This study uses spatial and single-cell transcriptomics to identify immune-stromal niches in adult-onset dermatomyositis, revealing distinct cellular and cytokine signatures associated with cancer and non-cancer lesions.

Nature Communications · Jun 26, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

A Spatially Coordinated Keratinocyte-Fibroblast Circuit Recruits MMP9+ Myeloid Cells to Drive IFN-I-Driven Inflammation in Photosensitive Autoimmunity

Yuqing Wang, Khashayar Afshari, Nazgol‐Sadat Haddadi, Carolina S. Lopes, Chee-Huat Linus Eng, Leah M. Whiteman, Nuria Martinez, Pyae Phyo Kyawe, Ksenia S. Anufrieva, Kevin Wei, Kirsten L. Frieda, Misha A. Rosenbach, Ruth Ann Vleugels, Stefania Gallucci, John E. Harris, , Manuel G. Garber

This study identifies MMP9+ CD14+ myeloid cells as key drivers of UVB-induced IFN-I-driven inflammation in cutaneous lupus and dermatomyositis through a keratinocyte-fibroblast-myeloid circuit.

Nature Immunology · Apr 24, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

Endothelial Cell Expression of STINGV154M Gain-of-Function Mutation Delays the Resolution of UVB-induced Skin Injury

Jane Chuprin, Carolina Salomão Lopes, Kevin MingJie Gao, Kristy Chiang, Khashayar Afshari, Nazgol‐Sadat Haddadi, Mridushi Daga, Olivia Dekker, Manuel G. Garber, Milka Koupenova, Katherine A. Fitzgerald, Ann Marshak‐Rothstein, Mehdi Rashighi

This study shows that endothelial cells with a STINGV154M mutation cause persistent skin inflammation after UVB exposure, linking STING activation to impaired myeloid cell recruitment and delayed inflammation resolution.

Journal of Investigative Dermatology · Mar 28, 2026Peer-reviewedImmunology

Development of a high-throughput, quantitative platform using human cerebral organoids to study virus-induced neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Meagan N. Olson, Pepper Dawes, Liam F. Murray, Nathaniel Barton, Jonathan Sundstrom, Adrian R. Orszulak, Samantha M. Chigas, Khanh Tran, Aimee J. Aylward, Michele F. Caliandro, Sean‐Patrick Riechers, Khashayar Afshari, Qi Wang, Manuel G. Garber, Fiachra Humphries, , Elaine T. Lim

This study develops a high-throughput platform using human cerebral organoids to screen for compounds that reverse HSV-1-induced neuroinflammation biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease.

npj Dementia · Mar 9, 2026Peer-reviewedGenomics