Synovial MS4A4A correlates with inflammation and counteracts response to corticosteroids in arthritis

M Marie-Astrid Boutet (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) I Irene Mattiola (Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin) R Rita Silva-Gomes (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) A Alessandra Nerviani M Marina Sironi (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) G Giulia Maria Ghirardi (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) A Alessia Troilo (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) S Stefano Gianoli (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) F Felice Rivellese C Cankut Cubuk (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) K Katriona Goldmann (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) A Anna Rita Putignano (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) D Dario Di Silvestre (Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Technologies) A Andrea Lomagno (Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Technologies) E Elena Monica Borroni (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) C Cristina Sobacchi (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) M Myles J. Lewis (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) B Barbara Bottazzi (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) M Massimo Locati (Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital) A Alberto Mantovani (Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London) C Costantino Pitzalis

Abstract

MS4A4A belongs to the MS4A tetraspan protein superfamily and is selectively expressed by the monocyte–macrophage lineage. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the role of MS4A4A+ macrophages in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis and response to treatment. RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry of synovial samples from either early treatment-naïve or active chronic RA patients showed that MS4A4A expression positively correlated with synovial inflammation. Synovial macrophages from patients treated with corticosteroids (CS) exhibited an enhanced expression of MS4A4A and Fc γ receptor (FcγR) 3. Accordingly, CS enhanced in vitro the expression of MS4A4A and FcγR3 in human and murine macrophages. In an experimental model of arthritis, Ms4a4a deletion had no effect on the disease course but was associated with enhanced therapeutic response selectively to CS. These results suggest that macrophage expression of MS4A4A represents a biomarker of joint inflammation in RA and that its upregulation in concert with FcγR3 by CS counteracts the therapeutic activity of these drugs. Macrophage MS4A4A may represent a biomarker of joint inflammation in RA and a target to amplify the therapeutic activity of CS.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 37
Published September 16, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (21)

M

Marie-Astrid Boutet

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

I

Irene Mattiola

Institute of Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Immunology (I-MIDI), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Benjamin Franklin

R

Rita Silva-Gomes

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

A

Alessandra Nerviani

M

Marina Sironi

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

G

Giulia Maria Ghirardi

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

A

Alessia Troilo

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

S

Stefano Gianoli

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

F

Felice Rivellese

C

Cankut Cubuk

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

K

Katriona Goldmann

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

A

Anna Rita Putignano

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

D

Dario Di Silvestre

Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Technologies

A

Andrea Lomagno

Clinical Proteomics Laboratory, Institute for Biomedical Technologies

E

Elena Monica Borroni

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

C

Cristina Sobacchi

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

M

Myles J. Lewis

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

B

Barbara Bottazzi

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

M

Massimo Locati

Cellular and Humoral Innate Immunity Lab, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Humanitas Research Hospital

A

Alberto Mantovani

Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology, William Harvey Research Institute and Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London

C

Costantino Pitzalis