[Research highlight] HAPLN1 promotes viability of RA-FLSs, disclosing the pathogenesis of RA

[Research highlight] HAPLN1 promotes viability of RA-FLSs, disclosing the pathogenesis of RA

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. Joints and cartilage are mainly destructed due to this disease. Ane one of the main pathological manifestations is the formation of pannus. During the development of RA, fibroblast like synovial cells (FLSs) produce a variety of pathogenic mediators, such as cytokines and proteases, which will destroy the extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore, FLSs is considered to be one of the main effector cells of RA. Hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein 1 (HAPLN1), also known as cartilage connexin, maintains the stable aggregation and binding activity of two important ECM macromolecules - hyaluronic acid (HA) and proteoglycan, then helps the compressive capacity of joints. Through genomics research, HAPLN1 shows a significant correlation with disease activity in RA, and HAPLN1 is one of the most significantly up-regulated genes in RA-FLSs compared with FLSs of osteoarthritis (OA). Based on these observations, it can be inferred that HAPLN1 is involved in the occurrence and development of RA, but its actual role is still not clear.

To investigate HAPLN1 contribution to the viability of RA-FLSs and identify its potential role in RA pathogenesis, Yong Chen et al. from Shenzhen People's Hospital published an article named “Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Protein 1 (HAPLN1) Promotes Viability of Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes” in Arthritis Research & Therapy. In this study, it was found that HAPLN1 accelerated the proliferation of RA-FLSs but inhibited its migration ability. HAPLN1 network was found to be mainly involved in the activation of inflammation, cell proliferation and increased cell adhesion. 

HAPLN1 increased the proliferation but inhibited mobility of RA-FLSs 

Proliferation and migration of RA-FLSs transfected with si-HAPLN1, HAPLN1^OE (over-expression vector)(provided by Ubigene) and respective controls or treated with rHAPLN1 were measured by MTT and CCK8 assays as well as wound healing and transwell assays. They showed that si-HAPLN1 transfection has failed to affect the proliferation of RA-FLSs (Figure 1A ). However, it has significantly increased the apoptotic ratio of RA-FLSs (Figure1B). And after si-HAPLN1 transfection, migration ability of RA-FLSs had increased (Figure 1C & D).Conversely, after transfection with HAPLN1 over-expression vector, RA-FLSs showed an increased proliferation and a decreased apoptotic ratio (Figure 2A & B ). And a decreased level of migration was showed(Figure2C). rHAPLN1 confirmed the effects on RA-FLSs, which significantly enhanced the proliferation activity of RA-FLSs (Figure 3A) and reduced RA-FLSs apoptosis, especially during early phase (Figure 3B & C). The wound healing and transwell assays demonstrated that rHAPLN1 inhibited the migration ability of RA-FLSs (Figure 3D & E). 

In this study, Ubigene constructed HAPLN1 overexpression lentivirus for infection of RA-FLSs. Ubigene has rich experience in vector construction and lentivirus packaging. Ubigene also provides services of stable cell line generation according to different research purposes. Now it is only $1780, click here to learn more about this promotion>>

Figure 1 Effect of si-HAPLN1 on RA-FLS activity.

Figure 2 Effect of HAPLN1 over-expression on RA-FLSs activity.

Figure 3 Effect of rHAPLN1 on RA-FLSs activity.

Figure 4 The effect of si-HAPLN1 and HAPLN1^OE on RA-FLSs derived cytokines and molecules

Proteome and mRNA-seq analysis of HAPLN1 functions in RA-FLSs 

Proteomics and mRNA-seq analysis was done to study the differentially expressed proteins/genes after si-HAPLN1 or rHAPLN1 treatment.Proteomic and mRNA-seq results showed HAPLN1 function in RA-FLSs from a holistic view. Proteomic analysis suggested si-HAPLN1 transfected RA-FLSs were enriched in pro-inflammatory pathways with down-regulated DEGs. It is not strange that mRNA and protein levels seem to have a low correlation, as the multi-step process of gene expression involves transcription, translocation, turnover of mRNAs and proteins. Although only 2 DEGs overlapped with proteomic and transcriptional studies with rHAPLN1 treated RA-FLSs, the omics study reflected activation of inflammation, proliferation, an increased cell adhesion and strengthening of ECM function.

In conclusion, HAPLN1 accelerates proliferation of RA-FLSs to form a pathological pannus, mimicking cancer cells. Based on physiological development and oncology studies, HAPLN1 seems to be an oncogene, however, with an opposing function on cell adherence and inhibition of migration ability. These findings were also confirmed by molecular network consisting of MMPs, IL-6, Ki-67 and TGF-β. Thus, HAPLN1 can be considered as a pathogenic factor. This primary study is the first-time report on HAPLN1 effect on the viability of RA-FLSs, and more experiments are needed for clear deciphering of its role in RA. 

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