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Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Covert, LT; Prinz, JA; Swain-Lenz, D; Dvergsten, J; Truskey, GA
Published in: Rheumatology (Oxford)
September 1, 2024

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the pathogenesis of juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM), we examined the effect of the cytokines type I interferons (IFN I) and JAK inhibitor drugs (JAKi) on gene expression in bioengineered pediatric skeletal muscle. METHODS: Myoblasts from three healthy pediatric donors were used to create three-dimensional skeletal muscle units termed myobundles. Myobundles were treated with IFN I, either IFNα or IFNβ. A subset of IFNβ-exposed myobundles was treated with JAKi tofacitinib or baricitinib. RNA sequencing analysis was performed on all myobundles. RESULTS: Seventy-six myobundles were analysed. Principal component analysis showed donor-specific clusters of gene expression across IFNα and IFNβ-exposed myobundles in a dose-dependent manner. Both cytokines upregulated interferon response and proinflammatory genes; however, IFNβ led to more significant upregulation. Key downregulated pathways involved oxidative phosphorylation, fatty acid metabolism and myogenesis genes. Addition of tofacitinib or baricitinib moderated the gene expression induced by IFNβ, with partial reversal of upregulated inflammatory and downregulated myogenesis pathways. Baricitinib altered genetic profiles more than tofacitinib. CONCLUSION: IFNβ leads to more pro-inflammatory gene upregulation than IFNα, correlating to greater decrease in contractile protein gene expression and reduced contractile force. JAK inhibitors, baricitinib more so than tofacitinib, partially reverse IFN I-induced genetic changes. Increased IFN I exposure in healthy bioengineered skeletal muscle leads to IFN-inducible gene expression, inflammatory pathway enrichment, and myogenesis gene downregulation, consistent with what is observed in JDM.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Rheumatology (Oxford)

DOI

EISSN

1462-0332

Publication Date

September 1, 2024

Volume

63

Issue

SI2

Start / End Page

SI240 / SI248

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sulfonamides
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Purines
  • Piperidines
  • Myoblasts
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon Type I
 

Citation

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Covert, L. T., Prinz, J. A., Swain-Lenz, D., Dvergsten, J., & Truskey, G. A. (2024). Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford), 63(SI2), SI240–SI248. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae082
Covert, Lauren T., Joseph A. Prinz, Devjanee Swain-Lenz, Jeffrey Dvergsten, and George A. Truskey. “Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis.Rheumatology (Oxford) 63, no. SI2 (September 1, 2024): SI240–48. https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keae082.
Covert LT, Prinz JA, Swain-Lenz D, Dvergsten J, Truskey GA. Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024 Sep 1;63(SI2):SI240–8.
Covert, Lauren T., et al. “Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis.Rheumatology (Oxford), vol. 63, no. SI2, Sept. 2024, pp. SI240–48. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keae082.
Covert LT, Prinz JA, Swain-Lenz D, Dvergsten J, Truskey GA. Genetic changes from type I interferons and JAK inhibitors: clues to drivers of juvenile dermatomyositis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2024 Sep 1;63(SI2):SI240–SI248.
Journal cover image

Published In

Rheumatology (Oxford)

DOI

EISSN

1462-0332

Publication Date

September 1, 2024

Volume

63

Issue

SI2

Start / End Page

SI240 / SI248

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Sulfonamides
  • Pyrimidines
  • Pyrazoles
  • Purines
  • Piperidines
  • Myoblasts
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Janus Kinase Inhibitors
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Interferon Type I