title: HLA-B27 misfolding in transgenic rats is associated with activation of the unfolded protein response.
abstract: The mechanism by which the MHC class I allele, HLA-B27, contributes to spondyloarthritis pathogenesis is unknown. In contrast to other alleles that have been examined, HLA-B27 has a tendency to form high m.w. disulfide-linked H chain complexes in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), bind the ER chaperone BiP/Grp78, and undergo ER-associated degradation. These aberrant characteristics have provided biochemical evidence that HLA-B27 is prone to misfold. Recently, similar biochemical characteristics of HLA-B27 were reported in cells from HLA-B27/human beta2-microglobulin transgenic (HLA-B27 transgenic) rats, an animal model of spondyloarthritis, and correlated with disease susceptibility. In this study, we demonstrate that the unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated in macrophages derived from the bone marrow of HLA-B27 transgenic rats with inflammatory disease. Microarray analysis of these cells also reveals an IFN response signature. In contrast, macrophages derived from premorbid rats do not exhibit a strong UPR or evidence of IFN exposure. Activation of macrophages from premorbid HLA-B27 transgenic rats with IFN-gamma increases HLA-B27 expression and leads to UPR induction, while no UPR is seen in cells from nondisease-prone HLA-B7 transgenic or wild-type (nontransgenic) animals. This is the first demonstration, to our knowledge, that HLA-B27 misfolding is associated with ER stress that results in activation of the UPR. These observations link HLA-B27 expression with biological effects that are independent of immunological recognition, but nevertheless may play an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases associated with this MHC class I allele.
authors.affiliation: William S. Rowe Division of Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Dawn P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Sowders
authors.forename: Monica L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: DeLay
authors.forename: Rajashree
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohapatra
authors.forename: Shuzhen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jaclyn R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Brandewie
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Taurog
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Colbert
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003092:Colitis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D017510:Protein Folding; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000091342:Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; C000717247:HSPA5 protein, human; D007371:Interferon-gamma