Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

ObjectivePosttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are crucial for regulating various biological processes. However, protein alteration via PTMs, and consequently, the creation of new epitopes, can induce abnormal autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Immunopathogenesis of severa...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zuzana Parackova, Irena Zentsova, Hana Malcova, Dita Cebecauerova, Anna Sediva, Rudolf Horvath
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.971121/full
_version_ 1811284080494379008
author Zuzana Parackova
Irena Zentsova
Hana Malcova
Dita Cebecauerova
Anna Sediva
Rudolf Horvath
author_facet Zuzana Parackova
Irena Zentsova
Hana Malcova
Dita Cebecauerova
Anna Sediva
Rudolf Horvath
author_sort Zuzana Parackova
collection DOAJ
description ObjectivePosttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are crucial for regulating various biological processes. However, protein alteration via PTMs, and consequently, the creation of new epitopes, can induce abnormal autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Immunopathogenesis of several rheumatic diseases, including the most common childhood form, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is associated with the generation of autoantibodies against such modified proteins. Dysregulated generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can be a source of post-translationally altered proteins. Thus, we investigated the role of PTMs and the presence of NET-associated markers in JIA patients.MethodsWe recruited 30 pediatric patients with JIA (20 with active disease and 10 in remission) and 30 healthy donors. The serum concentrations of citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADs), and NET-related products were detected using ELISA, and the number of citH3+ neutrophils was assessed using flow cytometry.ResultsThe serum levels of citH3 and PADs were higher in active as well as in remission JIA patients than in healthy donors. Similarly, the number of citH3+ neutrophils was higher in the peripheral blood of patients with JIA, implying an enhanced process of NETosis. This was effectively reflected by elevated serum levels of NET-associated products, such as neutrophil elastase, LL37, and cell-free DNA-histone complexes. Additionally, 16.7% of active JIA patients were seropositive for carbamylated autoantibodies, the levels of which declined sharply after initiation of anti-TNFα therapy.ConclusionCollectively, our data suggest that the accelerated process of NETosis and PTMs in JIA may result in the generation of anti-citrullinated/carbamylated autoantibodies against various epitopes later in life, which could be prevented by effectively regulating inflammation using immune therapy.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T02:23:14Z
format Article
id doaj.art-ac7986ddf6764a2eb0a759c64e14bd71
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-858X
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T02:23:14Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj.art-ac7986ddf6764a2eb0a759c64e14bd712022-12-22T03:06:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2022-08-01910.3389/fmed.2022.971121971121Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritisZuzana Parackova0Irena Zentsova1Hana Malcova2Dita Cebecauerova3Anna Sediva4Rudolf Horvath5Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaDepartment of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaDepartment of Paediatric and Adult Rheumatology, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaDepartment of Paediatric and Adult Rheumatology, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaDepartment of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaDepartment of Paediatric and Adult Rheumatology, University Hospital Motol, Prague, CzechiaObjectivePosttranslational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are crucial for regulating various biological processes. However, protein alteration via PTMs, and consequently, the creation of new epitopes, can induce abnormal autoimmune responses in predisposed individuals. Immunopathogenesis of several rheumatic diseases, including the most common childhood form, juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), is associated with the generation of autoantibodies against such modified proteins. Dysregulated generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) can be a source of post-translationally altered proteins. Thus, we investigated the role of PTMs and the presence of NET-associated markers in JIA patients.MethodsWe recruited 30 pediatric patients with JIA (20 with active disease and 10 in remission) and 30 healthy donors. The serum concentrations of citrullinated histone H3 (citH3), peptidyl arginine deiminases (PADs), and NET-related products were detected using ELISA, and the number of citH3+ neutrophils was assessed using flow cytometry.ResultsThe serum levels of citH3 and PADs were higher in active as well as in remission JIA patients than in healthy donors. Similarly, the number of citH3+ neutrophils was higher in the peripheral blood of patients with JIA, implying an enhanced process of NETosis. This was effectively reflected by elevated serum levels of NET-associated products, such as neutrophil elastase, LL37, and cell-free DNA-histone complexes. Additionally, 16.7% of active JIA patients were seropositive for carbamylated autoantibodies, the levels of which declined sharply after initiation of anti-TNFα therapy.ConclusionCollectively, our data suggest that the accelerated process of NETosis and PTMs in JIA may result in the generation of anti-citrullinated/carbamylated autoantibodies against various epitopes later in life, which could be prevented by effectively regulating inflammation using immune therapy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.971121/fulljuvenile idiopathic arthritiscitrullinationhistoneneutrophilNETosispeptidyl arginine deiminases (PAD)
spellingShingle Zuzana Parackova
Irena Zentsova
Hana Malcova
Dita Cebecauerova
Anna Sediva
Rudolf Horvath
Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Frontiers in Medicine
juvenile idiopathic arthritis
citrullination
histone
neutrophil
NETosis
peptidyl arginine deiminases (PAD)
title Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
title_full Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
title_fullStr Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
title_full_unstemmed Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
title_short Increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
title_sort increased histone citrullination in juvenile idiopathic arthritis
topic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
citrullination
histone
neutrophil
NETosis
peptidyl arginine deiminases (PAD)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2022.971121/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zuzanaparackova increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis
AT irenazentsova increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis
AT hanamalcova increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis
AT ditacebecauerova increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis
AT annasediva increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis
AT rudolfhorvath increasedhistonecitrullinationinjuvenileidiopathicarthritis