Enhanced Level of Lysosomal associated membrane protein 2 isoform A
Participates in CD4+ T Cell Hyperactivity in Patients
with Primary Biliary Cholangitis
Abstract
Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is an immune-mediated chronic
cholestasis. The disruption of T cell homeostasis plays an important
role in PBC pathogenesis. Lysosomal associated membrane protein 2
isoform A (LAMP-2A) has been implicated in the regulation of
CD4+ T cell responses, therefore we aim to evaluate
the activation state of CD4+ T cells in PBC, and to
investigate the role of LAMP-2A in it. The peripheral blood of PBC
patients (PBC, n=42) and healthy controls (HC, n=20) were phenotypically
analyzed, and LAMP-2A expression in CD4+ T cells was
assessed by flow cytometry. Naïve CD4+ T cells of PBC
patients were isolated and activated in vitro to estimate their
activation responses. Additionally, we assessed the changes induced by
silencing LAMP-2A expression. We found that CD4+ T
cells of PBC patients exhibited significant hyperactivity, and naïve
CD4+ T cells showed high LAMP-2A expression, which
could be a novel biomarker for PBC activity. Moreover, by interfering
with LAMP-2A expression in vitro, the overreactions of PBC naïve
CD4+ T cells were reversed. Our study will help to
clarify that increased LAMP-2A expression in the naïve
CD4+ T cells of PBC patients may lead to a tendency
for increased activation responses, which may be involved in the
development and progression of PBC. To reverse the hyperactivity of
CD4+ T cells and reduce the resulting biliary injury,
LAMP-2A could be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of PBC.