Loss of the TRPM4 channel in humans causes immune dysregulation with defective monocyte migration. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: TRPM4 is a broadly expressed, calcium-activated, monovalent cation channel that regulates immune cell function in mice and cell lines. Clinically, however, partial loss- or gain-of-function mutations in TRPM4 lead to arrhythmia and heart disease, with no documentation of immunologic disorders. OBJECTIVE: To characterize functional cellular mechanisms underlying the immune dysregulation phenotype in a proband with a mutated TRPM4 gene. METHODS: We employed a combination of biochemical, cell biological, imaging, omics analyses, flow cytometry, and gene editing approaches. RESULTS: We report the first human cases to our knowledge with complete loss of the TRPM4 channel, leading to immune dysregulation with frequent bacterial and fungal infections. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing point to altered expression of genes affecting cell migration, specifically in monocytes. Inhibition of TRPM4 in T cells and the THP-1 monocyte cell line reduces migration. More importantly, primary T cells and monocytes from TRPM4 patients migrate poorly. Finally, CRISPR knockout of TRPM4 in THP-1 cells greatly reduces their migration potential. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that TRPM4 plays a critical role in regulating immune cell migration, leading to increased susceptibility to infections.

publication date

  • May 14, 2024

Research

keywords

  • Cell Movement
  • Monocytes
  • TRPM Cation Channels

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85195605176

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.02.026

PubMed ID

  • 38750824

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 154

issue

  • 3