An in vivo genetic reversion highlights the crucial role of Myb-Like, SWIRM, and MPN domains 1 (MYSM1) in human hematopoiesis and lymphocyte differentiation.

BACKGROUND: Myb-Like, SWIRM, and MPN domains 1 (MYSM1) is a metalloprotease that deubiquitinates the K119-monoubiquitinated form of histone 2A (H2A), a chromatin marker associated with gene transcription silencing. Likewise, it has been reported that murine Mysm1 participates in transcription derepression of genes, among which are transcription factors involved in hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis, hematopoiesis, and lymphocyte differentiation. However, whether MYSM1 has a similar function in human subjects remains unclear. Here we describe a patient presenting with a complete lack of B lymphocytes, T-cell lymphopenia, defective hematopoiesis, and developmental abnormalities. OBJECTIVES: We sought to characterize the underlying genetic cause of this syndrome. METHODS: We performed genome-wide homozygosity mapping, followed by whole-exome sequencing. RESULTS: Genetic analysis revealed that this novel disorder is caused by a homozygous MYSM1 missense mutation affecting the catalytic site within the deubiquitinase JAB1/MPN/Mov34 (JAMM)/MPN domain. Remarkably, during the course of our study, the patient recovered a normal immunohematologic phenotype. Genetic analysis indicated that this improvement originated from a spontaneous genetic reversion of the MYSM1 mutation in a hematopoietic stem cell. CONCLUSIONS: We here define a novel human immunodeficiency and provide evidence that MYSM1 is essential for proper immunohematopoietic development in human subjects. In addition, we describe one of the few examples of spontaneous in vivo genetic cure of a human immunodeficiency.

A nonsense mutation in the DNA repair factor Hebo causes mild bone marrow failure and microcephaly.

Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes are human conditions in which one or several cell lineages of the hemopoietic system are affected. They are present at birth or may develop progressively. They are sometimes accompanied by other developmental anomalies. Three main molecular causes have been recognized to result in bone marrow failure syndromes: (1) defects in the Fanconi anemia (FA)/BRCA DNA repair pathway, (2) defects in telomere maintenance, and (3) abnormal ribosome biogenesis. We analyzed a patient with mild bone marrow failure and microcephaly who did not present with the typical FA phenotype. Cells from this patient showed increased sensitivity to ionizing radiations and phleomycin, attesting to a probable DNA double strand break (dsb) repair defect. Linkage analysis and whole exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation in the ERCC6L2 gene. We identified a new ERCC6L2 alternative transcript encoding the DNA repair factor Hebo, which is critical for complementation of the patient's DNAdsb repair defect. Sequence analysis revealed three structured regions within Hebo: a TUDOR domain, an adenosine triphosphatase domain, and a new domain, HEBO, specifically present in Hebo direct orthologues. Hebo is ubiquitously expressed, localized in the nucleus, and rapidly recruited to DNAdsb's in an NBS1-dependent manner.