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DNASE1L3 deficiency, new phenotypes, and evidence for a transient type I IFN signaling

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Abstract

Background

Deoxyribonuclease 1 like 3 (DNASE1L3) is a secreted enzyme that has been shown to digest the extracellular chromatin derived from apoptotic bodies, and DNASE1L3 pathogenic variants have been associated with a lupus phenotype. It is unclear whether interferon signaling is sustained in DNASE1L3 deficiency in humans.

Objectives

To explore interferon signaling in DNASE1L3 deficient patients. To depict the characteristic features of DNASE1L3 deficiencies in human.

Methods

We identified, characterized, and analyzed five new patients carrying biallelic DNASE1L3 variations. Whole or targeted exome and/or Sanger sequencing was performed to detect pathogenic variations in five juvenile systemic erythematosus lupus (jSLE) patients. We measured interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression in all patients. We performed a systematic review of all published cases available from its first description in 2011 to March 24th 2022.

Results

We identified five new patients carrying biallelic DNASE1L3 pathogenic variations, including three previously unreported mutations. Contrary to canonical type I interferonopathies, we noticed a transient increase of ISGs in blood, which returned to normal with disease remission. Disease in one patient was characterized by lupus nephritis and skin lesions, while four others exhibited hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome. The fourth patient presented also with early-onset inflammatory bowel disease. Reviewing previous reports, we identified 35 additional patients with DNASE1L3 deficiency which was associated with a significant risk of lupus nephritis and a poor outcome together with the presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Lung lesions were reported in 6/35 patients.

Conclusions

DNASE1L3 deficiencies are associated with a broad phenotype including frequently lupus nephritis and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis with positive ANCA and rarely, alveolar hemorrhages and inflammatory bowel disease. This report shows that interferon production is transient contrary to anomalies of intracellular DNA sensing and signaling observed in Aicardi-Goutières syndrome or STING-associated vasculitis in infancy (SAVI).

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Data Availability

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the patients and their parents for participating in this study. This work is dedicated to Pr Rolando Cimaz who passed away last January 29th 2022.

Funding

Y.J.C. received a state subsidy managed by the National Research Agency (France) under the “Investments for the Future” (ANR-10-IAHU-01), and the MSDAvenir fund (DEVO-DECODE Project). A.B. was supported by the National Research Agency (France) (ANR-21-CE17-0064–01).

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Authors

Contributions

MT and AB made substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work. MT and AB drafted the manuscript. EL, CS, RP, ALM, MCM, VS, MD, AD, GN, AJ, LJ, JBG, EC, IR, DG, NF, GIR, GL, AL, PR, TW, SV, MP, YJC, TA, and AB were involved in the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data. All authors provided critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandre Belot.

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Ethics Approval

The study was approved by the Leeds (East) Research Ethics Committee (reference number 10/H1307/132) and the Medical Ethics Committee of Sud Est III (Lyon, France).

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Parental written informed consent was provided for inclusion of clinical data and samples in the study.

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Written informed consent for publishing the results of this study considering ethical confidentiality and anonymity was obtained from the parents.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Tusseau, M., Lovšin, E., Samaille, C. et al. DNASE1L3 deficiency, new phenotypes, and evidence for a transient type I IFN signaling. J Clin Immunol 42, 1310–1320 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-022-01287-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-022-01287-5

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