Project description:Keratinocyte-derived interferon kappa (IFN-κ) is chronically overexpressed in human non-lesional systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) skin. Recent evidence suggests that epidermal signals instruct the immune system in SLE, but whether epidermal IFN-κ alone is sufficient to drive lupus phenotypes has not been investigated. Here, we show that mice that overexpress Ifnk in the epidermis under the keratin 14 promoter (Ifnk transgenic, TG) on a BALB/c background spontaneously develop cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE)-like lesions and systemic immune dysregulation. Lesions show facial predominance, lymphocytic infiltration, and a transcriptional signature reflective of human CLE. Ifnk TG mice exhibit increased immune cell activation and spontaneous signs of systemic autoimmunity with higher anti-dsDNA-antibodies, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, but lack signs of renal inflammation. UV exposure enhanced cutaneous inflammation and splenic T cell activation in Ifnk TG mice. Together, we describe a new CLE mouse model that recapitulates features of human CLE and substantiates the role of epidermal IFN-κ as a driver of CLE, photosensitivity and systemic inflammation.
Project description:Using doxycycline-inducible IFN-kappa expression in CIN612-9E cells, which maintain extrachromosomally replicating HPV31 genomes, we demonstrate that IFN-kappa inhibits the growth of these cells and reduces viral transcription and replication. Interestingly, the initiation of viral early transcription was already inhibited 4-6h after IFN-kappa expression. This was also observed with recombinant IFN-beta suggesting a common mechanism of IFNs. RNA-seq analysis identified 1367 IFN-kappa regulated genes of which 221 were modulated >2-fold. The majority of those (71%) matched known ISGs confirming that IFN-kappa acts as a bona fide type I IFN in hr-HPV-positive keratinocytes. RNAi and co-transfection experiments indicate that the inhibition of viral transcription is mainly due to the induction of Sp100 proteins by IFN-kappa. CIN612-9E/pInd-IFN-kappa were induced for 4h with 1µg/ml doxycyclin or not. Three biological replicates were analyzed.
Project description:Type I interferon (IFN) is the first line of defense against virus infection. By using both in vivo and in vitro influenza infection models, we found that type I IFN-κ, limited the replication of influenza viruses by stimulating a IFNAR-MAPK-cFos-CHD6 axis. Similarly, Zika virus (ZIKV) was also highly sensitive to IFN-κ-mediated suppression. With an IAV infected mouse model, we found that IFN-κ was the earliest responding type I interferon among all known members in mice after H9N2 infection, a low-pathogenic Avian Influenza, whereas this early induction did not occur upon highly pathogenic H7N9 infection. IFN-κ can efficiently contain both low- and high-pathogenic influenza replication in cultured human lung cells, and CHD6 was the major effector responsive molecule for IFN-κ, but not for IFN-α/β. Furthermore, we discovered that both IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits of type I interferon receptor and their downstream axis of p38-cFos are engaged in IFN-κ signaling cascade to acti vate CHD6, which didn`t require STAT1 activity. In addition, we showed that the pre-treatment with IFN-κ before IAV challenge protected mice from high mortality. Altogether, our study identified an IFN-κ-specific pathway that suppressed influenza A virus in vitro and in vivo. Thus, IFN-κ may have potential as a new prevention and treatment agents against emerging viruses
Project description:Using doxycycline-inducible IFN-kappa expression in CIN612-9E cells, which maintain extrachromosomally replicating HPV31 genomes, we demonstrate that IFN-kappa inhibits the growth of these cells and reduces viral transcription and replication. Interestingly, the initiation of viral early transcription was already inhibited 4-6h after IFN-kappa expression. This was also observed with recombinant IFN-beta suggesting a common mechanism of IFNs. RNA-seq analysis identified 1367 IFN-kappa regulated genes of which 221 were modulated >2-fold. The majority of those (71%) matched known ISGs confirming that IFN-kappa acts as a bona fide type I IFN in hr-HPV-positive keratinocytes. RNAi and co-transfection experiments indicate that the inhibition of viral transcription is mainly due to the induction of Sp100 proteins by IFN-kappa.
Project description:We performed spatial transcriptomics on a case series of different clinical subtypes of cutaneous lupus erythematosus including acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (malar rash, systemic lupus erythematosus). Our goals were to (1) determine which differentially expressed genes (DEGs) could be attributed to specific cell populations in specific locations within the tissue, (2) determine if spatial transcriptomics could better distinguish between CLE clinical subtypes than bulk RNA approaches and (3) examine potential cell-cell communication pathways within the skin lesions.
Project description:Autoreactive B cells expressing two different immunoglobulin light chains are present in elevated numbers in a subset of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and in MRL and MRL/lpr mouse models of lupus. Using RNAseq and genetic pathway analyses together with in vitro studies we demonstrate a role for TLR and IFN signaling in MRL/lpr dual-κ B cell expansion and/or activation. Dual-κ cells also showed increased expression of co-receptors used for T cell cognate interaction as well as enrichment of pathways involved in their signaling. Overall, our studies identify molecular pathways involved in the enrichment of dual-reactive effector B cells and reveal potential targets for their selective ablation in autoimmunity.
Project description:Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the immunotherapeutic vaccine interferon-α kinoid (IFN-K) in a 36-week (W) phase IIb, randomised, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled trial in adults with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) despite standard of care. Methods: Patients with SLE (185) with moderate to severe disease activity and positive interferon (IFN) gene signature were randomised to receive IFN-K or PBO intramuscular injections (days 0, 7 and 28 and W12 and W24). Coprimary endpoints at W36 were neutralisation of IFN gene signature and the BILAG-Based Composite Lupus Assessment (BICLA) modified by mandatory corticosteroid (CS) tapering. Results: IFN-K induced neutralising anti-IFN-α2b serum antibodies in 91% of treated patients and reduce the IFN gene signature (p<0.0001). Modified BICLA responses at W36 did not statistically differ between IFN-K (41%) and PBO (34%). Trends on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Responder Index-4, including steroid tapering at W36, favoured the IFN- K and became significant (p<0.05) in analyses restricted to patients who developed neutralising anti-IFN-α2b antibodies. Attainment of lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS) at W36 discriminated the two groups in favour of IFN-K (53% vs. 30%, p=0.0022). A significant CS sparing effect of IFN-K was observed from W28 onwards, with a 24% prednisone daily dose reduction at W36 in IFN-K compared with PBO (p=0.0097). The safety profile of IFN-K was acceptable. Conclusions: IFN-K induced neutralising anti-IFN-α2b antibodies and significantly reduced the IFN gene signature with an acceptable safety profile. Although the clinical coprimary endpoint was not met, relevant secondary endpoints were achieved in the IFN-K group, including attainment of LLDAS and steroid tapering. Trial registration number NCT02665364.
Project description:RNA-seq analysis of nonlesional skin, whole blood, and cultured primary keratinocytes of wild-type and autoimmunity-prone K5-Vgll3 mice, which overexpress the female-biased transcription cofactor VGLL3 in the epidermis and develop a progressive lupus-like rash and systemic autoimmune disease with features of systemic lupus erythematosus. These skin and blood data demonstrate that skin-directed overexpression of VGLL3 results in gene expression changes strikingly similar to those seen in skin and blood of patients with cutaneous and systemic lupus, respectively.
Project description:Human skin samples from cutaneous lupus subtypes, psoriasis, and normal patients were used to corroborate findings of Fas Ligand elevation in a murine model of cutaneous lupus