Autophagy-independent increase of ATG5 expression in T cells of multiple sclerosis patients

Verica Paunovic; Irena Vukovic Petrovic; Marina Milenkovic; Kristina Janjetovic; Vera Pravica; Irena Dujmovic; Emina Milosevic; Vanja Martinovic; Sarlota Mesaros; Jelena Drulovic; Vladimir Trajkovic

doi:10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.03.001

Autophagy-independent increase of ATG5 expression in T cells of multiple sclerosis patients

J Neuroimmunol. 2018 Jun 15:319:100-105. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.03.001. Epub 2018 Mar 5.

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
² Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia; Institute for Biological Research "Sinisa Stankovic", University of Belgrade, Despota Stefana Blvd. 142, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
³ Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 6, Belgrade 11000, Serbia.
⁴ Clinic of Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 6, Belgrade 11000, Serbia. Electronic address: jelena60@eunet.rs.
⁵ Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Dr Subotica 1, Belgrade 11000, Serbia. Electronic address: vladimir.trajkovic@med.bg.ac.rs.

PMID: 29548704
DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2018.03.001

Abstract

Autophagy, a process of controlled self-digestion which regulates cell homeostasis, is involved in innate and adaptive immunity. We investigated the expression of autophagy genes and autophagic activity in distinct lymphocyte populations in treatment-naive MS patients. The mRNA and protein levels of autophagy-related (ATG)5, required for autophagosome formation, were increased in CD4⁺ and CD4^- T cells, but not B cells of MS patients compared to control subjects. The expression of other investigated autophagy genes, as well as the autophagic activity, did not significantly differ between the two groups. ATG5 mRNA levels in CD4⁺ T cells from MS patients were positively correlated with those of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor. These data suggest that autophagy-independent increase in ATG5 expression might be associated with the proinflammatory capacity of T cells in multiple sclerosis.

Keywords: ATG5; Autophagy; LC3; Multiple sclerosis; SQSTM1; T cells; TNF.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Autophagy / physiology*
Autophagy-Related Protein 5 / biosynthesis*
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
Multiple Sclerosis / metabolism
Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
Young Adult

Substances

ATG5 protein, human
Autophagy-Related Protein 5