TREX1 D18N mice fail to process erythroblast DNA resulting in inflammation and dysfunctional erythropoiesis

Anaemia is commonly observed in chronic inflammatory conditions, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where ∼50% of patients display clinical signs of anaemia. Mutation at the aspartate residue 18 of the three prime repair exonuclease 1 (TREX1) gene causes a monogenic form of cutaneous lupus in humans and the genetically precise TREX1 D18N mice recapitulate a lupus-like disease. TREX1 degrades single- and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and the link between failed DNA degradation by nucleases, including nucleoside-diphosphate kinases (NM23H1/H2) and Deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II), and anaemia prompted our studies to investigate whether TREX1 dysfunction contributes to anaemia. Utilizing the TREX1 D18N mice we demonstrate that (1) TREX1 mutant mice develop normocytic normochromic anaemia and (2) TREX1 exonuclease participates in the degradation of DNA originating from erythroblast nuclei during definitive erythropoiesis. Gene expression, hematocrit, hemoglobin, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry were used to quantify dysfunctional erythropoiesis. An altered response to induced anaemia in the TREX1 D18N mice was determined through IHC, flow cytometry, and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression analysis of the liver, spleen and erythroblastic islands (EBIs). IHC, flow cytometry, and ISG expression studies were performed in vitro to determine the role of TREX1 in the degradation of erythroblast DNA within EBIs. The TREX1 D18N mice exhibit altered erythropoiesis including a 20% reduction in hematocrit, 10-20 fold increased erythropoietic gene expression levels in the spleen and phenotypic signs of normocytic normochromic anaemia. Anaemia in TREX1 D18N mice is accompanied by increased erythropoietin (Epo), normal hepcidin levels and the TREX1 D18N mice display an inappropriate response to anaemic challenge. Enhanced ISG expression results from failed processing and subsequent sensing of undegraded erythroblast DNA in EBIs. TREX1 participates in the degradation of erythroblast DNA in the EBI and TREX1 D18N mice exhibit a normocytic normochromic anaemia.