Primary ovarian insufficiency in women with Addison's disease

Context Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined by menopause before 40 years of age. POI prevalence is higher among women with autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) than in the general population, but their clinical characteristics are insufficiently studied. Objective To assess the prevalence of POI in a large cohort of women with AAD and describe clinical, immunological, and genetic characteristics. Methods An observational population-based cohort study of the Norwegian National Addison Registry. The Norwegian Prescription Database was used to assess prescription of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A total of 461 women with AAD were studied. The primary outcome measure was prevalence of POI. Secondary outcomes were clinical characteristics, autoantibodies, and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism variation. Results The prevalence of POI was 10.2% (47/461) and one-third developed POI before 30 years of age. POI preceded or coincided with AAD diagnosis in more than half of the women. The prevalence of concomitant autoimmune diseases was 72%, and AAD women with POI had more autoantibodies than AAD women without (≥2 autoantibodies in 78% vs 25%). Autoantibodies against side-chain cleavage enzyme (SCC) had the highest accuracy with a negative predictive value for POI of 96%. HRT use was high compared to the age adjusted normal population (11.3 % vs 0.7%). Conclusion One in 10 women with AAD have POI. Autoantibodies against SCC are the most specific marker for autoimmune POI. We recommend testing women with AAD <40 years with menstrual disturbances or fertility concerns for autoantibodies against SCC.publishedVersio

21-Hydroxylase-Specific CD8+ T Cells in Autoimmune Addison’s Disease Are Restricted by HLA-A2 and HLA-C7 Molecules

Objectives: CD8+ T cells targeting 21-hydroxylase (21OH) are presumed to play a central role in the destruction of adrenocortical cells in autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD). Earlier reports have suggested two immunodominant CD8+ T cell epitopes within 21OH: LLNATIAEV (21OH342-350), restricted by HLA-A2, and EPLARLEL (21OH431-438), restricted by HLA-B8. We aimed to characterize polyclonal CD8+ T cell responses to the proposed epitopes in a larger patient cohort with AAD. Methods: Recombinant fluorescent HLA-peptide multimer reagents were used to quantify antigen-specific CD8+ T cells by flow cytometry. Interferon-gamma (IFNγ) Elispot and biochemical assays were used to functionally investigate the 21OH-specific T cells, and to map the exactly defined epitopes of 21OH. Results: We found a significantly higher frequency of HLA-A2 restricted LLNATIAEV-specific cells in patients with AAD than in controls. These cells could also be expanded in vitro in an antigen specific manner and displayed a robust antigen-specific IFNγ production. In contrast, only negligible frequencies of EPLARLEL-specific T cells were detected in both patients and controls with limited IFNγ response. However, significant IFNγ production was observed in response to a longer peptide encompassing EPLARLEL, 21OH430-447, suggesting alternative dominant epitopes. Accordingly, we discovered that the slightly offset ARLELFVVL (21OH434-442) peptide is a novel dominant epitope restricted by HLA-C7 and not by HLA-B8 as initially postulated. Conclusion: We have identified two dominant 21OH epitopes targeted by CD8+ T cells in AAD, restricted by HLA-A2 and HLA-C7, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first HLA-C7 restricted epitope described for an autoimmune disease.publishedVersio

Systemic Activation of the Kynurenine Pathway in Graves Disease With and Without Ophthalmopathy

Context Graves disease (GD) is one of the most common autoimmune disorders. Recent literature has shown an immune response involving several different inflammatory related proteins in these patients. Objective This work aimed to characterize the kynurenine pathway, activated during interferon-γ (IFN-γ)–mediated inflammation and cellular (T-helper type 1 [Th1] type) immunity, in GD patients with and without thyroid eye disease (TED). Methods We analyzed 34 biomarkers by mass spectrometry in serum samples from 100 patients with GD (36 with TED) and 100 matched healthy controls. The analytes included 10 metabolites and 3 indices from the kynurenine pathway, 6 microbiota-derived metabolites, 10 B-vitamers, and 5 serum proteins reflecting inflammation and kidney function. Results GD patients showed significantly elevated levels of 7 biomarkers compared with healthy controls (omega squared [ω2] > 0.06; P < .01). Of these 7, the 6 biomarkers with the strongest effect size were all components of the kynurenine pathway. Factor analysis showed that biomarkers related to cellular immunity and the Th1 responses (3-hydroxykynurenine, kynurenine, and quinolinic acid with the highest loading) were most strongly associated with GD. Further, a factor mainly reflecting acute phase response (C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A) showed weaker association with GD by factor analysis. There were no differences in biomarker levels between GD patients with and without TED. Conclusion This study supports activation of IFN-γ inflammation and Th1 cellular immunity in GD, but also a contribution of acute-phase reactants. Our finding of no difference in systemic activation of the kynurenine pathway in GD patients with and without TED implies that the local Th1 immune response in the orbit is not reflected systemically.publishedVersio

Outcomes of Patients With Graves Disease 25 Years After Initiating Antithyroid Drug Therapy

Context Graves disease (GD) is a leading cause of hyperthyroidism. Detailed investigations and predictors of long-term outcomes are missing. Objective This work aimed to investigate the outcomes in GD 25 years after initiating antithyroid drug treatment, including disease course, clinical and biochemical predictors of relapse, and quality of life. Methods A retrospective follow-up was conducted of GD patients that participated in a randomized trial from 1997 to 2001. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from medical records and questionnaires. Biobank samples were analyzed for inflammatory biomarkers and compared with age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Results We included 83% (182/218) of the patients from the original study. At the end of follow-up, normal thyroid function was achieved in 34%. The remaining had either active disease (1%), spontaneous hypothyroidism (13%), or had undergone ablative treatment with radioiodine (40%) or thyroidectomy (13%). Age younger than or equal to 40 years, thyroid eye disease (TED), smoking, and elevated levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNFRS9) increased the risk of relapsing disease (odds ratio 3.22; 2.26; 2.21; 1.99; 2.36). At the end of treatment, CD40 was lower in patients who maintained normal thyroid function (P = .04). At the end of follow-up, 47% had one or more autoimmune diseases, including vitamin B12 deficiency (26%) and rheumatoid arthritis (5%). GD patients who developed hypothyroidism had reduced quality of life. Conclusion Careful lifelong monitoring is indicated to detect recurrence, hypothyroidism, and other autoimmune diseases. Long-term ATD treatment emerges as a beneficial first-line treatment option, especially in patients with young age at onset or presence of TED.publishedVersio

A partial form of AIRE deficiency underlies a mild form of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1

Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is caused by mutations in the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene. Most patients present with severe chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis and organ-specific autoimmunity from early childhood, but the clinical picture is highly variable. AIRE is crucial for negative selection of T cells, and scrutiny of different patient mutations has previously highlighted many of its molecular mechanisms. In patients with a milder adult-onset phenotype sharing a mutation in the canonical donor splice site of intron 7 (c.879+1G>A), both the predicted altered splicing pattern with loss of exon 7 (AireEx7–/–) and normal full-length AIRE mRNA were found, indicating leaky rather than abolished mRNA splicing. Analysis of a corresponding mouse model demonstrated that the AireEx7–/– mutant had dramatically impaired transcriptional capacity of tissue-specific antigens in medullary thymic epithelial cells but still retained some ability to induce gene expression compared with the complete loss-of-function AireC313X–/– mutant. Our data illustrate an association between AIRE activity and the severity of autoimmune disease, with implications for more common autoimmune diseases associated with AIRE variants, such as primary adrenal insufficiency, pernicious anemia, type 1 diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis.publishedVersio

A longitudinal follow-up of autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1

Source:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971337/Context: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is a childhood-onset monogenic disease defined by the presence of two of the three major components: hypoparathyroidism, primary adrenocortical insuffi- ciency, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). Information on longitudinal follow-up of APS1 is sparse. Objective: To describe the phenotypes of APS1 and correlate the clinical features with autoantibody profiles and autoimmune regulator ( AIRE) mutations during extended follow-up (1996–2016). Patients: All known Norwegian patients with APS1. Results: Fifty-two patients from 34 families were identified. The majority presented with one of the major disease components during childhood. Enamel hypoplasia, hypoparathyroidism, and CMC were the most frequent compo- nents.Withage,mostpatientspresentedthreetofivediseasemanifestations,althoughsomehadmilderphenotypes diagnosed in adulthood. Fifteen of the patients died during follow-up (median age at death, 34 years) or were deceasedsiblingswithahighprobabilityofundisclosedAPS1.Allexceptthreehadinterferon- )autoantibodies,and allhadorgan-specificautoantibodies.Themostcommon AIRE mutationwasc.967_979del13,foundinhomozygosity in 15 patients. A mild phenotype was associated with the splice mutation c.879 1G A. Primary adrenocortical insufficiency and type 1 diabetes were associated with protective human leucocyte antigen genotypes. Conclusions: Multiple presumable autoimmune manifestations, in particular hypoparathyroidism, CMC, and enamel hypoplasia, should prompt further diagnostic workup using autoantibody analyses (eg, interferon- ) and AIRE sequencing to reveal APS1, even in adults. Treatment is complicated, and mortality is high. Structured follow-up should be performed in a specialized center

The natural history of 21-hydroxylase autoantibodies in autoimmune Addison’s disease

Background: The most common cause of primary adrenal failure (Addison’s disease) in the Western world is autoimmunity characterized by autoantibodies against the steroidogenic enzyme 21-hydroxylase (CYP21A2, 21OH). Detection of 21OH-autoantibodies is currently used for aetiological diagnosis, but how levels of 21OH-autoantibodies vary over time is not known. Setting: Samples from the national Norwegian Addison’s Registry and Biobank established in 1996 (n = 711). Multi-parameter modelling of the course of 21OH-autoantibody indices over time. Results: 21OH-autoantibody positivity is remarkably stable, and >90% of the patients are still positive 30 years after diagnosis. Even though the antibody levels decline with disease duration, it is only rarely that this downturn reaches negativity. 21OH-autoantibody indices are affected by age at diagnosis, sex, type of Addison’s disease (isolated vs autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I or II) and HLA genotype. Conclusion: 21OH-autoantibodies are reliable and robust markers for autoimmune Addison’s disease, linked to HLA risk genotype. However, a negative test in patients with long disease duration does not exclude autoimmune aetiology.publishedVersio

Functional studies of novel CYP21A2 mutations detected in Norwegian patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

In about 95% of cases, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused by mutations in CYP21A2 gene encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase (21OH). Recently, we have reported four novel CYP21A2 variants in the Norwegian population of patients with CAH, of which p.L388R and p.E140K were associated with salt wasting (SW), p.P45L with simple virilising (SV) and p.V211MCp.V281L with SV to non-classical (NC) phenotypes. We aimed to characterise the novel variants functionally utilising a newly designed in vitro assay of 21OH enzyme activity and structural simulations and compare the results with clinical phenotypes. CYP21A2 mutations and variants were expressed in vitro. Enzyme activity was assayed by assessing the conversion of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to 11-deoxycortisol by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy. PyMOL 1.3 was used for structural simulations, and PolyPhen2 and PROVEAN for predicting the severity of the mutants. The CYP21A2 mutants, p.L388R and p.E140K, exhibited 1.1 and 11.3% of wt 21OH enzyme activity, respectively, in vitro. We could not detect any functional deficiency of the p.P45L variant in vitro; although prediction tools suggest p.P45L to be pathogenic. p.V211M displayed enzyme activity equivalent to the wt in vitro, which was supported by in silico analyses. We found good correlations between phenotype and the in vitro enzyme activities of the SW mutants, but not for the SV p.P45L variant. p.V211M might have a synergistic effect together with p.V281L, explaining a phenotype between SV and NC CAH

Primary ovarian insufficiency in women with Addison's disease

Context Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is defined by menopause before 40 years of age. POI prevalence is higher among women with autoimmune Addison’s disease (AAD) than in the general population, but their clinical characteristics are insufficiently studied. Objective To assess the prevalence of POI in a large cohort of women with AAD and describe clinical, immunological, and genetic characteristics. Methods An observational population-based cohort study of the Norwegian National Addison Registry. The Norwegian Prescription Database was used to assess prescription of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). A total of 461 women with AAD were studied. The primary outcome measure was prevalence of POI. Secondary outcomes were clinical characteristics, autoantibodies, and genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism variation. Results The prevalence of POI was 10.2% (47/461) and one-third developed POI before 30 years of age. POI preceded or coincided with AAD diagnosis in more than half of the women. The prevalence of concomitant autoimmune diseases was 72%, and AAD women with POI had more autoantibodies than AAD women without (≥2 autoantibodies in 78% vs 25%). Autoantibodies against side-chain cleavage enzyme (SCC) had the highest accuracy with a negative predictive value for POI of 96%. HRT use was high compared to the age adjusted normal population (11.3 % vs 0.7%). Conclusion One in 10 women with AAD have POI. Autoantibodies against SCC are the most specific marker for autoimmune POI. We recommend testing women with AAD <40 years with menstrual disturbances or fertility concerns for autoantibodies against SCC

Insulin and GSK3β-inhibition abrogates the infarct sparing-effect of ischemic postconditioning in ex vivo rat hearts

Objectives. Pharmacological treatment of reperfusion injury using insulin and GSK3β inhibition has been shown to be cardioprotective, however, their interaction with the endogenous cardioprotective strategy, ischemic postconditioning, is not known. Design. Langendorff perfused ex vivo rat hearts were subjected to 30 min of regional ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion. For the first 15 min of reperfusion hearts received either vehicle (Ctr), insulin (Ins) or a GSK3β inhibitor (SB415286; SB41), with or without interruption of ischemic postconditioning (IPost; 3 × 30 s of global ischemia). In addition, the combination of insulin and SB41 for 15 min was assessed. Results. Insulin, SB41 or IPost significantly reduced infarct size versus vehicle treated controls (IPost 33.5 ± 3.3%, Ins 33.5 ± 3.4%, SB41 30.5 ± 3.0% vs. Ctr 54.7 ± 6.8%, p < 0.01). Combining insulin and SB415286 did not confer additional cardioprotection compared to the treatments given alone (SB41 + Ins 26.7 ± 3.5%, ns). Conversely, combining either of the pharmacological reperfusion treatments with IPost completely abrogated the cardioprotection afforded by the treatments separately (Ins + IPost 59.5 ± 3.4% vs. Ins 33.5 ± 3.4% and SB41 + IPost 50.2 ± 6.6% vs. SB41 30.5 ± 3.0%, both p < 0.01), and was associated with blunted Akt, GSK3β and STAT3 phosphorylation. Conclusion. Pharmacological reperfusion treatment with insulin and SB41 interferes with the cardioprotection afforded by ischemic postconditioning