Epigenetic changes in inflammatory arthritis monocytes contribute to disease and can be targeted by JAK inhibition

OBJECTIVES: How the local inflammatory environment regulates epigenetic changes in the context of inflammatory arthritis remains unclear. Here we assessed the transcriptional and active enhancer profile of monocytes derived from the inflamed joints of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) patients, a model well-suited for studying inflammatory arthritis.

METHODS: RNA-sequencing and H3K27me3 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) were used to analyze the transcriptional and epigenetic profile, respectively, of JIA synovial fluid-derived monocytes.

RESULTS: Synovial-derived monocytes display an activated phenotype, which is regulated on the epigenetic level. IFN signalling-associated genes are increased and epigenetically altered in synovial monocytes, indicating a driving role for IFN in establishing the local inflammatory phenotype. Treatment of synovial monocytes with the Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor ruxolitinib, which inhibits IFN signalling, transformed the activated enhancer landscape and reduced disease-associated gene expression, thereby inhibiting the inflammatory phenotype.

CONCLUSION: This study provides novel insights into epigenetic regulation of inflammatory arthritis patient-derived monocytes and highlights the therapeutic potential of epigenetic modulation for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases.