image: Roberto Caricchio, MD, Chief of the Section of Rheumatology, Director of the Temple Lupus Program, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, and senior investigator on the new report view more
Credit: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
(Philadelphia, PA) - Not unlike a sticky residue or oil congealed onto the surface of a pan, infectious bacteria in the human body have a tendency to coalesce, forming a strong, almost impenetrable layer known as a biofilm. Biofilms that form in the human body tend to be harmful - from films of bacteria on teeth that cause tooth decay to communities of bacteria that colonize medical implants, resulting in infections that are often extremely difficult to treat.
Now, in new research, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) show that at least in the case of systemic lupus erythematosus, biofilms also have the potential to aggravate autoimmunity. The research, published in the November print edition of the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, is the first to show that components of biofilms that form in the urinary tract can serve as an autoimmune trigger, inciting flare ups of lupus symptoms. Such flare ups, or flares, are a major cause of illness, hospitalization, and death among lupus patients.
"Biofilms in general are strengthened by a protein known as curli amyloid, which forms complexes with bacterial extracellular DNA (eDNA) and makes biofilms almost impossible to eliminate," explained Roberto Caricchio, MD, Chief of the Section of Rheumatology, Director of the Temple Lupus Program, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology at LKSOM, and senior investigator on the new report.
"Our latest findings indicate that eDNA and curli together are a perfect storm for lupus patients, whose immune systems are weakened and susceptible to factors that worsen inflammation and cause flares," Dr. Caricchio said. Flares involve measurable increases in disease activity, marked by the worsening of symptoms and in some instances by the emergence of new symptoms.
Flares are triggered by various factors, including emotional and physical stress, injury, and infection. Currently, flares can be only partially treated.
In previous work in mouse models of systemic lupus erythematosus, Dr. Caricchio and colleagues Stefania Gallucci, MD, and C?agla Tu?kel, PhD, Associate Professors in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at LKSOM, demonstrated that urinary biofilms appear to be especially harmful when it comes to autoimmunity. In colonies of Escherichia coli bacteria, curli amyloid naturally forms complexes with eDNA, triggering lupus-like autoimmune reactions in mice.
"Our next question was whether curli/eDNA complexes similarly induce autoimmunity in humans with lupus," Dr. Caricchio said.
The researchers pursued this question by looking for evidence of anti-curli/eDNA antibodies in blood samples collected from lupus patients followed in Temple's Lupus Program. Analyses identified antibodies to curli complexes in the blood plasma of lupus patients and healthy control subjects. In lupus patients, however, levels of anti-curli/eDNA antibodies were elevated and were correlated with the presence of persistent, asymptomatic urinary tract infection with E. coli and with the occurrence of flares.
In lupus patients with persistent asymptomatic urinary infection, E. coli bacteria produced high amounts of curli, with curli production linked to inflammation. The curli/eDNA complexes were found to react with lupus autoantigens, fueling the generation of damaging autoantibodies.
The findings reveal a clear link between chronic occurrence of bacteria in the urine, which usually is considered benign, and more frequent flare ups of lupus. This link suggests that control over bacterial infection could help prevent flares.
"Generally speaking, there is no way to predict flares or stop flares from happening, there are no biomarkers to monitor," Dr. Caricchio said. "Our work indicates that bacteria levels in the urine may be reliable indicators of flare onset and that flares can potentially be controlled also with modification of the urinary microbiome."
Dr. Caricchio and colleagues plan next to test targeted antibiotic therapies in lupus patients. "We are especially interested in being able to use antibiotic therapy to change the urinary microbiome in lupus patients, which could lessen flare frequency and severity." If the strategy works, it could greatly reduce organ damage and other tissue injury incurred from repeated autoimmune attack in lupus patients.
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Other investigators who contributed to the new report include Ryan J. Pachucki, Chelsea Corradetti, Lynne Kohler, and Jay Ghadiali, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine; Paul M. Gallo, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and Lauren Nicastro, Sarah A. Tursi, Stefania Gallucci, and C?agla Tu?kel, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. The research was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Lupus Research Alliance.
About Temple Health
Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
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Journal
Arthritis & Rheumatology