STS-1 promotes IFN-α induced autophagy by activating the JAK1-STAT1 signaling pathway in B cells

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the overexpression of IFN-alpha IFN-alpha induces autophagy via the JAK1-STAT1 signaling pathway, contributing to the pathogenesis of SLE. Recent studies reported that B cells from patients with SLE and NZBM Fl mice had enhanced autophagy activity; however, the mechanism still remains unknown. Here, we show that the protein tyrosine phosphatase STS-1 (suppressor of T-cell receptor signaling 1) was significantly overexpressed in B cells from patients with SLE and MRL/Ipr mice. Notably, STS-1 promoted IFN-alpha-induced autophagy in B cells by enhancing the JAK1-STAT1 signaling activation. STS-1 inhibited the phosphorylation of the E3 ubiquitin protein ligase c-cbl, and subsequently promoted IFN-ainduced phosphorylation of tyrosine kinase 2, leading to JAK1-STAT1 signaling activation. Furthermore, STAT1 and JAK1 inhibitors blocked the IFN-a-induced autophagy promoted by STS-1, indicating that STS-1 promotes IFN-alpha-induced autophagy via the JAK1-STAT1 signaling. Our results demonstrate the importance of STS-1 in regulating IFN-alpha-induced autophagy in B cells, and this could be used as a therapeutic approach to treat SLE.