Are There Good Models of Sarcoidosis?”
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Journal of Clinical Medicine Review Models Contribution to the Understanding of Sarcoidosis Pathogenesis: “Are There Good Models of Sarcoidosis?” Valérie Besnard 1,* and Florence Jeny 1,2 1 UMR 1272, Hypoxie & Poumon, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 1 rue de Chablis, 93017 Bobigny, France; fl[email protected] 2 AP-HP, Hôpital Avicenne, Service de Pneumologie, 93017 Bobigny, France * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +33-148-388-877; Fax: +33-148-388-924 Received: 8 July 2020; Accepted: 27 July 2020; Published: 31 July 2020 Abstract: Sarcoidosis is a systemic, granulomatous, and noninfectious disease of unknown etiology. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease (targeted tissue(s), course of the disease, and therapy response) supports the idea that a multiplicity of trigger antigens may be involved. The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis is not yet completely understood, although in recent years, considerable efforts were put to develop novel experimental research models of sarcoidosis. In particular, sarcoidosis patient cells were used within in vitro 3D models to study their characteristics compared to control patients. Likewise, a series of transgenic mouse models were developed to highlight the role of particular signaling pathways in granuloma formation and persistence. The purpose of this review is to put in perspective the contributions of the most recent models in the understanding of sarcoidosis. Keywords: sarcoidosis; models; macrophage; lung; granuloma 1. Introduction Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology that is characterized by the formation of immune granulomas in different organs, mainly the lungs, the lymphatic system, the skin, the eye, and the heart [1]. The diagnosis consists of the association of compatible clinical, biological, and radiological signs, the histological demonstration of a granuloma characteristic of sarcoidosis, and the elimination of other causes of granulomatosis [2]. Genetically predisposed individuals are exposed to unknown trigger(s), possibly microorganisms, inorganic particles, or other environmental factors that initiate and maintain inflammatory and immune responses. Genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis [3]. Recently, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 NOD2 mutations were involved in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, as well as in Blau syndrome (BS) and early onset sarcoidosis (EOS) [4–7]. NOD2 is a cytosolic protein that is involved in microbial cell wall components sensing and inflammation regulation through NFκB activation [8]. In a Swedish study, Rossides et al. showed an increasing risk (3.7 fold) in first-degree relatives of patient with sarcoidosis [9]. Likewise, analysis of a twin cohort revealed an 80-fold increased risk of developing sarcoidosis compared to the general population [10]. A gene–environment interaction study identified additional genes (FCRL1, IL23R) that could distinguish patients with or without Löfgren’s syndrome [11]. The epidemiology and phenotype of sarcoidosis varies highly around the world across age, sex, ethnicity groups, environmental exposure, and socioeconomic status [12–15]. In France, it is an uncommon disease, with a prevalence of 30.2/100,000 people and an incidence of 4.9/100,000 [16]. African Americans and Northern Europeans seem to be the two most affected groups [17,18]. Sarcoidosis incidence and prevalence appear higher in women around the world with some exceptions [19–23]. J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 2445; doi:10.3390/jcm9082445 www.mdpi.com/journal/jcm J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 2445 2 of 20 Even if sarcoidosis is considered as a benign disease, it still represents an important issue considering that mortality is higher in patients with sarcoidosis than in the general population with an average age of death of 70.4 versus 76.2, respectively [9,24]. Mortality rates are also greater in females than males and higher in black than white, Hispanic, or Asian patients [25,26]. Epidemiological studies on sarcoidosis-related mortality and associated morbidities [27] indicated that sarcoidosis patients were high at risk, in particular women, with an average age at death of 70 13 years [24,25]. In the ± Western population, deaths are mainly due to fibrotic pulmonary damages, pulmonary hypertension (PAH), and less frequently to cardiac, neurological, and hepatic diseases [1,28,29]. The progression of sarcoidosis toward pulmonary fibrosis is considered as an evolutionary turning point that is associated with irreversible sequelae, significant morbidity, and mortality (11.3% in 7 years) [30]. Sarcoidosis presents a highly variable and unpredictable course. It is estimated that half of patients progress to spontaneous regression within a few years of diagnosis [1]. The treatment of sarcoidosis will be decided when the patient demonstrates an impaired quality of life or when the disease becomes threatening for an organ or the patient’s life. Despite the treatment, a significant number of patients will progress to a chronic and progressive form, 10% to 20% have sequelae, and mortality is estimated at 6–7% [1]. To date, there are no reliable markers predicting the progression of the disease [1]. Identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease would help to develop specific treatments for patients who escape the various lines of treatment. Sarcoidosis is distinct from other granulomatosis by the peculiarity of the granulomas location and distribution [31]. Lymphocyte infiltration and granulomas can be found in the visceral pleura, interlobular septa and bronchovascular vicinities. A mononuclear cell alveolitis induced by an unknown antigen initiates the accumulation of phagocytes that leads to the formation of discrete structures, which are composed of a central core of epithelioid cells surrounded by activated alveolar macrophages and T lymphocytes releasing inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α [32–35]. The persistence of these structures leads to the formation of non-caseous granulomas with epithelioid cells [27]. Granulomas are composed of a central follicle consisting essentially of macrophages, epithelioid cells associated with giant cells, and CD4 + lymphocytes. The central follicle is surrounded by a lymphocyte crown characterized by the presence of CD8 + lymphocytes, rare B lymphocytes, and a predominance of CD4 + lymphocytes, including Th1, Th2, Th17, and T lymphocytes regulators. As granulomas persist, a lamellar hyaline collagen sclerosis surrounds the various follicles. The origin of cell-constituting granulomas remains uncertain. In tuberculosis, once bacillus phagocytosis by airways macrophages occurred, the infected macrophage may facilitate the spread of disease by migration to distal sites in the lungs. In the parenchyma, infected macrophages recruit uninfected macrophages (intra-alveolar macrophages and monocytes-derived macrophages of systemic origin) to ultimately form a granuloma. A similar process can be hypothesized in sarcoidosis. In the microenvironment of granulomas, intra-alveolar cells are present as a normal or mildly elevated total lymphocyte population, a normal percentage of eosinophils and neutrophils, and an absence of plasma cells and foamy alveolar macrophages [36]. Intra-alveolar monocytes and macrophages are known to feature cells constituting granulomas in the lung, including macrophage-derived epithelioid cells and macrophage-fused multinucleated cells [37]. Research models aim to be isomorphic (replication of pathological and histopathological features), homologous (identification of the pathogenic mechanisms), and predictive (testing of the efficacy and toxicity of potential novel therapeutic strategies). In sarcoidosis, the development of research models was initiated several years ago, with various degrees of success. Mainly in vitro and in vivo models brought some responses at the isomorphic and homologous levels, but they were not predictive yet. Generating sarcoidosis models is crucial considering excess mortality in sarcoidosis and the necessity to understand molecular mechanisms involved in sarcoidosis to develop alternatives therapies to corticotherapy. Developing experimental models is challenging for multiple reasons, including the following reasons: (1) causative agent(s) of the disease are unknown; (2) it is a systemic disease with different targeted organs for each patient and highly diverse presentations; (3) the multiplicity of J. Clin. Med. 2020, 9, 2445 3 of 20 cellular actors and their interactions; (4) genetic variability; and (5) the course of disease resolution is unpredictable amongst patients, indicating the influence of both environmental and genetic factors. Research models were developed using putative sarcoidosis causing agents, either antigens of infectious origin or inorganic particles. Several species of mycobacteria have been implicated as the origin of the immune reaction, notably M. tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. leprae, and M. avium [38]. Exposure to inorganic particles mainly causes foreign body granulomas, such as in models of chronic beryllium disease [39–42] or crystalline silica [43]. Nonetheless, recent epidemiologic and experimental data support the hypothesis on the role of nanoparticles in sarcoidosis [44–50]. In vivo models mostly use mice that do not spontaneously develop sarcoidosis. In veterinary medicine, sarcoidosis is a rare disease. To the best of our knowledge, there are very few publications of animal sarcoidosis [51–54]. The