Project description:Background: Autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) is a life-threatening, autosomal recessive syndrome caused by autoimmune regulator (AIRE) deficiency. In APS-1, self-reactive T cells escape thymic negative selection, infiltrate organs, and drive autoimmune injury. The effector mechanisms governing T-cell-mediated damage in APS-1 remain poorly understood. Methods: We examined whether APS-1 could be classified as a disease mediated by interferon-γ. We first assessed patients with APS-1 who were participating in a prospective natural history study and evaluated mRNA and protein expression in blood and tissues. We then examined the pathogenic role of interferon-γ using Aire-/-Ifng-/- mice and Aire-/- mice treated with the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib. On the basis of our findings, we used ruxolitinib to treat five patients with APS-1 and assessed clinical, immunologic, histologic, transcriptional, and autoantibody responses. Results: Patients with APS-1 had enhanced interferon-γ responses in blood and in all examined autoimmunity-affected tissues. Aire-/- mice had selectively increased interferon-γ production by T cells and enhanced interferon-γ, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1), and CXCL9 signals in multiple organs. Ifng ablation or ruxolitinib-induced JAK-STAT blockade in Aire-/- mice normalized interferon-γ responses and averted T-cell infiltration and damage in organs. Ruxolitinib treatment of five patients with APS-1 led to decreased levels of T-cell-derived interferon-γ, normalized interferon-γ and CXCL9 levels, and remission of alopecia, oral candidiasis, nail dystrophy, gastritis, enteritis, arthritis, Sjögren's-like syndrome, urticaria, and thyroiditis. No serious adverse effects from ruxolitinib were identified in these patients. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that APS-1, which is caused by AIRE deficiency, is characterized by excessive, multiorgan interferon-γ-mediated responses. JAK inhibition with ruxolitinib in five patients showed promising results. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others.).

Project description:Compelling evidence has shown that interferon (IFN)-γ has dual effects in multiple sclerosis and in its animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), with results supporting both a pathogenic and beneficial function. However, the mechanisms whereby IFN-γ may promote neuroprotection in EAE and its effects on central nervous system (CNS)-resident cells have remained an enigma for more than 30 years. In this study, the impact of IFN-γ at the peak of EAE, its effects on CNS infiltrating myeloid cells (MC) and microglia (MG), and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms were investigated. IFN-γ administration resulted in disease amelioration and attenuation of neuroinflammation associated with significantly lower frequencies of CNS CD11b+ myeloid cells and less infiltration of inflammatory cells and demyelination. A significant reduction in activated MG and enhanced resting MG was determined by flow cytometry and immunohistrochemistry. Primary MC/MG cultures obtained from spinal cord of IFN-γ-treated EAE mice that were ex vivo re-stimulated with a low dose (1 ng/ml) of IFN-γ and neuroantigen promoted a significantly higher induction of CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells associated with increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β secretion. Additionally, IFN-γ-treated primary MC/MG cultures produced significantly lower nitrite in response to LPS challenge than control MC/MG. IFN-γ-treated EAE mice had a significantly higher frequency of CX3CR1high MC/MG and expressed lower levels of program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) than PBS-treated mice. Most CX3CR1highPD-L1lowCD11b+Ly6G- cells expressed MG markers (Tmem119, Sall2, and P2ry12), indicating that they represented an enriched MG subset (CX3CR1highPD-L1low MG). Amelioration of clinical symptoms and induction of CX3CR1highPD-L1low MG by IFN-γ were dependent on STAT-1. RNA-seq analyses revealed that in vivo treatment with IFN-γ promoted the induction of homeostatic CX3CR1highPD-L1low MG, upregulating the expression of genes associated with tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory roles and down-regulating pro-inflammatory genes. These analyses highlight the master role that IFN-γ plays in regulating microglial activity and provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the therapeutic activity of IFN-γ in EAE.

Project description:Gene regulation by cytokine-activated STAT transcription factors requires serine phosphorylation within the transactivation domain (TAD). STAT1 and STAT3 TAD phosphorylation was reported to occur upon promoter binding by an unknown kinase. Here we show that the Mediator CDK8 module phosphorylates S727 of the STAT1 TAD in the interferon (IFN) signaling pathway as well as the TADs of other STATs. Microarray analysis reveals that CDK8-mediated STAT1 TAD phosphorylation positively or negatively regulates over 40% of IFN-gamma-responsive genes, and RNA polymerase II occupancy correlates with gene expression changes. This selective regulation occurs despite CDK8 occupancy and STAT1 S727 phosphorylation at both S727 phosphorylation-dependent and -independent IFN-gamma target genes. Independently of its role as STAT1 S727 kinase CDK8 acts as a positive regulator of IFN-gamma responses. These data reveal a dual input of CDK8 in STAT1-controlled transcription and propose a key role for CDK8 in TAD phosphorylation of other STATs during cytokine responses. STAT1 WT and STAT1 S727A mouse fibroblasts were treated with siRNA to CDK8 (siCdk8 smart pool, On Target Plus, Dharmacon) and control siRNA (siCtrl) and stimulated with IFN-gamma for 4 h or left untreated. Total RNA from three independent experiments for each treatment and each genotype was isolated from cells using Trizol reagent (Invitrogen) following the manufactures protocol and used for expression analysis using Agilent Whole Mouse Genome Microarrays, 8x60K. Standard protocols for labeling and hybridization were followed. In brief, fluorescent cRNA was generated using Low Input Quick Amp Labeling Kit (Agilent). The amplified cyanine 3-labeled cRNA samples were then purified using SV Total RNA Isolation System (Promega) and hybridized to microarray slides. Microarray slides were washed and scanned with an Agilent Scanner. Note: The outlier array #10 [SA.CDK.gamma.R3] was removed from subsequent analysis and its processed data was not provided. However, its raw data file has been linked as a supplementary file at the foot of the Series record.

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The Role of Interferon-γ in Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1

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