Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α perpetuates synovial fibroblast interactions with T cells and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Issue 3 (22nd December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Fanlei; Liu, Hongjiang; Xu, Liling; Li, Yingni; Liu, Xu; Shi, Lianjie; Su, Yin; Qiu, Xiaoyan; Zhang, Xia; Yang, Yuqin; Zhang, Jian; Li, Zhanguo
• Is Part Of: European journal of immunology. Volume 46:Issue 3(2016)
• Page Start: 742
• Page End: 751
• Publication Date: 2015-12-22
• Subjects: B cell -- Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α -- Rheumatoid arthritis -- Synovial fibroblast -- T cell; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.079
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.201545784
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-2980

Abstract

Abstract : Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) promotes the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cell–cell contact mediators in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (RASFs), which perpetuates their interactions with T cells and B cells. The enhanced interactions further stimulate more IFN‐γ, IL‐17, and IgG autoantibody production, thus exacerbating the progression of RA. Abstract : Synovial fibroblast hyperplasia, T‐cell hyperactivity, B‐cell overactivation, and the self‐perpetuating interactions among these cell types are major characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The inflamed joints of RA patients are hypoxic, with upregulated expression of hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). It remains unknown whether HIF‐1α regulates interactions between RASFs and T cells and B cells. We report here that HIF‐1α promotes the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β, and cell–cell contact mediators IL‐15, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)‐1, thrombospondin (TSP)‐1, and stromal cell‐derived factor (SDF)‐1 in RASFs. Furthermore, HIF‐1α perpetuates RASF‐mediated inflammatory Th1‐ and Th17‐cell expansion while differentially inhibiting regulatory B10 and innate‐like B cells, leading to increased IFN‐γ, IL‐17, and IgG production and decreased protective natural IgM secretion. Our findings suggest that HIF‐1α perpetuates the interactions between RASFs and T cells and B cells to induce inflammatory cytokine and autoantibody production, thus exacerbating the severity of RA. Targeting HIF‐1α may provide new therapeutic strategies for overcoming this persistent disease.