Biology subjects

Lepelley, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Lepelley, A..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Loss of MTPAP disrupts mitochondrial RNA processing causing upregulation of type I interferon signalling

Mitochondrial poly-A polymerase (MTPAP) is essential for mitochondrial mRNA (mt-mRNA) polyadenylation, a critical step in mt-mRNA maturation. Mutations in MTPAP have been reported to cause a mitochondrial cytopathy. Here, we provide evidence of enhanced type I interferon (IFN) signalling in the blood of patients carrying mutations in MTPAP. Further, deletion of MTPAP in a fibroblast cell model led to abnormalities in mitochondrial respiration and mtRNA processing, and an upregulation of type I IFN signalling. Notably, both in patients fibroblast and in MTPAP-deleted cells, we observed the accumulation of non-coding mtRNA and mitochondrial double-stranded RNA (mt-dsRNA) within enlarged mitochondrial RNA granules. Cytosolic release of mt-dsRNA led to type I IFN induction mediated primarily by the RNA sensor MDA5 and its adaptor MAVS. Our findings reveal a novel consequence of MTPAP dysfunction, highlighting how impaired mtRNA maturation can drive innate immune system activation.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2025

ATRX Deficiency Drives Aberrant Type I Interferon Signalling Through cGAS-Dependent Transcriptional Dysregulation

The X-linked -thalassaemia intellectual disability syndrome (ATRX) protein is a chromatin remodeller involved in transcriptional regulation and genome stability. While the importance of ATRX in development and malignancy is well recognised, its role in innate immunity is less well defined. In two unrelated patients demonstrating cerebral white matter disease, learning difficulties and a persistent upregulation of interferon stimulated gene expression in whole blood, we identified the same Y1758C missense substitution in ATRX. Using patient-derived cells, engineered fibroblasts and neuronal models, we show that this substitution, and other loss of function mutations in ATRX, result in enhanced type I interferon signalling through a cGAS-dependent mechanism uncoupled from the DNA sensing activity of cGAS. Loss of ATRX function leads to alterations in the chromatin distribution of DAXX and H3.3, with cGAS essential for the changes in nucleosome composition and gene expression mediated by ATRX deficiency. Thus, our study highlights a previously unrecognized link between ATRX dysfunction and inflammation involving a non-canonical role of cGAS.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2025

NAP1 switches from an activator to a limiter of interferon induction by trapping TBK1 in condensates

TBK1 kinase is a central regulator of type I IFN production. Upon activation of the IFN-{beta} induction pathway, TBK1-adaptor proteins (NAP1, SINTBAD, TANK) form condensates with liquid properties. We showed that NAP1 condensates concentrate TBK1. Using NAP1KO cell lines, we discovered that NAP1 exerts a dual effect on TBK1 activity. Initially, NAP1 binds TBK1 and increases its activity, which enhances the activation of the IFN pathway. Then, phosphorylation of NAP1 by TBK1 induces the formation of NAP1 condensates. These condensates concentrate TBK1 and PP2A, a phosphatase known to dephosphorylate and consequently deactivate TBK1, thus limiting IFN induction. Additionally, in patients with lupus or interferonopathies, we identified NAP1 variants, unable to form condensates upon cell exposure to danger signals, which can only activate TBK1 without limiting its activity. This study reveals an original mode of regulating a signaling pathway by formation of condensates and provides a molecular explanation for certain interferonopathies.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Enhanced inflammatory signaling driven by metabolic switch in Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome

Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS) is a genetic type I interferon (IFN)-mediated disease characterised by neurological involvement with onset in childhood. Chronic inflammation in response to uncontrolled type I IFN production is, among other things, associated with IP-10 secretion. We analysed, at the single-cell transcriptomic levels, peripheral blood samples from patients bearing AGS-causing mutations in SAMHD1, RNASEH2B or ADAR1 genes. Using machine-learning approaches and differential gene expression we identified a drastic loss of transcription factor hypoxia induced factor 1 (HIF-1) expression and activity associated with features of a metabolic switch and mitochondrial stress in monocytes/dendritic cells. Chemical stabilization of HIF-1, with a synthetic drug in an in vitro model of AGS, allowed us to reverse the energy metabolic switch, attenuate mitochondrial stress and markedly reduce IP-10 production. We therefore propose that energy metabolic switch contributes to exacerbated chronic inflammation in AGS, and that targeting this pathway might represent a promising therapeutic approach.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2021

Enhanced cGAS-STING-dependent interferon signaling associated with mutations in ATAD3A

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been suggested to drive immune system activation, but the induction of interferon signaling by mtDNA has not been demonstrated in a Mendelian mitochondrial disease. We initially ascertained two patients, one with a purely neurological phenotype, and one with features suggestive of systemic sclerosis in a syndromic context, and found them both to demonstrate enhanced interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression in blood. We determined each to harbor a previously described de novo dominant-negative heterozygous mutation in ATAD3A, encoding ATPase family AAA domain-containing protein 3A (ATAD3A). We identified five further patients with mutations in ATAD3A, and recorded up-regulated ISG expression and interferon alpha protein in four of them. Knockdown of ATAD3A in THP-1 cells resulted in increased interferon signaling, mediated by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and stimulator of interferon genes (STING). Enhanced interferon signaling was abrogated in THP-1 cells and patient fibroblasts depleted of mtDNA. Thus, mutations in the mitochondrial membrane protein ATAD3A define a novel type I interferonopathy. SummaryDominant-negative mutations in ATAD3A, a ubiquitously expressed mitochondrial protein, cause mitochondrial DNA-dependent up-regulation of type I interferon signaling in the context of neurological disease and autoimmunity, thereby defining a novel type I interferonopathy.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

ECSIT prevents Alzheimer's disease pathology by regulating neuronal mitochondrial ROS and mitophagy

Altered mitochondrial fitness is a potential triggering factor in Alzheimers disease (AD). Mitochondrial quality control pathways are dysfunctional and mitochondrially-derived reactive oxygen species (mROS) levels are increased in AD patient brains. However, the pathways responsible for dysregulated mROS accumulation have remained relatively unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that levels of ECSIT, a mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) complex I (CI)-associated protein, are reduced in AD-affected brains. Neuronal ECSIT downregulation increased mROS generation and impaired mitophagy of defective mitochondria. Consequently, decreasing neuronal ECSIT caused AD-like changes, including memory loss and neuropathology. In contrast, augmented neuronal expression of ECSIT protected against the development of an AD-like phenotype. Decreased levels of ECSIT in AD patient brains therefore likely contribute to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and AD pathogenesis.

neuroscience↗