Benjamin Klein,Deborah J Colesa,Yiqing Gao,Patrick A O'Brien,Lin Zhang,Lori Lowe,Kelsey E McNeely,Nguyen Thi Kim Nguyen,Svenja Henning,Mehrnaz Gharaee-Kermani,Jeffrey B Hodgin,Jacob W S Martens,Johann E Gudjonsson,Celine C Berthier,J Michelle Kahlenberg
{"title":"Epidermal Interferon kappa drives cutaneous lupus-like lesions, photosensitivity and systemic autoimmunity in vivo.","authors":"Benjamin Klein,Deborah J Colesa,Yiqing Gao,Patrick A O'Brien,Lin Zhang,Lori Lowe,Kelsey E McNeely,Nguyen Thi Kim Nguyen,Svenja Henning,Mehrnaz Gharaee-Kermani,Jeffrey B Hodgin,Jacob W S Martens,Johann E Gudjonsson,Celine C Berthier,J Michelle Kahlenberg","doi":"10.1002/art.43350","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"OBJECTIVE\r\nKeratinocyte-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. This study aimed to identify whether epidermal-specific overexpression of Interferon kappa (Ifnk) results in lupus-like cutaneous and systemic inflammation.\r\n\r\nMETHODS\r\nWe compared three month (young) and twelve month (aged) old Balb/c mice that overexpress Ifnk in the epidermis under the keratin 14 promoter (transgenic, TG) with age-matched Balb/c wild type mice (WT) and assessed local and systemic immune responses at baseline and after UV exposure. Skin lesions were assessed by histopathology, bulk RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry and subsequently compared to human cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Flow cytometry on lymph nodes and splenocytes at baseline and after UV exposure was performed to phenotype immune cell compositions.\r\n\r\nRESULTS\r\nIfnk TG mice spontaneously develop CLE-like lesions and systemic immune dysregulation. Lesions show facial predominance, lymphocytic infiltration, immune complex deposition 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.\r\n\r\nCONCLUSION\r\nTogether, 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.","PeriodicalId":129,"journal":{"name":"Arthritis & Rheumatology","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Arthritis & Rheumatology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/art.43350","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"RHEUMATOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
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. This study aimed to identify whether epidermal-specific overexpression of Interferon kappa (Ifnk) results in lupus-like cutaneous and systemic inflammation.
METHODS
We compared three month (young) and twelve month (aged) old Balb/c mice that overexpress Ifnk in the epidermis under the keratin 14 promoter (transgenic, TG) with age-matched Balb/c wild type mice (WT) and assessed local and systemic immune responses at baseline and after UV exposure. Skin lesions were assessed by histopathology, bulk RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry and subsequently compared to human cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Flow cytometry on lymph nodes and splenocytes at baseline and after UV exposure was performed to phenotype immune cell compositions.
RESULTS
Ifnk TG mice spontaneously develop CLE-like lesions and systemic immune dysregulation. Lesions show facial predominance, lymphocytic infiltration, immune complex deposition 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.
CONCLUSION
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.
期刊介绍:
Arthritis & Rheumatology is the official journal of the American College of Rheumatology and focuses on the natural history, pathophysiology, treatment, and outcome of rheumatic diseases. It is a peer-reviewed publication that aims to provide the highest quality basic and clinical research in this field. The journal covers a wide range of investigative areas and also includes review articles, editorials, and educational material for researchers and clinicians. Being recognized as a leading research journal in rheumatology, Arthritis & Rheumatology serves the global community of rheumatology investigators and clinicians.