Cleavage of DNA and RNA by PLD3 and PLD4 limits autoinflammatory triggering by multiple sensors

Nat Commun. 2021 Oct 7;12(1):5874. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26150-w.

Abstract

Phospholipase D3 (PLD3) and PLD4 polymorphisms have been associated with several important inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that PLD3 and PLD4 digest ssRNA in addition to ssDNA as reported previously. Moreover, Pld3-/-Pld4-/- mice accumulate small ssRNAs and develop spontaneous fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) characterized by inflammatory liver damage and overproduction of Interferon (IFN)-γ. Pathology is rescued in Unc93b13d/3dPld3-/-Pld4-/- mice, which lack all endosomal TLR signaling; genetic codeficiency or antibody blockade of TLR9 or TLR7 ameliorates disease less effectively, suggesting that both RNA and DNA sensing by TLRs contributes to inflammation. IFN-γ made a minor contribution to pathology. Elevated type I IFN and some other remaining perturbations in Unc93b13d/3dPld3-/-Pld4-/- mice requires STING (Tmem173). Our results show that PLD3 and PLD4 regulate both endosomal TLR and cytoplasmic/STING nucleic acid sensing pathways and have implications for the treatment of nucleic acid-driven inflammatory disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells
  • Endosomes / metabolism
  • Exonucleases / genetics*
  • Exonucleases / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Inflammation / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phospholipase D / genetics*
  • Phospholipase D / metabolism*
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • RNA
  • DNA
  • Exonucleases
  • PLD4 protein, mouse
  • Phospholipase D
  • Pld3 protein, mouse