Single-Cell Characterization of Hepatic CD8+ T Cells in a Murine Model of Primary Biliary Cholangitis.
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SUBMITTER: Han Y
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9065443 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background and aimsPrimary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an organ-specific autoimmune liver disease. Mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs), comprise of monocyte, dendritic cells and monocyte-derived macrophages, constitute major arm of the innate immune system known to be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders. MNPs were shown to accumulate around intra-hepatic bile ducts in livers of PBC patients. Interleukin 23 (IL-23) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine. IL-23-positive cells were detected in livers of patients with advanced stage PBC and IL-23 serum levels found to be in correlation with PBC disease severity. Our overall goal was to assess the importance of IL-23 derived from MNPs in PBC pathogenesis.MethodsWe utilized an inducible murine model of PBC and took advantage of transgenic mice targeting expression of IL-23 by specific MNP populations. Analysis included liver histology assessment, flow cytometry of hepatic immune cells and hepatic cytokine profile evaluation. Specific MNPs sub-populations were sorted and assessed for IL-23 expression levels.ResultsFlow cytometry analysis of non-parenchymal liver cells in autoimmune cholangitis revealed massive infiltration of the liver by MNPs and neutrophils and a decrease in Kupffer cells numbers. In addition, a 4-fold increase in the incidence of hepatic IL-17A producing CD4+ T cells was found to be associated with an increase in hepatic IL23-p19 and IL17A expression levels. Disease severity was significantly ameliorated in both CD11ccreP19flox/flox and CX3CR1creP19 flox/flox mice as assessed by reduced portal inflammation and decreased hepatic expression of various inflammatory cytokines. Amelioration of disease severity was associated with reduction in IL-17A producing CD4+ T cells percentages and decreased hepatic IL23-p19 and IL17A expression levels. qRT-PCR analysis of sorted hepatic MNPs demonstrated high expression levels of IL-23 mRNA specifically by CX3CR1hiCD11c+ monocyte-derived macrophages.ConclusionOur results indicate a major role for IL-23 produced by hepatic monocyte-derived macrophages in the pathogenesis of PBC. These results may pave the road for the development of new immune-based and cell specific therapeutic modalities for PBC patients not responding to current therapies.
| S-EPMC8414574 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease with progressive cholestasis and liver fibrosis. Similar to human patients with PBC, p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice spontaneously develop severe autoimmune cholangitis. Although there has been considerable work on immune regulation and autoimmunity, there is a relative paucity of work directed at the functional implications of the key peritoneal cavity (PC) B cell subset, coined B1a cells in PBC. We used flow cytometry and high-resolution microarrays to study the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of B cells, particularly B1a cells, in the PC of p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice compared to controls. Importantly, B1a cell proliferation was markedly lower as the expression of Ki67 decreased. Meanwhile, the apoptosis level was much higher. These lead to a reduction of B1a cells in the PC of p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice compared to controls. In contrast, there was a dramatic increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells accompanied by elevated production of IFN-γ. In addition, we found a negative correlation between the frequency of B1a cells and the presence of autoreactive CD8+ T cells in both liver and PC of p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice. From a functional perspective, B cells from p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice downregulated IL-10 production and CTLA-4 expression, leading to loss of B cell regulatory function. We suggest that the dysfunction of B1a cells in the PC in this murine model of autoimmune cholangitis results in defective regulatory function. This highlights a new potential therapeutic target in PBC.
| S-EPMC5053627 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a classical autoimmune disease, which is highly influenced by genetic determinants. Many genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have reported that numerous genetic loci were significantly associated with PBC susceptibility. However, the effects of genetic determinants on liver cells and its immune microenvironment for PBC remain unclear.ResultsWe constructed a powerful computational framework to integrate GWAS summary statistics with scRNA-seq data to uncover genetics-modulated liver cell subpopulations for PBC. Based on our multi-omics integrative analysis, 29 risk genes including ORMDL3, GSNK2B, and DDAH2 were significantly associated with PBC susceptibility. By combining GWAS summary statistics with scRNA-seq data, we found that cholangiocytes exhibited a notable enrichment by PBC-related genetic association signals (Permuted P < 0.05). The risk gene of ORMDL3 showed the highest expression proportion in cholangiocytes than other liver cells (22.38%). The ORMDL3+ cholangiocytes have prominently higher metabolism activity score than ORMDL3- cholangiocytes (P = 1.38 × 10-15). Compared with ORMDL3- cholangiocytes, there were 77 significantly differentially expressed genes among ORMDL3+ cholangiocytes (FDR < 0.05), and these significant genes were associated with autoimmune diseases-related functional terms or pathways. The ORMDL3+ cholangiocytes exhibited relatively high communications with macrophage and monocyte. Compared with ORMDL3- cholangiocytes, the VEGF signaling pathway is specific for ORMDL3+ cholangiocytes to interact with other cell populations.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to integrate genetic information with single cell sequencing data for parsing genetics-influenced liver cells for PBC risk. We identified that ORMDL3+ cholangiocytes with higher metabolism activity play important immune-modulatory roles in the etiology of PBC.
| S-EPMC8647381 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSplenomegaly is not just a consequence of numerous chronic and acute conditions but may also contribute to their severity, due to the interaction of the spleen with the gut microbiome. This study aimed to explore the effect of the gut microbiome on splenomegaly.MethodsWe used p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice as a murine model of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) as per our previous study. Splenomegaly was evaluated by spleen weight. Severity of liver inflammation was evaluated by hepatic mononuclear cell (MNCs) number and pathological score. Changes of immune cells in the spleen and liver were detected by flow cytometry. The effects of the gut microbiome on splenomegaly and liver inflammation were observed by combined antibiotic treatment in p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice.ResultsA proportion of p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice developed splenomegaly. The results revealed that liver mononuclear cells infiltration, histological scores of hepatic inflammation, and bile duct damage were positively correlated with the degree of splenomegaly. Hepatic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells numbers were significantly higher in mice with splenomegaly, and this was particularly observed in activated effector memory CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells. A proportion of some other immune cells including granulocytes, B, natural killer (NK), and CD8+ T effector memory cells were also altered in the enlarged spleen. More importantly, administration of quadruple antibiotics to deplete gut microbiota relieved the splenomegaly of p40-/-IL-2Rα-/- mice, significantly alleviated liver inflammation, and caused a significant reduction of liver and spleen T cell accumulation and activation; however, single antibiotics did not induce these changes.ConclusionsSplenomegaly was associated with more severe liver inflammation in our PBC murine model, and this effect was reversed by quadruple antibiotic treatment.
| S-EPMC9347057 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) belongs to a family of growth factors involved in cellular growth and division. MicroRNA 16 (miR-16) is a regulator of gene expression, which is dysregulated during liver injury and insult. However, the role of FGF1 in the progression of biliary proliferation, senescence, fibrosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and its potential interaction with miR-16, are unknown. In vivo studies were performed in male bile duct-ligated (BDL, 12-week-old) mice, multidrug resistance 2 knockout (Mdr2-/-) mice (10-week-old), and their corresponding controls, treated with recombinant human FGF1 (rhFGF1), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) antagonist (AZD4547), or anti-FGF1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). In vitro, the human cholangiocyte cell line (H69) and human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were used to determine the expression of proliferation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and inflammatory genes following rhFGF1 treatment. PSC patient and control livers were used to evaluate FGF1 and miR-16 expression. Intrahepatic bile duct mass (IBDM), along with hepatic fibrosis and inflammation, increased in BDL mice treated with rhFGF1, with a corresponding decrease in miR-16, while treatment with AZD4547 or anti-FGF1 mAb decreased hepatic fibrosis, IBDM, and inflammation in BDL and Mdr2-/- mice. In vitro, H69 and HSCs treated with rhFGF1 had increased expression of proliferation, fibrosis, and inflammatory markers. PSC samples also showed increased FGF1 and FGFRs with corresponding decreases in miR-16 compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that suppression of FGF1 and miR-16 signaling decreases the presence of hepatic fibrosis, biliary proliferation, inflammation, senescence, and angiogenesis. Targeting the FGF1 and miR-16 axis may provide therapeutic options in treating cholangiopathies such as PSC.
| S-EPMC9234675 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Cholangiocytes play a crucial role in bile formation. Cholangiocyte injury causes cholestasis, including primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, the etiology of PBC remains unclear despite being characterized as an autoimmune disease. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), fluorescence-activated-cell-sorting, multiplex immunofluorescence (IF) and RNAscope analyses, we identified unique DUOX2+ACE2+ small cholangiocytes in human and mouse livers. Their selective decrease in PBC patients was associated with the severity of disease. Moreover, proteomics, scRNA-seq, and qPCR analyses indicated that polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) was highly expressed in DUOX2+ACE2+ cholangiocytes. Serum anti-pIgR autoantibody levels were significantly increased in PBC patients, regardless of positive and negative AMA-M2. Spatial transcriptomics and multiplex IF revealed that CD27+ memory B and plasma cells accumulated in the hepatic portal tracts of PBC patients. Collectively, DUOX2+ACE2+ small cholangiocytes are pathogenic targets in PBC, and preservation of DUOX2+ACE2+ cholangiocytes and targeting anti-pIgR autoantibodies may be valuable strategies for therapeutic interventions in PBC.
| S-EPMC9911648 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Purpose of reviewPrimary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is characterized by autoimmune damage of intrahepatic bile ducts associated with a loss of tolerance to mitochondrial antigens. PBC etiopathogenesis is intriguing because of different perplexing features, namely: a) although mitochondria are present in all cell types and tissues, the damage is mainly restricted to biliary epithelial cells (BECs); b) despite being an autoimmune disorder, it does not respond to immunosuppressive drugs but rather to ursodeoxycholic acid, a bile salt that induces HCO3- rich choleresis; c) the overwhelming female preponderance of the disease remains unexplained. Here we present an etiopathogenic view of PBC which sheds light on these puzzling facts of the disease.Recent findingsPBC develops in patients with genetic predisposition to autoimmunity in whom epigenetic mechanisms silence the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger AE2 in both cholangiocytes and lymphoid cells. Defective AE2 function can produce BECs damage as a result of decreased biliary HCO3- secretion with disruption of the protective alkaline umbrella that normally prevents the penetration of toxic apolar bile salts into cholangiocytes. AE2 dysfunction also causes increased intracellular pH (pHi) in cholangiocytes, leading to the activation of soluble adenylyl cyclase, which sensitizes BECs to bile salt-induced apoptosis. Recently, mitophagy was found to be inhibited by cytosolic alkalization and stimulated by acidification. Accordingly, we propose that AE2 deficiency may disturb mitophagy in BECs, thus, promoting the accumulation of defective mitochondria, oxidative stress and presentation of mitochondrial antigens to the immune cells. As women possess a more acidic endolysosomal milieu than men, mitophagy might be more affected in women in an AE2-defective background. Apart from affecting BECs function, AE2 downregulation in lymphocytes may also contribute to alter immunoregulation facilitating autoreactive T-cell responses.SummaryPBC can be considered as a disorder of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in individuals with genetic predisposition to autoimmunity.
| S-EPMC7879833 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPPARα is a ligand-activated transcription factor that shows protective effects against metabolic disorders, inflammation and apoptosis. Primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis result in the intrahepatic accumulation of bile acids that leads to liver dysfunction and damage. Small, non-coding RNAs such as miR-155 and miR-21 are associated with silencing PPARα.MethodsThe expression of miR-155, miR-21 and PPARα were evaluated using real-time PCR on liver tissue, as well as on human hepatocytes (HepG2) or cholangiocytes (NHCs) following exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), glycodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), lithocholic acid (LCA) and/or ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA).ResultsA reduction of PPARα in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) livers was associated with miR-21 and miR-155 upregulation. Experimental overexpression of either miR-155 or miR-21 inhibited PPARα in hepatocytes, whereas, in cholangiocytes, only miR-21 suppressed PPARα. Both GCDCA and LCA induced the cell type-specific upregulation of miR-155 or miR-21. In HepG2, LPS-induced miR-155 expression was blocked by a cotreatment with UDCA and was associated with PPARα upregulation. In NHC cells, the expression of miR-21 was induced by LPS but did not affect PPARα expression.ConclusionsHepatic PPARα expression is reduced in PBC livers as a likely result of miR-155 overexpression. UDCA effectively reduced both baseline and LPS-induced miR-155 expression, thus preventing the suppression of PPARα.
| S-EPMC9496720 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) causes chronic and persistent cholestasis in the liver, eventually resulting in cirrhosis and hepatic failure without appropriate treatment. PBC mainly develops in middle-aged women, but it is also common in young women and men. PBC is considered a model of autoimmune disease because of the presence of diseasespecific autoantibodies, that is, antimitochondrial antibodies (AMAs), intense infiltration of mononuclear cells into the bile ducts, and a high prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as comorbidities. Histologically, PBC is characterized by degeneration and necrosis of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells surrounded by a dense infiltration of mononuclear cells, coined as chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis, which leads to destructive changes and the disappearance of small- or medium-sized bile ducts. Since 1990, early diagnosis with the detection of AMAs and introduction of ursodeoxycholic acid as first-line treatment has greatly altered the clinical course of PBC, and liver transplantation-free survival of patients with PBC is now comparable to that of the general population.
| S-EPMC7820210 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a rare autoimmune cholestatic liver disease that may progress to fibrosis and/or cirrhosis. Treatment options are currently limited. The first-line therapy for this disease is the drug ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), which has been proven to normalize serum markers of liver dysfunction, halt histologic disease progression, and lead to a prolongation of transplant-free survival. However, 30-40% of patients unfortunately do not respond to this first-line therapy. Obeticholic acid (OCA) is the only registered agent for second-line treatment in UDCA-non responders. In this review, we focus on the pharmacological features of OCA, describing its mechanism of action of and its tolerability and efficacy in PBC patients. We also highlight current perspectives on future therapies for this condition.
| S-EPMC9599277 | biostudies-literature