Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a high incidence in females and a complex phenotype. Using 564Igi mice, a model of SLE with knock-in genes encoding an autoreactive anti-RNA antibody, we investigated how expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in B cells and neutrophils affects pathogenesis. We established that TLR signaling through MyD88 is necessary for disease. Autoantibody was produced in mice with single deletions of Tlr7, Tlr8 or Tlr9 or combined deletions of Tlr7 and 9. Autoantibody was not produced in the combined absence of Tlr7 and 8, indicating that TLR8 contributes to the break in tolerance. Furthermore, TLR8 was sufficient for the loss of B cell tolerance, the production of class-switched autoantibody, heightened granulopoiesis, and increased production of type I interferon (IFN-I) by neutrophils as well as glomerulonephritis and death. We show that dosage of X-linked Tlr8 plays a major role in the high incidence of disease in females. In addition, we show that the negative regulation of disease by TLR9 is exerted primarily on granulopoiesis and IFN-I production by neutrophils. Collectively, we suggest that individual TLRs play unique roles in the pathogenesis of SLE, suggesting new targets for treatment.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of pathogenic IgG anti-nuclear antibodies. Pathogenic IgG autoantibody production requires B-cell activation, leading to the production of activation-induced deaminase (AID) and class switching of IgM genes to IgG. To understand how and when B cells are activated to produce these IgG autoantibodies, we studied cells from 564Igi, a mouse model of SLE. 564Igi mice develop a disease profile closely resembling that found in human SLE patients, including the presence of IgG anti-nucleic acid antibodies. We have generated 564Igi mice that conditionally express an activation-induced cytidine deaminase transgene (Aicdatg), either in all B cells or only in mature B cells. Here we show that class-switched pathogenic IgG autoantibodies were produced only in 564Igi mice in which AID was functional in early developing B cells, resulting in loss of tolerance. Furthermore, we show that the absence of AID in early developing B cells also results in increased production of self-reactive IgM, indicating that AID, through somatic hypermutation (SHM), contributes to tolerance. Our results suggest that the pathophysiology of clinical SLE might also be dependent on AID expression in early developing B cells.
SUMMARY Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of anti-nucleic acid autoantibodies, high levels of circulating type I interferon (IFN-I), and an IFN-I-dependent elevated expression of activating FcγR. Increases in neutrophils and monocytes are often observed in clinical SLE, but how these contribute to autoantibody and IFN-I production is poorly understood. We are analyzing SLE pathogenesis in 564Igi mice, an SLE-model strain carrying gene-targeted heavy and light chain antibody genes encoding an anti-RNA autoantibody in a C57BL/6 background. Similar to human SLE patients, 564Igi mice produce anti-RNA autoantibodies and expanded neutrophil and monocyte populations. These myeloid cells produce IFN-I and exhibit increased FcγRIV expression induced via an IFN-I autocrine loop. A direct effect of IFN-I on 564Igi bone marrow B cells and neutrophils is supported by their up-regulation of “IFN-I signature genes”. In addition, 564Igi developing B cells show up-regulated TLR7 resulting in IgG2a/2b class switch recombination and autoantibody production. Our results indicate that the production of anti-RNA autoantibody is sufficient to induce an increase of bone marrow, blood and spleen IFN-I-producing neutrophils, and suggest a mechanism by which autoantibody and IFN-I contribute to SLE by activating B lymphocytes, neutrophils and monocyte effector cells in vivo.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of anti-nuclear antibodies. SLE is one of many autoimmune disorders that have a strong gender bias, with 70–90% of SLE patients being female. Several explanations have been postulated to account for the severity of autoimmune diseases in females, including hormonal, microbiota, and gene dosage differences. X-linked toll-like receptors (TLRs) have recently been implicated in disease progression in females. Our previous studies using the 564Igi mouse model of SLE on a Tlr7 and Tlr9 double knockout background showed that the presence of Tlr8 on both X chromosomes was required for the production of IgG autoantibodies, Ifn-I expression and granulopoiesis in females. Here, we show the results of our investigation into the role of Tlr8 expression in SLE pathogenesis in 564Igi females. Female mice have an increase in serum pathogenic anti-RNA IgG2a and IgG2b autoantibodies. 564Igi mice have also been shown to have an increase in neutrophils in vivo, which are major contributors to Ifn-α expression. Here, we show that neutrophils from C57BL/6 mice express Ifn-α in response to 564 immune complexes and TLR8 activation. Bone marrow-derived macrophages from 564Igi females have a significant increase in Tlr8 expression compared to male-derived cells, and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization data suggest that Tlr8 may escape X-inactivation in female-derived macrophages. These results propose a model by which females may be more susceptible to SLE pathogenesis due to inefficient inactivation of Tlr8.
Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract characterized by inflammation and intestinal epithelial injury. Loss of function mutations in the intracellular bacterial sensor NOD2 are major risk factors for the development of CD. In the absence of robust bacterial recognition by NOD2 an inflammatory cascade is initiated through alternative PRRs leading to CD. In the present study, MCC950, a specific small molecule inhibitor of NLR pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), abrogated dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal inflammation in Nod2−/− mice. NLRP3 inflammasome formation was observed at a higher rate in NOD2-deficient small intestinal lamina propria cells after insult by DSS. NLRP3 complex formation led to an increase in IL-1β secretion in both the small intestine and colon of Nod2ko mice. This increase in IL-1β secretion in the intestine was attenuated by MCC950 leading to decreased disease severity in Nod2ko mice. Our work suggests that NLRP3 inflammasome activation may be a key driver of intestinal inflammation in the absence of functional NOD2. NLRP3 pathway inhibition can prevent intestinal inflammation in the absence of robust NOD2 signaling.
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