LncRNA ARGI Contributes to Virus-Induced Pancreatic ß Cell Inflammation Through Transcriptional Activation of IFN-Stimulated Genes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a complex autoimmune disease that develops in genetically susceptible individuals. Most T1D-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are located in non-coding regions of the human genome. Interestingly, SNPs in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may result in the disruption of their secondary structure, affecting their function, and in turn, the expression of potentially pathogenic pathways. In the present work, the function of a virus-induced T1D-associated lncRNA named ARGI (Antiviral Response Gene Inducer) is characterized. Upon a viral insult, ARGI is upregulated in the nuclei of pancreatic ß cells and binds to CTCF to interact with the promoter and enhancer regions of IFNß and interferon-stimulated genes, promoting their transcriptional activation in an allele-specific manner. The presence of the T1D risk allele in ARGI induces a change in its secondary structure. Interestingly, the T1D risk genotype induces hyperactivation of type I IFN response in pancreatic ß cells, an expression signature that is present in the pancreas of T1D patients. These data shed light on the molecular mechanisms by which T1D-related SNPs in lncRNAs influence pathogenesis at the pancreatic ß cell level and opens the door for the development of therapeutic strategies based on lncRNA modulation to delay or avoid pancreatic ß cell inflammation in T1D.

Inhibition of the type 1 diabetes candidate gene PTPN2 aggravates TNF-α-induced human beta cell dysfunction and death.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: TNF-α plays a role in pancreatic beta cell loss in type 1 diabetes mellitus. In clinical interventions, TNF-α inhibition preserves C-peptide levels in early type 1 diabetes. In this study we evaluated the crosstalk of TNF-α, as compared with type I IFNs, with the type 1 diabetes candidate gene PTPN2 (encoding protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 [PTPN2]) in human beta cells. METHODS: EndoC-ßH1 cells, dispersed human pancreatic islets or induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived islet-like cells were transfected with siRNAs targeting various genes (siCTRL, siPTPN2, siJNK1, siJNK3 or siBIM). Cells were treated for 48 h with IFN-α (2000 U/ml) or TNF-α (1000 U/ml). Cell death was evaluated using Hoechst 33342 and propidium iodide staining. mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and protein expression by immunoblot. RESULTS: PTPN2 silencing sensitised beta cells to cytotoxicity induced by IFN-α and/or TNF-α by 20-50%, depending on the human cell model utilised; there was no potentiation between the cytokines. We silenced c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)1 or Bcl-2-like protein 2 (BIM), and this abolished the proapoptotic effects of IFN-α, TNF-α or the combination of both after PTPN2 inhibition. We further observed that PTPN2 silencing increased TNF-α-induced JNK1 and BIM phosphorylation and that JNK3 is necessary for beta cell resistance to IFN-α cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: We show that the type 1 diabetes candidate gene PTPN2 is a key regulator of the deleterious effects of TNF-α in human beta cells. It is conceivable that people with type 1 diabetes carrying risk-associated PTPN2 polymorphisms may particularly benefit from therapies inhibiting TNF-α.

Autoantibody and T cell responses to oxidative post-translationally modified insulin neoantigenic peptides in type 1 diabetes.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Antibodies specific to oxidative post-translational modifications (oxPTM) of insulin (oxPTM-INS) are present in most individuals with type 1 diabetes, even before the clinical onset. However, the antigenic determinants of such response are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the antibody response to oxPTM-INS neoepitope peptides (oxPTM-INSPs) and evaluated their ability to stimulate humoral and T cell responses in type 1 diabetes. We also assessed the concordance between antibody and T cell responses to the oxPTM-INS neoantigenic peptides. METHODS: oxPTM-INS was generated by exposing insulin to various reactive oxidants. The insulin fragments resulting from oxPTM were fractionated by size-exclusion chromatography further to ELISA and LC-MS/MS analysis to identify the oxidised peptide neoepitopes. Immunogenic peptide candidates were produced and then modified in house or designed to incorporate in silico-oxidised amino acids during synthesis. Autoantibodies to the oxPTM-INSPs were tested by ELISA using sera from 63 participants with new-onset type 1 diabetes and 30 control participants. An additional 18 fresh blood samples from participants with recently diagnosed type 1 diabetes, five with established disease, and from 11 control participants were used to evaluate, in parallel, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell activation by oxPTM-INSPs. RESULTS: We observed antibody and T cell responses to three out of six LC-MS/MS-identified insulin peptide candidates: A:12-21 (SLYQLENYCN, native insulin peptide 3 [Nt-INSP-3]), B:11-30 (LVEALYLVCGERGFFYTPKT, Nt-INSP-4) and B:21-30 (ERGFFYTPKT, Nt-INSP-6). For Nt-INSP-4 and Nt-INSP-6, serum antibody binding was stronger in type 1 diabetes compared with healthy control participants (p≤0.02), with oxidised forms of ERGFFYTPKT, oxPTM-INSP-6 conferring the highest antibody binding (83% binders to peptide modified in house by hydroxyl radical [●OH] and >88% to in silico-oxidised peptide; p≤0.001 vs control participants). Nt-INSP-4 induced the strongest T cell stimulation in type 1 diabetes compared with control participants for both CD4+ (p<0.001) and CD8+ (p=0.049). CD4+ response to oxPTM-INSP-6 was also commoner in type 1 diabetes than in control participants (66.7% vs 27.3%; p=0.039). Among individuals with type 1 diabetes, the CD4+ response to oxPTM-INSP-6 was more frequent than to Nt-INSP-6 (66.7% vs 27.8%; p=0.045). Overall, 44.4% of patients showed a concordant autoimmune response to oxPTM-INSP involving simultaneously CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Our findings support the concept that oxidative stress, and neoantigenic epitopes of insulin, may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.

In depth functional characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived beta cells in vitro and in vivo.

In vitro differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into beta cells represents an important cell source for diabetes research. Here, we fully characterized iPSC-derived beta cell function in vitro and in vivo in humanized mice. Using a 7-stage protocol, human iPSCs were differentiated into islet-like aggregates with a yield of insulin-positive beta cells comparable to that of human islets. The last three stages of differentiation were conducted with two different 3D culture systems, rotating suspension or static microwells. In the latter, homogeneously small-sized islet-like aggregates were obtained, while in rotating suspension size was heterogeneous and aggregates often clumped. In vitro function was assessed by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, NAD(P)H and calcium fluctuations. Stage 7 aggregates slightly increased insulin release in response to glucose in vitro. Aggregates were transplanted under the kidney capsule of NOD-SCID mice to allow for further in vivo beta cell maturation. In transplanted mice, grafts showed glucose-responsiveness and maintained normoglycemia after streptozotocin injection. In situ kidney perfusion assays showed modulation of human insulin secretion in response to different secretagogues. In conclusion, iPSCs differentiated with equal efficiency into beta cells in microwells compared to rotating suspension, but the former had a higher experimental success rate. In vitro differentiation generated aggregates lacking fully mature beta cell function. In vivo, beta cells acquired the functional characteristics typical of human islets. With this technology an unlimited supply of islet-like organoids can be generated from human iPSCs that will be instrumental to study beta cell biology and dysfunction in diabetes.

Centrosome and ciliary abnormalities in fetal akinesia deformation sequence human fibroblasts.

Ciliopathies are clinical disorders of the primary cilium with widely recognised phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Here, we found impaired ciliogenesis in fibroblasts derived from individuals with fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS), a broad spectrum of neuromuscular disorders arising from compromised foetal movement. We show that cells derived from FADS individuals have shorter and less primary cilia (PC), in association with alterations in post-translational modifications in α-tubulin. Similarly, siRNA-mediated depletion of two known FADS proteins, the scaffold protein rapsyn and the nucleoporin NUP88, resulted in defective PC formation. Consistent with a role in ciliogenesis, rapsyn and NUP88 localised to centrosomes and PC. Furthermore, proximity-ligation assays confirm the respective vicinity of rapsyn and NUP88 to γ-tubulin. Proximity-ligation assays moreover show that rapsyn and NUP88 are adjacent to each other and that the rapsyn-NUP88 interface is perturbed in the examined FADS cells. We suggest that the perturbed rapsyn-NUP88 interface leads to defects in PC formation and that defective ciliogenesis contributes to the pleiotropic defects seen in FADS.

Targeting Extracellular Vesicles to the Arthritic Joint Using a Damaged Cartilage-Specific Antibody.

The targeted delivery of therapies to diseased tissues offers a safe opportunity to achieve optimal efficacy while limiting systemic exposure. These considerations apply to many disease indications but are especially relevant for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as RA is a systemic autoimmune disease which affects multiple joints. We have identified an antibody that is specific to damaged arthritic cartilage (anti-ROS-CII) that can be used to deliver treatments specifically to arthritic joints, yielding augmented efficacy in experimental arthritis. In the current study, we demonstrate that scaffolds enriched with bioactive payloads can be delivered precisely to an inflamed joint and achieve superior efficacy outcomes consistent with the pharmacological properties of these payloads. As a scaffold, we have used extracellular vesicles (EVs) prepared from human neutrophils (PMNs), which possess intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties and the ability to penetrate inflamed arthritic cartilage. EV fortified with anti-ROS-CII (EV/anti-ROS-CII) retained anti-ROS-CII specificity and bound exclusively to the damaged cartilage. Following systemic administration, EV/anti-ROS-CII (a) exhibited the ability to localize specifically in the arthritic joint in vivo and (b) was able to specifically target single (viral IL-10 or anti-TNF) or combined (viral IL-10 and anti-TNF) anti-inflammatory treatments to the arthritic joint, which accelerated attenuation of clinical and synovial inflammation. Overall, this study demonstrates the attainability of targeting a pro-resolving biological scaffold to the arthritic joint. The potential of targeting scaffolds such as EV, nanoparticles, or a combination thereof alongside combined therapeutics is paramount for designing systemically administered broad-spectrum of anti-inflammatory treatments.

Antibodies to oxidized insulin improve prediction of type 1 diabetes in children with positive standard islet autoantibodies.

BACKGROUND: Antibodies to posttranslationally modified insulin (oxPTM-INS-Ab) are a novel biomarker of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Here, we evaluated whether oxPTM-INS-Ab can improve T1D prediction in children with positive standard islet autoantibodies (AAB). METHODS: We evaluated sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and risk for progression to T1D associated with oxPTM-INS-Ab and the standard islet AAB that include insulin (IAA), GAD (GADA), and tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2A) in a cohort of islet AAB-positive (AAB+ ) children from the general population (median follow-up 8.8 years). RESULTS: oxPTM-INS-Ab was the most sensitive and specific autoantibody biomarker (74% sensitivity, 91% specificity), followed by IA-2A (71% sensitivity, 91% specificity). GADA and IAA showed lower sensitivity (65% and 50%, respectively) and specificity (66% and 68%, respectively). Accuracy (AUC of ROC) of oxPTM-INS-Ab was higher than GADA and IAA (P = 0.003 and P = 0.017, respectively), and similar to IA-2A (P = 0.896). oxPTM-INS-Ab and IA-2A were more effective than IAA for detecting progr-T1D when used as second-line biomarker in GADA+ children. Risk for diabetes was higher (P = 0.03) among multiple AAB+ who were also oxPTM-INS-Ab+ compared with those who were oxPTM-INS-Ab- . Importantly, when replacing IAA with oxPTM-INS-Ab, diabetes risk increased to 100% in children with oxPTM-INS-Ab+ in combination with GADA+ and IA-2A+ , compared with 84.37% in those with IAA+ , GADA+ , and IA-2A+ (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Antibodies to oxidized insulin (oxPTM-INS-Ab), compared with IAA which measure autoantibodies to native insulin, improve T1D risk assessment and prediction accuracy in AAB+ children.

Antibodies to post-translationally modified insulin as a novel biomarker for prediction of type 1 diabetes in children.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We have shown that autoimmunity to insulin in type 1 diabetes may result from neoepitopes induced by oxidative post-translational modifications (oxPTM). Antibodies specific to oxPTM-insulin (oxPTM-INS-Ab) are present in most newly diagnosed individuals with type 1 diabetes and are more common than autoantibodies to native insulin. In this study, we investigated whether oxPTM-INS-Ab are present before clinical onset of type 1 diabetes, and evaluated the ability of oxPTM-INS-Ab to identify children progressing to type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We used serum samples collected longitudinally from the 'All Babies in Southeast Sweden (ABIS)' cohort tested for the gold standard islet autoantibodies to insulin (IAA), GAD (GADA), tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2A) and zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8A). We studied 23 children who progressed to type 1 diabetes (progr-T1D) and 63 children who did not progress to type 1 diabetes (NP) after a median follow-up of 10.8 years (interquartile range 7.7-12.8). Of the latter group, 32 were positive for one or more islet autoantibodies (NP-AAB+). oxPTM-INS-Ab to insulin modified by •OH or HOCl were measured by our developed ELISA platform. RESULTS: Antibodies to at least one oxPTM-INS were present in 91.3% of progr-T1D children. oxPTM-INS-Ab co-existed with GADA, IA-2A, IAA or ZnT8A in 65.2%, 56.5%, 38.9% and 33.3% progr-T1D children, respectively. In addition, oxPTM-INS-Ab were present in 17.4%, 26.1%, 38.9% and 41.6% of progr-T1D children who were negative for GADA, IA-2A, IAA and ZnT8A, respectively. •OH-INS-Ab were more common in progr-T1D children than in NP-AAB+ children (82.6% vs 19%; p < 0.001) and allowed discrimination between progr-T1D and NP-AAB+ children with 74% sensitivity and 91% specificity. None of the NP-AAB- children were positive for oxPTM-INS-Ab. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: oxPTM-INS-Ab are present before the clinical onset of type 1 diabetes and can identify children progressing to type 1 diabetes.

Antibodies to post-translationally modified insulin in type 1 diabetes.

AIM/HYPOTHESIS: Insulin is the most specific beta cell antigen and a potential primary autoantigen in type 1 diabetes. Insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) are the earliest marker of beta cell autoimmunity; however, only slightly more than 50% of children and even fewer adults newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are IAA positive. The aim of this investigation was to determine if oxidative post-translational modification (oxPTM) of insulin by reactive oxidants associated with islet inflammation generates neoepitopes that stimulate an immune response in individuals with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: oxPTM of insulin was generated using ribose and various reactive oxygen species. Modifications were analysed by SDS-PAGE, three-dimensional fluorescence and MS. Autoreactivity to oxPTM insulin (oxPTM-INS) was observed by ELISA and western blotting, using sera from participants with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and healthy controls as probes. IAA was measured using the gold-standard radiobinding assay (RBA). RESULTS: MS of oxPTM-INS identified chlorination of Tyr16 and Tyr26; oxidation of His5, Cys7 and Phe24; and glycation of Lys29 and Phe1 in chain B. Significantly higher binding to oxPTM-INS vs native insulin was observed in participants with type 1 diabetes, with 84% sensitivity compared with 61% sensitivity for RBA. oxPTM-INS autoantibodies and IAA co-existed in 50% of those with type 1 diabetes. Importantly 34% of those with diabetes who were IAA negative were oxPTM-INS positive. Altogether, 95% of participants with type 1 diabetes presented with autoimmunity to insulin by RBA, oxPTM-INS or both. Binding to oxPTM-INS was directed towards oxPTM-INS fragments with slower mobility than native insulin. CONCLUSION/INTERPRETATION: These data suggest that oxPTM-INS is a potential autoantigen in individuals with new-onset type 1 diabetes.