Investigations into SCAMP5, a candidate lupus risk gene expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells

We have investigated the molecular function of SCAMP5, a candidate risk gene for SLE exclusively expressed in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) among peripheral leucocytes.

We tested the independence of the association in SCAMP5 with SLE by performing conditional analyses. We profiled the expression pattern of SCAMP5 among circulating leucocytes at the transcript and protein levels. Using lentiviral vectors, we localised the subcellular distribution of SCAMP5 alongside the interferon secretory pathway. We analysed pDCs for the expression of SCAMP5 and interferon production capacity by SCAMP5 genotype. Finally, we examined pDC-specific SCAMP5 isoforms by total RNAseq analysis and examined for genotype-associated quantitative differences therein.

A conditional analysis revealed evidence of an independent genetic association of SCAMP5 with SLE. Among circulating leucocytes, SCAMP5 is uniquely expressed in pDCs at the transcript and protein levels, with main presence in the Golgi apparatus and minor presence at the cell periphery. In live cells, SCAMP5 displayed dynamic Golgi-cell surface trafficking and localised with the interferon secretory pathway. SCAMP5 did not differ in expression levels in pDCs between genotyped donors; however, a transient interferon secretory defect was noted in pDCs from donors carrying the risk genotype.

SCAMP5 constitutes a novel SLE risk gene on the basis of genomic data and expression in a cell type widely implicated in SLE pathogenesis. While we could not find evidence of quantitative expression differences in SCAMP5 between genotyped donors, SCAMP5 remains an attractive gene to explore given its highly restricted expression pattern and colocalisation with interferon secretion.