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Journal article

Defactinib inhibits PYK2 phosphorylation of IRF5 and reduces intestinal inflammation

Abstract:
Interferon regulating factor 5 (IRF5) is a multifunctional regulator of immune responses, and has a key pathogenic function in gut inflammation, but how IRF5 is modulated is still unclear. Having performed a kinase inhibitor library screening in macrophages, here we identify protein-tyrosine kinase 2-beta (PTK2B/PYK2) as a putative IRF5 kinase. PYK2-deficient macrophages display impaired endogenous IRF5 activation, leading to reduction of inflammatory gene expression. Meanwhile, a PYK2 inhibitor, defactinib, has a similar effect on IRF5 activation in vitro, and induces a transcriptomic signature in macrophages similar to that caused by IRF5 deficiency. Finally, defactinib reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines in human colon biopsies from patients with ulcerative colitis, as well as in a mouse colitis model. Our results thus implicate a function of PYK2 in regulating the inflammatory response in the gut via the IRF5 innate sensing pathway, thereby opening opportunities for related therapeutic interventions for inflammatory bowel diseases and other inflammatory conditions.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1038/s41467-021-27038-5

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
NDORMS
Sub department:
Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Springer Nature
Journal:
Nature Communications More from this journal
Volume:
12
Article number:
6702
Publication date:
2021-11-18
Acceptance date:
2021-10-28
DOI:
ISSN:
2041-1723


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1210483
Local pid:
pubs:1210483
Deposit date:
2021-11-18

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