Modeling of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1A mutants associated with tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated periodic syndrome indicates misfolding consistent with abnormal function

Objective To investigate the effect of mutations in the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 1A (TNFRSF1A) gene on the conformation and behavior of the TNFRSF1A protein. Mutations in TNFRSF1A cause the autosomal‐dominant, autoinflammatory TNFR‐associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS). Methods The expression of recombinant TNFRSF1A was compared in SK–HEp‐1 endothelial cells and HEK 293 epithelial cells stably transfected with full‐length R347A or Δsig constructs of wild‐type or TRAPS‐associated mutant TNFRSF1A. TNF binding was assessed in HEK 293 cell lines expressing R347A wild‐type or mutant TNFRSF1A. Homology modeling of the 3‐dimensional structure of the ectodomains of wild‐type and mutant TNFRSF1A was performed. Results TRAPS‐associated mutant and wild‐type TNFRSF1A behaved differently and had different localization properties within the cell, as a direct result of mutations in the ectodomains of TNFRSF1A. From a structural perspective, mutants with a predicted structure similar to that of the wild‐type protein (e.g., R92Q) behaved similarly to wild‐type TNFRSF1A, whereas forms of TNFRSF1A with mutations predicted to drastically destabilize the protein structure (e.g., cysteine mutations) showed defects in cell surface expression and TNF binding. Conclusion The results obtained from the in vitro experiments, in combination with the modeled structures, indicate that the phenotype and clinical differences between different TRAPS‐associated mutants of TNFRSF1A result from different conformations of the TNFRSF1A ectodomains.