Loss-of-function variants in SAT1 cause X-linked childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Lingxiao Xu, Jian Zhao, Qing Sun, Xue Xu, Lei Wang, Ting Liu, Yunjuan Wu, Jingfeng Zhu, Linyu Geng, Yun Deng, Alexander Awgulewitsch, Diane L. Kamen, Jim C. Oates, Prithvi Raj, Edward K. Wakeland, R. Hal Scofield, Joel M. Guthridge, Judith A. James, Bevra H. Hahn, Deborah K. McCurdyFang Wang, Miaojia Zhang, Wenfeng Tan, Gary S. Gilkeson, Betty P. Tsao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives Families that contain multiple siblings affected with childhood onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) likely have strong genetic predispositions. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to identify familial rare risk variants and to assess their effects in lupus. Methods Sanger sequencing validated the two ultra-rare, predicted pathogenic risk variants discovered by WES and identified additional variants in 562 additional patients with SLE. Effects of a splice site variant and a frameshift variant were assessed using a Minigene assay and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in (KI) mice, respectively. Results The two familial ultra-rare, predicted loss-of-function (LOF) SAT1 variants exhibited X-linked recessive Mendelian inheritance in two unrelated African-American families. Each LOF variant was transmitted from the heterozygous unaffected mother to her two sons with childhood-onset SLE. The p.Asp40Tyr variant affected a splice donor site causing deleterious transcripts. The young hemizygous male and homozygous female Sat1 p.Glu92Leufs∗6 KI mice spontaneously developed splenomegaly, enlarged glomeruli with leucocyte infiltration, proteinuria and elevated expression of type I interferon-inducible genes. SAT1 is highly expressed in neutrophils and encodes spermidine/spermine-N 1 -acetyltransferase 1 (SSAT1), a rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine catabolism. Young male KI mice exhibited neutrophil defects and decreased proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T-cell subsets. Circulating neutrophil counts and proportions of Foxp3 +CD4+ T cells correlated with decreased plasma levels of spermine in treatment-naive, incipient SLE patients. Conclusions We identified two novel SAT1 LOF variants, showed the ability of the frameshift variant to confer murine lupus, highlighted the pathogenic role of dysregulated polyamine catabolism and identified SAT1 LOF variants as new monogenic causes for SLE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1712-1721
Number of pages10
JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume81
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 17 2022

Keywords

  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Immune System Diseases
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rheumatology
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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