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Mitochondrial dysfunction has been increasingly recognized as a trigger for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent bioinformatics studies have suggested Fam210b as a significant candidate for the classification and therapeutic targeting of SLE. To experimentally prove the role of Fam210b in SLE, we constructed Fam210b knockout (Fam210b−/−) mice using the CRISPR-Cas9 method. We found that approximately 15.68% of Fam210b−/− mice spontaneously developed lupus-like autoimmunity, which was characterized by skin ulcerations, splenomegaly, and an increase in anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) IgG antibodies and anti-nuclear antibodies(ANA). Single-cell sequencing showed that Fam210b was mainly expressed in erythroid cells. Critically, the knockout of Fam210b resulted in abnormal erythrocyte differentiation and development in the spleens of mice. Concurrently, the spleens exhibited an increased number of CD71+ erythroid cells, along with elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the erythrocytes. The co-culture of CD71+ erythroid cells and lymphocytes resulted in lymphocyte activation and promoted dsDNA and IgG production. In summary, Fam210b knockout leads to a low probability of lupus-like symptoms in mice through the overproduction of ROS in CD71+ erythroid cells. Thus, Fam210b reduction may serve as a novel key marker that triggers the development of SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microglia-mediated inflammatory response is one key cause of many central nervous system diseases, like Alzheimer's disease. We hypothesized that a novel C15orf39 (MAPK1 substrate) plays a critical role in the microglial inflammatory response. To confirm this hypothesis, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-induced human microglia HMC3 cells as a representative indicator of the microglial in vitro inflammatory response. We found that C15orf39 was down-regulated when interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) expression increased in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated HMC3 cells. Once C15orf39 was overexpressed, IL-6 and TNFα expression were reduced in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated HMC3 cells. In contrast, C15orf39 knockdown promoted IL-6 and TNFα expression in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated HMC3 cells. These results suggest that C15orf39 is a suppressive factor in the microglial inflammatory response. Mechanistically, C15orf39 interacts with the cytoplasmic protein arginine methyltransferase 2 (PRMT2). Thus, we termed C15orf39 a PRMT2 interaction protein (PRMT2 IP). Furthermore, the interaction of C15orf39 and PRMT2 suppressed the activation of NF-κB signaling via the PRMT2-IκBα signaling axis, which then led to a reduction in transcription of the inflammatory factors IL6 and TNF-α. Under inflammatory conditions, NF-κBp65 was found to be activated and to suppress C15orf39 promoter activation, after which it canceled the suppressive effect of the C15orf39-PRMT2-IκBα signaling axis on IL-6 and TNFα transcriptional expression. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that in a steady condition, the interaction of C15orf39 and PRMT2 stabilizes IκBα to inhibit IL-6 and TNFα expression by suppressing NF-κB signaling, which reversely suppresses C15orf39 transcription to enhance IL-6 and TNFα expression in the microglial inflammatory condition. Our study provides a clue as to the role of C15orf39 in microglia-mediated inflammation, suggesting the potential therapeutic efficacy of C15orf39 in some central nervous system diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some viruses, such as varicella zoster virus, are associated with severe dementia. The present study aims to identify the causal link between chickenpox and dementia. To date, the largest publicly available genome‐wide association study (GWAS) for chickenpox (710 cases and 211 856 controls from European individuals) and for dementia (5933 cases and 212 859 controls from European individuals) were used to performed this two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. We found no significant pleiotropy or heterogeneity in all seven selected chickenpox genetic instrumental variants in dementia GWAS. Of seven chickenpox genetic variants, two are located in the intergenic region and five are located in intron. We found that as chickenpox genetically increased, dementia risk increased based on an inverse‐variance weighted analysis (β = 0.070, 95% confidence interval [CI] for β: 0.014–0.126; odds ratio [OR] = 1.073, 95% CI for OR: 1.015–1.134; p = 0.014) and weighted median (β = 0.071, 95% CI for β: 0.002–0.141; OR = 1.074, 95% CI for OR: 1.002–1.152; p = 0.045). Reverse MR analysis showed no causal effect of dementia on chickenpox. Our analysis suggests a causal effect of genetically increased chickenpox on dementia risk. Thus, chickenpox may be a potential risk factor for dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observational studies have suggested a suspected association between varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) infection and multiple sclerosis (MS), but the connection has remained unclear. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the causal relationship between chickenpox which is caused by VZV infection and MS. We performed a two‑sample Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the association of chickenpox with MS using summary statistics from genome‑wide association studies (GWAS). The GWAS summary statistics data for chickenpox was from the 23andMe cohort including 107 769 cases and 15 982 controls. A large summary of statistical data from the International Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (IMSGC) was used as the outcome GWAS data set, including 14 802 MS cases and 26 703 controls. We found evidence of a significant association between genetically predicted chickenpox and risk of MS (odds ratio [OR] = 35.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 22.97–54.17, p = 1.46E−59). Our findings provided evidence indicating a causal effect of chickenpox on MS. Further elucidations of this association and underlying mechanisms are needed for identifying feasible interventions to promote MS prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to characterize novel proteins involved in T‐ and B‐cell responses. Our previous study demonstrated that a novel protein, Musmusculus Gm40600, reduced the proliferation of Musmusculus plasmablast (PB)‐like SP 2/0 cells and B‐cell responses induced in vitro by LPS. In the present study, we revealed that Gm40600 directly promoted CD4+ T‐cell responses to indirectly up‐regulate B‐cell responses. Importantly, we found that CD4+ T‐cell responses, including T‐cell activation and differentiation and cytokine production, were increased in Gm40600 transgenic (Tg) mice and were reduced in Gm40600 knockout (KO) mice. Finally, we demonstrated that Gm40600 promoted the Ahnak‐mediated calcium signalling pathway by interacting with Ahnak to maintain a cytoplasmic lateral location of Ahnak in CD4+ T cells. Collectively, our data suggest that Gm40600 promotes CD4+ T‐cell activation to up‐regulate the B‐cell response via interacting with Ahnak to promote the calcium signalling pathway. The results suggest that targeting Gm40600 may be a means to control CD4+ T‐cell‐related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interleukin (IL).12 family cytokines have been examined as therapeutic targets in the treatment of several autoimmune diseases. Our previous study showed that a novel IL.12 family cytokine, IL.39 (IL.23p19/Ebi3) mediates inflammation in lupus.like mice. In the present study, the effect of anti.mouse IL.39 polyclonal antibodies on autoimmune symptoms in lupus.like mice was investigated. Rabbit anti.mouse IL.39 polyclonal antibodies were produced by immunization with recombinant mouse IL.39, and purified using protein A chromatography. These antibodies were subsequently used to treat lupus.like mice. Flow cytometry, captured images, ELISA and H&E staining were used to determine the effect of anti.IL.39 polyclonal antibodies on inflammatory cells, autoantibody titers, proteinuria, infiltrating inflammatory cells and the structure of the glomerular region. The anti.IL.39 polyclonal antibodies effectively reduced the numbers of inflammatory cells, splenomegaly, autoantibody titers, proteinuria, infiltrating inflammatory cells, and restored the structure of the glomerular region in MRL/lpr mice. Taken together, these results suggested that anti.IL.39 polyclonal antibodies ameliorated autoimmune symptoms in lupus.like mice. Therefore, IL.39 may be used as a possible target for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that under normal physiological conditions thymic B cells play a critical function in T cell negative selection. We tested the effect of thymic B cells on thymic T-cell differentiation in autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We found that thymic B cells and CD8 - CD4 + and CD4 - CD8 + T cells increased, whereas CD4 + CD8 + T cells decreased in lupus-prone mice. Once B cells were reduced, the change was reversed. Furthermore, we found that B cells blocked thymic immature single positive (ISP) CD4 - CD8 + CD3 lo/- RORγt - T cells progression into CD4 + CD8 + T cells. Interestingly, we found a novel population of thymic immature T cells (CD4 - CD8 + CD3 lo RORγt + ) that were induced into mature CD4 - CD8 + CD3 + RORγt + T cells by B cells in lupus-prone mice. Importantly, we found that IgG, produced by thymic B cells, played a critical role in the differentiation of thymic CD8 + ISP and mature RORγt + CD8 + T cells in lupus-prone mice. In conclusion, B cells blocked the differentiation from thymic CD8 + ISP and induced the differentiation of a novel immature CD4 - CD8 + CD3 lo RORγt + T cells into mature RORγt + CD8 + T cells by secreting IgG antibody in lupus-prone mice., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST The authors declare no commercial or financial conflict of interest.

B cell activating factor (BAFF) regulates B cell maturation, survival, function, and plays a critical pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. It remains unclear how BAFF affects IL-10 - B cells versus regulatory B cells (Bregs) in inflammatory responses. In this study, we found that IL-10-expressing Bregs decreased in lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice and experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice. On blockade of the effects of BAFF with TACI-IgG, IL-10 + Bregs were upregulated in MRL/lpr and EAE mice. In addition, BAFF expanded IL-10 + B cells over IL-10 - B cells under noninflammatory conditions in vitro, whereas it expanded IL-10 - B cells over IL-10 + B cells during inflammatory responses, such as stimulation with autoantigen and LPS. Finally, the selection of IL-10 - B cells over IL-10 + B cells by BAFF was dependent on BAFF receptors (BAFFR, TACI, and BCMA) that were upregulated by inflammatory responses. This study suggests that BAFF selects IL-10 - B cells over IL-10 + regulatory B cells via BAFF receptors in inflammatory responses., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)