Anti-MDA5 juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: a specific subgroup defined by differentially enhanced interferon-α signalling.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

JDM and juvenile overlap myositis represent heterogeneous subtypes of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (JIIM). Chronic evolution can occur in up to 60% of cases, and morbidity/mortality is substantial. We aimed to describe the clinical, biological, histological and type I IFN status in JIIM associated with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (anti-MDA5) autoantibodies at presentation (group 1) in comparison with other JIIM (group 2).

METHODS:

This was a retrospective and prospective study of patients with JIIM ascertained from three French paediatric rheumatology reference centres between 2013 and 2019. Muscle biopsies were reviewed. Type I interferon pathway activity was assessed by dosage of IFNα serum protein and the expression of IFN-stimulated genes.

RESULTS:

Sixty-four patients were included, 13 in group 1 (54% JDM and 46% juvenile overlap myositis) and 51 in group 2 (76% JDM and 24% juvenile overlap myositis). Group 1 patients demonstrated more arthritis, skin ulcerations, lupus features and interstitial lung disease, and a milder muscular involvement. Serum IFNα levels were higher in group 1 than 2, and decreased after treatment or improvement in both groups. Outcome was similar in both groups. Unconventional treatment (more than two lines) was required in order to achieve remission, especially when skin ulceration was reported.

CONCLUSION:

This study indicates a higher frequency of arthritis, skin ulcerations and interstitial lung disease, but milder muscular involvement, in JIIM with positive anti-MDA5 autoantibodies compared with other JIIM. Our data support an important role of systemic IFNα in disease pathology, particularly in the anti-MDA5 auto-antibody-positive subgroup. In severe and refractory forms of JIIM, IFNα may represent a therapeutic target.

• Authors: Isabelle Melki, Hervé Devilliers, Cyril Gitiaux, Vincent Bondet, Darragh Duffy, Jean-Luc Charuel, Makoto Miyara, Plamen Bokov, Ahmed Kheniche, Theresa Kwon, François Jérôme Authier, Yves Allenbach, Alexandre Belot, Christine Bodemer, Emmanuelle Bourrat, Cécile Dumaine, Nicole Fabien, Albert Faye, Marie-Louise Frémond, Alice Hadchouel, Naoki Kitabayashi, Alice Lepelley, Maria José Martin-Niclos, Sasi Mudumba, Lucile Musset, Pierre Quartier, Gillian I Rice, Luis Seabra, Florence Uettwiller, Carolina Uggenti, Sebastien Viel, Mathieu P Rodero, Yanick J Crow, Brigitte Bader-Meunier
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England) (Rheumatology (Oxford)) Vol. 59 Issue 8 Pg. 1927-1937 (08 01 2020) ISSN: 1462-0332 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 31755959 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Autoantibodies
• Interferon-alpha
• IFIH1 protein, human
• Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1

Topics

• Adolescent
• Autoantibodies (immunology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Interferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1 (immunology)
• Interferon-alpha (metabolism)
• Male
• Muscle, Skeletal (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Myositis (immunology, metabolism, pathology)
• Prospective Studies
• Retrospective Studies
• Signal Transduction (physiology)