Optical Transitions of a Single Nodal Ring in SrAs_{3}: Radially and Axially Resolved Characterization.

SrAs_{3} is a unique nodal-line semimetal that contains only a single nodal ring in the Brillouin zone, uninterrupted by any trivial bands near the Fermi energy. We performed axis-resolved optical reflection measurements on SrAs_{3} and observed that the optical conductivity exhibits flat absorption up to 129 meV in both the radial and axial directions, confirming the robustness of the universal power-law behavior of the nodal ring. The axis-resolved optical conductivity, in combination with theoretical calculations, further reveals fundamental properties beyond the flat absorption, including the overlap energy of the topological bands, the spin-orbit coupling gap along the nodal ring, and the geometric properties of the nodal ring such as the average ring radius, ring ellipticity, and velocity anisotropy. In addition, our temperature-dependent measurements revealed a spectral weight transfer between intraband and interband transitions, indicating a possible violation of the optical sum rule within the measured energy range.

Role of Local Conductivities in the Plasmon Reflections at the Edges and Stacking Domain Boundaries of Trilayer Graphene.

We employed infrared scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (IR-sSNOM) to study surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) in trilayer graphene (TLG). Our study reveals systematic differences in near-field IR spectra and SPP wavelengths between Bernal (ABA) and rhombohedral (ABC) TLG domains on SiO2, which can be explained by stacking-dependent intraband conductivities. We also observed that the SPP reflection profiles at ABA-ABC boundaries could be mostly accounted for by an idealized domain boundary defined by the conductivity discontinuity. However, we identified distinct shapes in the SPP profiles at the edges of the ABA and ABC TLG, which cannot be solely attributed to idealized edges with stacking-dependent conductivities. Instead, this can be explained by the presence of various edge structures with local conductivities differing from those of bulk TLGs. Our findings unveil a new structural element that can control SPP, and provide insights into the structures and electronic states of the edges of few-layer graphene.

Metformin Attenuates Monosodium-Iodoacetate-Induced Osteoarthritis via Regulation of Pain Mediators and the Autophagy-Lysosomal Pathway.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative arthritis associated with pain and cartilage destruction in the elderly; it is known to be involved in inflammation as well. A drug called celecoxib is commonly used in patients with osteoarthritis to control pain. Metformin is used to treat type 2 diabetes but also exhibits regulation of the autophagy pathway. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether metformin can treat monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced OA in rats. Metformin was administered orally every day to rats with OA. Paw-withdrawal latency and threshold were used to assess pain severity. Cartilage damage and pain mediators in dorsal root ganglia were evaluated by histological analysis and a scoring system. Relative mRNA expression was measured by real-time PCR. Metformin reduced the progression of experimental OA and showed both antinociceptive properties and cartilage protection. The combined administration of metformin and celecoxib controlled cartilage damage more effectively than metformin alone. In chondrocytes from OA patients, metformin reduced catabolic factor gene expression and inflammatory cell death factor expression, increased LC3Ⅱb, p62, and LAMP1 expression, and induced an autophagy-lysosome fusion phenotype. We investigated if metformin treatment reduces cartilage damage and inflammatory cell death of chondrocytes. The results suggest the potential for the therapeutic use of metformin in OA patients based on its ability to suppress pain and protect cartilage.

Regulation of osteoclastogenesis by mast cell in rheumatoid arthritis.

BACKGROUND: In the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the role of mast cells has not been revealed clearly. We aimed to define the inflammatory and tissue-destructive roles of mast cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Serum and synovial fluid (SF) concentration levels of tryptase, chymase, and histamine were quantified using ELISA. After activating mast cells using IL-33, the production of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, RANKL, and MMPs was determined using real-time PCR and ELISA. Osteoclastogenesis was assessed in CD14+ monocytes from peripheral blood and SF, which were cultured with IL-33-activated mast cells, by counting TRAP-positive multinucleated cells. RESULTS: The concentration levels of serum tryptase, chymase, and histamine and SF histamine were higher in patients with RA than in controls. FcεR1 and c-kit-positive mast cells were higher in RA synovium than in osteoarthritic (OA) synovium. Stimulation of mast cells by IL-33 increased the number of trypatse+chymase- and tryptase+chymase+ mast cells. IL-33 stimulation also increased the gene expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-17, RANKL, and MMP-9 in mast cells. Furthermore, IL-33 stimulated human CD14+ monocytes to differentiate into TRAP+ multinucleated osteoclasts. When CD14+ monocytes were co-cultured with mast cells, osteoclast differentiation was increased. Additionally, IL-33-activated mast cells stimulated osteoclast differentiation. The inhibition of intercellular contact between mast cells and monocytes using inserts reduced osteoclast differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: IL-33 increased inflammatory and tissue-destructive cytokines by activation of mast cells. Mast cells stimulated osteoclast differentiation in monocytes. Mast cells could stimulate osteoclastogenesis indirectly through production of tissue-destructive cytokines and directly through stimulation of osteoclast precursors.

Short-chain fatty acid butyrate induces IL-10-producing B cells by regulating circadian-clock-related genes to ameliorate Sjögren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease caused by inflammation of the exocrine gland. The pathological hallmark of SS is the infiltration of lymphocytes into the salivary glands. Increased infiltration of T and B cells into salivary glands exacerbates symptoms of SS. Several recent studies have identified the role of gut microbiota in SS. Butyrate, one of the metabolites of the gut microbiota, regulates T cells; however, its effects on B cells and SS remain unknown. This study determined the therapeutic effect of butyrate on regulating B cells in SS. METHODS: Various concentrations of butyrate were intraperitoneally injected three times per week in NOD/ShiLtJ (NOD) mice, the prototype animal model for SS, and observed for more than 10 weeks. Whole salivary flow rate and the histopathology of salivary glands were investigated. Human submandibular gland (HSG) cells and B cells in mouse spleen were used to confirm the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of butyrate. RESULTS: Butyrate increased salivary flow rate in NOD mice and reduced inflammation of salivary gland tissues. It also regulated cell death and the expression of circadian-clock-related genes in HSG cells. Butyrate induced B cell regulation by increasing IL-10-producing B (B10) cells and decreasing IL-17-producing B cells, through the circadian clock genes RAR-related orphan receptor alpha and nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study imply that butyrate may ameliorate SS via reciprocal regulation of IL-10- and IL-17-producing B cells.

Combinatmarion treatment with Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-1, vitamin B, and curcumin ameliorates the progression of osteoarthritis by inhibiting the pro-inflammatory mediators.

Disease-modifying osteoarthritis (OA) therapy is not yet available. Several adjuvant therapies have demonstrated promising results in the treatment of OA. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of a combination of Lactobacillus acidophilus, vitamin B, and curcumin in the treatment of OA. Monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced arthritis of the knee joint in rat was used as an animal model of human OA. The combination of L. acidophilus LA-1, vitamin B, and curcumin or a saline solution was given orally. Pain was measured according to the paw withdrawal latency, and paw withdrawal threshold. Cartilage destruction was analyzed using histomorphological techniques and the Mankin scoring system. Protein expression in the joint was examined using immunohistochemistry. The effects of the combination of L. acidophilus LA-1, vitamin B, and curcumin on mRNA levels in chondrocytes stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1ß were analyzed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The combination of L. acidophilus, vitamin B, and curcumin effectively downregulated Th17 cells and the related cytokine IL-17, thereby maintained the Treg population, and increased the expression of the Treg-related cytokine IL-10 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The OA animal model exhibited reduced pain and preservation of cartilage in response to the combination treatment. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the catabolic, matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13), were decreased, whereas the expression of the anabolic tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were upregulated in response to the drug combination. The combination of L. acidophilus, vitamin B, and curcumin was beneficial in OA treatment, controlling the inflammatory response via regulation of the Th17/Treg population and reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The combination treatment also preserved cartilage, suppressed osteoclastogenesis, and regulated the anabolic/catabolic imbalance. These findings indicate the therapeutic potential of combination use of L. acidophilus, vitamin B, and curcumin in patients with OA.

Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Injection of Stromal Vascular Fraction Derived from Autologous Adipose Tissues in Systemic Sclerosis Patients with Hand Disability: A Proof-Of-Concept Trial.

BACKGROUND: Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) has recently emerged as a potential therapeutic modality, due to its multipotent cellular components in tissue regeneration. Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive autoimmune disease that results in hand disability by skin fibrosis and microangiopathies. We performed an open-label study to investigate the efficacy and safety of SVF injection in SSc patients (Clinical Trial number: NCT03060551). METHODS: We gathered 20 SSc patients with hand disability, planning for a 24-week follow-up period. SVF was extracted from autologous adipose tissues, processed by the closed system kit, and injected into each finger of SSc patients. We observed various efficacy and safety profiles at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: Among the 20 initially enrolled patients, eighteen received SVF injection, and were completely followed-up for the whole study period. Patients received 3.61 × 106 mesenchymal stem cells into each finger on average. Skin fibrosis, hand edema, and quality of life were significantly improved, and 31.6% of active ulcers were healed at 24 weeks after injections. Semiquantitative results of nailfold capillary microscopy were ameliorated. There was no single serious adverse event related to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Injection of SVF derived from autologous adipose tissues is tolerable, and shows clinical efficacy in SSc patients.

Optically Controlled Orbitronics on a Triangular Lattice.

The propagation of electrons in an orbital multiplet dispersing on a lattice can support anomalous transport phenomena deriving from an orbitally induced Berry curvature. In striking contrast to the related situation in graphene, we find that anomalous transport for an L=1 multiplet on the primitive 2D triangular lattice is activated by easily implemented on site and optically tunable potentials. We demonstrate this for dynamics in a Bloch band where point degeneracies carrying opposite winding numbers are generically offset in energy, allowing both an anomalous charge Hall conductance with the sign selected by off-resonance coupling to circularly polarized light and a related anomalous orbital Hall conductance activated by layer buckling.

Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid Attenuates Autoimmune Arthritis by Suppressing Th17 Cells through NR1D1 Inhibition.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of systemic autoimmune arthritis that causes joint inflammation and destruction. One of the pathological mechanisms of RA is known to involve histone acetylation. Although the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) can attenuate arthritis in animal models of RA, the mechanism underlying this effect is poorly understood. This study was performed to examine whether SAHA has therapeutic potential in an animal model of RA and to investigate its mechanism of action. Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice were orally administered SAHA daily for 8 weeks and examined for their arthritis score and incidence of arthritis. CD4+ T cell regulation following SAHA treatment was confirmed in splenocytes cultured under type 17 helper T (Th17) cell differentiation conditions. Clinical scores and the incidence of CIA were lower in mice in the SAHA treatment group compared to the controls. In addition, SAHA inhibited Th17 cell differentiation, as well as decreased expression of the Th17 cell-related transcription factors pSTAT3 Y705 and pSTAT3 S727. In vitro experiments showed that SAHA maintained regulatory T (Treg) cells but specifically reduced Th17 cells. The same results were obtained when mouse splenocytes were cultured under Treg cell differentiation conditions and then converted to Th17 cell differentiation conditions. In conclusion, SAHA was confirmed to specifically inhibit Th17 cell differentiation through nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group D member 1 (NR1D1), a factor associated with Th17 differentiation. The results of the present study suggested that SAHA can attenuate CIA development by inhibition of the Th17 population and maintenance of the Treg population through NR1D1 inhibition. Therefore, SAHA is a potential therapeutic candidate for RA.

Regulation of Th17 Cytokine-Induced Osteoclastogenesis via SKI306X in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

This study aimed to investigate the regulatory effect of SKI305X, a mixed extract of three herbs, in T helper (Th)17 cytokine-induced inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Synovial fibroblasts were isolated from RA patients and cultured with Th17 cytokines including interleukin (IL)-17, IL-21, and IL-22 and SKI306X, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, IL-1, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) expression and production were investigated using real-time PCR and ELISA of culture media. After peripheral blood (PB) cluster of differentiation (CD)14+ monocytes were cultured in media supplemented with Th17 cytokines and SKI306X, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase positive (TRAP+) multinucleated giant cells (mature osteoclasts) were enumerated and gene expression associated with osteoclast maturation was assessed via real-time PCR analysis. After PB monocytes were co-cultured with IL-17-stimulated RA synovial fibroblasts in the presence of SKI306, osteoclast differentiation was assessed. When RA synovial fibroblasts were cultured with IL-17, IL-21, and IL-22, TNF-, IL-1, and RANKL expression and production were increased; however, SKI306X reduced cytokine expression and production. When PB monocytes were cultured in media supplemented with Th17 cytokines, osteoclast differentiation was stimulated; however, SKI306X decreased osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast maker expression. When PB monocytes were co-cultured with IL-17-stimulated RA synovial fibroblasts, osteoclast differentiation was increased; however, SKI306X decreased osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast maker expression. SKI306X reduced Th17 cytokine-induced TNF-, IL-1, and RANKL expression and osteoclast differentiation, providing novel insights into adjuvant therapy for regulating inflammation and joint destruction in RA.

Emergent Anisotropic Non-Fermi Liquid at a Topological Phase Transition in Three Dimensions.

Understanding correlation effects in topological phases and their transitions is a cutting-edge area of research in recent condensed matter physics. We study topological quantum phase transitions (TQPTs) between double-Weyl semimetals (DWSMs) and insulators, and argue that a novel class of quantum criticality appears at the TQPT characterized by emergent anisotropic non-Fermi-liquid behaviors, in which the interplay between the Coulomb interaction and electronic critical modes induces not only anisotropic renormalization of the Coulomb interaction but also strongly correlated electronic excitation in three spatial dimensions. Using the standard renormalization group methods, large N_{f} theory, and the ε=4-d method with a fermion flavor number N_{f} and spatial dimension d, we obtain the anomalous dimensions of electrons (η_{f}=0.366/N_{f}) in large N_{f} theory and the associated anisotropic scaling relations of various physical observables. Our results may be observed in candidate materials for DWSMs such as HgCr_{2}Se_{4} or SrSi_{2} when the system undergoes a TQPT.

Protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 reduces peripheral arthritis and gut inflammation and regulates the Th17/Treg cell imbalance via STAT3 signaling in a mouse model of spondyloarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is chronic inflammatory arthritis, and interleukin (IL)-17 is crucial in SpA pathogenesis. Type 17 helper T (Th17) cells are one of major IL-17-secreting cells. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 signaling induces Th17 differentiation. This study investigated the effects of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) on SpA pathogenesis. Curdlan was injected into SKG ZAP-70W163C mice for SpA induction. METHODS: The PIAS3 or Mock vector was inserted into mice for 10 weeks. Clinical and histologic scores of the paw, spine, and gut were evaluated. The expression of IL-17, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), STAT3, and bone morphogenic protein (BMP) was measured. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to assess Th cell differentiation. RESULTS: PIAS3 significantly diminished the histologic scores of the paw and gut. PIAS3-treated mice displayed decreased expression of IL-17, TNF-α, and STAT3 in the paw, spine, and gut. BMP-2/4 expression was lower in the spines of PIAS3-treated mice. Th cell differentiation was polarized toward the upregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the downregulation of Th17 in PIAS3-treated mice. CONCLUSION: PIAS3 had beneficial effects in mice with SpA by reducing peripheral arthritis and gut inflammation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and Th17/Treg differentiation were controlled by PIAS3. In addition, BMPs were decreased in the spines of PIAS3-treated mice. These findings suggest that PIAS3 could have therapeutic benefits in patients with SpA.

Phase Transitions of the Polariton Condensate in 2D Dirac Materials.

For the quantum well in an optical microcavity, the interplay of the Coulomb interaction and the electron-photon (e-ph) coupling can lead to the hybridizations of the exciton and the cavity photon known as polaritons, which can form the Bose-Einstein condensate above a threshold density. Additional physics due to the nontrivial Berry phase comes into play when the quantum well consists of the gapped two-dimensional Dirac material such as the transition metal dichalcogenide MoS_{2} or WSe_{2}. Specifically, in forming the polariton, the e-ph coupling from the optical selection rule due to the Berry phase can compete against the Coulomb electron-electron (e-e) interaction. We find that this competition gives rise to a rich phase diagram for the polariton condensate involving both topological and symmetry breaking phase transitions, with the former giving rise to the quantum anomalous Hall and the quantum spin Hall phases.

Electrodynamics on Fermi Cyclides in Nodal Line Semimetals.

We study the frequency-dependent conductivity of nodal line semimetals (NLSMs), focusing on the effects of carrier density and energy dispersion on the nodal line. We find that the low-frequency conductivity has a rich spectral structure which can be understood using scaling rules derived from the geometry of their Dupin cyclide Fermi surfaces. We identify different frequency regimes, find scaling rules for the optical conductivity in each, and demonstrate them with numerical calculations of the inter- and intraband contributions to the optical conductivity using a low-energy model for a generic NLSM.

Characterization of Edge Contact: Atomically Resolved Semiconductor-Metal Lateral Boundary in MoS2.

Despite recent efforts for the development of transition-metal-dichalcogenide-based high-performance thin-film transistors, device performance has not improved much, mainly because of the high contact resistance at the interface between the 2D semiconductor and the metal electrode. Edge contact has been proposed for the fabrication of a high-quality electrical contact; however, the complete electronic properties for the contact resistance have not been elucidated in detail. Using the scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques, the edge contact, as well as the lateral boundary between the 2D semiconducting layer and the metalized interfacial layer, are investigated, and their electronic properties and the energy band profile across the boundary are shown. The results demonstrate a possible mechanism for the formation of an ohmic contact in homojunctions of the transition-metal dichalcogenides semiconductor-metal layers and suggest a new device scheme utilizing the low-resistance edge contact.

Erratum: Collective modes in multi-Weyl semimetals.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/srep34023.

Mapping of Bernal and non-Bernal stacking domains in bilayer graphene using infrared nanoscopy.

Bilayer graphene (BLG) shows great potential as a new material for opto-electronic devices because its bandgap can be controlled by varying the stacking orders, as well as by applying an external electric field. An imaging technique that can visualize and characterize various stacking domains in BLG may greatly help in fully utilizing such properties of BLG. Here we demonstrate that infrared (IR) scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (sSNOM) can visualize Bernal and non-Bernal stacking domains of BLG, based on the stacking-specific inter- and intra-band optical conductivities. The method enables nanometric mapping of stacking domains in BLG on dielectric substrates, augmenting current limitations of Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy techniques for the structural characterization of BLG.

Collective modes in multi-Weyl semimetals.

We investigate collective modes in three dimensional (3D) gapless multi-Weyl semimetals with anisotropic energy band dispersions (i.e., with a positive integer J). For comparison, we also consider the gapless semimetals with the isotropic band dispersions (i.e. E ~ kJ). We calculate analytically long-wavelength plasma frequencies incorporating interband transitions and chiral properties of carriers. For both the isotropic and anisotropic cases, we find that interband transitions and chirality lead to the depolarization shift of plasma frequencies. For the isotropic parabolic band dispersion the long-wavelength plasmons do not decay via Landau damping, while for the higher-order band dispersions the long-wavelength plasmons experience damping below a critical density. For systems with the anisotropic dispersion the density dependence of the long-wavelength plasma frequency along the direction of non-linear dispersion behaves like that of the isotropic linear band model, while along the direction of linear dispersion it behaves like that of the isotropic non-linear model. Plasmons along both directions remain undamped over a broad range of densities due to the chirality induced depolarization shift. Our results provide a comprehensive picture of how band dispersion and chirality affect plasmon behaviors in 3D gapless chiral systems with the arbitrary band dispersion.

Rebamipide prevents peripheral arthritis and intestinal inflammation by reciprocally regulating Th17/Treg cell imbalance in mice with curdlan-induced spondyloarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) usually manifests as arthritis of the axial and peripheral joints but can also result in extra-articular manifestations such as inflammatory bowel disease. Proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of SpA. Rebamipide inhibits signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 that controls IL-17 production and Th17 cell differentiation. This study examined the effect of rebamipide on SpA development. METHODS: SKG ZAP-70(W163C) mice were immunized with curdlan to induce SpA features. The mice were then intraperitoneally injected with rebamipide or vehicle 3 times a week for 14 weeks and their clinical scores were evaluated. Histological scores of the paw and spine and the length of the gut were measured at sacrifice. Immunohistochemical staining of IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was performed using tissue samples isolated from the axial joints, peripheral joints, and gut. Spleen tissue samples were isolated from both rebamipide- or vehicle-treated mice with SpA at 14 weeks after curdlan injection to determine the effect of rebamipide on Th17 and regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation. RESULTS: Rebamipide decreased the clinical and histological scores of the peripheral joints. The total length of the gut was preserved in rebamipide-treated mice. IL-17 and TNF-α expression in the spine, peripheral joints, and gut was lower in rebamipide-treated mice than in control mice. Th17 cell differentiation was suppressed whereas Treg cell differentiation was upregulated in the spleen of rebamipide-treated mice. CONCLUSION: Rebamipide exerted beneficial effects in mice with SpA by preventing peripheral arthritis and intestinal inflammation and by regulating Th17/Treg cell imbalance, suggesting that it can be used as a potential therapeutic agent for treating arthritis to SpA patients.

Fn14-Fc suppresses germinal center formation and pathogenic B cells in a lupus mouse model via inhibition of the TWEAK/Fn14 Pathway.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease. Half of patients with SLE suffer from lupus nephritis, which is major cause of death in SLE. TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)/fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) interactions mediate inflammatory responses that are linked to the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Blocking of the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway by Fn14-Fc was performed in a SLE mouse model and the likely therapeutic mechanisms were investigated. METHODS: To investigate the impact of TWEAK on B cell differentiation in SLE, the levels of AID, Blimp-1, and IRF4 messenger RNA were measured in CD19(+) B cells extracted from the spleens of sanroque mice and cultured with TWEAK. To identify the therapeutic effects of Fn14-Fc in SLE, sanroque mice were treated with Fn14-Fc or a control-Fc for 3 weeks. Immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgG1, IgG2a, and anti-dsDNA antibody (Ab) levels were measured in the sera of each group. Spleens from each group were stained with antibodies against CD4, B220, GL-7, CD138, and PD-1. Kidneys were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). RESULTS: Administration of TWEAK increased the mRNA levels of AID, Blimp-1, and IRF4. Treatment with Fn14-Fc suppressed levels of IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and anti-dsDNA Ab in sera and reduced numbers of B, plasma, and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells in spleens of sanroque mice. In addition, renal protective effects of Fn14-Fc were shown. CONCLUSION: Fn14-Fc had beneficial effects in a SLE mouse model by repressing B cells, plasma cells, Tfh, and renal damage. This suggested that Fn14-Fc represents a potential therapeutic agent for SLE.