The Act1 D10N missense variant impairs CD40 signaling in human B-cells

Genes Immun. 2019 Jan;20(1):23-31. doi: 10.1038/s41435-017-0007-7. Epub 2018 Jan 5.

Abstract

The TRAF3IP2 gene resides within one of at least 63 psoriasis susceptibility loci and encodes Act1, an adapter protein involved in IL-17 receptor and CD40 signaling pathways. TRAF3IP2 is distinctive (among <10% of candidate susceptibility genes) in that a strongly disease-associated variant encodes a missense SNP predicted to be functionally relevant (SNP rs33980500 C/T encoding Act1 pD10N). As assessed by flow cytometry, Act1 protein was expressed at the highest levels in monocytes, with lower levels in T-cells and B-cells. However, monocytes, T-cells and B-cells failed to respond to IL-17A stimulation of PBMC, as measured by flow cytometric determination of NF-κB phospho-p65. As an alternative stimulus, we treated PBMCs with trimerized recombinant human CD40L and assessed p65, p38 and Erk phosphorylation in CD19+ B-cells as a function of D10N genotype. The increase of phosphorylated p65, p38, and Erk was well-correlated across individuals, and CD40L-induced phosphorylation of p65, p38, and Erk was significantly attenuated in B-cells from Act1 D10N homozygotes, compared to heterozygotes and nullizygotes. Our results indicate that the Act1 D10N variant is a relevant genetic determinant of CD40L responsiveness in human B-cells, with the risk allele being associated with lower B-cell responses in an acute signaling context.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • CD40 Antigens / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Humans
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Psoriasis / genetics*
  • Transcription Factor RelA / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • CD40 Antigens
  • TRAF3IP2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factor RelA
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Peptides and Proteins
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases