A frequent SNP in TRIM5α strongly enhances the innate immune response against LINE-1 elements

The intracellular restriction factor TRIM5a inhibits endogenous LINE-1 retroelements. It induces innate immune signaling cascades upon sensing of cytoplasmic LINE-1 complexes, thereby underlining its importance for protecting the human genome from harmful retrotransposition events. Here, we show that a frequent SNP within the RING domain of TRIM5a, resulting in the variant H43Y, blocks LINE-1 retrotransposition with higher efficiency compared to TRIM5a WT. Upon sensing of LINE-1 complexes in the cytoplasm, TRIM5a H43Y activates both NF-?B and AP-1 signaling pathways more potently than TRIM5a WT, triggering a strong block of the LINE-1 promoter. Interestingly, the H43Y allele lost its antiviral function suggesting that its enhanced activity against endogenous LINE-1 elements is the driving force behind its maintenance within the population. Thus, our study suggests that the H43Y variant of the restriction factor and sensor TRIM5a persists within the human population since it preserves our genome from uncontrolled LINE-1 retrotransposition with higher efficiency.

Automated summary

The intracellular restriction factor TRIM5a inhibits endogenous LINE-1 retroelements and activates innate immune signaling cascades upon sensing cytoplasmic LINE-1 complexes, protecting the human genome. A frequent SNP within the RING domain of TRIM5a, resulting in the H43Y variant, blocks LINE-1 retrotransposition with higher efficiency and triggers a strong block of the LINE-1 promoter. The H43Y allele lost its antiviral function, suggesting that its enhanced activity against endogenous LINE-1 elements is the reason for its persistence within the population.