Gu-Ben-Fang-Xiao attenuates allergic airway inflammation by inhibiting BAFF-mediated B cell activation
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
Authors: Liang, Zhong-Qing; Tu, Peng-Cheng; Ji, Jian-Jian; Xing, Qiong-Qiong; Zhao, Xia
Abstract
Allergic airway inflammation is one of the major pathological events involved in the development of asthma. The B cell-activating factor (BAFF)-mediated abnormal activation of B cells plays a key role in developing allergic airway inflammation. Here, we investigated the effects of Gu-Ben-Fang-Xiao decoction (GBFXD), a TCM decoction used in the prevention and treatment of allergic asthma, on allergic airway inflammation and BAFF-mediated B cell activation. A mouse model of OVA-Severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) induced asthma in the remission stage was administrated with GBFXD by gavage for four weeks, after which, the pulmonary function was evaluated. Pathological changes of the lung were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and serum levels of IgE, BAFF, and inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA. The expression of BAFF, APRIL, and their related receptors in the lung and spleen was detected by Western blotting and RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry detected B cell subsets in the spleen, PBC, and monocyte subsets in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The results showed that GBFXD improved the lung function, alleviated the inflammatory changes of the lung tissue in OVA-RSV sensitized mice, and reduced levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL1-beta, INOS, IL13 as well as IL-15, IgE, BAFF in the serum of OVA-RAV mice. Additionally, GBFXD significantly reduced the proportion of CD19+CD27+ B cell subpopulation and IgE + B cell subpopulation in the PBC and spleen cells of mice. Furthermore, the expression of BAFF, APRIL, BAFFR, TACI, and AID decreased in the lung and spleen of GBFXD-treated mice, as well as the proportion of CD11b + BAFF + cell subsets in BALF. In conclusion, GBFXD has an inhibitory effect on the secretion of BAFF by pulmonary macrophages and the expression of BAFF-related receptors, thereby reducing B cell activation and the release of IgE. This proposed mechanism contributes to the improvement of allergic airway inflammation and respiratory function in an asthmatic mouse model.
Single-cell transcriptomics combined with interstitial fluid proteomics defines cell type-specific immune regulation in atopic dermatitis
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Rojahn, Thomas B.; Vorstandlechner, Vera; Krausgruber, Thomas; Bauer, Wolfgang M.; Alkon, Natalia; Bangert, Christine; Thaler, Felix M.; Sadeghyar, Farzaneh; Fortelny, Nikolaus; Gernedl, Victoria; Rindler, Katharina; Elbe-Buerger, Adelheid; Bock, Christoph; Mildner, Michael; Brunner, Patrick M.
Abstract
Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory skin disease, but its complex pathogenesis is only insufficiently understood, resulting in still limited treatment options. Objective: We sought to characterize AD on both transcriptomic and proteomic levels in humans. Methods: We used skin suction blistering, a painless and nonscarring procedure that can simultaneously sample skin cells and interstitial fluid. We then compared results with conventional biopsies. Results: Suction blistering captured epidermal and most immune cells equally well as biopsies, except for mast cells and nonmigratory CD163+ macrophages that were only present in biopsy isolates. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we found comparable transcriptional profiles of key inflammatory pathways between blister and biopsy AD, but suction blistering was superior in cell-specific resolution for high-abundance transcripts (KRT1/KRT10, KRT16/KRT6A, S100A8/S100A9), which showed some background signals in biopsy isolates. Compared with healthy controls, we found characteristic upregulation of AD-typical cytokines such as IL13 and IL22 in T(H)2 and T(H)22 cells, respectively, but we also discovered these mediators in proliferating T cells and natural killer T cells, that also expressed the antimicrobial cytokine IL26. Overall, not T cells, but myeloid cells were most strongly enriched in AD, and we found dendritic cell (CLEC7A, amphiregulin/AREG, EREG) and macrophage products (CCL13) among the top upregulated proteins in AD blister fluid proteomic analyses. Conclusion: These data show that by using cutting-edge technology, suction blistering offers several advantages over conventional biopsies, including better transcriptomic resolution of skin cells, combined with proteomic information from interstitial fluid, unraveling novel inflammatory players that shape the cellular and proteomic microenvironment of AD.