Pseudouridine RNA avoids immune detection through impaired endolysosomal processing and TLR engagement

Bérouti, Marleen ; Wagner, Mirko; Greulich, Wilhelm ; Piseddu, Ignazio ; Gärtig, Jan; Hansbauer, Larissa; Müller-Hermes, Christoph; Heiss, Matthias ; Pichler, Alexander ; Tölke, Annika J. ; Witte, Gregor; Hopfner, Karl-Peter ; Anz, David; Sattler, Michael ; Carell, Thomas und Hornung, Veit (2025): Pseudouridine RNA avoids immune detection through impaired endolysosomal processing and TLR engagement. In: Cell [Forthcoming]

Abstract

Highlights

• The non-immunogenicity of Ψ-RNA results from poor processing by lysosomal nucleases

• RNase T2 and PLDs fail to generate TLR7 and TLR8 ligands from Ψ-modified RNA

• Ψ and Ψ-RNA poorly engage distinct ligand-binding pockets of TLR8 and TLR7

• m1Ψ evades nuclease cleavage but could activate TLR8 if released from RNA

Summary

Recognition of exogenous RNA by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is central to pathogen defense. Using two distinct binding pockets, TLR7 and TLR8 recognize RNA degradation products generated by endolysosomal nucleases. RNA modifications present in endogenous RNA prevent TLR activation; notably, pseudouridine-containing RNA lacks immunostimulatory activity. Indeed, this property has been critical to the successful implementation of mRNA technology for medical purposes. However, the molecular mechanism for this immune evasion has remained elusive. Here, we report that RNase T2 and PLD exonucleases do not adequately process pseudouridine-containing RNA to generate TLR-agonistic ligands. As a second safety mechanism, TLR8 neglects pseudouridine as a ligand for its first binding pocket and TLR7 neglects pseudouridine-containing RNA as a ligand for its second pocket. Interestingly, the medically used N1-methylpseudouridine also evades RNase T2, PLD3, and PLD4 processing but is able to directly activate TLR8. Taken together, our findings provide a molecular basis for self-avoidance by RNA-sensing TLRs.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• EU Funded Grant Agreement Number: 101018672
• Fakultät: Chemie und Pharmazie > Department Biochemie
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 540 Chemie ; 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 570 Biowissenschaften; Biologie
• ISSN: 00928674
• Bemerkung: Online first
• Sprache: Englisch
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 369799452
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 325871075