P-Selectin preserves immune tolerance in mice and is reduced in human cutaneous lupus

Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 2:7:41841. doi: 10.1038/srep41841.

Abstract

Mice deficient in P-Selectin presented altered immunity/tolerance balance. We have observed that the absence of P-Selectin promotes splenomegaly with reduced naïve T cell population, elevated activated/effector T cell subset, increased germinal center B and Tfh populations and high production of autoreactive antibodies. Moreover, 1.5-3-month-old P-selectin KO mice showed reduced IL-10-producing leukocytes in blood and a slightly reduced Treg population in the skin. With aging and, coinciding with disease severity, there is an increase in the IL17+ circulating and dermal T cell subpopulations and reduction of dermal Treg. As a consequence, P-Selectin deficient mice developed a progressive autoimmune syndrome showing skin alterations characteristic of lupus prone mice and elevated circulating autoantibodies, including anti-dsDNA. Similar to human SLE, disease pathogenesis was characterized by deposition of immune complexes in the dermoepidermal junction and renal glomeruli, and a complex pattern of autoantibodies. More important, skin biopsies of cutaneous lupus erythematosus patients did not show increased expression of P-Selectin, as described for other inflammatory diseases, and the number of vessels expressing P-Selectin was reduced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Female
  • Germinal Center / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immune Tolerance*
  • Interleukin-10 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-17 / metabolism
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / genetics*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Subsets
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • P-Selectin / genetics*
  • P-Selectin / metabolism
  • Skin / blood supply
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Spleen / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interleukin-17
  • P-Selectin
  • Interleukin-10