ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 1901

Interferon-γ (IFNγ) in Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) Associated with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (sJIA). High Levels in Patients and a Role in a Murine MAS Model

Claudia Bracaglia1, Ivan Caiello1, Kathy De Graaf2, Giovanni D'Ario2, Florence Guilhot2, Walter Ferlin2, Lidia Meli1, Giusi Prencipe1, Sergio Davì3, Grant Schulert4, Angelo Ravelli5, Alexei Grom6, Cristina De Min2 and Fabrizio De Benedetti Sr.1, 1Department of Pediatric Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy, 2Novimmmune S.A., Plan-Les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland, 3Pediatria II, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy, 4Pediatric Rheumatology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 5Istituto Giannina Gaslini and University of Genova, Genova, Italy, 6Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Meeting: 2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: ,

Session Information

Title: Pediatric Rheumatology - Pathogenesis and Genetics

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose: IFNγ is the pivotal mediator in murine models of primary HLH. Given the similarities between primary and secondary (sHLH), including MAS, we analyzed IFNγ levels in patients with sJIA and MAS and evaluated the pathogenic role of IFNγ in a murine MAS model.

Methods: We measured levels of IFNγ, IFNγ-related chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11), and IL-6 in patients with sHLH (n=14), and in patients with sJIA (n=54) of whom 20 had MAS at sampling using the Luminex multiplexing assay and evaluated their relation to disease activity. The effect of the anti-IFNγ antibody XMG1.2 was assessed in IL-6 transgenic (IL6TG) mice in which a MAS-like syndrome leading to death is triggered by TLR ligands (Strippoli, Arthritis Rheum 2012). An LPS LD50 (5 μg/gr body weight) was used, as a trigger for MAS, followed 10 hours later by administration of 100 μg/gr of XMG1.2.

Results: Levels of IFNγ and of IFNγ-related chemokines [median pg/ml(IQR)] were markedly elevated in active MAS and active sHLH, with no significant differences between active sHLH [IFNγ 34.7(23.9-170.1); CXCL9 33598(3083-127687); CXCL10 4420(799.7-8226); CXCL11 1327(189-2000)] and active MAS [IFNγ 15.4(5.1-52.6); CXCL9 13392(2163-35452); CXCL10 1612(424.8-4309); CXCL11 564.8(197.5-1007)]. Levels in active sJIA without MAS at sampling [IFNγ 4.88(3.2-8.7); CXCL9 836.5(470.9-2505); CXCL10 307.3(198.9-693.7); CXCL11 121.7(62-197.1)] were lower (all p-values <0.01) than in active sHLH or active MAS. IL-6 was not different between the three groups. In active MAS, platelet count was inversely related to IFNγ (r=-0.53; p=0.02), CXCL9 (r=-0.51; p=0.03) and CXCL10 (r=-0.58; p=0.009). In the murine MAS model, treatment with the anti-IFNγ antibody XMG1.2 resulted in increased survival (XMG1.2-treated 10 survivors/10 treated; control-treated 5/10; p=0.033).

Conclusion: IFNγ, and IFNγ-related chemokine levels were increased in patients with MAS compared to patients with active sJIA without MAS, and associated with low platelet count. Neutralization of IFNγ increased survival in murine MAS.

Disclosure:

C. Bracaglia,
None;

I. Caiello,
None;

K. De Graaf,

Novimmune,

3;

G. D’Ario,

Novimmune,

3;

F. Guilhot,

Novimmune,

3;

W. Ferlin,

Novimmune,

3;

L. Meli,
None;

G. Prencipe,
None;

S. Davì,
None;

G. Schulert,
None;

A. Ravelli,

None,

8;

A. Grom,

NovImmune,

2,

Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation,

2,

Novartis Pharmaceutical Corporation,

5,

Roche Pharmaceuticals,

5;

C. De Min,

Novimmune,

3;

F. De Benedetti Sr.,

Novartis, Novimmune, Hoffmann-La Roche, SOBI, AbbVie,

2,

AbbVie Novartis, Novimmune, Hoffmann-La Roche, SOBI ,

5.

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