William Robinson

All Publications

Low-grade inflammation as a key mediator of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Nature reviews. Rheumatology Robinson, W. H., Lepus, C. M., Wang, Q., Raghu, H., Mao, R., Lindstrom, T. M., Sokolove, J. 2016; 12 (10): 580-592
Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) has long been viewed as a degenerative disease of cartilage, but accumulating evidence indicates that inflammation has a critical role in its pathogenesis. Furthermore, we now appreciate that OA pathogenesis involves not only breakdown of cartilage, but also remodelling of the underlying bone, formation of ectopic bone, hypertrophy of the joint capsule, and inflammation of the synovial lining. That is, OA is a disorder of the joint as a whole, with inflammation driving many pathologic changes. The inflammation in OA is distinct from that in rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases: it is chronic, comparatively low-grade, and mediated primarily by the innate immune system. Current treatments for OA only control the symptoms, and none has been FDA-approved for the prevention or slowing of disease progression. However, increasing insight into the inflammatory underpinnings of OA holds promise for the development of new, disease-modifying therapies. Indeed, several anti-inflammatory therapies have shown promise in animal models of OA. Further work is needed to identify effective inhibitors of the low-grade inflammation in OA, and to determine whether therapies that target this inflammation can prevent or slow the development and progression of the disease.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.136

View details for PubMedID 27539668
Sequencing the functional antibody repertoire-diagnostic and therapeutic discovery NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY Robinson, W. H. 2015; 11 (3): 171-182
Abstract

The development of high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies has enabled large-scale characterization of functional antibody repertoires, a new method of understanding protective and pathogenic immune responses. Important parameters to consider when sequencing antibody repertoires include the methodology, the B-cell population and clinical characteristics of the individuals analysed, and the bioinformatic analysis. Although focused sequencing of immunoglobulin heavy chains or complement determining regions can be utilized to monitor particular immune responses and B-cell malignancies, high-fidelity analysis of the full-length paired heavy and light chains expressed by individual B cells is critical for characterizing functional antibody repertoires. Bioinformatic identification of clonal antibody families and recombinant expression of representative members produces recombinant antibodies that can be used to identify the antigen targets of functional immune responses and to investigate the mechanisms of their protective or pathogenic functions. Integrated analysis of coexpressed functional genes provides the potential to further pinpoint the most important antibodies and clonal families generated during an immune response. Sequencing antibody repertoires is transforming our understanding of immune responses to autoimmunity, vaccination, infection and cancer. We anticipate that antibody repertoire sequencing will provide next-generation biomarkers, diagnostic tools and therapeutic antibodies for a spectrum of diseases, including rheumatic diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nrrheum.2014.220

View details for Web of Science ID 000350667900007

View details for PubMedID 25536486
Barcode-Enabled Sequencing of Plasmablast Antibody Repertoires in Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Tan, Y., Kongpachith, S., Blum, L. K., Ju, C., Lahey, L. J., Lu, D. R., Cai, X., Wagner, C. A., Lindstrom, T. M., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 66 (10): 2706-2715
Abstract

A hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the production of autoantibodies, including anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Nevertheless, the specific targets of these autoantibodies remain incompletely defined. During an immune response, B cells specific for the inciting antigen(s) are activated and differentiate into plasmablasts, which are released into the blood. We undertook this study to sequence the plasmablast antibody repertoire to define the targets of the active immune response in RA.We developed a novel DNA barcoding method to sequence the cognate heavy- and light-chain pairs of antibodies expressed by individual blood plasmablasts in RA. The method uses a universal 5' adapter that enables full-length sequencing of the antibodies' variable regions and recombinant expression of the paired antibody chains. The sequence data sets were bioinformatically analyzed to generate phylogenetic trees that identify clonal families of antibodies sharing heavy- and light-chain VJ sequences. Representative antibodies were expressed, and their binding properties were characterized using anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP-2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and antigen microarrays.We used our sequencing method to generate phylogenetic trees representing the antibody repertoires of peripheral blood plasmablasts from 4 individuals with anti-CCP+ RA, and recombinantly expressed 14 antibodies that were either "singleton" antibodies or representative of clonal antibody families. Anti-CCP-2 ELISA identified 4 ACPAs, and antigen microarray analysis identified ACPAs that differentially targeted epitopes on α-enolase, citrullinated fibrinogen, and citrullinated histone H2B.Our data provide evidence that autoantibodies targeting α-enolase, citrullinated fibrinogen, and citrullinated histone H2B are produced by the ongoing activated B cell response in, and thus may contribute to the pathogenesis of, RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38754

View details for Web of Science ID 000342744300008

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4560105
Rheumatoid Factor as a Potentiator of Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody-Mediated Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Sokolove, J., Johnson, D. S., Lahey, L. J., Wagner, C. A., Cheng, D., Thiele, G. M., Michaud, K., Sayles, H., Reimold, A. M., Caplan, L., Cannon, G. W., Kerr, G., Mikuls, T. R., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 66 (4): 813-821
Abstract

The co-occurrence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) positivity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is well described. However, the mechanisms underlying the potential interaction between these 2 distinct autoantibodies have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiologic and molecular interaction of ACPAs and RF and its association with both disease activity and measures of RA-associated inflammation.In a cohort of 1,488 US veterans with RA, measures of disease activity and serum levels of cytokines and multiplex ACPAs were compared between the following groups of patients: double-negative (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide [anti-CCP]-/RF-), anti-CCP+/RF-, anti-CCP-/RF+, or double-positive (anti-CCP+/RF+). Additional studies were performed using an in vitro immune complex (IC) stimulation assay in which macrophages were incubated with ACPA ICs in the presence or absence of monoclonal IgM-RF, and tumor necrosis factor α production measured as a readout of macrophage activation.Compared with the double-negative subgroup (as well as each single-positive subgroup), the double-positive subgroup exhibited higher disease activity as well as higher levels of C-reactive protein and inflammatory cytokines (all P < 0.001). In vitro stimulation of macrophages by ACPA ICs increased cytokine production, and the addition of monoclonal IgM-RF significantly increased macrophage tumor necrosis factor α production (P = 0.003 versus ACPA ICs alone).The combined presence of ACPAs and IgM-RF mediates increased proinflammatory cytokine production in vitro and is associated with increased systemic inflammation and disease activity in RA. Our data suggest that IgM-RF enhances the capacity of ACPA ICs to stimulate macrophage cytokine production, thereby providing a mechanistic link by which RF enhances the pathogenicity of ACPA ICs in RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38307

View details for Web of Science ID 000337361000007

View details for PubMedID 24757134

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3994896
High-throughput sequencing of natively paired antibody chains provides evidence for original antigenic sin shaping the antibody response to influenza vaccination. Clinical immunology Tan, Y., Blum, L. K., Kongpachith, S., Ju, C., Cai, X., Lindstrom, T. M., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 151 (1): 55-65
Abstract

We developed a DNA barcoding method to enable high-throughput sequencing of the cognate heavy- and light-chain pairs of the antibodies expressed by individual B cells. We used this approach to elucidate the plasmablast antibody response to influenza vaccination. We show that >75% of the rationally selected plasmablast antibodies bind and neutralize influenza, and that antibodies from clonal families, defined by sharing both heavy-chain VJ and light-chain VJ sequence usage, do so most effectively. Vaccine-induced heavy-chain VJ regions contained on average >20 nucleotide mutations as compared to their predicted germline gene sequences, and some vaccine-induced antibodies exhibited higher binding affinities for hemagglutinins derived from prior years' seasonal influenza as compared to their affinities for the immunization strains. Our results show that influenza vaccination induces the recall of memory B cells that express antibodies that previously underwent affinity maturation against prior years' seasonal influenza, suggesting that 'original antigenic sin' shapes the antibody response to influenza vaccination.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2013.12.008

View details for PubMedID 24525048

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4006370
Autoantibody Epitope Spreading in the Pre-Clinical Phase Predicts Progression to Rheumatoid Arthritis PLOS ONE Sokolove, J., Bromberg, R., Deane, K. D., Lahey, L. J., Derber, L. A., Chandra, P. E., Edison, J. D., Gilliland, W. R., Tibshirani, R. J., Norris, J. M., Holers, V. M., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 7 (5)
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prototypical autoimmune arthritis affecting nearly 1% of the world population and is a significant cause of worldwide disability. Though prior studies have demonstrated the appearance of RA-related autoantibodies years before the onset of clinical RA, the pattern of immunologic events preceding the development of RA remains unclear. To characterize the evolution of the autoantibody response in the preclinical phase of RA, we used a novel multiplex autoantigen array to evaluate development of the anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and to determine if epitope spread correlates with rise in serum cytokines and imminent onset of clinical RA. To do so, we utilized a cohort of 81 patients with clinical RA for whom stored serum was available from 1-12 years prior to disease onset. We evaluated the accumulation of ACPA subtypes over time and correlated this accumulation with elevations in serum cytokines. We then used logistic regression to identify a profile of biomarkers which predicts the imminent onset of clinical RA (defined as within 2 years of testing). We observed a time-dependent expansion of ACPA specificity with the number of ACPA subtypes. At the earliest timepoints, we found autoantibodies targeting several innate immune ligands including citrullinated histones, fibrinogen, and biglycan, thus providing insights into the earliest autoantigen targets and potential mechanisms underlying the onset and development of autoimmunity in RA. Additionally, expansion of the ACPA response strongly predicted elevations in many inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12p70, and IFN-γ. Thus, we observe that the preclinical phase of RA is characterized by an accumulation of multiple autoantibody specificities reflecting the process of epitope spread. Epitope expansion is closely correlated with the appearance of preclinical inflammation, and we identify a biomarker profile including autoantibodies and cytokines which predicts the imminent onset of clinical arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0035296

View details for Web of Science ID 000305342300003

View details for PubMedID 22662108
Identification of a central role for complement in osteoarthritis NATURE MEDICINE Wang, Q., Rozelle, A. L., Lepus, C. M., Scanzello, C. R., Song, J. J., Larsen, D. M., Crish, J. F., Bebek, G., Ritter, S. Y., Lindstrom, T. M., Hwang, I., Wong, H. H., Punzi, L., Encarnacion, A., Shamloo, M., Goodman, S. B., Wyss-Coray, T., Goldring, S. R., Banda, N. K., Thurman, J. M., Gobezie, R., Crow, M. K., Holers, V. M., Lee, D. M., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 17 (12): 1674-U196
Abstract

Osteoarthritis, characterized by the breakdown of articular cartilage in synovial joints, has long been viewed as the result of 'wear and tear'. Although low-grade inflammation is detected in osteoarthritis, its role is unclear. Here we identify a central role for the inflammatory complement system in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis. Through proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of synovial fluids and membranes from individuals with osteoarthritis, we find that expression and activation of complement is abnormally high in human osteoarthritic joints. Using mice genetically deficient in complement component 5 (C5), C6 or the complement regulatory protein CD59a, we show that complement, specifically, the membrane attack complex (MAC)-mediated arm of complement, is crucial to the development of arthritis in three different mouse models of osteoarthritis. Pharmacological modulation of complement in wild-type mice confirmed the results obtained with genetically deficient mice. Expression of inflammatory and degradative molecules was lower in chondrocytes from destabilized joints from C5-deficient mice than C5-sufficient mice, and MAC induced production of these molecules in cultured chondrocytes. Further, MAC colocalized with matrix metalloprotease 13 (MMP13) and with activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) around chondrocytes in human osteoarthritic cartilage. Our findings indicate that dysregulation of complement in synovial joints has a key role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nm.2543

View details for Web of Science ID 000297978000042

View details for PubMedID 22057346

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3257059
Plasma carboxypeptidase B downregulates inflammatory responses in autoimmune arthritis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Song, J. J., Hwang, I., Cho, K. H., Garcia, M. A., Kim, A. J., Wang, T. H., Lindstrom, T. M., Lee, A. T., Nishimura, T., Zhao, L., Morser, J., Nesheim, M., Goodman, S. B., Lee, D. M., Bridges, S. L., Gregersen, P. K., Leung, L. L., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 121 (9): 3517-3527
Abstract

The immune and coagulation systems are both implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Plasma carboxypeptidase B (CPB), which is activated by the thrombin/thrombomodulin complex, plays a procoagulant role during fibrin clot formation. However, an antiinflammatory role for CPB is suggested by the recent observation that CPB can cleave proinflammatory mediators, such as C5a, bradykinin, and osteopontin. Here, we show that CPB plays a central role in downregulating C5a-mediated inflammatory responses in autoimmune arthritis. CPB deficiency exacerbated inflammatory arthritis in a mouse model of RA, and cleavage of C5a by CPB suppressed the ability of C5a to recruit immune cells in vivo. In human patients with RA, genotyping of nonsynonymous SNPs in the CPB-encoding gene revealed that the allele encoding a CPB variant with longer half-life was associated with a lower risk of developing radiographically severe RA. Functionally, this CPB variant was more effective at abrogating the proinflammatory properties of C5a. Additionally, expression of both CPB and C5a in synovial fluid was higher in patients with RA than in those with osteoarthritis. These findings suggest that CPB plays a critical role in dampening local, C5a-mediated inflammation and represents a molecular link between inflammation and coagulation in autoimmune arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI46387

View details for Web of Science ID 000294753700019

View details for PubMedID 21804193

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3163960
Immune Complexes Containing Citrullinated Fibrinogen Costimulate Macrophages via Toll-like Receptor 4 and Fc gamma Receptor ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Sokolove, J., Zhao, X., Chandra, P. E., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 63 (1): 53-62
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). Nearly two-thirds of patients with ACPA-positive RA have immune complexes that contain citrullinated fibrinogen, and these citrullinated fibrinogen-containing immune complexes (cFb-IC) can exacerbate disease in murine models of RA; however, the exact role of such ACPA ICs in RA pathogenesis has remained elusive. We undertook the present study to investigate a novel mechanism by which ACPAs specifically targeting citrullinated fibrinogen may directly stimulate macrophage tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production.Murine or human macrophages were stimulated with native fibrinogen (nFb), cFb, or in vitro-generated nFb-IC or cFb-IC, and TNF production was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ICs were generated with either polyclonal anti-Fb antibodies or pooled IgG from patients with ACPA-positive RA. To evaluate the role of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4)/myeloid differentiation protein (MyD88) pathway and the Fcγ receptor (FcγR) pathway in the induction of TNF by Fb and Fb-IC, parallel experiments were performed using 1) TLR-4-deficient or MyD88-deficient macrophages, and 2) inhibitors of TLR-4 or FcγR.Citrullinated Fb stimulated macrophage TNF production more potently than did native Fb. Incorporation of cFb into ICs augmented its ability to stimulate TNF production by macrophages. Stimulation of TNF by cFb was dependent on TLR-4 and MyD88, while stimulation by cFb-IC was dependent on both TLR-4/MyD88 and FcγR.We demonstrated that cFb-IC can costimulate macrophages via dual engagement of TLR-4 and FcγR, resulting in the synergistic induction of TNF production. Our findings suggest a potential role of citrullination in increasing the potency of an endogenous innate immune ligand and provide insight into the mechanism by which anticitrulline autoimmunity may contribute to the onset and propagation of inflammation in RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.30081

View details for Web of Science ID 000285934100008

View details for PubMedID 20954191

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3015008
Tyrosine kinases as targets for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY Swanson, C. D., Paniagua, R. T., Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2009; 5 (6): 317-324
Abstract

As critical regulators of numerous cell signaling pathways, tyrosine kinases are implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the absence of disease, synoviocytes produce factors that provide nutrition and lubrication for the surrounding cartilage tissue; few cellular infiltrates are seen in the synovium. In RA, however, macrophages, neutrophils, T cells and B cells infiltrate the synovium and produce cytokines, chemokines and degradative enzymes that promote inflammation and joint destruction. In addition, the synovial lining expands owing to the proliferation of synoviocytes and infiltration of inflammatory cells to form a pannus, which invades the surrounding bone and cartilage. Many of these cell responses are regulated by tyrosine kinases that operate in specific signaling pathways, and inhibition of a number of these kinases might be expected to provide benefit in RA.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nrrheum.2009.82

View details for Web of Science ID 000266568500007

View details for PubMedID 19491913
Molecular Framework for Response to Imatinib Mesylate in Systemic Sclerosis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Chung, L., Fiorentino, D. F., Benbarak, M. J., Adler, A. S., Mariano, M. M., Paniagua, R. T., Milano, A., Connolly, M. K., Ratiner, B. D., Wiskocil, R. L., Whitfield, M. L., Chang, H. Y., Robinson, W. H. 2009; 60 (2): 584-591
Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease in which the tyrosine kinases platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and Abl are hypothesized to contribute to the fibrosis and vasculopathy of the skin and internal organs. Herein we describe 2 patients with early diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) who experienced reductions in cutaneous sclerosis in response to therapy with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate. Immunohistochemical analyses of skin biopsy specimens demonstrated reductions of phosphorylated PDGFRbeta and Abl with imatinib therapy. By gene expression profiling, an imatinib-responsive signature specific to dcSSc was identified (P < 10(-8)). The response of these patients and the findings of the analyses suggest that PDGFRbeta and Abl play critical, synergistic roles in the pathogenesis of SSc, and that imatinib targets a gene expression program that is frequently dysregulated in dcSSc.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.24221

View details for Web of Science ID 000263276400032

View details for PubMedID 19180499

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2638060
Blood autoantibody and cytokine profiles predict response to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in rheumatoid arthritis ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Hueber, W., Tomooka, B. H., Batliwalla, F., Li, W., Monach, P. A., Tibshirani, R. J., Van Vollenhoven, R. F., Lampa, J., Saito, K., Tanaka, Y., Genovese, M. C., Klareskog, L., Gregersen, P. K., Robinson, W. H. 2009; 11 (3)
Abstract

Anti-TNF therapies have revolutionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a common systemic autoimmune disease involving destruction of the synovial joints. However, in the practice of rheumatology approximately one-third of patients demonstrate no clinical improvement in response to treatment with anti-TNF therapies, while another third demonstrate a partial response, and one-third an excellent and sustained response. Since no clinical or laboratory tests are available to predict response to anti-TNF therapies, great need exists for predictive biomarkers.Here we present a multi-step proteomics approach using arthritis antigen arrays, a multiplex cytokine assay, and conventional ELISA, with the objective to identify a biomarker signature in three ethnically diverse cohorts of RA patients treated with the anti-TNF therapy etanercept.We identified a 24-biomarker signature that enabled prediction of a positive clinical response to etanercept in all three cohorts (positive predictive values 58 to 72%; negative predictive values 63 to 78%).We identified a multi-parameter protein biomarker that enables pretreatment classification and prediction of etanercept responders, and tested this biomarker using three independent cohorts of RA patients. Although further validation in prospective and larger cohorts is needed, our observations demonstrate that multiplex characterization of autoantibodies and cytokines provides clinical utility for predicting response to the anti-TNF therapy etanercept in RA patients.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar2706

View details for Web of Science ID 000269019300042

View details for PubMedID 19460157

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2714123
Proteomic analysis of active multiple sclerosis lesions reveals therapeutic targets NATURE Han, M. H., Hwang, S., Roy, D. B., Lundgren, D. H., Price, J. V., Ousman, S. S., Fernald, G. H., Gerlitz, B., Robinson, W. H., Baranzini, S. E., Grinnell, B. W., Raine, C. S., Sobel, R. A., Han, D. K., Steinman, L. 2008; 451 (7182): 1076-U2
Abstract

Understanding the neuropathology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is essential for improved therapies. Therefore, identification of targets specific to pathological types of MS may have therapeutic benefits. Here we identify, by laser-capture microdissection and proteomics, proteins unique to three major types of MS lesions: acute plaque, chronic active plaque and chronic plaque. Comparative proteomic profiles identified tissue factor and protein C inhibitor within chronic active plaque samples, suggesting dysregulation of molecules associated with coagulation. In vivo administration of hirudin or recombinant activated protein C reduced disease severity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and suppressed Th1 and Th17 cytokines in astrocytes and immune cells. Administration of mutant forms of recombinant activated protein C showed that both its anticoagulant and its signalling functions were essential for optimal amelioration of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. A proteomic approach illuminated potential therapeutic targets selective for specific pathological stages of MS and implicated participation of the coagulation cascade.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nature06559

View details for Web of Science ID 000253453600035

View details for PubMedID 18278032
Selective tyrosine kinase inhibition by imatinib mesylate for the treatment of autoimmune arthritis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Paniagua, R. T., Sharpe, O., Ho, P. P., Chan, S. M., Chang, A., Higgins, J. P., Tomooka, B. H., Thomas, F. M., Song, J. J., Goodman, S. B., Lee, D. M., Genovese, M. C., Utz, P. J., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2006; 116 (10): 2633-2642
Abstract

Tyrosine kinases play a central role in the activation of signal transduction pathways and cellular responses that mediate the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. Imatinib mesylate (imatinib) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor developed to treat Bcr/Abl-expressing leukemias and subsequently found to treat c-Kit-expressing gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We demonstrate that imatinib potently prevents and treats murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). We further show that micromolar concentrations of imatinib abrogate multiple signal transduction pathways implicated in RA pathogenesis, including mast cell c-Kit signaling and TNF-alpha release, macrophage c-Fms activation and cytokine production, and fibroblast PDGFR signaling and proliferation. In our studies, imatinib attenuated PDGFR signaling in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and TNF-alpha production in synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMCs) derived from human RA patients. Imatinib-mediated inhibition of a spectrum of signal transduction pathways and the downstream pathogenic cellular responses may provide a powerful approach to treat RA and other inflammatory diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI28546

View details for Web of Science ID 000240965700013

View details for PubMedID 16981009

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1564430
Lipid microarrays identify key mediators of autoimmune brain inflammation NATURE MEDICINE Kanter, J. L., Narayana, S., Ho, P. P., Catz, I., Warren, K. G., Sobel, R. A., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2006; 12 (1): 138-143
Abstract

Recent studies suggest that increased T-cell and autoantibody reactivity to lipids may be present in the autoimmune demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. To perform large-scale multiplex analysis of antibody responses to lipids in multiple sclerosis, we developed microarrays composed of lipids present in the myelin sheath, including ganglioside, sulfatide, cerebroside, sphingomyelin and total brain lipid fractions. Lipid-array analysis showed lipid-specific antibodies against sulfatide, sphingomyelin and oxidized lipids in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) derived from individuals with multiple sclerosis. Sulfatide-specific antibodies were also detected in SJL/J mice with acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Immunization of mice with sulfatide plus myelin peptide resulted in a more severe disease course of EAE, and administration of sulfatide-specific antibody exacerbated EAE. Thus, autoimmune responses to sulfatide and other lipids are present in individuals with multiple sclerosis and in EAE, and may contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune demyelination.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nm1344

View details for Web of Science ID 000234419000064

View details for PubMedID 16341241
Protein microarrays guide tolerizing DNA vaccine treatment of autoimmune encephalomyelitis NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Fontoura, P., Lee, B. J., de Vegvar, H. E., Tom, J., Pedotti, R., DiGennaro, C. D., Mitchell, D. J., Fong, D., Ho, P. P., Ruiz, P. J., Maverakis, E., Stevens, D. B., Bernard, C. C., Martin, R., Kuchroo, V. K., van Noort, J. M., Genain, C. P., Amor, S., Olsson, T., Utz, P. J., Garren, H., Steinman, L. 2003; 21 (9): 1033-1039
Abstract

The diversity of autoimmune responses poses a formidable challenge to the development of antigen-specific tolerizing therapy. We developed 'myelin proteome' microarrays to profile the evolution of autoantibody responses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple sclerosis (MS). Increased diversity of autoantibody responses in acute EAE predicted a more severe clinical course. Chronic EAE was associated with previously undescribed extensive intra- and intermolecular epitope spreading of autoreactive B-cell responses. Array analysis of autoantigens targeted in acute EAE was used to guide the choice of autoantigen cDNAs to be incorporated into expression plasmids so as to generate tolerizing vaccines. Tolerizing DNA vaccines encoding a greater number of array-determined myelin targets proved superior in treating established EAE and reduced epitope spreading of autoreactive B-cell responses. Proteomic monitoring of autoantibody responses provides a useful approach to monitor autoimmune disease and to develop and tailor disease- and patient-specific tolerizing DNA vaccines.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nbt859

View details for Web of Science ID 000185051000035

View details for PubMedID 12910246
Autoantigen microarrays for multiplex characterization of autoantibody responses NATURE MEDICINE Robinson, W. H., DiGennaro, C., Hueber, W., Haab, B. B., KAMACHI, M., Dean, E. J., Fournel, S., Fong, D., Genovese, M. C., de Vegvar, H. E., Skriner, K., Hirschberg, D. L., Morris, R. I., Muller, S., Pruijn, G. J., van Venrooij, W. J., Smolen, J. S., Brown, P. O., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J. 2002; 8 (3): 295-301
Abstract

We constructed miniaturized autoantigen arrays to perform large-scale multiplex characterization of autoantibody responses directed against structurally diverse autoantigens, using submicroliter quantities of clinical samples. Autoantigen microarrays were produced by attaching hundreds of proteins, peptides and other biomolecules to the surface of derivatized glass slides using a robotic arrayer. Arrays were incubated with patient serum, and spectrally resolvable fluorescent labels were used to detect autoantibody binding to specific autoantigens on the array. We describe and characterize arrays containing the major autoantigens in eight distinct human autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. This represents the first report of application of such technology to multiple human disease sera, and will enable validated detection of antibodies recognizing autoantigens including proteins, peptides, enzyme complexes, ribonucleoprotein complexes, DNA and post-translationally modified antigens. Autoantigen microarrays represent a powerful tool to study the specificity and pathogenesis of autoantibody responses, and to identify and define relevant autoantigens in human autoimmune diseases.

View details for Web of Science ID 000174139500036

View details for PubMedID 11875502
Associations of Circulating Cytokines and Chemokines With Cancer Mortality in Men With Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & rheumatology England, B. R., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., Thiele, G. M., Ganti, A. K., Sayles, H., Michaud, K., Caplan, L., Davis, L. A., Cannon, G. W., Sauer, B., Singh, N., Blair Solow, E., Reimold, A. M., Kerr, G. S., Schwab, P., Baker, J. F., Mikuls, T. R. 2016; 68 (10): 2394-2402
Abstract

To examine the potential of circulating cytokines and chemokines as biomarkers of cancer mortality risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Male participants in the Veterans Affairs RA registry were followed up from the time of enrollment until death or December 2013. Cytokines and chemokines were measured in banked serum obtained at the time of enrollment, using a bead-based multiplex assay, and a previously developed cytokine score was calculated. Vital status and cause of death were determined through the National Death Index. Associations of cytokines with cancer mortality were examined using multivariable competing-risks regression.Among 1,190 men with RA, 60 cancer deaths (30 of which were attributable to lung cancer) occurred over 5,307 patient-years of follow-up. The patients had a mean age of 64.5 years, had established disease (median duration 8.7 years), were seropositive for rheumatoid factor (81%) or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (77%), and frequently had a history of smoking (82% current or former). Seven of 17 analytes examined were individually associated with cancer mortality. The cytokine score was associated with overall cancer (subhazard ratio [SHR] 1.42, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.08-1.85) and lung cancer (SHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.57-2.19) mortality in multivariable analyses. Those in the highest quartile of cytokine scores had a >2-fold increased risk of overall cancer mortality (P = 0.039) and a 6-fold increased risk of lung cancer mortality (P = 0.028) relative to the lowest quartile. A synergistic interaction between current smoking and high cytokine score was observed.Serum cytokines and chemokines are associated with cancer and lung cancer mortality in men with RA, independent of multiple factors including age, smoking status, and prevalent cancer.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.39735

View details for PubMedID 27111000
Elevated IgA Plasmablast Levels in Subjects at Risk of Developing Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis & rheumatology Kinslow, J. D., Blum, L. K., Deane, K. D., Demoruelle, M. K., Okamoto, Y., Parish, M. C., Kongpachith, S., Lahey, L. J., Norris, J. M., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M. 2016; 68 (10): 2372-2383
Abstract

The disease process in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) starts years before the clinical diagnosis is made, and elevated levels of disease-specific autoantibodies can be detected during this period. Early responses to known or novel autoantigens likely drive the eventual production of pathogenic autoimmunity. Importantly, the presence of disease-specific autoantibodies can identify individuals who are at high risk of developing RA but who do not currently have arthritis. The goal of the current study was to characterize plasmablasts from individuals at risk of developing RA.We investigated antibody-secreting plasmablasts derived from a well-characterized cohort of individuals who were at risk of developing RA, based on RA-related serum autoantibody positivity, as compared to patients with early (<1 year) seropositive RA as well as healthy control subjects. The plasmablast antibody repertoires of at-risk subjects were analyzed using DNA barcode-based methods with paired heavy- and light-chain gene sequencing. Cells were single-cell sorted, the cell- and plate-specific DNA barcodes were sequentially added, and next-generation sequencing was performed.Total plasmablast levels were similar in the antibody-positive (1%) and control (0.4-1.6%) groups. However, increased frequencies of IgA+ versus IgG+ plasmablasts were observed in the antibody-positive group (39% IgA+ and 37% IgG+) as compared to other groups (1-9% IgA+ and 71-87% IgG+). Paired antibody sequences from antibody-positive subjects revealed cross-isotype clonal families and similar sequence characteristics in the IgA and IgG plasmablast repertoires. Antibody-positive individuals also demonstrated elevated serum levels of IgA isotype anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 3 antibodies.The IgA plasmablast dominance in these antibody-positive individuals suggests that a subset of RA-related autoantibodies may arise from mucosal immune responses and may be involved in early disease pathogenesis in individuals who are at risk of developing RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.39771

View details for PubMedID 27273876

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5042824
CCL19 as a Chemokine Risk Factor for Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: a Prospective Clinical Cohort Study. Clinical and vaccine immunology Aucott, J. N., Soloski, M. J., Rebman, A. W., Crowder, L. A., Lahey, L. J., Wagner, C. A., Robinson, W. H., Bechtold, K. T. 2016; 23 (9): 757-766
Abstract

Approximately 10% to 20% of patients optimally treated for early Lyme disease develop persistent symptoms of unknown pathophysiology termed posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS). The objective of this study was to investigate associations between PTLDS and immune mediator levels during acute illness and at several time points following treatment. Seventy-six participants with physician-documented erythema migrans and 26 healthy controls with no history of Lyme disease were enrolled. Sixty-four cytokines, chemokines, and inflammatory markers were measured at each visit for a total of 6 visits over 1 year. An operationalized definition of PTLDS incorporating symptoms and functional impact was applied at 6 months and 1 year following treatment completion, and clinical outcome groups were defined as the return-to-health, symptoms-only, and PTLDS groups. Significance analysis of microarrays identified 7 of the 64 immune mediators to be differentially regulated by group. Generalized logit regressions controlling for potential confounders identified posttreatment levels of the T-cell chemokine CCL19 to be independently associated with clinical outcome group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis identified a CCL19 cutoff of >111.67 pg/ml at 1 month following treatment completion to be 82% sensitive and 83% specific for later PTLDS. We speculate that persistently elevated CCL19 levels among participants with PTLDS may reflect ongoing, immune-driven reactions at sites distal to secondary lymphoid tissue. Our findings suggest the relevance of CCL19 both during acute infection and as an immunologic risk factor for PTLDS during the posttreatment phase. Identification of a potential biomarker predictor for PTLDS provides the opportunity to better understand its pathophysiology and to develop early interventions in the context of appropriate and specific clinical information.

View details for DOI 10.1128/CVI.00071-16

View details for PubMedID 27358211

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5014924
B cell depletion with rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Multiplex bead array reveals the kinetics of IgG and IgA antibodies to citrullinated antigens JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY Cambridge, G., Leandro, M. J., Lahey, L. J., Fairhead, T., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J. 2016; 70: 22-30
Abstract

The serology of patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by persistently raised levels of autoantibodies: Rheumatoid Factors (RhF) against Fc of IgG, and to citrullinated (Cit) protein/peptide sequences: ACPA, recognizing multiple Cit-sequences. B cell depletion therapy based on rituximab delivers good clinical responses in RA patients, particularly in the seropositive group, with responses sometimes lasting beyond the phase of B cell reconstitution. In general, ACPA levels fall following rituximab, but fluctuations with respect to predicting relapse have proved disappointing. In order to identify possible immunodominant specificities within either IgG- or IgA-ACPA we used a Multiplex bead-based array consisting of 30 Cit-peptides/proteins and 22 corresponding native sequences. The kinetics of the serum ACPA response to individual specificities was measured at key points (Baseline, B cell depletion phase, Relapse) within an initial cycle of rituximab therapy in 16 consecutive patients with severe, active RA. All had achieved significant decreases in Disease Activity Scores-28 and maintained B cell depletion in the peripheral blood (<5 CD19+cells/μl) for at least 3 months. At Baseline, mean fluorescence intensity shown by individual IgG- and IgA-ACPA were strongly correlated (R(2) = 0.75; p < 0.0001) but IgA-ACPA were approximately 10-fold lower. Data were Z-normalised in order to compare serial results and antibody classes. At Baseline, a total of 68 IgG- and 51 IgA-ACPA had Z-scores ≥ 1 (above population mean) were identified, with at least one Cit-antigen identified in each serum. ACPA to individual specificities subsequently fluctuated with 3 different patterns. Most 51/68 (75%) IgG- and 48/51 IgA-ACPA (94%) fell between Baseline and Depletion, of which 57% IgG- and 65% IgA-ACPA rebounded pre-Relapse. Interestingly, 17/68 IgG-ACPA (25%) and some IgA-ACPA (3/51; 6%) transiently increased from Baseline, subsequently falling pre-Relapse. Individual responses to particular Cit-epitopes were not linked to particular patterns of fluctuation, but IgG- and IgA-ACPA to individual Cit-antigens often followed similar courses. Some new IgG- and IgA-ACPA, generally to different Cit-antigens however, arose at Relapse in 4 patients. The complexities of the ACPA response after rituximab may therefore reflect its ability to deplete or modify the function of parent B cell clones, which varies between patients. Although relapse following rituximab invariably follows naïve B cell exit from the bone marrow, these studies show that interactions between both 'new' and residual autoreactive memory B cells may be key to resumption of symptoms. The lack of identification of any immunodominant specificity suggests that the process of citrullination, rather than any particular Cit-antigen drives the autoimmune response in RA patients.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaut.2016.03.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000376704300003

View details for PubMedID 27055777
Association of synovial inflammation and inflammatory mediators with glenohumeral rotator cuff pathology JOURNAL OF SHOULDER AND ELBOW SURGERY Abrams, G. D., Luria, A., Carr, R. A., Rhodes, C., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J. 2016; 25 (6): 989-997
Abstract

We hypothesized that patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears would have greater synovial inflammation compared with those without rotator cuff tear pathology, with gene expression relating to histologic findings.Synovial sampling was performed in 19 patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears (RTC group) and in 11 patients without rotator cuff pathology (control group). Cryosections were stained and examined under light microscopy and confocal fluorescent microscopy for anti-cluster CD45 (common leukocyte antigen), anti-CD31 (endothelial), and anti-CD68 (macrophage) cell surface markers. A grading system was used to quantitate synovitis under light microscopy, and digital image analysis was used to quantify the immunofluorescence staining area. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed for validated inflammatory markers. Data were analyzed with analysis of covariance, Mann-Whitney U, and Spearman rank order testing, with significance set at α = .05.The synovitis score was significantly increased in the RTC group compared with controls. Immunofluorescence demonstrated significantly increased staining for CD31, CD45, and CD68 in the RTC vs control group. CD45+/68- cells were found perivascularly, with CD45+/68+ cells toward the joint lining edge of the synovium. Levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and interleukin-6 were significantly increased in the RTC group, with a positive correlation between the synovitis score and MMP-3 expression.Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears have greater levels of synovial inflammation, angiogenesis, and MMP-3 upregulation compared with controls. Gene expression of MMP-3 correlates with the degree of synovitis.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jse.2015.10.011

View details for Web of Science ID 000376178500022

View details for PubMedID 26775747
Impact of baseline anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-2 antibody concentration on efficacy outcomes following treatment with subcutaneous abatacept or adalimumab: 2-year results from the AMPLE trial ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES Sokolove, J., Schiff, M., Fleischmann, R., Weinblatt, M. E., Connolly, S. E., Johnsen, A., Zhu, J., Maldonado, M. A., Patel, S., Robinson, W. H. 2016; 75 (4): 709-714
Abstract

To examine whether baseline anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide-2 (CCP2) antibody status and concentration correlated with clinical outcomes in patients treated with abatacept or adalimumab on background methotrexate (MTX) in the 2-year AMPLE (Abatacept versus adaliMumab comParison in bioLogic-naïvE rheumatoid arthritis subjects with background MTX) study.In this exploratory analysis, anti-CCP2 antibody concentration was measured at baseline, and antibody-positive patients were divided into equal quartiles, Q1-Q4, representing increasing antibody concentrations. Clinical outcomes analysed by baseline anti-CCP2 status and quartile included change from baseline in disease activity and disability and remission rates.Baseline characteristics were generally comparable across quartiles and treatment groups. In both treatment groups, anti-CCP2 antibody-negative patients responded less well than antibody-positive patients. At year 2, improvements in disease activity and disability and remission rates were similar across Q1-Q3, but were numerically higher in Q4 in the abatacept group; in contrast, treatment effects were similar across all quartiles in the adalimumab group.In AMPLE, baseline anti-CCP2 positivity was associated with a better response for abatacept and adalimumab. Patients with the highest baseline anti-CCP2 antibody concentrations had better clinical response with abatacept than patients with lower concentrations, an association that was not observed with adalimumab.NCT00929864.

View details for DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207942

View details for Web of Science ID 000373403800023

View details for PubMedID 26359449
Anti-Insulin Immune Responses Are Detectable in Dogs with Spontaneous Diabetes PLOS ONE Kim, J., Furrow, E., Ritt, M. G., Utz, P. J., Robinson, W. H., Yu, L., Eckert, A., Stuebner, K., O'Brien, T. D., Steinman, L., Modiano, J. F. 2016; 11 (3)
Abstract

Diabetes mellitus occurs spontaneously in dogs. Although canine diabetes shares many features with human type-1 diabetes, there are differences that have cast doubt on the immunologic origin of the canine disease. In this study, we examined whether peripheral immune responses directed against islet antigens were present in dogs with diabetes. Routine diagnostics were used to confirm diabetic status, and serum samples from dogs with (N = 15) and without (N = 15) diabetes were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against islet antigens (insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase, insulinoma-associated protein tyrosine phosphatase, and islet beta-cell zinc cation efflux transporter) using standard radioassays. Interferon-γ production from peripheral blood T cells stimulated by porcine insulin and by human insulin was tested using Elispot assays. Anti-insulin antibodies were detectable in a subset of diabetic dogs receiving insulin therapy. Pre-activated T cells and incipient insulin-reactive T cells in response to porcine or human insulin were identified in non-diabetic dogs and in dogs with diabetes. The data show that humoral and cellular anti-insulin immune responses are detectable in dogs with diabetes. This in turn provides support for the potential to ethically use dogs with diabetes to study the therapeutic potential of antigen-specific tolerance.

View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0152397

View details for Web of Science ID 000373121800066

View details for PubMedID 27031512

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4816536
The interleukin-20 receptor axis in early rheumatoid arthritis: novel links between disease-associated autoantibodies and radiographic progression ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Kragstrup, T. W., Greisen, S. R., Nielsen, M. A., Rhodes, C., Stengaard-Pedersen, K., Hetland, M. L., Horslev-Petersen, K., Junker, P., Ostergaard, M., Hvid, M., Vorup-Jensen, T., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J., Deleuran, B. 2016; 18
View details for DOI 10.1186/s13075-016-0964-7

View details for Web of Science ID 000372114700001
Biomarkers to guide clinical therapeutics in rheumatology? CURRENT OPINION IN RHEUMATOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Mao, R. 2016; 28 (2): 168-175
Abstract

The use of biomarkers in rheumatology can help identify disease risk, improve diagnosis and prognosis, target therapy, assess response to treatment, and further our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of disease. Here, we discuss the recent advances in biomarkers for rheumatic disorders, existing impediments to progress in this field, and the potential of biomarkers to enable precision medicine and thereby transform rheumatology.Although significant challenges remain, progress continues to be made in biomarker discovery and development for rheumatic diseases. The use of next-generation technologies, including large-scale sequencing, proteomic technologies, metabolomic technologies, mass cytometry, and other single-cell analysis and multianalyte analysis technologies, has yielded a slew of new candidate biomarkers. Nevertheless, these biomarkers still require rigorous validation and have yet to make their way into clinical practice and therapeutic development. This review focuses on advances in the biomarker field in the last 12 months as well as the challenges that remain.Better biomarkers, ideally mechanistic ones, are needed to guide clinical decision making in rheumatology. Although the use of next-generation techniques for biomarker discovery is making headway, it is imperative that the roadblocks in our search for new biomarkers are overcome to enable identification of biomarkers with greater diagnostic and predictive utility. Identification of biomarkers with robust diagnostic and predictive utility would enable precision medicine in rheumatology.

View details for DOI 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000250

View details for Web of Science ID 000369424300012

View details for PubMedID 26720904
Multiplexed autoantigen microarrays identify HLA as a key driver of anti-desmoglein and -non-desmoglein reactivities in pemphigus PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Sajda, T., Hazelton, J., Patel, M., Seiffert-Sinha, K., Steinman, L., Robinson, W., Haab, B. B., Sinha, A. A. 2016; 113 (7): 1859-1864
Abstract

Patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) harbor antibodies reactive against self-antigens expressed at the surface of keratinocytes, primarily desmoglein (Dsg) 3 and, to a lesser extent, Dsg1. Conventionally, only antibodies targeting these molecules have been thought to contribute to disease pathogenesis. This notion has been challenged by a growing pool of evidence that suggests that antibodies toward additional targets may play a role in disease. The aims of this study were to (i) establish high-throughput protein microarray technology as a method to investigate traditional and putative autoantibodies (autoAbs) in PV and (ii) use multiplexed protein array technology to define the scope and specificity of the autoAb response in PV. Our analysis demonstrated significant IgG reactivity in patients with PV toward the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes 3, 4, and 5 as well as thyroid peroxidase. Furthermore, we found that healthy first- and second-degree relatives of patients with PV express autoAbs toward desmoglein and non-Dsg targets. Our analysis also identified genetic elements, particularly HLA, as key drivers of autoAb expression. Finally, we show that patients with PV exhibit significantly reduced IgM reactivity toward disease-associated antigens relative to controls. The use of protein microarrays to profile the autoAb response in PV advanced the current understanding of disease and provided insight into the complex relationship between genetics and disease development.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1525448113

View details for Web of Science ID 000370220000054

View details for PubMedID 26831096

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4763733
Identification of Candidate Tolerogenic CD8(+) T Cell Epitopes for Therapy of Type 1 Diabetes in the NOD Mouse Model. Journal of diabetes research Yu, C., Burns, J. C., Robinson, W. H., Utz, P. J., Ho, P. P., Steinman, L., Frey, A. B. 2016; 2016: 9083103-?
Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which insulin-producing pancreatic islet β cells are the target of self-reactive B and T cells. T cells reactive with epitopes derived from insulin and/or IGRP are critical for the initiation and maintenance of disease, but T cells reactive with other islet antigens likely have an essential role in disease progression. We sought to identify candidate CD8(+) T cell epitopes that are pathogenic in type 1 diabetes. Proteins that elicit autoantibodies in human type 1 diabetes were analyzed by predictive algorithms for candidate epitopes. Using several different tolerizing regimes using synthetic peptides, two new predicted tolerogenic CD8(+) T cell epitopes were identified in the murine homolog of the major human islet autoantigen zinc transporter ZnT8 (aa 158-166 and 282-290) and one in a non-β cell protein, dopamine β-hydroxylase (aa 233-241). Tolerizing vaccination of NOD mice with a cDNA plasmid expressing full-length proinsulin prevented diabetes, whereas plasmids encoding ZnT8 and DβH did not. However, tolerizing vaccination of NOD mice with the proinsulin plasmid in combination with plasmids expressing ZnT8 and DβH decreased insulitis and enhanced prevention of disease compared to vaccination with the plasmid encoding proinsulin alone.

View details for DOI 10.1155/2016/9083103

View details for PubMedID 27069933

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4812430
Development of a Multiantigen Panel for Improved Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi Infection in Early Lyme Disease JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY Lahey, L. J., Panas, M. W., Mao, R., Delanoy, M., Flanagan, J. J., Binder, S. R., Rebman, A. W., Montoya, J. G., Soloski, M. J., Steere, A. C., Dattwyler, R. J., Arnaboldi, P. M., Aucott, J. N., Robinson, W. H. 2015; 53 (12): 3834-3841
View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.02111-15

View details for Web of Science ID 000367532800020
Absence of keratin 8 or 18 promotes antimitochondrial autoantibody formation in aging male mice FASEB JOURNAL Toivola, D. M., Habtezion, A., Misiorek, J. O., Zhang, L., Nystrom, J. H., Sharpe, O., Robinson, W. H., Kwan, R., Omary, M. B. 2015; 29 (12): 5081-5089
Abstract

Human mutations in keratin 8 (K8) and keratin 18 (K18), the intermediate filament proteins of hepatocytes, predispose to several liver diseases. K8-null mice develop chronic liver injury and fragile hepatocytes, dysfunctional mitochondria, and Th2-type colitis. We tested the hypothesis that autoantibody formation accompanies the liver damage that associates with K8/K18 absence. Sera from wild-type control, K8-null, and K18-null mice were analyzed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining of cell and mouse tissue homogenates. Autoantibodies to several antigens were identified in 81% of K8-null male mice 8 mo or older. Similar autoantibodies were detected in aging K18-null male mice that had a related liver phenotype but normal colon compared with K8-null mice, suggesting that the autoantibodies are linked to liver rather than colonic disease. However, these autoantibodies were not observed in nontransgenic mice subjected to 4 chronic injury models. The autoantigens are ubiquitous and partition with mitochondria. Mass spectrometry and purified protein analysis identified, mitochondrial HMG-CoA synthase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, and catalase as the primary autoantigens, and glutamate dehydrogenase and epoxide hydrolase-2 as additional autoantigens. Therefore, absence of the hepatocyte keratins results in production of anti-mitochondrial autoantibodies (AMA) that recognize proteins involved in energy metabolism and oxidative stress, raising the possibility that AMA may be found in patients with keratin mutations that associate with liver and other diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1096/fj.14-269795

View details for Web of Science ID 000365523600031

View details for PubMedID 26399787

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4653051
Local Joint Inflammation and Histone Citrullination in a Murine Model of the Transition From Preclinical Autoimmunity to Inflammatory Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Sohn, D. H., Rhodes, C., Onuma, K., Zhao, X., Sharpe, O., Gazitt, T., Shiao, R., Fert-Bober, J., Cheng, D., Lahey, L. J., Wong, H. H., Van Eyk, J., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J. 2015; 67 (11): 2877-2887
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.39283

View details for Web of Science ID 000363881400012

View details for PubMedID 26227989
A Distinct Class of Antibodies May Be an Indicator of Gray Matter Autoimmunity in Early and Established Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients ASN NEURO Ligocki, A. J., Rivas, J. R., Rounds, W. H., Guzman, A. A., Li, M., Spadaro, M., Lahey, L., Chen, D., Henson, P. M., Graves, D., Greenberg, B. M., Frohman, E. M., Ward, E. S., Robinson, W., Meinl, E., White, C. L., Stowe, A. M., Monson, N. L. 2015; 7 (5)
View details for DOI 10.1177/1759091415609613

View details for Web of Science ID 000364740200008

View details for PubMedID 26489686
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Positivity, and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the Women's Health Initiative ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Mackey, R. H., Kuller, L. H., Deane, K. D., Walitt, B. T., Chang, Y., Holers, V. M., Robinson, W. H., Tracy, R. P., Hlatky, M. A., Eaton, C. B., Liu, S., Freiberg, M. S., Talabi, M. B., Schelbert, E. B., Moreland, L. W. 2015; 67 (9): 2311-2322
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.39198

View details for Web of Science ID 000360379500004
Vascular calcifications on hand radiographs in rheumatoid arthritis and associations with autoantibodies, cardiovascular risk factors and mortality RHEUMATOLOGY Solow, E. B., Yu, F., Thiele, G. M., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., Pruhs, Z. M., Michaud, K. D., Erickson, A. R., Sayles, H., Kerr, G. S., Gaffo, A. L., Caplan, L., Davis, L. A., Cannon, G. W., Reimold, A. M., Baker, J., Schwab, P., Anderson, D. R., Mikuls, T. R. 2015; 54 (9): 1587-1595
Abstract

To examine whether vascular calcifications on hand films in RA might aid in determining mortality risk.Hand radiographs from 906 RA patients were scored as positive or negative for vascular calcifications. Patient characteristics associated with vascular calcifications were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, and associations with mortality were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression. Cytokines and multiplex ACPA were measured in both groups.A total of 99 patients (11%) demonstrated radiographic vascular calcifications. Factors independently associated with vascular calcifications included diabetes [odds ratio (OR) 2.85; 95% CI 1.43, 5.66], cardiovascular disease at enrolment (OR 2.48; 95% CI 1.01, 6.09), prednisone use (OR 1.90; 95% CI 1.25, 2.91), current smoking (OR 0.06; 95% CI 0.01, 0.23) and former smoking (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.27, 0.48) vs never smoking. In cytokine and ACPA subtype analysis, IL-4 and anti-citrullinated apolipoprotein E were significantly increased in patients with vascular calcifications in fully adjusted multivariable models. After multivariable adjustment, vascular calcifications were associated with an increase in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.41; 95% CI 1.12, 1.78; P = 0.004).Vascular calcifications on hand radiographs were independently associated with increased all-cause mortality in RA. Mechanisms underpinning the associations of IL-4 and select ACPA with vascular calcifications and their utility as biomarkers predictive of cardiovascular disease risk in RA merit further study.

View details for DOI 10.1093/rheumatology/kev027

View details for Web of Science ID 000362848500009

View details for PubMedID 25854268
Mass Cytometry Analysis Shows That a Novel Memory Phenotype B Cell Is Expanded in Multiple Myeloma CANCER IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH Hansmann, L., Blum, L., Ju, C., Liedtke, M., Robinson, W. H., Davis, M. M. 2015; 3 (6): 650-660
Abstract

It would be very beneficial if the status of cancers could be determined from a blood specimen. However, peripheral blood leukocytes are very heterogeneous between individuals, and thus high-resolution technologies are likely required. We used cytometry by time-of-flight and next-generation sequencing to ask whether a plasma cell cancer (multiple myeloma) and related precancerous states had any consistent effect on the peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotypes of patients. Analysis of peripheral blood samples from 13 cancer patients, 9 precancer patients, and 9 healthy individuals revealed significant differences in the frequencies of the T-cell, B-cell, and natural killer-cell compartments. Most strikingly, we identified a novel B-cell population that normally accounts for 4.0% ± 0.7% (mean ± SD) of total B cells and is up to 13-fold expanded in multiple myeloma patients with active disease. This population expressed markers previously associated with both memory (CD27(+)) and naïve (CD24(lo)CD38(+)) phenotypes. Single-cell immunoglobulin gene sequencing showed polyclonality, indicating that these cells are not precursors to the myeloma, and somatic mutations, a characteristic of memory cells. SYK, ERK, and p38 phosphorylation responses, and the fact that most of these cells expressed isotypes other than IgM or IgD, confirmed the memory character of this population, defining it as a novel type of memory B cells.

View details for DOI 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-14-0236-T

View details for Web of Science ID 000357430000010

View details for PubMedID 25711758

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4457663
Mass cytometry analysis shows that a novel memory phenotype B cell is expanded in multiple myeloma. Cancer immunology research Hansmann, L., Blum, L., Ju, C., Liedtke, M., Robinson, W. H., Davis, M. M. 2015; 3 (6): 650-660
Abstract

It would be very beneficial if the status of cancers could be determined from a blood specimen. However, peripheral blood leukocytes are very heterogeneous between individuals, and thus high-resolution technologies are likely required. We used cytometry by time-of-flight and next-generation sequencing to ask whether a plasma cell cancer (multiple myeloma) and related precancerous states had any consistent effect on the peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotypes of patients. Analysis of peripheral blood samples from 13 cancer patients, 9 precancer patients, and 9 healthy individuals revealed significant differences in the frequencies of the T-cell, B-cell, and natural killer-cell compartments. Most strikingly, we identified a novel B-cell population that normally accounts for 4.0% ± 0.7% (mean ± SD) of total B cells and is up to 13-fold expanded in multiple myeloma patients with active disease. This population expressed markers previously associated with both memory (CD27(+)) and naïve (CD24(lo)CD38(+)) phenotypes. Single-cell immunoglobulin gene sequencing showed polyclonality, indicating that these cells are not precursors to the myeloma, and somatic mutations, a characteristic of memory cells. SYK, ERK, and p38 phosphorylation responses, and the fact that most of these cells expressed isotypes other than IgM or IgD, confirmed the memory character of this population, defining it as a novel type of memory B cells.

View details for DOI 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-14-0236-T

View details for PubMedID 25711758
CD11c-mediated deletion of Flip promotes autoreactivity and inflammatory arthritis NATURE COMMUNICATIONS Huang, Q., Perlman, H., Birkett, R., Doyle, R., Fang, D., Haines, G. K., Robinson, W., Datta, S., Huang, Z., Li, Q., Phee, H., Pope, R. M. 2015; 6
Abstract

Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical for immune homeostasis. To target DCs, we generated a mouse line with Flip deficiency in cells that express cre under the CD11c promoter (CD11c-Flip-KO). CD11c-Flip-KO mice spontaneously develop erosive, inflammatory arthritis, resembling rheumatoid arthritis, which is dramatically reduced when these mice are crossed with Rag(-/-) mice. The CD8α(+) DC subset is significantly reduced, along with alterations in NK cells and macrophages. Autoreactive CD4(+) T cells and autoantibodies specific for joint tissue are present, and arthritis severity correlates with the number of autoreactive CD4(+) T cells and plasmablasts in the joint-draining lymph nodes. Reduced T regulatory cells (Tregs) inversely correlate with arthritis severity, and the transfer of Tregs ameliorates arthritis. This KO line identifies a model that will permit in depth interrogation of the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, including the role of CD8α(+) DCs and other cells of the immune system.

View details for DOI 10.1038/ncomms8086

View details for Web of Science ID 000355531400012

View details for PubMedID 25963626
Malondialdehyde-Acetaldehyde Adducts and Anti-Malondialdehyde-Acetaldehyde Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Thiele, G. M., Duryee, M. J., Anderson, D. R., Klassen, L. W., Mohring, S. M., Young, K. A., Benissan-Messan, D., Sayles, H., Dusad, A., Hunter, C. D., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., O'Dell, J. R., Nicholas, A. P., Tuma, D. J., Mikuls, T. R. 2015; 67 (3): 645-655
Abstract

Malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde (MAA) adducts are a product of oxidative stress associated with tolerance loss in several disease states. This study was undertaken to investigate the presence of MAA adducts and circulating anti-MAA antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Synovial tissue from patients with RA and patients with osteoarthritis (OA) were examined for the presence of MAA-modified and citrullinated proteins. Anti-MAA antibody isotypes were measured in RA patients (n = 1,720) and healthy controls (n = 80) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antigen-specific anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) were measured in RA patients using a multiplex antigen array. Anti-MAA isotype concentrations were compared in a subset of RA patients (n = 80) and matched healthy controls (n = 80). Associations of anti-MAA antibody isotypes with disease characteristics, including ACPA positivity, were examined in all RA patients.Expression of MAA adducts was increased in RA synovial tissue compared to OA synovial tissue, and colocalization with citrullinated proteins was found. Increased levels of anti-MAA antibody isotypes were observed in RA patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). Among RA patients, anti-MAA antibody isotypes were associated with seropositivity for ACPAs and rheumatoid factor (P < 0.001) in addition to select measures of disease activity. Higher anti-MAA antibody concentrations were associated with a greater number of positive antigen-specific ACPA analytes (expressed at high titer) (P < 0.001) and a higher ACPA score (P < 0.001), independent of other covariates.MAA adduct formation is increased in RA and appears to result in robust antibody responses that are strongly associated with ACPAs. These results support speculation that MAA formation may be a cofactor that drives tolerance loss, resulting in the autoimmune responses characteristic of RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38969

View details for Web of Science ID 000350300400009

View details for PubMedID 25417811
Identification of anticitrullinated protein antibody reactivities in a subset of anti-CCP-negative rheumatoid arthritis: association with cigarette smoking and HLA-DRB1 'shared epitope' alleles. Annals of the rheumatic diseases Wagner, C. A., Sokolove, J., Lahey, L. J., Bengtsson, C., Saevarsdottir, S., Alfredsson, L., Delanoy, M., Lindstrom, T. M., Walker, R. P., Bromberg, R., Chandra, P. E., Binder, S. R., Klareskog, L., Robinson, W. H. 2015; 74 (3): 579-586
Abstract

A hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the development of autoantibodies targeting proteins that contain citrulline. Anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) are currently detected by the commercial cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) assay, which uses a mix of cyclised citrullinated peptides as an artificial mimic of the true antigen(s). To increase the sensitivity of ACPA detection and dissect ACPA specificities, we developed a multiplex assay that profiles ACPAs by measuring their reactivity to the citrullinated peptides and proteins derived from RA joint tissue.We created a bead-based, citrullinated antigen array to profile ACPAs. This custom array contains 16 citrullinated peptides and proteins detected in RA synovial tissues. We used the array to profile ACPAs in sera from a cohort of patients with RA and other non-inflammatory arthritides, as well as sera from an independent cohort of RA patients for whom data were available on carriage of HLA-DRB1 'shared epitope' (SE) alleles and history of cigarette smoking.Our multiplex assay showed that at least 10% of RA patients who tested negative in the commercial CCP assay possessed ACPAs. Carriage of HLA-DRB1 SE alleles and a history of cigarette smoking were associated with an increase in ACPA reactivity-in anti-CCP(+) RA and in a subset of anti-CCP(-) RA.Our multiplex assay can identify ACPA-positive RA patients missed by the commercial CCP assay, thus enabling greater diagnostic sensitivity. Further, our findings suggest that cigarette smoking and possession of HLA-DRB1 SE alleles contribute to the development of ACPAs in anti-CCP(-) RA.

View details for DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203915

View details for PubMedID 24297382
Alveolar Bone Loss Is Associated With Circulating Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody (ACPA) in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis JOURNAL OF PERIODONTOLOGY Gonzalez, S. M., Payne, J. B., Yu, F., Thiele, G. M., Erickson, A. R., Johnson, P. G., Schmid, M. J., Cannon, G. W., Kerr, G. S., Reimold, A. M., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., Mikuls, T. R. 2015; 86 (2): 222-231
Abstract

This study examines: 1) alveolar bone loss (ABL), a hallmark of periodontitis, in anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA)-positive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients versus control patients with osteoarthritis (OA); and 2) the association of ABL with RA disease activity and ACPA concentrations, including multiple antigen-specific ACPA.This multicenter case-control study includes 617 patients diagnosed with RA (n = 287) or OA (n = 330). Panoramic radiographs were taken; patients were categorized into low, moderate, or high tertiles based on mean percentage ABL. Serum ACPA was measured using second-generation anticyclic citrullinated peptide enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a multiplex platform to assess distinct antigen-specific ACPA. A generalized linear mixed model for binary data was used to compare stratified ABL in RA versus OA patients. Associations of moderate and high ABL (versus low) with RA disease activity and severity measures were examined using multivariate regression. Antigen-specific ACPA responses were compared among ABL tertiles using significance analysis of microarrays.ACPA-positive patients with RA had a significantly higher mean percentage of sites with ABL >20% compared with patients with OA (P = 0.03). After multivariate adjustment, greater ABL was significantly associated with higher serum ACPA concentration (P = 0.004), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (P = 0.023), health assessment questionnaire disability (P = 0.05), tender joint count (P = 0.02) and joint space narrowing scores (P = 0.05) among patients with RA. ACPAs targeting citrullinated vimentin and histone were significantly higher in moderate and high ABL groups versus low, regardless of smoking status (q <0.1%).Greater ABL was associated with higher ACPA, consistent with findings at articular sites. ACPA targeting could provide novel insight into important linkages between RA and periodontitis.

View details for DOI 10.1902/jop.2014.140425

View details for Web of Science ID 000349380500008

View details for PubMedID 25299390
Associations of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 single nucleotide polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis disease progression: An observational cohort study INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY Davis, M. L., LeVan, T. D., Yu, F., Sayles, H., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W., Michaud, K., Thiele, G. M., Mikuls, T. R. 2015; 24 (2): 346-352
Abstract

To examine the associations of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).A total of 1188 RA patients were genotyped for TLR4 SNPs (rs1927911, rs11536878, and rs4986790). Measures of disease activity were examined, including Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28), Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire (MD-HAQ), Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI). Genetic associations with these longitudinal measures were examined using generalized estimating equations in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Analyses were then stratified by antigen specific anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) status including antibody to citrullinated fibrinogen and citrullinated histone H2B.Disease activity measures progressed less over time in the homozygous minor allele group of rs1927911 including DAS28 (p<0.001), CDAI (p=0.008), and MD-HAQ (p=0.015) in univariate analysis and DAS28, CDAI and SDAI in multivariate analysis. Disease activity progression among those homozygous for the minor allele tended to be lower in the groups with positive ACPA though major differences by autoantibody status were not identified. There were no associations of TLR4 rs11536878 and rs4986790 SNPs with RA disease activity progression.In this population, TLR4 rs1927911 genotypes are associated with disease activity independent of other covariates.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.intimp.2014.12.030

View details for Web of Science ID 000350183600026

View details for PubMedID 25573402
Contribution of Mast Cell-Derived Interleukin-1 beta to Uric Acid Crystal-Induced Acute Arthritis in Mice ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Reber, L. L., Marichal, T., Sokolove, J., Starkl, P., Gaudenzio, N., Iwakura, Y., Karasuyama, H., Schwartz, L. B., Robinson, W. H., Tsai, M., Galli, S. J. 2014; 66 (10): 2881-2891
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38747

View details for Web of Science ID 000342744300026
Role of Protein Phosphatase Magnesium-Dependent 1A and Anti-Protein Phosphatase Magnesium-Dependent 1A Autoantibodies in Ankylosing Spondylitis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Kim, Y., Sohn, D. H., Zhao, X., Sokolove, J., Lindstrom, T. M., Yoo, B., Lee, C., Reveille, J. D., Taurog, J. D., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 66 (10): 2793-2803
Abstract

Although ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is driven by immune-mediated processes, little is known about the presence and role of autoantibodies in this disease. This study was undertaken to investigate whether autoantibodies occur in and are involved in AS.We performed human protein microarray analysis of sera derived from patients with AS or other autoimmune disorders to identify autoantibodies associated specifically with AS, and identified autoantibody targeting of protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1A (PPM1A) in AS. We performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis of sera from 2 independent AS cohorts to confirm autoantibody targeting of PPM1A, and to assess associations between levels of anti-PPM1A antibodies and AS disease severity or response to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) therapy (as measured by Bath AS Disease Activity Index [BASDAI] score). Levels of anti-PPM1A antibodies were also evaluated in sera from rats transgenic for HLA-B27 and human β2 -microglobulin. The expression of PPM1A was assessed by immunohistochemistry in synovial tissue samples from patients with AS, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteoarthritis. The role of PPM1A in osteoblast differentiation was investigated by gene knockdown and overexpression.AS was associated with autoantibody targeting of PPM1A, and levels of anti-PPM1A autoantibodies were significantly higher in patients with more advanced sacroiliitis and correlated positively with BASDAI score after treatment with anti-TNF agents. The levels of anti-PPM1A autoantibodies were also higher in the sera of transgenic rats that are prone to develop spondyloarthritis than in those that are not. PPM1A was expressed in AS synovial tissue, and PPM1A overexpression promoted osteoblast differentiation, whereas PPM1A knockdown suppressed it.Anti-PPM1A autoantibodies are present in AS, and our findings suggest that PPM1A may contribute to the pathogenic bone ankylosis characteristic of AS.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38763

View details for Web of Science ID 000342744300016

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4198528
Reply: To PMID 24497204. Arthritis & rheumatology Shelef, M. A., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., Huttenlocher, A. 2014; 66 (9): 2644-2645
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38722

View details for PubMedID 24891318
Association of fine specificity and repertoire expansion of anticitrullinated peptide antibodies with rheumatoid arthritis associated interstitial lung disease ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES Giles, J. T., Danoff, S. K., Sokolove, J., Wagner, C. A., Winchester, R., Pappas, D. A., Siegelman, S., Connors, G., Robinson, W. H., Bathon, J. M. 2014; 73 (8): 1487-1494
Abstract

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Citrullinated proteins are observed in RA lung tissues; however, the association of specific anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) with ILD in RA is unknown.RA patients underwent multidetector CT (MDCT) of the chest, from which ILD features and a semiquantitative ILD Score (ILDS; range 0-32) were assessed. Anti-CCP (CCP2) and levels of a panel of antibodies against 17 citrullinated and four non-citrullinated peptides were assessed from concurrent serum samples using a custom Bio-Plex bead array. High level ACPA was defined as ≥the group 75th percentile.Among the 177 RA patients studied, median levels of CCP2 and all specific ACPAs were 46-273% higher among RA patients with versus those without ILD (all p values <0.05), and higher levels correlated with higher ILDS. In contrast, levels of non-citrullinated protein antibodies were not higher in those with ILD. RA patients had a median of 2 high level ACPA reactivities (range 0-16), with each high level ACPA associated, on average, with a 0.10 unit higher ILDS (p=0.001). This association remained significant after adjusting for characteristics associated with ILD (age, gender, current and former smoking, Disease Activity Score for 28 joints, current prednisone and leflunomide use). More high level ACPA were observed in those with versus without pulmonary function restriction or impaired diffusion.Our findings of a broader ACPA repertoire in RA ILD suggest a possible role for ACPA in the pathogenesis of ILD.

View details for DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-203160

View details for Web of Science ID 000338696800014

View details for PubMedID 23716070
Optical imaging of articular cartilage degeneration using near-infrared dipicolylamine probes. Biomaterials Hu, X., Wang, Q., Liu, Y., Liu, H., Qin, C., Cheng, K., Robinson, W., Gray, B. D., Pak, K. Y., Yu, A., Cheng, Z. 2014; 35 (26): 7511-7521
Abstract

Articular cartilage is the hydrated tissue that lines the ends of long bones in load bearing joints and provides joints with a smooth, nearly frictionless gliding surface. However, the deterioration of articular cartilage occurs in the early stages of osteoarthritis (OA) and is clinically and radiographically silent. Here two cationic near infrared fluorescent (NIRF) dipicolylamine (DPA) probes, Cy5-DPA-Zn and Cy7-DPA-Zn, were prepared for cartilage degeneration imaging and OA early detection through binding to the anionic glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The feasibility of NIRF dye labeled DPA-Zn probes for cartilage degeneration imaging was examined ex vivo and in vivo. The ex vivo studies showed that Cy5-DPA-Zn and Cy7-DPA-Zn not only showed the high uptake and electrostatic attractive binding to cartilage, but also sensitively reflected the change of GAGs contents. In vivo imaging study further indicated that Cy5-DPA-Zn demonstrated higher uptake and retention in young mice (high GAGs) than old mice (low GAGs) when administrated via local injection in mouse knee joints. More importantly, Cy5-DPA-Zn showed dramatic higher signals in sham joint (high GAGs) than OA side (low GAGs), through sensitive reflecting the change of GAGs in the surgical induced OA models. In summary, Cy5-DPA-Zn provides promising visual detection for early cartilage pathological degeneration in living subjects.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2014.05.042

View details for PubMedID 24912814
Quantitative Radiologic Imaging Techniques for Articular Cartilage Composition: Toward Early Diagnosis and Development of Disease-Modifying Therapeutics for Osteoarthritis ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH Oei, E. H., van Tiel, J., Robinson, W. H., Gold, G. E. 2014; 66 (8): 1129-1141
View details for DOI 10.1002/acr.22316

View details for Web of Science ID 000340356600001

View details for PubMedID 24578345

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4321941
Peptidylarginine Deiminase 4 Contributes to Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Shelef, M. A., Sokolove, J., Lahey, L. J., Wagner, C. A., Sackmann, E. K., Warner, T. F., Wang, Y., Beebe, D. J., Robinson, W. H., Huttenlocher, A. 2014; 66 (6): 1482-1491
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38393

View details for Web of Science ID 000337366200010
Periodontitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Mikuls, T. R., Payne, J. B., Yu, F., Thiele, G. M., Reynolds, R. J., Cannon, G. W., Markt, J., McGowan, D., Kerr, G. S., Redman, R. S., Reimold, A., Griffiths, G., Beatty, M., Gonzalez, S. M., Bergman, D. A., Hamilton, B. C., Erickson, A. R., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H., Walker, C., Chandad, F., O'Dell, J. R. 2014; 66 (5): 1090-1100
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38348

View details for Web of Science ID 000337363400006
Identifying functional anti-Staphylococcus aureus antibodies by sequencing antibody repertoires of patient plasmablasts CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY Lu, D. R., Tan, Y., Kongpachith, S., Cai, X., Stein, E. A., Lindstrom, T. M., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 152 (1-2): 77-89
Abstract

Infection by Staphylococcus aureus is on the rise, and there is a need for a better understanding of host immune responses that combat S. aureus. Here we use DNA barcoding to enable deep sequencing of the paired heavy- and light-chain immunoglobulin genes expressed by individual plasmablasts derived from S. aureus-infected humans. Bioinformatic analysis of the antibody repertoires revealed clonal families of heavy-chain sequences and enabled rational selection of antibodies for recombinant expression. Of the ten recombinant antibodies produced, seven bound to S. aureus, of which four promoted opsonophagocytosis of S. aureus. Five of the antibodies bound to known S. aureus cell-surface antigens, including fibronectin-binding protein A. Fibronectin-binding protein A-specific antibodies were isolated from two independent S. aureus-infected patients and mediated neutrophil killing of S. aureus in in vitro assays. Thus, our DNA barcoding approach enabled efficient identification of antibodies involved in protective host antibody responses against S. aureus.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2014.02.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000335291400010

View details for PubMedID 24589749

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4066023
Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Womens Health Initiative: Methods and Baseline Evaluation AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Kuller, L. H., Mackey, R. H., Walitt, B. T., Deane, K. D., Holers, V. M., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J., Chang, Y., Moreland, L. W. 2014; 179 (7): 917-926
Abstract

Second-generation assays for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), a highly sensitive and specific marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), have redefined the epidemiology of RA. In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) RA study (2009-2011), we evaluated the prevalence of anti-CCP positivity among 15,691 (10.2% of 161,808) WHI participants aged 50-79 years who reported RA. Using stored baseline specimens, we measured serum anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor (RF), and antinuclear antibody in a defined sample of 9,988 of black, white, and Hispanic women. In a subset of women, we measured plasma cytokine levels and number of copies of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 (HLA-DRB1) shared epitope in DNA by means of Luminex polymerase chain reaction typing (Luminex Corporation, Austin, Texas). We validated classification of probable clinical RA in 2 clinics as anti-CCP positivity or self-reported validated use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). The prevalence of anti-CCP positivity was 8.1%, and the prevalence of RF positivity was approximately 16.0%. DMARD use including prednisone was reported by 1,140 (11.4%) participants (841 excluding prednisone) but by 57.5% of anti-CCP-positive women. The prevalence of 2 shared epitopes was also much higher for anti-CCP-positive women (18.2%, as opposed to only 5.5% for women with anti-CCP-negative DMARD-positive RA and 6.6% for anti-CCP-negative, RF-negative DMARD nonusers). Median cytokine levels were much higher for anti-CCP-positive/RF-positive women. Women with anti-CCP-positive RA and anti-CCP-negative RA had different characteristics with regard to HLA shared epitope, cigarette smoking, and inflammation (cytokines).

View details for DOI 10.1093/aje/kwu003

View details for Web of Science ID 000333247200013

View details for PubMedID 24569640
Determinants of Mortality Among Postmenopausal Women in the Women's Health Initiative Who Report Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Kuller, L. H., Mackey, R. H., Walitt, B. T., Deane, K. D., Holers, V. M., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J., Chang, Y., Liu, S., Parks, C. G., Wright, N. C., Moreland, L. W. 2014; 66 (3): 497-507
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. We measured anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody levels and determined use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) among women in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Using these data, we undertook this study to assess total mortality over 10 years of followup among white, black, or Hispanic women with self-reported RA in the WHI.Using stored baseline serum, we measured anti-CCP, rheumatoid factor (RF), and antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in 9,988 women who reported having RA. Based on a previous chart review study, probable RA was defined as either self-reported RA and anti-CCP positivity, or anti-CCP negativity and DMARD use. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the relationship of self-reported RA, DMARD exposure, and anti-CCP positivity to total mortality, using followup data through April 2009.At baseline, the mean age was 62.8 years; 24.5% of subjects were black and 10% were Hispanic. Prevalence of anti-CCP positivity was 8.1% (n = 812), and 217 women were anti-CCP negative but had reported use of DMARDs; therefore, 1,029 women (of 9,988) were classified as having probable RA, and 8,958 were classified as unlikely to have RA (with data on DMARD use missing for 1 subject). Age-adjusted mortality rates were ∼2-fold higher for anti-CCP-positive women, with 20.2 deaths per 1,000 person-years, as compared to 11.4 deaths per 1,000 person-years among anti-CCP-negative women with self-reported RA who never used DMARDs. Among women who did not report any arthritis at baseline, we found 8.3 deaths per 1,000 person-years. The increased risk among anti-CCP-positive women with RA was not explained by age, RF positivity, ANA positivity, or DMARD use.Anti-CCP-positive RA was associated with substantial excess mortality among postmenopausal women in the WHI. This result was not explained by the risk factors we measured.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38268

View details for Web of Science ID 000337359400004

View details for PubMedID 24574208
Carboxypeptidase B Serves as a Protective Mediator in Osteoarthritis ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY Lepus, C. M., Song, J. J., Wang, Q., Wagner, C. A., Lindstrom, T. M., Chu, C. R., Sokolove, J., Leung, L. L., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 66 (1): 101-106
Abstract

We previously demonstrated that carboxypeptidase B (CPB) protects against joint erosion in rheumatoid arthritis by inactivating complement component C5a. We also found that levels of CPB are abnormally high in the synovial fluid of individuals with another joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA). We undertook this study to investigate whether CPB plays a role in the pathogenesis of OA.We compared the development of OA in CPB-deficient (Cpb2(-/-) ) mice and wild-type mice by subjecting them to medial meniscectomy and histologically assessing cartilage damage, osteophyte formation, and synovitis in the stifle joints 4 months later. We measured levels of proCPB, proinflammatory cytokines, and complement components in synovial fluid samples from patients with symptomatic and radiographic knee OA. Finally, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and hemolytic assays to assess the effect of CPB on formation of membrane attack complex (MAC)-a complement effector critical to OA pathogenesis.Cpb2(-/-) mice developed dramatically greater cartilage damage than did wild-type mice (P < 0.01) and had a greater number of osteophytes (P < 0.05) and a greater degree of synovitis (P < 0.05). In synovial fluid samples from OA patients, high levels of proCPB were associated with high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and complement components, and levels of proCPB correlated positively with those of MAC. In in vitro complement activation assays, activated CPB suppressed the formation of MAC as well as MAC-induced hemolysis.Our data suggest that CPB protects against inflammatory destruction of the joints in OA, at least in part by inhibiting complement activation.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38213

View details for Web of Science ID 000337356300014
Oral and topical boswellic acid attenuates mouse osteoarthritis OSTEOARTHRITIS AND CARTILAGE Wang, Q., Pan, X., Wong, H. H., Wagner, C. A., Lahey, L. J., Robinson, W. H., Sokolove, J. 2014; 22 (1): 128-132
Abstract

Boswellic acid is a plant-derived molecule with putative anti-inflammatory effects. This study was performed to determine whether oral or topical administration of boswellic acid can attenuate joint damage in a mouse model of osteoarthritis (OA).Levels of boswellic acid were measured in the blood and synovium of mice treated with oral or topical boswellic acid. OA was generated by surgical destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM). Therapy with oral or topical boswellic acid was initiated one day after surgery and continued for 12 weeks, when knees were harvested and scored histologically for degree of cartilage loss, osteophyte formation, and synovitis. Microdissected OA synovium was stimulated with IL-1β or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of boswellic acid and cytokine production by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or multiplex enzyme linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA).Topical treatment resulted in synovial concentrations of boswellic acid 2-6-fold higher than that measured in plasma. Cartilage loss was significantly reduced in mice treated with oral or topical boswellic acid compared with vehicle control (P < 0.01 for both oral and topical therapies). Likewise, treatment with either oral boswellic acid or boswellic acid ointment reduced of synovitis (P = 0.006 and 0.025, respectively) and osteophyte formation (P = 0.009 and 0.030, respectively). In vitro, boswellic acid was able to inhibit IL-1β and TLR4 mediated induction of several inflammatory mediators from OA synovial explant tissue.Significant synovial concentration and therapeutic efficacy can be achieved with topical boswellic acid treatment. These findings suggest that boswellic acid has potential as a disease-modifying agent in OA.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.joca.2013.10.012

View details for Web of Science ID 000330422000016

View details for PubMedID 24185109

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3992997
Serum inflammatory mediators as markers of human lyme disease activity. PloS one Soloski, M. J., Crowder, L. A., Lahey, L. J., Wagner, C. A., Robinson, W. H., Aucott, J. N. 2014; 9 (4)
Abstract

Chemokines and cytokines are key signaling molecules that orchestrate the trafficking of immune cells, direct them to sites of tissue injury and inflammation and modulate their states of activation and effector cell function. We have measured, using a multiplex-based approach, the levels of 58 immune mediators and 7 acute phase markers in sera derived from of a cohort of patients diagnosed with acute Lyme disease and matched controls. This analysis identified a cytokine signature associated with the early stages of infection and allowed us to identify two subsets (mediator-high and mediator-low) of acute Lyme patients with distinct cytokine signatures that also differed significantly (p<0.0005) in symptom presentation. In particular, the T cell chemokines CXCL9 (MIG), CXCL10 (IP-10) and CCL19 (MIP3B) were coordinately increased in the mediator-high group and levels of these chemokines could be associated with seroconversion status and elevated liver function tests (p = 0.027 and p = 0.021 respectively). There was also upregulation of acute phase proteins including CRP and serum amyloid A. Consistent with the role of CXCL9/CXCL10 in attracting immune cells to the site of infection, CXCR3+ CD4 T cells are reduced in the blood of early acute Lyme disease (p = 0.01) and the decrease correlates with chemokine levels (p = 0.0375). The levels of CXCL9/10 did not relate to the size or number of skin lesions but elevated levels of serum CXCL9/CXCL10 were associated with elevated liver enzymes levels. Collectively these results indicate that the levels of serum chemokines and the levels of expression of their respective chemokine receptors on T cell subsets may prove to be informative biomarkers for Lyme disease and related to specific disease manifestations.

View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0093243

View details for PubMedID 24740099
Brief report: carboxypeptidase B serves as a protective mediator in osteoarthritis. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, N.J.) Lepus, C. M., Song, J. J., Wang, Q., Wagner, C. A., Lindstrom, T. M., Chu, C. R., Sokolove, J., Leung, L. L., Robinson, W. H. 2014; 66 (1): 101-106
Abstract

We previously demonstrated that carboxypeptidase B (CPB) protects against joint erosion in rheumatoid arthritis by inactivating complement component C5a. We also found that levels of CPB are abnormally high in the synovial fluid of individuals with another joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA). We undertook this study to investigate whether CPB plays a role in the pathogenesis of OA.We compared the development of OA in CPB-deficient (Cpb2(-/-) ) mice and wild-type mice by subjecting them to medial meniscectomy and histologically assessing cartilage damage, osteophyte formation, and synovitis in the stifle joints 4 months later. We measured levels of proCPB, proinflammatory cytokines, and complement components in synovial fluid samples from patients with symptomatic and radiographic knee OA. Finally, we used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and hemolytic assays to assess the effect of CPB on formation of membrane attack complex (MAC)-a complement effector critical to OA pathogenesis.Cpb2(-/-) mice developed dramatically greater cartilage damage than did wild-type mice (P < 0.01) and had a greater number of osteophytes (P < 0.05) and a greater degree of synovitis (P < 0.05). In synovial fluid samples from OA patients, high levels of proCPB were associated with high levels of proinflammatory cytokines and complement components, and levels of proCPB correlated positively with those of MAC. In in vitro complement activation assays, activated CPB suppressed the formation of MAC as well as MAC-induced hemolysis.Our data suggest that CPB protects against inflammatory destruction of the joints in OA, at least in part by inhibiting complement activation.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38213

View details for PubMedID 24449579
Clinical optimization of antigen specific modulation of type 1 diabetes with the plasmid DNA platform CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY Gottlieb, P., Utz, P. J., Robinson, W., Steinman, L. 2013; 149 (3): 297-306
Abstract

Some clinical trials in humans have aimed at modulation of type 1 diabetes (T1D) via alteration of the immune response to putative islet cell antigens, particularly proinsulin and insulin, glutamic acid decarboxylase and the peptide, DiaPep 277, derived from heat shock protein 60. The focus here is on development of a specially engineered DNA plasmid encoding proinsulin to treat T1D. The plasmid is engineered to turn off adaptive immunity to proinsulin. This approach yielded exciting results in a randomized placebo controlled trial in 80 adult patients with T1D. The implications of this trial are explored in regards to the potential for sparing inflammation in islets and thus allowing the functioning beta cells to recover and produce more insulin. Strategies to further strengthen the effects seen thus far with the tolerizing DNA plasmid to proinsulin will be elucidated. The DNA platform affords an opportunity for easy modifications. In addition standard exploration of dose levels, route of administration and frequency of dose are practical. Optimization of the effects seen to date on C-peptide and on depletion of proinsulin specific CD8 T cells are feasible, with expected concomitant improvement in other parameters like hemoglobin A1c and reduction in insulin usage. T1D is one of the few autoimmune conditions where antigen specific therapy can be achieved, provided the approach is tested intelligently. Tolerizing DNA vaccines to proinsulin and other islet cell autoantigens is a worthy pursuit to potentially treat, prevent and to perhaps even 'cure' or 'prevent' type 1 diabetes.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2013.08.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000328874700005

View details for PubMedID 24094739
Protein microarray analysis reveals BAFF-binding autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Price, J. V., Haddon, D. J., Kemmer, D., Delepine, G., Mandelbaum, G., Jarrell, J. A., Gupta, R., Balboni, I., Chakravarty, E. F., Sokolove, J., Shum, A. K., Anderson, M. S., Cheng, M. H., Robinson, W. H., Browne, S. K., Holland, S. M., Baechler, E. C., Utz, P. J. 2013; 123 (12): 5135-5145
Abstract

Autoantibodies against cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors inhibit normal immunity and are implicated in inflammatory autoimmune disease and diseases of immune deficiency. In an effort to evaluate serum from autoimmune and immunodeficient patients for Abs against cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in a high-throughput and unbiased manner, we constructed a multiplex protein microarray for detection of serum factor-binding Abs and used the microarray to detect autoantibody targets in SLE. We designed a nitrocellulose-surface microarray containing human cytokines, chemokines, and other circulating proteins and demonstrated that the array permitted specific detection of serum factor-binding probes. We used the arrays to detect previously described autoantibodies against cytokines in samples from individuals with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 and chronic mycobacterial infection. Serum profiling from individuals with SLE revealed that among several targets, elevated IgG autoantibody reactivity to B cell-activating factor (BAFF) was associated with SLE compared with control samples. BAFF reactivity correlated with the severity of disease-associated features, including IFN-α-driven SLE pathology. Our results showed that serum factor protein microarrays facilitate detection of autoantibody reactivity to serum factors in human samples and that BAFF-reactive autoantibodies may be associated with an elevated inflammatory disease state within the spectrum of SLE.

View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI70231

View details for Web of Science ID 000327826100020

View details for PubMedID 24270423

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3859403
Serum autoantibodies to myelin peptides distinguish acute disseminated encephalomyelitis from relapsing- remitting multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis (Houndmills, Basingstoke, England) Van Haren, K., Tomooka, B. H., Kidd, B. A., Banwell, B., Bar-Or, A., Chitnis, T., Tenembaum, S. N., Pohl, D., Rostasy, K., Dale, R. C., O'Connor, K. C., Hafler, D. A., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2013; 19 (13): 1726-1733
Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) share overlapping clinical, radiologic and laboratory features at onset. Because autoantibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of both diseases, we sought to identify autoantibody biomarkers that are capable of distinguishing them. METHODS: We used custom antigen arrays to profile anti-myelin-peptide autoantibodies in sera derived from individuals with pediatric ADEM (n = 15), pediatric multiple sclerosis (Ped MS; n = 11) and adult MS (n = 15). Using isotype-specific secondary antibodies, we profiled both IgG and IgM reactivities. We used Statistical Analysis of Microarrays software to confirm the differences in autoantibody reactivity profiles between ADEM and MS samples. We used Prediction Analysis of Microarrays software to generate and validate prediction algorithms, based on the autoantibody reactivity profiles. RESULTS: ADEM was characterized by IgG autoantibodies targeting epitopes derived from myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein, myelin-associated oligodendrocyte basic glycoprotein, and alpha-B-crystallin. In contrast, MS was characterized by IgM autoantibodies targeting myelin basic protein, proteolipid protein, myelin-associated oligodendrocyte basic glycoprotein and oligodendrocyte-specific protein. We generated and validated prediction algorithms that distinguish ADEM serum (sensitivity 62-86%; specificity 56-79%) from MS serum (sensitivity 40-87%; specificity 62-86%) on the basis of combined IgG and IgM anti-myelin autoantibody reactivity to a small number of myelin peptides. CONCLUSIONS: Combined profiles of serum IgG and IgM autoantibodies identified myelin antigens that may be useful for distinguishing MS from ADEM. Further studies are required to establish clinical utility. Further biological assays are required to delineate the pathogenic potential of these antibodies.

View details for DOI 10.1177/1352458513485653

View details for PubMedID 23612879
Whole-genome sequencing identifies a recurrent functional synonymous mutation in melanoma PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Gartner, J. J., Parker, S. C., Prickett, T. D., Dutton-Regester, K., Stitzel, M. L., Lin, J. C., Davis, S., Simhadri, V. L., Jha, S., Katagiri, N., Gotea, V., Teer, J. K., Wei, X., Morken, M. A., Bhanot, U. K., Chen, G., Elnitski, L. L., Davies, M. A., Gershenwald, J. E., Carter, H., Karchin, R., Robinson, W., Robinson, S., Rosenberg, S. A., Collins, F. S., Parmigiani, G., Komar, A. A., Kimchi-Sarfaty, C., Hayward, N. K., Margulies, E. H., Samuels, Y. 2013; 110 (33): 13481-13486
Abstract

Synonymous mutations, which do not alter the protein sequence, have been shown to affect protein function [Sauna ZE, Kimchi-Sarfaty C (2011) Nat Rev Genet 12(10):683-691]. However, synonymous mutations are rarely investigated in the cancer genomics field. We used whole-genome and -exome sequencing to identify somatic mutations in 29 melanoma samples. Validation of one synonymous somatic mutation in BCL2L12 in 285 samples identified 12 cases that harbored the recurrent F17F mutation. This mutation led to increased BCL2L12 mRNA and protein levels because of differential targeting of WT and mutant BCL2L12 by hsa-miR-671-5p. Protein made from mutant BCL2L12 transcript bound p53, inhibited UV-induced apoptosis more efficiently than WT BCL2L12, and reduced endogenous p53 target gene transcription. This report shows selection of a recurrent somatic synonymous mutation in cancer. Our data indicate that silent alterations have a role to play in human cancer, emphasizing the importance of their investigation in future cancer genome studies.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1304227110

View details for Web of Science ID 000323069200063

View details for PubMedID 23901115
Relatives Without Rheumatoid Arthritis Show Reactivity to Anti-Citrullinated Protein/Peptide Antibodies That Are Associated With Arthritis-Related Traits: Studies of the Etiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Young, K. A., Deane, K. D., Derber, L. A., Hughes-Austin, J. M., Wagner, C. A., Sokolove, J., Weisman, M. H., Buckner, J. H., Mikuls, T. R., O'Dell, J. R., Keating, R. M., Gregersen, P. K., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M., Norris, J. M. 2013; 65 (8): 1995-2004
Abstract

To examine reactivity to anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPAs) and determine associations between ACPAs and other rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies and clinically assessed swollen or tender joints in unaffected first-degree relatives of RA patients.Serum samples were obtained from first-degree relatives without RA according to the 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria. A bead-based assay was used to measure 16 separate ACPAs in sera from 111 antibody-positive first-degree relatives who were positive on at least 1 visit for any of 5 RA-related autoantibodies (rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 [anti-CCP-2], and RF isotypes), and sera from 99 antibody-negative first-degree relatives who were never autoantibody positive. Cutoffs for positivity for each ACPA were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves derived from data on 200 RA patients and 98 blood donor controls, in which positivity for ≥9 ACPAs had 92% specificity and 62% sensitivity for RA. In first-degree relatives, ACPA reactivity was assessed, and associations between ACPAs (number positive, and positivity for ≥9 ACPAs) and RA-related characteristics were examined.Fifty-seven percent of anti-CCP-2-positive first-degree relatives and 8% of anti-CCP-2- negative first-degree relatives were positive for ≥9 ACPAs. After adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and pack-years of smoking, an increasing number of ACPAs was directly associated with the presence of ≥1 tender joint on examination (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.04-1.34), with the greatest risk of having ≥1 tender joint seen in first-degree relatives positive for ≥9 ACPAs (OR 5.00, 95% CI 1.37-18.18).RA-free first-degree relatives (even those negative for RF and anti-CCP-2) demonstrate reactivity to multiple ACPAs, and the presence of an increasing number of ACPAs may be associated with signs of joint inflammation. Prospective evaluation of the relationship between these findings and the progression of classifiable RA is warranted.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.38022

View details for Web of Science ID 000322329100008

View details for PubMedID 23754702
Brief report: citrullination within the atherosclerotic plaque: a potential target for the anti-citrullinated protein antibody response in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis and rheumatism Sokolove, J., Brennan, M. J., Sharpe, O., Lahey, L. J., Kao, A. H., Krishnan, E., Edmundowicz, D., Lepus, C. M., Wasko, M. C., Robinson, W. H. 2013; 65 (7): 1719-1724
Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, an observation not explained by traditional cardiac risk factors and generally limited to those with RA-associated autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA). We hypothesized that citrullinated proteins within the atherosclerotic plaque can be targeted by ACPA, forming stimulatory immune complexes which propagate the progression of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Protein lysates prepared from atherosclerotic segments of human aorta were investigated for the presence of citrulline-modified proteins and specifically citrullinated fibrinogen (cFb) by immunoprecipitation and/or immunoblotting followed by mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry was performed in coronary artery plaques for the presence of citrullinated proteins and the PAD4 enzyme. Serum levels of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP), anti-citrullinated vimentin (cVim), and anti-cFb antibodies were measured in 134 women with seropositive RA previously characterized for the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis by electron beam CT scan (EBCT). Western analysis of atherosclerotic plaque lysates demonstrated several citrullinated proteins and the presence of cFb was confirmed by immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated co-localization of citrullinated proteins and the PAD4 enzyme within the coronary artery plaque. In age-adjusted regression models, antibodies targeting cFb and cit-vimentin, but not CCP2, were associated with an increased aortic plaque burden. CONCLUSION: Citrullinated proteins are prevalent within the atherosclerotic plaque, and certain ACPAs are associated with atherosclerotic burden. These observations suggest that targeting of citrullinated epitopes, specifically cFb, within the atherosclerotic plaque could provide a mechanism for accelerated atherosclerosis observed in patients with RA. © 2013 American College of Rheumatology.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.37961

View details for PubMedID 23553485
Citrullination Within the Atherosclerotic Plaque: A Potential Target for the Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Sokolove, J., Brennan, M. J., Sharpe, O., Lahey, L. J., Kao, A. H., Krishnan, E., Edmundowicz, D., Lepus, C. M., Wasko, M. C., Robinson, W. H. 2013; 65 (7): 1719-1724
View details for DOI 10.1002/art.37961

View details for Web of Science ID 000322155000007
Plasmid-Encoded Proinsulin Preserves C-Peptide While Specifically Reducing Proinsulin-Specific CD8+ T Cells in Type 1 Diabetes. Science translational medicine Roep, B. O., Solvason, N., Gottlieb, P. A., Abreu, J. R., Harrison, L. C., Eisenbarth, G. S., Yu, L., Leviten, M., Hagopian, W. A., Buse, J. B., von Herrath, M., Quan, J., King, R. S., Robinson, W. H., Utz, P. J., Garren, H., Steinman, L. 2013; 5 (191): 191ra82-?
Abstract

In type 1 diabetes (T1D), there is an intense inflammatory response that destroys the β cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, the site where insulin is produced and released. A therapy for T1D that targets the specific autoimmune response in this disease while leaving the remainder of the immune system intact, has long been sought. Proinsulin is a major target of the adaptive immune response in T1D. We hypothesized that an engineered DNA plasmid encoding proinsulin (BHT-3021) would preserve β cell function in T1D patients through reduction of insulin-specific CD8(+) T cells. We studied 80 subjects over 18 years of age who were diagnosed with T1D within the past 5 years. Subjects were randomized 2:1 to receive intramuscular injections of BHT-3021 or BHT-placebo, weekly for 12 weeks, and then monitored for safety and immune responses in a blinded fashion. Four dose levels of BHT-3021 were evaluated: 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 6.0 mg. C-peptide was used both as an exploratory efficacy measure and as a safety measure. Islet-specific CD8(+) T cell frequencies were assessed with multimers of monomeric human leukocyte antigen class I molecules loaded with peptides from pancreatic and unrelated antigens. No serious adverse events related to BHT-3021 were observed. C-peptide levels improved relative to placebo at all doses, at 1 mg at the 15-week time point (+19.5% BHT-3021 versus -8.8% BHT-placebo, P < 0.026). Proinsulin-reactive CD8(+) T cells, but not T cells against unrelated islet or foreign molecules, declined in the BHT-3021 arm (P < 0.006). No significant changes were noted in interferon-γ, interleukin-4 (IL-4), or IL-10 production in CD4 T cells. Thus, we demonstrate that a plasmid encoding proinsulin reduces the frequency of CD8(+) T cells reactive to proinsulin while preserving C-peptide over the course of dosing.

View details for DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.3006103

View details for PubMedID 23803704
Multiple cytokines and chemokines are associated with rheumatoid arthritis-related autoimmunity in first-degree relatives without rheumatoid arthritis: Studies of the Aetiology of Rheumatoid Arthritis (SERA) ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES Hughes-Austin, J. M., Deane, K. D., Derber, L. A., Kolfenbach, J. R., Zerbe, G. O., Sokolove, J., Lahey, L. J., Weisman, M. H., Buckner, J. H., Mikuls, T. R., O'Dell, J. R., Keating, R. M., Gregersen, P. K., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M., Norris, J. M. 2013; 72 (6): 901-907
Abstract

We investigated whether rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related autoantibodies were associated with systemic inflammation in a prospective cohort of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RA probands, a population without RA but at increased risk for its future development.We studied 44 autoantibody positive FDRs, of whom 29 were rheumatoid factor (RF) positive, 25 were positive for the high risk autoantibody profile (HRP), that is, positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide and/or for at least two RF IgM, IgG or IgA isotypes, and nine FDRs who were positive for both; and 62 FDRs who were never autoantibody positive. Twenty-five cytokines/chemokines were measured using a bead-based assay in serum. As a comprehensive measure of inflammation, we calculated a Cytokine Score by summing all cytokine/chemokine levels, weighted by their regression coefficients for RA-autoantibody association. We compared C-reactive protein, individual cytokines/chemokines and Cytokine Score to the outcomes: positivity for RF and for the HRP using logistic regression.Adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and ever smoking, the Cytokine Score and levels of IL-6 and IL-9 were associated with both RF and HRP. IL-2, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and interferon (IFN)-γ were associated with HRP only. Associations between the Cytokine Score and RF and HRP positivity were replicated in an independent military personnel cohort.In first-degree relatives of patients with RA, RA-related autoimmunity is associated with inflammation, as evidenced by associations with multiple cytokines and chemokines.

View details for DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201505

View details for Web of Science ID 000318907100024

View details for PubMedID 22915618
Predictive Value of Autoantibody Testing for Validating Self-reported Diagnoses of Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Women's Health Initiative AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY Walitt, B., Mackey, R., Kuller, L., Deane, K. D., Robinson, W., Holers, V. M., Chang, Y., Moreland, L. 2013; 177 (9): 887-893
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) research using large databases is limited by insufficient case validity. Of 161,808 postmenopausal women in the Women's Health Initiative, 15,691 (10.2%) reported having RA, far higher than the expected 1% population prevalence. Since chart review for confirmation of an RA diagnosis is impractical in large cohort studies, the current study (2009-2011) tested the ability of baseline serum measurements of rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, second-generation assay (anti-CCP2), to identify physician-validated RA among the chart-review study participants with self-reported RA (n = 286). Anti-CCP2 positivity had the highest positive predictive value (PPV) (80.0%), and rheumatoid factor positivity the lowest (44.6%). Together, use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and anti-CCP2 positivity increased PPV to 100% but excluded all seronegative cases (approximately 15% of all RA cases). Case definitions inclusive of seronegative cases had PPVs between 59.6% and 63.6%. False-negative results were minimized in these test definitions, as evidenced by negative predictive values of approximately 90%. Serological measurements, particularly measurement of anti-CCP2, improved the test characteristics of RA case definitions in the Women's Health Initiative.

View details for DOI 10.1093/aje/kws310

View details for Web of Science ID 000318576300006

View details for PubMedID 23492764
Mechanistic biomarkers for clinical decision making in rheumatic diseases NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Lindstrom, T. M., Cheung, R. K., Sokolove, J. 2013; 9 (5): 267-276
Abstract

The use of biomarkers is becoming increasingly intrinsic to the practice of medicine and holds great promise for transforming the practice of rheumatology. Biomarkers have the potential to aid clinical diagnosis when symptoms are present or to provide a means of detecting early signs of disease when they are not. Some biomarkers can serve as early surrogates of eventual clinical outcomes or guide therapeutic decision making by enabling identification of individuals likely to respond to a specific therapy. Using biomarkers might reduce the costs of drug development by enabling individuals most likely to respond to be enrolled in clinical trials, thereby minimizing the number of participants required. In this Review, we discuss the current use and the potential of biomarkers in rheumatology and in select fields at the forefront of biomarker research. We emphasize the value of different types of biomarkers, addressing the concept of 'actionable' biomarkers, which can be used to guide clinical decision making, and 'mechanistic' biomarkers, a subtype of actionable biomarker that is embedded in disease pathogenesis and, therefore, represents a potentially superior biomarker. We provide examples of actionable and mechanistic biomarkers currently available, and discuss how development of such biomarkers could revolutionize clinical practice and drug development.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nrrheum.2013.14

View details for Web of Science ID 000318482100004

View details for PubMedID 23419428
Optimal approaches to data collection and analysis of potential immune mediated disorders in clinical trials of new vaccines VACCINE Da Silva, F. T., De Keyser, F., Lambert, P., Robinson, W. H., Westhovens, R., Sindic, C. 2013; 31 (14): 1870-1876
Abstract

The potential for development of autoimmune diseases after vaccination with new vaccines containing novel adjuvants is a theoretical concern. Randomised, placebo-controlled trials are the best method for assessing a potential causal relationship between an adverse event and vaccination, but usually have a sample size too small to detect adverse events occurring in <1% of subjects. Incomplete case documentation may hamper definitive diagnoses, preventing accurate causality assessment. To date there are no guidelines for collection, documentation and monitoring of potential immune mediated disorders (pIMD) reported in the course of clinical trials with adjuvanted vaccines.This paper proposes a methodology for collection of pIMDs in clinical vaccine trials, with the objective of obtaining complete and reliable data using standardised methodology for its collection and analysis.The role of the study investigator in prospective, standardised safety data collection is key and can be facilitated by providing a pIMD list in study documents and disease-specific standard questionnaires to assist timely and thorough documentation. External expert review of histopathology samples or other specialised diagnostic data would increase diagnostic accuracy. Centralised case ascertainment using standard case definitions would identify true cases of interest. We propose collection of safety data for at least 6 months and up to one year after the last vaccine dose. Bio-banking as a platform for collecting samples from enrolled patients for future use (e.g., to measure biomarkers of diagnostic, prognostic or predictive utility) could eventually provide valuable information in cases where a pIMD is diagnosed during the study period.Standardised collection of safety data to allow appropriate analyses are optimal approaches for detecting rare events in clinical trials. Appropriate data analysis will then more reliably define potential causal relationships with vaccination.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.01.042

View details for Web of Science ID 000317450200016

View details for PubMedID 23391600
The exposure of autoantigens by microparticles underlies the formation of potent inflammatory components: the microparticle-associated immune complexes EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE Cloutier, N., Tan, S., Boudreau, L. H., Cramb, C., Subbaiah, R., Lahey, L., Albert, A., Shnayder, R., Gobezie, R., Nigrovic, P. A., Farndale, R. W., Robinson, W. H., Brisson, A., Lee, D. M., Boilard, E. 2013; 5 (2): 235-249
Abstract

Immunoglobulins, antigens and complement can assemble to form immune complexes (IC). ICs can be detrimental as they propagate inflammation in autoimmune diseases. Like ICs, submicron extracellular vesicles termed microparticles (MP) are present in the synovial fluid from patients affected with autoimmune arthritis. We examined MPs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using high sensitivity flow cytometry and electron microscopy. We find that the MPs in RA synovial fluid are highly heterogeneous in size. The observed larger MPs were in fact MP-containing ICs (mpICs) and account for the majority of the detectable ICs. These mpICs frequently express the integrin CD41, consistent with platelet origin. Despite expression of the Fc receptor FcγRIIa by platelet-derived MPs, we find that the mpICs form independently of this receptor. Rather, mpICs display autoantigens vimentin and fibrinogen, and recognition of these targets by anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies contributes to the production of mpICs. Functionally, platelet mpICs are highly pro-inflammatory, eliciting leukotriene production by neutrophils. Taken together, our data suggest a unique role for platelet MPs as autoantigen-expressing elements capable of perpetuating formation of inflammatory ICs.

View details for DOI 10.1002/emmm.201201846

View details for Web of Science ID 000314661800010

View details for PubMedID 23165896

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3569640
Anti-citrullinated peptide autoantibodies, human leukocyte antigen shared epitope and risk of future rheumatoid arthritis: a nested case-control study ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Arkema, E. V., Goldstein, B. L., Robinson, W., Sokolove, J., Wagner, C. A., Malspeis, S., Rosner, B., Grodstein, F., Karlson, E. W., Costenbader, K. H. 2013; 15 (5)
Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) serostatus in pre-clinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with and without Human Leukocyte Antigen-Shared Epitope (HLA-SE) alleles.We identified 192 women in the Nurses' Health Study cohorts with blood samples obtained 4 months to 17 years prior to medical record-confirmed RA diagnosis. Three controls were selected matched on age, cohort, menopausal status and post-menopausal hormone use. Reactivities to 18 ACPAs were measured using a custom BioPlex platform. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate the relative risk (RR) of RA for any ACPA-positive and peptide-specific ACPA-positive and examined RRs by time between blood draw and RA onset. Measures of multiplicative and additive interaction between any ACPA-positive and HLA-SE were calculated.All ACPAs by peptide groups were significantly associated with RA risk, RRs ranged from 4.7 to 11.7. The association between ACPA and RA varied over time with the strongest association in those with blood draw less than 5 years before onset (RR 17.0 [95% CI 5.8 to 53.7]) and no association 10 or more years prior to onset (RR 1.4 [95% CI 0.5 to 4.3]). Individuals with both HLA-SE and any ACPA-positive had the highest risk of RA. HLA-SE-positive RA cases showed reactivity to more ACPA types than HLA-SE negative (χ2 test for trend, P = 0.01).There is increasing ACPA reactivity up to 10 years before RA onset with the strongest association within 5 years of RA onset. The magnitude of the response to ACPAs, in combination with the presence of HLA-SE, is most important for identifying those individuals with the highest risk of RA.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar4342

View details for Web of Science ID 000329737400059

View details for PubMedID 24286474
Porphyromonas gingivalis and Disease-Related Autoantibodies in Individuals at Increased Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Mikuls, T. R., Thiele, G. M., Deane, K. D., Payne, J. B., O'Dell, J. R., Yu, F., Sayles, H., Weisman, M. H., Gregersen, P. K., Buckner, J. H., Keating, R. M., Derber, L. A., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M., Norris, J. M. 2012; 64 (11): 3522-3530
Abstract

To examine the relationship of Porphyromonas gingivalis to the presence of autoantibodies in individuals at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Study participants included the following: 1) a cohort enriched in subjects with HLA-DR4 and 2) subjects at risk of RA by virtue of having a first-degree relative with RA. None of the study subjects satisfied the American College of Rheumatology 1987 classification criteria for RA. Autoantibodies measured included anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA; by second-generation anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]) and rheumatoid factor (RF; by nephelometry or ELISA for IgA, IgM, or IgG isotype). Individuals were considered autoantibody positive (n = 113) if they had ≥1 RA-related autoantibody; individuals were further categorized as high risk (n = 38) if they had ACPA or positive findings ≥2 assays for RF. Autoantibody-negative individuals (n = 171) served as a comparator group. Antibody to P gingivalis, P intermedia, and F nucleatum were measured. Associations of bacterial antibodies with group status were examined using logistic regression.Anti-P gingivalis concentrations were higher in high-risk (P = 0.011) and autoantibody positive group (P = 0.010) than in the autoantibody negative group. There were no group differences in anti-P intermedia or anti-F nucleatum concentrations. After multivariable adjustment, anti-P gingivalis concentrations (but not anti-P intermedia or anti-F nucleatum) were significantly associated with autoantibody-positive and high-risk status (P < 0.05).Immunity to P gingivalis, but not P intermedia or F nucleatum, is significantly associated with the presence of RA-related autoantibodies in individuals at risk of RA. These results support the hypothesis that infection with P gingivalis may play a central role in the early loss of tolerance to self antigens that occurs in the pathogenesis of RA.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.34595

View details for Web of Science ID 000310544500006

View details for PubMedID 22736291
Oxidative stress-responsive microRNA-320 regulates glycolysis in diverse biological systems FASEB JOURNAL Tang, H., Lee, M., Sharpe, O., Salamone, L., Noonan, E. J., Hoang, C. D., Levine, S., Robinson, W. H., Shrager, J. B. 2012; 26 (11): 4710-4721
Abstract

Glycolysis is the initial step of glucose catabolism and is up-regulated in cancer cells (the Warburg Effect). Such shifts toward a glycolytic phenotype have not been explored widely in other biological systems, and the molecular mechanisms underlying the shifts remain unknown. With proteomics, we observed increased glycolysis in disused human diaphragm muscle. In disused muscle, lung cancer, and H(2)O(2)-treated myotubes, we show up-regulation of the rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme muscle-type phosphofructokinase (PFKm, >2 fold, P<0.05) and accumulation of lactate (>150%, P<0.05). Using microRNA profiling, we identify miR-320a as a regulator of PFKm expression. Reduced miR-320a levels (to ∼50% of control, P<0.05) are associated with the increased PFKm in each of these diverse systems. Manipulation of miR-320a levels both in vitro and in vivo alters PFKm and lactate levels in the expected directions. Further, miR-320a appears to regulate oxidative stress-induced PFKm expression, and reduced miR-320a allows greater induction of glycolysis in response to H(2)O(2) treatment. We show that this microRNA-mediated regulation occurs through PFKm's 3' untranslated region and that Ets proteins are involved in the regulation of PFKm via miR-320a. These findings suggest that oxidative stress-responsive microRNA-320a may regulate glycolysis broadly within nature.

View details for DOI 10.1096/fj.11-197467

View details for Web of Science ID 000310574200031

View details for PubMedID 22767230

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3475252
The Associations of HLA-DR Shared Epitope Alleles and Serum Cytokines Among Postmenopausal Women with Rheumatoid Factor and Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody-Positive Rheumatoid Arthritis. Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology (ACR) and Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals (ARHP) Talabi, M. B., Mackey, R., Moreland, L. W., Dorman, J., Deane, K. D., Sokolove, J., Holers, V. M., Robinson, W. H., Wallitt, B., Kuller, L. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2012: S895–S895
View details for Web of Science ID 000309748305036
Evolution of Preclinical Autoimmunity in Individuals At Risk for Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology (ACR) and Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals (ARHP) El-Gabalawy, H. S., Robinson, D. B., Smolik, I., Hart, D. M., Ferucci, E. D., Newkirk, M. M., Fritzler, M. J., Cramb, C., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. H. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2012: S722–S722
View details for Web of Science ID 000309748303409
Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Autoantibodies to Rheumatoid Synovium Epitopes in Women and Risk of Future Rheumatoid Arthritis. Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology (ACR) and Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals (ARHP) Arkema, E. V., Goldstein, B. L., Robinson, W. H., Cramb, C., Sokolove, J., Cui, J., Malspeis, S., Karlson, E. W., Costenbader, K. H. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2012: S685–S686
View details for Web of Science ID 000309748303326
Identification of Naturally Occurring Fatty Acids of the Myelin Sheath That Resolve Neuroinflammation SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE Ho, P. P., Kanter, J. L., Johnson, A. M., Srinagesh, H. K., Chang, E., Purdy, T. M., Van Haren, K., Wikoff, W. R., Kind, T., Khademi, M., Matloff, L. Y., Narayana, S., Hur, E. M., Lindstrom, T. M., He, Z., Fiehn, O., Olsson, T., Han, X., Han, M. H., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 4 (137)
Abstract

Lipids constitute 70% of the myelin sheath, and autoantibodies against lipids may contribute to the demyelination that characterizes multiple sclerosis (MS). We used lipid antigen microarrays and lipid mass spectrometry to identify bona fide lipid targets of the autoimmune response in MS brain, and an animal model of MS to explore the role of the identified lipids in autoimmune demyelination. We found that autoantibodies in MS target a phosphate group in phosphatidylserine and oxidized phosphatidylcholine derivatives. Administration of these lipids ameliorated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by suppressing activation and inducing apoptosis of autoreactive T cells, effects mediated by the lipids' saturated fatty acid side chains. Thus, phospholipids represent a natural anti-inflammatory class of compounds that have potential as therapeutics for MS.

View details for DOI 10.1126/scitranslmed.3003831

View details for Web of Science ID 000305075700005

View details for PubMedID 22674551

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3953135
New tools for classification and monitoring of autoimmune diseases NATURE REVIEWS RHEUMATOLOGY Maecker, H. T., Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H., Utz, P. J., Hale, M., Boyd, S. D., Shen-Orr, S. S., Fathman, C. G. 2012; 8 (6): 317-328
Abstract

Rheumatologists see patients with a range of autoimmune diseases. Phenotyping these diseases for diagnosis, prognosis and selection of therapies is an ever increasing problem. Advances in multiplexed assay technology at the gene, protein, and cellular level have enabled the identification of 'actionable biomarkers'; that is, biological metrics that can inform clinical practice. Not only will such biomarkers yield insight into the development, remission, and exacerbation of a disease, they will undoubtedly improve diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of classification, and ultimately guide treatment. This Review provides an introduction to these powerful technologies that could promote the identification of actionable biomarkers, including mass cytometry, protein arrays, and immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor high-throughput sequencing. In our opinion, these technologies should become part of routine clinical practice for the management of autoimmune diseases. The use of analytical tools to deconvolve the data obtained from use of these technologies is also presented here. These analyses are revealing a more comprehensive and interconnected view of the immune system than ever before and should have an important role in directing future treatment approaches for autoimmune diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nrrheum.2012.66

View details for Web of Science ID 000304719600005

View details for PubMedID 22647780

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3409841
Pre-analytical effects of blood sampling and handling in quantitative immunoassays for rheumatoid arthritis JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS Zhao, X., Qureshi, F., Eastman, P. S., Manning, W. C., Alexander, C., Robinson, W. H., Hesterberg, L. K. 2012; 378 (1-2): 72-80
Abstract

Variability in pre-analytical blood sampling and handling can significantly impact results obtained in quantitative immunoassays. Understanding the impact of these variables is critical for accurate quantification and validation of biomarker measurements. Particularly, in the design and execution of large clinical trials, even small differences in sample processing and handling can have dramatic effects in analytical reliability, results interpretation, trial management and outcome. The effects of two common blood sampling methods (serum vs. plasma) and two widely-used serum handling methods (on the clot with ambient temperature shipping, "traditional", vs. centrifuged with cold chain shipping, "protocol") on protein and autoantibody concentrations were examined. Matched serum and plasma samples were collected from 32 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients representing a wide range of disease activity status. Additionally, a set of matched serum samples with two sample handling methods was collected. One tube was processed per manufacturer's instructions and shipped overnight on cold packs (protocol). The matched tube, without prior centrifugation, was simultaneously shipped overnight at ambient temperatures (traditional). Upon delivery, the traditional tube was centrifuged. All samples were subsequently aliquoted and frozen prior to analysis of protein and autoantibody biomarkers. Median correlation between paired serum and plasma across all autoantibody assays was 0.99 (0.98-1.00) with a median % difference of -3.3 (-7.5 to 6.0). In contrast, observed protein biomarker concentrations were significantly affected by sample types, with median correlation of 0.99 (0.33-1.00) and a median % difference of -10 (-55 to 23). When the two serum collection/handling methods were compared, the median correlation between paired samples for autoantibodies was 0.99 (0.91-1.00) with a median difference of 4%. In contrast, significant increases were observed in protein biomarker concentrations among certain biomarkers in samples processed with the 'traditional' method. Autoantibody quantification appears robust to both sample type (plasma vs. serum) and pre-analytical sample collection/handling methods (protocol vs. traditional). In contrast, for non-antibody protein biomarker concentrations, sample type had a significant impact; plasma samples generally exhibit decreased protein biomarker concentrations relative to serum. Similarly, sample handling significantly impacted the variability of protein biomarker concentrations. When biomarker concentrations are combined algorithmically into a single test score such as a multi-biomarker disease activity test for rheumatoid arthritis (MBDA), changes in protein biomarker concentrations may result in a bias of the score. These results illustrate the importance of characterizing pre-analytical methodology, sample type, sample processing and handling procedures for clinical testing in order to ensure test accuracy.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jim.2012.02.007

View details for Web of Science ID 000304285900009

View details for PubMedID 22366959
Inhibition of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Ameliorates Collagen-Induced Arthritis JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Swanson, C. D., Akama-Garren, E. H., Stein, E. A., Petralia, J. D., Ruiz, P. J., Edalati, A., Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 188 (7): 3513-3521
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune synovitis characterized by the formation of pannus and the destruction of cartilage and bone in the synovial joints. Although immune cells, which infiltrate the pannus and promote inflammation, play a prominent role in the pathogenesis of RA, other cell types also contribute. Proliferation of synovial fibroblasts, for example, underlies the formation of the pannus, while proliferation of endothelial cells results in neovascularization, which supports the growth of the pannus by supplying it with nutrients and oxygen. The synovial fibroblasts also promote inflammation in the synovium by producing cytokines and chemokines. Finally, osteoclasts cause the destruction of bone. In this study, we show that erlotinib, an inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), reduces the severity of established collagen-induced arthritis, a mouse model of RA, and that it does so by targeting synovial fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and osteoclasts. Erlotinib-induced attenuation of autoimmune arthritis was associated with a reduction in number of osteoclasts and blood vessels, and erlotinib inhibited the formation of murine osteoclasts and the proliferation of human endothelial cells in vitro. Erlotinib also inhibited the proliferation and cytokine production of human synovial fibroblasts in vitro. Moreover, EGFR was highly expressed and activated in the synovium of mice with collagen-induced arthritis and patients with RA. Taken together, these findings suggest that EGFR plays a central role in the pathogenesis of RA and that EGFR inhibition may provide benefits in the treatment of RA.

View details for DOI 10.4049/jimmunol.1102693

View details for Web of Science ID 000302150300065

View details for PubMedID 22393153
Therapeutic Effects of Systemic Administration of Chaperone alpha B-Crystallin Associated with Binding Proinflammatory Plasma Proteins JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY Rothbard, J. B., Kurnellas, M. P., Brownell, S., Adams, C. M., Su, L., Axtell, R. C., Chen, R., Fathman, C. G., Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L. 2012; 287 (13): 9708-9721
Abstract

The therapeutic benefit of the small heat shock protein αB-crystallin (HspB5) in animal models of multiple sclerosis and ischemia is proposed to arise from its increased capacity to bind proinflammatory proteins at the elevated temperatures within inflammatory foci. By mass spectral analysis, a common set of ∼70 ligands was precipitated by HspB5 from plasma from patients with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and amyloidosis and mice with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. These proteins were distinguished from other precipitated molecules because they were enriched in the precipitate as compared with their plasma concentrations, and they exhibited temperature-dependent binding. More than half of these ligands were acute phase proteins or members of the complement or coagulation cascades. Consistent with this proposal, plasma levels of HspB5 were increased in patients with multiple sclerosis as compared with normal individuals. The combination of the thermal sensitivity of the HspB5 combined with the high local concentration of these ligands at the site of inflammation is proposed to explain the paradox of how a protein believed to exhibit nonspecific binding can bind with some relative apparent selectivity to proinflammatory proteins and thereby modulate inflammation.

View details for DOI 10.1074/jbc.M111.337691

View details for Web of Science ID 000302167200005

View details for PubMedID 22308023

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3322989
Differential mTOR and ERK pathway utilization by effector CD4 T cells suggests combinatorial drug therapy of arthritis CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY Lin, J. T., Stein, E. A., Wong, M. T., Kalpathy, K. J., Su, L. L., Utz, P. J., Robinson, W. H., Fathnnan, C. G. 2012; 142 (2): 127-138
Abstract

The signaling pathways utilized by naïve and experienced effector CD4 T cells during activation and proliferation were evaluated. While inhibition of either mTOR or MAPK alone was able to inhibit naïve T cell proliferation, both mTOR and MAPK (ERK) pathway inhibition was required to efficiently block experienced, effector CD4 T cell proliferation. This was demonstrated both in vitro, and in vivo by treating mice with collagen-induced arthritis using mTOR and/or ERK inhibitors. The combination of mTOR and ERK inhibition prevented or treated disease more efficiently than either agent alone. These data illustrate the different requirements of naïve and experienced effector CD4 T cells in the use of the mTOR and MAPK pathways in proliferation, and suggest that therapies targeting both the mTOR and MAPK pathways may be more effective than targeting either pathway alone in the treatment of CD4 T cell-mediated autoimmunity.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2011.09.008

View details for Web of Science ID 000300388200007

View details for PubMedID 22075384

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3273543
Development and deployment of antigen arrays for investigation of B-cell fine specificity in autoimmune disease. Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition) Sokolove, J., Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 4: 320-330
Abstract

Recent developments in proteomic technologies have enabled the high-throughput, multiplex measurement of large panels of antibodies in biological fluids of patients with immune-driven diseases. Antigen microarrays are increasingly being used to delineate the natural history of autoantibody formation and epitope spread, and thus gain insight into the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, as well as into host immunity and its shortcomings. Characterization of autoimmunity that precedes the onset of clinically apparent disease has the potential to guide disease prevention using either conventional immunosupression or novel, antigen-specific tolerizing therapies. In addition, autoantibody profiling has the potential to identify molecular subtypes of a disease, which could allow for prediction of disease outcomes such as severity, tissue damage, and response to therapy.

View details for PubMedID 22201874
Plasma proteins present in osteoarthritic synovial fluid can stimulate cytokine production via Toll-like receptor 4 ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Sohn, D. H., Sokolove, J., Sharpe, O., Erhart, J. C., Chandra, P. E., Lahey, L. J., Lindstrom, T. M., Hwang, I., Boyer, K. A., Andriacchi, T. P., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 14 (1)
Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage breakdown in the synovial joints. The presence of low-grade inflammation in OA joints is receiving increasing attention, with synovitis shown to be present even in the early stages of the disease. How the synovial inflammation arises is unclear, but proteins in the synovial fluid of affected joints could conceivably contribute. We therefore surveyed the proteins present in OA synovial fluid and assessed their immunostimulatory properties.We used mass spectrometry to survey the proteins present in the synovial fluid of patients with knee OA. We used a multiplex bead-based immunoassay to measure levels of inflammatory cytokines in serum and synovial fluid from patients with knee OA and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), as well as in sera from healthy individuals. Significant differences in cytokine levels between groups were determined by significance analysis of microarrays, and relations were determined by unsupervised hierarchic clustering. To assess the immunostimulatory properties of a subset of the identified proteins, we tested the proteins' ability to induce the production of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages. For proteins found to be stimulatory, the macrophage stimulation assays were repeated by using Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-deficient macrophages.We identified 108 proteins in OA synovial fluid, including plasma proteins, serine protease inhibitors, proteins indicative of cartilage turnover, and proteins involved in inflammation and immunity. Multiplex cytokine analysis revealed that levels of several inflammatory cytokines were significantly higher in OA sera than in normal sera, and levels of inflammatory cytokines in synovial fluid and serum were, as expected, higher in RA samples than in OA samples. As much as 36% of the proteins identified in OA synovial fluid were plasma proteins. Testing a subset of these plasma proteins in macrophage stimulation assays, we found that Gc-globulin, α1-microglobulin, and α2-macroglobulin can signal via TLR4 to induce macrophage production of inflammatory cytokines implicated in OA.Our findings suggest that plasma proteins present in OA synovial fluid, whether through exudation from plasma or production by synovial tissues, could contribute to low-grade inflammation in OA by functioning as so-called damage-associated molecular patterns in the synovial joint.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3555

View details for Web of Science ID 000304698800021

View details for PubMedID 22225630
Response to 'Plasma proteins present in osteoarthritic synovial fluid can stimulate cytokine production via Toll-like receptor 4' - authors' reply ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Sohn, D. H., Sokolove, J., Sharpe, O., Erhart, J. C., Chandra, P. E., Lahey, L. J., Lindstrom, T. M., Hwang, I., Boyer, K. A., Andriacchi, T. P., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 14 (5)
View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3892

View details for Web of Science ID 000315488700008
Interleukin-34 produced by human fibroblast-like synovial cells in rheumatoid arthritis supports osteoclastogenesis ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Hwang, S., Choi, B., Kang, S., Chang, J., Kim, Y., Chung, Y., Sohn, D. H., So, M. W., Lee, C., Robinson, W. H., Chang, E. 2012; 14 (1)
Abstract

Interleukin-34 (IL-34) is a recently defined cytokine, showing a functional overlap with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). This study was undertaken to address the expression of IL-34 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to investigate its regulation and pathogenic role in RA.IL-34 levels were determined in the RA synovium, synovial fluid (SF) and fibroblast-like synovial cells (FLS) by immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. RA activity was assessed using Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) activity in the plasma collected at baseline and one year after treatment. Conditioned media (CM) were prepared from RA FLS culture with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) for 24 hours and used for functional assay.IL-34 was expressed in the synovium, SF, and FLS from RA patients. The production of IL-34 in FLS was up-regulated by TNFα in RA samples compared with osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Importantly, the preferential induction of IL-34 rather than M-CSF by TNFα in RAFLS was mediated by the transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). IL-34 elevation in plasma from RA patients was decreased after the administration of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in accordance with a decrease in DAS28. CM from RAFLS cultured with TNFα promoted chemotactic migration of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and subsequent osteoclast (OC) formation, effects that were attenuated by an anti-IL-34 antibody.These data provide novel information about the production of IL-34 in RA FLS and indicate that IL-34 is an additional osteoclastogenic factor regulated by TNFα in RA, suggesting a discrete role of IL-34 in inflammatory RA diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3693

View details for Web of Science ID 000304698800028

View details for PubMedID 22264405

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3392804
Response to 'Plasma proteins present in osteoarthritic synovial fluid can stimulate cytokine production via Toll-like receptor 4' - authors' reply. Arthritis research & therapy Sohn, D. H., Sokolove, J., Sharpe, O., Erhart, J. C., Chandra, P. E., Lahey, L. J., Lindstrom, T. M., Hwang, I., Boyer, K. A., Andriacchi, T. P., Robinson, W. H. 2012; 14 (5): 406
View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3892

View details for PubMedID 22979902

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3580503
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Ameliorate Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in a Mouse Model of Multiple Sclerosis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY Crespo, O., Kang, S. C., Daneman, R., Lindstrom, T. M., Ho, P. P., Sobel, R. A., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 31 (6): 1010-1020
Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by neuroinflammation and demyelination. Although considered a T cell-mediated disease, multiple sclerosis involves the activation of both adaptive and innate immune cells, as well as resident cells of the central nervous system, which synergize in inducing inflammation and thereby demyelination. Differentiation, survival, and inflammatory functions of innate immune cells and of astrocytes of the central nervous system are regulated by tyrosine kinases. Here, we show that imatinib, sorafenib, and GW2580-small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors-can each prevent the development of disease and treat established disease in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. In vitro, imatinib and sorafenib inhibited astrocyte proliferation mediated by the tyrosine kinase platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), whereas GW2580 and sorafenib inhibited macrophage tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production mediated by the tyrosine kinases c-Fms and PDGFR, respectively. In vivo, amelioration of disease by GW2580 was associated with a reduction in the proportion of macrophages and T cells in the CNS infiltrate, as well as a reduction in the levels of circulating TNF. Our findings suggest that GW2580 and the FDA-approved drugs imatinib and sorafenib have potential as novel therapeutics for the treatment of autoimmune demyelinating disease.

View details for DOI 10.1007/s10875-011-9579-6

View details for Web of Science ID 000297522500010

View details for PubMedID 21847523

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3225802
Chemerin158K Protein Is the Dominant Chemerin Isoform in Synovial and Cerebrospinal Fluids but Not in Plasma JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY Zhao, L., Yamaguchi, Y., Sharif, S., Du, X., Song, J. J., Lee, D. M., Recht, L. D., Robinson, W. H., Morser, J., Leung, L. L. 2011; 286 (45): 39520-39527
Abstract

Chemerin is a chemoattractant involved in immunity that may also function as an adipokine. Chemerin circulates as an inactive precursor (chem163S), and its activation requires proteolytic cleavages at its C terminus, involving proteases involved in coagulation, fibrinolysis, and inflammation. However, the key proteolytic steps in prochemerin activation in vivo remain to be established. Previously, we have shown that C-terminal cleavage of chem163S by plasmin to chem158K, followed by a carboxypeptidase cleavage, leads to the most active isoform, chem157S. To identify and quantify the in vivo chemerin isoforms in biological specimens, we developed specific ELISAs for chem163S, chem158K, and chem157S, using antibodies raised against peptides from the C terminus of the different chemerin isoforms. We found that the mean plasma concentrations of chem163S, chem158K, and chem157S were 40 ± 7.9, 8.1 ± 2.9, and 0.7 ± 0.8 ng/ml, respectively. The total level of cleaved and noncleaved chemerins in cerebrospinal fluids was ∼10% of plasma levels whereas it was elevated ∼2-fold in synovial fluids from patients with arthritis. On the other hand, the fraction of cleaved chemerins was much higher in synovial fluid and cerebrospinal fluid samples than in plasma (∼75%, 50%, and 18% respectively). Chem158K was the dominant chemerin isoform, and it was not generated by ex vivo processing, indicating that cleavage of prochemerin at position Lys-158, whether by plasmin or another serine protease, represents a major step in prochemerin activation in vivo. Our study provides the first direct evidence that chemerin undergoes extensive proteolytic processing in vivo, underlining the importance of measuring individual isoforms.

View details for DOI 10.1074/jbc.M111.258954

View details for Web of Science ID 000296759800069

View details for PubMedID 21930706

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3234775
Porphyromonas Gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is Associated with the Presence of Disease-Specific Autoantibodies in Individuals At Increased Risk for the Future Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis 75th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/46th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals (ARHP) Mikuls, T. R., Deane, K. D., Payne, J., Thiele, G. M., O'Dell, J. R., Derber, L. A., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M., Norris, J. M. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2011: S300–S300
View details for Web of Science ID 000297621500762
Tyrosine kinases in inflammatory dermatologic disease JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY Paniagua, R. T., Fiorentino, D. F., Chung, L., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 65 (2): 389-403
Abstract

Tyrosine kinases (TKs) are enzymes that catalyze the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on protein substrates. They are key components of signaling pathways that drive an array of cellular responses including proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. Specific TKs have recently been identified as critical to the pathogenesis of several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Small-molecule inhibitors of TKs are emerging as a novel class of therapy that may provide benefit in certain patient subsets. In this review, we highlight TK signaling implicated in inflammatory dermatologic diseases, evaluate strategies aimed at inhibiting these aberrant signaling pathways, and discuss prospects for future drug development.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.04.026

View details for Web of Science ID 000293311200017

View details for PubMedID 20584561

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2948077
Role of the Toll-like receptor pathway in the recognition of orthopedic implant wear-debris particles BIOMATERIALS Pearl, J. I., Ma, T., Irani, A. R., Huang, Z., Robinson, W. H., Smith, R. L., Goodman, S. B. 2011; 32 (24): 5535-5542
Abstract

The inflammatory response to prosthetic implant-derived wear particles is the primary cause of bone loss and aseptic loosening of implants, but the mechanisms by which macrophages recognize and respond to particles remain unknown. Studies of innate immunity demonstrate that Toll-like receptors (TLRs) recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPS). All TLRs signal through myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), except TLR3 which signals through TIR domain containing adapter inducing interferon-beta (TRIF), and TLR4 which signals through both MyD88 and TRIF. We hypothesized that wear-debris particles may act as PAMPs/DAMPs and activate macrophages via TLRs. To test this hypothesis, we first demonstrated that inhibition of MyD88 decreases polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particle-induced production of TNF-α in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Next we compared particle-induced production of TNF-α among MyD88 knockout (MyD88(-/-)), TRIF knockout (TRIF(-/-)), and wild type (WT) murine macrophages. Relative to WT, disruption of MyD88 signaling diminished, and disruption of TRIF amplified the particle-induced production of TNF-α. Gene expression data indicated that this latter increase in TNF-α was due to a compensatory increase in expression of MyD88 associated components of the TLR pathway. Finally, using an in vivo model, MyD88(-/-) mice developed less particle-induced osteolysis than WT mice. These results indicate that the response to PMMA particles is partly dependent on MyD88, presumably as part of TLR signaling; MyD88 may represent a therapeutic target for prevention of wear debris-induced periprosthetic osteolysis.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.04.046

View details for Web of Science ID 000292431100001

View details for PubMedID 21592562
Human peptidome display NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L. 2011; 29 (6): 500-502
View details for DOI 10.1038/nbt.1888

View details for Web of Science ID 000291342100014

View details for PubMedID 21654669

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3404725
Chaperone Activity of alpha B-Crystallin Is Responsible for Its Incorrect Assignment as an Autoantigen in Multiple Sclerosis JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Rothbard, J. B., Zhao, X., Sharpe, O., Strohman, M. J., Kurnellas, M., Mellins, E. D., Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L. 2011; 186 (7): 4263-4268
Abstract

For 15 y, α B-crystallin (heat shock protein [Hsp] B5) has been labeled an autoantigen in multiple sclerosis (MS) based on humoral and cellular responses found in humans and animal models. However, there have been several scientific inconsistencies with this assignment, ranging from studies demonstrating small differences in anticrystallin responses between patients and healthy individuals to the inability of crystallin-specific T cells to induce symptoms of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in animal models. Experiments in this article demonstrate that the putative anti-HspB5 Abs from 23 MS patients cross-react with 7 other members of the human small Hsp family and were equally present in normal plasma. Biolayer interferometry demonstrates that the binding was temperature dependent, and that the calculated K(a) increased as the concentration of the sHsp decreased. These two patterns are characteristic of multiple binding sites with varying affinities, the composition of which changes with temperature, supporting the hypothesis that HspB5 bound the Ab and not the reverse. HspB5 also precipitated Ig heavy and L chains from sera from patients with MS. These results establish that small Hsps bind Igs with high affinity and refute much of the serological data used to assign α B-crystallin as an autoantigen.

View details for DOI 10.4049/jimmunol.1003934

View details for Web of Science ID 000288751200051

View details for PubMedID 21357544
Development of peptide microarrays to investigate autoantibody epitope specificity in Pemphigus vulgaris 71st Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Investigative-Dermatology Hazelton, J., Patel, M., Furstenberg, G., Tyagi, S., Haab, B. B., Robinson, W. H., Seiffert-Sinha, K., Sinha, A. A. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. 2011: S9–S9
View details for Web of Science ID 000289035600053
N-alpha-Benzoyl-N5-(2-Chloro-1-Iminoethyl)-L-Ornithine Amide, a Protein Arginine Deiminase Inhibitor, Reduces the Severity of Murine Collagen-Induced Arthritis JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Willis, V. C., Gizinski, A. M., Banda, N. K., Causey, C. P., Knuckley, B., Cordova, K. N., Luo, Y., Levitt, B., Glogowska, M., Chandra, P., Kulik, L., Robinson, W. H., Arend, W. P., Thompson, P. R., Holers, V. M. 2011; 186 (7): 4396-4404
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with the development of autoantibodies to citrullinated self-proteins. Citrullinated synovial proteins, which are generated via the actions of the protein arginine deiminases (PADs), are known to develop in the murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model of inflammatory arthritis. Given these findings, we evaluated whether N-α-benzoyl-N5-(2-chloro-1-iminoethyl)-L-ornithine amide (Cl-amidine), a recently described pan-PAD inhibitor, could affect the development of arthritis and autoimmunity by treating mice in the CIA model with Cl-amidine on days 0-35. Cl-amidine treatment reduced total synovial and serum citrullination, decreased clinical disease activity by ∼50%, and significantly decreased IgG2a anti-mouse type II collagen Abs. Additionally, histopathology scores and total complement C3 deposition were significantly lower in Cl-amidine-treated mice compared with vehicle controls. Synovial microarray analyses demonstrated decreased IgG reactivity to several native and citrullinated epitopes compared with vehicle controls. Cl-amidine treatment had no ameliorative effect on collagen Ab-induced arthritis, suggesting its primary protective mechanism was not mediated through effector pathways. Reduced levels of citrullinated synovial proteins observed in mice treated with Cl-amidine are consistent with the notion that Cl-amidine derives its efficacy from its ability to inhibit the deiminating activity of PADs. In total, these results suggested that PADs are necessary participants in the autoimmune and subsequent inflammatory processes in CIA. Cl-amidine may represent a novel class of disease-modifying agents that modulate aberrant citrullination, and perhaps other immune processes, necessary for the development of inflammatory arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.4049/jimmunol.1001620

View details for Web of Science ID 000288751200067

View details for PubMedID 21346230
Fishing for Biomarkers with Antigen Mimics CELL Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 144 (1): 13-15
Abstract

Current efforts to identify antibodies that are biomarkers of disease rely on knowing the antigens they target. In many diseases, however, the relevant antigens are unknown. Reddy et al. (2010) now present an approach for discovering antibody biomarkers that avoids the need for antigen identification.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2010.12.022

View details for Web of Science ID 000285993600003

View details for PubMedID 21215365
Novel multiplex technology for diagnostic characterization of rheumatoid arthritis ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Chandra, P. E., Sokolove, J., Hipp, B. G., Lindstrom, T. M., Elder, J. T., Reveille, J. D., Eberl, H., Klause, U., Robinson, W. H. 2011; 13 (3)
Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop a clinical-grade, automated, multiplex system for the differential diagnosis and molecular stratification of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).We profiled autoantibodies, cytokines, and bone-turnover products in sera from 120 patients with a diagnosis of RA of < 6 months' duration, as well as in sera from 27 patients with ankylosing spondylitis, 28 patients with psoriatic arthritis, and 25 healthy individuals. We used a commercial bead assay to measure cytokine levels and developed an array assay based on novel multiplex technology (Immunological Multi-Parameter Chip Technology) to evaluate autoantibody reactivities and bone-turnover markers. Data were analyzed by Significance Analysis of Microarrays and hierarchical clustering software.We developed a highly reproducible, automated, multiplex biomarker assay that can reliably distinguish between RA patients and healthy individuals or patients with other inflammatory arthritides. Identification of distinct biomarker signatures enabled molecular stratification of early-stage RA into clinically relevant subtypes. In this initial study, multiplex measurement of a subset of the differentiating biomarkers provided high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnostic discrimination of RA: Use of 3 biomarkers yielded a sensitivity of 84.2% and a specificity of 93.8%, and use of 4 biomarkers a sensitivity of 59.2% and a specificity of 96.3%.The multiplex biomarker assay described herein has the potential to diagnose RA with greater sensitivity and specificity than do current clinical tests. Its ability to stratify RA patients in an automated and reproducible manner paves the way for the development of assays that can guide RA therapy.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3383

View details for Web of Science ID 000297149700032

View details for PubMedID 21702928
The Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor PCI-32765 ameliorates autoimmune arthritis by inhibition of multiple effector cells ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Chang, B. Y., Huang, M. M., Francesco, M., Chen, J., Sokolove, J., Magadala, P., Robinson, W. H., Buggy, J. J. 2011; 13 (4)
Abstract

The aim was to determine the effect of the Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk)-selective inhibitor PCI-32765, currently in Phase I/II studies in lymphoma trials, in arthritis and immune-complex (IC) based animal models and describe the underlying cellular mechanisms.PCI-32765 was administered in a series of murine IC disease models including collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA), reversed passive anaphylactic reaction (RPA), and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). Clinical and pathologic features characteristic of each model were examined following treatment. PCI-32765 was then examined in assays using immune cells relevant to the pathogenesis of arthritis, and where Btk is thought to play a functional role. These included proliferation and calcium mobilization in B cells, cytokine and chemokine production in monocytes/macrophages, degranulation of mast cells and its subsequent cytokine/chemokine production.PCI-32765 dose-dependently and potently reversed arthritic inflammation in a therapeutic CIA model with an ED(50) of 2.6 mg/kg/day. PCI-32765 also prevented clinical arthritis in CAIA models. In both models, infiltration of monocytes and macrophages into the synovium was completely inhibited and importantly, the bone and cartilage integrity of the joints were preserved. PCI-32765 reduced inflammation in the Arthus and PCA assays. In vitro, PCI-32765 inhibited BCR-activated primary B cell proliferation (IC(50) = 8 nM). Following FcγR stimulation, PCI-32765 inhibited TNFα, IL-1β and IL-6 production in primary monocytes (IC(50) = 2.6, 0.5, 3.9 nM, respectively). Following FcεRI stimulation of cultured human mast cells, PCI-32765 inhibited release of histamine, PGD(2), TNF-α, IL-8 and MCP-1.PCI-32765 is efficacious in CIA, and in IC models that do not depend upon autoantibody production from B cells. Thus PCI-32765 targets not only B lymphocytes but also monocytes, macrophages and mast cells, which are important Btk-expressing effector cells in arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar3400

View details for Web of Science ID 000297150200006

View details for PubMedID 21752263
The Number of Elevated Cytokines and Chemokines in Preclinical Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis Predicts Time to Diagnosis in an Age-Dependent Manner ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Deane, K. D., O'Donnell, C. I., Hueber, W., Majka, D. S., Lazar, A. A., Derber, L. A., Gilliland, W. R., Edison, J. D., Norris, J. M., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M. 2010; 62 (11): 3161-3172
Abstract

To evaluate levels of biomarkers in preclinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to use elevated biomarkers to develop a model for the prediction of time to future diagnosis of seropositive RA.Stored samples obtained from 73 military cases with seropositive RA prior to RA diagnosis and from controls (mean 2.9 samples per case; samples collected a mean of 6.6 years prior to diagnosis) were tested for rheumatoid factor (RF) isotypes, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, 14 cytokines and chemokines (by bead-based assay), and C-reactive protein (CRP).Preclinical positivity for anti-CCP and/or ≥2 RF isotypes was >96% specific for future RA. In preclinical RA, levels of the following were positive in a significantly greater proportion of RA cases versus controls: interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-15, fibroblast growth factor 2, flt-3 ligand, tumor necrosis factor α, interferon-γ-inducible 10-kd protein, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and CRP. Also, increasing numbers of elevated cytokines/chemokines were present in cases nearer to the time of diagnosis. RA patients who were ≥40 years old at diagnosis had a higher proportion of samples positive for cytokines/chemokines 5-10 years prior to diagnosis than did patients who were <40 years old at diagnosis (P < 0.01). In regression modeling using only case samples positive for autoantibodies highly specific for future RA, increasing numbers of cytokines/chemokines were predictive of decreased time to diagnosis, and the predicted time to diagnosis based on cytokines/chemokines was longer in older compared with younger cases.Levels of autoantibodies, cytokines/chemokines, and CRP are elevated in the preclinical period of RA development. In preclinical autoantibody-positive cases, the number of elevated cytokines/chemokines is predictive of the time of diagnosis of future RA in an age-dependent manner.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.27638

View details for Web of Science ID 000283776400005

View details for PubMedID 20597112
A model for harmonizing flow cytometry in clinical trials. Nature immunology Maecker, H. T., McCoy, J. P., Amos, M., Elliott, J., Gaigalas, A., Wang, L., Aranda, R., Banchereau, J., Boshoff, C., Braun, J., Korin, Y., Reed, E., Cho, J., Hafler, D., Davis, M., Fathman, C. G., Robinson, W., Denny, T., Weinhold, K., Desai, B., Diamond, B., Gregersen, P., Di Meglio, P., Nestle, F. O., Peakman, M., Villanova, F., Ferbas, J., Field, E., Kantor, A., Kawabata, T., Komocsar, W., Lotze, M., Nepom, J., Ochs, H., O'Lone, R., Phippard, D., Plevy, S., Rich, S., Roederer, M., Rotrosen, D., Yeh, J. 2010; 11 (11): 975-978
Abstract

Complexities in sample handling, instrument setup and data analysis are barriers to the effective use of flow cytometry to monitor immunological parameters in clinical trials. The novel use of a central laboratory may help mitigate these issues.

View details for DOI 10.1038/ni1110-975

View details for PubMedID 20959798
Evaluation of an imatinib response gene signature in patients with systemic sclerosis Chung, L., Ruiz, P., Wood, T., Shoor, S., Robinson, W., Whitfield, M., Chang, H., Fiorentino, D. CLINICAL & EXPER RHEUMATOLOGY. 2010: S62–S62
View details for Web of Science ID 000284028600028
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Role for Immunosenescence? JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 58 (8): 1565-1575
Abstract

Aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in the integrity of the immune system, a process known as immunosenescence. Pathological features typical of immune dysfunction in older adults, encompassing dysregulation of innate and adaptive immune responses, characterize rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease whose incidence increases with age. Recent evidence suggests that certain features of immunosenescence, such as the decrease in T-cell generation and diversity, may contribute to the development of RA. Thus, physiological immunosenescence may render older adults susceptible to RA, and premature immunosenescence may contribute to the development of RA in young adults. In addition, other features of immunosenescence may result from the chronic immune stimulation that occurs in RA and lead to worsening of the disease. This article reviews the immunopathological features common to aging and RA and discusses the mechanisms by which immunosenescence may contribute to the development or progression of RA.

View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2010.02965.x

View details for Web of Science ID 000280643700021

View details for PubMedID 20942872
Natural killer cells trigger osteoclastogenesis and bone destruction in arthritis PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Soederstroem, K., Stein, E., Colmenero, P., Purath, U., Mueller-Ladner, U., de Matos, C. T., Tarner, I. H., Robinson, W. H., Engleman, E. G. 2010; 107 (29): 13028-13033
Abstract

Osteoclasts are bone-eroding cells that develop from monocytic precursor cells in the presence of receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Osteoclasts are essential for physiological bone remodeling, but localized excessive osteoclast activity is responsible for the periarticular bone destruction that characteristically occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The origin of osteoclasts at sites of bone erosion in RA is unknown. Natural killer (NK) cells, as well as monocytes, are abundant in the inflamed joints of patients with RA. We show here that such NK cells express both RANKL and M-CSF and are frequently associated with CD14(+) monocytes in the RA synovium. Moreover, when synovial NK cells are cocultured with monocytes in vitro, they trigger their differentiation into osteoclasts, a process dependent on RANKL and M-CSF. As in RA, NK cells in the joints of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) express RANKL. Depletion of NK cells from mice before the induction of CIA reduces the severity of subsequent arthritis and almost completely prevents bone erosion. These results suggest that NK cells may play an important role in the destruction of bone associated with inflammatory arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1000546107

View details for Web of Science ID 000280144500059

View details for PubMedID 20615964
Biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis: making it personal. Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation. Supplementum Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 242: 79-84
Abstract

Effective treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been hampered by the heterogeneity of the disease. Although early intervention can result in disease remission, it requires early diagnosis - and current diagnostic tests are not sufficiently accurate or sensitive in the early stages of RA. As a result, RA is typically diagnosed only once damage to the joints has already begun, a time at which the window for optimal treatment may have been missed. Furthermore, a significant proportion of RA patients do not respond to any given therapeutic. Research efforts are increasingly focused on discovery of biomarkers that enable early diagnosis and stratification of RA, and thus the implementation of timely, targeted therapy. Biomarkers have the potential to transform the management of RA by enabling not only early diagnosis, but also assessment and prediction of disease severity, selection of therapy, and monitoring of response to therapy. In this mini review, we discuss the development of molecular biomarkers for RA.

View details for DOI 10.3109/00365513.2010.493406

View details for PubMedID 20515283
Biomarkers for rheumatoid arthritis: Making it personal SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL & LABORATORY INVESTIGATION Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 70: 79-84
View details for DOI 10.3109/00365513.2010.493406

View details for Web of Science ID 000280333600017
Endogenous antibodies promote rapid myelin clearance and effective axon regeneration after nerve injury PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Vargas, M. E., Watanabe, J., Singh, S. J., Robinson, W. H., Barres, B. A. 2010; 107 (26): 11993-11998
Abstract

Degenerating myelin inhibits axon regeneration and is rapidly cleared after peripheral (PNS) but not central nervous system (CNS) injury. To better understand mechanisms underlying rapid PNS myelin clearance, we tested the potential role of the humoral immune system. Here, we show that endogenous antibodies are required for rapid and robust PNS myelin clearance and axon regeneration. B-cell knockout JHD mice display a significant delay in macrophage influx, myelin clearance, and axon regeneration. Rapid clearance of myelin debris is restored in mutant JHD mice by passive transfer of antibodies from naïve WT mice or by an anti-PNS myelin antibody, but not by delivery of nonneural antibodies. We demonstrate that degenerating nerve tissue is targeted by preexisting endogenous antibodies that control myelin clearance by promoting macrophage entrance and phagocytic activity. These results demonstrate a role for immunoglobulin (Ig) in clearing damaged self during healing and suggest that the immune-privileged status of the CNS may contribute to failure of CNS myelin clearance and axon regeneration after injury.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1001948107

View details for Web of Science ID 000279332300061

View details for PubMedID 20547838
A Multitude of Kinases-Which are the Best Targets in Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis? RHEUMATIC DISEASE CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA Lindstrom, T. M., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 36 (2): 367-?
Abstract

Small-molecule kinase inhibitors are increasingly taking center stage in the quest for new drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). By targeting kinases, small-molecule inhibitors can exert potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects; the success of small-molecule kinase inhibitors in the treatment of cancer has spurred efforts to identify kinases that could be targeted for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders, such as RA. Although many kinase inhibitors have proved efficacious in the treatment of inflammatory arthritis in animals few have been tested in RA clinical trials. This article discusses the challenges and progress in the pursuit of small-molecule kinase inhibitors for RA, including lessons learned from the failure of erstwhile frontrunner inhibitors and the promise of inhibitors making their debut on the RA stage.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.rdc.2010.02.005

View details for Web of Science ID 000279254800010

View details for PubMedID 20510239
Development of protein microarrays to investigate autoantibody profiles in pemphigus vulgaris Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Investigative-Dermatology Patel, M., Furstenberg, G., Hazelton, J., Tiagi, S., Seiffert-Sinha, K., Haab, B. B., Robinson, W. H., Sinha, A. A. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. 2010: S19–S19
View details for Web of Science ID 000276455100111
c-Fms-mediated differentiation and priming of monocyte lineage cells play a central role in autoimmune arthritis ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Paniagua, R. T., Chang, A., Mariano, M. M., Stein, E. A., Wang, Q., Lindstrom, T. M., Sharpe, O., Roscow, C., Ho, P. P., Lee, D. M., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 12 (1)
Abstract

Tyrosine kinases are key mediators of multiple signaling pathways implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We previously demonstrated that imatinib mesylate--a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, antineoplastic drug that potently inhibits the tyrosine kinases Abl, c-Kit, platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and c-Fms--ameliorates murine autoimmune arthritis. However, which of the imatinib-targeted kinases is the principal culprit in disease pathogenesis remains unknown. Here we examine the role of c-Fms in autoimmune arthritis.We tested the therapeutic efficacy of orally administered imatinib or GW2580, a small molecule that specifically inhibits c-Fms, in three mouse models of RA: collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), anti-collagen antibody-induced arthritis (CAIA), and K/BxN serum transfer-induced arthritis (K/BxN). Efficacy was evaluated by visual scoring of arthritis severity, paw thickness measurements, and histological analysis. We assessed the in vivo effects of imatinib and GW2580 on macrophage infiltration of synovial joints in CIA, and their in vitro effects on macrophage and osteoclast differentiation, and on osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Further, we determined the effects of imatinib and GW2580 on the ability of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF; the ligand for c-Fms) to prime bone marrow-derived macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor (TNF) upon subsequent Fc receptor ligation. Finally, we measured M-CSF levels in synovial fluid from patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), or psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and levels of total and phosphorylated c-Fms in synovial tissue from patients with RA.GW2580 was as efficacious as imatinib in reducing arthritis severity in CIA, CAIA, and K/BxN models of RA. Specific inhibition of c-Fms abrogated (i) infiltration of macrophages into synovial joints of arthritic mice; (ii) differentiation of monocytes into macrophages and osteoclasts; (iii) osteoclast-mediated bone resorption; and (iv) priming of macrophages to produce TNF upon Fc receptor stimulation, an important trigger of synovitis in RA. Expression and activation of c-Fms in RA synovium were high, and levels of M-CSF were higher in RA synovial fluid than in OA or PsA synovial fluid.These results suggest that c-Fms plays a central role in the pathogenesis of RA by mediating the differentiation and priming of monocyte lineage cells. Therapeutic targeting of c-Fms could provide benefit in RA.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar2940

View details for Web of Science ID 000278012700045

View details for PubMedID 20181277

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2875666
Correlation between Circulating Plasmablasts and Disease Activity in Patients with ACPA plus Rheumatoid Arthritis 10th Annual Meeting of the Federation-of-Clinical-Immunology-Societies Tan, Y. C., Sokolove, J., Robinson, W. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2010: S138–S138
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2010.03.418

View details for Web of Science ID 000277953700402
Targeting mTOR and MAPK Pathways to Inhibit Naive and Experienced Effector CD4 T Cells in Autoimmunity 10th Annual Meeting of the Federation-of-Clinical-Immunology-Societies Lin, J., Stein, E., Wong, M., Kalpathy, K., Su, L., Utz, P., Robinson, W., Fathman, C. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2010: S69–S69
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2010.03.211

View details for Web of Science ID 000277953700195
Autoimmunity against Fibrinogen Mediates Inflammatory Arthritis in Mice JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Ho, P. P., Lee, L. Y., Zhao, X., Tomooka, B. H., Paniagua, R. T., Sharpe, O., Benbarak, M. J., Chandra, P. E., Hueber, W., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2010; 184 (1): 379-390
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune synovitis characterized by the presence of anticitrullinated protein Abs, although the exact targets and role of anticitrullinated protein autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of RA remain to be defined. Fibrinogen, which can be citrullinated, has recently emerged as a candidate autoantigen. To determine whether autoimmunity against fibrinogen can mediate inflammatory arthritis, we immunized a variety of common mouse strains with fibrinogen and found that DBA/1 and SJL mice developed an inflammatory and erosive arthritis. Mice with fibrinogen-induced arthritis (FIA) possess fibrinogen-reactive T cells that produce the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. FIA can be adoptively transferred with either plasma or fibrinogen-specific T cells from diseased mice. Mice with FIA possess rheumatoid factor, circulating immune complexes, and anticyclic citrullinated peptide Abs, all of which are characteristic of human RA. These observations demonstrate that fibrinogen is arthritogenic in mice and that the pathogenesis of FIA is mediated by both autoantibodies and fibrinogen-reactive T cells.

View details for DOI 10.4049/jimmunol.0901639

View details for Web of Science ID 000272985300043

View details for PubMedID 19949094

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3412066
Autoimmune Disease Classification by Inverse Association with SNP Alleles PLOS GENETICS Sirota, M., Schaub, M. A., Batzoglou, S., Robinson, W. H., Butte, A. J. 2009; 5 (12)
Abstract

With multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) performed across autoimmune diseases, there is a great opportunity to study the homogeneity of genetic architectures across autoimmune disease. Previous approaches have been limited in the scope of their analysis and have failed to properly incorporate the direction of allele-specific disease associations for SNPs. In this work, we refine the notion of a genetic variation profile for a given disease to capture strength of association with multiple SNPs in an allele-specific fashion. We apply this method to compare genetic variation profiles of six autoimmune diseases: multiple sclerosis (MS), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's disease (CD), and type 1 diabetes (T1D), as well as five non-autoimmune diseases. We quantify pair-wise relationships between these diseases and find two broad clusters of autoimmune disease where SNPs that make an individual susceptible to one class of autoimmune disease also protect from diseases in the other autoimmune class. We find that RA and AS form one such class, and MS and ATD another. We identify specific SNPs and genes with opposite risk profiles for these two classes. We furthermore explore individual SNPs that play an important role in defining similarities and differences between disease pairs. We present a novel, systematic, cross-platform approach to identify allele-specific relationships between disease pairs based on genetic variation as well as the individual SNPs which drive the relationships. While recognizing similarities between diseases might lead to identifying novel treatment options, detecting differences between diseases previously thought to be similar may point to key novel disease-specific genes and pathways.

View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000792

View details for Web of Science ID 000273469700042

View details for PubMedID 20041220

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2791168
Thrombin-Activatable Carboxypeptidase B Cleavage of Osteopontin Regulates Neutrophil Survival and Synoviocyte Binding in Rheumatoid Arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Sharif, S. A., Du, X., Myles, T., Song, J. J., Price, E., Lee, D. M., Goodman, S. B., Nagashima, M., Morser, J., Robinson, W. H., Leung, L. L. 2009; 60 (10): 2902-2912
Abstract

Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). OPN can be cleaved by thrombin, resulting in OPN-R and exposing the cryptic C-terminal alpha4beta1 and alpha9beta1 integrin-binding motif (SVVYGLR). Thrombin-activatable carboxypeptidase B (CPB), also called thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, removes the C-terminal arginine from OPN-R, generating OPN-L and abrogating its enhanced cell binding. We undertook this study to investigate the roles of OPN-R and OPN-L in synoviocyte adhesion, which contributes to the formation of invasive pannus, and in neutrophil survival, which affects inflammatory infiltrates in RA.Using specifically developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, we tested the synovial fluid of patients with RA, osteoarthritis (OA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) to determine OPN-R, OPN-L, and full-length OPN (OPN-FL) levels.Elevated levels of OPN-R and OPN-L were found in synovial fluid samples from RA patients, but not in samples from OA or PsA patients. Increased levels of OPN-R and OPN-L correlated with increased levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed robust expression of OPN-FL, but only minimal expression of OPN-R, in RA synovium, suggesting that cleaved OPN is released into synovial fluid. In cellular assays, OPN-FL, and to a lesser extent OPN-R and OPN-L, had an antiapoptotic effect on neutrophils. OPN-R augmented RA fibroblast-like synoviocyte binding mediated by SVVYGLR binding to alpha4beta1, whereas OPN-L did not.Thrombin activation of OPN (resulting in OPN-R) and its subsequent inactivation by thrombin-activatable CPB (generating OPN-L) occurs locally within inflamed joints in RA. Our data suggest that thrombin-activatable CPB plays a central homeostatic role in RA by regulating neutrophil viability and reducing synoviocyte adhesion.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.24814

View details for Web of Science ID 000270696600007

View details for PubMedID 19790060

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3757557
A broad screen for targets of immune complexes decorating arthritic joints highlights deposition of nucleosomes in rheumatoid arthritis PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Monach, P. A., Hueber, W., Kessler, B., Tomooka, B. H., BenBarak, M., Simmons, B. P., Wright, J., Thornhill, T. S., Monestier, M., Ploegh, H., Robinson, W. H., Mathis, D., Benoist, C. 2009; 106 (37): 15867-15872
Abstract

Deposits of Ig and complement are abundant in affected joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in animal models of RA in which antibodies are demonstrably pathogenic. To identify molecular targets of the Igs deposited in arthritic joints, which may activate local inflammation, we used a combination of mass spectrometry (MS) and protein microarrays. Immune complexes were affinity-purified from surgically removed joint tissues of 26 RA and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Proteins complexed with IgG were identified by proteomic analysis using tandem MS. A striking diversity of components of the extracellular matrix, and some intracellular components, copurified specifically with IgG from RA and OA tissues. A smaller set of autoantigens was observed only in RA eluates. In complementary experiments, IgG fractions purified from joint immune complexes were tested on protein microarrays against a range of candidate autoantigens. These Igs bound a diverse subset of proteins and peptides from synovium and cartilage, different from that bound by normal serum Ig. One type of intracellular protein detected specifically in RA joints (histones H2A/B) was validated by immunohistology and found to be deposited on the cartilage surface of RA but not OA joints. Thus, autoantibodies to many determinants (whether deposited as "neoantigens" or normal constituents of the extracellular matrix) have the potential to contribute to arthritic inflammation.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0908032106

View details for Web of Science ID 000269806600065

View details for PubMedID 19720992
Engagement of CD81 induces ezrin tyrosine phosphorylation and its cellular redistribution with filamentous actin JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE Coffey, G. P., Rajapaksa, R., Liu, R., Sharpe, O., Kuo, C., Krauss, S. W., Sagi, Y., Davis, R. E., Staudt, L. M., Sharman, J. P., Robinson, W. H., Levy, S. 2009; 122 (17): 3137-3144
Abstract

CD81 is a tetraspanin family member involved in diverse cellular interactions in the immune and nervous systems and in cell fusion events. However, the mechanism of action of CD81 and of other tetraspanins has not been defined. We reasoned that identifying signaling molecules downstream of CD81 would provide mechanistic clues. We engaged CD81 on the surface of B-lymphocytes and identified the induced tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins by mass spectrometry. This analysis showed that the most prominent tyrosine phosphorylated protein was ezrin, an actin-binding protein and a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family. We also found that CD81 engagement induces spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) and that Syk was involved in tyrosine phosphorylation of ezrin. After engagement of CD81, it colocalized with ezrin and F-actin, and this association was disrupted when Syk activation was blocked. Taken together, these studies suggest a model in which CD81 interfaces between the plasma membrane and the cytoskeleton by activating Syk, mobilizing ezrin, and recruiting F-actin to facilitate cytoskeletal reorganization and cell signaling. This mechanism might explain the pleiotropic effects induced in response to stimulation of cells by anti-CD81 antibodies or by the hepatitis C virus, which uses this molecule as its key receptor.

View details for DOI 10.1242/jcs.045658

View details for Web of Science ID 000269122000013

View details for PubMedID 19654214

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2729262
Neuroprotective natural antibodies to assemblies of amyloidogenic peptides decrease with normal aging and advancing Alzheimer's disease PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Britschgi, M., Olin, C. E., Johns, H. T., Takeda-Uchimura, Y., LeMieux, M. C., Rufibach, K., Rajadas, J., Zhang, H., Tomooka, B., Robinson, W. H., Clark, C. M., Fagan, A. M., Galasko, D. R., Holtzman, D. M., Jutel, M., Kaye, J. A., Lemere, C. A., Leszek, J., Li, G., Peskind, E. R., Quinn, J. F., Yesavage, J. A., Ghiso, J. A., Wyss-Coray, T. 2009; 106 (29): 12145-12150
Abstract

A number of distinct beta-amyloid (Abeta) variants or multimers have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and antibodies recognizing such peptides are in clinical trials. Humans have natural Abeta-specific antibodies, but their diversity, abundance, and function in the general population remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate with peptide microarrays the presence of natural antibodies against known toxic Abeta and amyloidogenic non-Abeta species in plasma samples and cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients and healthy controls aged 21-89 years. Antibody reactivity was most prominent against oligomeric assemblies of Abeta and pyroglutamate or oxidized residues, and IgGs specific for oligomeric preparations of Abeta1-42 in particular declined with age and advancing AD. Most individuals showed unexpected antibody reactivities against peptides unique to autosomal dominant forms of dementia (mutant Abeta, ABri, ADan) and IgGs isolated from plasma of AD patients or healthy controls protected primary neurons from Abeta toxicity. Aged vervets showed similar patterns of plasma IgG antibodies against amyloid peptides, and after immunization with Abeta the monkeys developed high titers not only against Abeta peptides but also against ABri and ADan peptides. Our findings support the concept of conformation-specific, cross-reactive antibodies that may protect against amyloidogenic toxic peptides. If a therapeutic benefit of Abeta antibodies can be confirmed in AD patients, stimulating the production of such neuroprotective antibodies or passively administering them to the elderly population may provide a preventive measure toward AD.

View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0904866106

View details for Web of Science ID 000268178400059

View details for PubMedID 19581601
Identification of mRNA binding proteins that regulate the stability of LDL receptor mRNA through AU-rich elements JOURNAL OF LIPID RESEARCH Li, H., Chen, W., Zhou, Y., Abidi, P., Sharpe, O., Robinson, W. H., Kraemer, F. B., Liu, J. 2009; 50 (5): 820-831
Abstract

The 3'untranslated region (UTR) of human LDL receptor (LDLR) mRNA contains three AU-rich elements (AREs) responsible for rapid mRNA turnover and mediates the stabilization induced by berberine (BBR). However, the identities of the specific RNA binding proteins involved in the regulation of LDLR mRNA stability at the steady state level or upon BBR treatment are unknown. By conducting small interfering RNA library screenings, biotinylated RNA pull-down, mass spectrometry analysis, and functional assays, we now identify heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D (hnRNP D), hnRNP I, and KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP) as key modulators of LDLR mRNA stability in liver cells. We show that hnRNP D, I, and KSRP interact with AREs of the LDLR 3'UTR with sequence specificity. Silencing the expression of these proteins increased LDLR mRNA and protein levels. We further demonstrate that BBR-induced mRNA stabilization involves hnRNP I and KSRP, as their cellular depletions abolished the BBR effect and BBR treatment reduced the binding of hnRNP I and KSRP to the LDLR mRNA 3'UTR. These new findings demonstrate that LDLR mRNA stability is controlled by a group of ARE binding proteins, including hnRNP D, hnRNP I, and KSRP. Our results suggest that interference with the ability of destabilizing ARE binding proteins to interact with LDLR-ARE motifs is likely a mechanism for regulating LDLR expression by compounds such as BBR and perhaps others.

View details for DOI 10.1194/jlr.M800375-JLR200

View details for Web of Science ID 000264969300006

View details for PubMedID 19141871
Elemental bio-imaging of calcium phosphate crystal deposits in knee samples from arthritic patients METALLOMICS Austin, C., Hare, D., Rozelle, A. L., Robinson, W. H., Grimm, R., Doble, P. 2009; 1 (2): 142-147
Abstract

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA ICP-MS) was employed to image deposits of calcium phosphate based crystals in knee cartilage and synovial fluid from arthritic patients. A reaction/collision cell containing hydrogen minimised plasma interferences on calcium and also improved the image quality without significant sensitivity reduction. Areas of high calcium and phosphorus intensities consistent with crystal deposits were observed for both the cartilage and synovial fluid samples. These areas were also characterised by high magnesium and strontium intensities. Distribution patterns of other elements such as copper and sulfur did not correlate with the crystal deposits. Filtered and non-filtered solutions of calcium phosphate crystals grown in synthetic synovial fluid were also imaged as further evidence of crystal deposits. The crystal deposits were detected in the unfiltered solution, and were absent from the filtered solutions.

View details for DOI 10.1039/b901310p

View details for Web of Science ID 000269034100003

View details for PubMedID 21305107
Genomics and proteomics: Applications in autoimmune diseases. Pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine Hueber, W., Robinson, W. H. 2009; 2: 39-48
Abstract

Tremendous progress has been made over the past decade in the development and refinement of genomic and proteomic technologies for the identification of novel drug targets and molecular signatures associated with clinically important disease states, disease subsets, or differential responses to therapies. The rapid progress in high-throughput technologies has been preceded and paralleled by the elucidation of cytokine networks, followed by the stepwise clinical development of pathway-specific biological therapies that revolutionized the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Together, these advances provide opportunities for a long-anticipated personalized medicine approach to the treatment of autoimmune disease. The ever-increasing numbers of novel, innovative therapies will need to be harnessed wisely to achieve optimal long-term outcomes in as many patients as possible while complying with the demands of health authorities and health care providers for evidence-based, economically sound prescription of these expensive drugs. Genomic and proteomic profiling of patients with autoimmune diseases holds great promise in two major clinical areas: (1) rapid identification of new targets for the development of innovative therapies and (2) identification of patients who will experience optimal benefit and minimal risk from a specific (targeted) therapy. In this review, we attempt to capture important recent developments in the application of genomic and proteomic technologies to translational research by discussing informative examples covering a diversity of autoimmune diseases.

View details for PubMedID 23226033
B Cells and Transplantation: An Educational Resource Tandem Meeting on Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation Small, T. N., Robinson, W. H., Miklos, D. B. ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. 2009: 104–13
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.bbmt.2008.10.016

View details for Web of Science ID 000263034300022

View details for PubMedID 19147088
Tyrosine Kinases in Autoimmune Demyelination 9th Annual Meeting of the Federation-of-Clinical-Immunology-Societies Crespo, O., Kang, S., Daneman, R., Sobel, R., Ho, P., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE. 2009: S73–S73
View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clim.2009.03.212

View details for Web of Science ID 000266342300205
Differentially Cleaved Forms of Osteopontin by Thrombin and Carboxypeptidase B (TAF1a) Regulates Neutrophil Viability and Synoviocyte Binding in Rheumatoid Arthritis 50th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology/ASH/ASCO Joint Symposium Sharif, S., Du, X., Myles, T., Song, J. J., Price, E. A., Lee, D., Goodman, S., Morser, J., Robinson, W., Leung, L. L. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. 2008: 1219–19
View details for Web of Science ID 000262104704180
Identification of acute phase reactants and cytokines useful for monitoring infliximab therapy in ankylosing spondylitis CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY Romero-Sanchez, C., Robinson, W. H., Tomooka, B. H., Londono, J., Valle-Onate, R., Huang, F., Deng, X., Zhang, L., Yang, C., Yu, D. T. 2008; 27 (11): 1429-1435
Abstract

Although most ankylosing spondylitis patients show an apparent clinical response to infliximab therapy, there is considerable individual variation. Because current clinical assessment relies heavily on subjective patient self-evaluation, biomarkers of high sensitivity and specificity are much needed. Here, we assessed potential biomarkers in 47 ankylosing spondylitis patients who received three standard pulses of infliximab. Before each infusion and at week 10, the following were measured: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count, serum levels of metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), and 22 different cytokines. We discovered that, 2 weeks after the first infusion, the combination of ESR, CRP, and platelet count distinguished responders from non-responders with 81.3% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity. The distinguishing power was much less when each acute phase reactant was used alone. Among the 22 cytokines, serum IL-1alpha was able to distinguish responders from non-responders at week 6, with sensitivity of 84.9% and specificity of 53.8%. Serum IL-1alpha was probably generated from the joint compartments, as synovial fluid levels were much higher than corresponding serum levels. Although infliximab infusions led to rapid and significant suppression of serum MMP-3 levels, serum MMP-3 levels did not distinguish responders from non-responders. Besides identifying potential biomarkers, our results also demonstrate the usefulness of using sensitivity and specificity to assess usefulness of potential biomarkers.

View details for DOI 10.1007/s10067-008-0941-x

View details for Web of Science ID 000259816200013

View details for PubMedID 18566849
Regulation of tissue inflammation by thrombi n-activatable carboxypeptidase B (or TAFI) 22nd International Complement Workshop Leung, L. L., Myles, T., Nishimura, T., Song, J. J., Robinson, W. H. PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. 2008: 4080–83
Abstract

Thrombin-activatable procarboxypeptidase B (proCPB or thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor or TAFI) is a plasma procarboxypeptidase that is activated by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex on the vascular endothelial surface. The activated CPB removes the newly exposed carboxyl terminal lysines in the partially digested fibrin clot, diminishes tissue plasminogen activator and plasminogen binding, and protects the clot from premature lysis. We have recently shown that CPB is catalytically more efficient than plasma CPN, the major plasma anaphylatoxin inhibitor, in inhibiting bradykinin, activated complement C3a, C5a, and thrombin-cleaved osteopontin in vitro. Using a thrombin mutant (E229K) that has minimal procoagulant properties but retains the ability to activate protein C and proCPB in vivo, we showed that infusion of E229K thrombin into wild-type mice reduced bradykinin-induced hypotension but it had no effect in proCPB-deficient mice, indicating that the beneficial effect of E229K thrombin is mediated through its activation of proCPB and not protein C. Similarly proCPB-deficient mice displayed enhanced pulmonary inflammation in a C5a-induced alveolitis model and E229K thrombin ameliorated the magnitude of alveolitis in wild-type but not proCPB-deficient mice. ProCPB-deficient mice also displayed enhanced arthritis in an inflammatory arthritis model. Thus, our in vitro and in vivo data support the thesis that thrombin-activatable CPB has broad anti-inflammatory properties. By specific cleavage of the carboxyl terminal arginines from C3a, C5a, bradykinin and thrombin-cleaved osteopontin, it inactivates these active inflammatory mediators. Along with the activation of protein C, the activation of proCPB by the endothelial thrombin-thrombomodulin complex represents a homeostatic feedback mechanism in regulating thrombin's pro-inflammatory functions in vivo.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.07.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000260245000006

View details for PubMedID 18706698

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3771643
Anti-GITR treatment in collagen-induced arthritis results in enhanced epitope spreading and increased antibodies to citrullinated protein antigens (ACPA) 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals Cozine, C., Robinson, W. H., BenBarak, M., Holers, V. M. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2008: S405–S406
View details for Web of Science ID 000259244200669
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related antibody positivity is associated with serum cytokine elevations in RA-free first-degree relatives (FDRs) of RA-probands 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals Deane, K. D., Robinson, W. H., Majka, D. S., Parrish, L. A., BenBarak, M., Weisman, M. H., O'Dell, J. R., Gregersen, P. K., Buckner, J. H., Norris, J. M., Holers, V. M. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2008: S615–S615
View details for Web of Science ID 000259244201458
A central anti-inflammatory role of carboxypeptidase B in autoimmune arthritis 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals Song, J. J., Nishimura, T., Garcia, M., Myles, T., Du, X., Sharif, S., Leung, L., Robinson, W. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2008: S264–S265
View details for Web of Science ID 000259244200285
Molecular framework for response to imatinib mesylate in systemic sclerosis 72nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the American-College-of-Rheumatology/43rd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Association-of-Rheumatology-Health-Professionals Chung, L., Fiorentino, D. F., Benbarak, M. J., Adler, A. S., Mariano, M. M., Paniagua, R. T., Milano, A., Connolly, M. K., Ratiner, B. D., Wiskocil, R. L., Whitfield, M. L., Chang, H. Y., Robinson, W. H. WILEY-BLACKWELL. 2008: S819–S820
View details for Web of Science ID 000259244202263
Genomic and proteomic analysis reveals a threshold level of MYC required for tumor maintenance CANCER RESEARCH Shachaf, C. M., Gentles, A. J., Elchuri, S., Sahoo, D., Soen, Y., Sharpe, O., Perez, O. D., Chang, M., Mitchel, D., Robinson, W. H., Dill, D., Nolan, G. P., Plevritis, S. K., Felsher, D. W. 2008; 68 (13): 5132-5142
Abstract

MYC overexpression has been implicated in the pathogenesis of most types of human cancers. MYC is likely to contribute to tumorigenesis by its effects on global gene expression. Previously, we have shown that the loss of MYC overexpression is sufficient to reverse tumorigenesis. Here, we show that there is a precise threshold level of MYC expression required for maintaining the tumor phenotype, whereupon there is a switch from a gene expression program of proliferation to a state of proliferative arrest and apoptosis. Oligonucleotide microarray analysis and quantitative PCR were used to identify changes in expression in 3,921 genes, of which 2,348 were down-regulated and 1,573 were up-regulated. Critical changes in gene expression occurred at or near the MYC threshold, including genes implicated in the regulation of the G(1)-S and G(2)-M cell cycle checkpoints and death receptor/apoptosis signaling. Using two-dimensional protein analysis followed by mass spectrometry, phospho-flow fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and antibody arrays, we also identified changes at the protein level that contributed to MYC-dependent tumor regression. Proteins involved in mRNA translation decreased below threshold levels of MYC. Thus, at the MYC threshold, there is a loss of its ability to maintain tumorigenesis, with associated shifts in gene and protein expression that reestablish cell cycle checkpoints, halt protein translation, and promote apoptosis.

View details for DOI 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-6192

View details for Web of Science ID 000257415300024

View details for PubMedID 18593912
Complement receptor CR2/CR1 deficiency protects mice from collagen-induced arthritis and associates with reduced autoantibodies to type II collagen and citrullinated antigens MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY Kuhn, K. A., Cozine, C. L., Tomooka, B., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M. 2008; 45 (10): 2808-2819
Abstract

Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), a model of autoimmune inflammatory arthritis, depends upon complement activation and effective B cell responses. To determine the importance of complement receptors CR2/CR1 in CIA, the Cr2-/- genotype was backcrossed onto the DBA/1j strain. CIA was induced by immunization with bovine type II collagen in CFA on days 0 and 21. Cr2-/- mice demonstrated a significantly diminished arthritis severity, decreased antibodies to bovine and murine collagen, and a significant reduction in antibodies to citrullinated antigens. Autoantibodies to citrullinated antigens have been shown to amplify anti-type II collagen passive transfer arthritis. To test the hypothesis that that simple replacement of such antibodies might re-establish severe disease in Cr2-/- mice, monoclonal antibodies to citrullinated antigens were administered to mice during the disease course. Although citrullinated antigens targeted by these antibodies were present within the joints of all mice, addition of these monoclonal antibodies increased disease severity only in Cr2+/+ mice. Taken together, these data suggest that CR2/CR1 are required to develop robust autoimmunity in the CIA model and that amplification of arthritis by antibodies to citrullinated antigens depends on factor(s) absent in arthritic Cr2-/- mice.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.01.036

View details for Web of Science ID 000256318800011

View details for PubMedID 18374982
Epitope spreading to citrullinated antigens in mouse models of autoimmune arthritis and demyelination ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY Kidd, B. A., Ho, P. P., Sharpe, O., Zhao, X., Tomooka, B. H., Kanter, J. L., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2008; 10 (5)
Abstract

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies have a diagnostic role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, little is known about their origins and contribution to pathogenesis. Citrullination is the post-translational conversion of arginine to citrulline by peptidyl arginine deiminase, and increased citrullination of proteins is observed in the joint tissue in RA and in brain tissue in multiple sclerosis (MS).We applied synovial and myelin protein arrays to examine epitope spreading of B cell responses to citrullinated epitopes in both the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model for RA and the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model for MS. Synovial and myelin protein arrays contain a spectrum of proteins and peptides, including native and citrullinated forms, representing candidate autoantigens in RA and MS, respectively. We applied these arrays to characterise the specificity of autoantibodies in serial serum samples derived from mice with acute and chronic stages of CIA and EAE.In samples from pre-disease CIA and acute-disease EAE, we observed autoantibody targeting of the immunising antigen and responses to a limited set of citrullinated epitopes. Over the course of diseases, the autoantibody responses expanded to target multiple citrullinated epitopes in both CIA and EAE. Using immunoblotting and mass spectrometry analysis, we identified citrullination of multiple polypeptides in CIA joint and EAE brain tissue that have not previously been described as citrullinated.Our results suggest that anti-citrulline antibody responses develop in the early stages of CIA and EAE, and that autoimmune inflammation results in citrullination of joint proteins in CIA and brain proteins in EAE, thereby creating neoantigens that become additional targets in epitope spreading of autoimmune responses.

View details for DOI 10.1186/ar2523

View details for Web of Science ID 000263644500038

View details for PubMedID 18826638

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC2592807
Induction of antigen-specific tolerance in multiple sclerosis after immunization with DNA encoding myelin basic protein in a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1/2 trial ARCHIVES OF NEUROLOGY Bar-Or, A., Vollmer, T., Antel, J., Arnold, D. L., Bodner, C. A., Campagnolo, D., Gianettoni, J., Jalili, F., Kachuck, N., Lapierre, Y., Niino, M., Oger, J., Price, M., Rhodes, S., Robinson, W. H., Shi, F., Utz, P. J., Valone, F., Weiner, L., Steinman, L., Garren, H. 2007; 64 (10): 1407-1415
Abstract

To assess safety and immune modulation by BHT-3009, a tolerizing DNA vaccine encoding full-length human myelin basic protein, in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).The study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects receiving placebo were crossed over into an active arm after treatment unblinding.The trial was conducted at 4 academic institutions within North America. Patients Thirty patients with relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS who were not taking any other disease-modifying drugs were enrolled in the trial. Further, the patients were required to have either 1 to 5 gadolinium-enhancing lesions on screening brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a relapse in the previous 2 years, or disease worsening in the previous 2 years.BHT-3009 was administered as intramuscular injections at weeks 1, 3, 5, and 9 after randomization into the trial, with or without 80 mg of daily oral atorvastatin calcium in combination. Three dose levels of BHT-3009 were tested (0.5 mg, 1.5 mg, and 3 mg).The primary outcome measures were safety and tolerability of BHT-3009. Secondary outcome measures included the number and volume of gadolinium-enhanced lesions on MRI, relapses, and analysis of antigen-specific immune responses.BHT-3009 was safe and well tolerated, provided favorable trends on brain MRI, and produced beneficial antigen-specific immune changes. These immune changes consisted of a marked decrease in proliferation of interferon-gamma-producing, myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood and a reduction in titers of myelin-specific autoantibodies from cerebral spinal fluid as assessed by protein microarrays. We did not observe a substantial benefit of the atorvastatin combination compared with BHT-3009 alone.In patients with MS, BHT-3009 is safe and induces antigen-specific immune tolerance with concordant reduction of inflammatory lesions on brain MRI.

View details for Web of Science ID 000249998400004

View details for PubMedID 17698695
Protective and therapeutic role for alpha B-crystallin in autoimmune demyelination NATURE Ousman, S. S., Tomooka, B. H., Van Noort, J. M., Wawrousek, E. F., O'Connor, K. C., Hafler, D. A., Sobel, R. A., Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L. 2007; 448 (7152): 474-U7
Abstract

alphaB-crystallin (CRYAB) is the most abundant gene transcript present in early active multiple sclerosis lesions, whereas such transcripts are absent in normal brain tissue. This crystallin has anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective functions. CRYAB is the major target of CD4+ T-cell immunity to the myelin sheath from multiple sclerosis brain. The pathophysiological implications of this immune response were investigated here. We demonstrate that CRYAB is a potent negative regulator acting as a brake on several inflammatory pathways in both the immune system and central nervous system (CNS). Cryab-/- mice showed worse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) at the acute and progressive phases, with higher Th1 and Th17 cytokine secretion from T cells and macrophages, and more intense CNS inflammation, compared with their wild-type counterparts. Furthermore, Cryab-/- astrocytes showed more cleaved caspase-3 and more TUNEL staining, indicating an anti-apoptotic function of Cryab. Antibody to CRYAB was detected in cerebrospinal fluid from multiple sclerosis patients and in sera from mice with EAE. Administration of recombinant CRYAB ameliorated EAE. Thus, the immune response against a negative regulator of inflammation, CRYAB, in multiple sclerosis, would exacerbate inflammation and demyelination. This can be countered by giving CRYAB itself for therapy of ongoing disease.

View details for DOI 10.1038/nature05935

View details for Web of Science ID 000248302700047

View details for PubMedID 17568699
Identification of biomarkers associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in CuZn superoxide dismutase deficient mice PROTEOMICS Elchuri, S., Naeemuddin, M., Sharpe, O., Robinson, W. H., Huang, T. 2007; 7 (12): 2121-2129
Abstract

To identify biomarkers associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD, Sod1) deficient mice, 2-DE followed by MS analysis was carried out with liver samples obtained from 18-month-old Sod1-/- and +/+ mice. The intracellular Ca binding protein, regucalcin (RGN), showed a divergent alteration in Sod1-/- samples. Whereas elevated RGN levels were observed in -/- samples with no obvious neoplastic changes, marked reduction in RGN was observed in -/- samples with fully developed HCC. GST mu1 (GSTM1), on the other hand, showed a significant increase only in the neoplastic regions obtained from Sod1-/- livers. No change in GSTM1 was observed in the surrounding normal tissues. Marked reduction was observed in two intracellular lipid transporters, fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) and major urinary protein 11 and 8 (MUP 11&8), in Sod1-/- samples. Analysis of additional samples at 18-22 months of age showed a three-fold increase in enolase activities in Sod1-/- livers. Consistent with previous findings, carbonic anhydrase 3 (CAIII) levels were significantly reduced in Sod1-/- samples, and immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the reduction was not homogenous throughout the lobular structure in the liver.

View details for DOI 10.1002/pmic.200601011

View details for Web of Science ID 000247642100016

View details for PubMedID 17514684
Proteomic analysis of secreted proteins in early rheumatoid arthritis: anti-citrulline autoreactivity is associated with up regulation of proinflammatory cytokines ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES Hueber, W., Tomooka, B. H., Zhao, X., Kidd, B. A., Drijfhout, J. W., Fries, J. F., van Venrooij, W. J., Metzger, A. L., Genovese, M. C., Robinson, W. H. 2007; 66 (6): 712-719
Abstract

To identify peripheral blood autoantibody and cytokine profiles that characterise clinically relevant subgroups of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis using arthritis antigen microarrays and a multiplex cytokine assay.Serum samples from 56 patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis of <6 months' duration were tested. Cytokine profiles were also determined in samples from patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (n = 21), and from healthy individuals (n = 19). Data were analysed using Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's adjustment for multiple comparisons, linear correlation tests, significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) and hierarchical clustering software.Distinct antibody profiles were associated with subgroups of patients who exhibited high serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha, interleukin (IL)1beta, IL6, IL13, IL15 and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Significantly increased autoantibody reactivity against citrullinated epitopes was observed in patients within the cytokine "high" subgroup. Increased levels of TNFalpha, IL1alpha, IL12p40 and IL13, and the chemokines eotaxin/CCL11, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interferon-inducible protein 10, were present in early rheumatoid arthritis as compared with controls (p<0.001). Chemokines showed some of the most impressive differences. Only IL8/CXCL8 concentrations were higher in patients with PsA/ankylosing spondylitis (p = 0.02).Increased blood levels of proinflammatory cytokines are associated with autoantibody targeting of citrullinated antigens and surrogate markers of disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Proteomic analysis of serum autoantibodies, cytokines and chemokines enables stratification of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis into molecular subgroups.

View details for DOI 10.1136/ard.2006.054924

View details for Web of Science ID 000246594700002

View details for PubMedID 16901957

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1954670
Imatinib for the treatment of rheumatic diseases NATURE CLINICAL PRACTICE RHEUMATOLOGY Paniagua, R. T., Robinson, W. H. 2007; 3 (4): 190-191
View details for DOI 10.1038/ncprheum0465

View details for Web of Science ID 000245360700002

View details for PubMedID 17396105
Tolerizing DNA vaccines for autoimmune arthritis AUTOIMMUNITY Ho, P. P., Higgins, J. P., Kidd, B. A., Tomooka, B., Digennaro, C., Lee, L. Y., De Vegvar, H. E., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2006; 39 (8): 675-682
Abstract

Current therapies for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases non-specifically suppress immune function, and there is great need for fundamental approaches such as antigen-specific tolerizing therapy. In this paper we describe development of antigen-specific tolerizing DNA vaccines to treat collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice, and use of protein microarrays to monitor response to therapy and to identify potential additional autoimmune targets for next generation vaccines. We demonstrate that tolerizing DNA vaccines encoding type II collagen (CII) reduced the incidence and severity of CIA. Atorvastatin, a statin drug found to reduce the severity of autoimmunity, potentiated the effect of DNA vaccines encoding CII. Analysis of cytokines produced by collagen-reactive T cells derived from mice receiving tolerizing DNA encoding CII, as compared to control vaccines, revealed reduced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. Arthritis microarray analysis demonstrated reduced spreading of autoantibody responses in mice treated with DNA encoding CII. The development of tolerizing DNA vaccines, and the use of antibody profiling to guide design of and to monitor therapeutic responses to such vaccines, represents a promising approach for the treatment of RA and other autoimmune diseases.

View details for DOI 10.1016/08916930601061603

View details for Web of Science ID 000242934700006

View details for PubMedID 17178564
Proteomic biomarkers for autoimmune disease PROTEOMICS Hueber, W., Robinson, W. H. 2006; 6 (14): 4100-4105
Abstract

Autoimmune diseases affect 3% of the world population, yet the diagnosis and classification of autoimmune diseases remain based on clinical examination combined with traditional laboratory tests and imaging studies. The development of genomic and proteomic technologies provides an unprecedented ability to identify novel biosignatures to diagnose, classify, and guide therapeutic decision making in patients with autoimmune disease. In this article, we review recent advances in proteomics technologies and their application to autoimmune disease.

View details for DOI 10.1002/pmic.200600017

View details for Web of Science ID 000239358600013

View details for PubMedID 16786488
Fluid supported lipid bilayers containing mono sialoganglioside GM1: A QCM-D and FRAP study COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES Weng, K. C., Kanter, J. L., Robinson, W. H., Frank, C. W. 2006; 50 (1): 76-84
Abstract

In an effort to use model fluid membranes for immunological studies, we compared the formation of planar phospholipid bilayers supported on silicon dioxide surfaces with and without incorporation of glycolipids as the antigen for in situ antibody binding. Dynamic light scattering measurements did not differentiate the hydrodynamic volumes of extruded small unilamellar vesicles (E-SUVs) containing physiologically relevant concentrations (0.5-5 mol%) of monosialoganglioside GM1 (GM1) from exclusive egg yolk L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (egg PC) E-SUVs. However, quantifiable differences in deposition mass and dissipative energy loss emerged in the transformation of 5 mol% GM1/95 mol% egg PC E-SUVs to planar supported lipid bilayers (PSLBs) by vesicle fusion on thermally evaporated SiO2, as monitored by the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. Compared to the 100 mol% egg PC bilayers on the same surface, E-SUVs containing 5 mol% GM1 reached a approximately 12% higher mass and a lower dissipative energy loss during bilayer transformation. PSLBs with 5 mol% GM1 are approximately 18% heavier than 100 mol% egg PC and approximately 11% smaller in projected area per lipid, indicating an increased rigidity and a tighter packing. Subsequent binding of polyclonal immunoglobulin G anti-GM1 to the PSLBs was performed in situ and showed specificity. The anti-GM1 to GM1 ratios at equilibrium were roughly proportional to the concentrations of anti-GM1 administered in the solution. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching was utilized to verify the retained, albeit reduced lateral fluidity of the supported membranes. Five moles percentage of GM1 membranes (GM1 to PC ratio approximately 1:19) decorated with 1 mol% N-(Texas Red sulfonyl)-1,2-dihexadecanoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphoethanolamine (Texas Red DHPE) exhibited an approximately 16% lower diffusion coefficient of 1.32+/-0.06 microm2/s, compared to 1.58+/-0.04 microm2/s for egg PC membranes without GM1 (p<0.01). The changes in vesicle properties and membrane lateral fluidity are attributed to the interactions of GM1 with itself and GM1 with other membrane lipids. This system allows for molecules of interest such as GM1 to exist on a more biologically relevant surface than those used in conventional methods such as ELISA. Our analysis of rabbit serum antibodies binding to GM1 demonstrates this platform can be used to test for the presence of anti-lipid antibodies in serum.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2006.03.010

View details for Web of Science ID 000238515200012

View details for PubMedID 16730958
Antibodies against citrullinated proteins enhance tissue injury in experimental autoimmune arthritis JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Kuhn, K. A., Kulik, L., Tomooka, B., Braschler, K. J., Arend, W. P., Robinson, W. H., Holers, V. M. 2006; 116 (4): 961-973
Abstract

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins are specific and predictive markers for rheumatoid arthritis although the pathologic relevance of these antibodies remains unclear. To investigate the significance of these autoantibodies, collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice was used to establish an animal model of antibody reactivity to citrullinated proteins. DBA/1J mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII) at days 0 and 21, and serum was collected every 7 days for analysis. Antibodies against both CII and cyclic citrullinated peptide, one such citrullinated antigen, appeared early after immunization, before joint swelling was observed. Further, these antibodies demonstrated specific binding to citrullinated filaggrin in rat esophagus by indirect immunofluorescence and citrullinated fibrinogen by Western blot. To evaluate the role of immune responses to citrullinated proteins in CIA, mice were tolerized with a citrulline-containing peptide, followed by antigen challenge with CII. Tolerized mice demonstrated significantly reduced disease severity and incidence compared with controls. We also identified novel murine monoclonal antibodies specific to citrullinated fibrinogen that enhanced arthritis when coadministered with a submaximal dose of anti-CII antibodies and bound targets within the inflamed synovium of mice with CIA. These results demonstrate that antibodies against citrullinated proteins are centrally involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune arthritis.

View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI25422

View details for Web of Science ID 000236556100018

View details for PubMedID 16585962

View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1421345
Antigen arrays for antibody profiling CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL BIOLOGY Robinson, W. H. 2006; 10 (1): 67-72
Abstract

Antigen array technologies enable large-scale profiling of the specificity of antibody responses against autoantigens, tumor antigens and microbial antigens. Antibody profiling will provide insights into pathogenesis, and will enable development of novel tests for diagnosis and guiding therapy in the clinic. Recent advances in the field include development of antigen array-based approaches to examine immune responses against antigens encoded in genetic libraries, post-translationally modified proteins, and other biomolecules such as lipids. A promising application is the use of antibody profiling to guide development and selection of antigen-specific therapies to treat autoimmune disease. This review discusses these advances and the challenges ahead for development and refinement of antibody profiling technologies for use in the research laboratory and the clinic.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cbpa.2005.12.028

View details for Web of Science ID 000235858200011

View details for PubMedID 16406767
Treatment of autoimmune neuroinflammation with a synthetic tryptophan metabolite SCIENCE Platten, M., Ho, P. P., Youssef, S., Fontoura, P., Garren, H., Hur, E. M., Gupta, R., Lee, L. Y., Kidd, B. A., Robinson, W. H., Sobel, R. A., Selley, M. L., Steinman, L. 2005; 310 (5749): 850-855
Abstract

Local catabolism of the amino acid tryptophan (Trp) by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is considered an important mechanism of regulating T cell immunity. We show that IDO transcription was increased when myelin-specific T cells were stimulated with tolerogenic altered self-peptides. Catabolites of Trp suppressed proliferation of myelin-specific T cells and inhibited production of proinflammatory T helper-1 (T(H)1) cytokines. N-(3,4,-Dimethoxycinnamoyl) anthranilic acid (3,4-DAA), an orally active synthetic derivative of the Trp metabolite anthranilic acid, reversed paralysis in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, a model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Trp catabolites and their derivatives offer a new strategy for treating T(H)1-mediated autoimmune diseases such as MS.

View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1117634

View details for Web of Science ID 000233121800045

View details for PubMedID 16272121
A suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide enhances the efficacy of myelin cocktail/IL-4-tolerizing DNA vaccination and treats autoimmune disease JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Ho, P. P., Fontoura, P., Platten, M., Sobel, R. A., DeVoss, J. J., Lee, L. Y., Kidd, B. A., Tomooka, B. H., Capers, J., Agrawal, A., Gupta, R., Zernik, J., Yee, M. K., Lee, B. J., Garren, H., Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L. 2005; 175 (9): 6226-6234
Abstract

Targeting pathogenic T cells with Ag-specific tolerizing DNA vaccines encoding autoantigens is a powerful and feasible therapeutic strategy for Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases. However, plasmid DNA contains abundant unmethylated CpG motifs, which induce a strong Th1 immune response. We describe here a novel approach to counteract this undesired side effect of plasmid DNA used for vaccination in Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases. In chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), combining a myelin cocktail plus IL-4-tolerizing DNA vaccine with a suppressive GpG oligodeoxynucleotide (GpG-ODN) induced a shift of the autoreactive T cell response toward a protective Th2 cytokine pattern. Myelin microarrays demonstrate that tolerizing DNA vaccination plus GpG-ODN further decreased anti-myelin autoantibody epitope spreading and shifted the autoreactive B cell response to a protective IgG1 isotype. Moreover, the addition of GpG-ODN to tolerizing DNA vaccination therapy effectively reduced overall mean disease severity in both the chronic relapsing EAE and chronic progressive EAE mouse models. In conclusion, suppressive GpG-ODN effectively counteracted the undesired CpG-induced inflammatory effect of a tolerizing DNA vaccine in a Th1-mediated autoimmune disease by skewing both the autoaggressive T cell and B cell responses toward a protective Th2 phenotype. These results demonstrate that suppressive GpG-ODN is a simple and highly effective novel therapeutic adjuvant that will boost the efficacy of Ag-specific tolerizing DNA vaccines used for treating Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases.

View details for Web of Science ID 000232786300083

View details for PubMedID 16237121
Antigen microarray profiling of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Hueber, W., Kidd, B. A., Tomooka, B. H., Lee, B. J., Bruce, B., Fries, J. F., Sonderstrup, G., Monach, P., Drijfhout, J. W., van Venrooij, W. J., Utz, P. J., Genovese, M. C., Robinson, W. H. 2005; 52 (9): 2645-2655
Abstract

Because rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease in terms of disease manifestations, clinical outcomes, and therapeutic responses, we developed and applied a novel antigen microarray technology to identify distinct serum antibody profiles in patients with RA.Synovial proteome microarrays, containing 225 peptides and proteins that represent candidate and control antigens, were developed. These arrays were used to profile autoantibodies in randomly selected sera from 2 different cohorts of patients: the Stanford Arthritis Center inception cohort, comprising 18 patients with established RA and 38 controls, and the Arthritis, Rheumatism, and Aging Medical Information System cohort, comprising 58 patients with a clinical diagnosis of RA of <6 months duration. Data were analyzed using the significance analysis of microarrays algorithm, the prediction analysis of microarrays algorithm, and Cluster software.Antigen microarrays demonstrated that autoreactive B cell responses targeting citrullinated epitopes were present in a subset of patients with early RA with features predictive of the development of severe RA. In contrast, autoimmune targeting of the native epitopes contained on synovial arrays, including several human cartilage gp39 peptides and type II collagen, were associated with features predictive of less severe RA.Proteomic analysis of autoantibody reactivities provides diagnostic information and allows stratification of patients with early RA into clinically relevant disease subsets.

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.21269

View details for Web of Science ID 000232115700009

View details for PubMedID 16142722
Suppression of autoimmunity via microbial mimics of altered peptide ligands MOLECULAR MIMICRY: INFECTION-INDUCING AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE Steinman, L., Utz, P. J., Robinson, W. H. 2005; 296: 55-63
Abstract

Molecular mimics of self-antigens can behave as altered peptide ligands and serve to ameliorate autoimmune disease. Analysis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis with proteomic autoantibody microarrays reveals that there might exist a wide variety of microbes with features that mimic self-epitopes. Autoimmunity could therefore be modulated via microbial immunity, which may account for relapse and remission of ongoing disease.

View details for Web of Science ID 000235217000004

View details for PubMedID 16323420
Immunity to the extracellular domain of Nogo-A modulates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Fontoura, P., Ho, P. P., DeVoss, J., Zheng, B. H., Lee, B. J., Kidd, B. A., Garren, H., Sobel, R. A., Robinson, W. H., Tessier-Lavigne, M., Steinman, L. 2004; 173 (11): 6981-6992
Abstract

Nogo-66, the extracellular 66 aa loop of the Nogo-A protein found in CNS myelin, interacts with the Nogo receptor and has been proposed to mediate inhibition of axonal regrowth. It has been shown that immunization with Nogo-A promotes recovery in animal models of spinal cord injury through induction of Ab production. In this report, studies were performed to characterize the immune response to Nogo-66 and to determine the role of Nogo in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Immunization of EAE-susceptible mouse strains with peptides derived from Nogo-66 induced a CNS immune response with clinical and pathological similarities to EAE. The Nogo-66 peptides elicited strong T cell responses that were not cross-reactive to other encephalitogenic myelin Ags. Using a large scale spotted microarray containing proteins and peptides derived from a wide spectrum of myelin components, we demonstrated that Nogo-66 peptides also generated a specific Ab response that spreads to several other encephalitogenic myelin Ags following immunization. Nogo-66-specific T cell lines ameliorated established EAE, via Nogo-66-specific Th2 cells that entered the CNS. These results indicate that some T cell and B cell immune responses to Nogo-66 are associated with suppression of ongoing EAE, whereas other Nogo-66 epitopes can be encephalitogenic.

View details for Web of Science ID 000225307500059

View details for PubMedID 15557195
Characterization of novel antigens recognized by serum autoantibodies from anti-CD1 TCR-transgenic lupus mice EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Hueber, W., Zeng, D. F., Sharpe, O., Robinson, W. H., Strober, S., Utz, P. J. 2004; 34 (6): 1654-1662
Abstract

In this study, we further characterize the humoral autoimmune response in the recently described anti-CD1 autoreactive T cell receptor-transgenic mouse lupus model (CD1 lupus model). We discovered and characterized novel autoantigens, comprising a protein of 105 kDa (p105) and a novel RNA molecule of 140 base pairs (bp) that is likely associated with p105, and several additional factors with distinct biochemical properties. In the CD1 lupus model, lethally irradiated BALB/c/nu/nu mice were injected intravenously with sorted bone marrow cells and sorted splenic T cells from donor BALB/c mice expressing TCR alpha and beta transgenes that encode autoreactivity for CD1d. Adoptive hosts injected with the single-positive (CD4(+) and CD8(+)) subset of transgenic cells developed anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and a lupus-like illness. Sera were analyzed by Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. Antigens were characterized by biochemical and serological methods. Serum autoantibodies from 5 of 12 (42%) CD1 lupus mice immunoprecipitated a 105-kDa protein, termed p105. p105 was associated with a small RNA of approximately 140 bp. Anti-p105 autoantibodies appeared early in the course of disease. Serological and biochemical characterization suggested that p105 was distinct from known lupus autoantigens of similar molecular masses, indicating that p105 represents a novel autoantigen in lupus.

View details for DOI 10.1002/eji.200324201

View details for Web of Science ID 000221993200017

View details for PubMedID 15162435
High-throughput methods for measuring autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus and other autoimmune diseases AUTOIMMUNITY Graham, K. L., Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J. 2004; 37 (4): 269-272
Abstract

Numerous groups have now validated high-throughput approaches to autoantibody profiling in a variety of systems. Recently, we have used autoantigen microarray technology to identify distinct autoantibody profiles in H-2 congenic MRL/lpr mice (Sekine et al., manuscript in preparation), and we are expanding this platform to study human and mouse models of IDDM and RA. We are also developing protein arrays for multiplex analysis of serum antibody isotypes. Multiplexed methods for autoantibody profiling will undoubtedly continue to uncover novel aspects of autoimmunity and B cell biology. It is now time to move these technologies beyond the proof-of-concept phase, and start addressing the next series of important questions. These include, but certainly are not limited to: identifying "autoantibody signatures" associated with disease state or outcome; profiling autoantibodies during the natural course of murine and human disease; and monitoring changes in autoantibody profiles of patients in response to therapeutic intervention. However, the next set of challenges is just right around the corner. As data and statistical analysis tools become more robust, it will be possible to generate and approach new hypotheses at an unprecedented pace.

View details for DOI 10.1080/08916930410001710686

View details for Web of Science ID 000223372000006

View details for PubMedID 15518040
Microarray profiling of antiviral antibodies for the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY de Vegvar, H. E., Robinson, W. H. 2004; 111 (2): 196-201
Abstract

Multiplex analysis of antiviral antibody (Ab) responses provides a potentially powerful strategy for viral diagnosis, prognostication, and development of vaccines and prophylactic Abs. In the coming years, advancements in proteomic technologies will provide even more robust methods to characterize antiviral Ab responses. Biomedical researchers will be faced with the exciting challenge of identifying antiviral Ab specificities that correlate with improved outcomes and efficacious interventions, and translating the findings into more effective diagnostics, prophylactics, and therapeutics.

View details for Web of Science ID 000221681800006

View details for PubMedID 15137952
Unlocking the "PAD" lock on rheumatoid arthritis ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES Utz, P. J., Genovese, M. C., Robinson, W. H. 2004; 63 (4): 330-332
View details for DOI 10.1136/ard.2003.015990

View details for Web of Science ID 000220198000002

View details for PubMedID 15020322
Genomic and proteomic analysis of multiple sclerosis - Opinion CURRENT OPINION IN IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Utz, P. J., Steinman, L. 2003; 15 (6): 660-667
Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases result from the dysregulation of genetic and proteomic programs. In MS, the loss of immune homeostasis leads to aberrant targeting and destruction of the myelin sheath, which manifests as the clinical syndrome of MS. The advent of technologies to perform large-scale analysis of mRNA transcript and protein expression will transform our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of MS, and will yield new targets for therapeutic intervention.

View details for DOI 10.1016/j.coi.2003.09.015

View details for Web of Science ID 000186862400011

View details for PubMedID 14630200
Protein arrays for autoantibody profiling and fine-specificity mapping PROTEOMICS Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J. 2003; 3 (11): 2077-2084
Abstract

Protein arrays provide a powerful approach to study autoimmune disease. Autoimmune responses activate B cells to produce autoantibodies that recognize self-molecules termed autoantigens, many of which are proteins or protein complexes. Protein arrays enable profiling of the specificity of autoantibody responses against panels of peptides and proteins representing known autoantigens as well as candidate autoantigens. In addition to identifying autoantigens and mapping immunodominant epitopes, proteomic analysis of autoantibody responses will further enable diagnosis, prognosis, and tailoring of antigen-specific tolerizing therapy.

View details for DOI 10.1002/pmic.200300583

View details for Web of Science ID 000186582500002

View details for PubMedID 14595805
Microarray profiling of antibody responses against simian-human immunodeficiency virus: Postchallenge convergence of reactivities independent of host histocompatibility type and vaccine regimen JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY de Vegvar, H. E., Amara, R. R., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J., Robinson, H. L., Robinson, W. H. 2003; 77 (20): 11125-11138
Abstract

We developed antigen microarrays to profile the breadth, strength, and kinetics of epitope-specific antiviral antibody responses in vaccine trials with a simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV) model for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. These arrays contained 430 distinct proteins and overlapping peptides spanning the SHIV proteome. In macaques vaccinated with three different DNA and/or recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara (rMVA) vaccines encoding Gag-Pol or Gag-Pol-Env, these arrays distinguished vaccinated from challenged macaques, identified three novel viral epitopes, and predicted survival. Following viral challenge, anti-SHIV antibody responses ultimately converged to target eight immunodominant B-cell regions in Env regardless of vaccine regimen, host histocompatibility type, and divergent T-cell specificities. After challenge, responses to nonimmunodominant epitopes were transient, while responses to dominant epitopes were gained. These data suggest that the functional diversity of anti-SHIV B-cell responses is highly limited in the presence of persisting antigen.

View details for DOI 10.1128/JVI.77.20.11125-11138.2003

View details for Web of Science ID 000185686100038

View details for PubMedID 14512560
Autoantibodies in early arthritis: Advances in diagnosis and prognostication CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY Hueber, W., Utz, P. J., Robinson, W. H. 2003; 21 (5): S59-S64
Abstract

Several excellent reviews have recently been published on the significance of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (1-4). Here we: (i) review selected longitudinal studies examining the predictive utility of autoantibodies in early arthritis and early RA cohorts; (ii) assess the relevance of autoantibodies as an independent parameter for prediction and prognostication of RA; and (iii) describe the potential of multiplex autoantibody assays, including miniaturized, high-throughput microarray technology, to improve diagnosis and prognostication in recent-onset synovitis/early arthritis patients.

View details for Web of Science ID 000185970100011

View details for PubMedID 14969052
Protein and peptide array analysis of autoimmune disease BIOTECHNIQUES Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J. 2002: 66-69
Abstract

Molecular cloning, sequencing of the human genome, and other major advances in biomedical research have contributed substantially to our understanding of autoimmune disease. Nevertheless, to date, such advances have failed to reveal the etiology of or yield curative therapies for autoimmune disease. New approaches are needed. Proteomics, the large-scale study of expression and function of proteins that compose our tissues and mediate disease, represents a powerful and promising strategy. We developed protein and peptide arrays to profile autoantibody responses in autoimmune disease. Protein and peptide array analysis of autoimmune samples is revealing human and pathogen proteins involved in initiation and perpetuation of autoimmunity. Proteomic determination of autoantibody profiles can be utilized for diagnosis, prognostication, and guiding tolerizing therapy for autoimmune disease.

View details for Web of Science ID 000180064700010

View details for PubMedID 12514932
Millennium Award. Proteomics for the development of DNA tolerizing vaccines to treat autoimmune disease. Clinical immunology Robinson, W. H., Garren, H., Utz, P. J., Steinman, L. 2002; 103 (1): 7-12
Abstract

Autoimmune disease affects 3% of the world population, yet current therapies that globally suppress immune function are inadequate. Tremendous need exists for specific and curative therapies, and we describe a strategy for development of antigen-specific therapies that inactivate pathogenic lymphocytes causing tissue injury. Major barriers to development of antigen-specific therapies for T-cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune diabetes, include (i) lack of knowledge of the specificity of autoimmune responses, for which proteomic technologies represent powerful tools to identify the self-protein targets of the autoimmune response, and (ii) lack of methods to induce specific immune tolerance, for which DNA tolerizing vaccines represent a promising strategy. We termed our approach Reverse Genomics: use of the proteomics-determined specificity of the autoantibody response to develop and select DNA tolerizing vaccines. Studies performed using animal models for multiple sclerosis and autoimmune diabetes support our Reverse Genomics approach. Through integration of proteomics with specific tolerizing therapies, we are developing a comprehensive approach to treat human autoimmune disease.

View details for PubMedID 11987980
Proteomics for the development of DNA tolerizing vaccines to treat autoimmune disease CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Garren, H., Utz, P. J., Steinman, L. 2002; 103 (1): 7-12
View details for DOI 10.1006/clim.2002.5185

View details for Web of Science ID 000175409000002
Proteomics technologies for the study of autoimmune disease ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Robinson, W. H., Steinman, L., Utz, P. J. 2002; 46 (4): 885-893
View details for Web of Science ID 000174946500006

View details for PubMedID 11953963
Autoantibody profiling for the study and treatment of autoimmune disease ARTHRITIS RESEARCH Hueber, W., Utz, P. J., Steinman, L., Robinson, W. H. 2002; 4 (5): 290-295
Abstract

Proteomics technologies enable profiling of autoantibody responses using biological fluids derived from patients with autoimmune disease. They provide a powerful tool to characterize autoreactive B-cell responses in diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diabetes, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoantibody profiling may serve purposes including classification of individual patients and subsets of patients based on their 'autoantibody fingerprint', examination of epitope spreading and antibody isotype usage, discovery and characterization of candidate autoantigens, and tailoring antigen-specific therapy. In the coming decades, proteomics technologies will broaden our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of and will further our ability to diagnose, prognosticate and treat autoimmune disease.

View details for Web of Science ID 000177695600007

View details for PubMedID 12223102
Demyelinating and neurologic events reported in association with tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonism - By what mechanisms could tumor necrosis factor alpha antagonists improve rheumatoid arthritis but exacerbate multiple sclerosis? ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Robinson, W. H., Genovese, M. C., Moreland, L. W. 2001; 44 (9): 1977-1983
View details for Web of Science ID 000172491200004

View details for PubMedID 11592357
Allele-specific expression of the mouse B-cell surface protein CD72 on T cells IMMUNOGENETICS Robinson, W. H., LANDOLFI, M. M., Parnes, J. R. 1997; 45 (3): 195-200
Abstract

CD72 is a 45 000 Mr mouse B-cell surface glycoprotein involved in B-cell proliferation and differentiation. Expression of mouse CD72 is thought to be restricted to the B-cell lineage. We recently demonstrated that the monoclonal antibodies K10.6 and B9.689, previously defined as recognizing the mouse lymphocyte alloantigens Ly-19.2 and Ly-32.2, respectively, recognize specific alleles of CD72. Early studies using antibody-mediated cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that K10.6 and B9.689 react with B cells, several T-cell lines, and a subset of peripheral T cells. These findings led us to consider the possibility that CD72 might also be expressed on a subset of T cells. In this report we demonstrate that CD72 is constitutively expressed on a fraction of peripheral T cells isolated from strains of mice expressing the CD72(b) allele, but not the CD72(a) or CD72(c) alleles. Three days after activating T cells with concanavalin A or plate-bound CD3-specific mAb, CD72 is expressed on a larger fraction of peripheral T cells as well as a fraction of thymocytes from mouse strains expressing the CD72(b) allele. CD72 is expressed on both the CD4(+) and CD8(+) thymocyte and peripheral T-cell subsets. No CD72 expression is detected on activated thymocytes or peripheral T cells from mouse strains expressing the CD72(a) or CD72(c) alleles. Expression of CD72(b) on peripheral T cells was confirmed by northern blot analysis demonstrating CD72 mRNA expression. These results demonstrate that CD72 expression is not restricted to B lineage cells in mouse strains expressing the CD72(b) allele; instead, a population of T lineage cells in these mice also expresses CD72.

View details for Web of Science ID A1997WE19000005

View details for PubMedID 8995186
IDENTIFICATION OF A MOUSE PROTEIN HOMOLOGOUS TO THE HUMAN CD6 T-CELL SURFACE PROTEIN AND SEQUENCE OF THE CORRESPONDING CDNA JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Prohaska, S. S., Santoro, J. C., Robinson, H. L., Parnes, J. R. 1995; 155 (10): 4739-4748
Abstract

CD6 is a 105/130 kDa monomeric T cell surface glycoprotein that has been shown to play a role in human T cell activation. Recently a partial mouse CD6 cDNA sequence was described. We have isolated full-length cDNA clones including the initiation codon and sequence encoding the full signal peptide, as well as an additional 39 amino acids within the cytoplasmic domain as compared to the previously reported clone. The predicted full-length mouse CD6 protein contains 665 amino acids and has the features of a type I integral membrane protein. The extracellular domain of mouse CD6 is composed of three repeated cysteine-rich domains similar to those in human CD6, mouse and human CD5, and other members of a family of proteins whose prototype is the type I macrophage scavenger receptor. In marked contrast to the previously published human CD6 sequence, the mouse sequence predicts a long cytoplasmic tail that is not closely related to other proteins and possesses two proline-rich motifs containing the SH3-domain binding consensus sequence, three protein kinase C phosphorylation site motifs, nine casein kinase-2 phosphorylation site motifs, and a serine-threonine-rich motif repeated three times. Northern blot analysis revealed that mouse CD6 mRNA is expressed predominantly in thymus, lymph node, and spleen. A polyclonal antiserum was raised against mouse CD6 by gene gun plasmid DNA immunization of rabbits with the mouse CD6 cDNA in an expression vector. In immunofluorescence analysis this polyclonal antiserum positively stained the surface of cells transfected with the mouse CD6 cDNA in an expression vector, as well as most normal mouse thymocytes and peripheral T cells. CD6 protein is expressed on most CD4+CD8+ double-positive and CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive thymocytes, and is expressed at highest levels on mature CD3high thymocytes. The expression of mouse CD6 in thymocytes and peripheral T cells correlates closely with the expression of the related CD5 molecule. The polyclonal rabbit anti-mouse CD6 Abs immunoprecipitated a major polypeptide of 128 kDa from resting and 130 kDa from PMA- and FCS-activated mouse thymocytes and lymph node cells; it is likely that this increase in size upon activation is due to phosphorylation of mouse CD6 as has been described for human CD6. These data demonstrate that mouse thymocytes and T cells express a 130-kDa cell surface protein homologous to human CD6.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995TD88800029

View details for PubMedID 7594475
HUMAN CD6 POSSESSES A LARGE, ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED CYTOPLASMIC DOMAIN EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., DEVEGVAR, H. E., Prohaska, S. S., Rhee, J. W., Parnes, J. R. 1995; 25 (10): 2765-2769
Abstract

Human CD6 is a monomeric 105/130-kDa T cell surface glycoprotein that is involved in T cell activation. The apparent discrepancy between the size of the cytoplasmic domain in human (44 amino acids) and mouse (243 amino acids) CD6, led us to use reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of human peripheral blood lymphocyte mRNA to isolate cDNA clones that include the carboxyl-terminal coding region of human CD6. The nucleotide sequence of the longest human cDNA clone, CD6-PB1, predicts a protein of 668 amino acids with a 244-amino acid cytoplasmic domain similar in size to and possessing 71.5% amino acid sequence identity with the cytoplasmic domain of mouse CD6. This previously unrecognized 244-amino acid cytoplasmic domain does not have significant homology to any other known protein (except mouse CD6), but does possess two proline-rich motifs containing the SH3 domain-binding consensus sequence, a serine-threonine-rich motif repeated three times, three protein kinase C phosphorylation-site motifs, and 10 casein kinase-2 phosphorylation-site motifs. These sequences are likely to play a role in the ability of CD6-specific monoclonal antibodies to stimulate T cell proliferation. Full-length CD6 cDNA containing this cytoplasmic domain sequence encodes a monomeric 105/130-kDa protein that can be immunoprecipitated from the surface of transfected cells and comigrates upon SDS-PAGE with wild-type CD6 immunoprecipitated from PBL. We also isolated two alternatively spliced forms of human CD6 cDNA lacking sequences encoding membrane-proximal regions of the cytoplasmic domain which maintain the same reading frame as CD6-PB1. The short cytoplasmic domain of the previously reported human CD6-15 cDNA clone results from a deletion of a 20-bp segment through use of an alternative 3' splice site, resulting in a frame shift and premature termination of translation relative to the clones we have isolated. These data demonstrate that human CD6 possesses a large cytoplasmic domain containing sequence motifs that are likely to be involved in signal transduction upon stimulation of T cells through CD6 ligation.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995TB37100007

View details for PubMedID 7589069
STRUCTURE OF THE MOUSE CD72 (LYB-2) GENE AND ITS ALTERNATIVELY SPLICED TRANSCRIPTS JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Ying, H., Nakayama, E., Robinson, W. H., Parnes, J. R. 1995; 154 (6): 2743-2752
Abstract

The complete sequence of the CD72 gene from the C57L mouse, including the 5' and 3' flanking sequences, is reported. The gene spans 6830 base pairs and includes nine exons surrounding eight introns. It does not have an obvious TATAA box, so it belongs to a group of genes with TATA-less promoters that are regulated during mammalian immunodifferentiation. cDNA sequence comparisons among CD72a, CD72b, and CD72c alleles have demonstrated two distinct seven amino acid insertion/deletions among these allelic variants. Based on our genomic sequence studies as well as PCR analyses, we found that different strains of mice can alternatively or exclusively use either of two AG sites surrounding the 21-bp insertion/deletions as 3' splice sites in an allele-specific manner. Other alternative splicing events, such as exon skipping, also contribute to CD72 polymorphism. In mouse splenic B cells there are allele-specific distributions of CD72 mRNAs that contain sequences from both exon 3 and exon 4, from either exon 3 or exon 4, or from neither exon 3 nor 4. It is unclear what the in vivo function might be of the proteins encoded by the mRNA forms lacking these exon sequences.

View details for Web of Science ID A1995QL08400021

View details for PubMedID 7876545
BIOCHEMICAL IDENTITY OF THE MOUSE LY-19.2 AND LY-32.2 ALLOANTIGENS WITH THE B-CELL DIFFERENTIATION ANTIGEN LYB-2/CD72 JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., LANDOLFI, M. M., Schafer, H., Parnes, J. R. 1993; 151 (9): 4764-4772
Abstract

Lyb-2/CD72 is a 45-kDa mouse B cell surface protein that binds CD5 (Ly-1) and has been shown to induce B cell proliferation upon mAb binding. The serologically defined Ly-19.2 and Ly-32.2 lymphocyte alloantigens have mouse strain distribution patterns similar to that of the Lyb-2/CD72 alleles and map to the same region on chromosome 4 as Lyb-2/CD72. Our recent isolation of the Lyb-2a, -2b, and -2c cDNA has enabled us in this report to examine the relationship between Ly-19, Ly-32, and Lyb-2/CD72. A rat T cell line transfected with a mouse Lyb-2a cDNA is recognized by Ly-19.2-specific mAb, whereas transfectants expressing the Lyb-2b cDNA are recognized by both Ly-19.2 and Ly-32.2-specific mAb. Cell surface iodination immunoprecipitation analysis from Lyb-2a cDNA transfectants using Lyb-2a- and Ly-19.2-specific mAb as well as from Lyb-2b cDNA transfectants using Lyb-2b-, Ly-19.2-, and Ly-32.2-specific Ab, produced immunoprecipitates containing comigrating 45-kDa polypeptides. Preclearing studies with these transfectants indicate that the immunoprecipitated proteins represent the same polypeptide chain. These results demonstrate that the mouse Ly-19.2 and Ly-32.2 alloantigens are in fact the B cell differentiation Ag Lyb-2/CD72.

View details for Web of Science ID A1993MD34900035

View details for PubMedID 8409435
EXTENSIVE POLYMORPHISM IN THE EXTRACELLULAR DOMAIN OF THE MOUSE B-CELL DIFFERENTIATION ANTIGEN LYB-2/CD72 JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY Robinson, W. H., Ying, H., Miceli, M. C., Parnes, J. R. 1992; 149 (3): 880-886
Abstract

Lyb-2/CD72 is a 45-kDa mouse B cell surface protein that binds CD5 and has been shown to play a role in B cell proliferation and differentiation. Using the polymerase chain reaction we have isolated and sequenced cDNA clones encoding the serologically defined mouse Lyb-2a, Lyb-2b, and Lyb-2c alleles. We confirmed that our full length cDNA clones encode the Lyb-2a, -2b, and -2c alleles, respectively, by transfecting the isolated Lyb-2/CD72 cDNA clones into L cells and demonstrating that the transfectants bind only the appropriate allele specific anti-Lyb-2/CD72 antibodies. Sequence comparisons demonstrate that the Lyb-2/CD72 allels are highly conserved in their cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains but exhibit a high degree of polymorphism in their extracellular domains. This polymorphism in the extracellular region involves amino acid substitutions at a minimum of 20 residues and is concentrated primarily in the membrane distal region. cDNA sequence comparisons also demonstrate two distinct seven amino acid insertion/deletions among these allelic variants. A form of Lyb-2b cDNA lacking the sequence encoding the transmembrane region was isolated from a C57B1/6 mouse and a CH12.LX subline. The Lyb-2/CD72 PCR products from mRNA of mice expressing Lyb-2a and Lyb-2c contain a DNA fragment that corresponds in size to the transmembraneless form, suggesting that these mouse strains also express this mRNA.

View details for Web of Science ID A1992JF47400019

View details for PubMedID 1634777
SYNTHESIS OF VIRAL-SPECIFIC RIBONUCLEIC ACID IN RUBELLA VIRUS-INFECTED CELLS JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY Wong, K. T., Robinson, W. S., Merigan, T. C. 1969; 4 (6): 901-?
Abstract

Monolayers of BHK-21/W1-2 cells were pulsed with (3)H-uridine at different times after infection with rubella virus, and viral-specific cytoplasmic ribonucleic acid species were demonstrated.

View details for Web of Science ID A1969E851000014

View details for PubMedID 16789124

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