Primary Sjogren Syndrome: Focus on Innate Immune Cells and Inflammation
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Review Primary Sjogren Syndrome: Focus on Innate Immune Cells and Inflammation Chiara Rizzo 1, Giulia Grasso 1, Giulia Maria Destro Castaniti 1, Francesco Ciccia 2 and Giuliana Guggino 1,* 1 Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Rheumatology Section, University of Palermo, Piazza delle Cliniche 2, 90110 Palermo, Italy; [email protected] (C.R.); [email protected] (G.G.); [email protected] (G.M.D.C.) 2 Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Via L. De Crecchio 7, 80138 Naples, Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +39-091-6552260 Received: 30 April 2020; Accepted: 29 May 2020; Published: 3 June 2020 Abstract: Primary Sjogren Syndrome (pSS) is a complex, multifactorial rheumatic disease that mainly targets salivary and lacrimal glands, inducing epithelitis. The cause behind the autoimmunity outbreak in pSS is still elusive; however, it seems related to an aberrant reaction to exogenous triggers such as viruses, combined with individual genetic pre-disposition. For a long time, autoantibodies were considered as the hallmarks of this disease; however, more recently the complex interplay between innate and adaptive immunity as well as the consequent inflammatory process have emerged as the main mechanisms of pSS pathogenesis. The present review will focus on innate cells and on the principal mechanisms of inflammation connected. In the first part, an overview of innate cells involved in pSS pathogenesis is provided, stressing in particular the role of Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs). Subsequently we have highlighted the main inflammatory pathways, including intra- and extra-cellular players. A better knowledge of such processes could determine the detection of new therapeutic targets that are a major need for pSS. Keywords: Sjogren syndrome; innate immunity; inflammation; IFN signature; cytokines; innate lymphoid cells 1. Introduction Primary Sjogren Syndrome (pSS) is an autoimmune exocrinopathy, characterized by xerophthalmia end xerostomia, and caused by a chronic inflammation of lacrimal and salivary glands. Moreover, pSS can display systemic features affecting extraglandular sites such as joints, vessels, lungs, nerves and kidneys [1]. This chronic inflammatory disease can lead approximately 5% of patients to a severe hematological complication such as B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This unfavorable event is mainly due to the hyperactivation and the concomitant disruption of adaptive immunity, as well as to the persistent inflammation at the tissue level [2]. pSS is more common in women, as with most autoimmune diseases, with a ratio of 9:1 females to males. The prevalence of this disease is about 0.5% with a typical onset of symptoms in middle-age individuals, usually between 40 and 60 years old [3]. The pathogenesis of pSS relies on a complex interplay between both innate and adaptive responses, causing the outbreak of autoimmunity characterized by the loss of self-tolerance. Up to date, literature has focused attention on adaptive immunity in pSS, describing the network that determines the production of autoantibodies known as the hallmark of this rheumatic disease: anti-Ro and anti-La. However, in the last few years, a growing body of evidence has pointed out the importance of innate immunity in the earlier stages of pSS and in sustaining the pro-inflammatory Vaccines 2020, 8, 272; doi:10.3390/vaccines8020272 www.mdpi.com/journal/vaccines Vaccines 2020, 8, 272 2 of 23 Vaccines 2020, 8, x 2 of 23 milieu in the targeted tissues [4]. A better understanding of these mechanisms is required to plan future researchimportance in order of to innate eventually immunity identify in the new earlier therapeutic stages of pSS strategies. and in sustaining the pro-inflammatory Themilieu present in the reviewtargeted aims tissues to clarify[4]. A better the role understanding of innate immunity of these mechanisms in pSS development, is required to taking plan into future research in order to eventually identify new therapeutic strategies. account all the evidence delivered by the most recent literature. The attention will be focused on The present review aims to clarify the role of innate immunity in pSS development, taking into cells, with a specific interest on new subsets such as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and the molecular account all the evidence delivered by the most recent literature. The attention will be focused on cells, mechanismswith a specific activated interest by their on new stimulation. subsets such as innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and the molecular mechanisms activated by their stimulation. 2. Innate Immune Cells in pSS In2. aInnate physiological Immune C condition,ells in pSS innate immunity is implicated in the first line of defense, especially at the epithelialIn a physiological level, and condition, this is necessary innate immunity for identifying is implicated several in the first microbial line of defense, components. especially These Pathogenat the Associated epithelial level, Molecular and this Patterns is necessary (PAMPs) for identifying are recognized several by micro patternbial components. recognition These receptors (PRRs),Pathogen expressed Associated on innate Molecular cells [5 Patterns]. However, (PAMPs) exogenous are recognized antigens by arepattern not therecognition only agents receptors that can activate(PRRs), innate expressed immunity; on innate self-antigens cells [5]. However, also stimulate exogenous innate antigens immunity are not by the binding only agents toll like that receptors can (TLRs),activate which innate belong immunity to the; super-family self-antigens also of PRRs. stimulate The innate consequence immunity in by pSS binding is the toll production like receptors of high (TLRs), which belong to the super-family of PRRs. The consequence in pSS is the production of high level of Type I Interferon (IFN), the signature cytokine in this condition [6,7]. level of Type I Interferon (IFN), the signature cytokine in this condition [6,7]. A completeA complete description description of theof the main main immune immune cellcell groups involved involved in inInnate Innate Immunity Immunity in pSS in pSSis is foundfound in Figure in Figure1. 1. FigureFigure 1. The 1. interplayThe interplay between between innate innate immune immune cellscells and the the inflammation inflammation prone prone microenvironment microenvironment in Primaryin Primary Sjogren Sjogren Syndrome Syndrome (pSS). (pSS) pSS. pSS is is a a multifactorial multifactorial rheumatic rheumatic disease: disease: environmental environmental stimuli, stimuli, in geneticin genetic susceptible susceptible subjects, subjects, may may trigger trigger Salivary Salivary glandgland epithelial epithelial cells cells (SGECs) (SGECs) to express to express ligands, ligands, receptors and cytokines, such as IL-22, that act in a paracrine and autocrine way when determining receptors and cytokines, such as IL-22, that act in a paracrine and autocrine way when determining the the activation of several innate immune cells like NKs, ILC3s, DCs and macrophages. SGECs exhibit activation of several innate immune cells like NKs, ILC3s, DCs and macrophages. SGECs exhibit a a subverted architecture mainly characterized by altered tight junctions. The pro-inflammatory subvertedmilieu, architecture boosted by a mainly huge production characterized of cytokines by altered and chemo tightkines, junctions. promotes The the pro-inflammatory recruitment of more milieu, boostedinnate by aimmune huge production cells and finally of cytokines drives the and formation chemokines, of GC-like promotes structures, the which recruitment are responsible of more for innate immunethe cellsin situ and autoantibodies finally drives therelease. formation The ofaberrant GC-like production structures, of which VEGF are determines responsible chaotic for the in situ autoantibodiesneoangiogenesis; release. activated The endothelial aberrant cells production express ICAM of VEGF-1 that determinesmediates immune chaotic innate neoangiogenesis; cells tissue activatedinfiltration. endothelial Mast cells cells contribute express ICAM-1 to fibrosis that and mediates fatty infiltration immune of salivary innate glands. cells tissue MAIT infiltration. cells display Mast cells contributea dysfunctional to fibrosis activation and with fatty a consequent infiltration impaired of salivary production glands. of MAIT protective cells cytokines. display a The dysfunctional overall activationimmune with response a consequent appears impaired to be Th17 production polarized, of suggesting protective a cytokines. pivotal role The for overall this cytokine immune in responsepSS. appearsAPC: to beAntigen Th17 polarized,presenting cell; suggesting BAFF: B a-cell pivotal activating role for factor; this DC: cytokine Dendritic in pSS. cell; APC: GC: Germinal Antigen center presenting; ICs: Immunecomplexes; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; IL-22R: IL-22 receptor; ILC3: cell; BAFF: B-cell activating factor; DC: Dendritic cell; GC: Germinal center; ICs: Immunecomplexes; ICAM-1: Intercellular adhesion molecule 1; IL-22R: IL-22 receptor; ILC3: Type 3 innate lymphoid cell; MAIT: Mucosa-associated invariant T cell; SGECs: Salivary gland epithelial cells; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor. Vaccines 2020, 8, 272 3 of 23 2.1. Dendritic Cells (DCs) DCs are antigen presenting cells and represent immunological sentinels that operate to detect dangerous