This study shows that keratinocytes produce IFN-kappa constitutively to protect human skin against RNA and DNA viruses through distinct antiviral mechanisms.

bioRxiv · Sep 23, 2026 · PreprintImmunology

Spatial Transcriptomics Identifies Immune-Stromal Niches Associated with Cancer in Adult Dermatomyositis

Ksenia S. Anufrieva, Neda Shahriari, Ce Gao, Stephanie Pei Tung Yiu, Shideh Kazerounian, Rochelle L. Castillo, Jessica Liu, Sean A. Prell, Kartik Bhamidipati, Khashayar Afshari, Lindsay Parmelee, Anastasia N. Kazakova, Erin Theisen, Teresa Venezia Bowman, Avery LaChance, , Kevin Wei

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