A novel epitope from CD22 regulates Th1 and Th17 cell function in systemic lupus erythematosus

PLoS One. 2013 May 21;8(5):e64572. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064572. Print 2013.

Abstract

The published antibodies (Abs) against CD22 on B cells including Epratuzumab could inhibit B cell activation mainly through binding to C2-set Ig domain of CD22, but they are rarely reported to modulate the pathogenic CD4(+) T cell function in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recently, it was proved that the extracellular amino-terminal V-set Ig domain of CD22 might mediate the interaction of B and T cells, but for now the exact effect of this domain on CD4(+) T cell biology have not been identified. Thus, in this study, we screened out a peptide termed B2285 from this V-set Ig domain, developed the novel specific anti-B2285 Abs in rabbits, and investigated their effects in MRL/lpr mice with spontaneous SLE. The results showed that anti-B2285 Abs could ameliorate the disease severity obviously in spontaneous SLE mice with the decreased differentiations of Th1 and Th17 cells and no changes of Th2 and Treg cells. In co-cultured B cells and CD4(+) T cells, this specific anti-CD22 Abs was observed to inhibit the anti-dsDNA Abs production, CD4(+) T cells proliferation, the protein levels of T-bet and RORγt, and the mRNA levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and IL-17 in CD4(+) T cells. Moreover, the expression of CD45RO on CD4(+) T cells could be also apparently diminished by this novel Abs. The data suggested that anti-B2285 Abs could slow SLE progression significantly by regulating Th1 and Th17 cells function via B-T cell interaction and the cytokine network regulation. The treatment against V-set Ig domain of CD22 would be a valuable therapeutic method for SLE and other autoimmune diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / immunology
  • Antibody Specificity / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Cell Communication
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cell Separation
  • Epitopes / immunology*
  • Female
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rabbits
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / chemistry
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2 / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th1 Cells / pathology
  • Th17 Cells / immunology*
  • Th17 Cells / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Epitopes
  • Peptides
  • Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 2

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81100158) and National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2007CB512000, 2007CB512005) (http://www.most.gov.cn/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.