UNC93B1 variants underlie TLR7-dependent autoimmunity

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Christine Wolf - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Ee Lyn Lim - , Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (Author)
  • Mohammad Mokhtari - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Barbara Kind - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Alexandru Odainic - , University of Melbourne (Author)
  • Eusebia Lara-Villacanas - , Municipal Hospital Dortmund (Author)
  • Sarah Koss - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Simon Mages - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Katharina Menzel - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Kerstin Engel - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Gregor Dückers - , Helios Klinikum Krefeld (Author)
  • Benedikt Bernbeck - , Municipal Hospital Dortmund (Author)
  • Dominik T Schneider - , Municipal Hospital Dortmund (Author)
  • Kathrin Siepermann - , Helios Klinikum Krefeld (Author)
  • Tim Niehues - , Helios Klinikum Krefeld (Author)
  • Carl Christoph Goetzke - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Pawel Durek - , German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) (Author)
  • Kirsten Minden - , German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) (Author)
  • Thomas Dörner - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Anna Stittrich - , Labor Berlin Charité-Vivantes GmbH (Author)
  • Franziska Szelinski - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Gabriela Maria Guerra - , German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) (Author)
  • Mona Massoud - , German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) (Author)
  • Markus Bieringer - , HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch (Author)
  • Carina C de Oliveira Mann - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Eduardo Beltrán - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Tilmann Kallinich - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Mir-Farzin Mashreghi - , German Rheumatism Research Center (DRFZ) (Author)
  • Susanne V Schmidt - , University of Bonn (Author)
  • Eicke Latz - , German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) - Partner Site Bonn (Author)
  • Johanna Klughammer - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (Author)
  • Olivia Majer - , Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (Author)
  • Min Ae Lee-Kirsch - , Department of Paediatrics, University Center for Rare Diseases (Author)

Abstract

UNC93B1 is critical for trafficking and function of nucleic acid-sensing Toll-like receptors (TLRs) TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9, which are essential for antiviral immunity. Overactive TLR7 signaling induced by recognition of self-nucleic acids has been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here, we report UNC93B1 variants (E92G and R336L) in four patients with early-onset SLE. Patient cells or mouse macrophages carrying the UNC93B1 variants produced high amounts of TNF-α and IL-6 and upon stimulation with TLR7/TLR8 agonist, but not with TLR3 or TLR9 agonists. E92G causes UNC93B1 protein instability and reduced interaction with TLR7, leading to selective TLR7 hyperactivation with constitutive type I IFN signaling. Thus, UNC93B1 regulates TLR subtype-specific mechanisms of ligand recognition. Our findings establish a pivotal role for UNC93B1 in TLR7-dependent autoimmunity and highlight the therapeutic potential of targeting TLR7 in SLE.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereadi9769
JournalScience immunology
Volume9
Issue number92
Publication statusPublished - 23 Feb 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85185843289

Keywords

Keywords

  • Mice, Animals, Humans, Toll-Like Receptor 7/genetics, Autoimmunity/genetics, Toll-Like Receptor 9/metabolism, Toll-Like Receptor 8, Toll-Like Receptor 3/metabolism, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/genetics, Membrane Transport Proteins