Type 1 interferon signature and allograft inflammatory factor-1 contribute to refractoriness to TNF inhibition in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the enthesis and may culminate in bony ankylosis of the spine. Despite TNF inhibitor (TNFi) being foundational in managing active inflammation, 30-40% of patients with AS remain non-responsive. Through lo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Woogil Song, Eunyoung Emily Lee, Seongwan Park, Baekgyu Choi, Min-Gang Kim, Seo Yoon Ban, Se Rim Choi, Jeong Yeon Kim, Seon Uk Kim, Jong-Il Kim, Eui-Cheol Shin, Inkyung Jung, Jeong Seok Lee, Eun Young Lee, the Single-Cell Atlas of Immune Diseases Consortium
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60445-6
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis that primarily affects the enthesis and may culminate in bony ankylosis of the spine. Despite TNF inhibitor (TNFi) being foundational in managing active inflammation, 30-40% of patients with AS remain non-responsive. Through longitudinal and multi-omics profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from TNFi-receiving patients with AS, here we reveal that elevated type I IFN signatures at baseline are associated with poor TNFi response, leading to a paradoxical enhancement of IFN signatures and Th17 responses following TNFi therapy. Among type I IFN-related genes, we identify and validate AIF-1 as a predictive biomarker reflecting the inherent IFN signature that differentiates responders from non-responders. AIF-1 also contributes to an inflammatory cycle by increasing IFNα receptor expression and Th17 responses. In summary, our findings advocate for a personalized approach to managing AS by considering individual variations in AIF-1 levels and IFN signatures.
ISSN:2041-1723