Epidermal Interferon-κ Drives Cutaneous Lupus-Like Lesions, Photosensitivity, and Systemic Autoimmunity In Vivo.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Keratinocyte-derived interferon (IFN) κ is chronically overexpressed in human nonlesional systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) skin. Recent evidence suggests that epidermal signals instruct the immune system in SLE, but whether epidermal IFNκ alone is sufficient to drive lupus phenotypes has not been investigated. This study aimed to identify whether epidermal-specific overexpression of IFN-κ (Ifnk) results in lupus-like cutaneous and systemic inflammation.

Methods

We compared 3-month-old (young) and 12-month-old (aged) Balb/c mice who overexpress Ifnk in the epidermis under the keratin 14 promoter (transgenic [TG]) with age-matched Balb/c wild-type mice and assessed local and systemic immune responses at baseline and after UV treatment. Skin lesions were assessed by

SUBMITTER: Klein B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12854000 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature