Gain-of-function variants in SYK cause immune dysregulation and systemic inflammation in humans and mice

Nat Genet. 2021 Apr;53(4):500-510. doi: 10.1038/s41588-021-00803-4. Epub 2021 Mar 29.

Abstract

Spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) is a critical immune signaling molecule and therapeutic target. We identified damaging monoallelic SYK variants in six patients with immune deficiency, multi-organ inflammatory disease such as colitis, arthritis and dermatitis, and diffuse large B cell lymphomas. The SYK variants increased phosphorylation and enhanced downstream signaling, indicating gain of function. A knock-in (SYK-Ser544Tyr) mouse model of a patient variant (p.Ser550Tyr) recapitulated aspects of the human disease that could be partially treated with a SYK inhibitor or transplantation of bone marrow from wild-type mice. Our studies demonstrate that SYK gain-of-function variants result in a potentially treatable form of inflammatory disease.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Arthritis / genetics*
  • Arthritis / immunology
  • Arthritis / pathology
  • Arthritis / therapy
  • Base Sequence
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation
  • Colitis / genetics*
  • Colitis / immunology
  • Colitis / pathology
  • Colitis / therapy
  • Dermatitis / genetics*
  • Dermatitis / immunology
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermatitis / therapy
  • Family
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / therapy
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Pedigree
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Syk Kinase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Syk Kinase / deficiency
  • Syk Kinase / genetics*

Substances

  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • SYK protein, human
  • Syk Kinase