scholarly journals Immunoprofiling of early, untreated rheumatoid arthritis using mass cytometry reveals an activated basophil subset inversely linked to ACPA status

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Koppejan ◽  
M. Hameetman ◽  
G. Beyrend ◽  
V. van Unen ◽  
J. C. Kwekkeboom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Mass Cytometry ◽  
Autoantibody Production ◽  
Cell Composition ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Acpa Status

Abstract Background Autoantibody production is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) are highly disease-specific, and their presence is associated with more severe disease and poor prognosis compared to ACPA-negative patients. However, the immune cell composition associated with antibody-positive/negative disease is incompletely defined. Mass cytometry (MC) is a high-dimensional technique offering new possibilities in the determination of the immune cell composition in rheumatic diseases. Here, we set up a broad phenotyping panel to study the immune cell profile of early untreated RA to investigate if specific immune cell subsets are associated with ACPA+ versus ACPA− RA. Methods Freshly obtained PBMCs of early, untreated RA patients (8 ACPA+ and 7 ACPA−) were analysed using a 36-marker MC panel, including markers related to various immune lineages. Data were processed using Cytosplore for dimensional reduction (HSNE) and clustering. Groups were compared using Cytofast. A second validation cohort of cryopreserved PBMCs obtained from early RA patients (27 ACPA+ and 20 ACPA−) was used to confirm MC data by flow cytometry (FC). FC data were processed and analysed using both an unsupervised analysis pipeline and through manual gating. Results MC indicated no differences when comparing major immune lineages (i.e. monocytes, T and B cells), but highlighted two innate subsets: CD62L+ basophils (p = 0.33) and a subset of CD16− NK cells (p = 0.063). Although the NK cell subset did not replicate by FC, FC replication confirmed the difference in CD62L+ basophil frequency when comparing ACPA+ to ACPA− patients (mean 0.32% vs. 0.13%; p = 0.01). Conclusions Although no differences in major lineages were found between early ACPA+ and ACPA− RA, this study identified the reduced presence of activated basophils in ACPA-negative disease as compared to ACPA-positive disease and thereby provides the first evidence for a connection between activated basophils and ACPA status.

High disease activity is associated with higher blood pressure in recent onset rheumatoid arthritis patients, post-hoc analyses of IMPROVED study

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Gegenava ◽  
SA Bergstra ◽  
H Maassen ◽  
CF Allaart
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Classification Criteria ◽  
Recent Onset ◽  
American College Of Rheumatology ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Post Hoc ◽  
Acpa Status

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a high prevalence of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Purpose: purpose of our project was to investigate the association between disease activity and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP) in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (RA 2010 criteria) or undifferentiated arthritis (UA) who were treated to target disease activity score (DAS)<1.6 in the IMPROVED study. Methods: The associations between disease activity and SBP/DBP were tested for 610 patients (364 RA, 246 UA), cross-sectionally and over time. GEE analyses were performed with both SBP and DBP as outcome measures and disease activity categories (DAS<1.6;>1.6 but ≤2.4; >2.4), CRP level, treatment arms or the number of visits on a certain drug as potential predictors in separate analyses. Separate analyses tested potential contributions of gender, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) status, and fulfilling the 2010 ACR/EULAR (American college of rheumatology/ European league against rheumatism) classification criteria. In addition association of BP with various levels of disease activity was tested with T-test. Results: At the baseline mean (SD) SBP was 133 (20) and DBP mean (SD) was 80 (10).  SBP > 140mm Hg was observed in 40% of patients and DBP > 90 mm Hg  in 21% of patients. SBP and DBP statistically significantly decreased during 5 years follow up (mainly during year 1), but the difference in mm Hg was small. Estimates from GEE analysis showed that patients with high DAS >2.4 (HDAS) had a statistically significantly higher SBP (average 3 mm Hg higher, 95% CI 1.7; 4.2, p < 0.01), than the patients in with DAS ≤2.4. ANOVA analyses showed a statistically significant association between SBP and DAS. In addition, post hoc analyses showed that patients with HDAS had a statistically significantly higher  SBP (mean (SD) 132 (19) than the patients with DAS < 1.6 (remission) (mean (SD) 129 (20), p < 0.01), and patients in LDAS but DAS≥1.6 had a statistically significantly higher SBP (mean (SD) 131 (19) than the patients in remission (mean (SD)  129 (20), p = 0.02) (Figure 1), whereas no association was found between DAS category and DBP. Gender, ACPA status or fulfilling the 2010 classification criteria did not influence the relation between DAS and blood pressure. Conclusions: In patients with RA or UA, a higher DAS is associated with higher blood pressure, but the clinical impact is unclear. Abstract Figure 1

scholarly journals Natural Killer Cells Are Present in Rag1−/− Mice and Promote Tissue Damage During the Acute Phase of Ischemic Stroke

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leoni Rolfes ◽  
Tobias Ruck ◽  
Christina David ◽  
Stine Mencl ◽  
Stefanie Bock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Adoptive Transfer ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Experimental Stroke ◽  
Transfer Model

AbstractRag1−/− mice, lacking functional B and T cells, have been extensively used as an adoptive transfer model to evaluate neuroinflammation in stroke research. However, it remains unknown whether natural killer (NK) cell development and functions are altered in Rag1−/− mice as well. This connection has been rarely discussed in previous studies but might have important implications for data interpretation. In contrast, the NOD-Rag1nullIL2rgnull (NRG) mouse model is devoid of NK cells and might therefore eliminate this potential shortcoming. Here, we compare immune-cell frequencies as well as phenotype and effector functions of NK cells in Rag1−/− and wildtype (WT) mice using flow cytometry and functional in vitro assays. Further, we investigate the effect of Rag1−/− NK cells in the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model using antibody-mediated depletion of NK cells and adoptive transfer to NRG mice in vivo. NK cells in Rag1−/− were comparable in number and function to those in WT mice. Rag1−/− mice treated with an anti-NK1.1 antibody developed significantly smaller infarctions and improved behavioral scores. Correspondingly, NRG mice supplemented with NK cells were more susceptible to tMCAO, developing infarctions and neurological deficits similar to Rag1−/− controls. Our results indicate that NK cells from Rag1−/− mice are fully functional and should therefore be considered in the interpretation of immune-cell transfer models in experimental stroke. Fortunately, we identified the NRG mice, as a potentially better-suited transfer model to characterize individual cell subset-mediated neuroinflammation in stroke.

scholarly journals Treatment of mice with IL2-complex enhances inflammasome-driven IFN-γ production and prevents lethal toxoplasmosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Kupz ◽  
Saparna Pai ◽  
Paul R. Giacomin ◽  
Jennifer A. Whan ◽  
Robert A. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Toxoplasmic Encephalitis ◽  
Parasite Invasion ◽  
Ifn Γ

AbstractToxoplasmic encephalitis is an AIDS-defining condition in HIV+individuals. The decline of IFN-γ-producing CD4+T cells in AIDS is a major contributing factor in reactivation of quiescentToxoplasma gondiito an actively replicating stage of infection. Hence, it is important to identify CD4-independent mechanisms to control acuteT. gondiiinfection. Here we have investigated the targeted expansion and regulation of IFN-γ production by CD8+T cells, DN T cells and NK cells in response toT. gondiiinfection using IL-2 complex (IL2C) pre-treatment in an acutein vivomouse model. Our results show that expansion of CD8+T cells, DN T cells and NK cell by S4B6 IL2C treatment increases survival rates of mice infected withT. gondiiand this increased survival is dependent on both IL-12- and IL-18-driven IFN-γ production. Processing and secretion of IFN-γ-inducing, bioactive IL-18 is dependent on the sensing of active parasite invasion by multiple redundant inflammasome sensors in multiple hematopoietic cell types but independent fromT. gondii-derived dense granule (GRA) proteins. Our results provide evidence for a protective role of IL2C-mediated expansion of CD8+T cells, DN T cells and NK cells in murine toxoplasmosis and may represent a promising adjunct therapy for acute toxoplasmosis.Author SummaryA third of the world’s population is chronically infected with the parasiteToxoplasma gondii. In most cases the infection is asymptomatic, but in individuals suffering from AIDS, reactivation of brain and muscle cysts containingT. gondiiis a significant cause of death. The gradual decline of CD4 T cells, the hallmark of AIDS, is believed to be a major contributing factor in reactivation ofT. gondiiinfection and the development of acute disease. In this study, we show that targeted expansion of non-CD4 immune cell subsets can prevent severe disease and premature death via increased availability of interferon gamma-producing immune cells. We also demonstrate that the upstream signaling molecule interleukin-18 is required for the protective immune response by non-CD4 cells and show that the sensing of active parasite invasion by danger recognition molecules is crucial. Our findings reveal that targeted cell expansion may be a promising therapy in toxoplasmosis and suggests that the development of novel intervention strategies targeting danger recognition pathways may be useful against toxoplasmosis, particularly in the context of AIDS.

scholarly journals Dynamic metabolic change of cancer cells induced by natural killer cells at single-cell level studied by label-free mass cytometry

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zizheng Shen ◽  
Hansen Zhao ◽  
Huan Yao ◽  
Xingyu Pan ◽  
Jinlei Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer Cell ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
Single Cell Level ◽  
Label Free ◽  
Mass Cytometry ◽  
Cell Level ◽  
Nk Cytotoxicity

Natural killer cell（NK cell）is an important immune cell which attracts increasing attention in cancer immunotherapy. Due to the heterogeneity of cells, individual cancer cell shows different resistance to NK cytotoxicity,...

scholarly journals Factors Predicting the Presence of Maternal Cells in Cord Blood and Associated Changes in Immune Cell Composition

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina El Haddad ◽  
Karlin R. Karlmark ◽  
Xavier-Côme Donato ◽  
Gabriel V. Martin ◽  
Florence Bretelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cord Blood ◽  
Progenitor Cells ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells ◽  
Hematopoietic Progenitor ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Cell Composition ◽  
Two Factors

BackgroundCord blood (CB) samples are increasingly used as a source of hematopoietic stem cells in transplantation settings. Maternal cells have been detected in CB samples and their presence is associated with a better graft outcome. However, we still do not know what influences the presence of maternal microchimerism (MMc) in CB samples and whether their presence influences CB hematopoietic cell composition.Patients and MethodsHere we test whether genetic, biological, anthropometric and/or obstetrical parameters influence the frequency and/or quantity of maternal Mc in CB samples from 55 healthy primigravid women. Mc was evaluated by targeting non-shared, non-inherited Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-specific real-time quantitative PCR in whole blood and four cell subsets (T, B lymphocytes, granulocytes and/or hematopoietic progenitor cells). Furthermore CB samples were analyzed for their cell composition by flow cytometry and categorized according to their microchimeric status.ResultsMMc was present in 55% of CB samples in at least one cell subset or whole blood, with levels reaching up to 0.3% of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Two factors were predictive of the presence of MMc in CB samples: high concentrations of maternal serological Pregnancy-Associated-Protein-A at first trimester of pregnancy (p=0.018) and feto-maternal HLA-A and/or –DR compatibility (p=0.009 and p=0.01 respectively). Finally, CB samples positive for MMc were significantly enriched in CD56+ cells compared to CB negative for MMc.ConclusionsWe have identified two factors, measurable at early pregnancy, predicting the presence of maternal cells in CB samples at delivery. We have shown that MMc in CB samples could have an influence on the hematopoietic composition of fetal cells. CD56 is the phenotypic marker of natural killer cells (NK) and NK cells are known to be the main effector for graft versus leukemia reactions early after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. These results emphasize the importance of MMc investigation for CB banking strategies.

scholarly journals Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Peripheral Blood Reveals a Novel B-Cell Subset in Renal Allograft Recipients With Accommodation

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Zhuang ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
Bo Peng ◽  
Yang Liu ◽  
Ying Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Renal Allograft ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Esrd Patient ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Renal Transplant Recipients ◽  
B Cell Subsets

Background: Kidney transplantation (KTx) is a preeminent treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). After the application of immunosuppressants (IS), renal allograft recipients could reach a state called accommodation which means they are neither rejected nor infected. This study aimed to describe the details of this immune accommodation and reveal a novel mechanism of IS on immune cell subpopulations.Methods: We analyzed multiple cell subgroups and their gene expression of peripheral T, B, myeloid, and NK cells from renal allograft recipients with accommodation and healthy control (HC) by single-cell transcriptomics sequencing (scRNA-seq) and flow cytometry.Results: A total of 8,272 cells were isolated and sequenced from three individuals, including 2,758 cells from HC, 2,550 cells from ESRD patient, and 2,964 cells from KTx patient, as well as 396 immune response–related genes were detected during sequencing. 5 T-cell, 4 NK-cell, 5 myeloid, and 4 B-cell clusters were defined. Among them, a B-cell subset (CD19+IGLC3lowIGKChighTCL1A-CD127+) of renal transplant recipients with accommodation was significantly lower than that of HC and verified by flow cytometry, and this B-cell subset showed an activated potential because of its high expression of CD127. Furthermore, we found that IL32 might be the key cytokine to induce the differentiation of this B-cell cluster.Conclusion: We found a novel B-cell subset (CD19+IGLC3lowIGKChighTCL1A-CD127+) which was inhibited and decreased in renal allograft recipients with accommodation. This study might reveal the effect of commonly used IS in clinical practice on B-cell subsets and related mechanism.

scholarly journals Targeting EpCAM by a Bispecific Trifunctional Antibody Exerts Profound Cytotoxic Efficacy in Germ Cell Tumor Cell Lines

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1279
Author(s):  
Stefan Schönberger ◽  
Daniela Kraft ◽  
Daniel Nettersheim ◽  
Hubert Schorle ◽  
Anna Casati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Cell ◽  
Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Lines ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Surface Expression ◽  
Bispecific Antibodies ◽  
Target Antigen ◽  
T Cell Therapy

Outcome in high-risk patients with refractory or relapsed germ cell tumours (GCT) remains poor. Novel strategies enhancing therapeutic efficacy whilst limiting therapeutic burden are warranted, yet immunotherapy approaches geared towards activating endogenous antitumor responses have not been successful thus far. Redirection of cytotoxic effector cells by bispecific antibodies represents a promising approach in this setting. We demonstrate that the Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule (EpCAM) is broadly expressed in GCT cell lines of different histologic origin including seminoma, choriocarcinoma (CHC), and embryonal carcinoma (EC). In these GCT lines of variable EpCAM surface expression, targeting T cells by the prototypic bispecific EpCAM/CD3-antibody (bAb) Catumaxomab together with natural killer (NK) cell engagement via the Fc domain promotes profound cytotoxicity across a broad range of antibody dilutions. In contrast, tumor cell lysis mediated by either immune cell subset alone is influenced by surface density of the target antigen. In the CHC line JAR, NK cell-dependent cytotoxicity dominates, which may be attributed to differential surface expression of immunomodulatory proteins such as MHC-I, CD24, and Fas receptors on CHC and EC. In view of redirecting T cell therapy mediated by bispecific antibodies, such differences in GCT immunophenotype potentially favoring immune escape are worth further investigation.

Palindromic Rheumatism with Positive Anticitrullinated Peptide/Protein Antibodies Is Not Synonymous with Rheumatoid Arthritis. A Longterm Followup Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 1929-1933 ◽  
Author(s):  
RAIMON SANMARTÍ ◽  
SONIA CABRERA-VILLALBA ◽  
JOSÉ A. GÓMEZ-PUERTA ◽  
VIRGINIA RUIZ-ESQUIDE ◽  
M. VICTORIA HERNÁNDEZ ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Positive Likelihood Ratio ◽  
Outcome Variable ◽  
Palindromic Rheumatism ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Acpa Status

Objective.To analyze longterm progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the predictive value of anticitrullinated peptide/protein antibodies (ACPA) in palindromic rheumatism (PR).Methods.We selected all patients in our clinic with PR who had at least 1 ACPA measurement. We included only patients with pure PR, defined as no evidence of associated rheumatic disease at the first serum ACPA measurement. Clinical characteristics, serum ACPA levels, duration of PR until serum ACPA measurement, and total followup time were recorded. The outcome variable was the definitive diagnosis of RA. The prognostic value of ACPA status in pure PR for a definite diagnosis of RA was analyzed by different statistical methods.Results.Seventy-one patients (54 women/17 men) with a PR diagnosis were included. Serum ACPA were positive in 52.1%. After a mean followup of 7.6 ± 4.7 years since the first ACPA measurement, 24 patients (33.8%) progressed to chronic disease: 22% RA, 5.6% systemic lupus erythematosus, and 5.6% other diseases. The positive likelihood ratio of ACPA status for RA was 1.45, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of ACPA titers was 0.60 (95% CI 0.45−0.75). Progression to RA was more frequently seen in ACPA-positive than in ACPA-negative patients (29.7% vs 14.7%), but the difference was not significant (hazard ratio 2.46, 95% CI 0.77−7.86). Mean ACPA levels of patients with pure PR did not differ significantly from those of patients who progressed to RA.Conclusion.ACPA are frequently found in the sera of patients with PR, and a significant proportion of these patients do not progress to RA in the long term.

scholarly journals NK Cells in Autoimmune Diseases: Protective or Pathogenic?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meifang Liu ◽  
Shujuan Liang ◽  
Cai Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Immune System ◽  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Type I Diabetes ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Type I ◽  
Autoantibody Production

Autoimmune diseases generally result from the loss of self-tolerance (i.e., failure of the immune system to distinguish self from non-self), and are characterized by autoantibody production and hyperactivation of T cells, which leads to damage of specific or multiple organs. Thus, autoimmune diseases can be classified as organ-specific or systemic. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of autoimmunity. Recent studies have demonstrated the contribution of innate immunity to the onset of autoimmune diseases. Natural killer (NK) cells, which are key components of the innate immune system, have been implicated in the development of multiple autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, type I diabetes mellitus, and autoimmune liver disease. However, NK cells have both protective and pathogenic roles in autoimmunity depending on the NK cell subset, microenvironment, and disease type or stage. In this work, we review the current knowledge of the varied roles of NK cell subsets in systemic and organic-specific autoimmune diseases and their clinical potential as therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Brain transforms natural killer cells that exacerbate brain edema after intracerebral hemorrhage

2020 ◽  
Vol 217 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiguo Li ◽  
Minshu Li ◽  
Samuel X. Shi ◽  
Nan Yao ◽  
Xiaojing Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Brain Edema ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Cell Subset ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Chemokine Production ◽  
Perihematomal Edema

Perihematomal edema (PHE) occurs within hours after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), leading to secondary injury manifested by impaired blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity and destruction of adjacent tissue. To dissect the mechanisms underlying PHE formation, we profiled human and mouse perihematomal tissues and identified natural killer (NK) cells as the predominant immune cell subset that outnumbers other infiltrating immune cell types during early stages of ICH. Unbiased clustering of single-cell transcriptional profiles revealed two major NK cell subsets that respectively possess high cytotoxicity or robust chemokine production features in the brain after ICH, distinguishing them from NK cells of the periphery. NK cells exacerbate BBB disruption and brain edema after ICH via cytotoxicity toward cerebral endothelial cells and recruitment of neutrophils that augment focal inflammation. Thus, brain-bound NK cells acquire new features that contribute to PHE formation and neurological deterioration following ICH.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document