Our long-term goal of this R37 is to understand human B cell tolerance and its breakdown in autoimmunity. Our original aims sought to elucidate the role of receptor editing and antigen selection in human B cell tolerance (Aim 1); and to understand antigen-driven selection of SLE B cells with emphasis on the role of apoptotic cell antigens (Aim 2). To do so, we established high-dimension flow cytometry to precisely classify and purify human B cell subsets and identified new B cell and plasma cell subsets that provide the required cellular knowledge to address our questions. We also incorporated single cell generation of monoclonal antibodies and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). We generated in excess of 20,000 heavy/light chain pairs from autoreactive B cells in SLE and HIV and more than 500 monoclonal antibodies; 3) performed NGS of 52 B cell samples purified from SLE, other autoimmune diseases, HIV and vaccinated healthy controls. These studies have largely answered the questions posed in our original aims as we elucidated the structural basis of different types of lupus autoantibodies, including anti-apoptotic cell antibodies, and demonstrated deficient receptor editing in autoimmune lupus B cells (Aim 1). The combination of single cell mAb analysis and NGS allowed us to demonstrate that while apoptotic cell antigens play an important role in the selection of autoimmune memory cells in SLE, other self-antigens must be dominant in shaping this compartment and regulating its contribution to the antibody secreting cell compartment in active disease (Aim 2). To further achieve our aims and better understand the antigenic, genetic and molecular mechanisms that regulate tolerance and license autoimmune B cells we are also pursuing the analysis of the human serum autoantibody proteome and have initiated integrated studies of the transcriptome and epigenome of autoimmune B cells. Combined these powerful tools enable comprehensive phenotypic, genetic and molecular analysis of hitman B cells, precise purification-of carefully defined developmental subsets and high-throughput analysis of the cellular and secreted antibody repertoires.

Public Health Relevance

Understanding B cell tolerance is essential to prevent and treat autoimmunity, allergy and transplant rejection. Our studies will continue to unravel the nature of the antigens that trigger and amplify autoimmunity and will also elucidate the genetic and molecular roadmaps that underlie B cell malfunction. The expected results should greatly enhance our ability to identify early disease and its triggers; identify biomarkers of autoimmune risk and disease progression; and generate new therapeutic targets.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37AI049660-16
Application #
9626845
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Johnson, David R
Project Start
2003-01-01
Project End
2020-01-31
Budget Start
2019-02-01
Budget End
2020-01-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Emory University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
066469933
City
Atlanta
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30322
Tipton, Christopher M; Hom, Jennifer R; Fucile, Christopher F et al. (2018) Understanding B-cell activation and autoantibody repertoire selection in systemic lupus erythematosus: A B-cell immunomics approach. Immunol Rev 284:120-131
Jenks, Scott A; Cashman, Kevin S; Zumaquero, Esther et al. (2018) Distinct Effector B Cells Induced by Unregulated Toll-like Receptor 7 Contribute to Pathogenic Responses in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Immunity 49:725-739.e6
Hamilton, Jennie A; Wu, Qi; Yang, PingAr et al. (2018) Cutting Edge: Intracellular IFN-? and Distinct Type I IFN Expression Patterns in Circulating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus B Cells. J Immunol 201:2203-2208
Asare, A; Kanaparthi, S; Lim, N et al. (2017) B Cell Receptor Genes Associated With Tolerance Identify a Cohort of Immunosuppressed Patients With Improved Renal Allograft Graft Function. Am J Transplant 17:2627-2639
Sanz, IƱaki (2017) New Perspectives in Rheumatology: May You Live in Interesting Times: Challenges and Opportunities in Lupus Research. Arthritis Rheumatol 69:1552-1559
Oleksyn, D; Zhao, J; Vosoughi, A et al. (2017) PKK deficiency in B cells prevents lupus development in Sle lupus mice. Immunol Lett 185:1-11
Tanaka, Toshihiro; Zhang, Weici; Sun, Ying et al. (2017) Autoreactive monoclonal antibodies from patients with primary biliary cholangitis recognize environmental xenobiotics. Hepatology 66:885-895
Jaworski, Juan Pablo; Bryk, Peter; Brower, Zachary et al. (2017) Pre-existing neutralizing antibody mitigates B cell dysregulation and enhances the Env-specific antibody response in SHIV-infected rhesus macaques. PLoS One 12:e0172524
Sanz, Ignacio (2016) Editorial: IgA Responses and Future Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 68:2351-3
Sisirak, Vanja; Sally, Benjamin; D'Agati, Vivette et al. (2016) Digestion of Chromatin in Apoptotic Cell Microparticles Prevents Autoimmunity. Cell 166:88-101

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