The Type I Interferon Signature Reflects Multiple Phenotypic and Activity Measures in Dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVE: The type 1 interferon (IFN) pathway is up-regulated in dermatomyositis (DM). We sought to define how organ-specific disease activity as well as autoantibodies and other clinical factors are independently associated with systemic type I IFN activity in adult patients with DM. METHODS: RNA sequencing was performed on 355 whole blood samples collected from 202 well-phenotyped DM patients followed up during the course of their clinical care. A previously defined 13-gene type I IFN score was modeled as a function of demographic, serologic, and clinical variables using both cross-sectional and longitudinal data. RESULTS: The pattern of type I IFN-driven transcriptional response was stereotyped across samples with a sequential modular activation pattern strikingly similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. The median type I IFN score was higher or lower in patients with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (anti-MDA-5) or anti-Mi-2 antibodies, respectively, compared to patients without these antibodies. Absolute type I IFN score was independently associated with muscle and skin disease activity, interstitial lung disease, and anti-MDA-5 antibodies. Changes in the type I IFN score over time were significantly associated with changes in skin or muscle disease activity. Stratified analysis accounting for heterogeneity in organ involvement and antibody class revealed high correlation between changes in the type I IFN score and skin disease activity (Spearman's ρ = 0.84-0.95). CONCLUSION: The type I IFN score is independently associated with skin and muscle disease activity as well as certain clinical and serologic features in DM. Accounting for the effect of muscle disease and anti-MDA-5 status revealed that the type I IFN score is strongly correlated with skin disease activity, providing support for type I IFN blockade as a therapeutic strategy for DM.

TLR Stimulation Produces IFN-ß as the Primary Driver of IFN Signaling in Nonlymphoid Primary Human Cells.

Several human autoimmune diseases are characterized by increased expression of type 1 IFN-stimulated genes in both the peripheral blood and tissue. The contributions of different type I IFNs to this gene signature are uncertain as the type I IFN family consists of 13 alphas and one each of ß, ε, κ, and ω subtypes. We sought to investigate the contribution of various IFNs to IFN signaling in primary human cell types. We stimulated primary skin, muscle, kidney, and PBMCs from normal healthy human donors with various TLR ligands and measured the expression of type I IFN subtypes and activation of downstream signaling by quantitative PCR. We show that IFNB1 is the dominant type I IFN expressed upon TLR3 and TLR4 stimulation, and its expression profile is associated with subsequent MX1 transcription. Furthermore, using an IFN-ß-specific neutralizing Ab, we show that MX1 expression is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that IFN-ß is the primary driver of IFN-stimulated genes following TLR3 and TLR4 engagement. Stimulation with TLR7/8 and TLR9 ligands induced IFNB1 and IFNA subtypes and MX1 expression only in PBMCs and not in tissue resident cell types. Concordantly, IFN-ß neutralization had no effect on MX1 expression in PBMCs potentially because of the combination of IFNB1 and IFNA expression. Combined, these data highlight the potential role for IFN-ß in driving local inflammatory responses in clinically relevant human tissue types and opportunities to treat local inflammation by targeting IFN-ß.

Development of a Cell-Based Assay for the Detection of Neutralizing Antibodies to PF-06730512 Using Homogenous Time-Resolved Fluorescence.

The administration of biotherapeutics has the potential to induce potent immune responses. Among these responses, the production of anti-drug antibodies (ADA), including a subset of ADA referred to as neutralizing antibodies (NAb), is of heightened concern. Aside from their capacity to alter the pharmacological profile of a given biotherapeutic, NAb can also pose significant safety risks, especially in instances where an endogenous counterpart to the drug exists. As such, the inclusion of an assay to detect NAb in clinical samples is critical to the effectiveness of a tiered approach to immunogenicity assessment. PF-06730512 is a biotherapeutic protein being developed for the treatment of primary Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To support the immunogenicity assessment of PF-06730512, a cell-based assay was developed for the detection of NAb in FSGS serum samples. Herein, we describe the development of the assay with a focus on the challenges faced, including drug and blood collection tube interferences in NAb detection. The outcome of our efforts was a robust assay capable of detecting 1 µg/mL of a NAb positive control in the presence of clinically relevant drug concentrations up to 30 µg/mL.

CD275-Independent IL-17-Producing T Follicular Helper-like Cells in Lymphopenic Autoimmune-Prone Mice.

T cells undergo homeostatic expansion and acquire an activated phenotype in lymphopenic microenvironments. Restoration of normal lymphocyte numbers typically re-establishes normal homeostasis, and proinflammatory cytokine production returns to baseline. Mice deficient in guanine nucleotide exchange factor RasGRP1 exhibit dysregulated homeostatic expansion, which manifests as lymphoproliferative disease with autoantibody production. Our previous work revealed that autoreactive B cells lacking RasGRP1 break tolerance early during development, as well as during germinal center responses, suggesting that T cell-independent and T cell-dependent mechanisms are responsible. Examination of whether a particular T cell subset is involved in the breach of B cell tolerance revealed increased Th17 cells in Rasgrp1-deficient mice relative to control mice. Rasgrp1-deficient mice lacking IL-17R had fewer germinal centers, and germinal centers that formed contained fewer autoreactive B cells, suggesting that IL-17 signaling is required for a break in B cell tolerance in germinal centers. Interestingly, a fraction of Th17 cells from Rasgrp1-deficient mice were CXCR5(+) and upregulated levels of CD278 coordinate with their appearance in germinal centers, all attributes of T follicular helper cells (Tfh17). To determine whether CD278-CD275 interactions were required for the development of Tfh17 cells and for autoantibody, Rasgrp1-deficient mice were crossed with CD275-deficient mice. Surprisingly, mice deficient in RasGRP1 and CD275 formed Tfh17 cells and germinal centers and produced similar titers of autoantibodies as mice deficient in only RasGRP1. Therefore, these studies suggest that requirements for Tfh cell development change in lymphopenia-associated autoimmune settings.

Multiple checkpoint breach of B cell tolerance in Rasgrp1-deficient mice.

Lymphopenic hosts offer propitious microenvironments for expansion of autoreactive B and T cells. Despite this, many lymphopenic hosts do not develop autoimmune disease, suggesting that additional factors are required for breaching self-tolerance in the setting of lymphopenia. Mice deficient in guanine nucleotide exchange factor Rasgrp1 develop a lymphoproliferative disorder with features of human systemic lupus erythematosus. Early in life, Rasgrp1-deficient mice have normal B cell numbers but are T lymphopenic, leading to defective homeostatic expansion of CD4 T cells. To investigate whether B cell-intrinsic mechanisms also contribute to autoimmunity, Rasgrp1-deficient mice were bred to mice containing a knockin autoreactive BCR transgene (564Igi), thereby allowing the fate of autoreactive B cells to be assessed. During B cell development, the frequency of receptor-edited 564Igi B cells was reduced in Rasrp1-deficient mice compared with Rasgrp1-sufficient littermate control mice, suggesting that tolerance was impaired. In addition, the number of 564Igi transitional B cells was increased in Rasgrp1-deficient mice compared with control mice. Immature 564Igi B cells in bone marrow and spleen lacking RasGRP1 expressed lower levels of Bim mRNA and protein, suggesting that autoreactive B cells elude clonal deletion during development. Concomitant with increased serum autoantibodies, Rasgrp1-deficient mice developed spontaneous germinal centers at 8-10 wk of age. The frequency and number of 564Igi B cells within these germinal centers were significantly increased in Rasgrp1-deficient mice relative to control mice. Taken together, these studies suggest that autoreactive B cells lacking Rasgrp1 break central and peripheral tolerance through both T cell-independent and -dependent mechanisms.

Characterization of Rho-GDIgamma and Rho-GDIalpha mRNA in the developing and mature brain with an analysis of mice with targeted deletions of Rho-GDIgamma.

Rho-GDIs are a family of Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitors that are critical in modulating the activity of the small GTPases, Cdc42 and RhoA. Two Rho-GDI isoforms are expressed in the brain, Rho-GDIgamma and Rho-GDIalpha. Here, we describe the expression of both of these isoforms in the developing and mature brain. The mRNA expression patterns of Rho-GDIgamma and Rho-GDIalpha were almost identical in the brain with expression in the developing and mature cerebral cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. In addition, we generated mice with targeted deletions of Rho-GDIgamma that are viable and fertile and have no obvious phenotypic abnormalities. Mutant brains looked histologically normal and demonstrated normal patterns of dendritogenesis and neuronal layering as determined by Golgi staining. Mutant mice had normal sleep/wake patterns and sleep EEGs and showed normal hippocampal-dependent learning as assayed by the Morris water maze task. Based on the co-expression of Rho-GDIalpha and Rho-GDIgamma in identical populations of cells in the brain, the lack of phenotype caused by targeted deletion of Rho-GDIgamma may not be surprising given that Rho-GDIalpha may compensate for the loss of Rho-GDIgamma. Whether deletion of both Rho-GDIalpha and Rho-GDIgamma, thereby eliminating all GDI activity in the brain, would produce an observable phenotype remains to be determined.

Regulation of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 expression during normal and autoimmune responses.

Newer members of the B7-CD28 superfamily include the receptor PD-1 and its two ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. Here, we characterize the expression of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 in tissues of naive miceand in target organs from two models of autoimmunity, the pancreas from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice and brain from mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In naive mice, proteiexpression of PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 was detected in the thymus, while PD-1 and PD-L1 were detected in the spleen. PD-L1, but not PD-L2, was also detected at low levels on cardiac endothelium, pancreatic islets, and syncyciotrophoblasts in the placenta. In pre-diabetic NOD mice, PD-1 and PD-L1 were expressed on infiltrating cells in the pancreatic islets. Furthermore, PD-L1 was markedly up-regulated on islet cells. In brains from mice with EAE, PD-1, PD-L1, and PD-L2 were expressed on infiltrating inflammatory cells, and PD-L1 was up-regulated on endothelium within EAE brain. The distinct expression patterns of PD-L1 and PD-L2 led us to compare their transcriptional regulation in STAT4(-/-), STAT6(-/-), or NF-kappaB p50(-/-)p65(+/-) dendritic cells (DC).PD-L2, but not PD-L1, expression was dramatically reduced in p50(-/-)p65(+/-) DC. Thus, PD-L1 and PD-L2 exhibit distinct expression patterns and are differentially regulated on the transcriptional level.

A role for the B7-1/B7-2:CD28/CTLA-4 pathway during negative selection.

Although costimulation plays an important role in activating naive T cells, its role in negative selection is controversial. By following thymocyte deletion induced by endogenous superantigens in mice lacking B7-1 and/or B7-2, we have identified a role for both B7-1 and B7-2 in negative selection. Studies using CD28-deficient and CD28/CTLA-4-double-deficient mice have revealed that either CD28 or another as yet undefined coreceptor can mediate these B7-dependent signals that promote negative selection. Finally, CTLA-4 delivers signals that inhibit selection, suggesting that CTLA-4 and CD28 have opposing functions in thymic development. Combined, the data demonstrate that B7-1/B7-2-dependent signals help shape the T cell repertoire.

Conservation of CD1 intracellular trafficking patterns between mammalian species.

Dendritic cells (DC) are potent APCs that sample Ags from the surrounding environment and present them to naive T cells using cell surface Ag-presenting molecules. The DC in both lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues express high levels of CD1, a cell surface glycoprotein capable of presenting lipids and glycolipids to T cells. Distinct group 1 CD1 isoforms (CD1a, -b, -c) in man are known to traffic to different parts of the endocytic system where microbial Ags may be sampled. Guinea pigs are the only known rodent species that express the group 1 CD1 proteins. Therefore, we examined the expression and trafficking of guinea pig CD1 (gpCD1) isoforms on isolated DC. Confocal microscopy using mAbs specific for individual gpCD1 isoforms revealed differential trafficking of two distinct CD1b isoforms within DC. Colocalization of MHC class II was observed with the gpCD1b1 isoform, consistent with localization in the late endosomes of DC. In contrast, the gpCD1b3 isoform lacks an endosomal sorting motif and remains on the cell surface. Following incubation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipoarabinomannan, colocalization of endocytosed lipoarabinomannan with the gpCD1b1 isoform was observed but not with the gpCD1b3 isoform, which remained primarily on the cell surface. These data demonstrate that guinea pig DC express CD1 isoforms with unique trafficking patterns that recapitulate the patterns seen for human CD1 isoforms. This suggests evolutionary pressure for a conserved mechanism in mammals that allows CD1 to sample lipid Ags from various subcompartments of the endocytic system.