PLCG2-associated immune dysregulation (PLAID) comprises broad and distinct clinical presentations related to functional classes of genetic variants.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic variants of phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2) cause 2 related forms of autosomal-dominant immune dysregulation (ID), PLCγ2-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (PLAID) and autoinflammatory PLAID (APLAID). Since describing these conditions, many PLCG2 variants of uncertain significance have been identified by clinical sequencing of patients with diverse features of ID. OBJECTIVE: We sought to functionally classify PLCG2 variants and explore known and novel genotype-function-phenotype relationships. METHODS: Clinical data from patients with PLCG2 variants were obtained via standardized questionnaire. PLCG2 variants were generated by mutagenesis of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-PLCG2 plasmid, which was overexpressed in Plcg2-deficient DT-40 B cells. B-cell receptor-induced calcium flux and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation were assayed by flow cytometry. In some cases, stimulation-induced calcium flux was also measured in primary patient cells. RESULTS: Three-fourths of PLCG2 variants produced functional alteration of B-cell activation, in vitro. Thirteen variants led to gain of function (GOF); however, most functional variants defined a new class of PLCG2 mutation, monoallelic loss of function (LOF). Susceptibility to infection and autoinflammation were common with both GOF and LOF variants, whereas a new phenotypic cluster consisting of humoral immune deficiency, autoinflammation, susceptibility to herpesvirus infection, and natural killer cell dysfunction was observed in association with multiple heterozygous LOF variants detected in both familial and sporadic cases. In some cases, PLCG2 variants produced greater effects in natural killer cells than in B cells. CONCLUSIONS: This work expands the genotypic and phenotypic associations with functional variation in PLCG2, including a novel form of ID in carriers of heterozygous loss of PLCG2 function. It also demonstrates the need for more diverse assays for assessing the impact of PLCG2 variants on human disease.

Splice site and de novo mutations can cause mixed dominant negative/gain of function PLCG2-associated immune dysregulation with cold urticaria (CU-PLAID).

Background: Phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2) is an important signaling molecule that receives and transmits signals from various cell surface receptors in most hematopoietic lineages. Variants of PLCG2 cause PLCγ2-associated immune dysregulation (PLAID), a family of conditions that are classified by mutational effect. PLAID with cold urticaria (CU-PLAID) is caused by in-frame deletions of PLCG2 that are dominant negative at physiologic temperatures but become spontaneously active at sub-physiologic temperatures. Objective: To identify genetic lesions that cause PLAID by combining RNA sequencing of full-length PLCG2 with whole genome sequencing. Methods: We studied nine probands with antibody deficiency and a positive evaporative cooling test, together with two known CU-PLAID patients and three healthy subjects. Illumina sequencing was performed on full-length PLCG2 cDNA synthesized from peripheral blood mononuclear cell RNA and whole genome sequencing was used to identify genetic lesions. Novel alternate transcripts were overexpressed in the Plcg2-deficient DT40 cell overexpression system. ERK phosphorylation was quantified by flow cytometry with and without BCR crosslinking. Results: Two probands expressed novel alternative transcripts of PLCG2 with in-frame deletions. The first, expressing PLCG2 without exons 18-19, carried a splice site mutation in intron 19. The second, expressing PLCG2 without exons 19-22, carried a 14kb de novo deletion of PLCG2. DT40 cells overexpressing the exon 18-19 or exon 19-22 deletions failed to phosphorylate ERK in response to BCR crosslinking. Conclusion: In addition to autosomal dominant genomic deletions, de novo deletions and splice site mutations of PLCG2 can also cause CU-PLAID. All of these can be identified by cDNA-based sequencing.

Draft Genome Sequence of Microvirga sp. Strain BSC39, Isolated from Biological Soil Crust of Moab, Utah.

Microvirga sp. BSC39 was isolated from a biological soil crust near Moab, Utah. The strain appears to be capable of chemotaxis and exopolysaccharide synthesis for biofilm adhesion. The BSC39 genome contains iron siderophore uptake and hydrolysis enzymes; however, it lacks siderophore synthesis pathways, suggesting the uptake of siderophores produced by neighboring microbes.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus sp. Strain BSC154, Isolated from Biological Soil Crust of Moab, Utah.

Bacillus sp. BSC154 was isolated from a biological soil crust near Moab, Utah. The strain appears to be capable of chemotaxis and biofilm production. The BSC154 genome contains iron siderophore production, nitrate reduction, mixed acid-butanediol fermentation, and assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfate metabolism pathways.

Draft Genome Sequence of Massilia sp. Strain BSC265, Isolated from Biological Soil Crust of Moab, Utah.

Massilia sp. BSC265 was isolated from a biological soil crust near Moab, Utah. The strain appears to be capable of chemotaxis and exopolysaccharide synthesis for biofilm adhesion. The BSC265 genome contains a complete dissimilatory nitrate reduction pathway as well as a TCA cycle, making it a facultative anaerobe.