Biomedical subjects

Karl Skriner

Publications and source records attributed to Karl Skriner.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

The spliceosomal autoantigen heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNP-A2) is a major T cell autoantigen in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A hallmark of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the appearance of autoantibodies to nuclear antigens, including autoantibodies directed to the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (hnRNP-A2), which occur in 20% to 30% of SLE patients as well as in animal models of this disease. To investigate the underlying cellular reactivity and to gain further insight into the nature and potential pathogenic role of this autoimmune response we characterized the T cell reactivity against hnRNP-A2 in patients with SLE in comparison to healthy controls. Cellular proliferation of peripheral blood T cells to hnRNP-A2 was determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation and T cell clones (TCCs) specific for hnRNP-A2 were grown by limiting dilution cloning; IFNgamma, IL-4 and IL-10 in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Bioactivity of culture supernatants was determined by incubation of anti-CD3/anti-CD28 stimulated peripheral blood CD4+ T cells with supernatants of TCCs. Stimulation assays performed with peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 35 SLE patients and 21 healthy controls revealed pronounced proliferative responses in 66% of SLE patients and in 24% of the controls, which were significantly higher in SLE patients (p < 0.00002). Furthermore, hnRNP-A2 specific TCCs generated from SLE patients (n = 22) contained a relatively high proportion of CD8+ clones and mostly lacked CD28 expression, in contrast to TCCs derived from healthy controls (n = 12). All CD4+ TCCs of patients and all control TCCs secreted IFNgamma and no IL-4. In contrast, CD8+ TCCs of patients secreted very little IFNgamma, while production of IL-10 did not significantly differ from other T cell subsets. Interestingly, all CD8+ clones producing IL-10 in large excess over IFNgamma lacked expression of CD28. Functional assays showed a stimulatory effect of the supernatants derived from these CD8+ CD28- hnRNP-A2 specific TCCs that was similar to that of CD4+ CD28+ clones. Taken together, the pronounced peripheral T cell reactivity to hnRNP-A2 observed in the majority of SLE patients and the distinct phenotype of patient-derived CD8+ TCCs suggest a role for these T cells in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Aberrant expression of the autoantigen heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein-A2 (RA33) and spontaneous formation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated anti-RA33 autoantibodies in TNF-alpha transgenic mice.

Human TNF-alpha transgenic (hTNFtg) mice develop erosive arthritis closely resembling rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To investigate mechanisms leading to pathological autoimmune reactions in RA, we examined hTNFtg animals for the presence of RA-associated autoantibodies including Abs to citrullinated epitopes (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide), heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP)-A2 (anti-RA33), and heat shock proteins (hsp) (anti-hsp). Although IgM anti-hsp Abs were detected in 40% of hTNFtg and control mice, IgG anti-hsp Abs were rarely seen, and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide Abs were not seen at all. In contrast, >50% of hTNFtg mice showed IgG anti-RA33 autoantibodies, which became detectable shortly after the onset of arthritis. These Abs were predominantly directed to a short epitope, which was identical with an epitope previously described in MRL/lpr mice. Incidence of anti-RA33 was significantly decreased in mice treated with the osteoclast inhibitor osteoprotegerin and also in c-fos-deficient mice lacking osteoclasts. Pronounced expression of hnRNP-A2 and a smaller splice variant was seen in joints of hTNFtg mice, whereas expression was low in control animals. Although the closely related hnRNP-A1 was also overexpressed, autoantibodies to this protein were infrequently detected. Because expression of hnRNP-A2 in thymus, spleen, brain, and lung was similar in hTNFtg and control mice, aberrant expression appeared to be restricted to the inflamed joint. Finally, immunization of hTNFtg mice with recombinant hnRNP-A2 or a peptide harboring the major B cell epitope aggravated arthritis. These findings suggest that overproduction of TNF-alpha leads to aberrant expression of hnRNP-A2 in the rheumatoid joint and subsequently to autoimmune reactions, which may enhance the inflammatory and destructive process.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

CD44 is a determinant of inflammatory bone loss.

Chronic inflammation is a major trigger of local and systemic bone loss. Disintegration of cell-matrix interaction is a prerequisite for the invasion of inflammatory tissue into bone. CD44 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein that connects a variety of extracellular matrix proteins to the cell surface. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a major inducer of chronic inflammation and its overexpression leads to chronic inflammatory arthritis. By generating CD44(-/-) human TNF-transgenic (hTNFtg) mice, we show that destruction of joints and progressive crippling is far more severe in hTNFtg mice lacking CD44, which also develop severe generalized osteopenia. Mutant mice exhibit an increased bone resorption due to enhanced number, size, and resorptive capacity of osteoclasts, whereas bone formation and osteoblast differentiation are not affected. Responsiveness of CD44-deficient osteoclasts toward TNF is enhanced and associated with increased activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These data identify CD44 as a critical inhibitor of TNF-driven joint destruction and inflammatory bone loss.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Array technology and proteomics in autoimmune diseases.

Two new technologies (tissue microarrays (TMAs) and proteomics) have generated a great amount of data in life science. High-density TMAs allow for the simultaneous analysis of proteins and RNA by various methods (immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, FISH) on a large scale and under highly standardized conditions. Proteomics includes a variety of techniques that are partly high throughput. These techniques aim at the innovation of proteins, the description of the domain structure, the determination of protein sequences and epitope characterization, and ultimately the definition of protein function and protein reactivities in immunologic processes. Proteins that have been characterized accordingly require validation mostly at the morphologic level of defined tissue, linking proteomics to TMAs. In autoimmune diseases, array-based antigenic fingerprinting of autoantibodies will drive the development and the selection of antigen-specific diagnostic tools and therapies. The powerful combination of genomics and proteomics formed in tissue arrays has the potential to change the way the biology of autoimmunity is studied. Novel targets of drug discovery, based on antigen-specific therapies to induce anergy, or regulatory T-cells using the targeted autoantigens of individual patients could be developed in the coming decades.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

PubMed2002

Characterization of autoreactive T cells to the autoantigens heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2 (RA33) and filaggrin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The role of autoimmune reactions in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is poorly understood. To address this issue we have investigated the spontaneous T cell response to two well-characterized humoral autoantigens in RA patients and controls: 1) the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2, i.e., the RA33 Ag (A2/RA33), and 2) filaggrin in unmodified and citrullinated forms. In stimulation assays A2/RA33 induced proliferative responses in PBMC of almost 60% of the RA patients but in only 20% of the controls (patients with osteoarthritis or psoriatic arthritis and healthy individuals), with substantially stronger responses in RA patients (p < 0.00002). Furthermore, synovial T cells of seven RA patients investigated were also clearly responsive. In contrast, responses to filaggrin were rarely observed and did not differ between RA patients and controls. Analysis of A2/RA33-induced cytokine secretion revealed high IFN-gamma and low IL-4 production in both RA and control PBMC, whereas IL-2 production was mainly observed in RA PBMC (p < 0.03). Moreover, A2/RA33-specific T cell clones from RA patients showed a strong Th1 phenotype and secreted higher amounts of IFN-gamma than Th1 clones from controls (p < 0.04). Inhibition experiments performed with mAbs against MHC class II molecules showed A2/RA33-induced T cell responses to be largely HLA-DR restricted. Finally, immunohistochemical analyses revealed pronounced overexpression of A2/RA33 in synovial tissue of RA patients. Taken together, the presence of autoreactive Th1-like cells in RA patients in conjunction with synovial overexpression of A2/RA33 may indicate potential involvement of this autoantigen in the pathogenesis of RA.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Autoantigen microarrays for multiplex characterization of autoantibody responses.

We constructed miniaturized autoantigen arrays to perform large-scale multiplex characterization of autoantibody responses directed against structurally diverse autoantigens, using submicroliter quantities of clinical samples. Autoantigen microarrays were produced by attaching hundreds of proteins, peptides and other biomolecules to the surface of derivatized glass slides using a robotic arrayer. Arrays were incubated with patient serum, and spectrally resolvable fluorescent labels were used to detect autoantibody binding to specific autoantigens on the array. We describe and characterize arrays containing the major autoantigens in eight distinct human autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. This represents the first report of application of such technology to multiple human disease sera, and will enable validated detection of antibodies recognizing autoantigens including proteins, peptides, enzyme complexes, ribonucleoprotein complexes, DNA and post-translationally modified antigens. Autoantigen microarrays represent a powerful tool to study the specificity and pathogenesis of autoantibody responses, and to identify and define relevant autoantigens in human autoimmune diseases.

Animals↗