Artesunate inhibits Sjogren's syndrome-like autoimmune responses and BAFF-induced B cell hyperactivation via TRAF6-mediated NF-κB signaling

Background: Hyperactivation of B cells by activators has been demonstrated to play a central role in the pathogenesis of Sjogren's syndrome (SS). In this study, we found that artesunate (ART) can attenuate BAFF-induced B cell hyperactivation and SS-like symptoms in NOD/Ltj mice. Purpose: To determine the efficacy of ART in attenuating SS-like symptoms in vivo and explore the underlying mechanism in vitro. Study design: ART was intragastrically injected into SS-like NOD/Ltj mice. The cytokine hsBAFF was used to activate Raji and Daudi B cells to mimic B cell hyperactivation in vitro. Methods: The efficacy of ART in inhibiting SS progression was studied in NOD/Ltj mice. Salivary flow rate, the number of lymphocytic infiltration foci, the level of autoantibodies and the extent of B cell infiltration were measured in the indicated groups. CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry-based EdU staining and Annexin V/PI staining were also used to detect the effect of ART on the survival and proliferation mechanism in BAFF-induced Raji and Daudi cells. Further studies determined that TRAF6 degradation is a potential mechanism by which ART determines B cell fate. Results: Treatment with ART inhibited lymphocytic foci formation, B cell infiltration and autoantibody secretion in SS-like NOD/Ltj mice. In vitro assay results indicated that ART effectively inhibited BAFF-induced viability, survival and proliferation of neoplastic B cells. Mechanistically, ART targeted BAFF-activated NF kappa B by regulating the proteasome-mediated degradation of TRAF6 in Raji and Daudi cells. Conclusion: ART ameliorated murine SS-like symptoms and regulated TRAF6-NF kappa B signaling, thus determining survival and proliferation of B cells.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that artesunate (ART) can attenuate BAFF-induced B cell hyperactivation and Sjogren's syndrome (SS)-like symptoms in NOD/Ltj mice. ART inhibited lymphocytic foci formation, B cell infiltration and autoantibody secretion in mice, while also targeting BAFF-activated NF kappa B pathway by regulating TRAF6 degradation to determine B cell survival and proliferation.