Effects of targeting the transcription factors Ikaros and Aiolos on B cell activation and differentiation in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effects of targeting Ikaros and Aiolos by cereblon modulator iberdomide on the activation and differentiation of B-cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS:

CD19+ B-cells isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with SLE (n=41) were cultured with TLR7 ligand resiquimod ±IFNα together with iberdomide or control from day 0 (n=16). Additionally, in vitro B-cell differentiation was induced by stimulation with IL-2/IL-10/IL-15/CD40L/resiquimod with iberdomide or control, given at day 0 or at day 4. At day 5, immunoglobulins were measured by ELISA and cells analysed by flow cytometry. RNA-Seq was performed on fluorescence-activated cell-sorted CD27-IgD+ naïve-B-cells and CD20lowCD27+CD38+ plasmablasts to investigate the transcriptional consequences of iberdomide.

RESULTS:

Iberdomide significantly inhibited the TLR7 and IFNα-mediated production of immunoglobulins from SLE B-cells and the production of antinuclear antibodies as well as significantly reducing the number of CD27+CD38+ plasmablasts (0.3±0.18, vehicle 1.01±0.56, p=0.011) and CD138+ plasma cells (0.12±0.06, vehicle 0.28±0.02, p=0.03). Additionally, treatment with iberdomide from day 0 significantly inhibited the differentiation of SLE B-cells into plasmablasts (6.4±13.5 vs vehicle 34.9±20.1, p=0.013) and antibody production. When given at later stages of differentiation, iberdomide did not affect the numbers of plasmablasts or the production of antibodies; however, it induced a significant modulation of gene expression involving IKZF1 and IKZF3 transcriptional programmes in both naïve B-cells and plasmablasts (400 and 461 differentially modulated genes, respectively, false discovery rate<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

These results demonstrate the relevance of Ikaros and Aiolos as therapeutic targets in SLE due to their ability to modulate B cell activation and differentiation downstream of TLR7.

• Authors: Felice Rivellese, Sotiria Manou-Stathopoulou, Daniele Mauro, Katriona Goldmann, Debasish Pyne, Ravindra Rajakariar, Patrick Gordon, Peter Schafer, Michele Bombardieri, Costantino Pitzalis, Myles J Lewis
• Journal: Lupus science & medicine (Lupus Sci Med) Vol. 8 Issue 1 (03 2021) ISSN: 2053-8790 [Print] England
• PMID: 33727237 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.

Chemical References

• Ikaros Transcription Factor

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• B-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• Cell Differentiation
• Female
• Humans
• Ikaros Transcription Factor
• Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
• Lymphocyte Activation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Young Adult