TYK2 inhibition enhances Treg differentiation and function while preventing Th1 and Th17 differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors are widely used to inhibit inflammatory cytokine signaling in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but their effect on regulatory T cells (Tregs) is poorly characterized. We investigated the effect of a JAK inhibitor, upadacitinib, on human Treg differentiation and phenotype in comparison to BMS-986202, a selective Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor. Both upadacitinib and BMS-986202 blocked naive CD4⁺ T cell differentiation into Th1/17 cells, but only BMS-986202 and a related TYK2 inhibitor, deucravacitinib, spared interleukin-2 (IL-2) signaling and Treg induction. BMS-986202 also increased Treg suppressive function and stability under Th1/17-polarizing conditions, whereas upadacitinib significantly impaired the phenotype and viability of ex vivo T

SUBMITTER: Tuomela K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12490244 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature