Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction. To test the efficacy of novel sulfur compounds as alternative treatments for ITP, we used a mouse model of passive immune thrombocytopenia (PIT). Using this model, the platelet nadir could not be maintained, with platelet counts rising after day 4, despite daily anti-platelet antibody administration. We examined reticulated platelet counts by flow cytometry, and found increased thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow to be at least partially responsible for this platelet rebound. Consequentially, two improved mouse models of PIT were developed, where the platelet rebound is circumvented. The first model employs sublethal total body gamma-irradiation in combination with daily antibody administration, while the second model employs gradual escalation of the daily antibody dose. Finally, we show that none of the tested candidate compounds show efficacy in elevating platelet counts in vivo, likely due to their limited solubility.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody-mediated platelet destruction. To test the efficacy of novel sulfur compounds as alternative treatments for ITP, we used a mouse model of passive immune thrombocytopenia (PIT). Using this model, the platelet nadir could not be maintained, with platelet counts rising after day 4, despite daily anti-platelet antibody administration. We examined reticulated platelet counts by flow cytometry, and found increased thrombopoiesis in the bone marrow to be at least partially responsible for this platelet rebound. Consequentially, two improved mouse models of PIT were developed, where the platelet rebound is circumvented. The first model employs sublethal total body gamma-irradiation in combination with daily antibody administration, while the second model employs gradual escalation of the daily antibody dose. Finally, we show that none of the tested candidate compounds show efficacy in elevating platelet counts in vivo, likely due to their limited solubility.

L'action ubiquitaire de l'interféron de type I (IFN- alpha/beta , ici IFN) dans la physiologie et la pathologie est aujourd'hui certaine. Une réponse dérégulée à l'IFN peut entraîner des interféronopathies ou des maladies auto-immunes. Dans mon travail de thèse j'ai étudié trois éléments de la voie de signalisation de l'IFN afin de comprendre comment une dérégulation peut se produire. TYK2 est une tyrosine kinase de la famille Janus impliquée dans la signalisation de cytokines immunorégulatrices (IFN de type I, IL-10, IL-12, IL-23). Selon le récepteur, TYK2 est co-activé avec JAK1 ou JAK2. L'interaction moléculaire entre les deux kinases juxtaposées est peu connue. J'ai caractérisé deux variants de TYK2 associés à des maladies auto-immunes, TYK2 I684S et TYK2 P1104A. J'ai démontré que ces deux variants ont un défaut catalytique, mais soutiennent la réponse à l'IFN. Mes résultats suggèrent un modèle d'activation réciproque des deux kinases. Par des études de signalisation dans les cellules EBV-B j'ai montré que l'homozygotie TYK2 P1104A a un impact différent selon la cytokine étudiée. L'analyse de deux autres polymorphismes de TYK2 associés à des maladies auto-immunes (rs12720270, rs2304256) a montré un impact sur la rétention de l'Exon 8, ce qui augmente l'expression de TYK2. J'ai aussi contribué à la dissection du mécanisme moléculaire contrôlant la réponse à l'IFN dans les cellules de patients déficients pour USP18 ou ISG15 et souffrant d'interféronopathies. Ces travaux ont démontré le rôle essentiel d'USP18 pour restreindre la réponse à l'IFN et ont mis en évidence ISG15 comme un nouvel inhibiteur de l'IFN chez l'humain mais pas chez la souris. / Today, the pervasive action of type I IFN (IFN-alpha/beta, here IFN) in human physiology and pathology has become evident. Dysregulated IFN response can lead to interferonopathies and auto-immune diseases (AID). My thesis work has focused on the study of three elements of the IFN response pathway, aiming to understand how dysregulation occurs. TYK2 belongs to the Janus tyrosine kinase family and is involved in signaling of several immunoregulatory cytokines, such as type I IFN, IL-10, IL-12 and IL-23. Depending on the receptor complex, TYK2 is co-activated with either JAK1 or JAK2. A detailed molecular characterization of the interplay between the two juxtaposed enzymes is missing. In my study, I characterized two rare AID-associated human variants TYK2 I684S and TYK2 P1104A. I found that both variants are catalytically impaired but rescue signaling in response to IFN in fibroblasts. My results support a model of reciprocal activation of Janus kinases. Through signaling studies I showed that TYK2 P1104A homozygosity has a cytokine-specific impact in EBV-B cells. My studies of two other AID-associated TYK2 SNPs (rs12720270 and rs2304256) suggest that they promote Exon 8 retention and increase TYK2 expression. In the second part of my thesis work, I contributed to dissecting the molecular mechanism that tunes down IFN response in cells from rare USP18- and ISG15-deficient patients that suffered of interferonopathies. This work substantiated the essential role of USP18 in downregulating the IFN response and highlighted ISG15 as a novel IFN inhibitor in humans, but not in mice.