Shared recognition of citrullinated tenascin-C peptides by T and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

Song J., Schwenzer A., Wong A., Turcinov S., Rims C., Martinez LR., Arribas-Layton D., Gerstner C., Muir VS., Midwood KS., Malmström V., James EA., Buckner JH.

Tenascin-C (TNC), an extracellular matrix protein that has proinflammatory properties, is a recently described antibody target in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we utilized a systematic discovery process and identified 5 potentially novel citrullinated TNC (cit-TNC) T cell epitopes. CD4+ T cells specific for these epitopes were elevated in the peripheral blood of subjects with RA and showed signs of activation. Cit-TNC-specific T cells were also present among synovial fluid T cells and secreted IFN-γ. Two of these cit-TNC T cell epitopes were also recognized by antibodies within the serum and synovial fluid of individuals with RA. Detectable serum levels of cit-TNC-reactive antibodies were prevalent among subjects with RA and positively associated with cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) reactivity and the HLA shared epitope. Furthermore, cit-TNC-reactive antibodies were correlated with rheumatoid factor and elevated in subjects with a history of smoking. This work confirms cit-TNC as an autoantigen that is targeted by autoreactive CD4+ T cells and autoantibodies in patients with RA. Furthermore, our findings raise the possibility that coinciding epitopes recognized by both CD4+ T cells and B cells have the potential to amplify autoimmunity and promote the development and progression of RA.

DOI

10.1172/jci.insight.145217

Type

Journal article

Publication Date

2021-03-08T00:00:00+00:00

Volume

6

Keywords

Autoimmunity, Beta cells, Immunology, Rheumatology, T cells, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, B-Lymphocytes, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte, Humans, Tenascin

Permalink More information Close