1
|
Su MA. JAK Inhibition Immunotherapy for APS-1. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1918-1921. [PMID: 38810191 DOI: 10.1056/nejme2403419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- From the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics and the Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Smith JA, Yuen BTK, Purtha W, Balolong JM, Phipps JD, Crawford F, Bluestone JA, Kappler JW, Anderson MS. Aire mediates tolerance to insulin through thymic trimming of high-affinity T cell clones. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2320268121. [PMID: 38709934 PMCID: PMC11098115 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2320268121] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Insulin is a central autoantigen in the pathogenesis of T1D, and thymic epithelial cell expression of insulin under the control of the Autoimmune Regulator (Aire) is thought to be a key component of maintaining tolerance to insulin. In spite of this general working model, direct detection of this thymic selection on insulin-specific T cells has been somewhat elusive. Here, we used a combination of highly sensitive T cell receptor transgenic models for detecting thymic selection and sorting and sequencing of Insulin-specific CD4+ T cells from Aire-deficient mice as a strategy to further define their selection. This analysis revealed a number of unique t cell receptor (TCR) clones in Aire-deficient hosts with high affinity for insulin/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) ligands. We then modeled the thymic selection of one of these clones in Aire-deficient versus wild-type hosts and found that this model clone could escape thymic negative selection in the absence of thymic Aire. Together, these results suggest that thymic expression of insulin plays a key role in trimming and removing high-affinity insulin-specific T cells from the repertoire to help promote tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer A. Smith
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Benjamin T. K. Yuen
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Whitney Purtha
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jared M. Balolong
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Jonah D. Phipps
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Frances Crawford
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
| | - Jeffrey A. Bluestone
- Sean N. Parker Autoimmune Research Laboratory, Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - John W. Kappler
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO80206
- Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO80045
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yin M, Smith JA, Chou M, Chan J, Jittayasothorn Y, Gould DB, Caspi RR, Anderson MS, DeFranco AL. Tracking the role of Aire in immune tolerance to the eye with a TCR transgenic mouse model. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311487121. [PMID: 38261611 PMCID: PMC10835137 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311487121] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Roughly one-half of mice with partial defects in two immune tolerance pathways (AireGW/+Lyn-/- mice) spontaneously develop severe damage to their retinas due to T cell reactivity to Aire-regulated interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein (IRBP). Single-cell T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing of CD4+ T cells specific for a predominate epitope of IRBP showed a remarkable diversity of autoantigen-specific TCRs with greater clonal expansions in mice with disease. TCR transgenic mice made with an expanded IRBP-specific TCR (P2.U2) of intermediate affinity exhibited strong but incomplete negative selection of thymocytes. This negative selection was absent in IRBP-/- mice and greatly defective in AireGW/+ mice. Most P2.U2+/- mice and all P2.U.2+/-AireGW/+ mice rapidly developed inflammation of the retina and adjacent uvea (uveitis). Aire-dependent IRBP expression in the thymus also promoted Treg differentiation, but the niche for this fate determination was small, suggesting differences in antigen presentation leading to negative selection vs. thymic Treg differentiation and a stronger role for negative selection in preventing autoimmune disease in the retina.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mianmian Yin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Jennifer A Smith
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Marissa Chou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Jackie Chan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | | | - Douglas B Gould
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Anatomy, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Bakar Aging Research Institute, and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Rachel R Caspi
- Laboratory of Immunology, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-1857
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Anthony L DeFranco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sandru F, Petca RC, Dumitrascu MC, Petca A, Ionescu (Miron) AI, Baicoianu-Nitescu LC. Cutaneous Manifestations in Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy (APECED): A Comprehensive Review. Biomedicines 2024; 12:132. [PMID: 38255237 PMCID: PMC10813467 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/07/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), or polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type 1 (PAS-1/APS-1), is a rare autosomal recessive disorder linked to mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. This review provides a detailed analysis of cutaneous manifestations in APECED, focusing on chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), alopecia areata (AA), and vitiligo. The classic triad of hypoparathyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and CMC serves as a diagnostic cornerstone. However, the varied clinical spectrum of APECED, particularly its cutaneous presentations, poses a diagnostic challenge. CMC, often an early sign, varies in prevalence across populations, including Finnish (100%), Irish (100%), Saudi Arabian (80%), Italian (60-74.7%), North American (51-86%), and Croatian (57.1%) populations. Similarly, AA prevalence varies in different populations. Vitiligo also exhibits variable prevalence across regions. The review synthesizes the current knowledge arising from a narrative analysis of 14 significant human studies published in English up to October 2023. Moreover, this paper underscores the importance of early detection and monitoring, emphasizing cutaneous manifestations as key diagnostic indicators. Ongoing research and clinical vigilance are crucial for unraveling the complexities of this rare autoimmune syndrome and enhancing patient care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florica Sandru
- Department of Dermatovenerology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (F.S.); (L.-C.B.-N.)
- Dermatology Department, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Razvan-Cosmin Petca
- Department of Urology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Urology, ‘Prof. Dr. Th. Burghele’ Clinical Hospital, 050659 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Cristian Dumitrascu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Emergency Hospital of Bucharest, 050098 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aida Petca
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Andreea-Iuliana Ionescu (Miron)
- Department of Oncological Radiotherapy and Medical Imaging, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Medical Oncology, Colțea Clinical Hospital, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Livia-Cristiana Baicoianu-Nitescu
- Department of Dermatovenerology, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania; (F.S.); (L.-C.B.-N.)
- Dermatology Department, “Elias” University Emergency Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Seyedsadr M, Bang M, McCarthy E, Zhang S, Chen HC, Mohebbi M, Hugo W, Whitmire JK, Lechner MG, Su MA. A pathologically expanded, clonal lineage of IL-21 producing CD4+ T cells drives Inflammatory neuropathy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.07.574553. [PMID: 38260637 PMCID: PMC10802410 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.07.574553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Inflammatory neuropathies, which include CIDP (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy) and GBS (Guillain Barre Syndrome), result from autoimmune destruction of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and are characterized by progressive weakness and sensory loss. CD4+ T cells play a key role in the autoimmune destruction of the PNS. Yet, key properties of pathogenic CD4+ T cells remain incompletely understood. Here, we use paired scRNAseq and scTCRseq of peripheral nerves from an inflammatory neuropathy mouse model to identify IL-21 expressing CD4+ T cells that are clonally expanded and multifunctional. These IL-21-expressing CD4+ T cells are comprised of two transcriptionally distinct expanded populations, which express genes associated with Tfh and Tph subsets. Remarkably, TCR clonotypes are shared between these two IL-21-expressing populations, suggesting a common lineage differentiation pathway. Finally, we demonstrate that IL-21 signaling is required for neuropathy development and pathogenic T cell infiltration into peripheral nerves. IL-21 signaling upregulates CXCR6, a chemokine receptor that promotes CD4+ T cell localization in peripheral nerves. Together, these findings point to IL-21 signaling, Tfh/Tph differentiation, and CXCR6-mediated cellular localization as potential therapeutic targets in inflammatory neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maryamsadat Seyedsadr
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Madison Bang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ethan McCarthy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Shirley Zhang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Ho-Chung Chen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Mahnia Mohebbi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Willy Hugo
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | | | - Melissa G. Lechner
- Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
- Department of Pediatrics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine; Los Angeles, CA 90095
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Peterson P. Novel Insights into the Autoimmunity from the Genetic Approach of the Human Disease. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2024; 1444:3-18. [PMID: 38467969 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-9781-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Autoimmune-polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a monogenic inborn error of autoimmunity that is caused by damaging germline variants in the AIRE gene and clinically manifests with multiple autoimmune diseases in patients. Studies on the function of the AIRE gene, discovered in 1997, have contributed to fundamental aspects of human immunology as they have been important in understanding the basic mechanism of immune balance between self and non-self. This chapter looks back to the discovery of the AIRE gene, reviews its main properties, and discusses the key findings of its function in the thymus. However, more recent autoantibody profilings in APECED patients have highlighted a gap in our knowledge of the disease pathology and point to the need to revisit the current paradigm of AIRE function. The chapter reviews these new findings in APECED patients, which potentially trigger new thoughts on the mechanism of immune tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedical and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ishikawa T, Horie K, Takakura Y, Ohki H, Maruyama Y, Hayama M, Miyauchi M, Miyao T, Hagiwara N, Kobayashi TJ, Akiyama N, Akiyama T. T-cell receptor repertoire analysis of CD4-positive T cells from blood and an affected organ in an autoimmune mouse model. Genes Cells 2023; 28:929-941. [PMID: 37909727 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13079] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
One hallmark of some autoimmune diseases is the variability of symptoms among individuals. Organs affected by the disease differ between patients, posing a challenge in diagnosing the affected organs. Although numerous studies have investigated the correlation between T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires and the development of infectious and immune diseases, the correlation between TCR repertoires and variations in disease symptoms among individuals remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of TCRα and β repertoires in blood T cells with the extent of autoimmune signs that varies among individuals. We sequenced TCRα and β of CD4+ CD44high CD62Llow T cells in the blood and stomachs of mice deficient in autoimmune regulator (Aire) (AIRE KO), a mouse model of human autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. Data analysis revealed that the degree of similarity in TCR sequences between the blood and stomach varied among individual AIRE KO mice and reflected the extent of T cell infiltration in the stomach. We identified a set of TCR sequences whose frequencies in blood might correlate with extent of the stomach manifestations. Our results propose a potential of using TCR repertoires not only for diagnosing disease development but also for diagnosing affected organs in autoimmune diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kenta Horie
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuki Takakura
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Houko Ohki
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Yuya Maruyama
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Mio Hayama
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Maki Miyauchi
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Takahisa Miyao
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Naho Hagiwara
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Nobuko Akiyama
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Taishin Akiyama
- Laboratory of Immune Homeostasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
- Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sin JH, Sucharov J, Kashyap S, Wang Y, Proekt I, Liu X, Parent AV, Gupta A, Kastner P, Chan S, Gardner JM, Ntranos V, Miller CN, Anderson MS, Schjerven H, Waterfield MR. Ikaros is a principal regulator of Aire + mTEC homeostasis, thymic mimetic cell diversity, and central tolerance. Sci Immunol 2023; 8:eabq3109. [PMID: 37889983 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq3109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the zinc-finger transcription factor Ikaros (IKZF1) are found in patients with immunodeficiency, leukemia, and autoimmunity. Although Ikaros has a well-established function in modulating gene expression programs important for hematopoietic development, its role in other cell types is less well defined. Here, we uncover functions for Ikaros in thymic epithelial lineage development in mice and show that Ikzf1 expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) is required for both autoimmune regulator-positive (Aire+) mTEC development and tissue-specific antigen (TSA) gene expression. Accordingly, TEC-specific deletion of Ikzf1 in mice results in a profound decrease in Aire+ mTECs, a global loss of TSA gene expression, and the development of autoimmunity. Moreover, Ikaros shapes thymic mimetic cell diversity, and its deletion results in a marked expansion of thymic tuft cells and muscle-like mTECs and a loss of other Aire-dependent mimetic populations. Single-cell analysis reveals that Ikaros modulates core transcriptional programs in TECs that correlate with the observed cellular changes. Our findings highlight a previously undescribed role for Ikaros in regulating epithelial lineage development and function and suggest that failed thymic central tolerance could contribute to the autoimmunity seen in humans with IKZF1 mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hyung Sin
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Juliana Sucharov
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sujit Kashyap
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- 10x Genomics, Pleasanton, CA, USA
| | - Irina Proekt
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Xian Liu
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Audrey V Parent
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Gupta
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Philippe Kastner
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM U 1258, CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - Susan Chan
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM U 1258, CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France
| | - James M Gardner
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Vasilis Ntranos
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Diabetes Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hilde Schjerven
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Waterfield
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Casanova JL, Anderson MS. Unlocking life-threatening COVID-19 through two types of inborn errors of type I IFNs. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e166283. [PMID: 36719370 PMCID: PMC9888384 DOI: 10.1172/jci166283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2003, rare inborn errors of human type I IFN immunity have been discovered, each underlying a few severe viral illnesses. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs due to rare inborn errors of autoimmune regulator (AIRE)-driven T cell tolerance were discovered in 2006, but not initially linked to any viral disease. These two lines of clinical investigation converged in 2020, with the discovery that inherited and/or autoimmune deficiencies of type I IFN immunity accounted for approximately 15%-20% of cases of critical COVID-19 pneumonia in unvaccinated individuals. Thus, insufficient type I IFN immunity at the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a general determinant of life-threatening COVID-19. These findings illustrate the unpredictable, but considerable, contribution of the study of rare human genetic diseases to basic biology and public health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Laurent Casanova
- St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, INSERM U1163, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France
- Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
- Department of Pediatrics, Necker Hospital for Sick Children, Paris, France
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark S. Anderson
- Diabetes Center and
- Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Characterisation of APS-1 Experimental Models Is Crucial for Development of Novel Therapies. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:7960443. [PMID: 36685668 PMCID: PMC9848810 DOI: 10.1155/2023/7960443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is an inherited autosomal disorder. The most common clinical features of the disease include adrenocortical failure, hypoparathyroidism (HP), and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). APS-1 is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE is a transcriptional factor involved in the regulation of thousands of genes in the thymus. It facilitates central tolerance by promoting the ectopic expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), leading to the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes. Several Aire-deficient mice were developed separately, on different backgrounds; seven published Aire knockout mice show a variety of phenotypes depending on the strain used to generate the experimental model. The first Aire-deficient mice were generated on a "black 6" background almost 20 years ago. The model showed mild phenotype with relatively modest penetrance compared to models generated on BALBc or NOD backgrounds. The generation of all these experimental models is crucial for development and testing new therapeutics as well as reading the response to treatments.
Collapse
|
11
|
Sun Y, Yuan Y, Zhang B, Zhang X. CARs: a new approach for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 66:711-728. [PMID: 36346550 PMCID: PMC9641699 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2212-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based therapeutic interventions represented a breakthrough in cancer treatment. Following the success of the CAR-T-cell strategy, this novel therapeutic approach has been applied to other diseases, including autoimmune diseases. Using CAR-T cells to deplete pathological immune cells (i.e., B cells, autoreactive B or T cells, and accessory antigen-presenting cells (APCs)) has resulted in favorable outcomes in diseases characterized by excessive autoantibody levels or hyperactive lymphocyte cell numbers. The importance of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) in restoring immune tolerance has been well established, and CAR-Tregs have shown promising therapeutic potential in treating autoimmune diseases. Moreover, prior experience from the cancer field has provided sufficient paradigms for understanding how to optimize the structure and function of CARs to improve their function, persistence, stability and safety. In this review, we describe the potential application of CAR-T cells and CAR-Tregs in the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and we summarize the currently available strategies of gene editing and synthetic biological tools that have improved the practical application of CAR-based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeting Sun
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College; Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yeshuang Yuan
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College; Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine; State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Bo Zhang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Xuan Zhang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Santos JC, Dametto M, Masson AP, Faça VM, Bonacin R, Donadi EA, Passos GA. The AIRE G228W mutation disturbs the interaction of AIRE with its partner molecule SIRT1. Front Immunol 2022; 13:948419. [PMID: 36148232 PMCID: PMC9485725 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.948419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein functions as a tetramer, interacting with partner proteins to form the “AIRE complex,” which relieves RNA Pol II stalling in the chromatin of medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). AIRE is the primary mTEC transcriptional controller, promoting the expression of a large set of peripheral tissue antigen genes implicated in the negative selection of self-reactive thymocytes. Under normal conditions, the SIRT1 protein temporarily interacts with AIRE and deacetylates K residues of the AIRE SAND domain. Once the AIRE SAND domain is deacetylated, the binding with SIRT1 is undone, allowing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with the RNA Pol II to the elongation phase of transcription. Considering that the in silico and in vitro binding of the AIRE SAND domain with SIRT1 provides a powerful model system for studying the dominant SAND G228W mutation mechanism, which causes the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome-1, we integrated computational molecular modeling, docking, dynamics between the whole SAND domain with SIRT1, and surface plasmon resonance using a peptide harboring the 211 to 230 residues of the SAND domain, to compare the structure and energetics of binding/release between AIRE G228 (wild-type) and W228 (mutant) SAND domain to SIRT1. We observed that the G228W mutation in the SAND domain negatively influences the AIRE-SIRT1 interaction. The disturbed interaction might cause a disruption in the binding of the AIRE SAND domain with the SIRT1 catalytic site, impairing the AIRE complex to proceed downstream with RNA Pol II.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jadson C. Santos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariangela Dametto
- Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI Brazil), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Masson
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Vitor M. Faça
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Bonacin
- Renato Archer Information Technology Center (CTI Brazil), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A. Donadi
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Geraldo Aleixo Passos
- Molecular Immunogenetics Group, Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Department of Basic and Oral Biology, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Center for Cell-Based Therapy in Dentistry, School of Dentistry of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Geraldo Aleixo Passos,
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Qi Y, Zhang R, Lu Y, Zou X, Yang W. Aire and Fezf2, two regulators in medullary thymic epithelial cells, control autoimmune diseases by regulating TSAs: Partner or complementer? Front Immunol 2022; 13:948259. [PMID: 36110862 PMCID: PMC9468217 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.948259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) is believed to be responsible for the elimination of autoreactive T cells, a critical process in the maintenance of central immune tolerance. The transcription factor autoimmune regulator (Aire) and FEZ family zinc finger 2(Fezf2) play an essential role in driving the expression of TSAs in mTECs, while their deficiency in humans and mice causes a range of autoimmune manifestations, such as type 1 diabetes, Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. However, because of their regulatory mechanisms, the expression profile of TSAs and their relationship with special autoimmune diseases are still in dispute. In this review, we compare the roles of Aire and Fezf2 in regulating TSAs, with an emphasis on their molecular mechanisms in autoimmune diseases, which provides the foundation for devising improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Wei Yang
- *Correspondence: Wei Yang, ; Xueyang Zou,
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lechner MG, Cheng MI, Patel AY, Hoang AT, Yakobian N, Astourian M, Pioso MS, Rodriguez ED, McCarthy EC, Hugo W, Angell TE, Drakaki A, Ribas A, Su MA. Inhibition of IL-17A Protects against Thyroid Immune-Related Adverse Events while Preserving Checkpoint Inhibitor Antitumor Efficacy. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:696-709. [PMID: 35817515 PMCID: PMC9378719 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy leverages the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells but leads to unwanted autoimmune side effects in up to 60% of patients. Such immune-related adverse events (IrAEs) may lead to treatment interruption, permanent organ dysfunction, hospitalization, and premature death. Thyroiditis is one of the most common IrAEs, but the cause of thyroid IrAEs remains unknown. In this study, we use a new, physiologically relevant mouse model of ICI-associated autoimmunity to identify a key role for type 3 immune cells in the development of thyroid IrAEs. Multiple lineages of IL-17A-producing T cells expand in thyroid tissue with ICI treatment. Intrathyroidal IL-17A-producing innate-like γδT17 cells were increased in tumor-free mice, whereas adaptive Th17 cells were also prominent in tumor-bearing mice, following ICI treatment. Furthermore, Ab-based inhibition of IL-17A, a clinically available therapy, significantly reduced thyroid IrAE development in ICI-treated mice with and without tumor challenge. Finally, combination of IL-17A neutralization with ICI treatment in multiple tumor models did not reduce ICI antitumor efficacy. These studies suggest that targeting Th17 and γδT17 cell function via the IL-17A axis may reduce IrAEs without impairing ICI antitumor efficacy and may be a generalizable strategy to address type 3 immune-mediated IrAEs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa G Lechner
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA;
| | - Mandy I Cheng
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Anushi Y Patel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Aline T Hoang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | | | - Michael Astourian
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Marissa S Pioso
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Eduardo D Rodriguez
- Department of Pathology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Ethan C McCarthy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Willy Hugo
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Trevor E Angell
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Alexandra Drakaki
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; and
| | - Antoni Ribas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; and
| | - Maureen A Su
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Aubin AM, Lombard-Vadnais F, Collin R, Aliesky HA, McLachlan SM, Lesage S. The NOD Mouse Beyond Autoimmune Diabetes. Front Immunol 2022; 13:874769. [PMID: 35572553 PMCID: PMC9102607 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune diabetes arises spontaneously in Non-Obese Diabetic (NOD) mice, and the pathophysiology of this disease shares many similarities with human type 1 diabetes. Since its generation in 1980, the NOD mouse, derived from the Cataract Shinogi strain, has represented the gold standard of spontaneous disease models, allowing to investigate autoimmune diabetes disease progression and susceptibility traits, as well as to test a wide array of potential treatments and therapies. Beyond autoimmune diabetes, NOD mice also exhibit polyautoimmunity, presenting with a low incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis and Sjögren’s syndrome. Genetic manipulation of the NOD strain has led to the generation of new mouse models facilitating the study of these and other autoimmune pathologies. For instance, following deletion of specific genes or via insertion of resistance alleles at genetic loci, NOD mice can become fully resistant to autoimmune diabetes; yet the newly generated diabetes-resistant NOD strains often show a high incidence of other autoimmune diseases. This suggests that the NOD genetic background is highly autoimmune-prone and that genetic manipulations can shift the autoimmune response from the pancreas to other organs. Overall, multiple NOD variant strains have become invaluable tools for understanding the pathophysiology of and for dissecting the genetic susceptibility of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. An interesting commonality to all autoimmune diseases developing in variant strains of the NOD mice is the presence of autoantibodies. This review will present the NOD mouse as a model for studying autoimmune diseases beyond autoimmune diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Marie Aubin
- Immunology-Oncology Division, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Félix Lombard-Vadnais
- Immunology-Oncology Division, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Roxanne Collin
- Immunology-Oncology Division, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- CellCarta, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Holly A. Aliesky
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sandra M. McLachlan
- Thyroid Autoimmune Disease Unit, Cedars-Sinai Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Sylvie Lesage
- Immunology-Oncology Division, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Département de Microbiologie, Infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Sylvie Lesage, ;
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Ahn SH, Nguyen SL, Kim TH, Jeong JW, Arora R, Lydon JP, Petroff MG. Nuclear Progesterone Receptor Expressed by the Cortical Thymic Epithelial Cells Dictates Thymus Involution in Murine Pregnancy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:846226. [PMID: 35498436 PMCID: PMC9046655 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.846226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Progesterone is a gonadal pro-gestational hormone that is absolutely necessary for the success of pregnancy. Most notable actions of progesterone are observed in the female reproductive organs, the uterus and the ovary. Acting through the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR), progesterone prepares the endometrium for implantation of the embryo. Interestingly, the maternal thymus also is a known expressor of Pgr; its absence is associated with murine pregnancy complications. However, the localization of its expression and its functional importance were not known. Here, we used a transgenic dual fluorescent reporter mouse model and genetic deletion of Pgr in Foxn1+ thymic epithelial cells (TEC) to demonstrate TEC-specific Pgr expression in pregnancy, especially in the cortex where thymocyte maturation occurs. Using our TEC-specific Pgr deletion mouse model, we demonstrate that TEC-specific Pgr is necessary for pregnancy-induced thymic involution in pregnancy. Our investigation reveals that PGR expression is upregulated in the cortical thymic epithelial cells during pregnancy, and that PGR expression is important for thymic involution during murine pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Ahn
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Sean L. Nguyen
- Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Tae Hoon Kim
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jae-Wook Jeong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Ripla Arora
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - John P. Lydon
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Margaret G. Petroff
- Department of Pathobiology Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Pathogenic TNF-α drives peripheral nerve inflammation in an Aire-deficient model of autoimmunity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2114406119. [PMID: 35058362 PMCID: PMC8795502 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2114406119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune cells infiltrate the peripheral nervous system (PNS) after injury and with autoimmunity, but their net effect is divergent. After injury, immune cells are reparative, while in inflammatory neuropathies (e.g., Guillain Barré Syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy), immune cells are proinflammatory and promote autoimmune demyelination. An understanding of immune cell phenotypes that distinguish these conditions may, therefore, reveal new therapeutic targets for switching immune cells from an inflammatory role to a reparative state. In an autoimmune regulator (Aire)-deficient mouse model of inflammatory neuropathy, we used single-cell RNA sequencing of sciatic nerves to discover a transcriptionally heterogeneous cellular landscape, including multiple myeloid, innate lymphoid, and lymphoid cell types. Analysis of cell-cell ligand-receptor interactions uncovered a macrophage-mediated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) signaling axis that is induced by interferon-γ and required for initiation of autoimmune demyelination. Developmental trajectory visualization suggested that TNF-α signaling is associated with metabolic reprogramming of macrophages and polarization of macrophages from a reparative state in injury to a pathogenic, inflammatory state in autoimmunity. Autocrine TNF-α signaling induced macrophage expression of multiple genes (Clec4e, Marcksl1, Cxcl1, and Cxcl10) important in immune cell activation and recruitment. Genetic and antibody-based blockade of TNF-α/TNF-α signaling ameliorated clinical neuropathy, peripheral nerve infiltration, and demyelination, which provides preclinical evidence that the TNF-α axis may be effectively targeted to resolve inflammatory neuropathies.
Collapse
|
18
|
Kaiser C, Bradu A, Gamble N, Caldwell JA, Koh AS. AIRE in context: Leveraging chromatin plasticity to trigger ectopic gene expression. Immunol Rev 2022; 305:59-76. [PMID: 34545959 PMCID: PMC9250823 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of antigen receptor diversity in clonotypic lymphocytes drove the evolution of a novel gene, Aire, that enabled the adaptive immune system to discriminate foreign invaders from self-constituents. AIRE functions in the epithelial cells of the thymus to express genes highly restricted to alternative cell lineages. This somatic plasticity facilitates the selection of a balanced repertoire of T cells that protects the host from harmful self-reactive clones, yet maintains a wide range of affinities for virtually any foreign antigen. Here, we review the latest understanding of AIRE's molecular actions with a focus on its interplay with chromatin. We argue that AIRE is a multi-valent chromatin effector that acts late in the transcription cycle to modulate the activity of previously poised non-coding regulatory elements of tissue-specific genes. We postulate a role for chromatin instability-caused in part by ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling-that variably sets the scope of the accessible landscape on which AIRE can act. We highlight AIRE's intrinsic repressive function and its relevance in providing feedback control. We synthesize these recent advances into a putative model for the mechanistic modes by which AIRE triggers ectopic transcription for immune repertoire selection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kaiser
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexandra Bradu
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Noah Gamble
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jason A. Caldwell
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew S. Koh
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Martinez-Ruíz GU, Morales-Sánchez A, Bhandoola A. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in thymic epithelial cells. Immunol Rev 2022; 305:43-58. [PMID: 34750841 PMCID: PMC8766885 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The thymus is required for the development of both adaptive and innate-like T cell subsets. There is keen interest in manipulating thymic function for therapeutic purposes in circumstances of autoimmunity, immunodeficiency, and for purposes of immunotherapy. Within the thymus, thymic epithelial cells play essential roles in directing T cell development. Several transcription factors are known to be essential for thymic epithelial cell development and function, and a few transcription factors have been studied in considerable detail. However, the role of many other transcription factors is less well understood. Further, it is likely that roles exist for other transcription factors not yet known to be important in thymic epithelial cells. Recent progress in understanding of thymic epithelial cell heterogeneity has provided some new insight into transcriptional requirements in subtypes of thymic epithelial cells. However, it is unknown whether progenitors of thymic epithelial cells exist in the adult thymus, and consequently, developmental relationships linking putative precursors with differentiated cell types are poorly understood. While we do not presently possess a clear understanding of stage-specific requirements for transcription factors in thymic epithelial cells, new single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies should enable rapid progress in this field. Here, we review our current knowledge of transcription factors involved in the development, maintenance, and function of thymic epithelial cells, and the mechanisms by which they act.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Ulises Martinez-Ruíz
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Research Division, Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Abigail Morales-Sánchez
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Mexico Federico Gomez, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Avinash Bhandoola
- T Cell Biology and Development Unit, Laboratory of Genome Integrity, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Goldfarb Y, Givony T, Kadouri N, Dobeš J, Peligero-Cruz C, Zalayat I, Damari G, Dassa B, Ben-Dor S, Gruper Y, Oftedal BE, Bratland E, Erichsen MM, Berger A, Avin A, Nevo S, Haljasorg U, Kuperman Y, Ulman A, Haffner-Krausz R, Porat Z, Atasoy U, Leshkowitz D, Husebye ES, Abramson J. Mechanistic dissection of dominant AIRE mutations in mouse models reveals AIRE autoregulation. J Exp Med 2021; 218:e20201076. [PMID: 34477806 PMCID: PMC8421262 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is essential for the establishment of central tolerance and prevention of autoimmunity. Interestingly, different AIRE mutations cause autoimmunity in either recessive or dominant-negative manners. Using engineered mouse models, we establish that some monoallelic mutants, including C311Y and C446G, cause breakdown of central tolerance. By using RNAseq, ATACseq, ChIPseq, and protein analyses, we dissect the underlying mechanisms for their dominancy. Specifically, we show that recessive mutations result in a lack of AIRE protein expression, while the dominant mutations in both PHD domains augment the expression of dysfunctional AIRE with altered capacity to bind chromatin and induce gene expression. Finally, we demonstrate that enhanced AIRE expression is partially due to increased chromatin accessibility of the AIRE proximal enhancer, which serves as a docking site for AIRE binding. Therefore, our data not only elucidate why some AIRE mutations are recessive while others dominant, but also identify an autoregulatory mechanism by which AIRE negatively modulates its own expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Tal Givony
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Noam Kadouri
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jan Dobeš
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Itay Zalayat
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Golda Damari
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yael Gruper
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Bergithe E. Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eirik Bratland
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | - Amund Berger
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ayelet Avin
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Nevo
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Uku Haljasorg
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Yael Kuperman
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Adi Ulman
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ziv Porat
- Flow Cytometry Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ulus Atasoy
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Dena Leshkowitz
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eystein S. Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science and K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University and Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Ferré EMN, Schmitt MM, Lionakis MS. Autoimmune Polyendocrinopathy-Candidiasis-Ectodermal Dystrophy. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:723532. [PMID: 34790633 PMCID: PMC8591095 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.723532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), also known as autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1 (APS-1), is a rare monogenic autoimmune disease caused by loss-of-function mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE deficiency impairs immune tolerance in the thymus and results in the peripheral escape of self-reactive T lymphocytes and the generation of several cytokine- and tissue antigen-targeted autoantibodies. APECED features a classic triad of characteristic clinical manifestations consisting of chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC), hypoparathyroidism, and primary adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease). In addition, APECED patients develop several non-endocrine autoimmune manifestations with variable frequencies, whose recognition by pediatricians should facilitate an earlier diagnosis and allow for the prompt implementation of targeted screening, preventive, and therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes our current understanding of the genetic, immunological, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment features of APECED.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michail S. Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Wolff ASB, Braun S, Husebye ES, Oftedal BE. B Cells and Autoantibodies in AIRE Deficiency. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1274. [PMID: 34572460 PMCID: PMC8466229 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9091274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a rare but severe monogenetic autoimmune endocrine disease caused by failure of the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE). AIRE regulates the negative selection of T cells in the thymus, and the main pathogenic mechanisms are believed to be T cell-mediated, but little is known about the role of B cells. Here, we give an overview of the role of B cells in thymic and peripheral tolerance in APS-1 patients and different AIRE-deficient mouse models. We also look closely into which autoantibodies have been described for this disorder, and their implications. Based on what is known about B cell therapy in other autoimmune disorders, we outline the potential of B cell therapies in APS-1 and highlight the unresolved research questions to be answered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anette S. B. Wolff
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (A.S.B.W.); (S.B.); (E.S.H.)
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Sarah Braun
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (A.S.B.W.); (S.B.); (E.S.H.)
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Ruprecht-Karls University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Eystein S. Husebye
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (A.S.B.W.); (S.B.); (E.S.H.)
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E. Oftedal
- Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway; (A.S.B.W.); (S.B.); (E.S.H.)
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- KG Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Disorders, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Peterson P, Kisand K, Kluger N, Ranki A. Loss of AIRE-Mediated Immune Tolerance and the Skin. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:760-767. [PMID: 34535292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The core function of the immune response is to distinguish between self and foreign. The multiorgan human autoimmune disease, autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED/autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1) is an example of what happens in the body when central immune tolerance goes astray. APECED revealed the existence and function of the autoimmune regulator gene, which has a central role in the development of tolerance. The discovery of autoimmune regulator was the start of a new period in immunology and in understanding the role of central and peripheral tolerance, also very relevant to many skin diseases as we highlight in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pärt Peterson
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Kai Kisand
- Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Nicolas Kluger
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annamari Ranki
- Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology, Clinicum, University of Helsinki, and Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Huoh YS, Hur S. Death domain fold proteins in immune signaling and transcriptional regulation. FEBS J 2021; 289:4082-4097. [PMID: 33905163 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Death domain fold (DDF) superfamily comprises of the death domain (DD), death effector domain (DED), caspase activation recruitment domain (CARD), and pyrin domain (PYD). By utilizing a conserved mode of interaction involving six distinct surfaces, a DDF serves as a building block that can densely pack into homomultimers or filaments. Studies of immune signaling components have revealed that DDF-mediated filament formation plays a central role in mediating signal transduction and amplification. The unique ability of DDFs to self-oligomerize upon external signals and induce oligomerization of partner molecules underlies key processes in many innate immune signaling pathways, as exemplified by RIG-I-like receptor signalosome and inflammasome assembly. Recent studies showed that DDFs are not only limited to immune signaling pathways, but also are involved with transcriptional regulation and other biological processes. Considering that DDF annotation still remains a challenge, the current list of DDFs and their functions may represent just the tip of the iceberg within the full spectrum of DDF biology. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of DDF functions, structures, and assembly architectures with a focus on CARD- and PYD-containing proteins. We also discuss areas of future research and the potential relationship of DDFs with biomolecular condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-San Huoh
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA
| | - Sun Hur
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Besnard M, Padonou F, Provin N, Giraud M, Guillonneau C. AIRE deficiency, from preclinical models to human APECED disease. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm046359. [PMID: 33729987 PMCID: PMC7875492 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare life-threatening autoimmune disease that attacks multiple organs and has its onset in childhood. It is an inherited condition caused by a variety of mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene that encodes a protein whose function has been uncovered by the generation and study of Aire-KO mice. These provided invaluable insights into the link between AIRE expression in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs), and the broad spectrum of self-antigens that these cells express and present to the developing thymocytes. However, these murine models poorly recapitulate all phenotypic aspects of human APECED. Unlike Aire-KO mice, the recently generated Aire-KO rat model presents visual features, organ lymphocytic infiltrations and production of autoantibodies that resemble those observed in APECED patients, making the rat model a main research asset. In addition, ex vivo models of AIRE-dependent self-antigen expression in primary mTECs have been successfully set up. Thymus organoids based on pluripotent stem cell-derived TECs from APECED patients are also emerging, and constitute a promising tool to engineer AIRE-corrected mTECs and restore the generation of regulatory T cells. Eventually, these new models will undoubtedly lead to main advances in the identification and assessment of specific and efficient new therapeutic strategies aiming to restore immunological tolerance in APECED patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marine Besnard
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Francine Padonou
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Nathan Provin
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Carole Guillonneau
- Université de Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
García-Ceca J, Montero-Herradón S, Zapata AG. Intrathymic Selection and Defects in the Thymic Epithelial Cell Development. Cells 2020; 9:cells9102226. [PMID: 33023072 PMCID: PMC7601110 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intimate interactions between thymic epithelial cells (TECs) and thymocytes (T) have been repeatedly reported as essential for performing intrathymic T-cell education. Nevertheless, it has been described that animals exhibiting defects in these interactions were capable of a proper positive and negative T-cell selection. In the current review, we first examined distinct types of TECs and their possible role in the immune surveillance. However, EphB-deficient thymi that exhibit profound thymic epithelial (TE) alterations do not exhibit important immunological defects. Eph and their ligands, the ephrins, are implicated in cell attachment/detachment and govern, therefore, TEC–T interactions. On this basis, we hypothesized that a few normal TE areas could be enough for a proper phenotypical and functional maturation of T lymphocytes. Then, we evaluated in vivo how many TECs would be necessary for supporting a normal T-cell differentiation, concluding that a significantly low number of TEC are still capable of supporting normal T lymphocyte maturation, whereas with fewer numbers, T-cell maturation is not possible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier García-Ceca
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Montero-Herradón
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín G. Zapata
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (J.G.-C.); (S.M.-H.)
- Health Research Institute, Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), 28041 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-91-394-4979
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Almaghrabi S, Azzouz M, Tazi Ahnini R. AAV9-mediated AIRE gene delivery clears circulating antibodies and tissue T-cell infiltration in a mouse model of autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1. Clin Transl Immunology 2020; 9:e1166. [PMID: 32994995 PMCID: PMC7507015 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type-1 (APS-1) is a monogenic recessive disorder characterised by multiple endocrine abnormalities, chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and high titres of serum autoantibodies. To date, no curative treatment is available; current therapies manage the symptoms rather than treating the cause and have major side effects. APS-1 is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. AIRE mediates central tolerance by directing the ectopic expression of tissue-specific antigens (TSAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells, causing the deletion of self-reactive thymocytes. Therefore, loss-of-function mutations in AIRE result in a multisystem autoimmune disease. Because of the monogenic aetiology of APS-1 and availability of an APS-1 mouse model, we have explored the option of restoring functional AIRE using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9). METHODS The efficacy of AAV9-AIRE (AAV9 carrying AIRE cDNA) gene therapy was assessed in an APS-1 mouse model. We performed intrathymic injection of AAV9-AIRE into APS-1 mouse model using ultrasound imaging technique to accurately locating the thymus. We evaluated the efficiency of this approach alongside measures of autoimmunity and histology of target tissues. RESULTS Intrathymic injection of AAV9-AIRE demonstrated high transduction efficiency and restored AIRE expression in the thymus. AIRE gene delivery led to a significant increase in TSA expression, and importantly a significant reduction of serum autoantibodies in treated versus control mice, which fell to near-undetectable levels by 4 weeks post-treatment. Furthermore, histological analysis of treated animals showed near-normal tissue morphology with no lymphocytic infiltrations, a hallmark of untreated Aire-deficient mice. CONCLUSION This study has demonstrated the feasibility of AAV9-AIRE as a vehicle for gene therapy for APS-1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Almaghrabi
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Faculty of Applied Medical SciencesKing Abdulaziz UniversityJeddahSaudi Arabia
| | - Mimoun Azzouz
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITRaN)Department of NeuroscienceThe Medical SchoolUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Rachid Tazi Ahnini
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular DiseaseUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Zheng WB, Li LJ, Zhao DC, Wang O, Jiang Y, Xia WB, Li M. A novel variant in AIRE causing a rare, non‑classical autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:1285-1294. [PMID: 32627016 PMCID: PMC7339480 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS‑1) is a rare inherited autoimmune disease, characterized by a classic triad, including chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, primary adrenocortical insufficiency and hypoparathyroidism. The present study investigated phenotypes and pathogenic variants in a Chinese woman with non‑classical APS‑1. Disease‑associated variants in a patient with APS‑1 were identified via targeted next generation sequencing and the variant was confirmed via Sanger sequencing. Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH), follicle‑stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol and urinary levels of calcium were measured. Blood count assays and bone marrow morphology were investigated. The patient was a 32‑year‑old woman who had suffered from typical carpopedal spasms since she was 7 years old. She developed syncope, primary amenorrhea, intermittent diarrhea and general fatigue in subsequent years. Hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, low levels of PTH and estradiol, elevated levels of FSH and LH, and absence of erythroblasts were observed, which indicated hypoparathyroidism, primary ovarian insufficiency and pure red cell aplasia. A novel heterozygous missense variant (NM_000383.2: c.623G>T, NP_000374.1: p.Gly208Val) in exon 5 of autoimmune regulator and a reported variant (NM_000383.2: c.371C>T, NP_000374.1: p.Pro124Leu) in exon 3 were detected, of which the c.623G>T variant may be a pathogenic variation that induces APS‑1. Under a regular follow‑up and therapeutic adjustment of calcium, calcitriol, hormone replacement therapy and methylprednisolone, the endocrine function and clinical symptoms of the patient were notably improved. The results of the present study expand the known genetic and phenotypical spectra of APS‑1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bin Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Lu-Jiao Li
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Di-Chen Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Ou Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Bo Xia
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Endocrinology, National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
The Speckled Protein (SP) Family: Immunity's Chromatin Readers. Trends Immunol 2020; 41:572-585. [PMID: 32386862 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin 'readers' are central interpreters of the epigenome that facilitate cell-specific transcriptional programs and are therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammation. The Speckled Protein (SP) family of chromatin 'readers' in humans consists of SP100, SP110, SP140, and SP140L. SPs possess functional domains (SAND, PHD, bromodomain) that dock to DNA or post-translationally modified histones and a caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD) to promote multimerization. Mutations within immune expressed SPs associate with numerous immunological diseases including Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, veno-occlusive disease with immunodeficiency, as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, underscoring their importance in immune regulation. In this review, we posit that SPs are central chromatin regulators of gene silencing that establish immune cell identity and function.
Collapse
|
30
|
Huoh YS, Wu B, Park S, Yang D, Bansal K, Greenwald E, Wong WP, Mathis D, Hur S. Dual functions of Aire CARD multimerization in the transcriptional regulation of T cell tolerance. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1625. [PMID: 32242017 PMCID: PMC7118133 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15448-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregate-like biomolecular assemblies are emerging as new conformational states with functionality. Aire, a transcription factor essential for central T cell tolerance, forms large aggregate-like assemblies visualized as nuclear foci. Here we demonstrate that Aire utilizes its caspase activation recruitment domain (CARD) to form filamentous homo-multimers in vitro, and this assembly mediates foci formation and transcriptional activity. However, CARD-mediated multimerization also makes Aire susceptible to interaction with promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) bodies, sites of many nuclear processes including protein quality control of nuclear aggregates. Several loss-of-function Aire mutants, including those causing autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1, form foci with increased PML body association. Directing Aire to PML bodies impairs the transcriptional activity of Aire, while dispersing PML bodies with a viral antagonist restores this activity. Our study thus reveals a new regulatory role of PML bodies in Aire function, and highlights the interplay between nuclear aggregate-like assemblies and PML-mediated protein quality control.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-San Huoh
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 637551, Singapore
| | - Sehoon Park
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Darren Yang
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kushagra Bansal
- Department of Immunology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Molecular Biology & Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore, 560 064, India
| | - Emily Greenwald
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Wesley P Wong
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Diane Mathis
- Department of Immunology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Sun Hur
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology Blavatnik Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wolbert J, Cheng MI, Meyer zu Horste G, Su MA. Deciphering immune mechanisms in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathies. JCI Insight 2020; 5:132411. [PMID: 32051341 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.132411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an autoimmune disease of the peripheral nerves that presents with either chronic progression or relapsing disease. Recent studies in samples from patients with CIDP and mouse models have delineated how defects in central (thymic) and peripheral (extrathymic) immune tolerance mechanisms can cause PNS autoimmunity. Notably, nerve parenchymal cells actively contribute to local autoimmunity and also control disease outcome. Here, we outline how emerging technologies increasingly enable an integrated view of how immune cells and PNS parenchymal cells communicate in CIDP. We also relate the known heterogeneity of clinical presentation with specific underlying mechanisms. For example, a severe subtype of CIDP with tremor is associated with pathogenic IgG4 autoantibodies against nodal and paranodal proteins. An improved understanding of pathogenic mechanisms in CIDP will form the basis for more effective mechanism-based therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Wolbert
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mandy I Cheng
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Medical Genetics and
| | - Gerd Meyer zu Horste
- Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Maureen A Su
- Department of Microbiology Immunology and Medical Genetics and.,Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Su MA, Anderson MS. Pulling RANK on Cancer: Blocking Aire-Mediated Central Tolerance to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancer Immunol Res 2019; 7:854-859. [PMID: 31160305 PMCID: PMC6550349 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-18-0912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A major breakthrough in cancer treatment occurred with the development of strategies that overcome T-cell tolerance toward tumor cells. These approaches enhance antitumor immunity by overcoming mechanisms that are normally in place to prevent autoimmunity but simultaneously prevent rejection of tumor cells. Although tolerance mechanisms that restrict antitumor immunity take place both in the thymus and periphery, only immunotherapies that target peripheral tolerance mechanisms occurring outside of the thymus are currently available. We review here recent gains in our understanding of how thymic tolerance mediated by the autoimmune regulator (Aire) impedes antitumor immunity. It is now clear that transient depletion of Aire-expressing cells in the thymus can be achieved with RANKL blockade. Finally, we discuss key findings that support the repurposing of anti-RANKL as a cancer immunotherapy with a unique mechanism of action.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maureen A Su
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics and Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Constantine GM, Lionakis MS. Lessons from primary immunodeficiencies: Autoimmune regulator and autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy. Immunol Rev 2019; 287:103-120. [PMID: 30565240 PMCID: PMC6309421 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The discovery of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein and the delineation of its critical contributions in the establishment of central immune tolerance has significantly expanded our understanding of the immunological mechanisms that protect from the development of autoimmune disease. The parallel identification and characterization of patient cohorts with the monogenic disorder autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), which is typically caused by biallelic AIRE mutations, has underscored the critical contribution of AIRE in fungal immune surveillance at mucosal surfaces and in prevention of multiorgan autoimmunity in humans. In this review, we synthesize the current clinical, genetic, molecular and immunological knowledge derived from basic studies in Aire-deficient animals and from APECED patient cohorts. We also outline major advances and research endeavors that show promise for informing improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with APECED.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Constantine
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Allard DE, Wang Y, Li JJ, Conley B, Xu EW, Sailer D, Kimpston C, Notini R, Smith CJ, Koseoglu E, Starmer J, Zeng XL, Howard JF, Hoke A, Scherer SS, Su MA. Schwann cell-derived periostin promotes autoimmune peripheral polyneuropathy via macrophage recruitment. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:4727-4741. [PMID: 30222134 DOI: 10.1172/jci99308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) and Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) are inflammatory neuropathies that affect humans and are characterized by peripheral nerve myelin destruction and macrophage-containing immune infiltrates. In contrast to the traditional view that the peripheral nerve is simply the target of autoimmunity, we report here that peripheral nerve Schwann cells exacerbate the autoimmune process through extracellular matrix (ECM) protein induction. In a spontaneous autoimmune peripheral polyneuropathy (SAPP) mouse model of inflammatory neuropathy and CIDP nerve biopsies, the ECM protein periostin (POSTN) was upregulated in affected sciatic nerves and was primarily expressed by Schwann cells. Postn deficiency delayed the onset and reduced the extent of neuropathy, as well as decreased the number of macrophages infiltrating the sciatic nerve. In an in vitro assay, POSTN promoted macrophage chemotaxis in an integrin-AM (ITGAM) and ITGAV-dependent manner. The PNS-infiltrating macrophages in SAPP-affected nerves were pathogenic, since depletion of macrophages protected against the development of neuropathy. Our findings show that Schwann cells promote macrophage infiltration by upregulating Postn and suggest that POSTN is a novel target for the treatment of macrophage-associated inflammatory neuropathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jian Joel Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Bridget Conley
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Erin W Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Sailer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Caellaigh Kimpston
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rebecca Notini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Emel Koseoglu
- Neurology Department, School of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
| | - Joshua Starmer
- Department of Genetics and 7Department of Neurology, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiaopei L Zeng
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - James F Howard
- Department of Neurology, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ahmet Hoke
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Steven S Scherer
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maureen A Su
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology and.,Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH), Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Eriksson D, Bianchi M, Landegren N, Dalin F, Skov J, Hultin-Rosenberg L, Mathioudaki A, Nordin J, Hallgren Å, Andersson G, Tandre K, Rantapää Dahlqvist S, Söderkvist P, Rönnblom L, Hulting AL, Wahlberg J, Dahlqvist P, Ekwall O, Meadows JRS, Lindblad-Toh K, Bensing S, Rosengren Pielberg G, Kämpe O. Common genetic variation in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) locus is associated with autoimmune Addison's disease in Sweden. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8395. [PMID: 29849176 PMCID: PMC5976627 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26842-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) is the predominating cause of primary adrenal failure. Despite its high heritability, the rarity of disease has long made candidate-gene studies the only feasible methodology for genetic studies. Here we conducted a comprehensive reinvestigation of suggested AAD risk loci and more than 1800 candidate genes with associated regulatory elements in 479 patients with AAD and 2394 controls. Our analysis enabled us to replicate many risk variants, but several other previously suggested risk variants failed confirmation. By exploring the full set of 1800 candidate genes, we further identified common variation in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) as a novel risk locus associated to sporadic AAD in our study. Our findings not only confirm that multiple loci are associated with disease risk, but also show to what extent the multiple risk loci jointly associate to AAD. In total, risk loci discovered to date only explain about 7% of variance in liability to AAD in our study population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Eriksson
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Matteo Bianchi
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nils Landegren
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frida Dalin
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jakob Skov
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lina Hultin-Rosenberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Argyri Mathioudaki
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jessika Nordin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åsa Hallgren
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Göran Andersson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karolina Tandre
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Peter Söderkvist
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lars Rönnblom
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna-Lena Hulting
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeanette Wahlberg
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Dahlqvist
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Olov Ekwall
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammation Research, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jennifer R S Meadows
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Lindblad-Toh
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sophie Bensing
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gerli Rosengren Pielberg
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Olle Kämpe
- Department of Medicine (Solna), Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases, Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Huang F, Shao W, Fujinaga K, Peterlin BM. Bromodomain-containing protein 4-independent transcriptional activation by autoimmune regulator (AIRE) and NF-κB. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:4993-5004. [PMID: 29463681 PMCID: PMC5892592 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) are transcription factors (TFs) that direct the expression of individual genes and gene clusters. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is an epigenetic regulator that recognizes and binds to acetylated histones. BRD4 also has been reported to promote interactions between the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) and AIRE or P-TEFb and NF-κB subunit p65. Here, we report that AIRE and p65 bind to P-TEFb independently of BRD4. JQ1, a compound that disrupts interactions between BRD4 and acetylated proteins, does not decrease transcriptional activities of AIRE or p65. Moreover, siRNA-mediated inactivation of BRD4 alone or in combination with JQ1 had no effects on AIRE- and NF-κB-targeted genes on plasmids and in chromatin and on interactions between P-TEFb and AIRE or NF-κB. Finally, ChIP experiments revealed that recruitment of P-TEFb to AIRE or p65 to transcription complexes was independent of BRD4. We conclude that direct interactions between AIRE, NF-κB, and P-TEFb result in efficient transcription of their target genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Huang
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Wei Shao
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Koh Fujinaga
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - B Matija Peterlin
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Smith CJ, Allard DE, Wang Y, Howard JF, Montgomery SA, Su MA. IL-10 Paradoxically Promotes Autoimmune Neuropathy through S1PR1-Dependent CD4 + T Cell Migration. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2018; 200:1580-1592. [PMID: 29367208 PMCID: PMC5821539 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1701280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a debilitating condition caused by autoimmune demyelination of peripheral nerves. CIDP is associated with increased IL-10, a cytokine with well-described anti-inflammatory effects. However, the role of IL-10 in CIDP is unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that IL-10 paradoxically exacerbates autoimmunity against peripheral nerves. In IL-10-deficient mice, protection from neuropathy was associated with an accrual of highly activated CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes and absence of infiltrating immune cells in peripheral nerves. Accumulated CD4+ T cells in draining lymph nodes of IL-10-deficient mice expressed lower sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1pr1), a protein important in lymphocyte egress. Additionally, IL-10 stimulation in vitro induced S1pr1 expression in lymph node cells in a STAT3-dependent manner. Together, these results delineate a novel mechanism in which IL-10-induced STAT3 increases S1pr1 expression and CD4+ T cell migration to accelerate T cell-mediated destruction of peripheral nerves.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Collin-Jamal Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Denise E Allard
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - James F Howard
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Stephanie A Montgomery
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; and
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| | - Maureen A Su
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599;
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
About two decades ago, cloning of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene materialized one of the most important actors on the scene of self-tolerance. Thymic transcription of genes encoding tissue-specific antigens (ts-ags) is activated by AIRE protein and embodies the essence of thymic self-representation. Pathogenic AIRE variants cause the autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, which is a rare and complex disease that is gaining attention in research on autoimmunity. The animal models of disease, although not identically reproducing the human picture, supply fundamental information on mechanisms and extent of AIRE action: thanks to its multidomain structure, AIRE localizes to chromatin enclosing the target genes, binds to histones, and offers an anchorage to multimolecular complexes involved in initiation and post-initiation events of gene transcription. In addition, AIRE enhances mRNA diversity by favoring alternative mRNA splicing. Once synthesized, ts-ags are presented to, and cause deletion of the self-reactive thymocyte clones. However, AIRE function is not restricted to the activation of gene transcription. AIRE would control presentation and transfer of self-antigens for thymic cellular interplay: such mechanism is aimed at increasing the likelihood of engagement of the thymocytes that carry the corresponding T-cell receptors. Another fundamental role of AIRE in promoting self-tolerance is related to the development of thymocyte anergy, as thymic self-representation shapes at the same time the repertoire of regulatory T cells. Finally, AIRE seems to replicate its action in the secondary lymphoid organs, albeit the cell lineage detaining such property has not been fully characterized. Delineation of AIRE functions adds interesting data to the knowledge of the mechanisms of self-tolerance and introduces exciting perspectives of therapeutic interventions against the related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Perniola
- Department of Pediatrics, Neonatal Intensive Care, Vito Fazzi Regional Hospital, Lecce, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Koh AS, Miller EL, Buenrostro JD, Moskowitz DM, Wang J, Greenleaf WJ, Chang HY, Crabtree GR. Rapid chromatin repression by Aire provides precise control of immune tolerance. Nat Immunol 2018; 19:162-172. [PMID: 29335648 PMCID: PMC6049828 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-017-0032-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Aire mediates the expression of tissue-specific antigens in thymic epithelial cells to promote tolerance against self-reactive T lymphocytes. However, the mechanism that allows expression of tissue-specific genes at levels that prevent harm is unknown. Here we show that Brg1 generates accessibility at tissue-specific loci to impose central tolerance. We found that Aire has an intrinsic repressive function that restricts chromatin accessibility and opposes Brg1 across the genome. Aire exerted this repressive influence within minutes after recruitment to chromatin and restrained the amplitude of active transcription. Disease-causing mutations that impair Aire-induced activation also impair the protein's repressive function, which indicates dual roles for Aire. Together, Brg1 and Aire fine-tune the expression of tissue-specific genes at levels that prevent toxicity yet promote immune tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Koh
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
| | - Erik L Miller
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jason D Buenrostro
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Society of Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David M Moskowitz
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - William J Greenleaf
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerburg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Howard Y Chang
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gerald R Crabtree
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Berrih-Aknin S, Panse RL, Dragin N. AIRE: a missing link to explain female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1412:21-32. [PMID: 29291257 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Revised: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Women are more susceptible to autoimmune diseases than men. Autoimmunity results from tolerance breakdown toward self-components. Recently, three transcription modulators were identified in medullary thymic epithelial cells that orchestrate immune central tolerance processes: the autoimmune regulator (AIRE), FEZ family zinc finger 2 (FEZF2 or FEZ1), and PR domain zinc finger protein 1 (PRDM1). Interestingly, these three transcription modulators regulate nonredundant tissue-specific antigen subsets and thus cover broad antigen diversity. Recent data from different groups demonstrated that sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) are involved in the regulation of thymic AIRE expression in humans and mice through direct transcriptional modulation and epigenetic changes. As a consequence, AIRE displays gender-biased thymic expression, with females showing a lower expression compared with males, a finding that could explain the female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. So far, FEZF2 has not been related to an increased gender bias in autoimmune disease. PRDM1 expression has not been shown to display gender-differential thymic expression, but its expression level and its gene polymorphisms are associated with female-dependent autoimmune disease risk. Altogether, various studies have demonstrated that increased female susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is in part a consequence of hormone-driven reduced thymic AIRE expression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Berrih-Aknin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Rozen Le Panse
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
| | - Nadine Dragin
- UPMC Sorbonne Universities, Paris, France
- INSERM U974, Paris, France
- AIM, Institute of Myology, Paris, France
- Inovarion, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Proekt I, Miller CN, Lionakis MS, Anderson MS. Insights into immune tolerance from AIRE deficiency. Curr Opin Immunol 2017; 49:71-78. [PMID: 29065385 PMCID: PMC5705335 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIRE is a well-established master regulator of central tolerance. It plays an essential role in driving expression of tissue-specific antigens in the thymus and shaping the development of positively selected T-cells. Humans and mice with compromised or absent AIRE function have markedly variable phenotypes that include a range of autoimmune manifestations. Recent evidence suggests that this variability stems from cooperation of autoimmune susceptibilities involving both central and peripheral tolerance checkpoints. Here we discuss the broadening understanding of the factors that influence Aire expression, modify AIRE function, and the impact and intersection of AIRE with peripheral immunity. This rapidly expanding body of knowledge will force a reexamination of the definition and clinical management of APS-1 patients as well as provide a foundation for the development of immunomodulatory strategies targeting central tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Proekt
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Corey N Miller
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID), NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Mark S Anderson
- Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Bakhru P, Zhu ML, Wang HH, Hong LK, Khan I, Mouchess M, Gulati AS, Starmer J, Hou Y, Sailer D, Lee S, Zhao F, Kirkwood JM, Moschos S, Fong L, Anderson MS, Su MA. Combination central tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade unleashes antimelanoma immunity. JCI Insight 2017; 2:93265. [PMID: 28931755 PMCID: PMC5621898 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.93265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Blockade of immune checkpoint proteins (e.g., CTLA-4, PD-1) improves overall survival in advanced melanoma; however, therapeutic benefit is limited to only a subset of patients. Because checkpoint blockade acts by "removing the brakes" on effector T cells, the efficacy of checkpoint blockade may be constrained by the limited pool of melanoma-reactive T cells in the periphery. In the thymus, autoimmune regulator (Aire) promotes deletion of T cells reactive against self-antigens that are also expressed by tumors. Thus, while protecting against autoimmunity, Aire also limits the generation of melanoma-reactive T cells. Here, we show that Aire deficiency in mice expands the pool of CD4+ T cells capable of melanoma cell eradication and has additive effects with anti-CTLA-4 antibody in slowing melanoma tumor growth and increasing survival. Moreover, pharmacologic blockade of central T cell tolerance and peripheral checkpoint blockade in combination enhanced antimelanoma immunity in a synergistic manner. In melanoma patients treated with anti-CTLA-4 antibody, clinical response to therapy was associated with a human Aire polymorphism. Together, these findings suggest that Aire-mediated central tolerance constrains the efficacy of peripheral checkpoint inhibition and point to simultaneous blockade of Aire and checkpoint inhibitors as a novel strategy to enhance antimelanoma immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Bakhru
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Meng-Lei Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hsing-Hui Wang
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lee K. Hong
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Imran Khan
- Diabetes Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Ajay S. Gulati
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, and
| | - Joshua Starmer
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yafei Hou
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David Sailer
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sandra Lee
- Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
| | - Fengmin Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - John M. Kirkwood
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Melanoma and Skin Cancer Program, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stergios Moschos
- Melanoma Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group, and
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, and
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lawrence Fong
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Maureen A. Su
- Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Zimmerman O, Rosen LB, Swamydas M, Ferre EMN, Natarajan M, van de Veerdonk F, Holland SM, Lionakis MS. Autoimmune Regulator Deficiency Results in a Decrease in STAT1 Levels in Human Monocytes. Front Immunol 2017; 8:820. [PMID: 28769929 PMCID: PMC5509791 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder typically caused by biallelic autoimmune regulator (AIRE) mutations that manifests with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) and autoimmunity. Patients with STAT1 gain-of-function (GOF) mutations also develop CMC and autoimmunity; they exhibit increased STAT1 protein levels at baseline and STAT1 phosphorylation (pSTAT1) upon interferon (IFN)-γ stimulation relative to healthy controls. AIRE interacts functionally with a protein that directly regulates STAT1, namely protein inhibitor of activated STAT1, which inhibits STAT1 activation. Given the common clinical features between patients with AIRE and STAT1 GOF mutations, we sought to determine whether APECED patients also exhibit increased levels of STAT1 protein and phosphorylation in CD14+ monocytes. We obtained peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 8 APECED patients and 13 healthy controls and assessed the levels of STAT1 protein and STAT1 tyrosine phosphorylation at rest and following IFN-γ stimulation, as well as the levels of STAT1 mRNA. The mean STAT1 protein levels in CD14+ monocytes exhibited a ~20% significant decrease in APECED patients both at rest and after IFN-γ stimulation relative to that of healthy donors. Similarly, the mean peak value of IFN-γ-induced pSTAT1 level was ~20% significantly lower in APECED patients compared to that in healthy controls. The decrease in STAT1 and peak pSTAT1 in APECED patients was not accompanied by decreased STAT1 mRNA or anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies; instead, it correlated with the presence of autoantibodies to type I IFN and decreased AIRE−/− monocyte surface expression of IFN-γ receptor 2. Our data show that, in contrast to patients with STAT1 GOF mutations, APECED patients show a moderate but consistent and significant decrease in total STAT1 protein levels, associated with lower peak levels of pSTAT1 molecules after IFN-γ stimulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ofer Zimmerman
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lindsey B Rosen
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Muthulekha Swamydas
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Elise M N Ferre
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mukil Natarajan
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Frank van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Steven M Holland
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Michail S Lionakis
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Immunology, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Nistal M, Paniagua R, González-Peramato P, Reyes-Múgica M. Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, Chapter 22. Testicular Involvement in Systemic Diseases. Pediatr Dev Pathol 2017; 19:431-451. [PMID: 25333836 DOI: 10.2350/14-09-1556-pb.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Normal testicular physiology requires appropriate function of endocrine glands and other tissues. Testicular lesions have been described in disorders involving the hypothalamus-hypophysis, thyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal tract. Testicular abnormalities can also associate with chronic anemia, obesity, and neoplasia. Although many of the disorders that affect the above-mentioned glands and tissues are congenital, acquired lesions may result in hypogonadism in children and adolescents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Nistal
- 1 Department of Pathology, Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Ricardo Paniagua
- 2 Department of Cell Biology, Universidad de Alcala, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar González-Peramato
- 1 Department of Pathology, Hospital La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Miguel Reyes-Múgica
- 3 Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Herzig Y, Nevo S, Bornstein C, Brezis MR, Ben-Hur S, Shkedy A, Eisenberg-Bord M, Levi B, Delacher M, Goldfarb Y, David E, Weinberger L, Viukov S, Ben-Dor S, Giraud M, Hanna JH, Breiling A, Lyko F, Amit I, Feuerer M, Abramson J. Transcriptional programs that control expression of the autoimmune regulator gene Aire. Nat Immunol 2017; 18:161-172. [PMID: 27941786 DOI: 10.1038/ni.3638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Aire is a transcriptional regulator that induces promiscuous expression of thousands of genes encoding tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) in medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs). While the target genes of Aire are well characterized, the transcriptional programs that regulate its own expression have remained elusive. Here we comprehensively analyzed both cis-acting and trans-acting regulatory mechanisms and found that the Aire locus was insulated by the global chromatin organizer CTCF and was hypermethylated in cells and tissues that did not express Aire. In mTECs, however, Aire expression was facilitated by concurrent eviction of CTCF, specific demethylation of exon 2 and the proximal promoter, and the coordinated action of several transcription activators, including Irf4, Irf8, Tbx21, Tcf7 and Ctcfl, which acted on mTEC-specific accessible regions in the Aire locus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan Herzig
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shir Nevo
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chamutal Bornstein
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Miriam R Brezis
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sharon Ben-Hur
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Aya Shkedy
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | | | - Ben Levi
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michael Delacher
- Research Group Immune Tolerance, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eyal David
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Leehee Weinberger
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sergey Viukov
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Shifra Ben-Dor
- Bioinformatics Unit, Biological Services Department, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Matthieu Giraud
- Department of Infection Immunity and Inflammation, Cochin Institute, Paris, France
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Achim Breiling
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Frank Lyko
- Division of Epigenetics, DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ido Amit
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Markus Feuerer
- Research Group Immune Tolerance, Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jakub Abramson
- Department of Immunology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Valenzise M, Aversa T, Salzano G, Zirilli G, De Luca F, Su M. Novel insight into Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polineuropathy in APECED syndrome: molecular mechanisms and clinical implications in children. Ital J Pediatr 2017; 43:11. [PMID: 28257655 PMCID: PMC5347821 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-017-0331-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal-dystrophy (APECED) is a rare primary immunodeficiency disorder typically caused by homozygous AIRE gene mutation. It is characterized by the association of multiple autoimmune diseases, with a classical triad including chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis, hypoparathyroidism and adrenocortical failure. Its clinical spectrum has significantly enlarged in the last years with the apparence of new entities. One of these novel manifestations is the chronic inflammatory demyelinating polineuropathy (CIDP), that is characterized by involvement of peripheral nervous system, with nerve demyelination, progressive muscular weakness of both arms and legs and sensory loss. The identification of myelin protein zero as an important autoantigen (Ag) in CIDP may suggest the development of Ag-based therapies, such as Ag-specific DNA vaccination or infusion of Ag-coupled cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariella Valenzise
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Tommaso Aversa
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Salzano
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Zirilli
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Filippo De Luca
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria-98125, Messina, Italy
| | - Maureen Su
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology- UNC Hospitals Children’s Specialty Clinic- Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Sarker I, Miah MBA, Hannan MA, Sultana N, Fariduddin M. Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1: A Rare Case Report And Review Of The Literature. AACE Clin Case Rep 2017. [DOI: 10.4158/ep161366.cr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
|
48
|
Bruserud Ø, Oftedal BE, Wolff AB, Husebye ES. AIRE-mutations and autoimmune disease. Curr Opin Immunol 2016; 43:8-15. [PMID: 27504588 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The gene causing the severe organ-specific autoimmune disease autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type-1 (APS-1) was identified in 1997 and named autoimmune regulator (AIRE). AIRE plays a key role in shaping central immunological tolerance by facilitating negative selection of T cells in the thymus, building the thymic microarchitecture, and inducing a specific subset of regulatory T cells. So far, about 100 mutations have been identified. Recent advances suggest that certain mutations located in the SAND and PHD1 domains exert a dominant negative effect on wild type AIRE resulting in milder seemingly common forms of autoimmune diseases, including pernicious anemia, vitiligo and autoimmune thyroid disease. These findings indicate that AIRE also contribute to autoimmunity in more common organ-specific autoimmune disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Øyvind Bruserud
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Bergithe E Oftedal
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Anette B Wolff
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Eystein S Husebye
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway; Department of Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Proekt I, Miller CN, Jeanne M, Fasano KJ, Moon JJ, Lowell CA, Gould DB, Anderson MS, DeFranco AL. LYN- and AIRE-mediated tolerance checkpoint defects synergize to trigger organ-specific autoimmunity. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:3758-3771. [PMID: 27571405 PMCID: PMC5087700 DOI: 10.1172/jci84440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of the genetic factors associated with human autoimmune disease suggest a multigenic origin of susceptibility; however, how these factors interact and through which tolerance pathways they operate generally remain to be defined. One key checkpoint occurs through the activity of the autoimmune regulator AIRE, which promotes central T cell tolerance. Recent reports have described a variety of dominant-negative AIRE mutations that likely contribute to human autoimmunity to a greater extent than previously thought. In families with these mutations, the penetrance of autoimmunity is incomplete, suggesting that other checkpoints play a role in preventing autoimmunity. Here, we tested whether a defect in LYN, an inhibitory protein tyrosine kinase that is implicated in systemic autoimmunity, could combine with an Aire mutation to provoke organ-specific autoimmunity. Indeed, mice with a dominant-negative allele of Aire and deficiency in LYN spontaneously developed organ-specific autoimmunity in the eye. We further determined that a small pool of retinal protein-specific T cells escaped thymic deletion as a result of the hypomorphic Aire function and that these cells also escaped peripheral tolerance in the presence of LYN-deficient dendritic cells, leading to highly destructive autoimmune attack. These findings demonstrate how 2 distinct tolerance pathways can synergize to unleash autoimmunity and have implications for the genetic susceptibility of autoimmune disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marion Jeanne
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, Institute for Human Genetics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - James J. Moon
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Douglas B. Gould
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Anatomy, Institute for Human Genetics, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Shao W, Zumer K, Fujinaga K, Peterlin BM. FBXO3 Protein Promotes Ubiquitylation and Transcriptional Activity of AIRE (Autoimmune Regulator). J Biol Chem 2016; 291:17953-63. [PMID: 27365398 PMCID: PMC5016183 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.724401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcription factor which is expressed in medullary thymic epithelial cells. It directs the expression of otherwise tissue-specific antigens, which leads to the elimination of autoreactive T cells during development. AIRE is modified post-translationally by phosphorylation and ubiquitylation. In this report we connected these modifications. AIRE, which is phosphorylated on two specific residues near its N terminus, then binds to the F-box protein 3 (FBXO3) E3 ubiquitin ligase. In turn, this SCF(FBXO3) (SKP1-CUL1-F box) complex ubiquitylates AIRE, increases its binding to the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), and potentiates its transcriptional activity. Because P-TEFb is required for the transition from initiation to elongation of transcription, this interaction ensures proper expression of AIRE-responsive tissue-specific antigens in the thymus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wei Shao
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-07030703 and
| | - Kristina Zumer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Koh Fujinaga
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-07030703 and
| | - B Matija Peterlin
- From the Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-07030703 and
| |
Collapse
|