A groundbreaking study by a team of researchers at Clemson University has revealed a critical immune mechanism in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a debilitating inflammatory skin condition. The findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), open the door to new therapeutic possibilities for patients suffering from skin disease.
What is Hidradenitis Suppurativa?
Hidradenitis suppurativa, or HS, is a chronic immune-related condition affecting up to 4% of the global population. It causes painful, recurring skin lesions and persistent inflammation, primarily in areas where skin folds, such as the underarms, groin, and beneath the breasts. The condition disproportionately affects women of African American descent and significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, with limited treatment options currently available.
Key Discovery for Skin Disease: The Role of CD2
The Clemson University research team, led by Shahid Mukhtar, alongside collaborators Bharat Mishra, Nilesh Kumar, and graduate student YiFei Gou, employed innovative single-cell sequencing techniques to analyze HS-affected skin tissue. Their analysis pinpointed CD2—a critical immune receptor—having elevated expression on T cells and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), including natural killer cells, within HS lesions.
In partnership with researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Mukhtar’s team used organotypic skin cultures from HS patients to test the effect of blocking CD2. The experiments demonstrated a significant reduction in inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and suppression of key pathogenic gene signatures. These findings suggest that targeting CD2 could reduce the inflammatory response in HS and provide a novel pathway for treatment.
Integrating AI for Precision Medicine: Skin Disease
Graduate student YiFei Gou, who specializes in deep learning and artificial intelligence (AI), is now working to enhance the integration of single-cell transcriptomics with protein-protein interaction networks using AI. This approach aims to unravel the cellular processes underlying immune-related diseases further, advancing the field of precision medicine.
“Our integrative approach, combining single-cell data with molecular insights, shows the transformative potential of multiomics in discovering novel therapeutic targets,” said Mukhtar. “These findings deepen our understanding of HS and open new pathways for developing targeted therapies in HS and other immune-related conditions.”
With these promising results, the study lays the foundation for future treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve outcomes for HS patients worldwide.
Reference: Mahendra Pratap Kashyap, Bharat Mishra, Rajesh Sinha, Lin Jin, YiFei Gou, Nilesh Kumar, Kayla F. Goliwas, Safiya Haque, Jessy Deshane, Erik Berglund, David Berglund, Boni E. Elewski, Craig A. Elmets, Mohammad Athar, M. Shahid Mukhtar, Chander Raman. CD2 expressing innate lymphoid and T cells are critical effectors of immunopathogenesis in hidradenitis suppurativa. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2024
