Syndromic immune disorder caused by a viable hypomorphic allele of spliceosome component Snrnp40.

We report a new immunodeficiency disorder in mice caused by a viable hypomorphic mutation of Snrnp40, an essential gene encoding a subunit of the U5 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex of the spliceosome. Snrnp40 is ubiquitous but strongly expressed in lymphoid tissue. Homozygous mutant mice showed hypersusceptibility to infection by murine cytomegalovirus and multiple defects of lymphoid development, stability and function. Cell-intrinsic defects of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation also affected homozygous mutants. SNRNP40 deficiency in primary hematopoietic stem cells or T cells or the EL4 cell line increased the frequency of splicing errors, mostly intron retention, in several hundred messenger RNAs. Altered expression of proteins associated with immune cell function was also observed in Snrnp40-mutant cells. The immunological consequences of SNRNP40 deficiency presumably result from cumulative, moderate effects on processing of many different mRNA molecules and secondary reductions in the expression of critical immune proteins, yielding a syndromic immune disorder.

NLRP3 activation and mitosis are mutually exclusive events coordinated by NEK7, a new inflammasome component.

The NLRP3 inflammasome responds to microbes and danger signals by processing and activating proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and IL-18. We found here that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was restricted to interphase of the cell cycle by NEK7, a serine-threonine kinase previously linked to mitosis. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome required NEK7, which bound to the leucine-rich repeat domain of NLRP3 in a kinase-independent manner downstream of the induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). This interaction was necessary for the formation of a complex containing NLRP3 and the adaptor ASC, oligomerization of ASC and activation of caspase-1. NEK7 promoted the NLRP3-dependent cellular inflammatory response to intraperitoneal challenge with monosodium urate and the development of experimental autoimmune encephalitis in mice. Our findings suggest that NEK7 serves as a cellular switch that enforces mutual exclusivity of the inflammasome response and cell division.

Disruption of the ZFP574-THAP12 complex suppresses B cell malignancies in mice.

Despite the availability of life-extending treatments for B cell leukemias and lymphomas, many of these cancers remain incurable. Thus, the development of new molecular targets and therapeutics is needed to expand treatment options. To identify new molecular targets, we used a forward genetic screen in mice to identify genes required for development or survival of lymphocytes. Here, we describe Zfp574, an essential gene encoding a zinc finger protein necessary for normal and malignant lymphocyte survival. We show that ZFP574 interacts with zinc finger protein THAP12 and promotes the G1-to-S-phase transition during cell cycle progression. Mutation of ZFP574 impairs nuclear localization of the ZFP574-THAP12 complex. ZFP574 or THAP12 deficiency results in cell cycle arrest and impaired lymphoproliferation. Germline mutation, acute gene deletion, or targeted degradation of ZFP574 suppressed Myc-driven B cell leukemia in mice, but normal B cells were largely spared, permitting long-term survival, whereas complete lethality was observed in control animals. Our findings support the identification of drugs targeting ZFP574-THAP12 as a unique strategy to treat B cell malignancies.

Essential requirement for IER3IP1 in B cell development.

In a forward genetic screen of mice with N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mutations for aberrant immune function, we identified animals with low percentages of B220+ cells in the peripheral blood. The causative mutation was in Ier3ip1, encoding immediate early response 3 interacting protein 1 (IER3IP1), an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein mutated in an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder termed Microcephaly with simplified gyration, Epilepsy and permanent neonatal Diabetes Syndrome (MEDS) in humans. However, no immune function for IER3IP1 had previously been reported. The viable hypomorphic Ier3ip1 allele uncovered in this study, identical to a reported IER3IP1 variant in a MEDS patient, reveals an essential hematopoietic-intrinsic role for IER3IP1 in B cell development and function. We show that IER3IP1 forms a complex with the Golgi transmembrane protein 167A and limits activation of the unfolded protein response mediated by inositol-requiring enzyme-1α and X-box binding protein 1 in B cells. Our findings suggest that B cell deficiency may be a feature of MEDS.

Essential role of MFSD1-GLMP-GIMAP5 in lymphocyte survival and liver homeostasis.

We detected ENU-induced alleles of Mfsd1 (encoding the major facilitator superfamily domain containing 1 protein) that caused lymphopenia, splenomegaly, progressive liver pathology, and extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH). MFSD1 is a lysosomal membrane-bound solute carrier protein with no previously described function in immunity. By proteomic analysis, we identified association between MFSD1 and both GLMP (glycosylated lysosomal membrane protein) and GIMAP5 (GTPase of immunity-associated protein 5). Germline knockout alleles of Mfsd1, Glmp, and Gimap5 each caused lymphopenia, liver pathology, EMH, and lipid deposition in the bone marrow and liver. We found that the interactions of MFSD1 and GLMP with GIMAP5 are essential to maintain normal GIMAP5 expression, which in turn is critical to support lymphocyte development and liver homeostasis that suppresses EMH. These findings identify the protein complex MFSD1-GLMP-GIMAP5 operating in hematopoietic and extrahematopoietic tissues to regulate immunity and liver homeostasis.

RNPS1 inhibits excessive tumor necrosis factor/tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling to support hematopoiesis in mice.

Null mutations of spliceosome components or cofactors are homozygous lethal in eukaryotes, but viable hypomorphic mutations provide an opportunity to understand the physiological impact of individual splicing proteins. We describe a viable missense allele (F181I) of Rnps1 encoding an essential regulator of splicing and nonsense-mediated decay (NMD), identified in a mouse genetic screen for altered immune cell development. Homozygous mice displayed a stem cell­intrinsic defect in hematopoiesis of all lineages due to excessive apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­dependent death signaling. Numerous transcript splice variants containing retained introns and skipped exons were detected at elevated frequencies in Rnps1F181I/F181I splenic CD8+ T cells and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but NMD appeared normal. Strikingly, Tnf knockout rescued all hematopoietic cells to normal or near-normal levels in Rnps1F181I/F181I mice and dramatically reduced intron retention in Rnps1F181I/F181I CD8+ T cells and HSCs. Thus, RNPS1 is necessary for accurate splicing, without which disinhibited TNF signaling triggers hematopoietic cell death.

Sulfatides are endogenous ligands for the TLR4-MD-2 complex.

Many endogenous molecules, mostly proteins, purportedly activate the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-myeloid differentiation factor-2 (MD-2) complex, the innate immune receptor for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from gram-negative bacteria. However, there is no structural evidence supporting direct TLR4-MD-2 activation by endogenous ligands. Sulfatides (3-O-sulfogalactosylceramides) are natural, abundant sulfated glycolipids that have variously been shown to initiate or suppress inflammatory responses. We show here that short fatty acid (FA) chain sulfatides directly activate mouse TLR4-MD-2 independent of CD14, trigger MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling, and stimulate tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and type I interferon (IFN) production in mouse macrophages. In contrast to the agonist activity toward the mouse receptor, the tested sulfatides antagonize TLR4-MD-2 activation by LPS in human macrophage-like cells. The agonistic and antagonistic activities of sulfatides require the presence of the sulfate group and are inversely related to the FA chain length. The crystal structure of mouse TLR4-MD-2 in complex with C16-sulfatide revealed that three C16-sulfatide molecules bound to the MD-2 hydrophobic pocket and induced an active dimer conformation of the receptor complex similar to that induced by LPS or lipid A. The three C16-sulfatide molecules partially mimicked the detailed interactions of lipid A to achieve receptor activation. Our results suggest that sulfatides may mediate sterile inflammation or suppress LPS-stimulated inflammation, and that additional endogenous negatively charged lipids with up to six lipid chains of limited length might also bind to TLR4-MD-2 and activate or inhibit this complex.

De novo germline mutation in the dual specificity phosphatase 10 gene accelerates autoimmune diabetes.

Insulin-dependent or type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a polygenic autoimmune disease. In humans, more than 60 loci carrying common variants that confer disease susceptibility have been identified by genome-wide association studies, with a low individual risk contribution for most variants excepting those of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region (40 to 50% of risk); hence the importance of missing heritability due in part to rare variants. Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice recapitulate major features of the human disease including genetic aspects with a key role for the MHC haplotype and a series of Idd loci. Here we mapped in NOD mice rare variants arising from genetic drift and significantly impacting disease risk. To that aim we established by selective breeding two sublines of NOD mice from our inbred NOD/Nck colony exhibiting a significant difference in T1D incidence. Whole-genome sequencing of high (H)- and low (L)-incidence sublines (NOD/NckH and NOD/NckL) revealed a limited number of subline-specific variants. Treating age of diabetes onset as a quantitative trait in automated meiotic mapping (AMM), enhanced susceptibility in NOD/NckH mice was unambiguously attributed to a recessive missense mutation of Dusp10, which encodes a dual specificity phosphatase. The causative effect of the mutation was verified by targeting Dusp10 with CRISPR-Cas9 in NOD/NckL mice, a manipulation that significantly increased disease incidence. The Dusp10 mutation resulted in islet cell down-regulation of type I interferon signature genes, which may exert protective effects against autoimmune aggression. De novo mutations akin to rare human susceptibility variants can alter the T1D phenotype.

Genetic and structural studies of RABL3 reveal an essential role in lymphoid development and function.

The small GTPase RABL3 is an oncogene of unknown physiological function. Homozygous knockout alleles of mouse Rabl3 were embryonic lethal, but a viable hypomorphic allele (xiamen [xm]) causing in-frame deletion of four amino acids from the interswitch region resulted in profound defects in lymphopoiesis. Impaired lymphoid progenitor development led to deficiencies of B cells, T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells in Rabl3xm/xm mice. T cells and NK cells exhibited impaired cytolytic activity, and mice infected with mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) displayed elevated titers in the spleen. Myeloid cells were normal in number and function. Biophysical and crystallographic studies demonstrated that RABL3 formed a homodimer in solution via interactions between the effector binding surfaces on each subunit; monomers adopted a typical small G protein fold. RABL3xm displayed a large compensatory alteration in switch I, which adopted a ß-strand configuration normally provided by the deleted interswitch residues, thereby permitting homodimer formation. Dysregulated effector binding due to conformational changes in the switch I-interswitch-switch II module likely underlies the xm phenotype. One such effector may be GPR89, putatively an ion channel or G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). RABL3, but not RABL3xm, strongly associated with and stabilized GPR89, and an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutation (explorer) in Gpr89 phenocopied Rabl3xm.

Forward genetic analysis using OCT screening identifies Sfxn3 mutations leading to progressive outer retinal degeneration in mice.

Retinal disease and loss of vision can result from any disruption of the complex pathways controlling retinal development and homeostasis. Forward genetics provides an excellent tool to find, in an unbiased manner, genes that are essential to these processes. Using N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea mutagenesis in mice in combination with a screening protocol using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and automated meiotic mapping, we identified 11 mutations presumably causative of retinal phenotypes in genes previously known to be essential for retinal integrity. In addition, we found multiple statistically significant gene-phenotype associations that have not been reported previously and decided to target one of these genes, Sfxn3 (encoding sideroflexin-3), using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. We demonstrate, using OCT, light microscopy, and electroretinography, that two Sfxn3-/- mouse lines developed progressive and severe outer retinal degeneration. Electron microscopy showed thinning of the retinal pigment epithelium and disruption of the external limiting membrane. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of retinal cells isolated from C57BL/6J mice, we demonstrate that Sfxn3 is expressed in several bipolar cell subtypes, retinal ganglion cells, and some amacrine cell subtypes but not significantly in Müller cells or photoreceptors. In situ hybridization confirmed these findings. Furthermore, pathway analysis suggests that Sfxn3 may be associated with synaptic homeostasis. Importantly, electron microscopy analysis showed disruption of synapses and synaptic ribbons in the outer plexiform layer of Sfxn3-/- mice. Our work describes a previously unknown requirement for Sfxn3 in retinal function.

Enhanced susceptibility to chemically induced colitis caused by excessive endosomal TLR signaling in LRBA-deficient mice.

LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) protein deficiency in humans causes immune dysregulation resulting in autoimmunity, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hypogammaglobulinemia, regulatory T (Treg) cell defects, and B cell functional defects, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible are incompletely understood. In an ongoing forward genetic screen for N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutations that increase susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, we identified two nonsense mutations in Lrba Although Treg cells have been a main focus in LRBA research to date, we found that dendritic cells (DCs) contribute significantly to DSS-induced intestinal inflammation in LRBA-deficient mice. Lrba-/- DCs exhibited excessive IRF3/7- and PI3K/mTORC1-dependent signaling and type I IFN production in response to the stimulation of the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) 3, TLR7, and TLR9. Substantial reductions in cytokine expression and sensitivity to DSS in LRBA-deficient mice were caused by knockout of Unc93b1, a chaperone necessary for trafficking of TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9 to endosomes. Our data support a function for LRBA in limiting endosomal TLR signaling and consequent intestinal inflammation.

Dominant atopy risk mutations identified by mouse forward genetic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Atopy, the overall tendency to become sensitized to an allergen, is heritable but seldom ascribed to mutations within specific genes. Atopic individuals develop abnormally elevated IgE responses to immunization with potential allergens. To gain insight into the genetic causes of atopy, we carried out a forward genetic screen for atopy in mice. METHODS: We screened mice carrying homozygous and heterozygous N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced germline mutations for aberrant antigen-specific IgE and IgG1 production in response to immunization with the model allergen papain. Candidate genes were validated by independent gene mutation. RESULTS: Of 31 candidate genes selected for investigation, the effects of mutations in 23 genes on papain-specific IgE or IgG1 were verified. Among the 20 verified genes influencing the IgE response, eight were necessary for the response, while 12 repressed IgE. Nine genes were not previously implicated in the IgE response. Fifteen genes encoded proteins contributing to IgE class switch recombination or B-cell receptor signaling. The precise roles of the five remaining genes (Flcn, Map1lc3b, Me2, Prkd2, and Scarb2) remain to be determined. Loss-of-function mutations in nine of the 12 genes limiting the IgE response were dominant or semi-dominant for the IgE phenotype but did not cause immunodeficiency in the heterozygous state. Using damaging allele frequencies for the corresponding human genes and in silico simulations (Monte Carlo) of undiscovered atopy mutations, we estimated the percentage of humans with heterozygous atopy risk mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Up to 37% of individuals may be heterozygous carriers for at least one dominant atopy risk mutation.

Adjuvant effect of the novel TLR1/TLR2 agonist Diprovocim synergizes with anti-PD-L1 to eliminate melanoma in mice.

Successful cancer immunotherapy entails activation of innate immune receptors to promote dendritic cell (DC) maturation, antigen presentation, up-regulation of costimulatory molecules, and cytokine secretion, leading to activation of tumor antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Here we screened a synthetic library of 100,000 compounds for innate immune activators using TNF production by THP-1 cells as a readout. We identified and optimized a potent human and mouse Toll-like receptor (TLR)1/TLR2 agonist, Diprovocim, which exhibited an EC50 of 110 pM in human THP-1 cells and 1.3 nM in primary mouse peritoneal macrophages. In mice, Diprovocim-adjuvanted ovalbumin immunization promoted antigen-specific humoral and CTL responses and synergized with anti-PD-L1 treatment to inhibit tumor growth, generating long-term antitumor memory, curing or prolonging survival of mice engrafted with the murine melanoma B16-OVA. Diprovocim induced greater frequencies of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes than alum, of which CD8 T cells were necessary for the antitumor effect of immunization plus anti-PD-L1 treatment.

Excessive endosomal TLR signaling causes inflammatory disease in mice with defective SMCR8-WDR41-C9ORF72 complex function.

The SMCR8-WDR41-C9ORF72 complex is a regulator of autophagy and lysosomal function. Autoimmunity and inflammatory disease have been ascribed to loss-of-function mutations of Smcr8 or C9orf72 in mice. In humans, autoimmunity has been reported to precede amyotrophic lateral sclerosis caused by mutations of C9ORF72 However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying autoimmunity and inflammation caused by C9ORF72 or SMCR8 deficiencies remain unknown. Here, we show that splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and activated circulating T cells observed in Smcr8-/- mice were rescued by triple knockout of the endosomal Toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9. Myeloid cells from Smcr8-/- mice produced excessive inflammatory cytokines in response to endocytosed TLR3, TLR7, or TLR9 ligands administered in the growth medium and in response to TLR2 or TLR4 ligands internalized by phagocytosis. These defects likely stem from prolonged TLR signaling caused by accumulation of LysoTracker-positive vesicles and by delayed phagosome maturation, both of which were observed in Smcr8-/- macrophages. Smcr8-/- mice also showed elevated susceptibility to dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis, which was not associated with increased TLR3, TLR7, or TLR9 signaling. Deficiency of WDR41 phenocopied loss of SMCR8. Our findings provide evidence that excessive endosomal TLR signaling resulting from prolonged ligand-receptor contact causes inflammatory disease in SMCR8-deficient mice.

Special delivery: granulin brings CpG DNA to Toll-like receptor 9.

Foreign DNA activates the innate immune response through Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). In this issue of Immunity, Park et al. (2011) present evidence that granulin is a cofactor for TLR9 activation, delivering CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides to TLR9 in endolysosomes.

Skin-specific regulation of SREBP processing and lipid biosynthesis by glycerol kinase 5.

The recessive N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea-induced phenotype toku is characterized by delayed hair growth, progressive hair loss, and excessive accumulation of dermal cholesterol, triglycerides, and ceramides. The toku phenotype was attributed to a null allele of Gk5, encoding glycerol kinase 5 (GK5), a skin-specific kinase expressed predominantly in sebaceous glands. GK5 formed a complex with the sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) through their C-terminal regulatory domains, inhibiting SREBP processing and activation. In Gk5toku/toku mice, transcriptionally active SREBPs accumulated in the skin, but not in the liver; they were localized to the nucleus and led to elevated lipid synthesis and subsequent hair growth defects. Similar defective hair growth was observed in kinase-inactive GK5 mutant mice. Hair growth defects of homozygous toku mice were partially rescued by treatment with the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin. GK5 exists as part of a skin-specific regulatory mechanism for cholesterol biosynthesis, independent of cholesterol regulation elsewhere in the body.

IgD class switching is initiated by microbiota and limited to mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in mice.

Class-switch recombination (CSR) alters the Ig isotype to diversify antibody effector functions. IgD CSR is a rare event, and its regulation is poorly understood. We report that deficiency of 53BP1, a DNA damage-response protein, caused age-dependent overproduction of secreted IgD resulting from increased IgD CSR exclusively within B cells of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. IgD overproduction was dependent on activation-induced cytidine deaminase, hematopoietic MyD88 expression, and an intact microbiome, against which circulating IgD, but not IgM, was reactive. IgD CSR occurred via both alternative nonhomologous end-joining and homologous recombination pathways. Microbiota-dependent IgD CSR also was detected in nasal-associated lymphoid tissue of WT mice. These results identify a pathway, present in WT mice and hyperactivated in 53BP1-deficient mice, by which microbiota signal via Toll-like receptors to elicit IgD CSR.

Insulin resistance and diabetes caused by genetic or diet-induced KBTBD2 deficiency in mice.

We describe a metabolic disorder characterized by lipodystrophy, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, severe diabetes, and growth retardation observed in mice carrying N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced mutations. The disorder was ascribed to a mutation of kelch repeat and BTB (POZ) domain containing 2 (Kbtbd2) and was mimicked by a CRISPR/Cas9-targeted null allele of the same gene. Kbtbd2 encodes a BTB-Kelch family substrate recognition subunit of the Cullin-3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase. KBTBD2 targeted p85α, the regulatory subunit of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) heterodimer, causing p85α ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. In the absence of KBTBD2, p85α accumulated to 30-fold greater levels than in wild-type adipocytes, and excessive p110-free p85α blocked the binding of p85α-p110 heterodimers to IRS1, interrupting the insulin signal. Both transplantation of wild-type adipose tissue and homozygous germ line inactivation of the p85α-encoding gene Pik3r1 rescued diabetes and hepatic steatosis phenotypes of Kbtbd2-/- mice. Kbtbd2 was down-regulated in diet-induced obese insulin-resistant mice in a leptin-dependent manner. KBTBD2 is an essential regulator of the insulin-signaling pathway, modulating insulin sensitivity by limiting p85α abundance.

TLR4/MD-2 activation by a synthetic agonist with no similarity to LPS.

Structurally disparate molecules reportedly engage and activate Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and other TLRs, yet the interactions that mediate binding and activation by dissimilar ligands remain unknown. We describe Neoseptins, chemically synthesized peptidomimetics that bear no structural similarity to the established TLR4 ligand, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but productively engage the mouse TLR4 (mTLR4)/myeloid differentiation factor 2 (MD-2) complex. Neoseptin-3 activates mTLR4/MD-2 independently of CD14 and triggers canonical myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)- and Toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain-containing adaptor inducing IFN-beta (TRIF)-dependent signaling. The crystal structure mTLR4/MD-2/Neoseptin-3 at 2.57-Å resolution reveals that Neoseptin-3 binds as an asymmetrical dimer within the hydrophobic pocket of MD-2, inducing an active receptor complex similar to that induced by lipid A. However, Neoseptin-3 and lipid A form dissimilar molecular contacts to achieve receptor activation; hence strong TLR4/MD-2 agonists need not mimic LPS.

Diprovocims: A New and Exceptionally Potent Class of Toll-like Receptor Agonists.

A screen conducted with nearly 100000 compounds and a surrogate functional assay for stimulation of an immune response that measured the release of TNF-α from treated human THP-1 myeloid cells differentiated along the macrophage line led to the discovery of the diprovocims. Unique to these efforts and of special interest, the screening leads for this new class of activators of an immune response came from a compound library designed to promote cell-surface receptor dimerization. Subsequent comprehensive structure-activity relationship studies improved the potency 800-fold over that of the screening leads, providing diprovocim-1 and diprovocim-2. The diprovocims act by inducing cell-surface toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 dimerization and activation with TLR1 (TLR1/TLR2 agonist), bear no structural similarity to any known natural or synthetic TLR agonist, and are easy to prepare and synthetically modify, and selected members are active in both human and murine systems. The most potent diprovocim (3, diprovocim-1) elicits full agonist activity at extraordinarily low concentrations (EC50 = 110 pM) in human THP-1 cells, being more potent than the naturally derived TLR1/TLR2 agonist Pam3CSK4 or any other known small molecule TLR agonist.