ARID5B mutations cause a neurodevelopmental syndrome with neuroinflammation episodes

Genetic disorders affecting the epigenetic machinery constitute a major group of neurodevelopmental conditions. Pathogenic variants in several ARID transcription factors—particularly ARID1A , ARID1B , and ARID2 —cause Coffin–Siris syndromes, all characterized by intellectual disability (ID). These genes encode core subunits of the BRG1/BRM-associated factor (BAF) chromatin remodeling complex. In contrast, ARID family members that function in other regulatory complexes have remained largely unexplored in neurodevelopmental disease.

Here, we identify 29 individuals carrying heterozygous ARID5B variants, of which 24 (83%) introduce premature termination codons in the exceptionally long final exon, one affects the exon 9 splice donor site, and four are missense variants in conserved domains within the N-terminal half of the protein. Using a CRISPR–Cas9 knock-in mouse model harboring the p.Q522Ter variant, together with in vitro assays, we investigated the functional consequences of C-terminal ARID5B truncations.

All affected individuals presented with global developmental delay or ID—most commonly mild—and frequent speech and language impairment. Recurrent features included kidney malformations, behavioral difficulties, and recurrent infections of the respiratory and urinary tracts. Two individuals experienced central nervous system inflammation, and two infants presented with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Remarkably, 19 of 29 variants (66%) cluster within the first quarter of exon 10, are de novo, and escape nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which we confirmed for two variants affecting seven individuals. Variants outside this region were inherited. Heterozygous mice exhibited developmental and behavioral abnormalities, while homozygous mutations was perinatally lethal. Truncations and a small deletion within a predicted nuclear localization signal (NLS) caused cytosolic mislocalization of ARID5B, whereas the isolated C-terminal half retained nuclear localization, suggesting an independent distal NLS.

Collectively, these findings define ARID5B -related neurodevelopmental disorder as a distinct clinical entity and reveal how disruption of specific ARID5B domains impacts protein localization, mammalian development, immune and neurobehavioral function.

Abstract Figure

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