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The IFN-γ receptor promotes immune dysregulation and disease in STING gain-of-function mice
W. Alexander Stinson, Cathrine A. Miner, Fang R. Zhao, Annena Jane Lundgren, Subhajit Poddar, Jonathan J. Miner
W. Alexander Stinson, Cathrine A. Miner, Fang R. Zhao, Annena Jane Lundgren, Subhajit Poddar, Jonathan J. Miner
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Research Article Inflammation

The IFN-γ receptor promotes immune dysregulation and disease in STING gain-of-function mice

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Abstract

STING gain-of-function mutations cause STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) in humans, a disease characterized by spontaneous lung inflammation and fibrosis. Mice with STING gain-of-function mutations (SAVI mice) develop αβ T cell–dependent lung disease and also lack lymph nodes. Although SAVI has been regarded as a type I interferonopathy, the relative contributions of the three interferon receptors are incompletely understood. Here, we show that STING gain of function led to upregulation of IFN-γ–induced chemokines in the lungs of SAVI mice and that deletion of the type II IFN receptor (IFNGR1), but not the type I IFN receptor (IFNAR1) or type III IFN receptor (IFNλR1), ameliorated lung disease and restored lymph node development in SAVI mice. Furthermore, deletion of IFNGR1, but not IFNAR1 or IFNλR1, corrected the ratio of effector to Tregs in SAVI mice and in mixed bone marrow chimeric mice. Finally, cultured SAVI mouse macrophages were hyperresponsive to IFN-γ, but not IFN-β, in terms of Cxcl9 upregulation and cell activation. These results demonstrate that IFNGR1 plays a major role in autoinflammation and immune dysregulation mediated by STING gain of function.

Authors

W. Alexander Stinson, Cathrine A. Miner, Fang R. Zhao, Annena Jane Lundgren, Subhajit Poddar, Jonathan J. Miner

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Figure 2

IFN-γ enhances Cxcl9 expression and upregulates activation markers in STING gain-of-function bone marrow–derived macrophages.

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IFN-γ enhances Cxcl9 expression and upregulates activation markers in ST...
(A) Cxcl9 expression in WT and STING gain-of-function mouse bone marrow–derived macrophages was measured by qRT-PCR following treatment with IFN-β (100 U/mL), IFN-γ (10 ng/mL), or IFN-λ (100 ng/mL) for 4 hours. Data represent the mean of n = 9 samples pooled from 3 independent experiments. (B and C) Mean fluorescent intensity of cell surface activation markers on macrophages following treatment with type I, II, or III IFN for 24 hours. Data represent the mean of n = 6 samples pooled from 2 independent experiments. Data in A–C were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

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