MyD88 signaling causes autoimmune sialadenitis through formation of high endothelial venules and upregulation of LTβ receptor-mediated signaling

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 24;8(1):14272. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32690-x.

Abstract

Autoimmune sialadenitis (AS), chronic inflammation of the salivary glands (SGs) with focal lymphocyte infiltration, appears in autoimmune diseases such as Sjӧgren's syndrome. The pathological role of MyD88-dependent innate immune signaling in autoimmune diseases including AS has been studied using mouse models, such as NOD mice. Although AS development in NOD mice was reported to be suppressed by Myd88 deficiency, its specific role remains unclear. Here, we determined the potent suppressive effects of Myd88 deficiency on AS development in lupus-prone B6/lpr mice, which have lymphoproliferation abnormalities, and also in NOD mice, which have no lymphoproliferation abnormalities. This indicates that MyD88 signaling triggers AS through both lymphoproliferation-dependent and -independent mechanisms. To address the MyD88-dependent lymphoproliferation-independent AS manifestation, SGs from C57BL/6 mice were analyzed. Remarkable upregulation of Glycam1 and high endothelial venule (HEV)-associated changes were unexpectedly found in Myd88+/+ mice, compared with Myd88-/- mice. MyD88-dependent HEV-associated changes were also observed in NOD mice. Additionally, Lta, Ltb, and Ltbr in SGs of NOD mice were lowered by Myd88 deficiency. Interestingly, LTβR-induced HEV-associated gene expression in cultured cells was impaired by Myd88 deficiency. Our findings highlight novel roles for MyD88 in AS development, which imply the existence of MyD88-dependent HEV formation in ectopic lymphoid neogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autoimmune Diseases / genetics*
  • Autoimmune Diseases / metabolism
  • Autoimmune Diseases / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics*
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Lymphotoxin beta Receptor / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucins / genetics
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / genetics*
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 / metabolism
  • Salivary Glands / metabolism
  • Salivary Glands / pathology
  • Sialadenitis / genetics*
  • Sialadenitis / metabolism
  • Sialadenitis / pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Sjogren's Syndrome
  • Venules / metabolism
  • Venules / pathology

Substances

  • Ltbr protein, mouse
  • Lymphotoxin beta Receptor
  • Mucins
  • Myd88 protein, mouse
  • Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88
  • sulfated glycoprotein p50