Systemic lupus erythematosus-specific CD14+IFITM3+ monocyte: Implications for disease activity and progression

Zhangxue Wang; Chunjuan Yang; Wenfeng Gao; Wenchang Sun; Jiamei Sun; Hui Wang; Shushan Yan; Donghua Xu

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113916

Systemic lupus erythematosus-specific CD14⁺IFITM3⁺ monocyte: Implications for disease activity and progression

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Dec 28:146:113916. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113916. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Zhangxue Wang¹, Chunjuan Yang², Wenfeng Gao³, Wenchang Sun⁴, Jiamei Sun⁵, Hui Wang⁴, Shushan Yan⁶, Donghua Xu⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China.
² Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China; Medical Research Center, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China.
³ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China.
⁴ Medical Research Center, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China.
⁵ Medical Research Center, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China. Electronic address: sunjiamei5@163.com.
⁶ Department of Gastrointestinal and Anal Diseases Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China. Electronic address: fyyanss@sdsmu.edu.cn.
⁷ Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China; Medical Research Center, Weifang People's Hospital, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang 261000, Shandong, China. Electronic address: xudh@sdsmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39733642
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113916

Abstract

Interferon-inducible transmembrane (IFITM) family members (IFITM1, IFITM2, IFITM3) are extensively expressed in T cells and are involved in adaptive immunity. However, little is known about the expression of IFITM1, IFITM2 and IFITM3 in monocytes and their roles in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our study has shown that the expression of IFITM1, IFITM2, and IFITM3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients was dysregulated, and the expression of IFITM3 in SLE was significantly higher than that of healthy controls. Besides, the percentage of CD14⁺IFITM3⁺ monocyte in the peripheral circulation of SLE patients was significantly increased, which was significantly correlated with inflammatory and immune indexes (ESR, CRP, PLT, urine-β₂M, and urine mALB) of SLE. Most importantly, the percentage of CD14⁺IFITM3⁺ monocyte was positively associated with the SLEDAI score, suggesting it predictive role in SLE disease activity. In summary, we have found that IFITM3 may serve as a SLE-specific marker and the dysregulation of CD14⁺IFITM3⁺ monocyte may affect the disease activity and progression of SLE.

Keywords: IFITM3; Interferon-inducible transmembrane family; Interferon-stimulated gene; Lupus nephritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus.