Alterations in Innate Immune Cells During the Progression of Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Innate immune cells during the progression of SARD. A) Feature plots from CITE-Seq of monocytes and DCs shotting HSPA1A (HSP70), CD52 (CD52) and HLA-DRB5 (MHC Class II). B) Spectral flow cytometry showing representative results from classical monocytes tor HLA-DR and CD52 protein expression. C) Gene expression of HSPA1A (HSP70) by RT-qPCR and soluble HSP70 (sHSP70) concentration by supernatant ELISAs measured in a THP-1 monocyte cell line. Cells were heat shocked (43°C for 1h) and subsequently rested for 6h, 12h, 18h, 24h before collection. E) Heat shocked THP-1 cells were rested for 12h and used for cytospin with subsequent immunofluorescence staining with DAPI for cell nuclei and HSP70 (scale bar = 50 μm). E) Plasma ELISAs for soluble HSP70 in patient cohort. Data was analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn post hoe and Bonferroni correction (* = p-value < 0.05).