Clinically validated assay for rapid determination of type I and type II interferon activity in systemic inflammatory diseases.

BACKGROUND

Type I interferons (IFN-I) and type II interferon (IFN-γ) contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, but measurement of these cytokines remains challenging in the clinical setting.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to develop a clinical test that rapidly captures the activity of IFN-I and IFN-γ.

METHODS

We compared RNA sequencing data from healthy controls and patients with macrophage activation syndrome, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and systemic lupus erythematosus to evaluate biomarkers of IFN-I and IFN-γ signaling. We utilized a flow cytometry assay to measure interferon-inducible markers. The findings were verified by a clinical laboratory that independently developed and validated this assay.

RESULTS

We identified CD274 (programmed death ligand 1, or PD-L1) as a biomarker of IFN-γ signaling and confirmed CD169 (SIGLEC-1) as a readout of IFN-I activity. We utilized a flow cytometry assay to quantify CD169 and CD274 expression on monocytes and demonstrated the validity of this method for rapid screening of interferon dysregulation in patients with various inflammatory diseases including, among others, macrophage activation syndrome, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and juvenile dermatomyositis. We further demonstrated the utility of this test for assessment of interferon dysregulation in monogenic inflammatory diseases and for efficacy monitoring of medications that target the interferon pathways including Janus kinase inhibitors, emapalumab, and anifrolumab. Finally, we outlined the steps of assay validation and clinical implementation, and we showed reproducible findings in a clinical laboratory.

CONCLUSION

Flow cytometry analysis of CD169 and CD274 is an effective method to rapidly quantify IFN-I and IFN-γ activity in the clinical setting.