scholarly journals The Germinal Center Milieu in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Immunological Drummer or Dancer?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10514
Author(s):  
Dornatien C. Anang ◽  
Giulia Balzaretti ◽  
Antoine van Kampen ◽  
Niek de Vries ◽  
Paul L. Klarenbeek
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
B Cells ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Joint Inflammation ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Chronic Autoimmune Disease ◽  
Chronic Use

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation, affecting approximately 1% of the general population. To alleviate symptoms and ameliorate joint damage, chronic use of immunosuppressives is needed. However, these treatments are only partially effective and may lead to unwanted side effects. Therefore, a more profound understanding of the pathophysiology might lead to more effective therapies, or better still, a cure. The presence of autoantibodies in RA indicates that B cells might have a pivotal role in the disease. This concept is further supported by the fact that a diverse antibody response to various arthritis-related epitopes is associated with arthritis development. In this context, attention has focused in recent years on the role of Germinal Centers (GCs) in RA. Since GCs act as the main anatomic location of somatic hypermutations, and, thus, contributing to the diversity and specificity of (auto) antibodies, it has been speculated that defects in germinal center reactions might be crucial in the initiation and maintenance of auto-immune events. In this paper, we discuss current evidence that various processes within GCs can result in the aberrant production of B cells that possess autoreactive properties and might result in the production of RA related autoantibodies. Secondly, we discuss various (pre-)clinical studies that have targeted various GC processes as novel therapies for RA treatment.

scholarly journals B Cell Division Capacity in Germinal Centers Depends on Myc Transcript Stabilization Through m6A mRNA Methylation and IGF2BP3 Functions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalie C. Grenov ◽  
Lihee Moss ◽  
Sarit Edelheit ◽  
Ross Cordiner ◽  
Dominik Schmiedel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Cell Cycle Progression ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Related Gene ◽  
Cycle Progression ◽  
Mrna Stabilization ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Protective Antibodies

AbstractLong-lasting immunity from pathogens depends on the generation of protective antibodies through the germinal center (GC) reaction. The Myc gene produces highly short-lived transcripts which are essential for generation of high-affinity antibodies. mRNA lifetime is regulated by N6-methyladenosine (m6A)-modification of mRNAs through METTL3 activity; however, the role of this machinery in the GC remains unclear. Here, we find that m6A-modification of mRNAs is required for GC maintenance through Myc mRNA stabilization by the atypical m6A-interactor, IGF2BP3. MYC expression, activation of MYC transcriptional programs and cell-cycle progression were diminished in METTL3-deficient GC B cells. METTL3 attenuated Myc-transcript decay and overexpression of MYC in METTL3-deficient GC B cells restored the GC reaction. IGF2BP3 which was induced by CD40-signaling, reinforced MYC expression and MYC-related gene programs in GC B cells. Our findings explain how GC responses are maintained through regulation of Myc-transcript lifetime and expose new targets for manipulation in MYC-driven lymphoma.One Sentence SummaryGerminal centers depend on the m6A-machinery

scholarly journals Pathogenic Role of Immune Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Implications in Clinical Treatment and Biomarker Development

Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hooi-Yeen Yap ◽  
Sabrina Tee ◽  
Magdelyn Wong ◽  
Sook-Khuan Chow ◽  
Suat-Cheng Peh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Joint Inflammation ◽  
Inflammatory Disorder ◽  
Pathogenic Role ◽  
Early Detection Of Disease ◽  
Symmetric Pattern ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, systemic, inflammatory disorder that affects synovial joints, both small and large joints, in a symmetric pattern. This disorder usually does not directly cause death but significantly reduces the quality of life and life expectancy of patients if left untreated. There is no cure for RA but, patients are usually on long-term disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to suppress the joint inflammation, to minimize joint damage, to preserve joint function, and to keep the disease in remission. RA is strongly associated with various immune cells and each of the cell type contributes differently to the disease pathogenesis. Several types of immunomodulatory molecules mainly cytokines secreted from immune cells mediate pathogenesis of RA, hence complicating the disease treatment and management. There are various treatments for RA depending on the severity of the disease and more importantly, the patient’s response towards the given drugs. Early diagnosis of RA and treatment with (DMARDs) are known to significantly improve the treatment outcome of patients. Sensitive biomarkers are crucial in early detection of disease as well as to monitor the disease activity and progress. This review aims to discuss the pathogenic role of various immune cells and immunological molecules in RA. This review also highlights the importance of understanding the immune cells in treating RA and in exploring novel biomarkers.

scholarly journals Prostacyclin-IP signaling and prostaglandin E2-EP2/EP4 signaling both mediate joint inflammation in mouse collagen-induced arthritis

2006 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-335 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Honda ◽  
Eri Segi-Nishida ◽  
Yoshiki Miyachi ◽  
Shuh Narumiya
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Synovial Fluid ◽  
Joint Inflammation ◽  
Synovial Fibroblasts ◽  
The Other ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Significant Suppression ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Collagen Induced Arthritis

Prostaglandin (PG)I2 (prostacyclin [PGI]) and PGE2 are abundantly present in the synovial fluid of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Although the role of PGE2 in RA has been well studied, how much PGI2 contributes to RA is little known. To examine this issue, we backcrossed mice lacking the PGI receptor (IP) to the DBA/1J strain and subjected them to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). IP-deficient (IP−/−) mice exhibited significant reduction in arthritic scores compared with wild-type (WT) mice, despite anti-collagen antibody production and complement activation similar to WT mice. IP−/− mice also showed significant reduction in contents of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6 in arthritic paws. Consistently, the addition of an IP agonist to cultured synovial fibroblasts significantly enhanced IL-6 production and induced expression of other arthritis-related genes. On the other hand, loss or inhibition of each PGE receptor subtype alone did not affect elicitation of inflammation in CIA. However, a partial but significant suppression of CIA was achieved by the combined inhibition of EP2 and EP4. Our results show significant roles of both PGI2-IP and PGE2-EP2/EP4 signaling in the development of CIA, and suggest that inhibition of PGE2 synthesis alone may not be sufficient for suppression of RA symptoms.

scholarly journals Role of Biological Response Modifiers in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis - A Review

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-65
Author(s):  
Md Azizul Haque ◽  
ARM Saifuddin Ekram ◽  
Quazi Tarikul Islam
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Monoclonal Antibody ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
The Past ◽  
Conventional Dmards

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease with the potential to cause substantial joint damage and disability. During the past 10 years, improved understanding of the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis has led to several key changes in the approach to therapy. Most important of that is the development of some biological agents interfering with the activity of several important cytokines. Infliximab, etanarcept, and adalimumab are TNF blockers, anakinra is IL-1 receptor antagonist, and rituximab is anti CD-20 monoclonal antibody. These newer agents proved to be useful for alleviating symptoms and slowing the disease progression in the patients with RA who have failed to respond to conventional DMARDs.   doi: 10.3329/taj.v18i1.3309 TAJ 2005; 18(1): 60-65

scholarly journals Peptides Bearing Multiple Post-Translational Modifications as Antigenic Targets for Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13290
Author(s):  
Cristina García-Moreno ◽  
María J. Gómara ◽  
Raúl Castellanos-Moreira ◽  
Raimon Sanmartí ◽  
Isabel Haro
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Structural Damage ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Erosive Disease ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Modified Peptides ◽  
Chimeric Peptides

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies that are of paramount importance for the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease and have been implicated in its pathogenesis. Proteins resulting from post-translational modifications (PTMs) are capable of triggering autoimmune responses important for the development of RA. In this work, we investigate serum antibody reactivity in patients with an established RA against a panel of chimeric peptides derived from fibrin and filaggrin proteins and bearing from one to three PTMs (citrullination, carbamylation and acetylation) by home-designed ELISA tests (anti-AMPA autoantibodies). The role of anti-AMPAs as biomarkers linked to the presence of a more severe RA phenotype (erosive disease with radiological structural damage) and to the presence of interstitial lung disease (ILD), a severe extra-articular manifestation in RA patients entailing a high mortality, was also analyzed. In general, the association with the clinical phenotype of RA was confirmed with the different autoantibodies, and especially for IgA and IgM isotypes. The prevalence of severe joint damage was only statistically significant for the IgG isotype when working with the peptide bearing three PTMs. Furthermore, the median titers were significantly higher in patients with RA-ILD, a finding not observed for the IgG isotype when working with the single- and double-modified peptides.

scholarly journals Germinal center B cell development has distinctly regulated stages completed by disengagement from T cell help

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ting-ting Zhang ◽  
David G Gonzalez ◽  
Christine M Cote ◽  
Steven M Kerfoot ◽  
Shaoli Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
B Cells ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
B Cell Differentiation ◽  
B Cell Maturation ◽  
Germinal Center B Cell ◽  
T Cell Help ◽  
Dose Dependent

To reconcile conflicting reports on the role of CD40 signaling in germinal center (GC) formation, we examined the earliest stages of murine GC B cell differentiation. Peri-follicular GC precursors first expressed intermediate levels of BCL6 while co-expressing the transcription factors RelB and IRF4, the latter known to repress Bcl6 transcription. Transition of GC precursors to the BCL6hi follicular state was associated with cell division, although the number of required cell divisions was immunogen dose dependent. Potentiating T cell help or CD40 signaling in these GC precursors actively repressed GC B cell maturation and diverted their fate towards plasmablast differentiation, whereas depletion of CD4+ T cells promoted this initial transition. Thus while CD40 signaling in B cells is necessary to generate the immediate precursors of GC B cells, transition to the BCL6hi follicular state is promoted by a regional and transient diminution of T cell help.

scholarly journals Germinal centers in human lymph nodes contain reactivated memory B cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 204 (11) ◽  
pp. 2655-2665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Bende ◽  
Febe van Maldegem ◽  
Martijn Triesscheijn ◽  
Thera A.M. Wormhoudt ◽  
Richard Guijt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cells ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Germinal Center ◽  
Lymphoid Tissue ◽  
Somatic Hypermutation ◽  
Germinal Centers ◽  
Memory B Cells ◽  
Cell Clones ◽  
Clonal Origin ◽  
Successive Recall

To reveal migration trails of antigen-responsive B cells in lymphoid tissue, we analyzed immunoglobulin (Ig)M-VH and IgG-VH transcripts of germinal center (GC) samples microdissected from three reactive human lymph nodes. Single B cell clones were found in multiple GCs, one clone even in as many as 19 GCs. In several GCs, IgM and IgG variants of the same clonal origin were identified. The offspring of individual hypermutated IgG memory clones were traced in multiple GCs, indicating repeated engagement of memory B cells in GC reactions. These findings imply that recurring somatic hypermutation progressively drives the Ig repertoire of memory B cells to higher affinities and infer that transforming genetic hits in non-Ig genes during lymphomagenesis do not have to arise during a single GC passage, but can be collected during successive recall responses.

Role of joint damage, malalignment and inflammation in articular tenderness in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and osteoarthritis

2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2020-218744
Author(s):  
Irina Gessl ◽  
Mihaela Popescu ◽  
Victoria Schimpl ◽  
Gabriela Supp ◽  
Thomas Deimel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Psoriatic Arthritis ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Joint Space ◽  
Early Arthritis ◽  
Damage Score ◽  
Established Disease ◽  
Active Inflammation

ObjectivesTo determine whether clinical tenderness can be considered a sign of inflammatory joint activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to assess other possible factors associated with tenderness.MethodsPatients diagnosed with RA, PsA and OA underwent clinical and ultrasound examination of wrists and finger joints. Radiographs of the hands were scored for erosions, joint space narrowing (JSN), osteophytes and malalignment. A binary damage score (positive if ≥1 erosion, JSN and/or presence of malalignment) was calculated. Differences in grey scale signs of synovitis and power Doppler (PD) between tender non-swollen (TNS) versus non-tender non-swollen (NTNS) joints were calculated. Disease duration was assessed,<2 years was regarded as early and >5 years as long-standing arthritis.ResultsIn total, 34 patients (9 early and 14 long-standing) from patients with RA, 31 patients (7 early and 15 long-standing) with PsA and 30 with OA were included. We found equal frequencies of PD signal between TNS and NTNS joints in RA (p=0.18), PsA (p=0.59) or OA (p=0.96). However, PD had a significant association with tenderness in early arthritis both in RA (p=0.02) and in PsA (p=0.02). The radiographic damage score showed significant association with tenderness in RA (p<0.01), PsA (p<0.01) and OA (p=0.04).ConclusionTenderness might not always be a sign of active inflammation in RA, PsA and OA. While tenderness in early arthritis may be more related to inflammation, established disease is better explained by joint damage and malalignment.

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