IMMUNOLOGY2025™ Conference Recordings-Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PGN) induces pathogenic autoantibody production via autoreactive B cell receptor clonal selection, implications in systemic lupus erythematosus

Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PGN) induces pathogenic autoantibody production via autoreactive B cell receptor clonal selection, implications in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Video Summary

The talk described research on how bacterial cell wall products, especially from <em>Staphylococcus</em> peptidoglycan (PGN), may drive harmful autoantibody production in lupus. The speaker reviewed prior work showing increased microbial translocation in lupus patients, with stronger barrier leakage in Black patients and correlations with anti-dsDNA antibodies. In mouse studies, <em>Staphylococcus</em> PGN, but not a comparison probiotic PGN, induced pathogenic anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, kidney damage, higher immune deposition, and class-switch recombination via TLR2. B cell sequencing showed <em>Staphylococcus</em> PGN produced more clonal expansion and hypermutation, supporting a pathogenic response rather than simple broad immune activation. In female lupus patients, higher <em>Staphylococcus</em> DNA translocation correlated with autoantibody levels. Overall, the work suggests that compromised barriers allow <em>Staphylococcus</em> products to enter the body and trigger lupus-relevant, pathogenic autoimmunity, with possible implications for treatment and future clinical trials.

Keywords

lupus autoimmunity

Staphylococcus peptidoglycan

microbial translocation

anti-dsDNA antibodies

TLR2 signaling