Altered expression of SIRPγ on the T-cells of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes patients could potentiate effector responses from T-cells

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 27;15(8):e0238070. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238070. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Factors regulating self-antigen directed immune-responses in autoimmunity are poorly understood. Signal regulatory protein gamma (SIRPγ) is a human T-cell specific protein with genetic variants associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D). SIRPγ's function in the immune system remains unclear. We show that T1D and relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) subjects have significantly greater frequency of rs2281808 T genetic variant, that correlates with reduced SIRPγ-expression in T-cells. Importantly, reduced SIRPγ-expression in RRMS and T1D subjects was not restricted to T variant, suggesting SIRPγ-expression is also regulated by disease specific factors in autoimmunity. Interestingly, increased frequencies of SIRPγlow T-cells in RRMS and T1D positively correlated with proinflammatory molecules from T-cells. Finally, we show that SIRPγlow T-cells have enhanced pathogenecity in vivo in a GVHD model. These findings suggest that decreased-SIRPγ expression, either determined by genetic variants or through peripherally acquired processes, may have a mechanistic link to autoimmunity through induction of hyperactive T-cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics*
  • Autoimmunity
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics*
  • Recurrence
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • SIRPG protein, human