Mutant HSP70 reverses autoimmune depigmentation in vitiligo Journal Article

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Authors: Mosenson, J. A.; Zloza, A.; Nieland, J. D.; Garrett-Mayer, E; Eby, J. M.; Huelsmann, E. J.; Kumar, P.; Denman, C. J.; Lacek, A. T.; Kohlhapp, F. J.; Alamiri, A.; Hughes, T.; Bines, S. D.; Kaufman, H. L.; Overbeck, A; Mehrotra, S; Hernandez, C.; Nishimura, M. I.; Guevara-Patino, J. A.; Le Poole, I. C.
Article Title: Mutant HSP70 reverses autoimmune depigmentation in vitiligo
Abstract: Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease characterized by destruction of melanocytes, leaving 0.5% of the population with progressive depigmentation. Current treatments offer limited efficacy. We report that modified inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70i) prevents T cell-mediated depigmentation. HSP70i is the molecular link between stress and the resultant immune response. We previously showed that HSP70i induces an inflammatory dendritic cell (DC) phenotype and is necessary for depigmentation in vitiligo mouse models. Here, we observed a similar DC inflammatory phenotype in vitiligo patients. In a mouse model of depigmentation, DNA vaccination with a melanocyte antigen and the carboxyl terminus of HSP70i was sufficient to drive autoimmunity. Mutational analysis of the HSP70i substrate-binding domain established the peptide QPGVLIQVYEG as invaluable for DC activation, and mutant HSP70i could not induce depigmentation. Moreover, mutant HSP70iQ435A bound human DCs and reduced their activation, as well as induced a shift from inflammatory to tolerogenic DCs in mice. HSP70iQ435A-encoding DNA applied months before spontaneous depigmentation prevented vitiligo in mice expressing a transgenic, melanocyte-reactive T cell receptor. Furthermore, use of HSP70iQ435A therapeutically in a different, rapidly depigmenting model after loss of differentiated melanocytes resulted in 76% recovery of pigmentation. Treatment also prevented relevant T cells from populating mouse skin. In addition, ex vivo treatment of human skin averted the disease-related shift from quiescent to effector T cell phenotype. Thus, HSP70iQ435A DNA delivery may offer potent treatment opportunities for vitiligo.
Journal Title: Science translational medicine
Volume: 5
Issue: 174
ISSN: 1946-6242; 1946-6234
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: United States
Date Published: 2013
Start Page: 174ra28
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1126/scitranslmed.3005127

10.1126/scitranslmed.3005127
Notes: ID: 13003; GR: R01AR054749/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS/United States; JID: 101505086; CIN: Nat Rev Immunol. 2013 Apr;13(4):220-1; ppublish