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Song S, Zhang JY, Liu FY, Zhang HY, Li XF, Zhang SX. B cell subsets-related biomarkers and molecular pathways for systemic lupus erythematosus by transcriptomics analyses. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110968. [PMID: 37741131 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110968] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease, is characterised by B-cell abnormalities and a loss of tolerance that can produce autoantibody. However, the imperative genes and molecular pathways involved in the change of B cell populations remain unclear. METHODS The expression of B cell subsets between SLE and healthy controls (HCs) was detected based on micro-array transcriptome data. The Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) further revealed the co-expression modules of naïve and memory B cells. Whereafter, we performed the functional enrichment analysis, Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks construction and feature selection to screen hub genes. Ultimately, we recruited SLE patients and HCs from the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and further verified these genes in transcriptome sequencing samples. RESULTS Total of 1087 SLE patients and 86 HCs constituted in the study. Compared to HCs, the levels of peripheral naïve B cells of SLE patients decreased, while memory B cells increased. WGCNA identified two modules with the highest correlation for the subsequent analysis. The purple module was primarily in connection with naïve B cells, and the GO analysis indicated that these genes were mainly abundant in B cell activation. The blue module relevant to memory B cells was most significantly enriched in the "defence response to virus" correlation pathway. Then we screened six hub genes by PPI and feature selection. Finally, four biomarkers (IFI27, IFITM1, MX2, IRF7) were identified by transcriptome sequencing verification. CONCLUSION Our study identified hub genes and key pathways associated with the naïve and memory B cells respectively, which may offer novel insights into the behaviours of B cells and the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Song
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jing-Yuan Zhang
- Department of Pediatric Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Fang-Yue Liu
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - He-Yi Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiao-Feng Li
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Sheng-Xiao Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China.
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Yasaka K, Yamazaki T, Sato H, Shirai T, Cho M, Ishida K, Ito K, Tanaka T, Ogasawara K, Harigae H, Ishii T, Fujii H. Phospholipase D4 as a signature of toll-like receptor 7 or 9 signaling is expressed on blastic T-bet + B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus. Arthritis Res Ther 2023; 25:200. [PMID: 37840148 PMCID: PMC10577954 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-023-03186-5] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), autoreactive B cells are thought to develop by-passing immune checkpoints and contribute to its pathogenesis. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and 9 signaling have been implicated in their development and differentiation. Although some B cell subpopulations such as T-bet + double negative 2 (DN2) cells have been identified as autoreactive in the past few years, because the upregulated surface markers of those cells are not exclusive to them, it is still challenging to specifically target autoreactive B cells in SLE patients. METHODS Our preliminary expression analysis revealed that phospholipase D4 (PLD4) is exclusively expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) and B cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) samples. Monoclonal antibodies against human PLD4 were generated, and flow cytometry analyses were conducted for PBMCs from 23 healthy donors (HDs) and 40 patients with SLE. In vitro cell culture was also performed to study the conditions that induce PLD4 in B cells from HDs. Finally, recombinant antibodies were synthesized from subpopulations of PLD4 + B cells from a patient with SLE, and their antinuclear activity was measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS pDCs from both groups showed comparable frequency of surface PLD4 expression. PLD4 + B cells accounted for only a few percent of HD B cells, whereas they were significantly expanded in patients with SLE (2.1% ± 0.4% vs. 10.8% ± 1.2%, P < 0.005). A subpopulation within PLD4 + B cells whose cell size was comparable to CD38 + CD43 + plasmablasts was defined as "PLD4 + blasts," and their frequencies were significantly correlated with those of plasmablasts (P < 0.005). PLD4 + blasts phenotypically overlapped with double negative 2 (DN2) cells, and, in line with this, their frequencies were significantly correlated with several clinical markers of SLE. In vitro assay using healthy PBMCs demonstrated that TLR7 or TLR9 stimulation was sufficient to induce PLD4 on the surface of the B cells. Finally, two out of three recombinant antibodies synthesized from PLD4 + blasts showed antinuclear activity. CONCLUSION PLD4 + B cells, especially "blastic" ones, are likely autoreactive B cells undergoing TLR stimulation. Therefore, PLD4 is a promising target marker in SLE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yasaka
- Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Tomohide Yamazaki
- Research and Development Department, Ginkgo Biomedical Research Institute, SBI Biotech Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Sato
- Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Shirai
- Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Minkwon Cho
- Research and Development Department, Ginkgo Biomedical Research Institute, SBI Biotech Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koji Ishida
- Research and Development Department, Ginkgo Biomedical Research Institute, SBI Biotech Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koyu Ito
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Development Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tetsuhiro Tanaka
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kouetsu Ogasawara
- Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Development Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hideo Harigae
- Department of Hematology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tomonori Ishii
- Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Fujii
- Department of Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-Machi, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan.
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Guo F, Pan Q, Chen T, Liao S, Li S, Li A, Chen S, Chen J, Xiao Z, Su H, Yang L, Yang C, Liu HF, Pan Q. hUC-MSC transplantation therapy effects on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice at early disease stages. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:211. [PMID: 37605271 PMCID: PMC10441722 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03432-2] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell (hUC-MSC) transplantation in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been confirmed by small-scale clinical trials. However, these trials focused on severe or refractory SLE, while few studies focused on mild SLE. Therefore, this study focused on the therapeutic effects of hUC-MSC transplantation in early-stage or mild MRL/lpr lupus model mice. METHODS Commercially available hUC-MSCs were transplanted into 8-week-old MRL/lpr mice by tail vein injection. Flow cytometry was used to analyze B cells and their subsets in the peripheral blood. Further, plasma inflammatory factors, autoantibodies, and plasma biochemical indices were detected using protein chip technology and ELISA kits. In addition, pathological staining and immunofluorescence were performed to detect kidney injury in mice. RESULTS hUC-MSC transplantation did not affect the mice's body weight, and both middle and high dose hUC-MSC transplantation (MD and HD group) actually reduced spleen weight. hUC-MSC transplantation significantly decreased the proportion of plasmablasts (PB), IgG1- PB, IgG1+ PB, IgG1+ memory B (MB) cells, IgG1+ DN MB, and IgG1+ SP MB cells. The hUC-MSC transplantation had significantly reduced plasma levels of inflammatory factors, such as TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-13. Pathological staining showed that the infiltration of glomerular inflammatory cells was significantly reduced and that the level of glomerular fibrosis was significantly alleviated in hUC-MSC-transplanted mice. Immunofluorescence assays showed that the deposition of IgG and IgM antibodies in the kidneys of hUC-MSC-transplanted mice was significantly lower than in the control. CONCLUSION hUC-MSC transplantation could inhibit the proliferation and differentiation of peripheral blood B cells in the early-stage of MRL/lpr mice, thereby alleviating the plasma inflammatory environment in mice, leading to kidney injury remission. The study provides a new and feasible strategy for SLE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengbiao Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Quanren Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuzhen Liao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Shangmei Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Aifen Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuxian Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxuan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Zengzhi Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongyong Su
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Lawei Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua-Feng Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China.
| | - Qingjun Pan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Autophagy and Major Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, 524001, Guangdong, China.
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Yang M, Yang B, Deng D. Targeting of EIF4EBP1 by miR-99a-3p affects the functions of B lymphocytes via autophagy and aggravates SLE disease progression. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10291-10305. [PMID: 34668631 PMCID: PMC8572797 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive activation of immune cells plays a key role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The regulation of immune cells by miRNAs is a research hotspot. In this study, second-generation high-throughput sequencing revealed a reduction in miR-99a-3p expression in patients with SLE; however, the specific mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains unclear. After transfection with an miR-99a-3p agomir, the proliferation of Ball-1 cells decreased and the levels of their apoptosis increased. The opposite effects were observed in cells transfected with the miR-99a-3p antagomir. Luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR-99a-3p directly targeted EIF4EBP1. Rescue experiments confirmed the proposed interaction between miR-99a-3p and EIF4EBP1. In vitro, in vivo and clinical investigations further confirmed that the miR-99a-3p agomir reduced the expression of EIF4EBP1, LC3B and LAMP-2A. In the in vivo experiments, serum levels of anti-nuclear antibodies, double-stranded DNA, IgE, IgM, IL-6, IL-10 and B lymphocyte stimulator were higher in mice from the antagomir group than those in mice from the MRL/lpr group. Furthermore, the protein and mRNA levels of EIF4EBP1, LC3B and LAMP-2A, the intensity of immunohistochemical staining of EIF4EBP1, LC3B and LAMP-2A, the urinary protein levels, and the C3 immunofluorescence deposition increased in mice from the antagomir group. The upregulation of miR-99a-3p expression protected B cells from EIF4EBP1-mediated autophagy, whilst the downregulation of miR-99a-3p expression induced autophagy via the EIF4EBP1-mediated regulation of the autophagy signalling pathway in B cells isolated from individuals with SLE. Based on these results, miR-99a-3p and EIF4EBP1 may be considered potential targets for SLE treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yang
- Department of DermatologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
- Department of DermatologyThe Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningGuangxiChina
| | - Binbin Yang
- Department of DermatologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
| | - Danqi Deng
- Department of DermatologyThe Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical UniversityKunmingYunnanChina
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Peng Y, Guo F, Liao S, Liao H, Xiao H, Yang L, Liu H, Pan Q. Altered frequency of peripheral B-cell subsets and their correlation with disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A comprehensive analysis. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:12044-12053. [PMID: 32918534 PMCID: PMC7579696 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternations of peripheral B-cell subsets are closely related to disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may also predict the relapse of SLE. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively analyse the frequency of peripheral B-cell subsets, and their correlation with disease activity in patients with SLE. The results showed that for B-cell subsets in the antigen-independent differentiation stage, the frequency of the peripheral hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) subset in all patients with SLE was significantly higher than that of control patients. Surprisingly, several significant correlations were noted in newly diagnosed patients with SLE including a positive correlation in the frequency of the common lymphoid progenitor cell (CLP) with cholesterol serum levels. For B-cell subsets in the antigen-dependent differentiation stage, the frequency of naïve B-cell (N-B) subsets in all patients with SLE was significantly higher than that in the control patients. Moreover, the frequency of plasmablasts positively correlated with the SLEDAI score in the newly diagnosed patients. For memory B-cell (M-B) subtypes in the antigen-dependent differentiation stage, the frequency of the class-switched memory B-cell (CSM-B) subsets was positively correlated with the serum levels of complement C3. Notably, the frequency of the CSM-B subset also negatively correlated with the SLEDAI score, whereas the non-class-switched memory B-cell (NSM-B) subset was positively correlated with the serum levels of haemoglobin. Collectively, these findings may contribute to a better understanding of the role played by different B-cell subsets in the pathogenesis of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Peng
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
- Central Laboratory and Department of NeurologyShunde HospitalSouthern Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Shunde Foshan)FoshanChina
| | - Fengbiao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyShantou University Medical CollegeShantouChina
| | - Shuzhen Liao
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
| | - Huanjin Liao
- Department of Laboratory MedicineShanghai General HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Haiyan Xiao
- Department of Cellular Biology and AnatomyAugusta UniversityAugustaGAUSA
| | - Lawei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
| | - Hua‐feng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
| | - Qingjun Pan
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease of Zhanjiang CityInstitute of NephrologyAffiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical UniversityZhanjiangChina
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