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Inhibition of IRF5 hyperactivation protects from lupus onset and severity
Su Song, … , William L. Clapp, Betsy J. Barnes
Su Song, … , William L. Clapp, Betsy J. Barnes
Published September 8, 2020
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2020;130(12):6700-6717. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI120288.
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Research Article Autoimmunity Immunology Article has an altmetric score of 8

Inhibition of IRF5 hyperactivation protects from lupus onset and severity

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Abstract

The transcription factor IFN regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a central mediator of innate and adaptive immunity. Genetic variations within IRF5 are associated with a risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and mice lacking Irf5 are protected from lupus onset and severity, but how IRF5 functions in the context of SLE disease progression remains unclear. Using the NZB/W F1 model of murine lupus, we show that murine IRF5 becomes hyperactivated before clinical onset. In patients with SLE, IRF5 hyperactivation correlated with dsDNA titers. To test whether IRF5 hyperactivation is a targetable function, we developed inhibitors that are cell permeable, nontoxic, and selectively bind to the inactive IRF5 monomer. Preclinical treatment of NZB/W F1 mice with an inhibitor attenuated lupus pathology by reducing serum antinuclear autoantibodies, dsDNA titers, and the number of circulating plasma cells, which alleviated kidney pathology and improved survival. Clinical treatment of MRL/lpr and pristane-induced lupus mice with an inhibitor led to significant reductions in dsDNA levels and improved survival. In ex vivo human studies, the inhibitor blocked SLE serum–induced IRF5 activation and reversed basal IRF5 hyperactivation in SLE immune cells. We believe this study provides the first in vivo clinical support for treating patients with SLE with an IRF5 inhibitor.

Authors

Su Song, Saurav De, Victoria Nelson, Samin Chopra, Margaret LaPan, Kyle Kampta, Shan Sun, Mingzhu He, Cherrie D. Thompson, Dan Li, Tiffany Shih, Natalie Tan, Yousef Al-Abed, Eugenio Capitle, Cynthia Aranow, Meggan Mackay, William L. Clapp, Betsy J. Barnes

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Figure 2

Design of IRF5 peptide mimetics.

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Design of IRF5 peptide mimetics.
(A) Homology model of the IRF5 DBD with...
(A) Homology model of the IRF5 DBD with location of N-terminal peptides and amino acid characteristics. (B) Position of N- and C-terminal peptides highlighted within the full-length IRF5 V5 sequence. The color code is based on the amino acid characteristics defined in A. (C) Biacore T200 SPR analysis of peptide mimetics. Data are representative of 4 independent experimental replicates per peptide. (D and E) IRF5 nuclear translocation quantified in healthy donor PBMCs preincubated with 10 μM peptide for 1 hour and stimulated with 500 ng/mL R848 for 2 hours using imaging flow cytometry. Plots show quantification in CD45+CD14+ monocytes (D) and CD45+CD19+ B cells (E). n = 3 independent samples from healthy donors. (F) Kinetics analysis of N5-1 peptide binding to IRF5 by SPR. Data are representative of 4 independent experimental replicates. (G) Purified human monocytes were preincubated with 2.5 μM FITC-PTD, –N5-1, or –C5-2 for 1 hour followed by permeabilization and staining for intracellular IRF3, IRF5, or IRF7 with TRITC-conjugated antibodies. FRET units were calculated from fluorescence emissions (see Supplemental Methods). n = 3 independent samples from healthy donors. (H–L) In vivo monitoring of the interaction between FITC–N5-1 and endogenous IRF3, IRF5, or IRF7 in THP1 cells by acceptor photobleaching FRET microscopy. (H and I) Fold change in donor pixel intensity was monitored in the photobleached regions (J–L) and plotted over time. Photobleached regions are indicated by white arrows. Images were acquired before and after acceptor photobleaching. Representative images of FITC–N5-1 and TRITC-IRF5 (J), TRITC-IRF3 (K), and TRITC-IRF7 (L) are shown (original magnification, ×60). Data are representative of 3 independent biological replicate experiments performed in triplicate. Data represent the mean ± SD. *P ≤ 0.05, **P ≤ 0.01, and ***P ≤ 0.001, by 1-way ANOVA.

Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)

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