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PTPN1 variants identified in 17% of AGS cohort with later onset and reduced penetrance

PTPN1 variants identified in 17% of AGS cohort with later onset and reduced penetrance
Photo by Pharmacy Images / Unsplash
Key Takeaway
Consider PTPN1 variants in AGS with later onset, but recognize reduced penetrance and association-only evidence.

This genomic cohort study interrogated databases to investigate PTPN1 variants in autoinflammation. Researchers analyzed 13 cases with PTPN1 variants from genomic data, including 9 cases from a cohort of 53 individuals with AGS features (~17%), plus 4 cases from academic datasets and 49 individuals with PTPN1 variants from the All of Us database. The exposure was presence of ultra-rare heterozygous predicted loss-of-function or damaging missense variants in PTPN1.

In the AGS cohort, PTPN1 variants were identified in 9 of 53 individuals (approximately 17%). Median age of onset for PTPN1-related AGS was 1.75 years (IQR 0.67), which was significantly later than other AGS genotypes (p<0.0001). Among 49 PTPN1 variant carriers in the All of Us database, autoimmunity was highly prevalent (~21.6%), but none had features suggestive of AGS (0/49).

Safety and tolerability data were not reported. Key limitations were not explicitly reported, though the observational nature, cohort specificity, and lack of follow-up data constrain interpretation. The study demonstrates association rather than causation and observes reduced penetrance, meaning many carriers do not develop AGS. Practice relevance is not established; these findings require validation in independent cohorts before clinical application.

Study Details

Study typeCohort
EvidenceLevel 3
PublishedApr 2026
View Original Abstract ↓
AbstractO_ST_ABSPurposeC_ST_ABSAicardi-Goutieres syndrome (AGS) is a type I interferonopathy presently associated with nine genes. PTPN1 is a negative regulator of the interferon pathway previously associated with chronic inflammation and recently type 1 IFN autoinflammation. MethodsGenomic data from undiagnosed individuals with suspected AGS were interrogated for PTPN1 variants, and predicted loss-of-function (pLOF) and damaging missense variants in PTPN1 were sought in two additional academic databases as well as the All of Us database. ResultsWe identified 13 cases with ultra-rare heterozygous pLOF or highly damaging missense variants in PTPN1. Nine cases were identified in a cohort of 53 individuals ([~] 17%) with clinical, imaging and persistent biochemical features of AGS. Median age of onset is 1.75 years (IQR 0.67), significantly later (p< 0.0001) than other AGS genotypes. Four additional cases were identified in academic datasets with variable clinical features suggestive of autoinflammation. Additionally, 49 individuals with ultra-rare, damaging PTPN1 variants were identified in the All of Us database, none had features suggestive of AGS, but autoimmunity was highly prevalent ([~]21.6%). ConclusionOur data implicate PTPN1 as a cause of later-onset presentations of AGS within a broader spectrum of autoinflammatory phenotypes. Segregation and biobank data demonstrate reduced penetrance, with carriers being enriched for autoimmune disorders.
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