Autophagy-related 9 homolog B regulates T-cell-mediated immune responses in oral lichen planus

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the impacts of autophagy-related 9 homolog B (ATG9B)-mediated autophagy on T-cell immune responses in oral lichen planus.

Design: ATG9B expression was detected in lesions and local T cells by immunohistochemical analysis and immunofluorescence assay. The effects of ATG9B-mediated autophagy on T-cell immune responses were explored after ATG9B-overexpression or ATG9B-knockdown lentivirus transfection. A coculture system of activated T cells and lipopolysaccharide-induced keratinocytes was used to simulate the main cell crosstalk in oral lichen planus.

Results: The expression of ATG9B upregulated in lesions and local T cells of oral lichen planus, especially in non-erosive oral lichen planus, suggesting that ATG9B may be a diagnostic factor for oral lichen planus. Notably, ATG9B-knockdown T cells of oral lichen planus demonstrated autophagy suppression, enhanced proliferation, and attenuated apoptosis, whereas overexpression of ATG9B showed opposite effects on T cells. In the coculture system of T cells and keratinocytes, ATG9B-knockdown T cells of oral lichen planus, but not ATG9B-overexpression T cells, promoted the proliferation and apoptosis of their cocultured keratinocytes. Additionally, exogenous insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) significantly reversed the apoptosis rates of keratinocytes cocultured with T cells expressing abnormal ATG9B. Furthermore, ATG9B-overexpression T cells showed decreased secretion of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α in the coculture system.

Conclusions: This study revealed the regulatory roles of ATG9B-mediated T-cell autophagy on T-cell immune responses and crosstalk between T cells and keratinocytes in of oral lichen planus.

Keywords: Autophagy; Immune responses; Insulin-like growth factor 1; Oral lichen planus; T cells.