In systemic lupus erythematosus, neutrophils release peptide/self-DNA complexes that trigger plasmacytoid dendritic cell activation and autoantibody formation.

Lupus erythematosus (LE) patients develop autoantibodies that form circulating immune complexes (ICs) with extracellular self-nucleic acids. These ICs are deposited into peripheral tissues, where they trigger detrimental organ inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that ICs contain LL37–DNA complexes derived from neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and that LE patients develop pathogenic autoantibodies against these structures, including Abs to LL37. However, the mechanism that leads to the generation of these Abs is unknown. In this study, we show that NETs directly trigger Ab production by human memory B cells. This occurs via LL37–DNA complexes present in NETs, which have the unique ability to gain access to endosomal compartments of B cells and to trigger TLR9 activation. In LE patients, NET-derived LL37–DNA complexes trigger polyclonal B cell activation via TLR9, but also specifically expand self-reactive memory B cells producing anti-LL37 Abs in an Ag-dependent manner. These findings suggest a unique link between neutrophils and B cells in which NETs trigger a concerted activation of TLR9 and BCR leading to anti-NET autoantibody production in lupus.

Psoriasis is a T‐cell‐mediated skin autoimmune disease characterized by the aberrant activation of dermal dendritic cells (DCs) and the sustained epidermal expression of antimicrobial peptides. We have previously identified a link between these two events by showing that the cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL37 has the ability to trigger self‐nucleic acid mediated activation of plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) in psoriatic skin. Whether other cationic antimicrobial peptides exert similar activities is unknown. By analyzing heparin‐binding HPLC fractions of psoriatic scales, we found that human beta‐defensin (hBD)2, hBD3, and lysozyme are additional triggers of pDC activation in psoriatic skin lesions. Like LL37, hBD2, hBD3, and lysozyme are able to condense self‐DNA into particles that are endocytosed by pDCs, leading to activation of TLR9. In contrast, other antimicrobial peptides expressed in psoriatic skin including elafin, hBD1, and psoriasin (S100A7) did not show similar activities. hBD2, hBD3, and lysozyme were detected in psoriatic skin lesions in the vicinity of pDCs and found to cooperate with LL37 to induce high levels of IFN production by pDCs, suggesting their concerted role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis and vasculopathy. CXCL4 represents an early serum biomarker of severe SSc and likely contributes to inflammation via chemokine signaling pathways, but the exact role of CXCL4 in SSc pathogenesis is unclear. Here, we elucidate an unanticipated mechanism for CXCL4-mediated immune amplification in SSc, in which CXCL4 organizes “self” and microbial DNA into liquid crystalline immune complexes that amplify TLR9-mediated plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC)-hyperactivation and interferon-α production. Surprisingly, this activity does not require CXCR3, the CXCL4 receptor. Importantly, we find that CXCL4-DNA complexes are present in vivo and correlate with type I interferon (IFN-I) in SSc blood, and that CXCL4-positive skin pDCs coexpress IFN-I-related genes. Thus, we establish a direct link between CXCL4 overexpression and the IFN-I-gene signature in SSc and outline a paradigm in which chemokines can drastically modulate innate immune receptors without being direct agonists.

CD38, an ectoenzyme and a signaling receptor, is a novel marker of human mature monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs). The working hypothesis is that CD38 is not only a marker but also contributes to functions specifically gained by MDDCs with maturation. This was tested by assessing the role(s) of CD38 after signaling with agonistic anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies or by blocking the interactions taking place between CD38 and CD31, its counterreceptor. The results indicate the following: (1) CD38 engagement in MDDCs ensures efficient chemotaxis and transendothelial migration driven by CC chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21); (2) CD38 is laterally associated with the CCL21-specific CC chemokine receptor 7 and with CD83 and CD11b; (3) CD38 localizes in membrane lipid domains; (4) CD38 signaling contributes to support longevity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–matured MDDCs after growth factor withdrawal; and (5) IFN-γ is produced by cocultured T lymphocytes, thus affecting T-helper 1 (Th1) polarization. These data suggest that the localization of CD38 in lipid rafts and its multiple interactions with signaling receptors rule innate and adaptive immune responses by tuning DC migration, survival, and Th1-polarization ability. These findings may lay out the basis to assess the functional role(s) of human CD38 in infections, autoimmune diseases, and neoplastic disorders.