Epidermal Interferon kappa drives cutaneous lupus-like lesions, photosensitivity and systemic autoimmunity in vivo.

Objective: Keratinocyte-derived interferon kappa (IFN-κ) is chronically overexpressed in human non-lesional systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) skin. Recent evidence suggests that epidermal signals instruct the immune system in SLE, but whether epidermal IFN-κ alone is sufficient to drive lupus phenotypes has not been investigated. This study aimed to identify whether epidermal-specific overexpression of Interferon kappa (Ifnk) results in lupus-like cutaneous and systemic inflammation.