Identification of IFRD1 as a modifier gene for cystic fibrosis lung disease

Yuanyuan Gu, Isaac T.W. Harley, Lindsay B. Henderson, Bruce J. Aronow, Ilja Vietor, Lukas A. Huber, John B. Harley, Jeffrey R. Kilpatrick, Carl D. Langefeld, Adrienne H. Williams, Anil G. Jegga, Jing Chen, Marsha Wills-Karp, S. Hasan Arshad, Susan L. Ewart, Chloe L. Thio, Leah M. Flick, Marie Dominique Filippi, H. Leighton Grimes, Mitchell L. DrummGarry R. Cutting, Michael R. Knowles, Christopher L. Karp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lung disease is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis, an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in CFTR. In cystic fibrosis, chronic infection and dysregulated neutrophilic inflammation lead to progressive airway destruction. The severity of cystic fibrosis lung disease has considerable heritability, independent of CFTR genotype. To identify genetic modifiers, here we performed a genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism scan in one cohort of cystic fibrosis patients, replicating top candidates in an independent cohort. This approach identified IFRD1 as a modifier of cystic fibrosis lung disease severity. IFRD1 is a histone-deacetylase-dependent transcriptional co-regulator expressed during terminal neutrophil differentiation. Neutrophils, but not macrophages, from Ifrd1-deficient mice showed blunted effector function, associated with decreased NF-B p65 transactivation. In vivo, IFRD1 deficiency caused delayed bacterial clearance from the airway, but also less inflammation and diseasea phenotype primarily dependent on haematopoietic cell expression, or lack of expression, of IFRD1. In humans, IFRD1 polymorphisms were significantly associated with variation in neutrophil effector function. These data indicate that IFRD1 modulates the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis lung disease through the regulation of neutrophil effector function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1039-1042
Number of pages4
JournalNature
Volume458
Issue number7241
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 23 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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