Interferon-α induces unabated production of short-lived plasma cells in pre-autoimmune lupus-prone (NZB x NZW)F1 mice but not in BALB/c mice

IFN-alpha is known to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the mechanisms remain unclear. We previously showed that within weeks, exposure to IFN-alpha in vivo induces lupus in pre-autoimmune lupus-prone NZB x NZW F1 (NZB/W) but not in BALB/c mice. In the current study, we show that in vivo expression of IFN-alpha induces sustained B-cell proliferation in both BALB/c and NZB/W mice. In NZB/W but not BALB/c mice, B-cell proliferation was accompanied by a rapid and unabated production of autoantibody-secreting cells (ASCs) in secondary lymphoid organs, suggesting that a B-cell checkpoint is altered in the autoimmune background. The majority (> 95%) of ASCs elicited in IFN-alpha-treated NZB/W mice were short-lived and occurred without the induction of long-lived plasma cells. A short course of cyclophosphamide caused a sharp drop in IFN-alpha-elicited short-lived plasma cells, but the levels recovered within days following termination of treatment. Thus, our work provides new insights into effectiveness and limitations of the current SLE therapies.