CH-related Mutant ASXL1 Promotes Atherosclerosis in Mice via Dysregulated Innate Immunity

Abstract

Certain somatic mutations confer a fitness advantage in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) over normal HSPCs, resulting in the clonal expansion of mutant blood cells1, otherwise known as clonal haematopoiesis (CH). CH is frequently observed among healthy elderly people and is closely associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The most frequently mutated genes of CH include DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL12. Among them, even though ASXL1 mutations are clinically associated with the highest risk for developing CVDs, little is known whether and how the mutations contribute to CVDs. Here we show accelerated development of atherosclerosis and increased inflammatory monocytes in mice transplanted with the bone marrow cells (BMCs) from the mice expressing mutant ASXL1 (ASXL1-MT) selectively in hematopoietic cells. RNA sequencing analysis of the plaque-macrophages derived from BMCs expressing ASXL1-MT showed more inflammatory signatures than those from control BMCs. Mechanistically, wild-type ASXL1 inhibited innate immune signalling through direct interactions with IRAK1/TRAF6/TAK1 in the cytoplasm, while ASXL1-MT, which only interacted with TAK1, lost this regulatory function, leading to NF-{kappa}B activation. This mechanism is unique and distinct from those of CH with Tet2 or Dnmt3a mutations, where overactivation of the IL-1{beta}/NLRP3 inflammasome plays critical roles3-5. Intriguingly, IRAK1/4 inhibition decreased the number of inflammatory monocytes and attenuated the development of atherosclerosis driven by ASXL1-MT. The present work connects the mutations of an epigenetic factor, ASXL1, with inflammation and CVDs and gives an indication for the prevention of CVDs in CH.