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Distinguishing self from non-self RNA by editing-specific inosine patterns

ABSTRACT: The cytoplasmic antiviral sensor MDA5 is activated by double-stranded RNAs. Endogenous double-stranded RNAs are modified by the A to I RNA-editing enzymes of the ADAR family to prevent activation of MDA5. In vivo, the cytoplasmic ADAR1p150 version seems critically required to suppress MDA5 activation in vivo, while the editing signature of all ADAR isoforms seems surprisingly overlapping in mice. Further, it is not clear, how A to I modifications in dsRNA prevent MDA5 activation. Here we show that 3' UTRs harboring inverted repeat elements when not edited are able to activate MDA5 in vitro and in cells. Interestingly, in vitro editing by either ADAR isoform leads to editing at overlapping hotspot regions and prevents MDA5 activation in vitro and in cells. Remarkably, only inosines introduced by RNA-editing are capable to suppress MDA5 activation while substitution of guanosines by inosines during in vitro transcription has no impact on MDA5 activation. A comparison of inosines introduced by ADAR1p150 in vitro, in cells, and in vivo, suggests that a small number of A to I conversions may be critically required to suppress MDA5 activation. As those critical editing events are predominantly altering A:U basepairs into I:U wobble basepairs, we suggest that the helical distortion introduced by those wobble pairs may prevent MDA5 polymerization and thus downstream activation of interferon stimulated genes.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE293616 | GEO | 2026/04/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Endogenous double-stranded RNA is prevented from activating the cytosolic antiviral receptor MDA5 by adenosine-to-inosine editing by ADAR. Consequently, CRISPR/cas9 targeting ADAR in the human monocytic cell line THP-1 induces a spontaneous MDA5-dependent interferon response. This response is synergistically enhanced by concomitant CRISPR/cas9 targeting of hnRNPC. For this study, cas9 transgenic THP-1 were nucleofected with combinations of control gRNA, ADAR gRNA or hnRNPC gRNA to elucidate the basis for synergistic interferon-stmulated gene induction by combined ADAR and hnRNPC targeting. As a control for interferon-stimulated gene induction, IFN-alpha treated THP-1 were included, as well. To investigate potential interferon inducing mechanisms, we quantified gene expression, intron expression as well as the expression of regions rich in adenosine-to-inosine editing clusters. In a second part, nuclear vs cytosolic distribution of RNA rich in adenosine-to-inosine clusters was investigated by sequencing of total RNA or RNA from cytosolic and nuclear extracts of ADAR and/or hnRNPC targeted cells. In the first part of the study, STING-deficient, cas9 transgenic THP-1 were nucleofected with combinations of control, GFP-targeting, ADAR-targeting or hnRNPC-targeting gRNA and cells collected for total RNA extraction on days three, four and five after nucleofection. In addition, another control-nucleofected sample was treated on day 3 for 24 h. The experiment was repeated three times leading to three replicates per condition. In the second part, WT cas9-transgenic THP-1 were nucleofected with combinations of control, ADAR-targeting or hnRNPC-targeting gRNA and cells were either collected for total RNA extraction or separated into digitonin-soluble (cytosolic) and digitonin-resistant (nuclear and mitochondrial) compartments and then RNA extracted. The experiment was repeated twice leading to two replicates per condition. Differential gene expression analysis confirmed synergistic induction of interferon-stimulated genes. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated dysregulation of Alu-containing introns in hnRNPC-deficient cells via utilization of unmasked cryptic splice sites, including introns containing ADAR-dependent A-to-I editing clusters or regions enriched in editing clusters (ECRs) in general. These putative MDA5 ligands showed reduced editing in the absence of ADAR, providing a plausible mechanism for the combined effects of hnRNPC and ADAR. Part 2 of the study confirmed cytosolic access of a subset of ECRs to the cytosol.

Project description:Mapping the genomic architecture of complex disease has been predicated on the understanding that genetic variants influence disease risk through modifying gene expression. However, recent discoveries have revealed that a significant burden of disease heritability in common autoinflammatory disorders and coronary artery disease is mediated through genetic variation modifying post-transcriptional modification of RNA through adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) RNA editing. This common RNA modification is catalyzed by ADAR enzymes, where ADAR1 edits specific immunogenic double stranded RNA (dsRNA) to prevent activation of the double strand RNA (dsRNA) sensor MDA5 (IFIH1) and stimulation of an interferon stimulated gene (ISG) response. Multiple lines of human genetic data indicate impaired RNA editing and increased dsRNA sensing by MDA5 to be an important mechanism of coronary artery disease (CAD) risk. Here, we provide a crucial link between observations in human genetics and mechanistic cell biology leading to progression of CAD. Through analysis of human atherosclerotic plaque, we implicate the vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) to have a unique requirement for RNA editing, and that ISG induction occurs in SMC phenotypic modulation, implicating MDA5 activation. Through culture of human coronary artery SMCs, generation of a conditional SMC specific Adar1 deletion mouse model on a pro-atherosclerosis background with additional constitutive deletion of MDA5 (Ifih1), and with incorporation of single cell RNA sequencing cellular profiling, we further show that Adar1 controls SMC phenotypic state by regulating Mda5 activation, is required to maintain vascular integrity, and controls progression of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. Through this work, we describe a fundamental mechanism of CAD, where cell type and context specific RNA editing and sensing of dsRNA mediates disease progression, bridging our understanding of human genetics and disease causality.

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Distinguishing self from non-self RNA by editing-specific inosine patterns

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