Kurt Oelke, Qianjin Lu, Derek Richardson, Ailing Wu, Chun Deng, Samir Hanash, Bruce Richardson
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 48109, USA.
Arthritis and rheumatism 2004 JunGeneralized DNA hypomethylation contributes to altered T cell function and gene expression in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Some of the overexpressed genes participate in the disease process, but the full repertoire of genes affected is unknown. Methylation-sensitive T cell genes were identified by treating T cells with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine and comparing gene expression with oligonucleotide arrays. CD70, a costimulatory ligand for B cell CD27, was one gene that reproducibly increased. We then determined whether CD70 is overexpressed on T cells treated with other DNA methylation inhibitors and on SLE T cells, and determined its functional significance. Oligonucleotide arrays, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry were used to compare CD70 expression in T cells treated with 2 DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (5-azacytidine and procainamide) and 3 ERK pathway inhibitors known to decrease DNA methyltransferase expression (U0126, PD98059, and hydralazine). The consequences of CD70 overexpression were tested by coculture of autologous T and B cells with and without anti-CD70 and measuring IgG production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were compared with those of T cells from lupus patients. SLE T cells and T cells treated with DNA methylation inhibitors overexpressed CD70 and overstimulated B cell IgG production. The increase in IgG synthesis was abrogated by anti-CD70. SLE T cells and T cells treated with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors and ERK pathway inhibitors overexpress CD70. This increased B cell costimulation and subsequent immunoglobulin overproduction may contribute to drug-induced and idiopathic lupus.
Kurt Oelke, Qianjin Lu, Derek Richardson, Ailing Wu, Chun Deng, Samir Hanash, Bruce Richardson. Overexpression of CD70 and overstimulation of IgG synthesis by lupus T cells and T cells treated with DNA methylation inhibitors. Arthritis and rheumatism. 2004 Jun;50(6):1850-60
PMID: 15188362
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