2024
An autoimmune transcriptional circuit drives FOXP3+ regulatory T cell dysfunction
Sumida T, Lincoln M, He L, Park Y, Ota M, Oguchi A, Son R, Yi A, Stillwell H, Leissa G, Fujio K, Murakawa Y, Kulminski A, Epstein C, Bernstein B, Kellis M, Hafler D. An autoimmune transcriptional circuit drives FOXP3+ regulatory T cell dysfunction. Science Translational Medicine 2024, 16: eadp1720. PMID: 39196959, DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adp1720.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsForkhead box P3Autoimmune diseasesCD4<sup>+</sup>Foxp3<sup>+</sup> regulatory T cellsMultiple sclerosisFoxp3<sup>+</sup> regulatory T cellsRegulatory T cell dysfunctionPR domain zinc finger protein 1Zinc finger protein 1Glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1Regulatory T cellsT cell dysfunctionDisorder of young adultsAutoimmune disease multiple sclerosisDisease multiple sclerosisExpression of serumTranscriptional circuitsEpigenomic profilingShort isoformPrevent autoimmunityUpstream regulatorT cellsHuman autoimmunityEvolutionary emergenceKinase 1Molecular mechanismsGenetic mapping across autoimmune diseases reveals shared associations and mechanisms
Lincoln M, Connally N, Axisa P, Gasperi C, Mitrovic M, van Heel D, Wijmenga C, Withoff S, Jonkers I, Padyukov L, Rich S, Graham R, Gaffney P, Langefeld C, Vyse T, Hafler D, Chun S, Sunyaev S, Cotsapas C. Genetic mapping across autoimmune diseases reveals shared associations and mechanisms. Nature Genetics 2024, 56: 838-845. PMID: 38741015, DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01732-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsGenetic mapResolution of genetic mappingExpression quantitative trait lociFine-mapping resolutionQuantitative trait lociGenomic lociTrait lociPolygenic disorderAllelesRisk allelesLociPathogenic mechanismsImmune systemAutoimmune mechanismsAutoimmune diseasesInflammatory diseasesTraitsMechanismDiseaseSample collectionExpression
2023
Common genetic factors among autoimmune diseases
Harroud A, Hafler D. Common genetic factors among autoimmune diseases. Science 2023, 380: 485-490. PMID: 37141355, DOI: 10.1126/science.adg2992.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAutoimmune DiseasesGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenomeGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansRisk FactorsConceptsGenome-wide association studiesMultimodal genomic dataEvolutionary originDisease geneticsPolygenic basisPrecise geneSelection pressureGenomic dataMolecular consequencesAssociation studiesGenetic studiesFunctional experimentsGenetic effectsRisk variantsCommon genetic factorsAncient populationsCurrent understandingPotential therapeutic implicationsGenetic factorsKey immune cellsGenesGeneticsWidespread sharingImmune cellsValuable insightsRegulatory T cells in peripheral tissue tolerance and diseases
Cheru N, Hafler D, Sumida T. Regulatory T cells in peripheral tissue tolerance and diseases. Frontiers In Immunology 2023, 14: 1154575. PMID: 37197653, PMCID: PMC10183596, DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154575.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAutoimmune DiseasesForkhead Transcription FactorsHumansIntestinal DiseasesMicePeripheral ToleranceT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryConceptsTissue-resident TregsRegulatory T cellsT cellsResident TregsTissue TregsAutoimmune diseasesCommon human autoimmune diseasesAutoreactive T cellsHuman autoimmune diseasesNon-immune cellsNon-lymphoid tissuesTissue-resident cellsTreg poolTreg studiesEffector cytokinesPeripheral toleranceTreg functionIPEX syndromeImmune homeostasisSpecific tissue environmentsTregsSuppressive functionLoss of functionResident cellsGene signature
2019
Autoantibodies against Neurologic Antigens in Nonneurologic Autoimmunity
Stathopoulos P, Chastre A, Waters P, Irani S, Fichtner ML, Benotti ES, Guthridge JM, Seifert J, Nowak RJ, Buckner JH, Holers VM, James JA, Hafler DA, O’Connor K. Autoantibodies against Neurologic Antigens in Nonneurologic Autoimmunity. The Journal Of Immunology 2019, 202: ji1801295. PMID: 30824481, PMCID: PMC6452031, DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1801295.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAutoantibodiesAutoantigensAutoimmune DiseasesB-LymphocytesFemaleHEK293 CellsHumansMaleMiddle AgedNerve Tissue ProteinsConceptsSystemic lupus erythematosusRheumatoid arthritisControl cohortNeuromyelitis optica spectrum disorderSurface AgOptica spectrum disorderMyelin oligodendrocyte glycoproteinHealthy donor seraType 1 diabetesB cell toleranceNeurologic autoimmunitySLE patientsLupus erythematosusSuch autoantibodiesT1D patientsAutoimmune diseasesHigh titer AbsOligodendrocyte glycoproteinSystemic autoimmunityDonor seraLarge cohortRare caseAutoantibodiesAquaporin-4Cell tolerance
2018
Regulatory T cells in autoimmune disease
Dominguez-Villar M, Hafler DA. Regulatory T cells in autoimmune disease. Nature Immunology 2018, 19: 665-673. PMID: 29925983, PMCID: PMC7882196, DOI: 10.1038/s41590-018-0120-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAutoimmune DiseasesForkhead Transcription FactorsHumansMiceT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryConceptsAutoimmune diseasesTreg cellsRegulatory T cell biologyRegulatory T cellsNon-immune cellsTreg cell plasticityTreg cell biologyNew therapeutic strategiesT cell biologyTreg cell instabilityDisease outcomeT cellsTherapeutic strategiesDiseaseCell plasticityCell biologyCellsAutoimmunityPathogenesisSpecific tissues
2016
AKT isoforms modulate Th1‐like Treg generation and function in human autoimmune disease
Kitz A, de Marcken M, Gautron AS, Mitrovic M, Hafler DA, Dominguez-Villar M. AKT isoforms modulate Th1‐like Treg generation and function in human autoimmune disease. EMBO Reports 2016, 17: 1169-1183. PMID: 27312110, PMCID: PMC4967959, DOI: 10.15252/embr.201541905.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAutoimmune DiseasesBiomarkersCell DifferentiationCytokinesForkhead Transcription FactorsGene Expression ProfilingGene SilencingHumansImmunomodulationInterferon-gammaPhenotypePhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProtein IsoformsProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktSignal TransductionT-Lymphocyte SubsetsT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryTranscriptomeConceptsAutoimmune diseasesIFNγ secretionHuman TregsGenome-wide gene expression approachUntreated relapsing-remitting MS patientsRelapsing-remitting MS patientsImmune suppressive functionHuman autoimmune diseasesT helper 1Inflammatory cytokines IFNγTreg suppressor functionNovel treatment paradigmEffector phenotypeMS patientsTreg generationCytokines IFNγHelper 1Multiple sclerosisTreatment paradigmSuppressive functionTregsVivo modelDiseaseSecretionSuppressor function
2015
Genetic basis of autoimmunity
Marson A, Housley WJ, Hafler DA. Genetic basis of autoimmunity. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2015, 125: 2234-2241. PMID: 26030227, PMCID: PMC4497748, DOI: 10.1172/jci78086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnimalsAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmunityDatabases, GeneticGene Expression RegulationGene-Environment InteractionGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansConceptsGenetic basisInterpretation of GWASMultiple genomic datasetsWide association studyCommon human autoimmune diseasesRelevant cell typesCellular conditionsCellular phenotypesGenomic datasetsGene expressionDense genotypingBiological pathwaysAssociation studiesHuman autoimmune diseasesNucleotide variantsCell typesAutoimmune diseasesPrimary immune cellsUnbiased viewMonogenic mutationsPolygenic risk factorsEssential mechanismComplex disorderEnvironmental factorsNovel diagnostics
2014
Genetic and epigenetic fine mapping of causal autoimmune disease variants
Farh KK, Marson A, Zhu J, Kleinewietfeld M, Housley WJ, Beik S, Shoresh N, Whitton H, Ryan RJ, Shishkin AA, Hatan M, Carrasco-Alfonso MJ, Mayer D, Luckey CJ, Patsopoulos NA, De Jager PL, Kuchroo VK, Epstein CB, Daly MJ, Hafler DA, Bernstein BE. Genetic and epigenetic fine mapping of causal autoimmune disease variants. Nature 2014, 518: 337-343. PMID: 25363779, PMCID: PMC4336207, DOI: 10.1038/nature13835.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCausal variantsAutoimmune diseasesT cellsRegulatory T cellsNon-coding risk variantsT cell subsetsEnhancer-associated RNAsGenome-wide association studiesPrimary immune cellsCandidate causal variantsGene regulatory modelsImmune cellsImmune stimulationB cellsGene activationFine mappingTranscription factorsMaster regulatorHistone acetylationImmune differentiationSequence determinantsGene expressionAssociation studiesDiseaseHuman diseasesPolarization of the Effects of Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Risk Alleles in Leukocytes
Raj T, Rothamel K, Mostafavi S, Ye C, Lee MN, Replogle JM, Feng T, Lee M, Asinovski N, Frohlich I, Imboywa S, Von Korff A, Okada Y, Patsopoulos NA, Davis S, McCabe C, Paik HI, Srivastava GP, Raychaudhuri S, Hafler DA, Koller D, Regev A, Hacohen N, Mathis D, Benoist C, Stranger BE, De Jager PL. Polarization of the Effects of Autoimmune and Neurodegenerative Risk Alleles in Leukocytes. Science 2014, 344: 519-523. PMID: 24786080, PMCID: PMC4910825, DOI: 10.1126/science.1249547.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdaptive ImmunityAllelesAlzheimer DiseaseAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmunityCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesEthnicityGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansImmunity, InnateMonocytesMultiple SclerosisNeurodegenerative DiseasesParkinson DiseasePolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociRheumatic FeverTranscriptomeConceptsSpecific immune cell typesHuman immune functionImmune cell typesMulti-ethnic cohortCell-autonomous effectsAutoimmune diseasesT cellsImmune functionParkinson's diseaseHealthy individualsInnate immunityRisk allelesDiseaseExpression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) studiesQuantitative trait loci studiesSusceptibility allelesPutative functional assignmentsCausal regulatory variantsDisease-associated lociDisease susceptibility variantsCell typesSusceptibility variantsTrans-eQTLsFunctional assignmentRegulatory variantsRegulatory T cells in autoimmune neuroinflammation
Kleinewietfeld M, Hafler DA. Regulatory T cells in autoimmune neuroinflammation. Immunological Reviews 2014, 259: 231-244. PMID: 24712469, PMCID: PMC3990868, DOI: 10.1111/imr.12169.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRegulatory T cellsT cellsAutoimmune neuroinflammationMultiple sclerosisRegulatory type 1 (Tr1) cellsForkhead box protein 3Natural Treg cellsBox protein 3Experimental animal modelsT helper cell lineagesType 1 cellsTr1 cellsTreg cellsPeripheral toleranceAnimal modelsSpecific subtypesNeuroinflammationProtein 3SubtypesCell typesCell lineagesCellsTregsSclerosisCommon Genetic Variants Modulate Pathogen-Sensing Responses in Human Dendritic Cells
Lee MN, Ye C, Villani AC, Raj T, Li W, Eisenhaure TM, Imboywa SH, Chipendo PI, Ran FA, Slowikowski K, Ward LD, Raddassi K, McCabe C, Lee MH, Frohlich IY, Hafler DA, Kellis M, Raychaudhuri S, Zhang F, Stranger BE, Benoist CO, De Jager PL, Regev A, Hacohen N. Common Genetic Variants Modulate Pathogen-Sensing Responses in Human Dendritic Cells. Science 2014, 343: 1246980. PMID: 24604203, PMCID: PMC4124741, DOI: 10.1126/science.1246980.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAutoimmune DiseasesCommunicable DiseasesDendritic CellsEscherichia coliFemaleGene-Environment InteractionGenetic LociGenome-Wide Association StudyHEK293 CellsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansInfluenza A virusInterferon Regulatory Factor-7Interferon-betaLipopolysaccharidesMaleMiddle AgedPolymorphism, Single NucleotideQuantitative Trait LociSTAT Transcription FactorsTranscriptomeYoung AdultConceptsGenetic variationPathogen-responsive genesHuman genetic variationGenetic variantsIRF transcription factorsCommon genetic variantsType I IFN inductionFunctional annotationExpression responsesTranscription factorsI IFN inductionCausal variantsPathogen sensingEnvironmental stimuliComplex diseasesCommon variantsCommon allelesIFN inductionComputational approachVariantsCellsInductionGenesInterindividual variationSTAT
2013
Role of “Western Diet” in Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases
Manzel A, Muller DN, Hafler DA, Erdman SE, Linker RA, Kleinewietfeld M. Role of “Western Diet” in Inflammatory Autoimmune Diseases. Current Allergy And Asthma Reports 2013, 14: 404. PMID: 24338487, PMCID: PMC4034518, DOI: 10.1007/s11882-013-0404-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAutoimmune diseasesWestern dietInflammatory autoimmune diseaseExcess salt intakeImmunologic mechanismsMetabolic syndromeSalt intakeAutoimmune pathologyCardiovascular diseaseT cellsWesternized countriesFrequent consumptionDietary influencesInfectious diseasesDiseaseNutritional patternsFast foodPathogen exposureDietCurrent knowledgeCentral playerAutoimmunityObesitySyndromeCholesterol
2012
Induction and molecular signature of pathogenic TH17 cells
Lee Y, Awasthi A, Yosef N, Quintana FJ, Xiao S, Peters A, Wu C, Kleinewietfeld M, Kunder S, Hafler DA, Sobel RA, Regev A, Kuchroo VK. Induction and molecular signature of pathogenic TH17 cells. Nature Immunology 2012, 13: 991-999. PMID: 22961052, PMCID: PMC3459594, DOI: 10.1038/ni.2416.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMultiple sclerosis
Nylander A, Hafler DA. Multiple sclerosis. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2012, 122: 1180-1188. PMID: 22466660, PMCID: PMC3314452, DOI: 10.1172/jci58649.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAllelesAutoantigensAutoimmune DiseasesB-Lymphocyte SubsetsCostimulatory and Inhibitory T-Cell ReceptorsCytokinesForecastingForkhead Transcription FactorsGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansLymphocyte ActivationMeningesModels, ImmunologicalMultiple SclerosisT-Lymphocyte SubsetsT-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryConceptsMultiple sclerosisImmunopathology of MSMultifocal demyelinating diseasePersistence of antigenMS prognosisDemyelinating diseaseOligoclonal expansionAutoimmune responseLymphoid folliclesHumoral responseT cellsTreatment decisionsInfectious agentsSusceptible individualsProgressive neurodegenerationCommon genetic variantsPathway disruptionPresent recent dataSclerosisRecent dataDisease susceptibilityAntigenGenetic variantsImmunopathologyPrognosisUnraveling the autoimmune translational research process layer by layer
Blumberg RS, Dittel B, Hafler D, von Herrath M, Nestle FO. Unraveling the autoimmune translational research process layer by layer. Nature Medicine 2012, 18: 35-41. PMID: 22227670, PMCID: PMC4592149, DOI: 10.1038/nm.2632.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2011
Pervasive Sharing of Genetic Effects in Autoimmune Disease
Cotsapas C, Voight BF, Rossin E, Lage K, Neale BM, Wallace C, Abecasis GR, Barrett JC, Behrens T, Cho J, De Jager PL, Elder JT, Graham RR, Gregersen P, Klareskog L, Siminovitch KA, van Heel DA, Wijmenga C, Worthington J, Todd JA, Hafler DA, Rich SS, Daly MJ, . Pervasive Sharing of Genetic Effects in Autoimmune Disease. PLOS Genetics 2011, 7: e1002254. PMID: 21852963, PMCID: PMC3154137, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002254.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSingle nucleotide polymorphismsSystemic lupus erythematosusImmune-mediated diseasesType 1 diabetesGenetic risk factorsMajor histocompatibility locusCommon autoimmuneCommon single nucleotide polymorphismsLupus erythematosusCrohn's diseaseRheumatoid arthritisClinical evidenceMultiple sclerosisAutoimmune diseasesRisk single nucleotide polymorphismsCeliac diseaseInflammatory diseasesRisk factorsMeta-AnalysisDisease riskDiseaseHistocompatibility locusUnderlying mechanismGenetic associationNucleotide polymorphisms
2010
Human regulatory T cells in autoimmune diseases
Cvetanovich GL, Hafler DA. Human regulatory T cells in autoimmune diseases. Current Opinion In Immunology 2010, 22: 753-760. PMID: 20869862, PMCID: PMC2997859, DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2010.08.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFunctionally defective germline variants of sialic acid acetylesterase in autoimmunity
Surolia I, Pirnie SP, Chellappa V, Taylor KN, Cariappa A, Moya J, Liu H, Bell DW, Driscoll DR, Diederichs S, Haider K, Netravali I, Le S, Elia R, Dow E, Lee A, Freudenberg J, De Jager PL, Chretien Y, Varki A, MacDonald ME, Gillis T, Behrens TW, Bloch D, Collier D, Korzenik J, Podolsky DK, Hafler D, Murali M, Sands B, Stone JH, Gregersen PK, Pillai S. Functionally defective germline variants of sialic acid acetylesterase in autoimmunity. Nature 2010, 466: 243-247. PMID: 20555325, PMCID: PMC2900412, DOI: 10.1038/nature09115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAcetylationAcetylesteraseAllelesAnimalsAntibodies, AntinuclearArthritis, RheumatoidAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmunityB-LymphocytesBiocatalysisCarboxylic Ester HydrolasesCase-Control StudiesCell LineDiabetes Mellitus, Type 1EuropeExonsGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGerm-Line MutationHumansMiceN-Acetylneuraminic AcidOdds RatioPolymorphism, Single NucleotideSample SizeSequence Analysis, DNA
2009
Autoimmunity risk alleles in costimulation pathways
Maier LM, Hafler DA. Autoimmunity risk alleles in costimulation pathways. Immunological Reviews 2009, 229: 322-336. PMID: 19426231, DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-065x.2009.00777.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAllelesAutoimmune DiseasesAutoimmunityGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseGenome-Wide Association StudyHumansLymphocyte ActivationT-LymphocytesConceptsTumor necrosis factorGenome-wide association scansHuman autoimmune diseasesAutoimmune diseasesCommon human autoimmune diseasesInducible T-cell costimulator ligandGenetic study designsAssociation scanImmune related genesRelated genesCytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4T-lymphocyte antigen-4Common autoimmune diseaseCell death 1Allelic variantsMember 15Environmental risk factorsDrug designCostimulatory mechanismsMember 4PathwayGenesCostimulation pathwayDeath-1Common pathway