Nanoparticle-Delivered siRNA Targeting NSUN4 Relieves Systemic Lupus Erythematosus through Declining Mitophagy-Mediated CD8+T Cell Exhaustion

Abstract

5-Methylcytosine modification (m5C) is an important posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism of gene expression. Exhausted CD8+T cells contribute to the development of many major diseases; however, their exact role and relationship to m5C in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unknown. In this study, we identified a CD7^highCD74^high CD8+T subgroup that were robustly expanded in SLE patients through single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq). CD7^highCD74^high CD8+T cells displayed exhausted features and exhibited a superior diagnostic value in SLE. Then, we explored the m5C landscape of SLE patients by performing m5C epitranscriptome sequencing (m5C-seq). ScRNA-seq and m5C-seq were conjointly analyzed to screen m5C-related therapeutic targets for SLE, and NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 4 (NSUN4) was identified as a key regulator of SLE pathogenesis. Knockdown of NSUN4 downregulated CD74 expression via reduction of m5C and suppressed CD8+T cell exhaustion by declining CD44/mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase)-mediated mitophagy. Finally, we verified that nanoparticle-delivered siRNA against Nusn4 decreased autoimmune reaction kidney damage in both spontaneous and pristane-induced SLE mouse models. In conclusion, we identify an exhausted CD7^highCD74^high CD8+T cell subset and propose the crucial role of NSUN4/CD74-induced dysregulation of mitophagy in SLE pathogenesis, and targeting NSUN4 is a promising treatment strategy for SLE patients.

Keywords: CD8+T cell mitophagy and exhaustion; NSUN4; nanoparticle‐delivered siRNA; single‐cell RNA sequencing and m5C sequencing; systemic lupus erythematosus.