IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-GM-CSF-IRF5 Axis as a Therapeutic Target in TLR7-Mediated Macrophage Activation Syndrome

GM-CSF-IRF5 Axis as a Therapeutic Target in TLR7-Mediated Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker described research on macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), a dangerous inflammatory complication of rheumatic disease and viral infection. Using TRF7-overexpression mouse models, the team found that GM-CSF activates IRF5, driving inflammatory monocyte-to-hemophagocytic macrophage differentiation, which causes anemia, thrombocytopenia, and splenomegaly. Deleting IRF5, or blocking GM-CSF, strongly reduced MAS-like disease and improved survival. The findings suggest the GM-CSF–IRF5 pathway is a key driver of MAS and a promising therapeutic target, with IRF5 inhibition potentially offering protection even when only one gene copy is lost.

Meta Tag

Date April 17, 2026 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Room Ballroom

Session Inflammatory Mechanisms in Systemic Autoimmunity

Speaker Ailing Lu

Track Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

Year 2026

Keywords

macrophage activation syndrome

GM-CSF

IRF5

inflammatory macrophages

hemophagocytic differentiation

April 17, 2026 1:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Ballroom

Inflammatory Mechanisms in Systemic Autoimmunity

Ailing Lu

Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

2026