JAK and TYK2 inhibitors differentially modulate interferon/TNF-driven inflammation, stemness and proliferation in the colonic epithelium of ulcerative colitis
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Background
Janus kinase (JAK)-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) pathway is a key regulator of inflammatory signaling in ulcerative colitis (UC). While most studies have focused on JAK/tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitors effects on immune cell-mediated responses, their direct epithelial impact remains less known. We investigated epithelial-specific transcriptional responses to JAK/TYK2 inhibitors using patient-derived intestinal epithelial organoids (IEOs) under UC-relevant conditions.
Methods
Colonic IEOs from UC patients were pretreated with various concentrations of tofacitinib, upadacitinib, filgotinib, brepocitinib, and deucravacitinib for 1 hour prior to stimulation with IFNβ, IFNγ, or IFNλ1 for Western blot analysis of STAT1/3 and TYK2 phosphorylation. For transcriptomic profiling, IEOs were pretreated with upadacitinib or deucravacitinib for 16 hours, followed by 8-hour stimulation with IFNγ, IFNλ1, TNF, or IFNγ + TNF. Bulk RNA sequencing assessed differential gene expression, and multiplex assays quantified chemokine secretion. Ki67 immunohistochemistry on colonic biopsies from healthy controls, and UC patients with and without JAK inhibitors-treatment were assessed for epithelial proliferation.
Results
IFNs induced distinct STAT1/3 and TYK2 activation, with IFNβ/γ eliciting stronger phosphorylation than IFNλ1. All JAK/TYK2 inhibitors regulated pSTAT1/3 and pTYK2, with upadacitinib most strongly inhibiting pSTAT1/3 and deucravacitinib selectively targeting pTYK2. Transcriptomic analysis revealed extensive cytokine-driven gene regulation, with IFNγ + TNF eliciting the strongest response. Enrichment analysis highlighted upregulation of IFN signaling, antigen presentation, and innate immune pathways, alongside downregulation of cell-cycle processes. Drug-response profiling showed minimal transcriptional changes with upadacitinib and deucravacitinib alone. Upadacitinib broadly modulated IFNs and IFNγ + TNF-regulated genes, attenuating JAK-STAT, NFκB, antiviral, and cell death pathways, while restoring genes linked to mucosal healing. Upadacitinib also reduced IFNs and IFNγ + TNF-driven chemokine genes and protein secretion. In contrast, deucravacitinib showed selective, potent inhibition of inflammatory genes under IFNλ1-stimulation. Both inhibitors minimally impacted TNF-driven pathways. Ki67 immunohistochemistry confirmed enhanced epithelial proliferation in JAK inhibitor-treated UC patients regardless of mucosal inflammation status.
Conclusions
Our findings provide novel evidence that JAK/TYK2 inhibitors influence epithelial transcriptional programs associated with inflammation and mucosal healing. Upadacitinib demonstrated broader modulation of cytokine-driven gene networks compared to TYK2-selective inhibition. These findings provide insight into epithelial-specific drug actions and support precision approaches for UC therapy.
