Matrix-mediated activation of fibroblasts in rheumatoid arthritis
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ABSTRACT: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease affecting synovial joints and leading to cartilage damage and bone loss. This destruction is promoted by activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) that show an invasive and migratory phenotype. The mechanisms of FLS activation are unknown, but evidence suggests that pre-damaged extracellular matrix (ECM) of the cartilage can trigger FLS activation. Integrin α11β1 might be involved in the activation, as it is highly increased in the synovium of RA patients and hTNFtg mice, an RA mouse model. Since TNFα is the major cytokine induced in RA, we treated murine chondrocytes with TNFα to produce a damaged, RA-like matrix. Comparison to healthy chondrocyte matrix revealed decreased ECM proteins, including several collagens and proteoglycans, increased matrix-degrading proteins and elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. FLS responded to those differences in the damaged chondrocyte matrix with a matrix-remodeling and pro-inflammatory phenotype characterized by expressing genes involved in matrix degradation and increased production of CLL11 and CCL19. Damaged chondrocyte matrix induced increased Itga11 expression in FLS, which correlates with the increased α11β1 amounts in RA patients. FLS deficient in integrin α11β1 released lower amounts of inflammation-associated cytokines but did not reveal significant differences from the response of wild type FLS to a damaged, RA-like matrix. Our results demonstrate differences in healthy and RA-like chondrocyte ECM and distinctly different responses of wt FLS to damaged versus healthy ECM.
INSTRUMENT(S): Orbitrap Eclipse
ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)
TISSUE(S): Cell Culture
SUBMITTER: Luisa Marie Schmidt
LAB HEAD: Beate Eckes
PROVIDER: PXD049800 | Pride | 2025-01-14
REPOSITORIES: pride
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