NET Proteome in Established Type 1 Diabetes Is Enriched in Metabolic Proteins

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 12; no. 9; p. 1319
• Main Authors: Bissenova, Samal, Ellis, Darcy, Callebaut, Aïsha, Eelen, Guy, Derua, Rita, Buitinga, Mijke, Mathieu, Chantal, Gysemans, Conny, Overbergh, Lut
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 05.05.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Acidification; Analysis; Autoimmune diseases; Beta cells; Care and treatment; Complications and side effects; Cytokines; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus (insulin dependent); Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - metabolism; Diagnosis; Extracellular Traps - metabolism; Glucose-1-phosphate; Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Glycolysis; Health aspects; Human subjects; Humans; Immune system; Inflammation; Insulin; Ionomycin; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Lupus; Lymphocytes T; Measurement; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Mitochondria; NET proteome; NETosis; Neutrophils; Neutrophils - metabolism; Peptides; Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; Phosphoglycerate kinase; Plasma levels; Proteins; Proteome - metabolism; Proteomes; Proteomics; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Type 1 diabetes; UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase; Belgium; France; United States > US; Netherlands; type 1 diabetes; metabolism; NETosis; NET proteome; neutrophils
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells12091319

Background and aims: Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a T-cell-mediated destruction of the pancreatic insulin-producing beta cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that abnormalities in neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation (NETosis) are associated with T1D pathophysiology. However, little information is available on whether these changes are primary neutrophil defects or related to the environmental signals encountered during active disease. Methods: In the present work, the NET proteome (NETome) of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)- and ionomycin-stimulated neutrophils from people with established T1D compared to healthy controls (HC) was studied by proteomic analysis. Results: Levels of NETosis, in addition to plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NET markers, were comparable between T1D and HC subjects. However, the T1D NETome was distinct from that of HC in response to both stimuli. Quantitative analysis revealed that the T1D NETome was enriched in proteins belonging to metabolic pathways (i.e., phosphoglycerate kinase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and UTP-glucose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase). Complementary metabolic profiling revealed that the rate of extracellular acidification, an approximate measure for glycolysis, and mitochondrial respiration were similar between T1D and HC neutrophils in response to both stimuli. Conclusion: The NETome of people with established T1D was enriched in metabolic proteins without an apparent alteration in the bio-energetic profile or dysregulated NETosis. This may reflect an adaptation mechanism employed by activated T1D neutrophils to avoid impaired glycolysis and consequently excessive or suboptimal NETosis, pivotal in innate immune defence and the resolution of inflammation.