1
|
Trinh-Minh T, Györfi AH, Tomcik M, Tran-Manh C, Zhou X, Dickel N, Tümerdem BS, Kreuter A, Burmann SN, Borchert SV, Hussain RI, Hallén J, Klingelhöfer J, Kunz M, Distler JHW. Effect of Anti-S100A4 Monoclonal Antibody Treatment on Experimental Skin Fibrosis and Systemic Sclerosis-Specific Transcriptional Signatures in Human Skin. Arthritis Rheumatol 2024; 76:783-795. [PMID: 38108109 DOI: 10.1002/art.42781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE S100A4 is a DAMP protein. S100A4 is overexpressed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and levels correlate with organ involvement and disease activity. S100A4-/- mice are protected from fibrosis. The aim of this study was to assess the antifibrotic effects of anti-S100A4 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in murine models of SSc and in precision cut skin slices of patients with SSc. METHODS The effects of anti-S100A4 mAbs were evaluated in a bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis model and in Tsk-1 mice with a therapeutic dosing regimen. In addition, the effects of anti-S100A4 mAbs on precision cut SSc skin slices were analyzed by RNA sequencing. RESULTS Inhibition of S100A4 was effective in the treatment of pre-established bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis and in regression of pre-established fibrosis with reduced dermal thickening, myofibroblast counts, and collagen accumulation. Transcriptional profiling demonstrated targeting of multiple profibrotic and proinflammatory processes relevant to the pathogenesis of SSc on targeted S100A4 inhibition in a bleomycin-induced skin fibrosis model. Moreover, targeted S100A4 inhibition also modulated inflammation- and fibrosis-relevant gene sets in precision cut SSc skin slices in an ex vivo trial approach. Selected downstream targets of S100A4, such as AMP-activated protein kinase, calsequestrin-1, and phosphorylated STAT3, were validated on the protein level, and STAT3 inhibition was shown to prevent the profibrotic effects of S100A4 on fibroblasts in human skin. CONCLUSION Inhibition of S100A4 confers dual targeting of inflammatory and fibrotic pathways in complementary mouse models of fibrosis and in SSc skin. These effects support the further development of anti-S100A4 mAbs as disease-modifying targeted therapies for SSc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thuong Trinh-Minh
- University Hospital Düsseldorf and Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | | | | | - Cuong Tran-Manh
- University Hospital Düsseldorf and Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xiang Zhou
- University Hospital Düsseldorf and Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicholas Dickel
- Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Kreuter
- Helios St. Elisabeth Klinik Oberhausen, University Witten-Herdecke, Oberhausen, and Helios St. Johannes Klinik Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Sven-Niklas Burmann
- Helios St. Elisabeth Klinik Oberhausen, University Witten-Herdecke, Oberhausen, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Meik Kunz
- Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jörg H W Distler
- University Hospital Düsseldorf and Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Györfi AH, Filla T, Dickel N, Möller F, Li YN, Bergmann C, Matei AE, Harrer T, Kunz M, Schett G, Distler JHW. Performance of serum biomarkers reflective of different pathogenic processes in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2024; 63:962-969. [PMID: 37421394 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of mortality in SSc. Novel biomarkers are crucial to improve outcomes in SSc-ILD. We aimed to compare the performance of potential serum biomarkers of SSc-ILD that reflect different pathogenic processes: KL-6 and SP-D (epithelial injury), CCL18 (type 2 immune response), YKL-40 (endothelial injury and matrix remodelling) and MMP-7 (ECM remodelling). METHODS Baseline and follow-up serum samples from 225 SSc patients were analysed by ELISA. Progressive ILD was defined according to the 2022-ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT guidelines. Linear mixed models and random forest models were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS Serum levels of KL-6 [MD 35.67 (95% CI 22.44-48.89, P < 0.01)], SP-D [81.13 (28.46-133.79, P < 0.01)], CCL18 [17.07 (6.36-27.77, P < 0.01)], YKL-40 [22.81 (7.19-38.44, P < 0.01)] and MMP-7 [2.84 (0.88-4.80, P < 0.01)] were independently associated with the presence of SSc-ILD. A machine-learning model including all candidates classified patients with or without ILD with an accuracy of 85%. The combination of KL-6 and SP-D was associated with the presence [0.77 (0.53-1.00, P' <0.01)] and previous progression of SSc-ILD [OR 1.28 (1.01-1.61, P' =0.047)]. Higher baseline levels of KL-6 [OR 3.70 (1.52-9.03, P < 0.01)] or SP-D [OR 2.00 (1.06-3.78, P = 0.03)] increased the odds of future SSc-ILD progression, independent of other conventional risk factors, and the combination of KL-6 and SP-D [1.109 (0.665-1.554, P < 0.01)] showed improved performance compared with KL-6 and SP-D alone. CONCLUSION All candidates performed well as diagnostic biomarkers for SSc-ILD. The combination of KL-6 and SP-D might serve as biomarker for the identification of SSc patients at risk of ILD progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea-Hermina Györfi
- Clinic for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Hiller Research Unit, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tim Filla
- Clinic for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Hiller Research Unit, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Nicholas Dickel
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Möller
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Yi-Nan Li
- Clinic for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Hiller Research Unit, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christina Bergmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexandru-Emil Matei
- Clinic for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Hiller Research Unit, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Harrer
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Meik Kunz
- Chair of Medical Informatics, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hanover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases (CIMD), Hannover, Germany
| | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jörg H W Distler
- Clinic for Rheumatology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Hiller Research Unit, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Medical Faculty of Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zimmer N, Trzeciak ER, Müller A, Licht P, Sprang B, Leukel P, Mailänder V, Sommer C, Ringel F, Tuettenberg J, Kim E, Tuettenberg A. Nuclear Glycoprotein A Repetitions Predominant (GARP) Is a Common Trait of Glioblastoma Stem-like Cells and Correlates with Poor Survival in Glioblastoma Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5711. [PMID: 38136258 PMCID: PMC10741777 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GB) is notoriously resistant to therapy. GB genesis and progression are driven by glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). One goal for improving treatment efficacy and patient outcomes is targeting GSCs. Currently, there are no universal markers for GSCs. Glycoprotein A repetitions predominant (GARP), an anti-inflammatory protein expressed by activated regulatory T cells, was identified as a possible marker for GSCs. This study evaluated GARP for the detection of human GSCs utilizing a multidimensional experimental design that replicated several features of GB: (1) intratumoral heterogeneity, (2) cellular hierarchy (GSCs with varied degrees of self-renewal and differentiation), and (3) longitudinal GSC evolution during GB recurrence (GSCs from patient-matched newly diagnosed and recurrent GB). Our results indicate that GARP is expressed by GSCs across various cellular states and disease stages. GSCs with an increased GARP expression had reduced self-renewal but no alterations in proliferative capacity or differentiation commitment. Rather, GARP correlated inversely with the expression of GFAP and PDGFR-α, markers of astrocyte or oligodendrocyte differentiation. GARP had an abnormal nuclear localization (GARPNU+) in GSCs and was negatively associated with patient survival. The uniformity of GARP/GARPNU+ expression across different types of GSCs suggests a potential use of GARP as a marker to identify GSCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Zimmer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (P.L.)
| | - Emily R. Trzeciak
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (P.L.)
| | - Andreas Müller
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurooncology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Philipp Licht
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (P.L.)
| | - Bettina Sprang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurooncology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Petra Leukel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Volker Mailänder
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (P.L.)
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Clemens Sommer
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Florian Ringel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Jochen Tuettenberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, SHG-Klinikum Idar-Oberstein, 55743 Idar-Oberstein, Germany;
| | - Ella Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurooncology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Andrea Tuettenberg
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany (P.L.)
- Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| |
Collapse
|