Janus kinase-1 and 3 in ankylosing spondylitis

Off-target pharmacological activity at various kinases: Potential functional and pathological side effects

In drug discovery, during the lead optimization and candidate characterization stages, novel small molecules are frequently evaluated in a battery of in vitro pharmacology assays to identify potential unintended, off-target interactions with various receptors, transporters, ion channels, and enzymes, including kinases. Furthermore, these screening panels may also provide utility at later stages of development to provide a mechanistic understanding of unexpected safety findings. Here, we present a compendium of the most likely functional and pathological outcomes associated with interaction(s) to a panel of 95 kinases based on an extensive curation of the scientific literature. This panel of kinases was designed by AbbVie based on safety-related data extracted from the literature, as well as from over 20 years of institutional knowledge generated from discovery efforts. For each kinase, the scientific literature was reviewed using online databases and the most often reported functional and pathological effects were summarized. This work should serve as a practical guide for small molecule drug discovery scientists and clinical investigators to predict and/or interpret adverse effects related to pharmacological interactions with these kinases.

JAK-STAT signaling pathway-related gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis in eastern Chinese Han population

OBJECTIVE

A case-control study was utilized to investigate the relationship between genetic variation of JAK-STAT signaling pathway-related genes and the susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

Fifteen SNPs in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway-related genes from 660 AS patients and 646 healthy controls were genotyped using iMLDR technology (JAK1: rs2230587, rs2230588, rs2780815, rs310241; JAK2: rs2274472, rs2230722, rs2230724, rs10758669; STAT1: rs10199181, rs1547550, rs2066802, rs45463799, rs6718902; STAT3: rs3744483; STAT5A: rs1135669).

RESULTS

Allele analysis revealed that the T allele of STAT1 rs6718902 was a protective agent for male AS patients (OR = 0.765, 95% CI = 0.644-0.909). Inheritance models showed that GG + CG as well as GG genotypes of STAT1 rs1547550 had a significant risk of developing AS in males (OR = 5.374, 95%CI = 2.505-11.526; OR = 5.186, 95%CI = 2.412-11.153). The TT + CT and TT genotypes at STAT1 rs6718902 were observed to be associated with a significantly decreased risk of AS compared to CC genotypes among male patients and male controls (OR = 0.637, 95%CI = 0.485-0.837; OR = 0.597, 95%CI = 0.422-0.845). Furthermore, the genotypes of JAK1 gene rs2230588, rs2780815, and rs310241 were correlated with the severity of clinical conditions in female AS patients, while the JAK2 rs2230724 genotypes may affect disease ability in male AS patients.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that JAK-STAT signaling pathway-related gene single nucleotide polymorphisms may be associated with AS susceptibility in eastern Chinese Han population. Key Points • The T allele of rs6718902 on the STAT1 gene may be a protective agent for male AS patients. • STAT1 rs1547550 GG + CG and GG genotypes were observed to be connected with a risk of male AS patients. However, STAT1 rs6718902 TT + CT and TT genotypes reduced the susceptibility risk of male AS patients compared to wild-type CC. • The JAK1 genes rs2230588, rs2780815, and rs310241 may affect disease functional status in female AS patients, while the JAK2 rs2230724 genotype was related to disease activity in male AS patients.

JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway in Non-Infectious Uveitis

Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) refers to various intraocular inflammatory disorders responsible for severe visual loss. Cytokines participate in the regulation of ocular homeostasis and NIU pathological processes. Cytokine receptors transmit signals by activating Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins. Increasing evidence from human NIU and experimental models reveals the involvement of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in NIU pathogenesis. Several small-molecule drugs that potentially inhibit multiple cytokine-dependent pathways are under investigation for treating autoimmune diseases, implicating possible applications for NIU treatment. This review summarizes the current understanding of the diverse roles of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in ocular homeostasis and NIU pathology, providing a rationale for targeting JAKs and STATs for NIU treatment. Moreover, available evidence for the safety and efficacy of JAK inhibitors for refractory uveitis and potential approaches for treatment optimization are discussed.

Efficacy and safety of Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To assess the efficacy and safety of janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

We searched the PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to Nov 1, 2021. We included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating JAK inhibitors in the treatment of AS. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias.

RESULTS

Four RCT studies with 779 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo group, percentages of participants achieving responses of Assessment of spondyloarthritis international society(ASAS) 20, ASAS 40, ASAS 5/6, Bath AS disease activity index (BASDAI) 50 were significantly higher in JAK inhibitor group respectively; changes from baseline in AS disease activity score using C-reactive protein(ASDAS-CRP), Maastricht AS enthesitis score (MASES), AS Quality of Life (ASQoL) score, short-form-36 health survey physical component summary (SF-36 PCS) score, BASDAI, Bath AS functional index (BASFI), Bath AS metrology index (BASMI), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-fatigue (FACIT-F) score, SPARCC joint score and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Overall Work Impairment score showed significant improvements in JAK inhibitor group. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) and severe adverse events (SAEs) showed no significant differences between the JAK inhibitor and placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS

JAK inhibitors showed a satisfactory and promising efficacy in the treatment of active AS not only in mitigating disease activity, but also substantially improving patient's physical function, emotional well-being and social participation. The results of this meta-analysis provide solid evidence for JAK inhibitor as a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with active AS.

[JAK inhibitors: Perspectives in internal medicine]

In the past ten years, the better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying inflammatory and autoimmune diseases has led to the emergence of many targeted therapies. Among them, the Janus kinase inhibitors are acting upstream in the inflammatory cascade of several key cytokines in disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis or psoriasis. At the moment, these three diseases represent the only indications validated by the FDA and the EMA of the use of JAK inhibitors apart from hematology. Preclinical data and therapeutic trials indicate their efficacy in other autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as lupus, dermatomyositis, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis and giant cell arteritis. This review provides a summary of current use and advancement of knowledge in the use of JAK inhibitors in pathologies faced by internists.

Use of Laplacian Heat Diffusion Algorithm to Infer Novel Genes With Functions Related to Uveitis

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea and is a serious eye disease that can cause blindness for middle-aged and young people. However, the pathogenesis of this disease has not been fully uncovered and thus renders difficulties in designing effective treatments. Completely identifying the genes related to this disease can help improve and accelerate the comprehension of uveitis. In this study, a new computational method was developed to infer potential related genes based on validated ones. We employed a large protein–protein interaction network reported in STRING, in which Laplacian heat diffusion algorithm was applied using validated genes as seed nodes. Except for the validated ones, all genes in the network were filtered by three tests, namely, permutation, association, and function tests, which evaluated the genes based on their specialties and associations to uveitis. Results indicated that 59 inferred genes were accessed, several of which were confirmed to be highly related to uveitis by literature review. In addition, the inferred genes were compared with those reported in a previous study, indicating that our reported genes are necessary supplements.