Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α perpetuates synovial fibroblast interactions with T cells and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis |
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Authors: | Fanlei Hu Hongjiang Liu Liling Xu Yingni Li Xu Liu Lianjie Shi Yin Su Xiaoyan Qiu Xia Zhang Yuqin Yang Jian Zhang Zhanguo Li |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital & Beijing Key Laboratory for Rheumatism Mechanism and Immune Diagnosis (BZ0135), Beijing, China;2. Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University, Beijing, China |
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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. |
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Keywords: | B cell Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α Rheumatoid arthritis Synovial fibroblast T cell |
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