Human herpesvirus infections and circulating microvesicles expressing galectin-3 binding protein in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

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CER14869
2022 Vol.40, N°1
PI 0158, PF 0161
Brief Papers

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PMID: 34874835 [PubMed]

Received: 07/06/2021
Accepted : 04/10/2021
In Press: 22/11/2021
Published: 28/01/2022

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Circulating microvesicles (MVs) expressing the type 1 interferon-inducible protein galectin-3 binding protein (G3BP) are potentially major sources of autoantigens in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we explore if plasma concentrations of G3BP-expressing MVs correlate with signs of various active human herpesvirus (HHV) infections in SLE patients, suggesting a virus-induced mechanism for the generation of these vesicles.
METHODS:
In 49 SLE patients, the plasma levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against cytomegalovirus (CMV) pp52, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) early antigen diffuse (EA/D), and HHV6 p41 were measured by ELISAs and used as humoral markers of ongoing/recently active viral infection. MVs in platelet-poor plasma were quantified and characterised by flow cytometry, with regard to the binding of Annexin V (AnxV) and the expression of G3BP. Spearman’s rho and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test were applied for associative evaluation of virus serology with MV subsets, and clinical and demographic data.
RESULTS:
The CMV pp52-directed antibodies correlated positively with the high G3BP-expressing MVs; either low (rho=0.4, p-value=0.005) or high (rho=0.37, p-value=0.01) in AnxV-expression. Furthermore, these MV subsets were higher in individuals with high and low IgG levels against CMV pp52 and EBV EA/D, respectively, relative to subjects with low and high IgG levels against these HHV antigens. Importantly, none of the associations were explained by immunosuppressants or antimalarials.
CONCLUSIONS:
Ongoing/recently active CMV infection is associated with circulating MVs expressing G3BP in SLE patients, supporting a link between specific viral infections and potentially pathogenic MVs in SLE.