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Beyond Autoantibodies: Biologic Roles of Human Autoreactive B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by RNA-Sequencing.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To obtain the comprehensive transcriptome profile of human citrulline-specific B cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS:Citrulline- and hemagglutinin-specific B cells were sorted by flow cytometry using peptide-streptavidin conjugates from the peripheral blood of RA patients and healthy individuals. The transcriptome profile of the sorted cells was obtained by RNA-sequencing, and expression of key protein molecules was evaluated by aptamer-based SOMAscan assay and flow cytometry. The ability of these proteins to effect differentiation of osteoclasts and proliferation and migration of synoviocytes was examined by in vitro functional assays. RESULTS:Citrulline-specific B cells, in comparison to citrulline-negative B cells, from patients with RA differentially expressed the interleukin-15 receptor ? (IL-15R?) gene as well as genes related to protein citrullination and cyclic AMP signaling. In analyses of an independent cohort of cyclic citrullinated peptide-seropositive RA patients, the expression of IL-15R? protein was enriched in citrulline-specific B cells from the patients' peripheral blood, and surprisingly, all B cells from RA patients were capable of producing the epidermal growth factor ligand amphiregulin (AREG). Production of AREG directly led to increased migration and proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes, and, in combination with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, led to the increased differentiation of osteoclasts. CONCLUSION:To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to document the whole transcriptome profile of autoreactive B cells in any autoimmune disease. These data identify several genes and pathways that may be targeted by repurposing several US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, and could serve as the foundation for the comparative assessment of B cell profiles in other autoimmune diseases.

SUBMITTER: Mahendra A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6741783 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Beyond Autoantibodies: Biologic Roles of Human Autoreactive B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by RNA-Sequencing.

Mahendra Ankit A Yang Xingyu X Abnouf Shaza S Adolacion Jay R T JRT Park Daechan D Soomro Sanam S Roszik Jason J Coarfa Cristian C Romain Gabrielle G Wanzeck Keith K Bridges S Louis SL Aggarwal Amita A Qiu Peng P Agarwal Sandeep K SK Mohan Chandra C Varadarajan Navin N

Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) 20190223 4

<h4>Objective</h4>To obtain the comprehensive transcriptome profile of human citrulline-specific B cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).<h4>Methods</h4>Citrulline- and hemagglutinin-specific B cells were sorted by flow cytometry using peptide-streptavidin conjugates from the peripheral blood of RA patients and healthy individuals. The transcriptome profile of the sorted cells was obtained by RNA-sequencing, and expression of key protein molecules was evaluated by aptamer-based SOMA ...[more]

PMID: 30407753

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Project description:BackgroundThe pre-symptomatic stage of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with pro-inflammatory cytokines and autoantibodies. High levels and epitope spread by Rheumatoid factors (RhF) and autoantibodies to citrullinated proteins signify progression towards disease expression. In established RA, the persistence of high autoantibody levels reflects production by both long-lived plasma cells and short-lived plasmablasts. Neither the relative contributions to pathogenesis by autoantibodies from either source, nor the factors responsible for deciding the fate of autoantigen specific 'parent' B-cells, is understood. Phenotypic markers identifying subsets of autoreactive B-cells are therefore of interest in understanding the origin and perpetuation of the autoimmune response in RA. One such phenotypic marker is the rat monoclonal antibody, 9G4, which recognises an idiotope on immunoglobuins derived from the inherently autoreactive VH-gene, VH4-34. We therefore investigated whether the 9G4 idiotope was expressed on autoantibodies in patients with RA.Methodology/principal findingsSera from 19 patients with established RA and those with <1year history of untreated polyarthritis either resolving into RA (n = 42) or non-RA diagnosis (n = 31) were included. Autoantibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP), RhF and co-expression of the 9G4 idiotope were measured by ELISA. 9G4 recognised a population of anti-CCP antibodies in the majority of sera from patients with established disease and also in samples from patients with early disaese. 9G4+RhF levels were generally lower and not associated with positivity for, or levels of 9G4+CCP.Conclusions/significanceThe persistence of 9G4+ immunoglobulins, of any isotype, in serum is rare. We describe here the novel finding of 9G4 expression on anti-CCP antibodies in patients from the earliest symptoms of RA through to established disease. Our results suggest that 9G4 expression on anti-CCP autoantibodies was not due to polyclonal expansion of VH4-34-encoded immunoglobulins. These studies may therefore provide a new focus for investigation into the evolution of the autoimmune response in RA patients.

Project description:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder affecting the joints. Many patients carry anti-citrullinated protein autoantibodies (ACPA). Overactivation of the complement system seems to be part of the pathogenesis of RA, and autoantibodies against the pathway initiators C1q and MBL, and the regulator of the complement alternative pathway, factor H (FH), were previously reported. Our aim was to analyze the presence and role of autoantibodies against complement proteins in a Hungarian RA cohort. To this end, serum samples of 97 ACPA-positive RA patients and 117 healthy controls were analyzed for autoantibodies against FH, factor B (FB), C3b, C3-convertase (C3bBbP), C1q, MBL and factor I. In this cohort, we did not detect any patient with FH autoantibodies but detected C1q autoantibodies in four patients, MBL autoantibodies in two patients and FB autoantibodies in five patients. Since the latter autoantibodies were previously reported in patients with kidney diseases but not in RA, we set out to further characterize such FB autoantibodies. The isotypes of the analyzed autoantibodies were IgG2, IgG3, IgGκ, IgGλ and their binding site was localized in the Bb part of FB. We detected in vivo formed FB-autoanti-FB complexes by Western blot. The effect of the autoantibodies on the formation, activity and FH-mediated decay of the C3 convertase in solid phase convertase assays was determined. In order to investigate the effect of the autoantibodies on complement functions, hemolysis assays and fluid phase complement activation assays were performed. The autoantibodies partially inhibited the complement-mediated hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells, inhibited the activity of the solid phase C3-convertase and C3 and C5b-9 deposition on complement activating surfaces. In summary, in ACPA-positive RA patients we identified FB autoantibodies. The characterized FB autoantibodies did not enhance complement activation, rather, they had inhibitory effect on complement. These results support the involvement of the complement system in the pathomechanism of RA and raise the possibility that protective autoantibodies may be generated in some patients against the alternative pathway C3 convertase. However, further analyses are needed to assess the exact role of such autoantibodies.

Project description:Objective: use comprehensive molecular profiling to understand the molecular mechanisms that affect clinical response to anti-TNF therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify predictive markers to differentiate good responders and non-responders. Methods: two independent cohorts of 40 and 36 biologic-naïve RA patients were selected from the Corrona (Comparative Effectiveness Registry to study Therapies for Arthritis and Inflammatory coNditions) CERTAIN registry and categorized by EULAR response criteria. Whole-blood RNA and plasma samples from baseline and after 3 months of anti-TNF treatment were profiled using RNA-seq, shotgun proteomics and glycopeptide analysis. A cell type-specific transcriptional data analysis was applied to RNA-seq data to evaluate the impact of the most common immune cell sub-populations. Results: a treatment-related molecular signature was identified that showed a high level of correlation (ρ=0.62; permutation p<0.01) between cohorts. Treatment led to a reduction of neutrophils, independent of the status of response. Gene expression differences between good responders and non-responders at baseline did not manifest statistically significant concordance genome-wide between the two cohorts. However, a cell type-specific analysis indicated increased representation of innate cell type signatures in good responders and, conversely, increased expression of adaptive cell type signatures in non-responders at baseline in both cohorts. This result was confirmed by applying the cell-type specific analysis to other publicly available RA datasets. Evaluation of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at baseline in the remaining patients (n=1962) from the CERTAIN database using a logistic regression model further confirmed the observation (odds ratio of good/moderate response = 1.20 [95% CI = 1.03 – 1.41; p = 0.02]). Conclusion: differences in innate/adaptive immune cell type composition at baseline may be a major contributor to response to anti-TNF treatment within the first 3 months of therapy.

Project description:IntroductionWe investigated whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies were associated with abnormalities on pulmonary function tests (PFTs).MethodsWe studied RA serostatus and PFT abnormalities within a RA registry. RA serostatus was assessed by research assays for cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF). Outcomes were abnormalities on clinically indicated PFTs, including restriction, obstruction, and diffusion abnormality. Logistic regression was used to obtain ORs and 95% CIs for the PFT abnormalities by RA serologic phenotypes independent of lifestyle and RA characteristics.ResultsAmong 1272 analyzed subjects, mean age was 56.3 years (SD 14.1), 82.2% were female, and 69.5% were seropositive. There were 100 subjects with abnormal PFTs. Compared with seronegativity, seropositivity was associated with increased odds of any PFT abnormality (multivariable OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.30-4.03). When analyzing type of PFT abnormality, seropositivity was also associated with restriction, obstruction, and diffusion abnormalities; multivariable ORs were 2.48 (95% CI 1.26-4.87), 3.12 (95% CI 1.28-7.61), and 2.30 (95% CI 1.09-4.83), respectively. When analyzing by CCP and RF status, the associations were stronger for RF+ than for CCP+ (any PFT abnormality OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.21-3.27 for RF+ vs. RF-; OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.03-2.69 for CCP+ vs. CCP-) with a dose effect of higher RF titer increasing odds for each PFT abnormality (p for trend < 0.05).ConclusionsSeropositive RA patients had two-fold increased risk for abnormalities on PFTs performed for clinical indications compared with seronegative RA. Patients with seropositive RA, particularly those with high-titer RF positivity, may be more likely to have obstructive and restrictive abnormalities, independent of smoking.Key points• Due to the known excess pulmonary morbidity/mortality in RA, we studied the relationship of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies with pulmonary function test (PFT) abnormalities using a large RA registry.• We evaluated whether presence and levels of cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were associated with restriction, obstruction, and diffusion abnormalities on PFTs among 1272 subjects with RA.• Seropositivity was associated with two-fold increased risk for any PFT abnormality, independent of confounders including smoking. Higher titers of RF conferred greatest risk for all PFT outcomes: obstruction, restriction, and diffusion abnormality.• These results provide evidence that patients with RA should be closely monitored for pulmonary involvement, particularly those with high-titer RF seropositivity.

Dataset Information

Beyond Autoantibodies: Biologic Roles of Human Autoreactive B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by RNA-Sequencing.

Publications

Beyond Autoantibodies: Biologic Roles of Human Autoreactive B Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis Revealed by RNA-Sequencing.

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