao
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Frank Jordan
- Department of ChemistryRutgers UniversityNewarkNew JerseyUSA
| | | | - Ross L Coppel
- Department of Microbiology, Nursing and Health SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - William M Ridgway
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Mark Kurth
- Department of ChemisrtyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - Aftab A Ansari
- Department of PathologyEmory University School of MedicineAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | - Patrick S C Leung
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical ImmunologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCaliforniaUSA
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7
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Jiang T, Zhang HW, Wen YP, Yin YS, Yang LH, Yang J, Lan T, Tang CW, Yu JK, Tai WL, Yang JH. 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine alleviates the progression of primary biliary cholangitis by suppressing the FoxP3 methylation and promoting the Treg/Th17 balance. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 96:107820. [PMID: 34162167 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a common autoimmune liver disease manifested by the infiltration of CD4+ T cells, and the subsequent targeted injury of biliary epithelial cells (BECs). As important components of CD4 subsets, the Treg/Th17 axis maintains an immunological balance between self-tolerance and inflammation in the liver microenvironment. However, the role and regulatory mechanism of the Treg/Th17 axis in PBC remain unclear. In this study, we examined the Treg/Th17 axis in PBC patients and found that the Treg/Th17 axis was imbalanced in PBC at both the transcriptional and cellular levels, with Treg being a weak candidate, which correlates with the PBC progression. This imbalanced Treg/Th17 axis was likely to be affected by the FoxP3 hypermethylation, which was related to the increase of DNA methyltransferase. Furthermore, the effect of 5-Aza-2-deoxycytidine (DAC)-mediated FoxP3 demethylation on PBC mice was investigated. We verified that DAC significantly suppressed the FoxP3 methylation and rebuilt the Treg/Th17 balance, resulting in the alleviation of liver lesions and inflammation. Taken together, our data indicate that DAC plays a positive role in alleviating the progression of PBC through the inhibition of DNA methylation of FoxP3 to rebuild the balanced Treg/Th17 axis. DAC could be considered as a potential candidate for the development of new anti-inflammation strategies in the treatment of PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Jiang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong-Wei Zhang
- The Central Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yan-Ping Wen
- Clinical Laboratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Yue-Shan Yin
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Li-Hong Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Tian Lan
- Digestive Diseases Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng-Wei Tang
- Digestive Diseases Department, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jian-Kun Yu
- The Central Laboratory, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Kunming, China.
| | - Wen-Lin Tai
- Clinical Laboratory Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
| | - Jin-Hui Yang
- Digestive Diseases Department, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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8
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Li H, Guan Y, Han C, Zhang Y, Liu Q, Wei W, Ma Y. The pathogenesis, models and therapeutic advances of primary biliary cholangitis. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 140:111754. [PMID: 34044277 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of intrahepatic small bile ducts and the presence of antimitochondrial antibody (AMA), eventually progresses to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Genetic predisposition and environmental factors are involved in the occurrence of PBC, and the epitopes exposure and the imbalance of autoimmune tolerance are the last straw. The apoptosis of biliary epithelial cell (BEC) leads to the release of autoantigen epitopes, which activate the immune system, and the disorder of innate and adaptive immunity eventually leads to the start of disease. Animal models have unique advantages in investigating the pathogenesis and drug exploitation of PBC. Multiple models have been reported, and spontaneous model and induced model have been widely used in relevant research of PBC in recent years. Currently, the only drugs licensed for PBC are ursodesoxycholic acid (UDCA) and obeticholic acid (OCA). In the last few years, as the learned more about the pathogenesis of PBC, more and more targets have been discovered, and multiple targeted drugs are being in developed. In this review, the pathogenesis, murine models and treatment strategies of PBC were summarized, and the current research status was discussed to provide insights for the further study of PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yanling Guan
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Chenchen Han
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China.
| | - Yang Ma
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Anhui Medical University, Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui Collaborative Innovation Center of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicine, Hefei, China.
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9
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Cargill T, Culver EL. The Role of B Cells and B Cell Therapies in Immune-Mediated Liver Diseases. Front Immunol 2021; 12:661196. [PMID: 33936097 PMCID: PMC8079753 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.661196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
B cells form a branch of the adaptive immune system, essential for the body’s immune defense against pathogens. B cell dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune mediated liver diseases including autoimmune hepatitis, IgG4-related hepatobiliary disease, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis. B cells may initiate and maintain immune related liver diseases in several ways including the production of autoantibodies and the activation of T cells via antigen presentation or cytokine production. Here we comprehensively review current knowledge on B cell mechanisms in immune mediated liver diseases, exploring disease pathogenesis, B cell therapies, and novel treatment targets. We identify key areas where future research should focus to enable the development of targeted B cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamsin Cargill
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L Culver
- Oxford Liver Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom
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10
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Boddul SV, Sharma RK, Dubnovitsky A, Raposo B, Gerstner C, Shen Y, Iyer VS, Kasza Z, Kwok WW, Winkler AR, Klareskog L, Malmström V, Bettini M, Wermeling F. In vitro and ex vitro functional characterization of human HLA-DRB1∗04 restricted T cell receptors. J Transl Autoimmun 2021; 4:100087. [PMID: 33768201 PMCID: PMC7980064 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtauto.2021.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell sequencing technologies enable the generation of large-scale data sets of paired TCR sequences from patients with autoimmune disease. Methods to validate and characterize patient-derived TCR data are needed, as well as relevant model systems that can support the development of antigen-specific tolerance inducing drugs. We have generated a pipeline to allow streamlined generation of 'artificial' T cells in a robust and reasonably high throughput manner for in vitro and in vivo studies of antigen-specific and patient-derived immune responses. Hereby chimeric (mouse-human) TCR alpha and beta constructs are re-expressed in three different formats for further studies: (i) transiently in HEK cells for peptide-HLA tetramer validation experiments, (ii) stably in the TCR-negative 58 T cell line for functional readouts such as IL-2 production and NFAT-signaling, and lastly (iii) in human HLA-transgenic mice for studies of autoimmune disease and therapeutic interventions. As a proof of concept, we have used human HLA-DRB1∗04:01 restricted TCR sequences specific for a type I diabetes-associated GAD peptide, and an influenza-derived HA peptide. We show that the same chimeric TCR constructs can be used in each of the described assays facilitating sequential validation and prioritization steps leading to humanized animal models.
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Key Words
- APC, antigen presenting cells
- BM, bone marrow
- Ca2+, calcium
- Cell lines
- GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase
- GFP, green fluorescent protein
- GWAS, Genome-wide association studies
- HA, Influenza hemagglutinin
- HLA
- HLA, Human leukocyte antigen
- HSCs, hematopoietic stem cells
- Humanized animal models
- MHC, major histocompatibility complex
- NFAT, Nuclear factor of activated T-cells
- RA, Rheumatoid arthritis
- RAG, Recombination-activating genes
- T1D, Type-1 diabetes
- TCR
- TCR, T cell receptor
- TCRa, TCR alpha
- TCRb, TCR beta
- TMR, HLA tetramer
- Tolerance
- hCD4, human CD4
- hTCR, human TCR
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjaykumar V Boddul
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ravi Kumar Sharma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anatoly Dubnovitsky
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bruno Raposo
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christina Gerstner
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yunbing Shen
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vaishnavi Srinivasan Iyer
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Zsolt Kasza
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - William W Kwok
- Translational Research Program, BRI at Virginia Mason, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Aaron R Winkler
- Department of Inflammation and Immunology, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lars Klareskog
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vivianne Malmström
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Bettini
- Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Fredrik Wermeling
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine Solna, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Lleo A, Wang GQ, Gershwin ME, Hirschfield GM. Primary biliary cholangitis. Lancet 2020; 396:1915-1926. [PMID: 33308474 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(20)31607-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is an autoimmune liver disease that predominantly affects women. It is characterised by a chronic and destructive, small bile duct, granulomatous lymphocytic cholangitis, with typical seroreactivity for antimitochondrial antibodies. Patients have variable risks of progressive ductopenia, cholestasis, and biliary fibrosis. Considerations for the cause of this disease emphasise an interaction of chronic immune damage with biliary epithelial cell responses and encompass complex, poorly understood genetic risks and environmental triggers. Licensed disease-modifying treatment focuses on amelioration of cholestasis, with weight-dosed oral ursodeoxycholic acid. For patients who do not respond sufficiently, or patients with ursodeoxycholic acid intolerance, conditionally licensed add-on therapy is with the FXR (NR1H4) agonist, obeticholic acid. Off-label therapy is recognised as an alternative, notably with the pan-PPAR agonist bezafibrate; clinical trial agents are also under development. Baseline characteristics, such as young age, male sex, and advanced disease, and serum markers of liver injury, particularly bilirubin and ALP, are used to stratify risk and assess treatment responsiveness. Parallel attention to the burden of patient symptoms is paramount, including pruritus and fatigue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Milan, Italy; Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Giu-Qiang Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Infectious Diseases and Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Merrill Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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12
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Galectin-3 in Inflammasome Activation and Primary Biliary Cholangitis Development. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145097. [PMID: 32707678 PMCID: PMC7404314 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune liver disease characterized by inflammation and damage of small bile ducts. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multimeric complex of proteins that after activation with various stimuli initiates an inflammatory process. Increasing data obtained from animal studies implicate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding lectin that plays important roles in various biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation and apoptosis, pre-mRNA splicing, inflammation, fibrosis and host defense. The multilineage immune response at various stages of PBC development includes the involvement of Gal-3 in the pathogenesis of this disease. The role of Galectin-3 in the specific binding to NLRP3, and inflammasome activation in models of primary biliary cholangitis has been recently described. This review provides a brief pathogenesis of PBC and discusses the current knowledge about the role of Gal-3 in NLRP3 activation and PBC development.
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13
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Abstract
The human liver is an organ with a diverse array of immunologic functions. Its unique anatomic position that leads to it receiving all the mesenteric venous blood, combined with its unique micro anatomy, allows it to serve as a sentinel for the body's immune system. Hepatocytes, biliary epithelial cells, Kupffer cells, stellate cells, and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells express key molecules that recruit and activate innate and adaptive immunity. Additionally, a diverse array of lymphoid and myeloid immune cells resides within and traffics to the liver in specific circumstances. Derangement of these trafficking mechanisms underlies the pathophysiology of autoimmune liver diseases, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and liver transplantation. Here, we review these pathways and interactions along with potential targets that have been identified to be exploited for therapeutic purposes.
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14
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Gulamhusein AF, Hirschfield GM, Milovanovic J, Arsenijevic D, Arsenijevic N, Milovanovic M. Primary biliary cholangitis: pathogenesis and therapeutic opportunities. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 17:93-110. [PMID: 31819247 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-019-0226-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is a chronic, seropositive and female-predominant inflammatory and cholestatic liver disease, which has a variable rate of progression towards biliary cirrhosis. Substantial progress has been made in patient risk stratification with the goal of personalized care, including early adoption of next-generation therapy with licensed use of obeticholic acid or off-label fibrate derivatives for those with insufficient benefit from ursodeoxycholic acid, the current first-line drug. The disease biology spans genetic risk, epigenetic changes, dysregulated mucosal immunity and altered biliary epithelial cell function, all of which interact and arise in the context of ill-defined environmental triggers. A current focus of research on nuclear receptor pathway modulation that specifically and potently improves biliary excretion, reduces inflammation and attenuates fibrosis is redefining therapy. Patients are benefiting from pharmacological agonists of farnesoid X receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors. Immunotherapy remains a challenge, with a lack of target definition, pleiotropic immune pathways and an interplay between hepatic immune responses and cholestasis, wherein bile acid-induced inflammation and fibrosis are dominant clinically. The management of patient symptoms, particularly pruritus, is a notable goal reflected in the development of rational therapy with apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliya F Gulamhusein
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network and Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Jelena Milovanovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia.,Department of Histology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
| | - Dragana Arsenijevic
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
| | - Nebojsa Arsenijevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
| | - Marija Milovanovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac 34000, Serbia
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15
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Abstract
Autoreactive B cells can promote autoimmunity through antigen presentation to autoreactive T cells, production of autoantibodies, generation of cytokines promoting T cell activation and differentiation, and inhibition of regulatory T cells and B cells. Here, the authors highlight studies pertaining to B cell mechanisms associated with disease pathogenesis and outcomes in autoimmune hepatitis and the immune-mediated cholangiopathies (primary biliary cholangitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and biliary atresia). The vast majority of investigations focus on autoantibodies and future research endeavors should include deciphering the role of the B cell in T cell activation (through antigen presentation, cytokine/chemokine production, and inhibition of regulation). Targeting B cell mechanisms in the treatment of autoimmune liver diseases is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Taylor
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - David N. Assis
- Section of Digestive Diseases, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Cara L. Mack
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Digestive Health Institute, Children’s Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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16
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Nakagawa R, Muroyama R, Saeki C, Oikawa T, Kaise Y, Koike K, Arai J, Nakano M, Matsubara Y, Takano K, Hirata Y, Saruta M, Zeniya M, Kato N. CD4 + T cells from patients with primary biliary cholangitis show T cell activation and differentially expressed T-cell receptor repertoires. Hepatol Res 2019; 49:653-662. [PMID: 30690835 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.13318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease with unknown pathogenesis. In PBC, activation of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling is associated with inflammatory cytokine production through N-Ras upregulation. Although the CD4+ T cell TCR repertoire could be associated with PBC pathogenesis, it has not been evaluated. Thus, we analyzed the PBC-CD4+ T cell TCR repertoire using next generation sequencing (NGS). METHODS Four PBC patients (one treatment-naïve and three receiving ursodeoxycholic acid) and three healthy individuals were enrolled. NRAS expression in CD4+ T cells was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). N-Ras dynamics in CD4+ T cells were assessed by qRT-PCR and GTP-N-Ras activation assay. The TCR α- (TRA) and β-chain (TRB) repertoires on CD4+ T cells were analyzed by NGS and profiled using hierarchical analysis. Motif analysis was undertaken to elucidate the structure of PBC-specific TCRs. RESULTS NRAS was upregulated in PBC relative to control CD4+ T cells (P < 0.05), and N-Ras enhanced T cell activation in CD4+ T cells. Among 2668 TRAs and 841 TRBs, 20 and 11, respectively, were differentially expressed in PBC compared to that in controls (P < 0.05, fold-change >2). Among them, TRAV29/J22, TRBV6-5/J2-6, and TRBV10-1/J2-1 were expressed in PBC but the expression was negligible in the controls, with more mature and longer forms observed in PBC-CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS N-Ras was upregulated in PBC-CD4+ T cells, and it enhanced TCR activation, indicating that PBC-CD4+ T cells were activated by N-Ras upregulation with differentially expressed TCR repertoires on their surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakagawa
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chisato Saeki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsunekazu Oikawa
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Kaise
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Arai
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Nakano
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Matsubara
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Takano
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Hirata
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saruta
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mikio Zeniya
- Sanno Medical Center, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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17
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Immunological abnormalities in patients with primary biliary cholangitis. Clin Sci (Lond) 2019; 133:741-760. [DOI: 10.1042/cs20181123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), an autoimmune liver disease occurring predominantly in women, is characterized by high titers of serum anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) and progressive intrahepatic cholestasis. The immune system plays a critical role in PBC pathogenesis and a variety of immune cell subsets have been shown to infiltrate the portal tract areas of patients with PBC. Amongst the participating immune cells, CD4 T cells are important cytokine-producing cells that foster an inflammatory microenvironment. Specifically, these cells orchestrate activation of other immune cells, including autoreactive effector CD8 T cells that cause biliary epithelial cell (BEC) injury and B cells that produce large quantities of AMAs. Meanwhile, other immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells, monocytes, and macrophages are also important in PBC pathogenesis. Activation of these cells initiates and perpetuates bile duct damage in PBC patients, leading to intrahepatic cholestasis, hepatic damage, liver fibrosis, and eventually cirrhosis or even liver failure. Taken together, the body of accumulated clinical and experimental evidence has enhanced our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of PBC and suggests that immunotherapy may be a promising treatment option. Herein, we summarize current knowledge regarding immunological abnormalities of PBC patients, with emphasis on underlying pathogenic mechanisms. The differential immune response which occurs over decades of disease activity suggests that different therapies may be needed at different stages of disease.
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18
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Gulamhusein AF, Hirschfield GM. Pathophysiology of primary biliary cholangitis. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2018; 34-35:17-25. [PMID: 30343706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis is a prototypical autoimmune disease characterized by an overwhelming female predominance, a distinct clinical phenotype, and disease specific anti-mitochondrial antibodies targeted against a well-defined auto-antigen. In a genetically susceptible host, multi-lineage loss of tolerance to the E2 component of the 2-oxo-dehydrogenase pathway and dysregulated immune pathways directed at biliary epithelial cells leads to cholestasis, progressive biliary fibrosis, and cirrhosis in a subset of patients. Several key insights have shed light on the complex pathogenesis of disease. First, characteristic anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) target lipoic acid containing immunodominant epitopes, particularly pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2), on the inner mitochondrial membrane of BECs. Next, breakdown of the protective apical bicarbonate rich umbrella may sensitize BECs to aberrant apoptotic pathways leaving the antigenic PDC-E2 epitope immunologically tact within an apoptotic bleb. A multi-lineage immune response ensues characterized by an imbalance between effector and regulatory activity resulting in progressive and self-perpetuating biliary injury. Genome wide studies shed light on important pathways involved in disease, key among them being IL-12. Epigenetic mechanisms and microRNAs may play help shed light on the missing heritability and female preponderance of disease. Taken together, these findings have dramatically advanced our understanding of disease and may lead to important therapeutic advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliya F Gulamhusein
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, 200 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- Centre for Liver Research and NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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19
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Pahari S, Chatterjee D, Negi S, Kaur J, Singh B, Agrewala JN. Morbid Sequences Suggest Molecular Mimicry between Microbial Peptides and Self-Antigens: A Possibility of Inciting Autoimmunity. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1938. [PMID: 29062305 PMCID: PMC5640720 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding etiology of autoimmune diseases has been a great challenge for designing drugs and vaccines. The pathophysiology of many autoimmune diseases may be attributed to molecular mimicry provoked by microbes. Molecular mimicry hypothesizes that a sequence homology between foreign and self-peptides leads to cross-activation of autoreactive T cells. Different microbial proteins are implicated in various autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, human type 1 diabetes, primary biliary cirrhosis and rheumatoid arthritis. It may be imperative to identify the microbial epitopes that initiate the activation of autoreactive T cells. Consequently, in the present study, we employed immunoinformatics tools to delineate homologous antigenic regions between microbes and human proteins at not only the sequence level but at the structural level too. Interestingly, many cross-reactive MHC class II binding epitopes were detected from an array of microbes. Further, these peptides possess a potential to skew immune response toward Th1-like patterns. The present study divulges many microbial target proteins, their putative MHC-binding epitopes, and predicted structures to establish the fact that both sequence and structure are two important aspects for understanding the relationship between molecular mimicry and autoimmune diseases. Such findings may enable us in designing potential immunotherapies to tolerize autoreactive T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanta Pahari
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Deepyan Chatterjee
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Shikha Negi
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Jagdeep Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Balvinder Singh
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Javed N Agrewala
- Immunology Laboratory, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
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20
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Nakagawa R, Muroyama R, Saeki C, Goto K, Kaise Y, Koike K, Nakano M, Matsubara Y, Takano K, Ito S, Saruta M, Kato N, Zeniya M. miR-425 regulates inflammatory cytokine production in CD4 + T cells via N-Ras upregulation in primary biliary cholangitis. J Hepatol 2017; 66:1223-1230. [PMID: 28192189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease of unknown pathogenesis. Consequently, therapeutic targets for PBC have yet to be identified. CD4+ T cells play a pivotal role in immunological dysfunction observed in PBC, and therefore, microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression were analysed in CD4+ T cells, to investigate PBC pathogenesis and identify novel therapeutic targets. METHODS Integral miRNA and mRNA analysis of 14 PBC patients and ten healthy controls was carried out using microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), with gene set enrichment analysis. The functional analyses of miRNA were then assessed using reporter and miRNA-overexpression assays. RESULTS The integral analysis of miRNA and mRNA identified four significantly downregulated miRNAs (miR-181a, -181b, -374b, and -425) related to the T cell receptor (TCR) signalling pathway in CD4+ T cells of PBC. N-Ras, a regulator of the TCR signalling pathway, was found to be targeted by all four identified miRNAs. In addition, in vitro assays confirmed that decreased miR-425 strongly induced inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-2 and interferon [IFN]-γ) via N-Ras upregulation in the TCR signalling pathway. CONCLUSION The decreased expression of four miRNAs that dysregulate TCR signalling in PBC CD4+ T cells was identified. miR-425 was demonstrated as an inflammatory regulator of PBC via N-Ras upregulation. Therefore, the restoration of decreased miR-425 or the suppression of N-Ras may be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy against PBC. LAY SUMMARY Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune liver disease, but the causes are unknown. MicroRNAs are molecules known to regulate biological signals. In this study, four microRNAs were identified as being decreased in PBC patients, leading to activation of T cell receptor signalling pathways, involved in inflammation. One particular target, N-Ras, could be an attractive and novel immunotherapeutic option for PBC. TRANSCRIPT PROFILING Microarray data are deposited in GEO (GEO accession: GSE93172).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Nakagawa
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Muroyama
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chisato Saeki
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kaku Goto
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshimi Kaise
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Nakano
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuo Matsubara
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Takano
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sayaka Ito
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Saruta
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoya Kato
- Division of Advanced Genome Medicine, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Mikio Zeniya
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Sanno Medical Center, Sanno Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
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21
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Tanaka A. Anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies-milestone or byway to primary biliary cholangitis? ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017; 5:50. [PMID: 28251129 PMCID: PMC5326641 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2017.01.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Tanaka
- Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Ma HD, Ma WT, Liu QZ, Zhao ZB, Liu MZY, Tsuneyama K, Gao JM, Ridgway WM, Ansari AA, Gershwin ME, Fei YY, Lian ZX. Chemokine receptor CXCR3 deficiency exacerbates murine autoimmune cholangitis by promoting pathogenic CD8 + T cell activation. J Autoimmun 2017; 78:19-28. [PMID: 28129932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CXC Chemokine Receptor 3 (CXCR3) is functionally pleiotropic and not only plays an important role in chemotaxis, but also participates in T cell differentiation and may play a critical role in inducing and maintaining immune tolerance. These observations are particularly critical for autoimmune cholangitis in which CXCR3 positive T cells are found around the portal areas of both humans and mouse models of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). Herein, we investigated the role of CXCR3 in the pathogenesis of autoimmune cholangitis. We have taken advantage of a unique CXCR3 knockout dnTGFβRII mouse to focus on the role of CXCR3, both by direct observation of its influence on the natural course of disease, as well as through adoptive transfer studies into Rag-/- mice. We report herein that not only do CXCR3 deficient mice develop an exacerbation of autoimmune cholangitis associated with an expanded effector memory T cell number, but also selective adoptive transfer of CXCR3 deficient CD8+ T cells induces autoimmune cholangitis. In addition, gene microarray analysis of CXCR3 deficient CD8+ T cells reveal an intense pro-inflammatory profile. Our data suggests that the altered gene profiles induced by CXCR3 deficiency promotes autoimmune cholangitis through pathogenic CD8+ T cells. These data have significance for human PBC and other autoimmune liver diseases in which therapeutic intervention might be directed to chemokines and/or their receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Di Ma
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wen-Tao Ma
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qing-Zhi Liu
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Zhao
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Mu-Zi-Ying Liu
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Pathology, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Jin-Ming Gao
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - William M Ridgway
- Division of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aftab A Ansari
- Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - M Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Yun-Yun Fei
- Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Liver Immunology Laboratory, Institute of Immunology and The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China; Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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Adaptive immunity in the liver. Cell Mol Immunol 2016; 13:354-68. [PMID: 26996069 PMCID: PMC4856810 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2016.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The anatomical architecture of the human liver and the diversity of its immune components endow the liver with its physiological function of immune competence. Adaptive immunity is a major arm of the immune system that is organized in a highly specialized and systematic manner, thus providing long-lasting protection with immunological memory. Adaptive immunity consists of humoral immunity and cellular immunity. Cellular immunity is known to have a crucial role in controlling infection, cancer and autoimmune disorders in the liver. In this article, we will focus on hepatic virus infections, hepatocellular carcinoma and autoimmune disorders as examples to illustrate the current understanding of the contribution of T cells to cellular immunity in these maladies. Cellular immune suppression is primarily responsible for chronic viral infections and cancer. However, an uncontrolled auto-reactive immune response accounts for autoimmunity. Consequently, these immune abnormalities are ascribed to the quantitative and functional changes in adaptive immune cells and their subsets, innate immunocytes, chemokines, cytokines and various surface receptors on immune cells. A greater understanding of the complex orchestration of the hepatic adaptive immune regulators during homeostasis and immune competence are much needed to identify relevant targets for clinical intervention to treat immunological disorders in the liver.
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The coexistence of Sjögren's syndrome and primary biliary cirrhosis: a comprehensive review. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol 2016; 48:301-15. [PMID: 25682089 DOI: 10.1007/s12016-015-8471-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases share numerous features and often coexist in the same patient. Autoimmune cholangitis/primary biliary cirrhosis and Sjogren syndrome represent paradigmatic examples of the common grounds of different autoimmunity phenotypes based on similarities in clinical manifestations and immunopathogenesis. In fact, primary biliary cirrhosis and Sjogren's syndrome have both been coined as an autoimmune epithelitis in which apoptosis may be in both cases the key element to explain the organ-specific immune-mediated injury against the biliary and exocrine gland epithelia, respectively. Further, growing evidence supports in both diseases the view that B cells, T cytotoxic cells, and T helper cells are involved in chronic inflammation, likely via the altered expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The presence of estrogen receptors on the biliary and exocrine gland epithelia has been advocated as a key to the female predominance encountered in primary biliary cirrhosis and Sjogren's syndrome. Sadly, despite available data, therapeutic approaches remain largely unsatisfactory and recent studies with mechanistic approaches (as in the case of B cell depletion with rituximab) have been of partial benefit only. Future studies should focus on new molecular tools (single-cell transcriptomics, microRNA, epigenetics) to provide unique insights into common mechanisms.
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25
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Guidelines for the management of primary biliary cirrhosis: The Intractable Hepatobiliary Disease Study Group supported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Hepatol Res 2014; 44 Suppl S1:71-90. [PMID: 24397841 DOI: 10.1111/hepr.12270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Liberal R, Grant CR, Sakkas L, Bizzaro N, Bogdanos DP. Diagnostic and clinical significance of anti-centromere antibodies in primary biliary cirrhosis. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2013; 37:572-85. [PMID: 23876351 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2013.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Revised: 03/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease of the liver characterised by biochemical evidence of cholestasis, elevated alkaline phosphatase levels and the presence of the highly disease specific anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies. Extra-hepatic autoimmune manifestations are common, including rheumatic disorders, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc). Notably, PBC is the most frequent autoimmune liver disease in SSc patients. Based on skin lesion extension, two major SSc disease subgroups are recognised: limited cutaneous SSc (lSSc) and diffuse cutaneous SSc. Anti-centromere antibody (ACA) positivity is highly characteristic of SSc, with up to 90% prevalence in lSSc patients. ACA has also been found in up to 30% of PBC patients and 80% of patients with a PBC/SSc overlap syndrome. The diagnostic and clinical significance of ACA positivity in patients with PBC without SSc has recently been under investigation, with several studies highlighting links to severe bile duct injury and portal hypertension. This review discusses the diagnostic and clinical relevance of ACA in patients with PBC, with or without SSc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Liberal
- Institute of Liver Studies, King's College London School of Medicine at King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill Campus, London SE5 9RS, UK; Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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27
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Harada K, Kakuda Y, Nakamura M, Shimoda S, Nakanuma Y. Clinicopathological significance of serum fractalkine in primary biliary cirrhosis. Dig Dis Sci 2013; 58:3037-43. [PMID: 23765258 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-013-2734-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), characterized by cholangitis and loss of intrahepatic small bile ducts, predominantly affects middle-aged females. We have reported that fractalkine expression associated with chronic inflammation is observed in the damaged bile ducts and periductal vessels of PBC patients, which is closely associated with chronic cholangitis. AIMS We investigated the association between serum fractalkine levels and clinicopathological findings in PBC patients. METHODS Liver biopsy specimens before ursodeoxycholic acid treatment and serum samples at the time of liver biopsy and 1 and 2 years after treatment were obtained from 68 PBC patients (M/F = 14/54). Serum fractalkine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and their association with clinicopathological findings (liver function data, autoantibodies, cholangitis activity, hepatitis activity, fibrosis, bile duct loss, and orcein-positive granules) was analyzed. RESULTS Serum fractalkine levels were in the range of 0.1-33.2 ng/ml (average, 3.2 ng/ml). They were increased in PBC patients with high degrees of cholangitis activity, a mild degree of hepatitis activity, fibrosis, orcein-positive granules, and early stages. In cases with high serum fractalkine levels, those who exhibited good biochemical responses to treatment mostly showed improved serum fractalkine levels after treatment. CONCLUSION Serum fractalkine levels of PBC patients were high in cases with marked cholangitis activity at early stages. In addition, they closely correlated with the effect of therapy, indicating that fractalkine plays a role in the pathogenesis of initial cholangitis in early stage PBC and consequent chronic cholangitis. Thus, our results suggest that fractalkine is a good candidate for molecular-targeted treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Harada
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, 920-8640, Japan,
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28
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Hirschfield GM, Gershwin ME. The immunobiology and pathophysiology of primary biliary cirrhosis. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2013; 8:303-30. [PMID: 23347352 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-020712-164014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 219] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease characterized by clinical homogeneity among patients, an overwhelming female predominance, production of a multilineage immune response to mitochondrial autoantigens, inflammation of small bile ducts, and in some patients the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. The targets in this disease are small bile ducts, and the prototypic serologic response includes antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs). Several key observations have greatly advanced our understanding of PBC. First, the multilineage immune response, including AMAs, is directed at the E2 component of the 2-oxo-dehydrogenase pathway, particularly PDC-E2. Second, such autoantibodies may be identified years before the clinical diagnosis of disease. Third, the autoreactive T cell precursor frequency for both CD4 and CD8 cells is significantly higher in liver and regional lymph node than in blood, so the multilineage antimitochondrial response may be required for the development of this disease. Fourth, the apotope of biliary cells contains intact PDC-E2; this apotope, in a setting that includes granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-stimulated macrophages and AMAs, produces an intense proinflammatory response. Fifth, several mouse models of PBC highlight the importance of loss of tolerance to PDC-E2 as well as a critical role for the interleukin (IL)-12 signaling pathway. Finally, genome-wide association studies suggest an important role for the IL-12 pathway in disease susceptibility. Taken together, these findings have resulted in a better understanding of the mechanism for selective biliary cell destruction and have also suggested unique pathways for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gideon M Hirschfield
- Centre for Liver Research, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Environment and primary biliary cirrhosis: electrophilic drugs and the induction of AMA. J Autoimmun 2013; 41:79-86. [PMID: 23352659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2012.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Environmental stimulation is a major factor in the initiation and perpetuation of autoimmune diseases. We have addressed this issue and focused on primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), an autoimmune disease of the liver. Immunologically, PBC is distinguished by immune mediated destruction of the intra hepatic bile ducts and the presence of high titer antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) directed against a highly specific epitope within the lipoic acid binding domain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase E2 subunit (PDC-E2). We submit that the uniqueness of AMA epitope specificity and the conformational changes of the PDC-E2 lipoyl domain during physiological acyl transfer could be the lynchpin to the etiology of PBC and postulate that chemical xenobiotics modification of the lipoyl domain of PDC-E2 is sufficient to break self-tolerance, with subsequent production of AMA in patients with PBC. Indeed, using quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) analysis on a peptide-xenobiotic conjugate microarray platform, we have demonstrated that when the lipoyl domain of PDC-E2 was modified with specific synthetic small molecule lipoyl mimics, the ensuing structures displayed highly specific reactivity to PBC sera, at levels often higher than the native PDC-E2 molecule. Hereby, we discuss our recent QSAR analysis data on specific AMA reactivity against a focused panel of lipoic acid mimic in which the lipoyl di-sulfide bond are modified. Furthermore, data on the immunological characterization of antigen and Ig isotype specificities against one such lipoic acid mimic; 6,8-bis(acetylthio)octanoic acid (SAc), when compared with rPDC-E2, strongly support a xenobiotic etiology in PBC. This observation is of particular significance in that approximately one third of patients who have taken excessive acetaminophen (APAP) developed AMA with same specificity as patients with PBC, suggesting that the lipoic domain are a target of APAP electrophilic metabolites such as NAPQI. We submit that in genetically susceptible hosts, electrophilic modification of lipoic acid in PDC-E2 by acetaminophen or similar drugs can facilitate loss of tolerance and lead to the development of PBC.
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Shapira Y, Agmon-Levin N, Renaudineau Y, Porat-Katz BS, Barzilai O, Ram M, Youinou P, Shoenfeld Y. Serum markers of infections in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis: evidence of infection burden. Exp Mol Pathol 2012; 93:386-90. [PMID: 23022373 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2012.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2012] [Accepted: 09/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently not much is known regarding the environmental factors involved in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). It is even more unclear which factors may determine the subgroup (i.e., AMA status) of patients with PBC. We thus tested AMA+and AMA- PBC patients' sera for antibodies (Abs) against multiple infectious agents. METHODS Sera from 69 patients with PBC (49 AMA+and 20 AMA-) and 100 matched controls were screened for IgG-Abs against Toxoplasma gondii, Helicobacter pylori, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C utilizing the BioPlex 2200 and ELISA kits (Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA). RESULTS The prevalence of four anti-infectious agents Abs was significantly elevated among PBC patients when compared with controls, namely anti-T. gondii (ATxA; 71% vs. 40%, p<0.0001), EBV early antigen (EA; 44% vs. 12%, p<0.0001), H. pylori (54% vs. 31%, p<0.01), and CMV (90% vs. 75%, p<0.05) Abs, respectively. The co-occurrence of these four anti-infectious agents Abs was highly common in PBC, whereas this infection burden was rare in healthy subjects (20% vs. 3% respectively, p<0.0001). Furthermore, specific infections interactions possibly increasing PBC risk were noted as well. Seropositivity of ATxA was inversely associated with cirrhosis among PBC patients (p<0.05). Finally, no differences were observed between AMA- sera and their AMA+counterparts with regard to seroprevalence of any of the investigated infectious agents. CONCLUSIONS We note the association of ATxA and PBC, with the possibility of a milder disease manifestation. We also suggest that multiple exposures to infectious agents may contribute to PBC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinon Shapira
- The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Sheba Medical Center, Israel
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31
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Leung PSC, Lam K, Kurth MJ, Coppel RL, Gershwin ME. Xenobiotics and autoimmunity: does acetaminophen cause primary biliary cirrhosis? Trends Mol Med 2012; 18:577-82. [PMID: 22920894 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2012.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2012] [Revised: 07/08/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The serologic hallmark of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is the presence of antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMAs) directed against the E2 subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2). The PBC-related autoepitope of PDC-E2 contains lipoic acid, and previous work has demonstrated that mimics of lipoic acid following immunization of mice lead to a PBC-like disease. Furthermore, approximately one-third of patients who have ingested excessive amounts of acetaminophen (paracetamol) develop AMA of the same specificity as patients with PBC. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) data indicates that acetaminophen metabolites are particularly immunoreactive with AMA, and we submit that in genetically susceptible hosts, electrophilic modification of lipoic acid in PDC-E2 by acetaminophen or similar drugs can facilitate a loss of tolerance and lead to the development of PBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick S C Leung
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis School of Medicine, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Invernizzi P, Alessio MG, Smyk DS, Lleo A, Sonzogni A, Fabris L, Candusso M, Bogdanos DP, Iorio R, Torre G. Autoimmune hepatitis type 2 associated with an unexpected and transient presence of primary biliary cirrhosis-specific antimitochondrial antibodies: a case study and review of the literature. BMC Gastroenterol 2012; 12:92. [PMID: 22816667 PMCID: PMC3464927 DOI: 10.1186/1471-230x-12-92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Unlike other autoimmune liver diseases, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has never been reported in early childhood, while type 2 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is eminently a paediatric disease. Case presentation We describe a case of type 2 AIH with serological positivity for PBC-specific anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) in a 3-year old girl. We found this observation intriguing as AMA and indeed an overlap with PBC are virtually absent in Type 2 AIH, a pediatric form of AIH which is distinct precisely because it is characterized by pathognomonic anti-liver kidney microsomal type 1 (LKM-1) showing a remarkable antigen-specificity directed against cytochrome P4502D6. We also review the literature in relation to AMA positivity in paediatric age and adolescence. In our case, the presence of AIH-2-specific anti-LKM-1 and PBC-specific AMA was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF), and immunoblotting and ELISA based on recombinant mitochondrial antigens. The clinical, laboratory and histological features of the child are given in detail. Interestingly the mother was AMA positive without other features of PBC. The child was successfully treated with immunosuppression and five years after the original diagnosis is on a low dose of prednisolone and azathioprine, with no signs of relapse. Anti-LKM-1 antibodies are still present in low titres. AMA were detectable for the first 4 years after the diagnosis and disappeared later. Conclusion This is the first case report in the literature of AIH type 2 with an unexpected PBC-specific AMA positivity in a young child. Response to immunosuppressive treatment was satisfactory and similar to that described in AIH. A review of published reports on AMA positivity in paediatric age shows that the antibody may arise in the context of immunodeficiency and is variably associated with liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Invernizzi
- Center for Autoimmune Liver Diseases, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, Via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano(MI), Italy.
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Ishibashi H, Nakanuma Y, Ueno Y, Egawa H, Koike K, Komori A, Sakisaka S, Shimoda S, Shirabe K, Zeniya M, Soejima Y, Takeyama Y, Tanaka A, Nakamuta M, Nakamura M, Harada K, Fukushima N, Maehara Y, Morizane T, Tsubouchi H. Clinical Guideline of Primary Biliary Cirrhosis 2012 The Intractable Hepato-Biliary Disease Study Group supported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.53.633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Ishibashi
- International University of Health and Welfare/Fukuoka Sanno Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, Omura, Japan
- Chairman of the Working Group
| | - Yasuni Nakanuma
- Department of Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
- Chairman of the Subcommittee Meeting of PBC
| | - Yoshiyuki Ueno
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Hiroto Egawa
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Koike
- Gastroenterology, Jikei University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsumasa Komori
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, Omura, Japan
| | - Shotaro Sakisaka
- Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shinji Shimoda
- Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Mikio Zeniya
- Gastroenterology, Jikei University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuji Soejima
- Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Takeyama
- Department of Medicine and Gastroenterology, Fukuoka University Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Tanaka
- Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Nakamuta
- Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Minoru Nakamura
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, Omura, Japan
- Department of Hepatology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Department of Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Fukushima
- Department of Gastroenterology, National Hospital Organization Kyushu Medical Center, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Maehara
- Department of Surgery and Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Hirohito Tsubouchi
- Digestive Disease and Life-style Related Disease, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima, Japan
- Chairman of the Intractable Hepato-Biliary Disease Study Group
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Hirschfield GM. Diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 2011; 25:701-12. [PMID: 22117636 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpg.2011.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2011] [Revised: 10/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis is the archetypal autoimmune liver disease, with the disease label describing a chronic granulomatous lymphocytic small bile duct cholangitis, which now most commonly presents asymptomatically and at an early pre-cirrhotic stage. Disease is more common than thought, with 1 in 1000 women over the age of 40 affected. Characteristic immunologic features of the disease assist clinicians in ready non-invasive diagnosis of patients, even if asymptomatic with only anicteric/cholestatic liver biochemical profiles. Over 90% of patients are anti-mitochondrial antibody positive, and for those negative, a significant proportion have highly specific anti-nuclear antibody profiles. Liver biopsy remains useful in certain settings where clarity is needed to confirm diagnosis, exclude alternative disease, and assess the relative contribution of PBC to other co-existent liver injury, and seeks to demonstrate in particular the classic bile duct lesions, as well as the degree of interface activity.
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Zhang W, Ono Y, Miyamura Y, Bowlus CL, Gershwin ME, Maverakis E. T cell clonal expansions detected in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis express CX3CR1. J Autoimmun 2011; 37:71-8. [PMID: 21636249 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2011.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Accepted: 05/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The intrahepatic biliary destruction of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) appears secondary to a multi-lineage response that includes autoantibodies, biliary apotopes, and cellular responses. Although there has been considerable effort in defining the role and specificity of anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies, a major challenge has been the characterization of T effector pathways. This difficulty is due in part to the limitation of current technologies for directly isolating and characterizing autoreactive T cells from patients. Herein, we successfully demonstrate a novel technology for characterizing the surface phenotype of T cell oligoclonal expansions directly ex vivo. Using PBC as a prototypic disease we were able to detect clonal T cell expansions in 15/15 patients examined. Although the T cell expansions from different patients expressed different TCRVβ gene segments, the surface phenotype of the cells was the same. The clonal T cell expansions in PBC patients are CX3CR1(+) Fas(+) effector-memory T cells, a finding of particular importance given the known up-regulation of fractalkine on injured biliary epithelial cells (BEC). In contrast to the persistent aberrantly expanded T cells observed in the PBC patients, T cell expansions detected in response to a herpes viral infection were very dynamic and resolved over time. This protocol can be used to characterize T cell expansions in other autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weici Zhang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease characterised by intrahepatic bile-duct destruction, cholestasis, and, in some cases, cirrhosis. Evidence supporting the autoimmune nature of this disorder includes the appearance of highly specific antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs) and autoreactive T cells. Concordance rates in monozygotic twins, familial prevalence, and genetic associations underscore the importance of genetic factors, whereas findings of epidemiological studies and murine models suggest a possible role for exogenous chemicals and infectious agents through molecular mimicry. The incidence of primary biliary cirrhosis has increased over recent decades, possibly attributable to augmented testing of liver biochemistry rather than a rise in disease incidence. AMAs remain the hallmark of diagnosis in most cases and allow detection of asymptomatic patients. Symptomatic individuals usually present with either pruritus or fatigue and, more rarely, with either jaundice or complications of cirrhosis. The prognosis of primary biliary cirrhosis has improved because of early diagnosis and use of ursodeoxycholic acid, the only established medical treatment for this disorder. Although not a cure, treatment can slow disease progression and delay the need for liver transplantation. However, some patients do not respond adequately to ursodeoxycholic acid and might need alternative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Selmi
- Department of Translational Medicine, IRCCS-Istituto Clinico Humanitas, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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β-Arrestin 1 modulates functions of autoimmune T cells from primary biliary cirrhosis patients. J Clin Immunol 2011; 31:346-55. [PMID: 21243522 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-010-9492-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Accepted: 11/26/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by antimitochondrial antibodies and autoreactive T cells causing destruction of the primary bile ducts. The molecular mechanisms regulating the autoreactive T cells remain elusive. β-Arrestins (βarr) are multifunctional signaling molecules that are crucial to T cell survival. We hypothesized that βarr plays a critical regulatory function in the autoreactive T cells of PBC patients. METHODS Patients with hepatic biliary cirrhosis (n=60) were evaluated. Cytokine expression, T cell proliferation, and transcription factors were evaluated to assess regulatory functions in autoreactive T cells from the patient. RESULTS Our studies showed that expression of βarr1 was elevated significantly in T lymphocytes from patients with PBC. Moreover, the level of βarr1 mRNA positively correlated with Mayo risk score in PBC patients. Based on modulation of βarr in autoreactive T cell lines, overexpression of βarr1 increased T cell proliferation, augmented interferon production, downregulated activities of nuclear factor κB and AP-1, promoted acetylation of histone H4 in the promoter regions of CD40L, LIGHT, IL-17 and interferon-γ, while downregulating acetylation of histone H4 in the promoter regions of TRAIL, Apo2, and HDAC7A, thereby regulating expression of these genes. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that βarr1 contributes to the pathogenesis of PBC, having significant implications for novel therapy strategy, further providing information for investigating the mechanisms of autoimmune disease.
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Hirschfield GM, Heathcote EJ, Gershwin ME. Pathogenesis of cholestatic liver disease and therapeutic approaches. Gastroenterology 2010; 139:1481-96. [PMID: 20849855 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2010] [Revised: 09/01/2010] [Accepted: 09/07/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cholestatic liver disorders are caused by genetic defects, mechanical aberrations, toxins, or dysregulations in the immune system that damage the bile ducts and cause accumulation of bile and liver tissue damage. They have common clinical manifestations and pathogenic features that include the responses of cholangiocytes and hepatocytes to injury. We review the features of bile acid transport, tissue repair and regulation, apoptosis, vascular supply, immune regulation, and cholangiocytes that are associated with cholestatic liver disorders. We now have a greater understanding of the physiology of cholangiocytes at the cellular and molecular levels, as well as genetic factors, repair pathways, and autoimmunity mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of disease. These discoveries will hopefully lead to new therapeutic approaches for patients with cholestatic liver disease.
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Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease in which an immune-mediated injury targets the small intrahepatic bile ducts. PBC is further characterized by highly specific serum antimitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) and autoreactive T cells, a striking female predominance, a strong genetic susceptibility, and a plethora of candidate environmental factors to trigger the disease onset. For these reasons PBC appears ideal to represent the developments of the clonal selection theory over the past decades. First, a sufficiently potent autoimmunogenic stimulus in PBC would require the coexistence of numerous pre-existing conditions (mostly genetic, as recently illustrated by genome-wide association studies and animal models) to perpetuate the destruction of the biliary epithelium by the immune system via the persistence of forbidden clones. Second, the proposed modifications of mitochondrial autoantigens caused by infectious agents and/or xenobiotics well illustrate the possibility that peculiar changes in the antigen structure and flexibility may contribute to tolerance breakdown. Third, the unique apoptotic features demonstrated for cholangiocytes are the ideal setting for the development of mitochondrial autoantigen presentation to the immune system through macrophages and AMA thus turning the non traditional mitochondrial antigen into a traditional one. This article will review the current knowledge on PBC etiology and pathogenesis in light of the clonal selection theory developments.
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Selmi C, Affronti A, Ferrari L, Invernizzi P. Immune-mediated bile duct injury: The case of primary biliary cirrhosis. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol 2010; 1:118-28. [PMID: 21607152 PMCID: PMC3097954 DOI: 10.4291/wjgp.v1.i4.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2010] [Revised: 08/08/2010] [Accepted: 08/15/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune cholangitis would be the appropriate name to define the immune-mediated bile duct injury following the breakdown of tolerance to mitochondrial proteins and the appearance of serum autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. Nevertheless, the condition is universally named primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). The disease etiology and pathogenesis remain largely unknown despite the proposed lines of evidence. One twin study and numerous epidemiology reports suggest that both a susceptible genetic background and environmental factors determine disease onset while a recent genome-wide association study proposed highly significant associations with several common genetic polymorphisms in subgroups of patients. Specific infectious agents and chemicals may contribute to the disease onset and perpetuation in a genetically susceptible host, possibly through molecular mimicry. Importantly, several murine models have been proposed and include strains in which PBC is genetically determined or induced by immunization with chemicals and bacteria. From a pathogenetic standpoint, new exciting data have demonstrated the unique apoptotic features of bile duct cells that allow the mitochondrial autoantigens to be taken up in their intact form within apoptotic blebs. We are convinced that the application of the most recent molecular techniques will soon provide developments in PBC etiology and pathogenesis with likely implications in diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Lleo A, Bowlus CL, Yang GX, Invernizzi P, Podda M, Van de Water J, Ansari AA, Coppel RL, Worman HJ, Gores GJ, Gershwin ME. Biliary apotopes and anti-mitochondrial antibodies activate innate immune responses in primary biliary cirrhosis. Hepatology 2010; 52:987-98. [PMID: 20568301 PMCID: PMC2932809 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Our understanding of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) has been significantly enhanced by the rigorous dissection of the multilineage T and B cell response against the immunodominant mitochondrial autoantigen, the E2 component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2). PDC-E2 is a ubiquitous protein present in mitochondria of nucleated cells. However, the damage of PBC is confined to small biliary epithelial cells (BECs). We have previously demonstrated that BECs translocate immunologically intact PDC-E2 to apoptotic bodies and create an apotope. To define the significance of this observation, we have studied the ability of biliary or control epithelial apotopes to induce cytokine secretion from mature monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMphis) from either patients with PBC or controls in the presence or absence of anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMAs). We demonstrate that there is intense inflammatory cytokine production in the presence of the unique triad of BEC apotopes, macrophages from patients with PBC, and AMAs. The cytokine secretion is inhibited by anti-CD16 and is not due to differences in apotope uptake. Moreover, MDMphis from PBC patients cultured with BEC apoptotic bodies in the presence of AMAs markedly increase tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand expression. CONCLUSION These results provide a mechanism for the biliary specificity of PBC, the recurrence of disease after liver transplantation, and the success of ursodiol in treatment. They further emphasize the critical role of the innate immune system in the perpetuation of this autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lleo
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS-Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Christopher L. Bowlus
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Guo-Xiang Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Pietro Invernizzi
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS-Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Mauro Podda
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS-Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, Universita degli Studi di Milano, IRCCS-Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy
| | - Judy Van de Water
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aftab A. Ansari
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ross L. Coppel
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Howard J. Worman
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department Pathology and Cell Biology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gregory J. Gores
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - M. Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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Yu H, Huang J, Liu Y, Ai G, Yan W, Wang X, Ning Q. IL-17 contributes to autoimmune hepatitis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 30:443-6. [PMID: 20714867 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-010-0446-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The role of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was investigated. A mouse model of experimental autoimmune hepatitis was established, and the syngeneic S-100 antigen emulsified in complete Freud's adjuvant was injected intraperitoneally into adult male C57BL/6 mice. The IL-17 expression in serum and the livers of the mice models was detected by using ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively. IL-17 neutralizing antibody was used to study the biological effect of IL-17 in the experimental AIH. IL-17 neutralizing antibody in vivo administration alleviated the hepatic inflammation and ALT level in the AIH model. IL-17 in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of AIH patients was measured by using real-time PCR method. The results showed that IL-17 level was significantly up-regulated in AIH patients and mice models. It was concluded that IL-17 contributed to the development of AIH and might be a potential therapeutic target of AIH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijing Yu
- Department of Infectious Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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The spectrum of autoantibodies in IPEX syndrome is broad and includes anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies. J Autoimmun 2010; 35:265-8. [PMID: 20650610 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2010.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
IPEX syndrome is a congenital disorder of immune regulation caused by mutations in the FOXP3 gene, which is required for the suppressive function of naturally arising CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells. In this case series we evaluated serum samples from 12 patients with IPEX syndrome for the presence of common autoantibodies associated with a broad range of autoimmune disorders. We note that 75% of patients (9/12) had 1 or more autoantibodies, an incidence far above the cumulative rate observed in the general population. The range of autoantibodies differed between patients and there was no predominant autoantibody or pattern of autoantibodies present in this cohort. Surprisingly, one patient had high-titer anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) typically associated with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) although the patient had no signs of cholestasis. PBC is a well-characterized autoimmune disease that occurs primarily in women and includes the serological hallmarks of serum AMA and elevated IgM which were both present in this patient. PBC is virtually absent in children with the exception of one reported child with interleukin 2 receptor α (CD25) deficiency which is associated with an IPEX-like regulatory T cell dysfunction. Based on the present data and the available literature we suggest a direct role for CD4 + CD25 + regulatory T cells in restraining B cell autoantibody production and that defects in regulatory T cells may be crucial to the development of PBC.
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Zhang W, Tsuda M, Yang GX, Tsuneyama K, Rong G, Ridgway WM, Ansari AA, Flavell RA, Coppel RL, Lian ZX, Gershwin ME. Deletion of interleukin-6 in mice with the dominant negative form of transforming growth factor beta receptor II improves colitis but exacerbates autoimmune cholangitis. Hepatology 2010; 52:215-22. [PMID: 20578264 PMCID: PMC2936774 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in autoimmunity attracts attention because of the clinical usage of monoclonal antibodies to IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), designed to block IL-6 pathways. In autoimmune liver disease, activation of the hepatocyte IL-6/STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 3) pathway is associated with modulating pathology in acute liver failure, in liver regeneration, and in the murine model of concanavalin A-induced liver inflammation. We have reported that mice expressing a dominant negative form of transforming growth factor beta receptor II (dnTGFbetaRII) under control of the CD4 promoter develop both colitis and autoimmune cholangitis with elevated serum levels of IL-6. Based on this observation, we generated IL-6-deficient mice on a dnTGF-betaRII background (dnTGFbetaRII IL-6(-/-)) and examined for the presence of antimitochondrial antibodies, levels of cytokines, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry of liver and colon tissues. As expected, based on reports of the use of anti-IL-6R in inflammatory bowel disease, dnTGFbetaRII IL-6(-/-) mice manifest a dramatic improvement in their inflammatory bowel disease, including reduced diarrhea and significant reduction in intestinal lymphocytic infiltrates. Importantly, however, autoimmune cholangitis in dnTGFbetaRII IL-6(-/-) mice was significantly exacerbated, including elevated inflammatory cytokines, increased numbers of activated T cells, and worsening hepatic pathology. CONCLUSION The data from these observations emphasize that there are distinct mechanisms involved in inducing pathology in inflammatory bowel disease compared to autoimmune cholangitis. These data also suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease may not be the best candidates for treatment with anti-IL-6R if they have accompanying autoimmune liver disease and emphasize caution for therapeutic use of anti-IL-6R antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weici Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Masanobu Tsuda
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Guo-Xiang Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Guanghua Rong
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
| | - William M. Ridgway
- Division of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati, OH 45267
| | - Aftab A. Ansari
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Richard A. Flavell
- Department of Internal Medicine Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Ross L. Coppel
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3168, Australia
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Institute of Immunology, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale and School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - M. Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
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Invernizzi P, Selmi C, Gershwin ME. Update on primary biliary cirrhosis. Dig Liver Dis 2010; 42:401-8. [PMID: 20359968 PMCID: PMC2871061 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2010.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2010] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis is an autoimmune chronic liver disease characterized by progressive bile duct destruction eventually leading to cirrhosis, liver failure, and death. The autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by a plethora of experimental and clinical data, such as the presence of autoreactive T cells and serum autoantibodies. The aetiology remains unknown, although evidence suggests a role for both genetic susceptibility and environmental factors that remain to be determined. In fact, a number of chemicals and infectious agents have been proposed to induce the disease in predisposed individuals. The recent availability of several murine models will significantly help in understanding pathophysiology mechanisms. In this review, we critically summarize the most recent data on the aetiopathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis, discuss the latest theories and developments, and suggest directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Invernizzi
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA
| | - Carlo Selmi
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, Rozzano, Italy, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, Department of Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA
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Abstract
The systemic autoimmune diseases are a complex group of disorders characterized by elaboration of high titer autoantibodies and immune-mediated damage of tissues. Two striking features of autoimmune rheumatic diseases are their self-sustaining nature and capacity for autoamplification, exemplified by disease flares. These features suggest the presence of a feed-forward cycle in disease propagation, in which immune effector pathways drive the generation/release of autoantigens, which in turn fuel the immune response. There is a growing awareness that structural modification during cytotoxic granule-induced cell death is a frequent and striking feature of autoantigens, and may be an important principle driving disease. This review focuses on granzyme B (GrB)-mediated cleavage of autoantigens including (i) features of GrB cleavage sites within autoantigens, (ii) co-location of cleavage sites with autoimmune epitopes, and (iii) GrB sensitivity of autoantigens in disease-relevant target tissue. The mechanisms whereby GrB-induced changes in autoantigen structure may contribute to the initiation and propagation of autoimmunity are reviewed and reveal that GrB has the potential to create or destroy autoimmune epitopes. As there remains no direct evidence showing a causal function for GrB cleavage of antigens in the generation of autoimmunity, this review highlights important outstanding questions about the function of GrB in autoantigen selection.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Some patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) have antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). These ANAs include the "multiple nuclear dots" (MND) staining pattern, targeting promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear body (NB) components, such as "speckled 100-kD" protein (Sp100) and PML. A new PML NB protein, designated as Sp140, was identified using serum from a PBC patient. The aim of this study was to analyze the immune response against Sp140 protein in PBC patients. METHODS We studied 135 PBC patients and 157 pathological controls with type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. We used indirect immunofluorescence and a neuroblastoma cell line expressing Sp140 for detecting anti-Sp140 antibodies, and a commercially available immunoblot for detecting anti-Sp100 and anti-PML antibodies. RESULTS Anti-Sp140 antibodies were present in 20 (15%) PBC patients but not in control samples, with a higher frequency in antimitochondrial antibody (AMA)-negative cases (53 vs. 9%, P<0.0001). Anti-Sp140 antibodies were found together with anti-Sp100 antibodies in all but one case (19 of 20, 90%) and with anti-PML antibodies in 12 (60%) cases. Anti-Sp140 positivity was not associated with a specific clinical feature of PBC. CONCLUSIONS Our study identifies Sp140 as a new, highly specific autoantigen in PBC for the first time. The very frequent coexistence of anti-Sp140, anti-Sp100 and anti-PML antibodies suggests that the NB is a multiantigenic complex in PBC and enhances the diagnostic significance of these reactivities, which are particularly useful in AMA-negative cases.
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Selmi C, Meda F, Kasangian A, Invernizzi P, Tian Z, Lian Z, Podda M, Gershwin ME. Experimental evidence on the immunopathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis. Cell Mol Immunol 2009; 7:1-10. [PMID: 20029462 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2009.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease for which an autoimmune pathogenesis is supported by clinical and experimental data, including the presence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells. The etiology remains to be determined, yet data suggest that both a susceptible genetic background and unknown environmental factors determine disease onset. Multiple infectious and chemical candidates have been proposed to trigger the disease in a genetically susceptible host, mostly by molecular mimicry. Most recently, several murine models have been reported, including genetically determined models as well as models induced by immunization with xenobiotics and bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Selmi
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Moritoki Y, Lian ZX, Lindor K, Tuscano J, Tsuneyama K, Zhang W, Ueno Y, Dunn R, Kehry M, Coppel RL, Mackay IR, Gershwin ME. B-cell depletion with anti-CD20 ameliorates autoimmune cholangitis but exacerbates colitis in transforming growth factor-beta receptor II dominant negative mice. Hepatology 2009; 50:1893-903. [PMID: 19877182 PMCID: PMC4130556 DOI: 10.1002/hep.23238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) with conventional immunosuppressive drugs has been relatively disappointing and there have been few efforts in defining a role for the newer biological agents useful in rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic autoimmune diseases. In this study we took advantage of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptor II dominant negative (dnTGF-betaRII) mice, a mouse model of autoimmune cholangitis, to address the therapeutic efficacy of B-cell depletion using anti-CD20. Mice were treated at either 4-6 weeks of age or beginning at 20-22 weeks of age with intraperitoneal injections of anti-CD20 every 2 weeks. We quantitated B-cell levels in all mice as well as antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA), serum and hepatic levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and histopathology of liver and colon. In mice whose treatment was initiated at 4-6 weeks of age, anti-CD20 therapy demonstrated a significantly lower incidence of liver inflammation associated with reduced numbers of activated hepatic CD8(+) T cells. However, colon inflammation was exacerbated. In contrast, in mice treated at 20-22 weeks of age, anti-CD20 therapy had relatively little effect on either liver or colon disease. As expected, all treated animals had reduced levels of B cells, absence of AMA, and increased levels in sera of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL2) (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1]). CONCLUSION These data suggest potential usage of anti-CD20 in early PBC resistant to other modalities, but raise a cautionary note regarding the use of anti-CD20 in inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Moritoki
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA,Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Zhe-Xiong Lian
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Keith Lindor
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Joseph Tuscano
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California at Davis, Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Koichi Tsuneyama
- Diagnostic Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Toyama, Sugitani, Toyama, 930-0194, Japan
| | - Weici Zhang
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Yoshiyuki Ueno
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | | | | | - Ross L. Coppel
- Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ian R. Mackay
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - M. Eric Gershwin
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Kawai T, Hosoya N, Moritoki Y, Kajiyama Y, Watanabe M, Takai A, Selmi C, Gershwin ME, Miyakawa H, Kikuchi K. Autoantibody IgG subclasses to recombinant antigens and the role of bacterial stimuli in primary biliary cirrhosis. Hepatol Res 2009; 39:874-81. [PMID: 19624772 DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034x.2009.00533.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
AIM Serum antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) of the IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses has been reported to be predominant in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis from developed countries. No data are available as to the significance of AMA subtypes in Japanese primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients who have previously manifested unique serological features, nor it is known whether AMA subclasses are influenced by bacterial stimuli, as suggested by the molecular theory of PBC. We undertook a three-step study to address these questions. METHODS First, Japanese PBC sera were tested using the established triple recombinant antigen (pML-MIT3) to find AMA subclass distribution. Second, we used the three recombinant mitochondrial antigens in PBC sera of Japanese and USA patients to explore the ethnic difference. Third, we used CpG oligodeoxynucleotides and a B cell mitogen to challenge ex vivo peripheral leukocytes from indirect immunofluorescence (IIF)-AMA-positive patients with Japanese PBC. RESULTS We detected most frequently IgG2-AMA followed by IgG3-AMA, with the latter being more common in IIF-AMA-positive cases, and demonstrated that the IgG3 reactivity against the dominant antigen was significantly higher in PBC sera from the USA. We determined that the bacterial stimulus was superior to the mitogen at inducing a predominant production of IgG2-AMA and CD20+ B cell activation. CONCLUSION Our data cumulatively supported the hypothesis that IgG2 AMA subtypes are predominant in PBC and suggest that this might be favored by an innate immune reaction against bacterial particles, such as CpG DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Kawai
- Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University Mizonokuchi Hospital, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
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