Novel Presentation of Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Deficiency with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis.

PURPOSE: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II deficiency is one of the combined immune deficiency disorders caused by defects in the MHC class II regulatory genes leading to abnormal T cells development and function. Therefore, patients mainly present with increased susceptibility to infections, diarrhea, and failure to thrive. In this report, we present one MHC class II deficient patient with a novel presentation with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). METHODS: Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subpopulations and HLA-DR expression was assess by flow cytometry. Gene mutational analysis was performed by whole exome and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: We reported a 7-year-old girl, who was diagnosed at age of 2 years with MHC class II deficiency by genetic testing and flow cytometry. Two years later, she developed disseminated BCGitis which was treated with proper antimicrobial agents. At the age of 7 years, she presented with clinical features fulfilling 6 diagnostic criteria of HLH including evidence of hemophagocytic activity in bone marrow aspiration. Accordingly, the diagnosis of HLH was established and the patient was started on IV Dexamethasone, Anakinra and IVIG. Eventually, patient started to improve and was discharged in good condition. Few months later, the patient was readmitted with severe pneumonia and sepsis leading to death. CONCLUSION: Patients with MHC class II deficiency might present with disseminated BCGitis especially if the patient has severe T cell lymphopenia. Additionally, this immune defect might be added to the list of inborn errors of immunity that can be complicated with HLH.

Exaggerated follicular helper T-cell responses in patients with LRBA deficiency caused by failure of CTLA4-mediated regulation.

BACKGROUND: 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. OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.

DOCK8 Deficiency Presenting as an IPEX-Like Disorder.

PURPOSE: The dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency is an autosomal recessive-combined immunodeficiency whose clinical spectra include recurrent infections, autoimmunity, malignancies, elevated serum IgE, eczema, and food allergies. Here, we report on patients with loss of function DOCK8 mutations with profound immune dysregulation suggestive of an immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX)-like disorder. METHODS: Immunophenotyping of lymphocyte subpopulations and analysis of DOCK8 protein expression were evaluated by flow cytometry. T regulatory (Treg) cells were isolated by cell sorting, and their suppressive activity was analyzed by flow cytometry. Gene mutational analysis was performed by whole-exome and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Patient 1 (P1) presented at 10 months of age with chronic severe diarrhea and active colitis in the absence of an infectious trigger, severe eczema with elevated serum IgE, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, suggestive of an IPEX-related disorder. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation in DOCK8 at the DOCK-homology region (DHR)-1 (c.1498C>T; p. R500X). Patient P2, a cousin of P1 who carries the same DOCK8 nonsense mutation, presented with eczema and recurrent ear infections in early infancy, and she developed persistent diarrhea by 3 years of age. Patient P3 presented with lymphoproliferation, severe eczema with allergic dysregulation, and chronic diarrhea with colitis. She harbored a homozygous loss of function DOCK8 mutation (c.2402 -1G→A). Treg cell function was severely compromised by both DOCK8 mutations. CONCLUSION: DOCK8 deficiency may present severe immune dysregulation with features that may overlap with those of IPEX and other IPEX-like disorders.

T Regulatory Cell Biology in Health and Disease.

Regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3) play an essential role in enforcing immune tolerance to self tissues, regulating host-commensal flora interaction, and facilitating tissue repair. Their deficiency and/or dysfunction trigger unbridled autoimmunity and inflammation. A growing number of monogenic defects have been recognized that adversely impact Treg cell development, differentiation, and/or function, leading to heritable diseases of immune dysregulation and autoimmunity. In this article, we review recent insights into Treg cell biology and function, with particular attention to lessons learned from newly recognized clinical disorders of Treg cell deficiency.

The Middle East and North Africa Diagnosis and Management Guidelines for Inborn Errors of Immunity.

Human inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are a group of 485 distinct genetic disorders affecting children and adults. Signs and symptoms of IEI are heterogeneous, and accurate diagnosis can be challenging and depends on the available human expertise and laboratory resources. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has an increased prevalence of IEI because of the high rate of consanguinity with a predominance of autosomal recessive disorders. This area also exhibits more severe disease phenotypes compared with other regions, probably due to the delay in diagnosis. The MENA-IEI registry network has designed protocols and guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IEI, taking into consideration the variable regional expertise and resources. These guidelines are primarily meant to improve the care of patients within the region, but can also be followed in other regions with similar patient populations.