DNA sensor-associated type I interferon signaling is increased in ulcerative colitis and induces JAK-dependent inflammatory cell death in colonic organoids

Peter Flood, Aine Fanning, Jerzy A. Woznicki, Tadhg Crowley, Andrea Christopher, Alessandra Vaccaro, Aileen Houston, Sheila McSweeney, Sarah Ross, Aileen Hogan, Elizabeth Brint, Agnieszka Skowyra, Milan Bustamante, Monica Ambrose, Gerard Moloney, John MacSharry, Marie Louise Hammarström, Margot Hurley, Christine Fitzgibbons, Eamonn M.M. QuigleyFergus Shanahan, Syed A. Zulquernain, Jane McCarthy, G. Steven Dodson, Karim Dabbagh, Bradford L. McRae, Silvia Melgar, Ken Nally

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA sensor pathways can initiate inflammasome, cell death, and type I interferon (IFN) signaling in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including type I interferonopathies. We investigated the involvement of these pathways in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) by analyzing the expression of DNA sensor, inflammasome, and type I IFN biomarker genes in colonic mucosal biopsy tissue from control (n = 31), inactive UC (n = 31), active UC (n = 33), and a UC single-cell RNA-Seq dataset. The effects of type I IFN (IFN-β), IFN-γ, and TNF-α on gene expression, cytokine production, and cell death were investigated in human colonic organoids. In organoids treated with cytokines alone, or in combination with NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase, or JAK inhibitors, cell death was measured, and supernatants were assayed for IL-1β/IL-18/CXCL10. The expression of DNA sensor pathway genes-PYHIN family members [absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), IFI16, myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA), and pyrin and HIN domain family member 1 (PYHIN1)- as well as Z-DNA-binding protein 1 (ZBP1), cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS), and DDX41 was increased in active UC and expressed in a cell type-restricted pattern. Inflammasome genes (CASP1, IL1B, and IL18), type I IFN inducers [stimulator of interferon response cGAMP interactor 1 (STING), TBK1, and IRF3), IFNB1, and type I IFN biomarker genes (OAS2, IFIT2, and MX2) were also increased in active UC. Cotreatment of organoids with IFN-β or IFN-γ in combination with TNFα increased expression of IFI16, ZBP1, CASP1, cGAS, and STING induced cell death and IL-1β/IL-18 secretion. This inflammatory cell death was blocked by the JAK inhibitor tofacitinib but not by inflammasome or caspase inhibitors. Increased type I IFN activity may drive elevated expression of DNA sensor genes and JAK-dependent but inflammasome-independent inflammatory cell death of colonic epithelial cells in UC.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)G439-G460
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology
Volume323
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • DNA sensors
  • colonic organoids
  • inflammasome
  • type I IFN
  • ulcerative colitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Hepatology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Physiology (medical)

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