Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is a complex and clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease. A variety of immunological defects contribute to SLE, including dysregulated innate and adaptive immune response. A clearer understanding of the mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis combined with recent advances in medical science is predicted to enable accelerated progress towards improved SLE-personalized approaches to treatment. The aim of this review was to clarify the immunological pathogenesis and treatment of SLE.
Data sources
Literature reviews and original research articles were collected from database, including PubMed and Wanfang. Relevant articles about SLE were included.
Results
Breakdown of self-tolerance is the main pathogenesis of SLE. The innate and adaptive immune networks are interlinked with each other through cytokines, complements, immune complexes and kinases of the intracellular machinery. Treatments targeted at possible targets of immunity have been assessed in clinical trials. Most of them did not show better safety and efficacy than traditional treatments. However, novel targeting treatments are still being explored.
Conclusions
Dysregulated immune response plays a critical role in SLE, including innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Biologic agents that aim to specifically target abnormal immune processes were assessing and may bring new hope to SLE patients.
Hinweise
Lu Pan and Mei-Ping Lu contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Introduction
Systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of autoantibodies and the deposition of immune complexes, affecting a wide range of organs. Genetic factors, environmental factors and hormonal factors are believed to contribute to the occurrence of SLE. However, the pathogenesis of SLE is complex and remains unknown. Breakdown of self-tolerance plays a critical role in the occurrence and development of SLE. Innate and adaptive immune responses against self-antigen induce the production of autoantibodies and the deposition of immune complexes in tissues leads to the activation of complement, accumulation of neutrophils and monocytes, and self-reactive lymphocytes [1]. Despite the improvement in the survival of SLE in the past decades, further improvement in the disease prognosis is hampered by organ damage caused by disease itself and adverse events related to conventional therapies. The in-depth study of disease pathogenesis is helpful to find new therapeutic targets and new biomarkers of SLE. In this review, we summarized recent advances in immunological pathogenesis and related targeting treatment of SLE.
Dysregulation of innate immunity
Dendritic cells (DCs)
Type I interferon (IFN) in SLE
Recent studies have found a close relationship between type I IFN and SLE [2, 3], especially IFN-α. In more than half of SLE patients, gene expression of the “IFN-α signature” was found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells [4, 5]. IFN-α can activate lymphocyte, DCs and natural killer (NK) cells, thus breaking the autoimmune tolerance. In the case of infection, the dsRNA/ssRNA or dsDNA of virus/bacteria served as exogenous type I IFN attractant to activate the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and then produce IFN-α, which stimulates the immune system to produce autoantibody forms B cells to the nuclear antigen components of apoptotic cells [6]. Proper clearance of apoptotic cells is thought to prevent exposure of self-antigens and inhibit the activation of immune cells. In SLE, however, the rate of apoptosis increased or clearance is suboptimal, leading to an increase in autoantigen–antibody complexes, which have been proved to be endogenous type I IFN inducing agents, and can continue to produce type I IFN, forming a vicious cycle. In addition, IFN-α can promote the activation of T helper (Th) cells, improve the ability of antigen presentation of DCs, and subsequently induce the production of such cytokines as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-8. It also can affect the expression of mitochondrial genes, change the activity of adenosine triphosphate sensitive K channels, and cause various energy metabolism disorders.
Interaction between pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and DCs
DCs, as antigen presenting cells, can activate primitive T cells and stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of B cells, playing a role in the innate immune system and in the activation of the adaptive response. In SLE patients, IFN-α can promote the transformation of monocytes into DCs, while DCs recognize antigens and continuously produce IFN-α, which in turn circulates and drives the autoimmune response of SLE.
The presence of dying cells in lymph nodes and various tissues is a common feature of SLE [7, 8]. Apoptotic cells are removed suboptimally and exposed for prolonged periods of time to form autoantigens, contributing to break the immune tolerance. In the innate immune system, PRRs recognize the apoptotic cell debris or damaged cells and then activate the immune cells. At present, there are at least three distinct types of PRRs: the toll-like receptors (TLRs), the nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain receptors (NLRs), and the retinoid acid inducible gene-I-like receptors (RLRs). TLR plays a key role in the innate immune system. In mouse models, production of antinuclear antibodies depends on endosomal TLRs, which bind dsDNA or ssRNA [9‐11]. In SLE patients, TLR9 ligand (such as CpG) can activate plasma cell-like DCs (pDCs) through the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) signaling pathway, producing a large amount of type I IFN (Fig. 1). In addition, the activation of pDCs by TLR7 ligand resulted in increased expression of IL-1β and IL-23, and promoted the differentiation of Th17 (Fig. 1). Furthermore, TLR ligand can also activate B cells and produce autoantibodies to form immune complexes containing ribonucleic proteins and nucleosomes. DCs can identify immune complexes containing chromatin through the surface receptor, FcγIIa, and promote nucleic acid endocytosis, thereby maintain and amplify the immune response. After NLR ligand activates keratinocytes and DCs, different forms of inflammatory ligands are formed and combined with corresponding inflammasomes, such as NAcht leucine-rich-repeat protein/absent in melanoma 2. Then, caspase-1 and caspase-5 are activated, respectively, to promote the production of IL-1β and IL-18. Moreover, incompletely digested DNA existed in mice and humans aggravates the disease by increasing IFN-stimulatory DNA responses (Fig. 1).
Fig. 1
Pattern recognition receptors play a vital role in the innate immunity in lupus. PRRs pattern recognition receptors, NLR nucleotide binding and oligomerization domain receptors, TLR toll-like receptor, RLR retinoid acid inducible gene-I-like receptors, DC dendritic cell, BCR B-cell receptor, FcR fragment crystallizable receptor, NALP1 NAcht leucine-rich-repeat protein 1, AIM2 absent in melanoma 2, ASC apoptotic speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain, IFN interferon, IL interleukin
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Neutrophils
Neutrophils, critical components of innate immune system, are involved in inflammatory and infectious processes. Improper activation of neutrophils will release protease, tissue damage factors and reactive oxygen species, leading to tissue damage in SLE. Meanwhile, activated neutrophils can release a large number of cytokines and chemokines, leading to immune regulation disorders [12].
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In recent years, neutrophils have been found to be involved in autoimmune disease with a new structure: neutrophils extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are fibrous networks assembled from nuclear and granula components which protrude from the membrane of neutrophils that are activated. NETs also contain calprotectin, matrix metalloproteinase 9, lysosomal membrane protein-2. NETosis is the forming progress of NETs. Studies showed that autoantibodies in vasculitis and SLE are components of NETs. Furthermore, NETs are also involved in the sepsis-associated organ damage [13, 14]. The suboptimal clearance of NETs and/or excessive NETs formation is involved in the pathogenesis of SLE [15]. Previous studies revealed that NETs formation and imbalance of NET degradation externalize autoantigens, which induce type I IFN synthesis and endothelial damage [16, 17]. NET-related histones trigger innate immunity by activating TLRs and the NLR-pyrin domain containing (NLRP3) inflammasome. NETs also activate caspase-1, the enzyme of the inflammasome, leading to the release of active IL-1β and IL-18 [18]. Furthermore, NETs combine with complement 1q to activate the classic pathway of complement, consuming a large amount of complement, while activated complements can inhibit the degradation of NETs and aggravate the autoimmunity. A part of lupus glomerulonephritis can be observed to have local NETs formation, and NET-related histone release elicits cytotoxic and immunosimulatory effects [19]. The suboptimal clearance of SLE is associated with disease activity, which is believed to be the result of activation of germinal center B cells [20]. A recent study has found that NETs contain ubiquitinated proteins, one of the translated modified proteins, which can involve in autoimmunity. Specifically, K63 ubiquitination is involved in DNA repair, signaling through NF-κB and endosomal traffic regulation, all of which are related to the modulation of immune responses [21]. In fact, there is a decrease in ubiquitination in NETs from subjects with SLE patients and, in the case of NETosis, it leads to more serious oxidative damage [22].
Dysregulation of adaptive immunity
T cells
Breakdown of immune tolerance is critical in the development of SLE and T cells play an important role in this process. In addition to showing abnormal cytokine secretion and cell signal transduction, it can also lead to inappropriate recruitment and activation of B cells and DCs in inflammatory sites [23].
T-cell signaling alteration
T-cell receptor (TCR)-CD3 signaling pathway
CD3 is a marker expressed on the surface of mature T cells, which forms the TCR-CD3 complex in a non-covalent bond with TCR, and participates in the immune response to antigen stimulation. CD3ζ is the main signaling molecule in the TCR-CD3, which contains immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) domains. Lck, the Src kinase lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase, phosphorylates ITAMs of CD3ζ following TCR recognition and engagement of the MHC-antigen complex. Phosphorylated CD3 ITAMs recruit the ζ-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70); Lck phosphorylates and activates ZAP-70, resulting in calcium influx into T cells [24]. In SLE, the expression of CD3ζ chain was significantly decreased, leading to the recompilation of TCR complex, and CD3ζ was replaced by the homologous Fc receptor common gamma subunit chain (FcRγ) [25]. FcRγ recruits the spleen tyrosine kinase, resulting in the higher calcium influx into T cells. Heightened calcium responses lead to increased activation of calcineurin. Calcineurin dephosphorylates inactive cytoplasmic nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and dephosphorylated NFAT translocates to the nucleus. Therefore, promoter of CD40L gene as well as T cells become more easily to be activated. On the other hand, activated calmodulin kinase IV increases the expression of intronuclear cAMP responsive element modulator α and inhibits the production of IL-2. Lck localizes to lipid rafts, while accumulation of lipid rafts can aggravate the condition of the lupus mouse in previous studies [26]. Further research shows that T cells isolated from SLE patients have higher levels of ganglioside M1 and cholesterol, a component of the lipid raft domain, which confirmed that lipid rafts play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2
T-cell signaling alteration in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). TCR T cell receptor, Lck lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase, ZAP-70 zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70, FcRγ Fc receptor common gamma subunit chain, Syk Spleen tyrosine kinase, NFAT nuclear factor of activated T cells, CaMKIV activated calmodulin kinase IV, CREM cAMP responsive element modulator, IL interleukin, PIP2 phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate, PIP3 phosphatidylinositol-3, 4, 5-triphosphate, PI3K phosphoinositide-3 kinase, Akt protein kinase B, mTORC mammalian target of rapamycin complex, ERM ezrin/radixin/moesin, ROCK Rho-associated protein kinase
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CD44–Rock–ERM signaling pathway
CD44 is a cell surface molecule involved in T cell activation and adhesion. Enhanced expression of CD44 was found in SLE patients of which splicing variants CD44V3 and CD44V6 were correlated with disease activity [27‐29]. The role of CD44 in adhesion and migration requires interaction with the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins. Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) is a serine/threonine kinase that phosphorylates the ERM protein. In patients with SLE, the phosphorylation level of ERM protein increased, and T-cell adhesion and migration were enhanced in patients with SLE. In addition, ROCK can also activate IRF4, affect the differentiation of Th17 and control the production of IL-17 and IL-21 [30].
PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway
Phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) is a member of the lipid downstreams kinase family. At present, class I PI3K is the most studied one. It can be activated by G protein coupled receptor and receptor tyrosine kinase. Akt is an important target kinase downstreamed PI3K. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a central regulator integrating nutritional information, and mTOR signal activation increases protein synthesis.
Studies in humans and animals have found that the activity of PI3K is enhanced in SLE, while the application of PI3K inhibitors can reduce inflammation in tissues and relieve clinical symptoms [31, 32]. PI3Ks are recruited to the TCR complex following activation and generate phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) from membrane phospholipids. Phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 then phosphorylates and activates Akt through PIP3. Phosphorylated Akt activates mTOR and promotes the synthesis of proteins, which participate in T-cell division, proliferation and survival (Fig. 2). Previous studies have shown that Akt expression is up-regulated in T and B cells in peripheral blood of SLE, and the level of Akt/mTOR activation in B cells is positively correlated with the severity of the disease [33, 34]. Recently, Borlado et al. [35] found that the active form of PI3K in P65PI3KTg mice formed lupus-like renal changes.
T-cell subsets and imbalance
Imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells
Th cell is a subtype of CD4+ T cells. Dysfunction of Th cells is closely related to the occurrence and development of SLE. And the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells is considered to be an important part in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Th cells can be divided into Th1 and Th2 cells according to the secretion of different cytokines (the function of several cytokines, see Table 1) and the adjustment process is a dynamic process. Th1 cells secrete tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-2, IFN-γ, which involve in the activation of macrophages and CD8+ T cells, associated with organ-specific autoimmune diseases. Th2 cells secrete IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10, which can promote the activation of B lymphocytes and induce the production of IgG1. Under normal circumstances, the two types of cells regulate and inhibit each other through cytokines to maintain the immune balance. In SLE, the above balance is broken, but the tendency of the balance is still controversial at present. The most scholars believe that active SLE is characterized by decreased function of Th1 and hyperfunction of Th2, which leads to excessive activation of B cells, generation of autoantibodies and tissue injury [36, 37]. However, Dolff et al. [38] found that Th1 dominated the balance of Th1/Th2 in the chronic course of SLE, especially in patients with lupus nephritis IV. Further studies are needed.
Table 1
Several important cytokines in the balance of Th1/Th2 in SLE
Cytokines
Source
Physiological effect
Trends in SLE
Functions in SLE
IL-2
Activated T cells and NK cells
To induce T cell proliferation and maintain immune tolerance
↓
The decrease of IL-2 promotes T cells to differentiate into Th17, inhibits apoptosis and activates autoimmune T cells
Promote the production of IgG dsDNA antibody; promote the occurrence of lupus nephritis
IL-6
Macrophage, T and B lymphocytes and other immune cells
Participate in inflammatory response and immune response
↑
B cells express high levels of IL-6R and bind to IL-6 to promote B cells to produce IgG and dsDNA, resulting in immune damage
IL-10
Macrophage, monocyte, T and B lymphocytes
It has both anti-inflammatory and inflammatory functions
↑
Promote the activation and proliferation of B cells while inhibiting the function of APC and Th1
IFN-γ
Activated T cells and NK cells
Regulate immune response and fight tumors
↑
Promote the activation of B cells
TNF-α
Mononuclear macrophages
Involved in the inflammatory process of autoimmunity
↑
Promote the expression of major histocompatibility complex antigens, producing immune responses
Th T helper, SLE systemic lupus erythematosis, IL interleukin, NK natural killer, IFN interferon, TNF tumor necrosis factor, IgG immunoglobulin G, APC antigen presenting cell
Imbalance of Th17/Treg cells
Th17 cells, a subset of effector CD4+ T cells, are identified based on their ability to produce IL-17A, IL-17F and IL-22, mediating inflammatory responses and participate in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases. IL-17 is the main cytokine that promotes Th17 to participate in SLE. It has been confirmed that the level of IL-17 in the kidney of patients with lupus nephritis is increased, and the gene expression of IL-17 in urinary sediment is increased too [39, 40]. Furthermore, the expression of Th17 was also found in the skin, lung and kidney tissues of SLE patients. And increased Th17 was associated with disease activity in SLE. IL-17 and B-cell stimulating factor (BLys) working together to up-regulate the differentiation and survival of B cells, thereby up-regulating humoral immunity to produce autoantibodies.
Regulatory T (Treg) cells are involved in self-tolerance and their impaired function is associated with the development of autoimmunity. Tregs are capable of modulating the function of effector T cells, maintaining immunological homeostasis, and preventing autoimmunity. Several studies have found that the number of Tregs in SLE patients is reduced while the function is absent [41, 42]. Under normal conditions, Th17 and Tregs are in a state of dynamic equilibrium, which is destroyed in SLE [43]. Currently, it is generally believed that the increase of Th17 cells is accompanied by the decrease of Tregs and the dynamic changes of both are involved in the immune response process.
T follicular helper (Tfh) cells
Tfh cells, a T helper-cell subset assisting B cells in germinal centers (GCs), play a major role in GC formation and the selection of high-affinity B cells. Multiple evidences show that Tfh cells and GC responses are associated with the occurrence of SLE. The Tfh cell phenotype in the circulation (cTfh) of patients with SLE is composed as follows: chemokine receptor CXCR3 and CCR6, inducible co-stimulator (ICOS), programmed death molecule-1 (PD-1). ICOS delivers activation signals to CD4+ T cells when these cells interact with APCs, while PD-1 delivers inhibitory signals. Blocking the ICOS ligand in NZB/NZW mice can inhibit the function of Tfh and the formation of GC, and reduce the anti-dsDNA antibody titers [44]. After co-culture of naive B cells with cTfh in vitro, cTfh can produce IL-21, induce B-cell proliferation and differentiation, and produce IgG and IgA. In vivo experiments showed that increased cTfh cells were positively correlated with the disease activity and serum autoantibody titers [45, 46]. Recent study suggests that immune complexes containing nucleic acid also promote the generation of autoantibodies by enhancing Tfh-cell responses in SLE, which further proved that Tfh is involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.
B cells
There is abnormal central and peripheral tolerance of B cells in SLE patients. A large number of self-reactive B cells produce variety of autoantibodies leading to the occurrence of lupus.
Classic T–B cells interactions
Immature B cells show a unique activation tendency through the integration signals downstream of B-cell receptor (BCR) and TLRs. BCR recognizes specific antigens containing RNA and/or DNA and forms protein polypeptides after TLR management, then activating B cells. The activated B cells migrate to the boundary of the follicle and interact with CD4+ T cells through TCR and co-stimulators. On the one hand, activated B cells secrete cytokine IL-6, TNF, IFN-γ and IL-10 [47]. On the other hand, activated CD4+ T cells migrate to B-cell follicles to produce IL-21 and IFN-γ as Tfh cells. Tfh cells promote GC formation through the production of IL-21, which sustains the expression of B-cell lymphoma 6 (BCL-6) and promotes B-cell activation, class-switch recombination and plasma cell differentiation. Long-lived plasma cells are eventually formed (Fig. 3).
Fig. 3
Classic T–B cells interactions in SLE. BCR B-cell receptor, TLR Toll-like receptor, MHC-II major histocompatibility complex-II, BCL B-cell lymphoma, ICOS inducible co-stimulator, ICOSL inducible co-stimulator ligand, TCR T cell receptor, IL interleukin, IgM immunoglobulin M, IgG immunoglobulin G, BAFF B-cell activating factor, BAFFR B-cell activating factor receptor, IFNγ interferon γ, IFNγR interferon γ receptor, GC germinal center
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B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is also involved in T–B cells interactions. BAFF is overexpressed, which promotes the proliferation of B cells and prolongs the survival time of self-reactive B cells. BAFF transgenic mice showed severe B-cell proliferation, anti-ds DNA antibody formation, serum IgM, IgA, IgE and IgG elevation, and renal tissue showed lupus-like changes such as immune complex deposition [48]. Moreover, studies in NZB/NZW lupus mice showed an increase in BAFF in the early stage of SLE, and BAFF serum content was positively proportional to the degree of renal injury.
B-cell subsets
Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a group of cells with negative regulation of the immune response. Its immunomodulatory effect mainly depends on the secretion of IL-10 and transforming growth factor β. IL-10 can inhibit the production of pathogenic Th1 cytokines, affect the activation and apoptosis of B lymphocytes, and regulate antigen presentation, playing an important role in autoimmune regulation and inflammation. Studies in mice showed that Bregs produced IL-10, which regulates the T-cell-dependent immune response [49]. A growing number of human SLE studies showed that Bregs in patients with lupus were lower than in healthy people, especially in patients with lupus nephritis, and the number of these cells increases after immunosuppressive treatment [50]. In addition, the response of Bregs to CD40 stimulation and the secretion of IL-10 were reduced in peripheral blood of SLE patients, which indicate that Bregs in SLE had dysfunction [51].
Potential therapeutic targets in SLE
The treatment guidelines for SLE were established from American College of Rheumatology 1999 to European League Against Rheumatism 2008, and no new drugs were added in these years. The cornerstones of SLE therapies now are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and immunosuppressive agents. However, all of these treatments are aimed at controlling the symptoms of the disease and do not address the underlying cause; they have a broad range of nonspecific effects and are associated with considerable toxicities. With the deepening understanding of the pathogenesis of SLE, drugs targeted at possible links of the disease have been studied, providing a new direction for the treatment of SLE.
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Targeting innate immunity
The advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of innate immunity have led to the identification of IFNs, particularly IFN-α, as key mediators in the pathogenesis of SLE. Targeting of IFNs (Table 2), therefore, has emerged as important developments for novel drug research in lupus.
Table 2
Agents targeting innate immunity
Type
Agents
Targets for agents
Clinical evaluation
IFN targeting therapies
Rontalizumab
Anti-IFNα
Did not meet the end point
Sifalimumab
Anti-IFNα
No clinical benefits with AE of herps zoster
AGS-009
Anti-IFNα
Safe and well tolerated in phase I RCT
JNJ-55920839
Anti-IFNβ
Phase I RCT is ongoing
Anifrolumab
Anti-IFNAR
Safe and effective in reducing IFN signature
AMG-811
Anti-IFNγ
Safe and well tolerated with no significant benefits
IFN-K
IFNα inhibition
Safe and well tolerated with no significant benefits
Anifrolumab is a fully human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody directly against the subunit 1 of the type I interferon receptor. It has been assessed in phase I and phase II clinical trials. The phase II study [52] showed that the effect size was larger in patients with a high IFN signature at baseline in patients treated with anifrolumab. There was no significant difference in adverse events except for Herpes zoster. Further studies are ongoing in active SLE patients, including in lupus nephritis (LN) (NCT02446899, NCT02547922).
Rontalizumab and sifalimumab, unlike anifrolumab, are anti-IFNα drugs that have been tested in SLE patients. SLE patients treated with rontalizumab showed some efficacy in patients with low IFN signature; however, it did not meet the primary end points [53]. Sifalimumab also showed no efficacy. Neither of them entered further development stages. AGS-009, JNJ-55920839 and AMG-811 are new anti-IFN monoclonal antibodies being assessed in phase I clinical trials.
IFN-a-kinoid (IFN-K), a vaccine composed of IFNa2b coupled to a carrier protein, is another option in blocking IFN-α. It acts by inducing antibody production against all IFNα subtypes. Current study showed that IFN-K significantly reduced the expression of the IFN signature compared to placebo, but with no differences in disease activity scores, serum C3, C4 or anti-ds-DNA concentrations.
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) have the most potent capacity to produce IFNα of any IFN-producing cell. The treatment option targeting pDCs directly have, therefore, long been expected in SLE. Alternative strategies targeting the pDCs (Table 2) include the use of anti-blood dendritic cell antigen 2 antibody, anti-CD123 monoclonal antibodies and BCL-2 inhibitors, which were assessed in different phase of clinical trials.
Targeting adaptive immunity
T-cell target therapies
B cells require T cell help to produce high-affinity IgG autoantibodies. Distinct signals are necessary for the activation of T cells. The second signal can be activated via co-stimulatory signals, including CD40/40L, CD28, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), CD80/CD86 and ICOSL/ICOS.
Abatacept is a fusion protein composed of the Fc region of the immunoglobulin IgG1 fused to the extracellular domain of CTLA-4, which has a higher affinity with CD80/CD86 than CD28. It failures the activation of T cells by blocking the co-stimulation of T and B lymphocytes, and further preventing B-cell response [54]. The effect of this drug in arthritis is clear, but the effect in SLE remains unclear. In a phase II/III clinical trial [55], abatacept demonstrated efficacy in increasing C3 and C4, accompanied by reducing ds-DNA levels. However, subsequent RCT focusing on LN [56] did not meet the primary end points.
CD40-CD40L is another important receptor/ligand pair required for Tfh cell differentiation. BG9588 is anti-CD40L monoclonal antibodies (mAb). Early trial with BG9588 was discontinued because of thromboembolic events. New anti-CD40L mAb, dapirolizumab, is being assessed (NCT02804763). More agents against receptor/ligand pair see Table 3.
Table 3
Agents targeting adaptive immunity
Type
Mechanism of action
Agents
Targets for agents
Clinical evaluation
B-cell targeting therapies
Blocking B-cell surface antigen
Rituximab
Anti-CD20
Effective in refractory SLE. Allergic response is the main AE
Ofatumumab
Anti-CD20
Effective in increasing C3 and C4, decreasing anti-dsDNA. Infection is the main AE
TRU-015
Anti-CD20
Phase I RCT is terminated
Obinutuzumab
Anti-CD20
Safe and well tolerated in phase I trial
Epratuzumab
Anti-CD22
Phase III trial did not meet the primary end points
SM03
Anti-CD22
Safe and well tolerated
XmAb 5871
Anti-CD19
Phase II trial is ongoing
Milatuzumab
Anti-CD74
Outcomes of phase I trial is pending
Blocking B-cell survival factors
Belimumab
Anti-BAFF
Effective in improving time to first flare and exhibiting a steroid sparing effect
Blisibimod
Anti-BAFF
Effective in increasing C3 and C4 levels and decreasing urinary protein
Atacicept
Anti-BAFF/APRIL
Got Several efficacy, but trials were terminated for fatal infections
B-cell tolerization
Abetimus sodium
Anti-immunoglobulin receptor on B cells
Clinical trials were terminated
T-cell targeting therapies
Blocking co-stimulatory factors
Abatacept
Competing with CD28
Effective in increasing C3 and C4, decreasing anti-dsDNA levels
BG9588
Anti-CD40
Clinical trials were terminated for thromboembolic event
The hallmark of immunological abnormalities in SLE is loss of B-cell tolerance, increasing the production of a variety of autoantibodies that against nuclear antigen. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents are developed to target at the growth/survival factors, surface molecules and receptors of B cells, leading to their apoptosis, depletion or anergy.
Belimumab is a human IgG1λ mAb that inhibits B-cell survival and differentiation by blocking the soluble BLys, which is also called BAFF. It was approved in the USA and Europe in 2011 for the treatment of adults with active autoantibody-positive SLE already receiving standard therapy. According to the phase III RCTs, the drug demonstrated a greater therapeutic response in a subpopulation of patients characterized by having higher baseline disease activity as defined by anti-dsDNA positivity, hypocomplementemia (C3 or C4), or corticosteroid treatment requirement [57]. A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) shares similar functions with BAFF and is also important for the survival and activation of B cells [58]. Unlike BAFF, which binds to BAFF receptor only, APRIL binds to transmembrane activator-1 and calcium modulator ligand interactor (TACI), and B-cell maturation antigen receptors with a higher affinity than BAFF. Studies in vivo showed that TACI-Ig (but not BAFF-R-Ig) can suppress serum IgM antibodies, reduce plasma cell frequency in the spleen and inhibit IgM responses to a T-cell-dependent antigen [59]. Atacicept is the representative of TACI-Ig agent. Other B-targeted agents are also under evaluation (Table 3).
Rituximab is a human–mouse chimeric mAb against CD20 receptors that can induce the apoptosis of B cells, inhibit the proliferation of B cells, and effectively remove the abnormal proliferation of B cells. It was first marketed and approved by the FDA to treat B-cell lymphomas and showed significant clinical benefits. Subsequent studies demonstrated that rituximab is effective in refractory SLE manifestations, including nephritis and neuropsychiatric disease in both adult and pediatric patients [60‐63]. The main adverse event is allergic response because it is a chimeric anti-CD20 antibody. Other anti-CD20 antibodies, including the fully human mAb (ofatumumab) and engineered versions with improved antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity killing (obinutuzumab), are investigated in the SLE pipeline [64]. Because of the similar rationale to target B-cell-specific surface antigens that are expressed broadly across different B-cell subsets, therapeutics against CD22, CD19 and CD74 are also being explored (details see Table 3).
Other target therapies
The immunological pathogenesis of SLE is complex. The innate and acquired immune networks are interlinked with each other mutually complementary, so any point cannot exist independently. Cytokines, complements, immune complexes and kinases of the intracellular machinery play important roles in SLE. Agents targeting them have potential therapeutic effects and many clinical trials are ongoing (details see Table 4). Several other strategies, not discussed here, target on proteasome inhibitor, spleen tyrosin kinase inhibitor, Janus kinase inhibtor, sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, Calgranuline B modulator and chaperonin 10 might also prove of value.
Table 4
Other specific targeting agents
Type
Agents
Targets for agents
Clinical evaluation
Targeting cytokines
Tocilizumab
Anti-IL-6 receptor
Effective in increasing C3 and C4, decreasing anti-dsDNA levels
Etanercept
Anti-TNF
Safe and well tolerated
BT063
Anti-IL-10
Phase II trial is ongoing
Targeting complement
Eculizumab
Anti-C5
Randomized trials are ongoing
Targeting IC
SM101
Anti-IC
Safe and well tolerated, no serious AE
Targeting kinases of the intracellular machinery
Evobrutinib
Anti-BKT
Randomized trials are ongoing
IC immune complexes, IL interleukin, TNF tumor necrosis factor, AE adverse events, BKT Bruton’s tyrosine kinase
Conclusions
SLE is a multifactorial and complex autoimmune disease, which is characterized by various cellular and molecular aberrations. The pathogenesis of SLE is still far away to be fully understood. Dysregulated immune response in SLE has been extensively studied, including innate immunity and adaptive immunity. And a dramatic expansion has been achieved in our understanding of cellular and molecular phenotypes in the pathogenesis of SLE. B lymphocyte plays a central role in adaptive immune response of SLE, which involved in the production of autoantibodies, presentation of autoantigens and activation of autoreactive T cells. Furthermore, T lymphocyte plays a role through co-stimulator-mediated signaling pathway and cytokines secreted by subsets of T cells. The role of innate immune response in SLE pathogenesis has also been noticed, especially the discovery of TLR on pDC that can be activated by immune complex, inducing the production of IFN-α and the formation of NETs. These abnormalities co-exist and complement each other. Figure 4 shows the link between these factors and the sites of action of relevant therapeutic targets. Understanding the immune pathophysiology of SLE has led to the emergence of new biologic agents that aim to specifically target abnormal immune processes and thus reduce the unwanted adverse events associated with conventional broad-spectrum immunosuppressant therapies. Even though our understanding of SLE remains incomplete and most of the novel drugs are in clinical trials, these new biologic agents and small-molecule drugs may culminate in the development of safer and more effective therapies.
Fig. 4
The immune pathogenesis of SLE and targets of SLE treatment (treatment targets are marked by red boxes). NETosis neutrophil extracellular trap formation, PMN polymorphonuclear neutrophils, DC dendritic cell, BDCA blood dendritic cell antigen, BCL B-cell lymphoma, IL interleukin, IFN interferon, TNF tumor necrosis factor, APRIL a proliferation-inducing ligand, BAFF B-cell activating factor, BCMA B-cell maturation antigen, TAIC transmembrane activator-1 and calcium modulator ligand interactor, ICOS inducible co-stimulator, ICOSL inducible co-stimulator ligand, HLA human leukocyte antigen, BCR B-cell receptor, BTK Bruton’s tyrosine kinase, MHC major histocompatibility complex, TCR T cell receptor, CXCR5 CXC chemokine receptor type 5
×
Compliance with ethical standards
Ethical approval
Not needed.
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Conflict of interest
The authors have no conflict of interests to disclose. No financial or nonfinancial benefits have been received or will be received from any party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.
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