Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective

(1) Background: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is mainly treated with steroids. Using an AIP mouse model, we investigated two potential alternatives, the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 inhibitor, takinib, and the Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib. (2) Methods: In a multicenter prec...

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Main Authors: Ottavia Agrifoglio, Anika Kasprick, Natalie Gross, Marc Wahlig, Emilia Kauffold, Aline Woitas, Artem Vorobyev, Luise Ehlers, Ralf J. Ludwig, Katja Bieber, Robert Jaster
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Biomedicines
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2480
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author Ottavia Agrifoglio
Anika Kasprick
Natalie Gross
Marc Wahlig
Emilia Kauffold
Aline Woitas
Artem Vorobyev
Luise Ehlers
Ralf J. Ludwig
Katja Bieber
Robert Jaster
author_facet Ottavia Agrifoglio
Anika Kasprick
Natalie Gross
Marc Wahlig
Emilia Kauffold
Aline Woitas
Artem Vorobyev
Luise Ehlers
Ralf J. Ludwig
Katja Bieber
Robert Jaster
author_sort Ottavia Agrifoglio
collection DOAJ
description (1) Background: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is mainly treated with steroids. Using an AIP mouse model, we investigated two potential alternatives, the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 inhibitor, takinib, and the Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib. (2) Methods: In a multicenter preclinical study, MRL/MpJ mice were injected with polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) for two weeks to induce AIP. They were then treated for four weeks with either takinib (25, 50, or 75 mg/kg body weight), tofacitinib (5, 10 or 15 mg/kg), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), or solvent, while the poly I:C injections were continued. The severity of AIP was assessed histopathologically. Flow cytometry was used to examine lymphocyte subtypes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. The pancreatic gene expression profiles were analyzed by RNA sequencing. (3) Results: Poly I:C-treated mice developed severe AIP with inflammation, destruction of acinar tissue, and fibrosis. Dexamethasone significantly attenuated the disease, while takinib or tofacitinib had no effects. Dexamethasone also antagonized the effects of poly I:C on the relative frequencies of the AIP-associated lymphocyte subtypes CD4/CD69, CD8/CD44<sup>high</sup>, and CD4/CD25/FoxP3 in the spleen. In the principal component analysis of pancreatic transcriptomics, poly I:C-injected mice treated with tofacitinib, takinib, or solvent clustered together, while untreated and dexamethasone-treated mice formed separate, unique clusters. (4) Conclusions: Dexamethasone effectively reduced AIP severity, while takinib and tofacitinib were ineffective. The unique gene expression profile in dexamethasone-treated mice may provide a basis for identifying new drug targets for AIP treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-abdff0b8b3444622a7e3c33a94eea3042024-11-26T17:52:55ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-10-011211248010.3390/biomedicines12112480Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not EffectiveOttavia Agrifoglio0Anika Kasprick1Natalie Gross2Marc Wahlig3Emilia Kauffold4Aline Woitas5Artem Vorobyev6Luise Ehlers7Ralf J. Ludwig8Katja Bieber9Robert Jaster10Department of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, GermanyLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Center for Research on Inflammation of the Skin, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Center for Research on Inflammation of the Skin, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyDepartment of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, GermanyDepartment of Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyDepartment of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, GermanyLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Center for Research on Inflammation of the Skin, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyLübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Center for Research on Inflammation of the Skin, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, GermanyDepartment of Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Endocrinology, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany(1) Background: Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is mainly treated with steroids. Using an AIP mouse model, we investigated two potential alternatives, the transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 inhibitor, takinib, and the Janus kinase inhibitor, tofacitinib. (2) Methods: In a multicenter preclinical study, MRL/MpJ mice were injected with polyinosinic/polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) for two weeks to induce AIP. They were then treated for four weeks with either takinib (25, 50, or 75 mg/kg body weight), tofacitinib (5, 10 or 15 mg/kg), dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), or solvent, while the poly I:C injections were continued. The severity of AIP was assessed histopathologically. Flow cytometry was used to examine lymphocyte subtypes in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. The pancreatic gene expression profiles were analyzed by RNA sequencing. (3) Results: Poly I:C-treated mice developed severe AIP with inflammation, destruction of acinar tissue, and fibrosis. Dexamethasone significantly attenuated the disease, while takinib or tofacitinib had no effects. Dexamethasone also antagonized the effects of poly I:C on the relative frequencies of the AIP-associated lymphocyte subtypes CD4/CD69, CD8/CD44<sup>high</sup>, and CD4/CD25/FoxP3 in the spleen. In the principal component analysis of pancreatic transcriptomics, poly I:C-injected mice treated with tofacitinib, takinib, or solvent clustered together, while untreated and dexamethasone-treated mice formed separate, unique clusters. (4) Conclusions: Dexamethasone effectively reduced AIP severity, while takinib and tofacitinib were ineffective. The unique gene expression profile in dexamethasone-treated mice may provide a basis for identifying new drug targets for AIP treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2480autoimmune pancreatitisMRL/Mp mousedexamethasonetofacitinibtakinibtranscriptome
spellingShingle Ottavia Agrifoglio
Anika Kasprick
Natalie Gross
Marc Wahlig
Emilia Kauffold
Aline Woitas
Artem Vorobyev
Luise Ehlers
Ralf J. Ludwig
Katja Bieber
Robert Jaster
Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
Biomedicines
autoimmune pancreatitis
MRL/Mp mouse
dexamethasone
tofacitinib
takinib
transcriptome
title Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
title_full Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
title_fullStr Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
title_full_unstemmed Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
title_short Dexamethasone’s Clinical Efficacy in Experimental Autoimmune Pancreatitis Correlates with a Unique Transcriptomic Signature, Whilst Kinase Inhibitors Are Not Effective
title_sort dexamethasone s clinical efficacy in experimental autoimmune pancreatitis correlates with a unique transcriptomic signature whilst kinase inhibitors are not effective
topic autoimmune pancreatitis
MRL/Mp mouse
dexamethasone
tofacitinib
takinib
transcriptome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/12/11/2480
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