Search

Objective: In the present work, we investigate the role of interleukin (IL)27/IL27 receptor a (Ra) (WSX-1) in the development of autoimmune disorders in the MRL/lpr mouse, which is considered as an experimental model of systemic lupus erythaematosus (SLE) in humans. Methods: We generated two strains of WSX-1 transgenic mice in the MRL/lpr background with different expression levels of WSX-1, and investigated the effect of WSX-1 overexpression on survival, glomerulonephritis and immunological properties. Results: In comparison with wild type (WT) MRL/lpr and transgenic (Tg) low (TgL) mice, Tg high (TgH) mice exhibited a prolonged lifespan and no apparent development of autoimmune nephritis. Production of anti-dsDNA antibody and total IgG and IgG2a were significantly lower in TgH mice than those of TgL and WT mice. The expressed amounts of interferon (IFN)c and IL4 mRNA by CD4 + T cells from Tg mice decreased in a dose-dependent fashion. CD4 + splenic lymphocytes in TgH mice were more subject to the IL27-mediated suppression of cytokine production. In vitro stimulation of CD4 + T cells by IL27 resulted in over phosphorylation of STAT3 in TgH cells than in WT cells. Conclusion: WSX-1 overexpression in the MRL/lpr background rendered the autoimmune prone mice protected from the development of autoimmune diseases. Our results suggest that IL27 signalling may be a therapeutic target against autoimmune diseases, including human SLE.

Background DNAM-1 (CD226) is well known as a genetic risk factor of many autoimmune diseases such as systemic sclerosis (SSc). More recently, Avouac et al. have reported that mice deficient for DNAM-1 are protected from bleomycin-induced dermal fibrosis. In human, however, the roles of DNAM-1 in SSc are still unknown. Objectives To evaluate cell surface expression of DNAM-1 on peripheral blood lymphocytes from SSc patients and to identify the roles of DNAM-1 in the pathogenesis of SSc. Methods The expression of DNAM-1 was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) on surface of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and CD19+ B cells from 41 SSc patients (median age, 59 years; female, 37) and 23 healthy controls (HCs). We evaluated the relationship between DNAM-1 expression level on CD8+ T cells and clinical manifestations of SSc. Intracellular and extracellular cytokine production in CD8+ T cells with or without DNAM-1 was measured by FCM (intracellular staining and multiplex bead array, respectively) after stimulation with PMA/Ionomycin. The cytotoxic capacity of CD8+ T cells against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was assessed in the presence or absence of anti-DNAM-1 neutralizing antibody in SSc patients and HCs. Results The proportion of DNAM-1 high CD8+ T cells was increased in SSc patients (median, 52.5%) compared to HCs (29.7%, P=0.0002). We found no significant difference between SSc patients and HCs in CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. The expression of DNAM-1 on CD8+ T cells was higher in patients with diffuse cutaneous subtype than those with limited cutaneous subtype (P=0.0009) and was higher in those with interstitial pneumonia than those without (P=0.0016). The percentage of DNAM-1 high CD8+ T cells was significantly correlated with modified Rodnan skin thickness score (r =0.4295, P=0.0071). The production of IL-13 was significantly increased in DNAM-1 positive CD8+ T cells compared with DNAM-1 negative ones and the neutralization of DNAM-1 impaired the IL-13 production from CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxic ability of CD8+ T cells was significantly elevated in SSc patients and positively correlated with the percentage of DNAM-1 high CD8+ T cells. The cytotoxicity against HUVECs was partially inhibited in the presence of anti-DNAM-1 neutralizing antibody. Conclusions These findings indicate that DNAM-1 high CD8+ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of SSc via the production of profibrotic IL-13 and endothelial cell injury. References Avouac J, Elhai M, Tomcik M, et al. Critical role of the adhesion receptor DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1) in the development of inflammation-driven dermal fibrosis in a mouse model of systemic sclerosis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2013;72:1089-98. Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3217

Background Autologous stem cell transplantation for international scleroderma (ASTIS) trial demonstrated that autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is more effective than conventional intravenous cyclophosphamide in the treatment of severe systemic sclerosis (SSc). However, there is paucity of the study showing the long-term efficacy of auto-HSCT for severe SSc. Objectives The aim of this study is to investigate seven-year follow-up results of auto-HSCT for severe SSc. Methods Nineteen patients (4 male and 15 female) with severe SSc were enrolled. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were mobilized with cyclophosphamide (CY, 4 g/m 2 ) and G-CSF. After collecting PBSCs more than 2x 10 6 CD34+cells/kg by apheresis, CD34+ cells were immunologically selected in 11 patients. All of the patients were treated with high-dose CY (200 mg/kg) and received CD34-selected (n=11; a group with CD34-selection) or unmanipulated (n=8; a group without CD34-selection) auto-HSCT. Immune reconstitution was evaluated serially by analyzing lymphocyte subpopulations for 36 months after HSCT. Results There was no treatment-related mortality. As toxicity, there were a variety of post-transplant infections such as adenoviral hemorrhagic cystitis, herpes zoster and cytomegaloviral antigenemia. Sclerosis of the skin was markedly improved in all of the patients within 6 months and the improvement was sustained for 84 months after auto-HSCT. Vital capacity was significantly increased at 48 and 60 months after HSCT and KL-6, a marker for interstitial pneumonia (IP), was significantly decreased in patients with IP during 12-84 months after HSCT. A titer of anti-Scl-70 was significantly decreased during 1-84 months after HSCT. Five and seven years after auto-HSCT, the overall survival was 89 and 78%, and the progression-free survival was 65 and 57%, respectively. Interestingly, the reduction of the skin scores was significantly greater and viral infections were more frequent in the patients with CD34-selection than those without. Effect of auto-HSCT on interstitial pneumonia, and the recovery of lymphocyte subpopulations after auto-HSCT were not significantly different between two groups. Conclusions Auto-HSCT was effective in the treatment of SSc and the effect was sustained for 7 years. References Tsukamoto H, Nagafuji K, Horiuchi T, et al. A Phase I-II Trial of Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Refractory Autoimmune Disease. Ann Rheum Dis. 65: 508-14, 2006. Tsukamoto H, Nagafuji K, Horiuchi T, et al. Analysis of immune reconstitution after autologous CD34+ stem/progenitor cell transplantation for systemic sclerosis: predominant reconstitution of Th1 CD4+ T cells. Rheumatology 2011; 50: 944-52. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

Background Recently, it has been reported that granulin (GRN) and/or progranulin (PGRN), precursor of GRN, is a soluble cofactor for TLR9 signaling [1]. We reported that serum PGRN levels are associated with SLE global activity and PGRN may have a role in the pathogenesis via increased cytokine production [2]. TLR9 is also involved in the pathological condition of dermatomyositis (DM). Moreover, DM is occasionally complicated with interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the roles of PGRN and GRN in DM are still unknown. Objectives To determine if serum PGRN levels are elevated in DM patients, in particular, complicated with ILD and are associated with severity and prognosis. Methods The serum levels of PGRN were measured by ELISA in patients with DM (n=50; acute/subacute interstitial pneumonia (A/SIP), defined as a rapidly progressive ILD within 3 months from the onset of symptoms: n=13, chronic interstitial pneumonia (CIP): n=20, without ILD: n=17), polymyositis (PM, n=21) and normal healthy controls (NHCs, n=60). We assessed the correlation between the serum PGRN levels and the activity indexes of ILD. The sera from some of the patients were reevaluated after the disease was ameliorated by treatment (n=6). Moreover, we calculated the cumulative survival rate for 6 months in DM patients with ILD, which is classified two groups, serum PGRN levels > or =200 ng/ml and Results The serum PGRN levels were significantly higher in the DM patients (median: 100 ng/ml) than in the PM patients (60.4 ng/ml, P=0.0028) and NHCs (48.3 ng/ml, P or =200 ng/ml (60%) than that in the group with serum PGRN levels Conclusions These findings indicate that PGRN is associated with severity and prognosis of DM with ILD. PGRN may play a role in the pathogenesis of DM by affecting the TLR9 signaling and could be a useful biomarker. References Park B, Buti L, Lee S, et al. Granulin is a soluble cofactor for toll-like receptor 9 signaling. Immunity 2011;34:505-513. Tanaka A, Tsukamoto H, Mitoma H, et al. Serum progranulin levels are elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, reflecting disease activity. Arthritis Res Ther 2012;14(6):R244. Disclosure of Interest None Declared