Diamine oxidase acts as a novel risk factor in abnormal inflammation via mediating "cytosolic ROS-autophagy-IFN-γ" axis in NK cells.

AIMS: Diamine oxidase (DAO), a well-established biomarker for intestinal damage, histamine intolerance or tumorigenesis, has rarely been reported in immune regulation. This study aimed to identify DAO as a critical enhancer of abnormal inflammation by promoting interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production from natural killer (NK) cells.

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METHODS

Clinical bioinformatics analyzed aoc1 (DAO-coding gene) expression in PBMCs from patients with inflammatory diseases. Murine models (LPS-induced systemic inflammation, sepsis, DSS-induced colitis) using DAO-/- mice, alongside DAO-/- NK92 cells and DAO inhibitor DIZE, were employed for phenotypic validation. Cellular profiling, bone marrow chimeras, reciprocal transplantation, RNA-sequence, non-targeted metabolomics, and flow cytometry were utilized to dissect DAO's mechanisms in NK cells.

KEY FINDINGS: DAO deficiency protected mice from inflammatory pathology by suppressing IFN-γ production. NK cells were identified as the primary target cells during the process, with DAO acting intracellularly to promote IFN-γ via a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-autophagy axis. DAO-derived ROS, distinct from mitochondrial or NOX2 sources, enhanced autophagic flux during NK activation, enabling IFN-γ biosynthesis. DAO did not affect NK homeostasis, including maturation, proliferation, or receptor expressions.

SIGNIFICANCE: DAO is a novel risk factor in inflammatory diseases, driving IFN-γ production through ROS-autophagy signaling in NK cells. Targeting DAO may offer therapeutic strategies for conditions involving dysregulated IFN-γ responses, including sepsis, colitis, and autoimmune disorders.