Epigenetic targets of Janus kinase inhibitors are linked to genetic risks of rheumatoid arthritis.

Janus kinase inhibitor Rheumatoid arthritis Synovial fibroblasts Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitor

Journal

Inflammation and regeneration
ISSN: 1880-9693
Titre abrégé: Inflamm Regen
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101479577

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
04 Jun 2024
Historique:
received: 11 04 2024
accepted: 15 05 2024
medline: 4 6 2024
pubmed: 4 6 2024
entrez: 3 6 2024
Statut: epublish

Résumé

Current strategies that target cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), or signaling molecules (e.g., Janus kinase (JAK)) have advanced the management for allergies and autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism that underpins its clinical efficacy have largely remained elusive, especially in the local tissue environment. Here, we aimed to identify the genetic, epigenetic, and immunological targets of JAK inhibitors (JAKis), focusing on their effects on synovial fibroblasts (SFs), the major local effectors associated with destructive joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). SFs were activated by cytokines related to inflammation in RA, and were treated with three types of JAKis or a TNF-α inhibitor (TNFi). Dynamic changes in transcriptome and chromatin accessibility were profiled across samples to identify drug targets. Furthermore, the putative targets were validated using luciferase assays and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing. We found that both JAKis and the TNFi targeted the inflammatory module including IL6. Conversely, specific gene signatures that were preferentially inhibited by either of the drug classes were identified. Strikingly, RA risk enhancers for CD40 and TRAF1 were distinctively regulated by JAKis and the TNFi. We performed luciferase assays and CRISPR-based genome editing, and successfully fine-mapped the single causal variants in these loci, rs6074022-CD40 and rs7021049-TRAF1. JAKis and the TNFi had a direct impact on different RA risk enhancers, and we identified nucleotide-resolution targets for both drugs. Distinctive targets of clinically effective drugs could be useful for tailoring the application of these drugs and future design of more efficient treatment strategies.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Current strategies that target cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α), or signaling molecules (e.g., Janus kinase (JAK)) have advanced the management for allergies and autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanism that underpins its clinical efficacy have largely remained elusive, especially in the local tissue environment. Here, we aimed to identify the genetic, epigenetic, and immunological targets of JAK inhibitors (JAKis), focusing on their effects on synovial fibroblasts (SFs), the major local effectors associated with destructive joint inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
METHODS METHODS
SFs were activated by cytokines related to inflammation in RA, and were treated with three types of JAKis or a TNF-α inhibitor (TNFi). Dynamic changes in transcriptome and chromatin accessibility were profiled across samples to identify drug targets. Furthermore, the putative targets were validated using luciferase assays and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-based genome editing.
RESULTS RESULTS
We found that both JAKis and the TNFi targeted the inflammatory module including IL6. Conversely, specific gene signatures that were preferentially inhibited by either of the drug classes were identified. Strikingly, RA risk enhancers for CD40 and TRAF1 were distinctively regulated by JAKis and the TNFi. We performed luciferase assays and CRISPR-based genome editing, and successfully fine-mapped the single causal variants in these loci, rs6074022-CD40 and rs7021049-TRAF1.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
JAKis and the TNFi had a direct impact on different RA risk enhancers, and we identified nucleotide-resolution targets for both drugs. Distinctive targets of clinically effective drugs could be useful for tailoring the application of these drugs and future design of more efficient treatment strategies.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38831367
doi: 10.1186/s41232-024-00337-2
pii: 10.1186/s41232-024-00337-2
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

29

Informations de copyright

© 2024. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Haruka Tsuchiya (H)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Mineto Ota (M)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Department of Functional Genomics and Immunological Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Haruka Takahashi (H)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Hiroaki Hatano (H)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Department of Functional Genomics and Immunological Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Megumi Ogawa (M)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Sotaro Nakajima (S)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Risa Yoshihara (R)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Tomohisa Okamura (T)

Department of Functional Genomics and Immunological Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Shuji Sumitomo (S)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.

Keishi Fujio (K)

Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan. fujiok-int@h.u-tokyo.ac.jp.

Classifications MeSH