Journal Article

Interferon-driven brain phenotype in a mouse model of RNaseT2 deficient leukoencephalopathy

Sakib, M. Sadman, Alia, A., Aich, Abhishek, Fischer, Andre, Prinz, Marco, Winkler, Anne, Stadelmann, Christine, Epple, Robert, Wirths, Oliver, Zampar, Silvia, Kettwig, Matthias, Werner, Hauke B., Gärtner, Jutta, Henneke, Marco, Hakroush, Samy, Hartmann, Gunther, Boretius, Susann, Nessler, Stefan, Kitz, Julia, Rehling, Peter, Kaurani, Lalit, Bartok, Eva, Franz, Jonas, Schröder, Simone, Krüger, Dennis Manfred, Schob, Charlotte, Ternka, Katharina, Wendland, Kristin

2021

Overview

Infantile-onset RNaseT2 deficient leukoencephalopathy is characterised by cystic brain lesions, multifocal white matter alterations, cerebral atrophy, and severe psychomotor impairment. The phenotype is similar to congenital cytomegalovirus brain infection and overlaps with type I interferonopathies, suggesting a role for innate immunity in its pathophysiology. To date, pathophysiological studies have been hindered by the lack of mouse models recapitulating the neuroinflammatory encephalopathy found in patients. In this study, we generated Rnaset2 −/− mice using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing. Rnaset2 −/− mice demonstrate upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes and concurrent IFNAR1-dependent neuroinflammation, with infiltration of CD8 + effector memory T cells and inflammatory monocytes into the grey and white matter. Single nuclei RNA sequencing reveals homeostatic dysfunctions in glial cells and neurons and provide important insights into the mechanisms of hippocampal-accentuated brain atrophy and cognitive impairment. The Rnaset2 −/− mice may allow the study of CNS damage associated with RNaseT2 deficiency and may be used for the investigation of potential therapies. Studies on interferon-driven brain pathology have so far been hampered by the lack of appropriate animal models. Here the authors characterize RNASET2-deficient mice and show that neuroinflammation and brain atrophy are IFNAR1-dependent.

• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group UK,Nature Publishing Group,Nature Portfolio
• Subject: 13/1 / 13/31 / 13/51 / 45/91 / 59/57 / 631/378/1689/364 / 631/378/371 / 64/60 / 96/31 / Animal models / Animals / Atrophy / Brain / CD8 antigen / CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - metabolism / Cognitive ability / Cognitive Dysfunction - genetics / Cognitive Dysfunction - metabolism / CRISPR / Cytomegalovirus / Disease Models, Animal / Effector cells / Encephalopathy / Endoribonucleases - genetics / Endoribonucleases - metabolism / Female / Flow Cytometry / Gene sequencing / Genome editing / Genomes / Genotype / Glial cells / Hippocampus / Humanities and Social Sciences / Humans / Immunohistochemistry / Immunological memory / Impairment / Inflammation / Innate immunity / Interferon / Leukoencephalopathies - genetics / Leukoencephalopathies - metabolism / Leukoencephalopathies - pathology / Leukoencephalopathy / Lymphocytes / Lymphocytes T / Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Male / Memory cells / Memory T Cells - metabolism / Mice / Mice, Knockout / Monocytes / multidisciplinary / Neuroglia - metabolism / Neuronal-glial interactions / Phenotypes / Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Science / Science (multidisciplinary) / Substantia alba