Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Pathogenic antibody response to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase targets a modified epitope uniquely exposed on joint cartilage

Li, Taotao ; Ge, Changrong ; Krämer, Alexander ; Sareila, Outi ; Leu Agelii, Monica ; Johansson, Linda ; Forslind, Kristina LU ; Lönnblom, Erik ; Yang, Min and Xu, Bingze , et al. (2023) In Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 82(6). p.799-808
Abstract

Objectives To identify the arthritogenic B cell epitopes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and their association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods IgG response towards a library of GPI peptides in patients with early RA, pre-symptomatic individuals and population controls, as well as in mice, were tested by bead-based multiplex immunoassays and ELISA. Monoclonal IgG were generated, and the binding specificity and affinity were determined by ELISA, gel size exclusion chromatography, surface plasma resonance and X-ray crystallography. Arthritogenicity was investigated by passive transfer experiments. Antigen-specific B cells were identified by peptide tetramer staining. Results Peptide GPI 293-307 was the dominant B cell... (More)

Objectives To identify the arthritogenic B cell epitopes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and their association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods IgG response towards a library of GPI peptides in patients with early RA, pre-symptomatic individuals and population controls, as well as in mice, were tested by bead-based multiplex immunoassays and ELISA. Monoclonal IgG were generated, and the binding specificity and affinity were determined by ELISA, gel size exclusion chromatography, surface plasma resonance and X-ray crystallography. Arthritogenicity was investigated by passive transfer experiments. Antigen-specific B cells were identified by peptide tetramer staining. Results Peptide GPI 293-307 was the dominant B cell epitope in K/BxN and GPI-immunised mice. We could detect B cells and low levels of IgM antibodies binding the GPI 293-307 epitopes, and high affinity anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies already 7 days after GPI immunisation, immediately before arthritis onset. Transfer of anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies induced arthritis in mice. Moreover, anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies were more frequent in individuals prior to RA onset (19%) than in controls (7.5%). GPI 293-307 -specific antibodies were associated with radiographic joint damage. Crystal structures of the Fab-peptide complex revealed that this epitope is not exposed in native GPI but requires conformational change of the protein in inflamed joint for effective recognition by anti-GPI 293-307 antibodies. Conclusions We have identified the major pathogenic B cell epitope of the RA-associated autoantigen GPI, at position 293-307, exposed only on structurally modified GPI on the cartilage surface. B cells to this neo-epitope escape tolerance and could potentially play a role in the pathogenesis of RA.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and , et al. (More)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; and (Less)
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
arthritis, experimental, arthritis, rheumatoid, autoantibodies, autoimmunity, inflammation
in
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
volume
82
issue
6
pages
10 pages
publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:36858822
  • scopus:85152199960
ISSN
0003-4967
DOI
10.1136/ard-2022-223633
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
d0772a80-495f-4a1f-b6c6-c916835af06e
date added to LUP
2023-07-19 14:26:10
date last changed
2024-11-02 19:26:53
@article{d0772a80-495f-4a1f-b6c6-c916835af06e,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives To identify the arthritogenic B cell epitopes of glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) and their association with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods IgG response towards a library of GPI peptides in patients with early RA, pre-symptomatic individuals and population controls, as well as in mice, were tested by bead-based multiplex immunoassays and ELISA. Monoclonal IgG were generated, and the binding specificity and affinity were determined by ELISA, gel size exclusion chromatography, surface plasma resonance and X-ray crystallography. Arthritogenicity was investigated by passive transfer experiments. Antigen-specific B cells were identified by peptide tetramer staining. Results Peptide GPI 293-307 was the dominant B cell epitope in K/BxN and GPI-immunised mice. We could detect B cells and low levels of IgM antibodies binding the GPI 293-307 epitopes, and high affinity anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies already 7 days after GPI immunisation, immediately before arthritis onset. Transfer of anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies induced arthritis in mice. Moreover, anti-GPI 293-307 IgG antibodies were more frequent in individuals prior to RA onset (19%) than in controls (7.5%). GPI 293-307 -specific antibodies were associated with radiographic joint damage. Crystal structures of the Fab-peptide complex revealed that this epitope is not exposed in native GPI but requires conformational change of the protein in inflamed joint for effective recognition by anti-GPI 293-307 antibodies. Conclusions We have identified the major pathogenic B cell epitope of the RA-associated autoantigen GPI, at position 293-307, exposed only on structurally modified GPI on the cartilage surface. B cells to this neo-epitope escape tolerance and could potentially play a role in the pathogenesis of RA.</p>}},
  author       = {{Li, Taotao and Ge, Changrong and Krämer, Alexander and Sareila, Outi and Leu Agelii, Monica and Johansson, Linda and Forslind, Kristina and Lönnblom, Erik and Yang, Min and Xu, Bingze and Li, Qixing and Cheng, Lei and Bergström, Göran and Fernandez, Gonzalo and Kastbom, Alf and Rantapää-Dahlqvist, Solbritt and Gjertsson, Inger and Holmdahl, Rikard}},
  issn         = {{0003-4967}},
  keywords     = {{arthritis, experimental; arthritis, rheumatoid; autoantibodies; autoimmunity; inflammation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{799--808}},
  publisher    = {{BMJ Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases}},
  title        = {{Pathogenic antibody response to glucose-6-phosphate isomerase targets a modified epitope uniquely exposed on joint cartilage}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard-2022-223633}},
  doi          = {{10.1136/ard-2022-223633}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}