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Immunogenetics
Original research
DDX58(RIG-I)-related disease is associated with tissue-specific interferon pathway activation
  1. Lev Prasov1,2,
  2. Brenda L Bohnsack1,3,4,
  3. Antonette S El Husny5,
  4. Lam C Tsoi6,7,
  5. Bin Guan8,
  6. J Michelle Kahlenberg6,9,
  7. Edmundo Almeida10,
  8. Haitao Wang11,
  9. Edward W Cowen12,
  10. Adriana A De Jesus13,
  11. Priyam Jani14,
  12. Allison C Billi6,
  13. Sayoko E Moroi1,15,
  14. Rachael Wasikowski6,
  15. Izabela Almeida16,
  16. Luciana N Almeida10,
  17. Fernando Kok17,
  18. Sarah J Garnai1,
  19. Shahzad I Mian1,
  20. Marcus Y Chen18,
  21. Blake M Warner19,
  22. Carlos R Ferreira20,
  23. Raphaela Goldbach-Mansky13,
  24. Sun Hur11,
  25. Brian P Brooks8,
  26. Julia E Richards1,21,
  27. Robert B Hufnagel8,
  28. Johann E Gudjonsson6
  1. 1 Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  2. 2 Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  3. 3 Ophthalmology, Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  4. 4 Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
  5. 5 Children and Adolescents' Health Care Unit, Bettina Ferro De Souza University Hospital, Federal University of Para, Belem, Brazil
  6. 6 Dermatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  7. 7 Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  8. 8 Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function Branch, National Eye Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  9. 9 Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  10. 10 Ophthalmology, Federal University of Para, Belem, Brazil
  11. 11 Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  12. 12 Dermatology Branch, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  13. 13 Translational Autoinflammatory Diseases Section, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  14. 14 Craniofacial Anomalies and Regeneration Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  15. 15 Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
  16. 16 Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  17. 17 Mendelics Genomic Analysis, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  18. 18 Cardiovascular Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  19. 19 Salivary Disorders Unit, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, Bethesda, MD, USA
  20. 20 Medical Genomics and Metabolic Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
  21. 21 Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Lev Prasov, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; lprasov{at}umich.edu

Abstract

Background Singleton-Merten syndrome (SGMRT) is a rare immunogenetic disorder that variably features juvenile open-angle glaucoma (JOAG), psoriasiform skin rash, aortic calcifications and skeletal and dental dysplasia. Few families have been described and the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum is poorly defined, with variants in DDX58 (DExD/H-box helicase 58) being one of two identified causes, classified as SGMRT2.

Methods Families underwent deep systemic phenotyping and exome sequencing. Functional characterisation with in vitro luciferase assays and in vivo interferon signature using bulk and single cell RNA sequencing was performed.

Results We have identified a novel DDX58 variant c.1529A>T p.(Glu510Val) that segregates with disease in two families with SGMRT2. Patients in these families have widely variable phenotypic features and different ethnic background, with some being severely affected by systemic features and others solely with glaucoma. JOAG was present in all individuals affected with the syndrome. Furthermore, detailed evaluation of skin rash in one patient revealed sparse inflammatory infiltrates in a unique distribution. Functional analysis showed that the DDX58 variant is a dominant gain-of-function activator of interferon pathways in the absence of exogenous RNA ligands. Single cell RNA sequencing of patient lesional skin revealed a cellular activation of interferon-stimulated gene expression in keratinocytes and fibroblasts but not in neighbouring healthy skin.

Conclusions These results expand the genotypic spectrum of DDX58-associated disease, provide the first detailed description of ocular and dermatological phenotypes, expand our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of this condition and provide a platform for testing response to therapy.

  • autoimmune diseases
  • congenital
  • hereditary
  • and neonatal diseases and abnormalities
  • dermatology
  • eye diseases
  • gain of function mutation

Data availability statement

Data are available on reasonable request. All underlying data including genomic, single cell RNA sequencing data and deidentified clinical data and are available on reasonable request from the corresponding author or the study team.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2020-107447

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    Data availability statement

    Data are available on reasonable request. All underlying data including genomic, single cell RNA sequencing data and deidentified clinical data and are available on reasonable request from the corresponding author or the study team.

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @priyamjani, @Blakewarner0

    • Contributors Conceptualisation and study design: LP, BLB, JEG, LCT, RBH. Acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data: all authors. Initial drafting of manuscript: LP. Revision and review of manuscript: all authors. Final approval of the submitted manuscript: all authors. Obtained funding: LP, JEG, LCT, JMK, JER, SH, RBH, BPB. Study supervision: LP, JEG, LCT, SH, RBH, RTG-M, BPB, JER.

    • Funding The NEI K12 EY022299 (LP) and NEI P30 EY07003 (LP). NEI intramural funds (RBH, BG, BPB). The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases of the National Institutes of Health R01-AR060802 (JEG), P30-AR075043 (JEG) and K01-AR072129 (LCT) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases under R01-AR069071 (JEG), the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute (JEG. and JMK) and the Parfet Emerging Scholar Award (JMK), the Roche Postdoctoral Fellowship (HW).

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.