Extracellular DNASE1L3 dysfunction fuels obesity-driven inflammation and metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Obesity, a global health crisis affecting 16% of the world population, is characterized by chronic inflammation that contributes to health complications such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Emerging evidence suggests that self-DNA released from dying cells aberrantly activates inflammatory responses during obesity. However, the role of extracellular deoxyribonucleases (DNASEs), which at steady state regulate abundance of extracellular self-DNA, remains poorly understood in this context. Here, we show that individuals with obesity exhibit elevated levels of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) with a distinctive end-motif signature, anti-DNASE1L3 autoantibodies and a reduction in circulating DNASE activity. These cfDNA alterations correlate with the severity of obesity and can be corrected by therapeutic intervention such as bariatric surgery. Similarly, mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) displayed increased cfDNA levels and decreased DNASE activity. Genetic deficiency of the extracellular nuclease DNASE1L3 in mice worsened HFD-induced metabolic complications, including glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, MASLD, and metabolic tissue inflammation. Conversely, targeted supplementation of DNASE1L3 in the liver using adeno-associated viral vectors protected obese mice from developing MASLD and liver inflammation. These findings uncover a novel role of DNASE1L3 in controlling obesity-associated inflammation and its potential therapeutic use for preventing metabolic disease.