Projects per year
Abstract
Stress-induced heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a key intra- and extracellular molecular chaperone implicated in autoimmune processes. Highly immunogenic extracellular Hsp70 can activate innate and acquired (adaptive) immune responses driving the generation of anti-Hsp70 autoantibodies that are frequently observed in inflammatory/autoimmune disorders. We recently described the direct pathological role of extracellular Hsp70 in epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA), an anti-type VII collagen autoantibody-mediated autoimmune blistering skin disease. Here, we determined the role of anti-Hsp70 autoantibodies in EBA. We observed that circulating anti-Hsp70 IgG autoantibodies were significantly elevated in EBA patients compared to healthy individuals and positively correlated with serum levels of pro-inflammatory interferon gamma (IFN-γ). The pathophysiological relevance of anti-Hsp70 IgG autoantibodies was demonstrated in an antibody transfer-induced EBA mouse model in which elevated serum levels of anti-Hsp70 IgG were found. In addition, anti-Hsp70 IgG-treated animals had a more intense clinical and histological disease activity, as well as upregulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation in skin biopsies compared to isotype-treated animals. Our results suggest that autoantibodies to Hsp70 may contribute to EBA development via enhanced neutrophil infiltration to the skin and activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in an IFN-γ-associated manner.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 877958 |
Journal | Frontiers in Immunology |
Volume | 13 |
Pages (from-to) | 877958 |
ISSN | 1664-3224 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 20.04.2022 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Academic Focus: Center for Infection and Inflammation Research (ZIEL)
- Centers: Center for Research on Inflammation of the Skin (CRIS)
DFG Research Classification Scheme
- 2.21-05 Immunology
- 2.22-19 Dermatology
Projects
- 1 Active
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CRC 1526, PANTAU: Pathomechanisms of Antibody-mediated Autoimmunity
Sadik, C. (Speaker, Coordinator), Zillikens, D. (Speaker, Coordinator), Scheffold, A. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Schmidt, E. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Heine, G. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Manz, R. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Köhl, J. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Ludwig, R. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Peipp, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Hammers, M. C. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Verschoor, A. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Karsten, C. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Nimmerjahn, F. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Hutloff, A. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Ibrahim, S. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Wettschureck, N. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Bieber, K. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Schilf, P. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Vaeth, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Hirose, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Vaeth, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Baines, J. F. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Bacher, P. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Hoffmann, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Busch, H. S. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Höppner, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Becker, M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Holtsche, M. M. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Fähnrich, A. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Szymczak, S. (Principal Investigator (PI)), Murthy, S. (Principal Investigator (PI)) & Lux, A. (Principal Investigator (PI))
01.01.22 → …
Project: DFG Projects › DFG Joint Research: Collaborative Research Center/ Transregios