IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-IRF1 tunes the IRF4-IRF8 axis to drive effector B-cell fates in autoimmunity and inflammaging

IRF1 tunes the IRF4-IRF8 axis to drive effector B-cell fates in autoimmunity and inflammaging

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Video Summary

The speaker presented research on how the transcription factor RF1 helps B cells become antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus is driven by autoantibodies, and interferon-gamma plus TLR7 signaling are thought to cooperate in disease, but the mechanism was unclear. Using a lupus-prone mouse model, the study showed that deleting RF1 specifically in B cells reduced ASC formation, pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibody-producing cells, splenomegaly, kidney damage, and improved survival. Single-cell multiomic analysis revealed that RF1 maintains accessibility of the RF4 locus, supporting a high-output, interferon-driven ASC program, while also suppressing a possible regulatory ASC subset. In human lupus B cells, RF1 and RF4 were also elevated. Functional experiments in human B cells confirmed that RF1 and TLR7 together strongly promote ASC differentiation. Overall, RF1 appears to link interferon-gamma and TLR7 signals to drive pathogenic B-cell responses in lupus.

Meta Tag

Date April 17, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Room Ballroom

Session Inflammatory Mechanisms in Systemic Autoimmunity

Speaker Eddie-Williams Owiredu

Track Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

Year 2026

Keywords

RF1

systemic lupus erythematosus

B cells

antibody-secreting cells

TLR7 signaling

April 17, 2026 1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Ballroom

Inflammatory Mechanisms in Systemic Autoimmunity

Eddie-Williams Owiredu

Basic Autoimmunity (BA)

2026