AUTHOR=Kenney H. Mark , Rangel-Moreno Javier , Peng Yue , Chen Kiana L. , Bruno Jennifer , Embong Abdul , Pritchett Elizabeth , Fox Jeffrey I. , Becerril-Villanueva Enrique , Gamboa-Domínguez Armando , Quataert Sally , Muthukrishnan Gowrishankar , Wood Ronald W. , Korman Benjamin D. , Anolik Jennifer H. , Xing Lianping , Ritchlin Christopher T. , Schwarz Edward M. , Wu Chia-Lung 

TITLE=Multi-omics analysis identifies IgG2b class-switching with ALCAM-CD6 co-stimulation in joint-draining lymph nodes during advanced inflammatory-erosive arthritis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=14

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1237498

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2023.1237498

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Defective lymphatic drainage and translocation of B-cells in inflamed (Bin) joint-draining lymph node sinuses are pathogenic phenomena in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this lymphatic dysfunction remain poorly understood. Herein, we utilized multi-omic spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to evaluate altered cellular composition (including lymphatic endothelial cells, macrophages, B-cells, and T-cells) in the joint-draining lymph node sinuses and their associated phenotypic changes and cell-cell interactions during RA development using the tumor necrosis factor transgenic (TNF-Tg) mouse model.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Popliteal lymph nodes (PLNs) from wild-type (n=10) and TNF-Tg male mice with “Early” (5 to 6-months of age; n=6) and “Advanced” (&gt;8-months of age; n=12) arthritis were harvested and processed for spatial transcriptomics. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was performed in PLNs from the TNF-Tg cohorts (n=6 PLNs pooled/cohort). PLN histopathology and ELISPOT along with ankle histology and micro-CT were evaluated. Histopathology of human lymph nodes and synovia was performed for clinical correlation.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Advanced PLN sinuses exhibited an increased <italic>Ighg2b/Ighm</italic> expression ratio (Early 0.5 ± 0.1 vs Advanced 1.4 ± 0.5 counts/counts; <italic>p&lt;0.001</italic>) that significantly correlated with reduced talus bone volumes in the afferent ankle (R<sup>2 =</sup> 0.54, <italic>p&lt;0.001</italic>). Integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics revealed the increased IgG2b<sup>+</sup> plasma cells localized in MARCO<sup>+</sup> peri-follicular medullary sinuses. A concomitant decreased <italic>Fth1</italic> expression (Early 2.5 ± 0.74 vs Advanced 1.0 ± 0.50 counts, <italic>p&lt;0.001</italic>) within Advanced PLN sinuses was associated with accumulation of iron-laden Prussian blue positive macrophages in lymph nodes and synovium of Advanced TNF-Tg mice, and further validated in RA clinical samples. T-cells were increased 8-fold in Advanced PLNs, and bioinformatic pathway assessment identified the interaction between ALCAM<sup>+</sup> macrophages and CD6<sup>+</sup> T-cells as a plausible co-stimulatory mechanism to promote IgG2b class-switching.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>Collectively, these data support a model of flare in chronic TNF-induced arthritis in which loss of lymphatic flow through affected joint-draining lymph nodes facilitates the interaction between effluxing macrophages and T-cells via ALCAM-CD6 co-stimulation, initiating IgG2b class-switching and plasma cell differentiation of the expanded Bin population. Future work is warranted to investigate immunoglobulin clonality and potential autoimmune consequences, as well as the efficacy of anti-CD6 therapy to prevent these pathogenic events.</p></sec>