PRMT5 Inhibition Reduces Hyperinflammation in a Murine Model of Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare but aggressive and potentially lethal hyperinflammatory syndrome characterized by pathologic immune activation and excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines leading to tissue damage and multisystem organ failure. There is an urgent need for the discovery of novel targets and development of therapeutic strategies to treat this rare but deadly syndrome. Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) mediates T cell-based inflammatory responses, making it a potential actionable target for the treatment of HLH. Using CPG-1826 and anti-IL10R antibody, we induced murine secondary HLH in vivo with a marked expansion of splenic myeloid cell subsets and concurrent reduction of T and NK cell populations. PRMT5 expression was significantly upregulated in splenic T and NK lymphocytes as well as monocytes and dendritic cells in mice with HLH (p<0.05). Treatment with PRT382, a potent and selective PRMT5 inhibitor, significantly reduced physical signs of secondary HLH, including splenomegaly, hepatomegaly and anemia (p<0.0001 in each case), when compared to untreated mice. Inflammatory cytokines known to drive hyperinflammation in HLH, including IFNγ and IL-6 were reduced to healthy levels with PRT382 treatment (p>0.999 for both). PRT382 treatment also reduced the expansion of myeloid cell populations (p<0.0001) in mice with HLH, compared to untreated mice, while restoring T and NK cell numbers (p<0.001 for both). These results identify PRMT5 as a promising target for the management of secondary HLH and justify further exploration in this and other models of hyperinflammation.