HLA-DR-Expressing Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes Are Inducible Antigen Presenting Cells That Present Autoantigens in...

HLA-DR-expressing fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) are a prominent cell type in synovial tissue in chronic inflammatory forms of arthritis. FLS-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including fibronectin-1 (FN1), contain immunogenic CD4+ T cell epitopes in patients with postinfectious Lyme arthritis (LA). However, the role of FLS in presentation of these T cell epitopes remains uncertain.

Primary LA FLS and primary murine FLS stimulated with interferon gamma (IFNγ), Borrelia burgdorferi, and/or B burgdorferi peptidoglycan (PG) were assessed for properties associated with antigen presentation. HLA-DR-presented peptides from stimulated LA FLS were identified by immunopeptidomics analysis. OT-II T cells were co-cultured with stimulated murine FLS in the presence of cognate ovalbumin antigen to determine the potential of FLS to act as inducible antigen presenting cells (APCs).

FLS expressed HLA-DR molecules within inflamed synovial tissue and tendons from patients with postinfectious LA in situ. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and co-stimulatory molecules were expressed by FLS following in vitro stimulation with IFNγ and B burgdorferi and presented both foreign and self-MHC-II peptides, including an immunogenic T cell epitope derived from Lyme autoantigen FN1. Stimulated FLS induced proliferation of naive OT-II CD4+ T cells that were dependent on OT-II antigen and CD40. Stimulation with B burgdorferi PG enhanced FLS-mediated T cell activation.

MHC-II+ FLS are inducible APCs that can induce CD4+ T cell activation in an antigen- and CD40-dependent manner. Activated FLS can also present ECM-derived Lyme autoantigens, implicating FLS in amplifying tissue-localized autoimmunity in LA.