Increase of MZB1 in B cells in systemic lupus erythematosus: proteomic analysis of biopsied lymph nodes

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypical autoimmune disease in which dysregulation of B cells has been recognized. Here, we searched for potential biomarkers of SLE using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). METHODS: Lymph nodes from SLE patients and controls were analyzed by LC-MS. To validate the identified molecules, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry were performed and B cells from SLE patients were analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR. B-cell subsets from NZB/W F1 mice, which exhibit autoimmune disease resembling human SLE, were analyzed by flow cytometry. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was induced by tunicamycin and the serum concentration of anti-dsDNA antibodies was determined by ELISA. TUNEL methods and immunoblotting were used to assess the effect of tunicamycin. RESULTS: MZB1, which comprises part of a B-cell-specific ER chaperone complex and is a key player in antibody secretion, was one of the differentially expressed proteins identified by LC-MS and confirmed by immunoblotting. Immunohistochemically, larger numbers of MZB1(+) cells were located mainly in interfollicular areas and scattered in germinal centers in specimens from SLE patients compared with those from controls. MZB1 colocalized with CD138(+) plasma cells and IRTA1(+) marginal zone B cells. MZB1 mRNA was increased by 2.1-fold in B cells of SLE patients with active disease (SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 ≥ 6) compared with controls. In aged NZB/W F1 mice, splenic marginal zone B cells and plasma cells showed elevated MZB1 levels. Tunicamycin induced apoptosis of MZB1(+) cells in target organs, resulting in decreased serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels. Additionally, MZB1(+) cells were increased in synovial tissue specimens from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. CONCLUSIONS: MZB1 may be a potential therapeutic target in excessive antibody-secreting cells in SLE. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s13075-018-1511-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.