Uddin Mohammad Nizam, Yao Yunyi, Mondal Tapan, Matala Rosemary, Manley Kevin, Lin Qishan, Lawrence David A
Wadsworth Center/New York State Department of Health, RNA Epitranscriptomics & Proteomics Resource, SUNY at Albany, Albany, NY, USA.
University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
Brain Behav Immun Health. 2020 Apr 13;4:100069. doi: 10.1016/j.bbih.2020.100069. eCollection 2020 Apr.
Female and male mice of the BTBR /J (BTBR) strain have behaviors that resemble autism spectrum disorder. In comparison to C57BL/6 (B6) mice, BTBR mice have elevated humoral immunity, in that they have naturally high serum IgG levels and generate high levels of IgG antibodies, including autoantibodies to brain antigens. This study focused on the specificities of autoantibodies and the immune cells and their transcription factors that might be responsible for the autoantibodies. BTBR IgG autoantibodies bind to neurons better than microglia and with highest titer to nuclear antigens. Two of the antigens identified were alpha-enolase (ENO1) and dihydrolipoyllysine-residue succinyltransferase component of 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex, mitochondrial (DLST). Surprisingly based on IgG levels, the blood and spleens of BTBR mice have more CD4 and CD8 T cells, but fewer B cells than B6 mice. The high levels of autoantibodies in BTBR relates to their splenic T follicular helper (Tfh) cell levels, which likely are responsible for the higher number of plasma cells in BTBR mice than B6 mice. BTBR mice have increased gene expression of interleukin-21 receptor ( ) and Paired Box 5 (), which are known to aid B cell differentiation to plasma cells, and an increased Lysine Demethylase 6B ()/DNA Methyltransferase 1 () ratio, which increases gene expression. Identification of gene expression and immune activities of BTBR mice may aid understanding of mechanisms associated with autism since neuroimmune network interactions have been posited and induction of autoantibodies may drive the neuroinflammation associated with autism.
BTBR /J(BTBR)品系的雌性和雄性小鼠具有类似于自闭症谱系障碍的行为。与C57BL/6(B6)小鼠相比,BTBR小鼠的体液免疫增强,因为它们天然具有较高的血清IgG水平,并能产生高水平的IgG抗体,包括针对脑抗原的自身抗体。本研究聚焦于自身抗体的特异性以及可能产生这些自身抗体的免疫细胞及其转录因子。BTBR IgG自身抗体与神经元的结合能力优于小胶质细胞,且与核抗原的结合滴度最高。已鉴定出的两种抗原分别是α-烯醇化酶(ENO1)和线粒体2-氧代戊二酸脱氢酶复合物的二氢硫辛酰胺赖氨酸残基琥珀酰转移酶组分(DLST)。令人惊讶的是,基于IgG水平,BTBR小鼠的血液和脾脏中CD4和CD8 T细胞比B6小鼠更多,但B细胞更少。BTBR中高水平的自身抗体与其脾脏滤泡辅助性T(Tfh)细胞水平有关,这可能是BTBR小鼠中浆细胞数量比B6小鼠更多的原因。BTBR小鼠白细胞介素-21受体( )和配对盒5( )的基因表达增加,已知它们有助于B细胞分化为浆细胞,并且赖氨酸去甲基化酶6B( )/DNA甲基转移酶1( )的比例增加,这会增加基因表达。鉴定BTBR小鼠的基因表达和免疫活性可能有助于理解与自闭症相关的机制,因为神经免疫网络相互作用已被提出,并且自身抗体的诱导可能会引发与自闭症相关的神经炎症。