PTPN1-related autoinflammation is a common cause of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome with reduced penetrance.

PURPOSE: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a type I interferonopathy presently associated with nine genes. PTPN1 is a negative regulator of the interferon pathway previously associated with chronic inflammation and recently type 1 IFN autoinflammation.

METHODS

Genomic data from undiagnosed individuals with suspected AGS were interrogated for PTPN1 variants, and predicted loss-of-function (pLOF) and damaging missense variants in PTPN1 were sought in two additional academic databases as well as the All of Us database.

RESULTS

We identified 13 cases with ultra-rare heterozygous pLOF or highly damaging missense variants in PTPN1. Nine cases were identified in a cohort of 53 individuals (~ 17%) with clinical, imaging and persistent biochemical features of AGS. Median age of onset is 1.75 years (IQR 0.67), significantly later (p< 0.0001) than other AGS genotypes. Four additional cases were identified in academic datasets with variable clinical features suggestive of autoinflammation. Additionally, 49 individuals with ultra-rare, damaging PTPN1 variants were identified in the All of Us database, none had features suggestive of AGS, but autoimmunity was highly prevalent (~21.6%).

CONCLUSION

Our data implicate PTPN1 as a cause of later-onset presentations of AGS within a broader spectrum of autoinflammatory phenotypes. Segregation and biobank data demonstrate reduced penetrance, with carriers being enriched for autoimmune disorders.