Article
Sera of patients with systemic sclerosis contain molecular components which damage the glycocalyx of human umbilical vein endothelial cells
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Authors
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Solveig Schmidt
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Benedikt Fels
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Hanna Grasshoff
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Alexander Hackel
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Tanja Lange
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Harald Heidecke
- CellTrend GmbH, Luckenwalde
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Antje Müller
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Kristina Kusche-Vihrog
- Institut für Physiologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
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Gabriela Riemekasten
- Klinik für Rheumatologie & Klinische Immunologie, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck
| Published: | August 31, 2022 |
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Outline
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Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune connective tissue disease in which inflammation, fibrosis and vasculopathy eventually lead to sclerosis of the skin and internal organs [1]. Previous measurements of endothelial glycocalyx barrier properties revealed a dysfunctional glycocalyx in sublingual microvessel segments of SSc patients [2].
The aim of our study was to find out if in vitro treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with sera obtained from patients with SSc in comparison to healthy individuals leads to structural changes of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC).
Methods: HUVEC were isolated from umbilical cord and cultured in 199 medium. To determine angiotensin type II receptor 1 (AT1R) mRNA expression, RNA was isolated from HUVEC, transcribed into cDNA and subjected to qPCR. Sera of SSc patients were selected based on disease activity (EUSTAR activity score > 3) and organ involvement. AT1R antibody titer were determined by Elisa. To examine the eGC, HUVEC were stimulated for 24 h with 10% sera from patients with SSc (n=4) and age- and sex-matched healthy donors (HC, n=4). Stiffness and height of the eGC were measured using atomic force microscopy.
Results: HUVEC at low passage expressed AT1R mRNA. The sera of the SSc patients used for the in vitro assay contained high AT1R antibody titers, ranging from 21 to 41 U/ml. Following in vitro treatment of HUVEC with pooled SSc serum, the stiffness of the eGC was reduced by approx. 26% compared to HC (p0.001). Accordingly, the height of the eGC was decreased by approx. 30% compared to HC (p0.001). Moreover, individually, treatment of HUVEC with SSc sera reduced the height of the eGC between 17% and 32% in comparison to pooled serum of HC (all p £ 0.001).
Conclusion: Both, reduced stiffness and reduced height of the eGC indicate an endothelial dysfunction of HUVEC which could be mediated by molecules such as AT1R antibodies or cytokines, present in serum of SSc patients.
Disclosures: Dr. Heidecke is the owner of the company CellTrend GmbH.
References
- 1.
- Allanore Y, Simms R, Distler O, Trojanowska M, Pope J, Denton CP, Varga J. Systemic sclerosis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2015 Apr 23;1:15002. DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2015.2
- 2.
- Machin DR, Gates PE, Vink H, Frech TM, Donato AJ. Automated Measurement of Microvascular Function Reveals Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study. J Rheumatol. 2017 Nov;44(11):1603-11. DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.170120.
