Activation mechanisms of monocytes/macrophages in adult-onset Still disease.

Adult onset Still disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder characterized by skin rash, spiking fever, arthritis, sore throat, lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. Although the etiology of this disease has not been fully clarified, both innate and acquired immune responses could contribute to its pathogenesis. Hyperactivation of macrophages and neutrophils along with low activation of natural killer (NK) cells in innate immunity, as well as hyperactivation of Th1 and Th17 cells, whereas low activation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in acquired immunity are involved in the pathogenic process of AOSD.

RORγt+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the regulation of autoimmune arthritis.

RORγt+Foxp3+regulatory T (Treg) cells, known as T regulatory 17 cells (Tr17 cells), are a novel subset of Treg cells, which have the potential to regulate the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) thorough a specific repression of T helper 17 (Th17) cell-mediated inflammation. However, the function of Tr17 cells the development of other autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune arthritis remains unclear. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was found to be prolonged in Foxp3creRORγtfl/fl mice, in which Tr17 cells were deleted, compared with Foxp3wtRORγtfl/fl mice.

Upregulation and pathogenic roles of CCL18-CCR8 axis in IgG4-related disease.

To determine the protein expression level, expressing cell types, and pathogenic roles of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 18 (CCL18) and its receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 8 (CCR8) in affected tissues of patients with IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). The protein expression levels of CCL18 in labial salivary glands (LSGs) assessed by immunofluorescence (IF) staining were compared among patients with IgG4-RD ( = 3), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS;  = 4), and control subjects ( = 5). CCL18 expression levels in macrophages, CD11c cells, B cells, and plasmacytes in LSGs were examined by double IF staining.

Allergy inhibitory receptor-1 inhibits autoantibody production via upregulation of apoptotic debris clearance by macrophages.

Aim: Allergy inhibitory receptor-1 (Allergin-1) is a newly identified immune regulatory molecule thought to influence autoantibody production. Autoantibody production, like that observed in Allergin-1-deficient mice, is crucial in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. The purpose of this study is to clarify the regulatory role of Allergin-1-mediated autoantibody production using a murine model of thymocytic anaphylaxis.

The RORγt-CCR6-CCL20 axis augments Th17 cells invasion into the synovia of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Objectives: To clarify the pathogenic role of transcription factor expression of CD4 + T helper (Th) cell subsets in the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We collected CD4 + T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) by magnetic cell sorting. The proportion of Th cell subsets were classified from cell surface markers (CD45RA, CXCR5, CXCR3, CCR6) and the expression of their transcription factors (T-bet, GATA3, RORγt) were analyzed by flow cytometry before and at 24 weeks after anti-rheumatic treatment.

Review: Transcriptional Regulation of CD4+ T Cell Differentiation in Experimentally Induced Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the joint synovium and infiltration by activated inflammatory cells. CD4+ T cells form a large proportion of the inflammatory cells invading the synovial tissue, and are involved in the RA pathologic process. In general, CD4+ T cells differentiate into various T helper cell subsets and acquire the functional properties to respond to specific pathogens, and also mediate some autoimmune disorders such as RA.

TIARP attenuates autoantibody-mediated arthritis via the suppression of neutrophil migration by reducing CXCL2/CXCR2 and IL-6 expression.

TNFα-induced adipose-related protein (TIARP) is a six-transmembrane protein expressed on macrophages, neutrophils and synoviocytes. We reported recently that mice deficient in TIARP (TIARP) spontaneously develop arthritis and are highly susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) with enhanced interleukin (IL)-6 production. However, the effects of TIARP on neutrophils and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) have not been elucidated.

Involvement of RORγt-overexpressing T cells in the development of autoimmune arthritis in mice.

Introduction: Differentiation of T helper 17 cells is dependent on the expression of transcription retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt). The purpose of our study is to determine the role of RORγt expression in T cells on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA).

Methods: CIA was induced in C57BL/6 and T cell-specific RORγt transgenic (RORγt Tg) mice.

Involvement of CD161+ Vδ1+ γδ T cells in systemic sclerosis: association with interstitial pneumonia.

Objective: Interstitial pneumonia (IP) is a chronic progressive interstitial lung disease associated with high mortality and poor prognosis. However, the pathogenesis of IP remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the role of CD161(+) Vδ1(+) γδ T cells in SSc patients with IP.

Activation of Invariant NKT cells with glycolipid ligand α-galactosylceramide ameliorates glucose-6-phosphate isomerase peptide-induced arthritis.

Objective: Invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells regulate collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) when activated by their potent glycolipid ligand, alpha-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI)-induced arthritis is a closer model of human rheumatoid arthritis based on its association with CD4+ T cells and cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 than CIA. Dominant T cell epitope peptide of GPI (GPI325-339) can induce arthritis similar to GPI-induced arthritis.

Involvement of NK 1.1-positive γδT cells in interleukin-18 plus interleukin-2-induced interstitial lung disease.

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is induced by various factors in humans. However, the exact mechanism of ILD remains elusive. This study sought to determine the role of natural killer (NK) 1.

Low levels of soluble CD1d protein alters NKT cell function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

CD1d molecules on the cell surface play a critical role in the presentation of glycolipid antigens to natural killer T (NKT) cells. We previously showed that the human CD1d gene has 8 splice variants, one of which is a soluble form lacking the beta2-m and transmembrane domains. This study focused on soluble CD1d (sCD1d) by generating recombinant sCD1d proteins and assaying them in plasma using a newly established ELISA method.