ABSTRACT
Immune system failure in primary antibody deficiencies (PADs) has been linked to recurrent infections, autoimmunity, and cancer, yet clinical judgment is often based on the reactivity to a restricted panel of antigens. Previously, we demonstrated that the human repertoire of carbohydrate-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) exhibits modular organization related to glycan epitope structure. The current study compares the glycan-specific IgG repertoires between different PAD entities. Distinct repertoire profiles with extensive qualitative glycan-recognition defects were observed, which are characterized by the common loss of Galα and GalNAc reactivity and disease-specific recognition of microbial antigens, self-antigens, and tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens. Antibody repertoire analysis may provide a useful tool to elucidate the degree and the clinical implications of immune system failure in individual patients.
Subject(s)
Autoantigens/immunology , Carbohydrates/immunology , Epitopes/immunology , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/immunology , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are a subset of granulocytes that can be involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases, including allergy. Their effector functions are closely linked to their cytotoxic granule proteins. Release takes place through several different mechanisms, one of which is cytolysis, which is associated with release of intact granules, so-called clusters of free eosinophil granules. The mechanism underlying this activation-induced form of cell death in eosinophils has remained unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of eosinophil cytolysis. METHODS: Isolated blood eosinophils were incubated on glass coverslips coated with intravenous immunoglobulin and inactive complement component 3b. A morphologic characterization of the distinct stages of the proposed cascade was addressed by means of time-lapse automated fluorescence microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Experiments with pharmacologic inhibitors were performed to elucidate the sequence of events within the cascade. Tissue samples of patients with eosinophilic skin diseases or eosinophilic esophagitis were used for in vivo analyses. RESULTS: After eosinophil adhesion, we observed reactive oxygen species production, early degranulation, and granule fusion processes, leading to a distinct morphology exhibiting cytoplasmic vacuolization and, finally, cytolysis. Using a pharmacologic approach, we demonstrate the presence of a receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mixed lineage kinase-like (MLKL) signaling pathway in eosinophils, which, after its activation, leads to the production of high levels of reactive oxygen species in a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-dependent manner. All these steps are required for cytoplasmic vacuolization and subsequent cytolysis to occur. Interestingly, triggering cytolysis is associated with an induction of autophagy in eosinophils, and additional stimulation of autophagy by means of pharmacologic inhibition of the mechanistic target of rapamycin counterregulates cell death. Moreover, MLKL phosphorylation, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and cytolysis were observed in eosinophils under in vivo inflammatory conditions. CONCLUSION: We report that adhesion-induced eosinophil cytolysis takes place through RIPK3-MLKL-dependent necroptosis, which can be counterregulated by autophagy.
Subject(s)
Eosinophilic Esophagitis/immunology , Eosinophils/immunology , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Protein Kinases/metabolism , Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism , Skin/immunology , Autophagy , Cell Adhesion , Cells, Cultured , Complement C3b/metabolism , Cytotoxicity, Immunologic , Humans , Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/metabolism , Molecular Targeted Therapy , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
Eosinophil infiltration can be observed in skin disorders, such as allergic/immunologic, autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic diseases. Clinical presentations are variable and include eczematous, papular, urticarial, bullous, nodular, and fibrotic lesions; pruritus is a common symptom in all. In this review, we present representative eosinophilic skin diseases according to their clinical pattern, together with histologic findings and diagnostic procedures. We also discuss the potential roles of eosinophils in the pathogenesis of dermatologic disorder. Current pathogenesis-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are outlined.