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Article
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Antigen-specific Fab profiling achieves molecular-resolution analysis of human autoantibody repertoires in rheumatoid arthritis
Although many autoimmune diseases are characterized by the presence of autoantibodies, complete characterisation of autoantibody repertoires is lacking. Here, the authors introduce an autoantigen-specific Fab profiling method to show that the autoantibody repertoire in rheumatoid arthritis is diverse yet dominated only by a few clones.
- Eva Maria Stork
- , Danique M. H. van Rijswijck
- & Albert Bondt
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Article
| Open Access
Regulatory T cells expressing CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor restore homeostasis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic and progressive autoimmune disease characterized by abnormally activated B cells causing organ damage. Here authors introduce an adoptive cell therapy involving regulatory T cells overexpressing FoxP3 and harboring an anti-CD19 CAR to inhibit pathological B cells and thus tissue-harming autoimmunity in a humanized mouse model.
- M. Doglio
- , A. Ugolini
- & C. Bonini
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Article
| Open Access
IKK2 controls the inflammatory potential of tissue-resident regulatory T cells in a murine gain of function model
Loss of function mutation studies has provided insights into regulatory T-cell biology. Here Cardinez et al explore the effects of a murine Ikbkb (IKK2) gain of function model and show IKK2 activity results in the expansion of regulatory T cells with partial effector function and suggest an IKK2 dose-dependent relation between psoriatic immunopathology and psoriatic arthritis.
- Chelisa Cardinez
- , Yuwei Hao
- & Matthew C. Cook
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Article
| Open Access
Rab4A-directed endosome traffic shapes pro-inflammatory mitochondrial metabolism in T cells via mitophagy, CD98 expression, and kynurenine-sensitive mTOR activation
Activation of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is important in the metabolic function of proinflammatory T cells in autoimmunity. Here the authors characterise how Rab4A is involved with CD98 and endosome recycling which subsequently affects mTOR activation, autoimmunity and T cell expansion.
- Nick Huang
- , Thomas Winans
- & Andras Perl
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Article
| Open Access
Distinct transcriptomes and autocrine cytokines underpin maturation and survival of antibody-secreting cells in systemic lupus erythematosus
Autoantibody production is a hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, the authors demonstrate that antibody-secreting cells from patients with SLE display features of premature maturation and increased survival, which are mediated by intrinsic and extrinsic programmes including autocrine APRIL.
- Weirong Chen
- , So-Hee Hong
- & Ignacio Sanz
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Article
| Open Access
Chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress in myotonic dystrophy type 2 promotes autoimmunity via mitochondrial DNA release
Myotonic dystrophy type 2 is characterized by large CCUG repeats in the CNBP gene that result in myopathy. Here, the authors show that recognition of aberrant protein translation derived from these repeats leads to ER stress and mitochondrial DNA release, leading to cGAS/STING activation and type-I IFN responses.
- Sarah Rösing
- , Fabian Ullrich
- & Claudia Günther
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Article
| Open Access
TYK2 signaling promotes the development of autoreactive CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and type 1 diabetes
TYK2 is a candidate susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and a beneficial effect has been reported for TYK2 inhibitors for other autoimmune diseases. In this study, the authors generate Tyk2 KO mice on a NOD background and demonstrate that TYK2 signaling drives CD8+ T cell autoreactivity and T1D.
- Keiichiro Mine
- , Seiho Nagafuchi
- & Keizo Anzai
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Article
| Open Access
EFHD2 suppresses intestinal inflammation by blocking intestinal epithelial cell TNFR1 internalization and cell death
Physiologically, the host suppresses intestinal epithelial cell death to prevent intestinal inflammation. Here, the authors show that EF-hand domain-containing protein D2 (EFHD2) endogenously suppresses intestinal epithelial cell death by blocking TNFR1 internalization and protects the intestine from excessive inflammation.
- Jiacheng Wu
- , Xiaoqing Xu
- & Xuetao Cao
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Review Article
| Open Access
The genetic basis of autoimmunity seen through the lens of T cell functional traits
Genetic risk variants for autoimmune diseases are largely enriched in T cell-specific regulatory regions. In this review, Raychaudhuri and colleagues summarise the findings of recent studies evaluating the genetic regulation of T cell molecular and functional traits in these diseases.
- Kaitlyn A. Lagattuta
- , Hannah L. Park
- & Soumya Raychaudhuri
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Article
| Open Access
Smith-specific regulatory T cells halt the progression of lupus nephritis
Antigen specific regulatory T cells (Treg) play key roles in the peripheral tolerance to suppress autoreactive immune cells and represent potential avenue for therapeutic intervention. Here the authors identify Smith specific Treg and engineer Treg based cell therapy showing suppression of inflammation in a murine model of lupus nephritis.
- Peter J. Eggenhuizen
- , Rachel M. Y. Cheong
- & Joshua D. Ooi
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Article
| Open Access
Single-cell insights into immune dysregulation in rheumatoid arthritis flare versus drug-free remission
Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are characterised by relapsing-remitting flares, which are difficult to study due to their unpredictable nature. Here the authors use an experimental model of immunomodulatory drug cessation in RA patients combined with multi-omic analysis of circulating leukocytes to characterise the immune response for those with arthritis flare versus drug-free remission.
- Kenneth F. Baker
- , David McDonald
- & John D. Isaacs
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Article
| Open Access
Mitochondrial protein C15ORF48 is a stress-independent inducer of autophagy that regulates oxidative stress and autoimmunity
Stress-independent autophagy is less understood than stress-induced autophagy and is important for thymic self-tolerance. Here the authors show that a mitochondrial protein C15ORF48 is important for stress-independent autophagy and alters glutathione metabolism and C15orf48 knockout mice develop autoimmunity and changes to thymic epithelial cells.
- Yuki Takakura
- , Moeka Machida
- & Noritaka Yamaguchi
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Article
| Open Access
Expression of E-cadherin by CD8+ T cells promotes their invasion into biliary epithelial cells
The presence of CD8+ T cells in the cytoplasm of biliary epithelial cells (BEC) has been associated with primary biliary cholangitis. Here, the authors demonstrate that CD8+ T cells invade BEC using a mechanism that is dependent on cytoskeletal rearrangements and E-cadherin:β-catenin interactions.
- Scott P. Davies
- , Vincenzo Ronca
- & Ye H. Oo
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Article
| Open Access
Systems-based identification of the Hippo pathway for promoting fibrotic mesenchymal differentiation in systemic sclerosis
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease causing skin fibrosis and organ inflammation. Here the authors generate and analyze SSc skin single cell RNA sequencing data to propose contributions from both myofibroblasts and endothelial-to-mesenchymal -transitioning cells (EndoMT) to skin fibrosis, and to implicate the involvement of Hippo signaling pathways.
- Feiyang Ma
- , Pei-Suen Tsou
- & Johann E. Gudjonsson
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Article
| Open Access
Synovial microenvironment-influenced mast cells promote the progression of rheumatoid arthritis
Mast cells have been shown to be involved with rheumatoid arthritis, but the mechanisms are not clear. Here using mouse models and making association with human patients, the authors show mast cells have an important function in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, involving regulation of T cell responses and release of mast cell mediators.
- Yunxuan Lei
- , Xin Guo
- & Guangjie Chen
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Article
| Open Access
MCT1-governed pyruvate metabolism is essential for antibody class-switch recombination through H3K27 acetylation
B cell activation and differentiation entails metabolic remodelling, involving differential utilisation of monocarboxylates such as L-lactate and pyruvate. Here authors show by B-cell-specific genomic deletion of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) that the consequential scarcity of pyruvate results in decreased acetylation of Histone H3 at K27, leading to decreased AID transcription and deficient class switching to IgG.
- Wenna Chi
- , Na Kang
- & Ligong Chen
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Article
| Open Access
Characterizations of a neutralizing antibody broadly reactive to multiple gluten peptide:HLA-DQ2.5 complexes in the context of celiac disease
Targeting gluten antigens presents a plausible therapy option for celiac disease. Here the authors generate and characterize a broadly neutralizing antibody recognizing more than 25 gluten peptide:HLA-DQ2.5 complexes, with structural analyses implicating its mode of interaction, and with mouse in vivo studies supporting its therapeutic feasibility.
- Yuu Okura
- , Yuri Ikawa-Teranishi
- & Tomoyuki Igawa
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Article
| Open Access
Multifaceted immune dysregulation characterizes individuals at-risk for rheumatoid arthritis
The presence of antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) in peripheral blood represents a risk a state that is ‘at-risk’ for subsequent development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here authors compare multiple molecular and immunological parameters in individuals who are ACPA positive without inflammatory arthritis, ACPA negative controls and patients diagnosed with ACPA positive early-stage RA to conclude that complex immunopathological processes are present in an ACPA positive state which may be targeted by future preventive approaches for RA.
- Eddie A. James
- , V. Michael Holers
- & Kevin D. Deane
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Article
| Open Access
Rational design of a JAK1-selective siRNA inhibitor for the modulation of autoimmunity in the skin
Therapeutic modulation of Janus kinase family enzymes is an established approach for inflammatory and autoimmune skin diseases. Here the authors rationally design small interfering RNAs to enable single Janus kinase targeting and test this new therapeutic approach in a skin disease model for maintaining efficacy and improving selectivity.
- Qi Tang
- , Hassan H. Fakih
- & John E. Harris
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Article
| Open Access
An in situ dual-anchoring strategy for enhanced immobilization of PD-L1 to treat autoimmune diseases
Immune checkpoints are critical in maintaining self-tolerance and their therapeutic modulation can be achieved in autoimmune diseases. Here the authors present an in situ dual-anchoring approach that targets PD-L1 and show effects in animal models of autoimmunity.
- Shenqiang Wang
- , Ying Zhang
- & Jicheng Yu
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Article
| Open Access
Antigen presentation by B cells enables epitope spreading across an MHC barrier
Increasing evidence suggests that antigen presentation by B cells is critical to the initiation of autoimmunity. Here, the authors demonstrate that tolerance breakdown is initiated outside of germinal centres and that B cells can directly instruct T cells to break tolerance and propagate autoimmune responses.
- Cecilia Fahlquist-Hagert
- , Thomas R. Wittenborn
- & Søren E. Degn
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Article
| Open Access
Autoantibody binding and unique enzyme-substrate intermediate conformation of human transglutaminase 3
Dermatitis herpetiformis, a skin manifestation of the gluten-sensitive condition celiac disease, is hallmarked by autoantibody production to transglutaminase 3. Here, the authors present the 3D-structures of an autoantibody bound to transglutaminase 3 with an inhibitor mimicking a gluten-peptide substrate.
- Julie Elisabeth Heggelund
- , Saykat Das
- & Ludvig M. Sollid
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Article
| Open Access
Development of cyclopeptide inhibitors of cGAS targeting protein-DNA interaction and phase separation
Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is critical in modulating cellular inflammation. Here, the authors report a class of cyclopeptide inhibitors of cGAS targeting protein DNA interaction and phase separation.
- Xiaoquan Wang
- , Youqiao Wang
- & Junmin Quan
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Article
| Open Access
Myo9b mutations are associated with altered dendritic cell functions and increased susceptibility to autoimmune diabetes onset
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet β cells. Here the author show, by comparing the diabetes-sensitive NOD mouse strain with its congenic, diabetes-resistant ALR strain, and by genomic analyses of T1D patients and control, that mutations in the Myo9b gene may alter dendritic cells to contribute to autoimmune diabetes onset.
- Jing Zhang
- , Yuan Zou
- & Cong-Yi Wang
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Article
| Open Access
Lrig1-expression confers suppressive function to CD4+ cells and is essential for averting autoimmunity via the Smad2/3/Foxp3 axis
Regulatory T cells, and to certain extent other T cell subsets, limit the immune response to avoid harmful inflammation and tissue damage. Here authors identify a surface molecule, Lrig1, that is directly responsible for the suppressive function in regulatory T cells and in Il-17-producing helper T cells.
- Jae-Seung Moon
- , Chun-Chang Ho
- & Sang-Kyou Lee
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Article
| Open Access
Antibody-mediated neutralization of galectin-3 as a strategy for the treatment of systemic sclerosis
Galectin-3 (Gal-3) has been proposed to have a pathogenic role in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Here, the authors identify a Gal-3-based transcriptomic signature associated with SSc severity in patients and demonstrate that Gal-3 blockade reduces the severity of SSc skin and lung lesions in murine models.
- Céline Ortega-Ferreira
- , Perrine Soret
- & Frédéric De Ceuninck
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Article
| Open Access
Chronic inflammation, neutrophil activity, and autoreactivity splits long COVID
Post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) has heterogenous presentation and complex etiology. Here the authors profile peripheral blood of patients with PASC and analyze by machine-learning to identify immune and serology features that allow the stratification of PASC into inflammatory and non-inflammatory types for better diagnosis and therapy-planning.
- Matthew C. Woodruff
- , Kevin S. Bonham
- & Ignacio Sanz
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Article
| Open Access
NBEAL2 deficiency in humans leads to low CTLA-4 expression in activated conventional T cells
NBEAL2 loss of function mutations lead to grey platelet syndrome, a condition characterised by α-granule-deficient platelets and, in a proportion of cases, by autoimmunity. Here authors show that NBEAL2 physically interacts with CTLA-4 in human T cells, and NBEAL2 deficiency leads to reduced CTLA-4 surface expression in effector T cells, but not regulatory T cells, thus tipping the balance towards autoimmunity.
- Laure Delage
- , Francesco Carbone
- & Frédéric Rieux-Laucat
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Article
| Open Access
Single cell and spatial sequencing define processes by which keratinocytes and fibroblasts amplify inflammatory responses in psoriasis
Changes in Psoriasis and other inflammatory skin diseases during severity stages can be investigated using single cell and spatial transcriptomics. Here the authors compare different inflammatory skin diseases to emphasise differences in immune cells and inflammatory markers particularly keratinocytes and fibroblasts.
- Feiyang Ma
- , Olesya Plazyo
- & Johann E. Gudjonsson
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Article
| Open Access
Growth hormone releasing hormone signaling promotes Th17 cell differentiation and autoimmune inflammation
Endocrine factors have been shown to alter functions of pathogenic Th17 cells that are involved in autoimmunity. Here the authors study the influence of growth hormone releasing hormone receptor and show that this receptor is found on Th17 cells and promotes ocular autoimmunity.
- Lin Du
- , Bo Man Ho
- & Wai Kit Chu
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Article
| Open Access
Antigen recognition detains CD8+ T cells at the blood-brain barrier and contributes to its breakdown
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and immune cell infiltration into the central nervous system are early hallmarks of multiple sclerosis. Here, the authors demonstrate that brain endothelial cells cross-present antigen to CD8+ T cells, thereby preventing their migration and initiating BBB breakdown.
- Sidar Aydin
- , Javier Pareja
- & Britta Engelhardt
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Article
| Open Access
Cross-disorder genetic analysis of immune diseases reveals distinct gene associations that converge on common pathways
Immune related diseases have been found to have overlapping genetic susceptibility loci. Here the authors perform cross-disorder genetic analysis to uncover three genetic groups of immune diseases that converge on the same immune cells and pathways.
- Pietro Demela
- , Nicola Pirastu
- & Blagoje Soskic
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Article
| Open Access
Low-dose IL-2 enhances the generation of IL-10-producing immunoregulatory B cells
The dysfunction of IL-10 secreting regulatory B cells has been linked to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease. Here the authors show that low dose IL-2 therapy can enhance IL-10 production in regulatory B cell populations via the modulation of BACH2.
- Akimichi Inaba
- , Zewen Kelvin Tuong
- & Menna R. Clatworthy
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Article
| Open Access
Early life gut microbiota sustains liver-resident natural killer cells maturation via the butyrate-IL-18 axis
Liver-resident natural killer cells develop locally and have multiple immunological roles in situ. Here the authors investigate the gut-liver axis and show the impact of the intestinal microbiota on the development of liver-resident natural killer cells.
- Panpan Tian
- , Wenwen Yang
- & Xiaohong Liang
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Article
| Open Access
Affinity maturation generates pathogenic antibodies with dual reactivity to DNase1L3 and dsDNA in systemic lupus erythematosus
Antibodies directed against DNA in systemic lupus erythematosus are functionally diverse. This study demonstrates that DNAse1L3 is the primary target of a subset of autoantibodies previously considered specific for double-stranded DNA.
- Eduardo Gomez-Bañuelos
- , Yikai Yu
- & Felipe Andrade
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Article
| Open Access
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines decouple anti-viral immunity from humoral autoimmunity
Whilst SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have demonstrated efficacy in reducing infection severity, research has shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with new autoantibodies. Whether this would also be observed during mRNA vaccination is unclear. Here, the authors use an autoantibody screening platform to monitor autoantibody responses in a diverse cohort during vaccination.
- Jillian R. Jaycox
- , Carolina Lucas
- & Aaron M. Ring
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Article
| Open Access
Citrullination modulates antigen processing and presentation by revealing cryptic epitopes in rheumatoid arthritis
Antibodies directed against citrullinated proteins are commonly found in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Here, the authors show that citrullination alters the peptide repertoire presented to T cells by altering protease cleavage and inducing protein destabilization, thereby exposing cryptic epitopes.
- Ashley M. Curran
- , Alexander A. Girgis
- & Erika Darrah
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Article
| Open Access
Fluorinated polyamidoamine dendrimer-mediated miR-23b delivery for the treatment of experimental rheumatoid arthritis in rats
Delivery of anti-inflammatory microRNA (miRNA) could be beneficial for inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here the authors show that a fluorinated polyamidoamine dendrimer nanoparticle delivers miR-23b to affected RA joints and reduces inflammation, joint damage and synovial cell influx.
- Haobo Han
- , Jiakai Xing
- & Quanshun Li
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Article
| Open Access
Remodeling articular immune homeostasis with an efferocytosis-informed nanoimitator mitigates rheumatoid arthritis in mice
Proinflammatory macrophages are involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here the authors use an efferocytosis-mimetic self-deliverable nanoimitator to mitigate RA by targeted reprogramming of synovial inflammatory macrophages, reducing proinflammatory cytokines and reinstating articular immune homeostasis.
- Shengchang Zhang
- , Ying Liu
- & Xinyi Jiang
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Article
| Open Access
Engineering the lymph node environment promotes antigen-specific efficacy in type 1 diabetes and islet transplantation
Antigen-specific tolerance represents a promising strategy to treat type 1 diabetes and islet allograft rejection. Here, the authors deliver immune signals to lymph nodes to promote antigen-specific regulatory T cells and prevent disease in models of type 1 diabetes and allogenic islet transplantation.
- Joshua M. Gammon
- , Sean T. Carey
- & Christopher M. Jewell
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Article
| Open Access
A subset of antibodies targeting citrullinated proteins confers protection from rheumatoid arthritis
Although anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis and generally considered pathogenic, their functional relevance is incompletely understood. In this study, the authors describe an ACPA with a protective effect against antibody-induced arthritis in mice.
- Yibo He
- , Changrong Ge
- & Rikard Holmdahl
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Article
| Open Access
Multi-ancestry and multi-trait genome-wide association meta-analyses inform clinical risk prediction for systemic lupus erythematosus
The genetic basis of systemic lupus erythematosus is not completely understood. Here, the authors perform multi-ancestry and multi-trait meta-analyses to identify 16 novel genetic loci and demonstrate the utility of polygenic risk score in clinical risk prediction when used with conventional lab tests.
- Chachrit Khunsriraksakul
- , Qinmengge Li
- & Dajiang J. Liu
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Article
| Open Access
Cytotoxic CD8+ T cells target citrullinated antigens in rheumatoid arthritis
The immune mechanisms underlying synovitis and joint tissue destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remain incompletely defined. Here, the authors demonstrate that ACPA+ RA patients have activated clonally expanded cytotoxic GZMB+ CD8+ T cells in blood and synovium that target and are activated by citrullinated antigens to mediate cell killing.
- Jae-Seung Moon
- , Shady Younis
- & William H. Robinson
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Article
| Open Access
Single-cell sequencing shows cellular heterogeneity of cutaneous lesions in lupus erythematosus
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and systemic LE (SLE) can present as cutaneous lesions. Here the authors characterise an scRNA dataset of cutaneous lesions from these patients and compare these to healthy controls showing differential immune cell recruitment, cell type and gene expression.
- Meiling Zheng
- , Zhi Hu
- & Ming Zhao
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Article
| Open Access
Prioritizing autoimmunity risk variants for functional analyses by fine-mapping mutations under natural selection
Immune genes under selection can shed light on phenotypes contributing to survival and modern inflammatory conditions. Here, the authors prioritize adaptive disease variants in 535 risk loci for 21 inflammatory conditions and report promising SNPs for functional studies with predictions of cell context and function.
- Vasili Pankratov
- , Milyausha Yunusbaeva
- & Bayazit Yunusbayev
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Article
| Open Access
The 3D enhancer network of the developing T cell genome is shaped by SATB1
Here the authors analyze the 3D genome structure of murine thymocytes and show that SATB1, a predominantly T-cell specific protein, helps to establish a regulatory, finer-scale organizational layer built upon a pre-existing chromatin scaffold mediated by other architectural proteins, such as CTCF.
- Tomas Zelenka
- , Antonios Klonizakis
- & Charalampos Spilianakis
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Article
| Open Access
Symbiotic bacteria-dependent expansion of MR1-reactive T cells causes autoimmunity in the absence of Bcl11b
MR1 functions as an antigen presenting protein on cells in addition to MAIT cells. Here the authors use an early T cell-specific Bcl11b-deficient mouse that develops autoimmunity through a population of nonconventional MR1-restricted T cells and characterise their function.
- Kensuke Shibata
- , Chihiro Motozono
- & Sho Yamasaki
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Article
| Open Access
Use of a glycomics array to establish the anti-carbohydrate antibody repertoire in type 1 diabetes
Type I diabetes is characterized by autoantibodies directed against protein or non-protein self-antigens. Here the authors profile glycan reactive anti-carbohydrate antibodies (ACA) in a longitudinal and cross-sectional childhood diabetes cohort and associate clusters of ACA with disease progression.
- Paul M. H. Tran
- , Fran Dong
- & Sharad Purohit
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Article
| Open Access
Single-cell profiling reveals distinct adaptive immune hallmarks in MDA5+ dermatomyositis with therapeutic implications
Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5-positive dermatomyositis is a severe autoimmune disease with largely unknown aetiology. Here authors identify the key immune cell types that contribute to the disease phenotype and implicate type I interferons signalling in the patho-mechanism.
- Yan Ye
- , Zechuan Chen
- & Xiaoming Zhang
PD-L1- and IL-4-expressing basophils promote pathogenic accumulation of T follicular helper cells in lupus