REVIEW article

Front. Immunol., 28 July 2022

Sec. Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders

Volume 13 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.940581

Potential roles of non-lymphocytic cells in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease

  • Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China

Abstract

Studies have confirmed the involvement of a variety of lymphocyte subsets, including type 2 helper T lymphocytes (Th2) and IgG4+ B lymphocytes, in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Those lymphocytes contribute to the major pathogenetic features of IgG4-RD. However, they are not the only cellular components in the immunoinflammatory environment of this mysterious disease entity. Recent studies have suggested that various non-lymphocytic components, including macrophages and fibroblasts, may also play an important role in the pathogenetic process of IgG4-RD in terms of contributing to the chronic and complex progress of the disease. Therefore, the potential role of non-lymphocyte in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is worth discussing.

Background of IgG4-RD

IgG4-RD is a newly defined autoimmune disease of the century. Single or multiple organs/tissues may be involved simultaneously or successively in the disease progress, including salivary glands, lacrimal glands, pancreas, biliary tract, kidney, lung, retroperitoneum, and etc. The main clinical manifestations are tume-factive enlargement of the affected organs, often accompanied with increased serum IgG4 level (). The typical pathological characteristics of IgG4-RD are dense lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis (). Increased eosinophil infiltration can also be observed. According to 2020 revised Comprehensive Diagnostic Criteria and 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) classification criteria of IgG4-RD, fibrosis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration are essential indices for the diagnosis of IgG4-RD (, ). The exact pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is still in the exploratory stage. Recent studies have suggested that multiple lymphocyte subsets including type 2 helper T cell (Th2), follicular helper T cell (Tfh), CD4+ cytotoxic T cell (CD4+ CTL), and B cells are involved. The interactions among these cells eventually mediate inflammation and fibrosis, contributing significantly to the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD ().

Although, as an autoimmune disease, interactions between T and B cells contribute the majority of the pathogenesis in IgG4-RD (), however, they are not the only cellular subsets involved in the real immuno-inflammatory response: residential parenchymal, mesenchymal cells, and other inflammatory cells infiltrated into the involved tissues, can respond to the stimuli derived from the local inflammatory microenvironment and further participate in the inflammatory response, which finally contribute to the histopathological features of IgG4-RD. Recent studies have also indicated that several non-lymphocytes, including macrophage and basophil, may exert important effects on the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD (). Therefore, exploring the potential role of non-lymphocytes is crucial for in-depth understanding to the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD. This review will discuss this issue from the following three perspectives, based on the current researches in the field of IgG4-RD and other related conditions.

Non-T/B lymphocyte-mediated fibrosis

As mentioned above, profibrotic factors (e.g., IL-1β, TGF-β, LOXL2, PDGF, etc.) production resulting from the interactions between T (primarily CD4+ CTL) and B cells is the core fibrogenic mechanism of IgG4-RD (). However, a growing number of researches have revealed that innate immune cells may play important roles in this process (Figure 1).

Figure 1

Alternatively activated macrophage

The alternatively activated macrophage (AAM), also known as M2 macrophage, is induced by typical type 2 cytokines (such as IL-4 and IL-13), and can be found in several pathophysiological conditions such as allergy, parasitic infection, and the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis in adipose tissue (). Ishiguro N et al. found that TLR7 (mainly located on M2 in the IgG4-RD affected tissues) activation in vitro lead to enhanced interleukin 33 (IL-33) production by M2, which was also confirmed by the finding that human Toll-like receptor 7 (huTLR7)-transgenic C57BL/6 mice had severer tissue fibrosis after receiving the treatment of resiquimod (R848) (). M2 may also aggravate fibrosis through CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18). Akiyama M et al. found that serum CCL18 level was significantly positively correlated with IgG4-RD RI (). Furukawa S et al. found that CCL18 was co-localized with massive infiltrated M2 in IgG4-RD affected tissues, and positively associated with the fibrosis scores (). Honda F et al. confirmed that blocking CCL8 (analog of human CCL18) in LATY136F knock-in mice (an animal model of IgG4-RD) alleviated the degree of fibrosis in affected salivary glands, and further in vitro assays revealed that CCL8 could directly stimulate collagen production in mouse fibroblasts (). M2 can also induce plasma cell recruitment by secreting tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13(TNFSF13/APRIL) and further promote fibrogenesis ().

Type 2 innate lymphoid cells

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) develop from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in bone marrow. Except for the absence of antigen-specific receptor, ILCs are similar to T cells in terms of transcriptional and functional features. According to the expression of key transcription factors in their development and the pattern of cytokine secretion, ILCs can be divided into three groups: ILC1 (expresses T-bet and produces IFN-γ), ILC2 (expresses GATA3 and produces IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), and ILC3 (expresses RORγt, and produces IL-22 or IL-17) (, ). Zhang P et al. found that the circulating ILC2 level in IgG4-RD patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls and was positively correlated with the number of circulating regulatory T cells (Tregs). In addition, the expression levels of CD154, PD-1, and CXCR5 on ILC2 were also positively correlated with the level of B cells in peripheral blood, serum IgG4, and IgE (). Although they didn’t directly demonstrate the effect of IL-13 and IL-4 secreted by ILC2 on IgG4-RD fibrosis, multiple studies suggested that IL-13 and/or IL-4 could mediate tissue fibrosis either directly (by acting on fibroblasts) or indirectly (e.g., by acting on alternatively activated macrophage) ().

Mast cells, eosinophils, and basophils

Mast cells, basophils (Baso), and eosinophils (Eos) share many similarities in the expression of surface receptors and cytokines: they all express immunoglobulin Fc receptors (Eos expresses FcγRII/CD32 and FcαRI/CD89 for IgG and IgA; Baso and mast cells express high-affinity IgE Fc receptor FcϵRI) and secrete typical Th2-type immune response-related cytokines (such as IL-4 and IL-13) to accelerate the development of fibrosis after activation (). Although understanding to the detailed mechanism of these cells in IgG4-RD is still limited, the pathological features of IgG4-RD suggest potential roles of these cells in the fibrosis of IgG4-RD: in recent studies, mild to moderate eosinophil infiltration was observed in the affected tissues, and increased peripheral blood eosinophil count and serum IgE level were detected in IgG4-RD patients (, , ), which suggests that Eos may tightly related to the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD. Increased local IgE may also activate Baso and mast cells in affected tissues, which can further produce profibrotic factors to enhance the fibrosis process in IgG4-RD.

Potential roles of IL-33/ST2 axis in IgG4-RD fibrosis

An important feature of the aforementioned cellular components is that they all express suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2, also known as IL-1RL1), which is the receptor of a IL-1 family member, interleukin 33 (IL-33) (, ). IL-33 is constitutively and highly expressed in endothelial cells, epithelial cells, and fibroblast-like cells, and can be induced to express in several CD45+ cell subsets (e.g., macrophages) under the inflammatory stimulation (). IL-33 can act as an alarmin to indicate the tissue injury: when cells are damaged, full-length IL-33 is released and transformed to highly active form to exert its effects as a cytokine, after being cleaved by proteases secreted by local inflammatory cells (such as chymase derived from mast cells) (). Li D et al. reported that IL-33 released by bleomycin-injured lung epithelial cells induced the release of IL-13 from ILC2, and then promoted the differentiation of macrophage to IL-33 secreting M2, which further lead to the secretion of IL-13 and TGF-β, and promoted the pulmonary fibrosis (). Besides in ILC2 and M2, the expression of profibrotic factor IL-13 can also be up-regulated in Th2 cells, mast cells, Baso, and Eos under the treatment of IL-33 (, ). These researches suggest that IL-33/ST2 axis may be the core axis connecting the fibrosis mediated by Th2-type immune responses. Despite that the potential profibrotic role of IL-33/ST2 axis has been mentioned in some studies of IgG4-RD (, , ), its main target cells and its temporal influencing order on potential target cells are unknown. In addition, although IL-33 is mostly associated with Th2-type immune responses in current studies, non-Th2-type cells, including Th1 and Treg cells, can also express ST2 and respond to IL-33 stimulation (, ). Therefore, the specific role of IL-33/ST2 axis in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD still remains to be explored.

Beside promoting fibrosis, the above-mentioned immune cells may also influence the IgG4-RD immune response by other means such as secreting a variety of immunoregulatory agents: for example, IL-33 can enhance the activation of Th2 cells (); Baso and monocytes can increase the production of IgG4 after the activation of some specific pattern recognition receptors (, ). Moreover, fibroblasts acting as collagen producing effector cells in this process can also exert other effects on the immunoinflammatory process of IgG4-RD (see below).

Non-profibrotic effects of fibroblasts

Fibroblasts are non-hematopoietic, non-endothelial, non-parenchymal, non-epithelial and non-mesothelial cells with mesenchymal origin. However, fibroblasts can be derived from mesothelial-, epithelial-, or endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and may be transformed from hematopoietic cells (). As illustrated above, fibrosis is one of the core pathological features of IgG4-RD. The transition of fibroblasts into ECM-producing myofibroblasts is a common feature of fibrosis-related diseases (). However, in a dynamic and complex inflammatory response, activated fibroblasts can not only functionate as a “collagen maker”, but also participate in the regulation of immune processes (Figure 2).

Figure 2

Fibroblasts can serve as a hub of cytokines

Fibroblasts express a variety of cytokine receptors (e.g., CCR7, CXCR2, IL-4R, IL-6R, IFN-γR, etc.) and pattern recognition receptors, which indicate their ability to receive inflammatory signal derived from different pathological environments, and also suggests their strong potential to make response to the stimulation of these receptors (). For example, in malignant tumors, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) serve as the main source of inflammatory factors including CXCL12, CXCL1, and IL-6, and participate in the regulation of immune responses in various malignant tumors (e.g., pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma) (). In classic fibrotic diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), fibroblasts can up-regulate the expressions of IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2, under the stimulation of IL-1β (); Furthermore, the expression of CCL5 was also up-regulated in response to CCL21 stimulation in primary lung fibroblasts derived from IPF patients (). In Dupuytren’s disease, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) stimulates myofibroblasts to secrete IL-33, which in turn increase the secretion of TNFα from other immune cells, and finally forms a vicious circle ().

The important roles of fibroblasts in autoimmune conditions have also been demonstrated in human specimens and animal models. In serum transfer induced arthritis (STIA) K/BxN mouse model, the secretion of cytokines by THY1+ fibroblasts of hip joint, including CXCL12, CCL2, CCL5 and IL-6, is significantly enhanced under the stimulation of TNFα (). TNFα, IL-1β, and hypoxia also up-regulate the expression of cytokines, including IL-6, CXCL8 (namely, IL-8), CCL2, CXCL11, CXCL12, and VEGF, as well as the expression of cytokine receptors such as TNFRSF9 in synovial fibroblasts derived from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (, ). In systemic sclerosis (SSc), IL-22 synergistically works with TNFα to induce the expression of IL-8 and CCL2 in skin fibroblasts, while the simultaneous stimulation of TGF-β1 and IL-17A can lead to an up-regulation of IL-6 expression in fibroblasts from affected skin by nearly a hundredfold (, ).

In involved tissues of IgG4-related retroperitoneal fibrosis (IgG4-RPF), the co-localization of IL-6, BAFF, IL-7, IL-12 p70 and IL-23 with αSMA is observed by Zongfei J et al, and the expression levels of both IL-6 and IL-6R are higher than those in the control tissues, suggesting the pro-inflammatory properties of fibroblasts in affected tissues of IgG4-RD patients (). Elevated secretion of BAFF, IL-7, IL-12 p70, and IL-23 in the aortic adventitial fibroblasts (AAFs) after the activation of IL-6/IL-6R axis can also be seen (). It is worth mentioning that the increased production of IL-7, IL-12, IL-23, and other cytokines by IgG4-RD fibroblasts can not only play an immediate role in regulating the immunoinflammatory processes via affecting the functional status of infiltrated immune cells, but also can exert a long-term impact on the progress of autoimmune diseases by participating in the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles (ELFs) ().

Fibroblasts may participate in the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles (ELFs)

Ectopic lymphoid follicles, also known as tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), which is induced by inflammatory insults, and can contribute to the “propagation” of antigenic specific responses in local tissues (). The developed ELF is a complex collection of white blood cells and specific mesenchymal cells, which is functionally similar to the secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) including spleen and lymph nodes and provides a site for germinal center reaction (GC reactions) (, ).

The interaction between lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) and lymphoid tissue organizer (LTo) is required for the generation of lymphoid follicles. LTis are developed from IL-7Rα+ lymphoid progenitors, and this is a process that requires the expression of retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) (). LTi cells express lymphotoxin α1β2 (LTα1β2) under the stimulation of IL-7 and RANKL (, ). Via binding to LTβ receptor (LTβR) expressed on LTo cells, LTα1β2 induces the release of chemokines (e.g., CXCL13, CCL19, and CCL21), as well as the expression of adhesion molecules, which further recruits immune cells, and promotes the formation of lymphoid structures (, ). In actual pathological environment, a variety of cells, including Th17 and Tγδ17, are involved in the formation of ELF (). In chronic inflammation, a key step in the formation process of ELF is the transition of resident stromal cells (e.g., fibroblasts) to LTo-like phenotype after receiving the stimulation of inflammatory stimuli: for example, in synovial tissues of RA patients, the enhancement of IL-6 signal can lead to increased IL-7 production in synovial fibroblasts, which can induce LTi recruitment into the affected tissues and promote ELF formation ().

TLS assists to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms when it is produced in local site of infections. However, in some autoimmune settings (e.g., Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, etc.), the formation of TLS can aggravate the progress of autoimmune diseases through somatic hypermutation (SHM), isotype switching, and affinity maturation (, ). It is worth mentioning that Nayar S et al. found that during TLS formation in salivary glands in patients with Primary Sjogren’s Syndrome (pSS), the differentiation of a group of resident podoplanin (PDPN) positive mesenchymal cells into the “immunofibroblasts” that could support the early TLS formation happens before the infiltration of lymphocytes into the salivary glands, which is mainly regulated by IL-13 derived from resident ILCs and stromal cells (62). After lymphocyte infiltration, those immunofibroblasts were further phenotypically stabilized and proliferated under the influence of IL-22 and lymphotoxin (62). These studies show that innate immune cells may have already been primed for the potential chronicity of adaptive immune response before it occurs, and provide important hints for the potential mechanism of ELF formation in autoimmune diseases with mucosa containing organs’ involvement.

ELF probably plays an important role in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD (63): there is marked fibroblast activation in IgG4-RD involved tissues, and Zongfei J et al. observed that fibroblasts in affected tissues could express IL-7 (an ELF formation promoting cytokine) after the activation of IL-6/IL-6R axis (); Chen Y et al. found an abnormal expansion of Tfh cells in IgG4-RD patient tissues (); In addition, infiltration of a large amount of B cells into the affected tissues, and the diversity of B cell clones suggest the possible existence of ectopic germinal center reactions in IgG4-RD (64, 65); Zhang P et al. observed the infiltration of ILC in the affected tissues of IgG4-RD patients, and the positive correlation of ILC2 with the disease severity of IgG4-RD (). All these aforementioned components can be involved in the formation of ELF and participate in the subsequent immunoinflammatory reactions. Considering the predisposition of exo-/endocrine gland involvement (mucosa containing organs), marked fibroblast activation (potential LTo), and dense infiltration of immune cells (potential LTi) in IgG4-RD, the possible role of fibroblasts in the formation of ELF in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD is worthy of further investigation. Besides, fibroblasts can express major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules under the influence of inflammatory stimuli, which leads them become the target cells of CD4+ CTLs resulting in apoptosis and the subsequent biological processes (see below) (66).

Atypical antigen presentation

Antigen presentation is an important immunological process that assists T cells in antigen recognition and activation. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can be grouped into professional APCs and non-professional APCs based on the expression of different MHC molecules. Professional APCs include dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, and B cells (67). Most nucleated cells can present antigen to CD8+ T cells via MHC-I molecules, while professional APCs present antigen peptides to CD4+ T lymphocytes through their constitutively expressed MHC-II molecules (68). With the help of CD4/CD8, and other surface molecules such as CD45, the binding of T cell receptor (TCR) to antigen peptide-MHC complex lead to the phosphorylation of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) on the cytoplasmic tail of CD3, and initiates the downstream TCR signaling (69).

However, in some pathological conditions, the expression of MHC-II molecules can be induced on some non-professional APCs by inflammatory stimuli (namely, ectopic expression). Winau F et al. found that IFN-γ could up-regulate the expression of MHC-II in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) (70). Kato et al. found that the MHC-II expression on synovial fibroblasts was increased when co-cultured with Th1 cells (71). Even human T cells can express MHC-II molecules and present autoantigenic peptides after activation of TCR signaling (72). In addition to the aforementioned cells, cells including Eos, Baso, and epithelial cells may express MHC-II molecules under the stimulation of different inflammatory stimuli, which is well reviewed by Kambayashi T and Laufer TM (73).

In IgG4-RD, Perugino CA et al. found that CD4+ CTL mediated the apoptosis of a variety of cells in affected tissues, including T cells, B cells, acinar cells, ductal cells, and endothelial cells, and the expression level of HLA-DR in these apoptotic cells was significantly increased (66). Interestingly, those apoptotic cells are mainly non-endothelial, non-immune cells with mesenchymal origin (66). However, the regulatory mechanisms and specific roles of atypical MHC-II expression in these cells remain unknown in IgG4-RD. Considering the existence of the previously mentioned inducing factors for the atypical expression of MHC-II molecules (e.g., infiltration of immune cell subsets, and immunoinflammatory microenvironment) (, , , 74) and the potential influence of environmental factors on IgG4-RD (75), atypical antigen presentations via MHC-II molecules may be the factor to promote or even initiate the development of IgG4-RD. In addition, inflammatory microenvironment could also up-regulate the expression of MHC-I molecules, while the dying cells induced by CD4+CTL may contribute to cross-presentation, which may be an important basis for the potential pathogenic role of CD8+ T cells in IgG4-RD (66, 76, 77) (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Summary and prospect

Non-lymphocyte can exert important effects on the immune-inflammatory regulations in many pathological conditions, such as RA, SLE, SSc, and etc. (7880). Current studies on IgG4-RD and basic immunological evidence suggest that non-lymphocyte may play roles in the initiation of IgG4-RD disease (such as atypical antigen presentation), disease severity (such as mediating fibrosis and participating in the regulation of immune inflammation), as well as chronic and complex progress (such as the formation of ectopic lymphoid follicles). Although more and more evidence suggest the potential role of non-lymphocyte in the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD, the research on IgG4-RD is still very limited at present in this area, mainly because IgG4-RD is a newly defined disease entity in this century, and there is no particularly suitable animal model for IgG4-RD investigation. Animal models that have been published so far include the patient serum injection model proposed by Shiokawa et al. (injecting serum IgG of IgG4-RD patients into male Balb/C neonatal mice), LATY136F knock-in mouse model identified by Yamada et al., and Human TLR7 transgenic mouse model proposed by Ishiguro N et al. (, 81, 82). These models may assist in exploring the potential roles of non-lymphocyte in IgG4-RD in vivo. Considering the lack of appropriate animal models, the application of high-throughput techniques coupled with well-designed experiments may help further mechanistically elucidating the functional status of these cells and their association with IgG4-RD: via single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-Seq), Valenzi E et al. identified the heterogeneity of fibroblasts in patients with systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSC-ILD) revealing that myofibroblast differentiation and proliferation were the key pathological mechanisms promoting fibrosis in patients with SSC-ILD (83); Der E et al. found that the signal signatures of type I interferon and the fibrosis-related signaling in renal tubular cells and keratinocyte of lupus nephritis patients were differentiated from that in healthy controls (84). It is worth mentioning that detailed investigation into the pathological roles of non-lymphocytes may help provide helpful therapeutic insights, not only for IgG4-RD, but also for many other autoimmune conditions: different diseases may share some pathogenic cytokines, which have the potential to be the therapeutic targets. For example, besides in IgG4-RD, IL-33/ST2 axis has been identified to play roles in several fibrotic process related diseases (e.g., pSS), and antibodies targeting have been utilized in the clinical trials of several diseases, including atopic dermatitis, and asthma (80, 85); type I interferon can also exert pathological effects and be the therapeutic target in several autoimmune conditions (e.g. SLE) (86). In consideration of the fact that the components of non-lymphocytes may affect the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD at multiple levels, further mechanistic researches and large-scale clinical association analyses focusing on the specific roles of different non-lymphocytes in the initiation and progress of IgG4-RD will help indicate the optimal usage of target therapy, which in turn, on this basis, will deepen our understanding to the potential pathogenic roles of non-lymphocyte and related inflammatory factors in IgG4-RD.

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81974254 and 81901651), and Tongji Hospital Clinical Research Flagship Program (No. 2019CR206).

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Statements

Author contributions

SC and ZH performed literature search and drafted the manuscript. YC, JZ, and LD revised the manuscript. All author designed and reviewed the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

  • 1

    LanzillottaMMancusoGDella-TorreE. Advances in the diagnosis and management of IgG4 related disease. BMJ (2020) 369:m1067. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m1067

  • 2

    DeshpandeVZenYChanJKYiEESatoYYoshinoTet al. Consensus statement on the pathology of IgG4-related disease. Mod Pathol (2012) 25(9):1181–92. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.2012.72

  • 3

    UmeharaHOkazakiKKawaSTakahashiHGotoHMatsuiSet al. The 2020 revised comprehensive diagnostic (RCD) criteria for IgG4-RD. Mod Rheumatol (2021) 31(3):529–33. doi: 10.1080/14397595.2020.1859710

  • 4

    WallaceZSNadenRPChariSChoiHKDella-TorreEDicaireJFet al. The 2019 American college of Rheumatology/European league against rheumatism classification criteria for IgG4-related disease. Ann rheum dis (2020) 79(1):7787. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216561

  • 5

    ChenYLinWYangHWangMZhangPFengRet al. Aberrant expansion and function of follicular helper T cell subsets in IgG4-related disease. Arthritis Rheumatol (2018) 70(11):1853–65. doi: 10.1002/art.40556

  • 6

    Della-TorreERigamontiEPeruginoCBaghai-SainSSunNKanekoNet al. B lymphocytes directly contribute to tissue fibrosis in patients with IgG4-related disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2020) 145(3):96881.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.07.004

  • 7

    MaeharaTMattooHOhtaMMahajanVSMoriyamaMYamauchiMet al. Lesional CD4+ IFN-gamma+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes in IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis. Ann rheum dis (2017) 76(2):377–85. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209139

  • 8

    GradosAEbboMPiperoglouCGrohMRegentASamsonMet al. T Cell polarization toward TH2/TFH2 and TH17/TFH17 in patients with IgG4-related disease. Front Immunol (2017) 8:235. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00235

  • 9

    PeruginoCAStoneJH. IgG4-related disease: an update on pathophysiology and implications for clinical care. Nat Rev Rheumatol (2020) 16(12):702–14. doi: 10.1038/s41584-020-0500-7

  • 10

    WatanabeTYamashitaKSakuraiTKudoMShiokawaMUzaNet al. Toll-like receptor activation in basophils contributes to the development of IgG4-related disease. J gastroenterol (2013) 48(2):247–53. doi: 10.1007/s00535-012-0626-8

  • 11

    FurukawaSMoriyamaMMiyakeKNakashimaHTanakaAMaeharaTet al. Interleukin-33 produced by M2 macrophages and other immune cells contributes to Th2 immune reaction of IgG4-related disease. Sci Rep (2017) 7:42413. doi: 10.1038/srep42413

  • 12

    IshiguroNMoriyamaMFurushoKFurukawaSShibataTMurakamiYet al. Activated M2 macrophages contribute to the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease via toll-like receptor 7/Interleukin-33 signaling. Arthritis Rheumatol (2020) 72(1):166–78. doi: 10.1002/art.41052

  • 13

    PillaiSPeruginoCKanekoN. Immune mechanisms of fibrosis and inflammation in IgG4-related disease. Curr Opin Rheumatol (2020) 32(2):146–51. doi: 10.1097/BOR.0000000000000686

  • 14

    Van DykenSJLocksleyRM. Interleukin-4- and interleukin-13-mediated alternatively activated macrophages: roles in homeostasis and disease. Annu Rev Immunol (2013) 31:317–43. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-032712-095906

  • 15

    AkiyamaMYasuokaHYoshimotoKTakeuchiT. CC-chemokine ligand 18 is a useful biomarker associated with disease activity in IgG4-related disease. Ann rheum dis (2018) 77(9):1386–7. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212110

  • 16

    FurukawaSMoriyamaMTanakaAMaeharaTTsuboiHIizukaMet al. Preferential M2 macrophages contribute to fibrosis in IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis, so-called mikulicz's disease. Clin Immunol (2015) 156(1):918. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2014.10.008

  • 17

    HondaFTsuboiHOnoYAbeSTakahashiHItoKet al. Pathogenic roles and therapeutic potential of the CCL8-CCR8 axis in a murine model of IgG4-related sialadenitis. Arthritis Res Ther (2021) 23(1):214. doi: 10.1186/s13075-021-02597-6

  • 18

    KawakamiTMizushimaIYamadaKFujiiHItoKYasunoTet al. Abundant a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL)-producing macrophages contribute to plasma cell accumulation in immunoglobulin G4-related disease. Nephrol Dial Transpl (2019) 34(6):960–9. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfy296

  • 19

    BalSMGolebskiKSpitsH. Plasticity of innate lymphoid cell subsets. Nat Rev Immunol (2020) 20(9):552–65. doi: 10.1038/s41577-020-0282-9

  • 20

    ColonnaM. Innate lymphoid cells: Diversity, plasticity, and unique functions in immunity. Immunity (2018) 48(6):1104–17. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2018.05.013

  • 21

    ZhangPLiuZPengLZhouJWangMLiJet al. Phenotype, function and clinical significance of innate lymphoid cells in immunoglobulin G4-related disease. Rheumatology (Oxford) (2022) 61(5):2197–209. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab610

  • 22

    LiDGuabirabaRBesnardAGKomai-KomaMJabirMSZhangLet al. IL-33 promotes ST2-dependent lung fibrosis by the induction of alternatively activated macrophages and innate lymphoid cells in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2014) 134(6):142232.e11. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.05.011

  • 23

    PengHSarwarZYangXPPetersonELXuJJanicBet al. Profibrotic role for interleukin-4 in cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. Hypertension. (2015) 66(3):582–9. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.05627

  • 24

    BelliniAMariniMABianchettiLBarczykMSchmidtMMattoliS. Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and IL-17A differentially affect the profibrotic and proinflammatory functions of fibrocytes from asthmatic patients. Mucosal Immunol (2012) 5(2):140–9. doi: 10.1038/mi.2011.60

  • 25

    StoneKDPrussinCMetcalfeDD. IgE, mast cells, basophils, and eosinophils. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2010) 125(2 Suppl 2):S73–80. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.11.017

  • 26

    CulverELSadlerRBatemanACMakuchMCargillTFerryBet al. Increases in IgE, eosinophils, and mast cells can be used in diagnosis and to predict relapse of IgG4-related disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol (2017) 15(9):144452.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2017.02.007

  • 27

    WallaceZSDeshpandeVMattooHMahajanVSKulikovaMPillaiSet al. IgG4-related disease: Clinical and laboratory features in one hundred twenty-five patients. Arthritis Rheumatol (2015) 67(9):2466–75. doi: 10.1002/art.39205

  • 28

    LiewFYGirardJPTurnquistHR. Interleukin-33 in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol (2016) 16(11):676–89. doi: 10.1038/nri.2016.95

  • 29

    ChanBCLLamCWKTamLSWongCK. IL33: Roles in allergic inflammation and therapeutic perspectives. Front Immunol (2019) 10:364. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00364

  • 30

    LottJMSumpterTLTurnquistHR. New dog and new tricks: evolving roles for IL-33 in type 2 immunity. J Leukoc Biol (2015) 97(6):1037–48. doi: 10.1189/jlb.3RI1214-595R

  • 31

    CherryWBYoonJBartemesKRIijimaKKitaH. A novel IL-1 family cytokine, IL-33, potently activates human eosinophils. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2008) 121(6):1484–90. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2008.04.005

  • 32

    SchmitzJOwyangAOldhamESongYMurphyEMcClanahanTKet al. IL-33, an interleukin-1-like cytokine that signals via the IL-1 receptor-related protein ST2 and induces T helper type 2-associated cytokines. Immunity. (2005) 23(5):479–90. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2005.09.015

  • 33

    SalujaRKhanMChurchMKMaurerM. The role of IL-33 and mast cells in allergy and inflammation. Clin Transl Allergy (2015) 5:33. doi: 10.1186/s13601-015-0076-5

  • 34

    SalujaRKetelaarMEHawroTChurchMKMaurerMNawijnMC. The role of the IL-33/IL-1RL1 axis in mast cell and basophil activation in allergic disorders. Mol Immunol (2015) 63(1):80–5. doi: 10.1016/j.molimm.2014.06.018

  • 35

    MinagaKWatanabeTHaraAYoshikawaTKamataKKudoM. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells as a new therapeutic target for autoimmune pancreatitis and IgG4-related disease. Front Immunol (2021) 12:713779. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.713779

  • 36

    PeineMMarekRMLohningM. IL-33 in T cell differentiation, function, and immune homeostasis. Trends Immunol (2016) 37(5):321–33. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2016.03.007

  • 37

    FaustinoLDGriffithJWRahimiRANepalKHamilosDLChoJLet al. Interleukin-33 activates regulatory T cells to suppress innate gammadelta T cell responses in the lung. Nat Immunol (2020) 21(11):1371–83. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-0785-3

  • 38

    WatanabeTYamashitaKFujikawaSSakuraiTKudoMShiokawaMet al. Involvement of activation of toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors in enhanced IgG4 responses in autoimmune pancreatitis. Arthritis rheumatism (2012) 64(3):914–24. doi: 10.1002/art.33386

  • 39

    BuechlerMBTurleySJ. A short field guide to fibroblast function in immunity. Semin Immunol (2018) 35:4858. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2017.11.001

  • 40

    WynnTARamalingamTR. Mechanisms of fibrosis: therapeutic translation for fibrotic disease. Nat Med (2012) 18(7):1028–40. doi: 10.1038/nm.2807

  • 41

    DorrierCEAranDHaeneltEASheehyRNHoiKKPintaricLet al. CNS fibroblasts form a fibrotic scar in response to immune cell infiltration. Nat Neurosci (2021) 24(2):234–44. doi: 10.1038/s41593-020-00770-9

  • 42

    ProostPVerpoestSVan de BorneKSchutyserEStruyfSPutWet al. Synergistic induction of CXCL9 and CXCL11 by toll-like receptor ligands and interferon-gamma in fibroblasts correlates with elevated levels of CXCR3 ligands in septic arthritis synovial fluids. J Leukoc Biol (2004) 75(5):777–84. doi: 10.1189/jlb.1003524

  • 43

    HabielDMHogaboamC. Heterogeneity in fibroblast proliferation and survival in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Front Pharmacol (2014) 5. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00002

  • 44

    BiffiGTuvesonDA. Diversity and biology of cancer-associated fibroblasts. Physiol Rev (2021) 101(1):147–76. doi: 10.1152/physrev.00048.2019

  • 45

    HadjicharalambousMRRouxBTFeghali-BostwickCAMurrayLAClarkeDLLindsayMA. Long non-coding RNAs are central regulators of the IL-1beta-Induced inflammatory response in normal and idiopathic pulmonary lung fibroblasts. Front Immunol (2018) 9:2906. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02906

  • 46

    PierceEMCarpenterKJakubzickCKunkelSLEvanoffHFlahertyKRet al. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis fibroblasts migrate and proliferate to CC chemokine ligand 21. Eur Respir J (2007) 29(6):1082–93. doi: 10.1183/09031936.00122806

  • 47

    IzadiDLaytonTBWilliamsLMcCannFCabritaMEspirito SantoAIet al. Identification of TNFR2 and IL-33 as therapeutic targets in localized fibrosis. Sci Adv (2019) 5(12):eaay0370. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.aay0370

  • 48

    CroftAPCamposJJansenKTurnerJDMarshallJAttarMet al. Distinct fibroblast subsets drive inflammation and damage in arthritis. Nature. (2019) 570(7760):246–51. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1263-7

  • 49

    HitchonCWongKMaGReedJLyttleDEl-GabalawyH. Hypoxia-induced production of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (CXCL12) and vascular endothelial growth factor by synovial fibroblasts. Arthritis Rheumatism (2002) 46(10):2587–97. doi: 10.1002/art.10520

  • 50

    LohCParkSHLeeAYuanRIvashkivLBKallioliasGD. TNF-induced inflammatory genes escape repression in fibroblast-like synoviocytes: transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis. Ann rheum dis (2019) 78(9):1205–14. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214783

  • 51

    DufourAMAlvarezMRussoBChizzoliniC. Interleukin-6 and type-I collagen production by systemic sclerosis fibroblasts are differentially regulated by interleukin-17A in the presence of transforming growth factor-beta 1. Front Immunol (2018) 9:1865. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01865

  • 52

    BrembillaNCDufourAMAlvarezMHuguesSMontanariETruchetetMEet al. IL-22 capacitates dermal fibroblast responses to TNF in scleroderma. Ann rheum dis (2016) 75(9):1697–705. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2015-207477

  • 53

    ZongfeiJRongyiCXiaomengCLiliMLingyingMXiufangKet al. In vitro IL-6/IL-6R trans-signaling in fibroblasts releases cytokines that may be linked to the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease. Front Immunol (2020) 11:1272. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01272

  • 54

    BaroneFGardnerDHNayarSSteinthalNBuckleyCDLutherSA. Stromal fibroblasts in tertiary lymphoid structures: A novel target in chronic inflammation. Front Immunol (2016) 7:477. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00477

  • 55

    JonesGWJonesSA. Ectopic lymphoid follicles: inducible centres for generating antigen-specific immune responses within tissues. Immunology (2016) 147(2):141–51. doi: 10.1111/imm.12554

  • 56

    van de PavertSAMebiusRE. New insights into the development of lymphoid tissues. Nat Rev Immunol (2010) 10(9):664–74. doi: 10.1038/nri2832

  • 57

    LanzillottaMFernandez-CodinaACulverEEbboMMartinez-ValleFSchleinitzNet al. Emerging therapy options for IgG4-related disease. Expert Rev Clin Immunol (2021) 17(5):471–83. doi: 10.1080/1744666X.2021.1902310

  • 58

    BuckleyCDBaroneFNayarSBenezechCCaamanoJ. Stromal cells in chronic inflammation and tertiary lymphoid organ formation. Annu Rev Immunol (2015) 33:715–45. doi: 10.1146/annurev-immunol-032713-120252

  • 59

    SawaSKamimuraDJinGHMorikawaHKamonHNishiharaMet al. Autoimmune arthritis associated with mutated interleukin (IL)-6 receptor gp130 is driven by STAT3/IL-7-dependent homeostatic proliferation of CD4+ T cells. J Exp Med (2006) 203(6):1459–70. doi: 10.1084/jem.20052187

  • 60

    NayarSCamposJChungMMNavarro-NunezLChachlaniMSteinthalNet al. Bimodal expansion of the lymphatic vessels is regulated by the sequential expression of IL-7 and lymphotoxin alpha1beta2 in newly formed tertiary lymphoid structures. J Immunol (2016) 197(5):1957–67. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1500686

  • 61

    BombardieriMLewisMPitzalisC. Ectopic lymphoid neogenesis in rheumatic autoimmune diseases. Nat Rev Rheumatol (2017) 13(3):141–54. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.217

  • 62

    NayarSCamposJSmithCGIannizzottoVGardnerDHMourcinFet al. Immunofibroblasts are pivotal drivers of tertiary lymphoid structure formation and local pathology. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (2019) 116(27):13490–7. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1905301116

  • 63

    MaeharaTMoriyamaMNakashimaHMiyakeKHayashidaJNTanakaAet al. Interleukin-21 contributes to germinal centre formation and immunoglobulin G4 production in IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis, so-called mikulicz's disease. Ann rheum dis (2012) 71(12):2011–19. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201477

  • 64

    JarrellJABakerMCPeruginoCALiuHBloomMSMaeharaTet al. Neutralizing anti-IL-1 receptor antagonist autoantibodies induce inflammatory and fibrotic mediators in IgG4-related disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2022) 149(1):358–68. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.05.002

  • 65

    CulverELVermeulenEMakuchMvan LeeuwenASadlerRCargillTet al. Increased IgG4 responses to multiple food and animal antigens indicate a polyclonal expansion and differentiation of pre-existing b cells in IgG4-related disease. Ann rheum dis (2015) 74(5):944–7. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-206405

  • 66

    PeruginoCAKanekoNMaeharaTMattooHKersJAllard-ChamardHet al. CD4(+) and CD8(+) cytotoxic T lymphocytes may induce mesenchymal cell apoptosis in IgG4-related disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol (2021) 147(1):368–82. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2020.05.022

  • 67

    SchuijsMJHammadHLambrechtBN. Professional and 'Amateur' antigen-presenting cells in type 2 immunity. Trends Immunol (2019) 40(1):2234. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2018.11.001

  • 68

    KotsiasFCebrianIAlloattiA. Antigen processing and presentation. Int Rev Cell Mol Biol (2019) 348:69121. doi: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2019.07.005

  • 69

    BrownlieRJZamoyskaR. T Cell receptor signalling networks: branched, diversified and bounded. Nat Rev Immunol (2013) 13(4):257–69. doi: 10.1038/nri3403

  • 70

    WinauFHegasyGWeiskirchenRWeberSCassanCSielingPAet al. Ito Cells are liver-resident antigen-presenting cells for activating T cell responses. Immunity (2007) 26(1):117–29. doi: 10.1016/j.immuni.2006.11.011

  • 71

    KatoHEndresJFoxDA. The roles of IFN-gamma versus IL-17 in pathogenic effects of human Th17 cells on synovial fibroblasts. Mod Rheumatol (2013) 23(6):1140–50. doi: 10.3109/s10165-012-0811-x

  • 72

    CostantinoCMSpoonerEPloeghHLHaflerDA. Class II MHC self-antigen presentation in human b and T lymphocytes. PLoS One (2012) 7(1):e29805. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0029805

  • 73

    KambayashiTLauferTM. Atypical MHC class II-expressing antigen-presenting cells: can anything replace a dendritic cell? Nat Rev Immunol (2014) 14(11):719–30. doi: 10.1038/nri3754

  • 74

    LinWJinLChenHWuQFeiYZhengWet al. B cell subsets and dysfunction of regulatory b cells in IgG4-related diseases and primary sjogren's syndrome: the similarities and differences. Arthritis Res Ther (2014) 16(3):R118. doi: 10.1186/ar4571

  • 75

    WallworkRPeruginoCAFuXHarknessTZhangYChoiHKet al. The association of smoking with immunoglobulin G4-related disease: a case-control study. Rheumatol (Oxford) (2021) 60(11):5310–7. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab172

  • 76

    ZhouF. Molecular mechanisms of IFN-gamma to up-regulate MHC class I antigen processing and presentation. Int Rev Immunol (2009) 28(3-4):239–60. doi: 10.1080/08830180902978120

  • 77

    ThomasHEParkerJLSchreiberRDKayTW. IFN-gamma action on pancreatic beta cells causes class I MHC upregulation but not diabetes. J Clin Invest (1998) 102(6):1249–57. doi: 10.1172/JCI2899

  • 78

    WeyandCMGoronzyJJ. The immunology of rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Immunol (2021) 22(1):10–8. doi: 10.1038/s41590-020-00816-x

  • 79

    TsokosGCLoMSCosta ReisPSullivanKE. New insights into the immunopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat Rev Rheumatol (2016) 12(12):716–30. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2016.186

  • 80

    KaniaGRudnikMDistlerO. Involvement of the myeloid cell compartment in fibrogenesis and systemic sclerosis. Nat Rev Rheumatol (2019) 15(5):288302. doi: 10.1038/s41584-019-0212-z

  • 81

    ShiokawaMKodamaYKuriyamaKYoshimuraKTomonoTMoritaTet al. Pathogenicity of IgG in patients with IgG4-related disease. Gut (2016) 65(8):1322–32. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2015-310336

  • 82

    YamadaKZukaMItoKMizuguchiKKakuchiYOnoeTet al. LatY136F knock-in mouse model for human IgG4-related disease. PLoS One (2018) 13(6):e0198417. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198417

  • 83

    ValenziEBulikMTabibTMorseCSembratJTrejo BittarHet al. Single-cell analysis reveals fibroblast heterogeneity and myofibroblasts in systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease. Ann rheum dis (2019) 78(10):1379–87. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214865

  • 84

    DerESuryawanshiHMorozovPKustagiMGoilavBRanabothuSet al. Tubular cell and keratinocyte single-cell transcriptomics applied to lupus nephritis reveal type I IFN and fibrosis relevant pathways. Nat Immunol (2019) 20(7):915–27. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0386-1

  • 85

    SoyfooMSNicaiseC. Pathophysiologic role of interleukin-33/ST2 in sjogren's syndrome. Autoimmun Rev (2021) 20(3):102756. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102756

  • 86

    JiangJZhaoMChangCWuHLuQ. Type I interferons in the pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune diseases. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol (2020) 59(2):248–72. doi: 10.1007/s12016-020-08798-2

Summary

Keywords

IgG4-related disease, non-lymphocyte, immunoinflammatory regulation, ectopic lymphoid follicles, atypical antigen presentation

Citation

Cai S, Hu Z, Chen Y, Zhong J and Dong L (2022) Potential roles of non-lymphocytic cells in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease. Front. Immunol. 13:940581. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.940581

Received

10 May 2022

Accepted

04 July 2022

Published

28 July 2022

Volume

13 - 2022

Edited by

Shengjun Wang, Jiangsu University Affiliated People’s Hospital, China

Reviewed by

Hidenori Ohnishi, Gifu University, Japan; Sabina Islam, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, United States

Updates

Copyright

*Correspondence: Lingli Dong, ; Jixin Zhong, ; Yu Chen,

†These authors have contributed equally to this work and share first authorship

This article was submitted to Autoimmune and Autoinflammatory Disorders, a section of the journal Frontiers in Immunology

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Figures

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics