CXCR3 is associated with T-cell-induced heart damage in acute rheumatic fever
T cells. However, elevation of the chemokine CCL5 and immunoglobulin IgG3, along with reduced expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in the T cell compartment distinguished ARF from all other groups. Immunofluorescence imaging of rheumatic valve tissue confirmed a role for CXCR3-mediated T cell tissue homing during inflammatory disease. Together with a reduced frequency of circulating regulatory T cells, these data underscore a perturbed T cell compartment and provide a rationale for exploring currently available immune-modulating therapies to treat ARF.
Authors
- David Broadhurst (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0775-9581)
- Florina Chan Mow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6641-9064)
- Mark Mayo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9413-0142)
- Glenn Pearson
- Nigel Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0551-4655)
- Saem Mul Park (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0999-0245)
- Michael Serralha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0121-2879)
- Nicole J. Moreland (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6548-637X)
- Anna P. Ralph (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2253-5749)
- Anna E. S. Brooks (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3551-6982)
- Timothy C. Barnett (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3346-5117)
- Ciara Ramiah
- Natalie Lorenz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5480-1714)
- Reuben McGregor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0684-7635)
- F. M. Middleton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4883-9943)
- Johann Brink
- Judith Tresidder
- Julie Bennett
- Sarah Kilian
- William Jeffery Martin
- Jonathan Carapetis
- P. Rod Dunbar
Institutions
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- The Kids Research Institute Australia (AU)
- The University of Western Australia (AU)
- Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (AU)
- Charles Darwin University (AU)
- Menzies School of Health Research (AU)
- Maurice Wilkins Centre (NZ)
- Royal Darwin Hospital (AU)
- Starship Children's Health (NZ)
- Perth Children's Hospital
- University of Otago (NZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2026-03-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-71094-8
- Primary Topic
- Streptococcal Infections and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Stan Perron Charitable Foundation
- Medical Research Council
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Health Research Council of New Zealand