2. Academic Validation
  3. Sorafenib inhibits multiple sclerosis by regulating T cell differentiation

Sorafenib inhibits multiple sclerosis by regulating T cell differentiation

  • Cell Signal. 2025 Sep:133:111872. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2025.111872.
Hanliang Wang 1,  Shuowang Wang 2,  Jin Wang 3,  Yue Fang 2,  Junwei Li 2,  Yingying Shen 4,  Jufeng Guo 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China.
  • 2 Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China.
  • 3 Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China.
  • 4 Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Medical School of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310020, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
  • 5 Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 40389044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2025.111872
Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a group of disorder characterized by aberrant T cell reactivity toward self-antigens with loss of immunological tolerance, resulting in chronic inflammation and tissue damage. CD4+ Th cells can differentiate into Th1, Th2, Th17, and Treg cells in response to a specific class of pathogenic Microorganisms and to the cytokine milieu. Here, we found that tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib (Sora), which had been approved by FDA for the treatment of tumor, could suppress pro-inflammatory Th1, Th17 cell differentiation, and promote anti-inflammatory Treg cell polarization. Furthermore, Sora suppressed Th1 and Th17 cell differentiation by STAT4 and TGF-β1 signaling, respectively. In addition, treatment with Sora in mice inhibited Th1, Th17 cell accumulation and promoted Treg cell gather in the brain, thus protecting mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). These results suggest that Sora may be a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases.

Keywords

Multiple sclerosis; Sorafenib; Th1 cell; Th17 cell; Treg cell.

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