Leaky-gut enhanced lupus progression in the Fc gamma receptor-IIb deficient and pristane-induced mouse models of lupus

Sci Rep. 2020 Jan 21;10(1):777. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-57275-0.

Abstract

The influence of gut-leakage or gut-microbiota upon lupus progression was explored in 2 lupus mouse models. Pristane, administered in 4-wk-old wild-type (WT) female mice, induced lupus characteristics at 24-wk-old similar to the lupus-onset in FcGRIIb-/- mice. Gut-microbiota alteration was induced by co-housing together with the gavage of feces from 40-wk-old FcGRIIb-/- mice (symptomatic lupus). On the other hand, gut-leakage was induced by dextran sulfate solution (DSS). DSS and gut-microbiota alteration induced high serum anti-dsDNA immunoglobulin (Ig) as early as 30 days post-DSS only in FcGRIIb-/- mice. DSS, but not gut-microbiota alteration, enhanced lupus characteristics (serum creatinine and proteinuria) in both lupus models (but not in WT) at 60 days post-DSS. Indeed, DSS induced the translocation of molecular components of gut-pathogens as determined by bacterial burdens in mesenteric lymph node (MLN), endotoxemia (gut-bacterial molecule) and serum (1→3)-β-D-glucan (BG) (gut-fungal molecule) as early as 15 days post-DSS together with enhanced MLN apoptosis in both WT and lupus mice. However, DSS induced spleen apoptosis in FcGRIIb-/- and WT mice at 30 and 60 days post-DSS, respectively, suggesting the higher impact of gut-leakage against spleen of lupus mice. In addition, macrophages preconditioning with LPS plus BG were susceptible to starvation-induced apoptosis, predominantly in FcGRIIb-/- cell, implying the influence of gut-leakage upon cell stress. In summary, gut-leakage induced gut-translocation of organismal-molecules then enhanced the susceptibility of stress-induced apoptosis, predominantly in lupus. Subsequently, the higher burdens of apoptosis in lupus mice increased anti-dsDNA Ig and worsen lupus severity through immune complex deposition. Hence, therapeutic strategies addressing gut-leakage in lupus are interesting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Dextran Sulfate / adverse effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / chemically induced
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / genetics*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / microbiology
  • Mice
  • Receptors, IgG / deficiency*
  • Terpenes / adverse effects*
  • beta-Glucans / blood

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Fcgr2b protein, mouse
  • Receptors, IgG
  • Terpenes
  • beta-Glucans
  • pristane
  • Dextran Sulfate