SHP2 promotes sarcoidosis severity by inhibiting SKP2-targeted ubiquitination of TBET in CD8+ T cells

Sci Transl Med. 2023 Sep 13;15(713):eade2581. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.ade2581. Epub 2023 Sep 13.

Abstract

Sarcoidosis is an interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and T-box expressed in T cells (TBET) dysregulation. Although one-third of patients progress from granulomatous inflammation to severe lung damage, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here, we found that pharmacological inhibition of phosphorylated SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (pSHP2), a facilitator of aberrant IFN-γ abundance, decreased large granuloma formation and macrophage infiltration in the lungs of mice with sarcoidosis-like disease. Positive treatment outcomes were dependent on the effective enhancement of TBET ubiquitination within CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, we identified a posttranslational modification pathway in which the E3 F-box protein S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (SKP2) targets TBET for ubiquitination in T cells under normal conditions. However, this pathway was disrupted by aberrant pSHP2 signaling in CD8+ T cells from patients with progressive pulmonary sarcoidosis and end-stage disease. Ex vivo inhibition of pSHP2 in CD8+ T cells from patients with end-stage sarcoidosis enhanced TBET ubiquitination and suppressed IFN-γ and collagen synthesis. Therefore, these studies provided new mechanistic insights into the SHP2-dependent posttranslational regulation of TBET and identified SHP2 inhibition as a potential therapeutic intervention against severe sarcoidosis. Furthermore, these studies also suggest that the small-molecule SHP2 inhibitor SHP099 might be used as a therapeutic measure against human diseases linked to TBET or ubiquitination.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Mice
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Sarcoidosis*
  • Ubiquitination

Substances

  • Interferon-gamma