Loss of epitranscriptomic mitochondrial RNA surveillance drives epithelial type I interferon and inflammation in autoimmunity.

Abstract

Chronic interferon (IFN) activation is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjögren's disease (SjD), where epithelial cells are key contributors. Although viral and retroelement triggers have been proposed as triggers, direct evidence in patient tissues is limited, and endogenous mechanisms of epithelial IFN dysregulation remain unclear. Mitochondrial double-stranded RNA (mt-dsRNA) is a potent type I IFN (IFN-I) inducer, but its regulation in epithelial cells is poorly understood. We identify a mechanism in which the RNA methyltransferase METTL3 stabilizes <i>REXO2</i> mRNA in primary salivary gland epithelial cells through <i>N6</i>-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modification. REXO2 encodes a mitochondrial exonuclease that controls mt-dsRNA. METTL3 inhibition reduces REXO2, causing mt-dsRNA accumulation and IFN-I signaling amplification and inflammation. Single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analyses, together with immunofluorescence of salivary gland tissues from SjD patients and controls, reveal reduced REXO2 expression and elevated IFN-I signatures in SjD. <i>Rexo2</i> is likewise downregulated in epithelial cells of a spontaneous SjD mouse model. REXO2 loss amplifies IFN-I responses and inflammation across several epithelial contexts, while methyl donors restore REXO2 and dampen IFN activation, highlighting a targetable regulatory checkpoint in IFN-driven autoimmune diseases, alongside potential parallel stress pathways.