Primary immune regulatory disorders (PIRDs) are a group of diseases belonging to inborn errors of immunity. They usually exhibit lymphoproliferation, autoimmunities, and malignancies, with less ...susceptibility to recurrent infections. Unlike classical primary immune deficiencies, in autoimmune manifestations, such as cytopenias, enteropathy can be the first symptom of diseases, and they are typically resistant to treatment. Increasing awareness of PIRDs among specialists and a multidisciplinary team approach would provide early diagnosis and treatment that could prevent end-organ damage related to the diseases. In recent years, many PIRDs have been described, and understanding the immunological pathways linked to these disorders provides us an opportunity to use directed therapies for specific molecules, which usually offer better disease control than known classical immunosuppressants. In this review, in light of the most recent literature, we will discuss the common PIRDs and explain their clinical symptoms and recent treatment modalities.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Elucidating the mechanisms that sustain asthmatic inflammation is critical for precision therapies. We found that interleukin-6- and STAT3 transcription factor-dependent upregulation of Notch4 ...receptor on lung tissue regulatory T (T
) cells is necessary for allergens and particulate matter pollutants to promote airway inflammation. Notch4 subverted T
cells into the type 2 and type 17 helper (T
2 and T
17) effector T cells by Wnt and Hippo pathway-dependent mechanisms. Wnt activation induced growth and differentiation factor 15 expression in T
cells, which activated group 2 innate lymphoid cells to provide a feed-forward mechanism for aggravated inflammation. Notch4, Wnt and Hippo were upregulated in circulating T
cells of individuals with asthma as a function of disease severity, in association with reduced T
cell-mediated suppression. Our studies thus identify Notch4-mediated immune tolerance subversion as a fundamental mechanism that licenses tissue inflammation in asthma.
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FZAB, GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
LPS-responsive beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) deficiencies give rise to overlapping phenotypes of immune dysregulation and autoimmunity, with ...dramatically increased frequencies of circulating follicular helper T (cTFH) cells.
We sought to determine the mechanisms of cTFH cell dysregulation in patients with LRBA deficiency and the utility of monitoring cTFH cells as a correlate of clinical response to CTLA4-Ig therapy.
cTFH cells and other lymphocyte subpopulations were characterized. Functional analyses included in vitro follicular helper T (TFH) cell differentiation and cTFH/naive B-cell cocultures. Serum soluble IL-2 receptor α chain levels and in vitro immunoglobulin production by cultured B cells were quantified by using ELISA.
cTFH cell frequencies in patients with LRBA or CTLA4 deficiency sharply decreased with CTLA4-Ig therapy in parallel with other markers of immune dysregulation, including soluble IL-2 receptor α chain, CD45RO+CD4+ effector T cells, and autoantibodies, and this was predictive of favorable clinical responses. cTFH cells in patients with LRBA deficiency were biased toward a TH1-like cell phenotype, which was partially reversed by CTLA4-Ig therapy. LRBA-sufficient but not LRBA-deficient regulatory T cells suppressed in vitro TFH cell differentiation in a CTLA4-dependent manner. LRBA-deficient TFH cells supported in vitro antibody production by naive LRBA-sufficient B cells.
cTFH cell dysregulation in patients with LRBA deficiency reflects impaired control of TFH cell differentiation because of profoundly decreased CTLA4 expression on regulatory T cells and probably contributes to autoimmunity in patients with this disease. Serial monitoring of cTFH cell frequencies is highly useful in gauging the clinical response of LRBA-deficient patients to CTLA4-Ig therapy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Purpose
Human signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) gain-of-function (GOF) mutations present with a broad range of manifestations ranging from chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis ...and autoimmunity to combined immunodeficiency (CID). So far, there is very limited experience with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as a therapeutic modality in this disorder. Here, we describe two patients with heterozygous
STAT1
GOF mutations mimicking CID who were treated with HSCT.
Methods
Data on the HSC sources, conditioning regimen, graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and antimicrobial prophylaxis, and the post-transplant course including engraftment, GvHD, transplant-related complications, infections, chimerism, and survival were evaluated. Pre- and post-transplant immunological studies included enumeration of circulating interferon gamma (IFN-γ)- and interleukin 17 (IL-17)-expressing CD4
+
T cells and analysis of IFN-β-induced STAT1 phosphorylation in patient 1 (P1)’s T cells.
Results
P1 was transplanted with cord blood from an HLA-identical sibling, and P2 with bone marrow from a fully matched unrelated donor using a reduced toxicity conditioning regimen. While P1 completely recovered from her disease, P2 suffered from systemic CMV disease and secondary graft failure and died due to severe pulmonary involvement and hemorrhage. The dysregulated IFN-γ production, suppressed IL-17 response, and enhanced STAT1 phosphorylation previously found in the CD4
+
T cells of P1 were normalized following transplantation.
Conclusion
HSCT could be an alternative and curative therapeutic option for selected
STAT1
GOF mutant patients with progressive life-threatening disease unresponsive to conventional therapy. Morbidity and mortality-causing complications included secondary graft failure, infections, and bleeding.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Background
Genetic deficiencies of immune system, referred to as inborn errors of immunity (IEI), serve as a valuable model to study human immune responses. In a multicenter prospective cohort, we ...evaluated the outcome of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection among IEI subjects and analyzed genetic and immune characteristics that determine adverse COVID‐19 outcomes.
Methods
We studied 34 IEI patients (19M/15F, 12 min: 0.6‐max: 43 years) from six centers. We diagnosed COVID‐19 infection by finding a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR test (n = 25) and/or a lung tomography scoring (CORADS) ≥4 (n = 9). We recorded clinical and laboratory findings prospectively, fitted survival curves, and calculated fatality rates for the entire group and each IEI subclass.
Results
Nineteen patients had combined immune deficiency (CID), six with predominantly antibody deficiency (PAD), six immune dysregulation (ID), two innate immune defects, and one in the autoinflammatory class. Overall, 23.5% of cases died, with disproportionate fatality rates among different IEI categories. PAD group had a relatively favorable outcome at any age, but CIDs and IDs were particularly vulnerable. At admission, presence of dyspnea was an independent risk for COVID‐related death (OR: 2.630, 95% CI; 1.198–5.776, p < .001). Concerning predictive roles of laboratory markers at admission, deceased subjects compared to survived had significantly higher CRP, procalcitonin, Troponin‐T, ferritin, and total‐lung‐score (p = .020, p = .003, p = .014, p = .013, p = .020; respectively), and lower absolute lymphocyte count, albumin, and trough IgG (p = .012, p = .022, p = .011; respectively).
Conclusion
Our data disclose a highly vulnerable IEI subgroup particularly disadvantaged for COVID‐19 despite their youth. Future studies should address this vulnerability and consider giving priority to these subjects in SARS‐Cov‐2 therapy trials.
34 IEI patients aged between 0.6 and 43 years, eight patients (23.5%) succumbed to COVID‐19, indicating a highly vulnerable condition to COVID‐19. Laboratory markers associated with mortality included elevated acute phase reactants, ferritin, troponin T, TLS, and reduced ALC levels, albumin, and baseline IgG. Coughing, dyspnea, CORADS category 4–6, and negative SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR at admission were among the predictors of lethal outcome. Abbreviations: ALC, absolute lymphocye count; CID, combined immune deficiency; COVID‐19, coronavirus infectious disease 2019; CRP, C‐reactive protein; F, female; ICU, intensive care unit; ID, immune dysregulation; IEI, inbor errors
of immunity; Ig, immunoglobulin; M, male; PAD, predominantly antibody deficiency; PcT, procalcitonin; RTE, recent thymic emigrants; SARS‐CoV‐2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Unfav, unfavorable.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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Inborn errors of immunity have been implicated in causing immune dysregulation, including allergic diseases. STAT6 is a key regulator of allergic responses.
This study sought to ...characterize a novel gain-of-function STAT6 mutation identified in a child with severe allergic manifestations.
Whole-exome and targeted gene sequencing, lymphocyte characterization, and molecular and functional analyses of mutated STAT6 were performed.
This study reports a child with a missense mutation in the DNA binding domain of STAT6 (c.1114G>A, p.E372K) who presented with severe atopic dermatitis, eosinophilia, and elevated IgE. Naive lymphocytes from the affected patient displayed increased TH2- and suppressed TH1- and TH17-cell responses. The mutation augmented both basal and cytokine-induced STAT6 phosphorylation without affecting dephosphorylation kinetics. Treatment with the Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib reversed STAT6 hyperresponsiveness to IL-4, normalized TH1 and TH17 cells, suppressed the eosinophilia, and improved the patient’s atopic dermatitis.
This study identified a novel inborn error of immunity due to a STAT6 gain-of-function mutation that gave rise to severe allergic dysregulation. Janus kinase inhibitor therapy could represent an effective targeted treatment for this disorder.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
TRAF3 interacting protein 2 (TRAF3IP2) (Act1) is an adapter protein that interacts with IL-17R via its similar expression to fibroblast growth factor genes and IL-17R domain and coordinates 2 ...separate proinflammatory pathways following IL-17 cytokine stimulation.
We sought to elucidate the immunologic consequences of TRAF3IP2 homozygous mutations to improve treatments for immunodeficiency patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
We describe 2 patients presenting with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis who harbor biallelic nonsense mutations in TRAF3IP2. The cellular and molecular features of this genetic defect were assessed using in vitro cytokine assays and protein analysis.
We show that the homozygous mutation causes complete loss of protein expression. We also show that the absence of TRAF3IP2 was associated with a defective response to combined IL-2/IL-25 (IL-17E) stimulation.
Failure to initiate normal signaling downstream of IL-17R engagement likely contributes to the patients’ recurrent fungal infections. These findings add to our molecular understanding of genetic defects affecting this critical pathway of antifungal immunity.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
CD55 prevents convertase enzyme formation in the complement cascade, acting as a brake on complement activation. Inactivating mutations in
CD55
result in hyperactivation of complement, angiopathic ...thrombosis, and protein-losing enteropathy.