Aberrant tRNA processing causes an autoinflammatory syndrome responsive to TNF inhibitors. Issue 4 (22nd January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giannelou, Angeliki; Wang, Hongying; Zhou, Qing; Park, Yong Hwan; Abu-Asab, Mones S; Ylaya, Kris; Stone, Deborah L; Sediva, Anna; Sleiman, Rola; Sramkova, Lucie; Bhatla, Deepika; Serti, Elisavet; Tsai, Wanxia Li; Yang, Dan; Bishop, Kevin; Carrington, Blake; Pei, Wuhong; Deuitch, Natalie; Brooks, Stephen; Edwan, Jehad H; Joshi, Sarita; Prader, Seraina; Kaiser, Daniela; Owen, William C; Sonbul, Abdullah Al; Zhang, Yu; Niemela, Julie E; Burgess, Shawn M; Boehm, Manfred; Rehermann, Barbara; Chae, JaeJin; Quezado, Martha M; Ombrello, Amanda K; Buckley, Rebecca H; Grom, Alexi A; Remmers, Elaine F; Pachlopnik, Jana M; Su, Helen C; Gutierrez-Cruz, Gustavo; Hewitt, Stephen M; Sood, Raman; Risma, Kimberly; Calvo, Katherine R; Rosenzweig, Sergio D; Gadina, Massimo; Hafner, Markus; Sun, Hong-Wei; Kastner, Daniel L; Aksentijevich, Ivona;
• Is Part Of: Annals of the rheumatic diseases. Volume 77:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 612
• Page End: 619
• Publication Date: 2018-01-22
• Subjects: autoinflammation -- congenital sideroblastic anemia with immunodeficiency -- fevers -- developmental delay (SIFD) -- tRNA -- TRNT1 -- TNF inhibitors -- anti-TNF therapy; Rheumatism -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-4967

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To characterise the clinical features, immune manifestations and molecular mechanisms in a recently described autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in TRNT1, a tRNA processing enzyme, and to explore the use of cytokine inhibitors in suppressing the inflammatory phenotype. Methods: We studied nine patients with biallelic mutations in TRNT1 and the syndrome of congenital sideroblastic anaemia with immunodeficiency, fevers and developmental delay (SIFD). Genetic studies included whole exome sequencing (WES) and candidate gene screening. Patients' primary cells were used for deep RNA and tRNA sequencing, cytokine profiling, immunophenotyping, immunoblotting and electron microscopy (EM). Results: We identified eight mutations in these nine patients, three of which have not been previously associated with SIFD. Three patients died in early childhood. Inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin (IL)-6, interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and IFN-induced cytokines were elevated in the serum, whereas tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and IL-1β were present in tissue biopsies of patients with active inflammatory disease. Deep tRNA sequencing of patients' fibroblasts showed significant deficiency of mature cytosolic tRNAs. EM of bone marrow and skin biopsy samples revealed striking abnormalities across all cell types and a mix of necrotic and normal-appearing cells. By immunoprecipitation, we found evidence for dysregulation in protein clearance pathways. In 4/4 patients, treatment with a TNF inhibitor suppressed inflammation, reduced the need for blood transfusions and improved growth. Conclusions: Mutations of TRNT1 lead to a severe and often fatal syndrome, linking protein homeostasis and autoinflammation. Molecular diagnosis in early life will be crucial for initiating anti-TNF therapy, which might prevent some of the severe disease consequences.