Humans with inherited T cell CD28 deficiency are susceptible to skin papillomaviruses but are otherwise healthy.

We study a patient with the human papilloma virus (HPV)-2-driven "tree-man" phenotype and two relatives with unusually severe HPV4-driven warts. The giant horns form an HPV-2-driven multifocal benign epithelial tumor overexpressing viral oncogenes in the epidermis basal layer. The patients are unexpectedly homozygous for a private CD28 variant. They have no detectable CD28 on their T cells, with the exception of a small contingent of revertant memory CD4+ T cells. T cell development is barely affected, and T cells respond to CD3 and CD2, but not CD28, costimulation. Although the patients do not display HPV-2- and HPV-4-reactive CD4+ T cells in vitro, they make antibodies specific for both viruses in vivo. CD28-deficient mice are susceptible to cutaneous infections with the mouse papillomavirus MmuPV1. The control of HPV-2 and HPV-4 in keratinocytes is dependent on the T cell CD28 co-activation pathway. Surprisingly, human CD28-dependent T cell responses are largely redundant for protective immunity.

Prognosis and long-term outcomes in type I cryoglobulinemia: A multicenter study of 168 patients.

Type I cryoglobulinemia (CG) accounts for 10%-15% of all cryoglobulinemias and are exclusively seen in clonal proliferative hematologic conditions. In this multicenter nationwide cohort study, we analyzed the prognosis and long-term outcomes of 168 patients with type I CG (93 (55.4%) IgM and 75 [44.6%] IgG). Five- and 10-year event-free survivals (EFS) were 26.5% (95% CI 18.2%-38.4%) and 20.8% (95% CI 13.1%-33.1%), respectively. In multivariable analysis, factors associated with poorer EFS were renal involvement (HR: 2.42, 95% CI 1.41-4.17, p = .001) and IgG type I CG (HR: 1.96, 95% CI 1.13-3.33, p = 0.016), regardless of underlying hematological disorders. IgG type I CG patients had higher cumulative incidence of relapse (94.6% [95% CI 57.8%-99.4%] vs. 56.6% [95% CI 36.6%-72.4%], p = .0002) and death at 10 years (35.8% [19.8%-64.6%] vs. 71.3% [54.0%-94.2%], p = .01) as compared to IgM CG, respectively. Overall, complete response of type I CG at 6 months was 38.7%, with no significant difference between Igs isotypes. In conclusion, renal involvement and IgG CG were identified as independent poor prognostic factors of type I CG.

Array-CGH predicts prognosis in plasma cell post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders.

Plasma-cell post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PC-PTLD) is a rare monomorphic PTLD entity divided into plasma cell myeloma (PCM) and plasmacytoma-like lesion (PLL) PTLD. To date, there are no exhaustive published cytogenetic data on PC-PTLD. We report array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) of 10 cases of PCM and PLL-PTLD. Patients had received kidney (n = 6), heart (n = 2), lung (n = 1) or bone marrow (n = 1) transplantation. There were six men and median age at time of PTLD was 56.5 years (3-74). We identified two different cytological features, plasmacytic and plasmablastic, among six PLL and three PCM PTLD. Eight cases were associated with EBV. First line treatment was heterogeneous: rituximab alone (n = 5), CHOP-like (n = 3) and multiple myeloma-like (n = 1). One patient died before any treatment. After a median follow-up of 19.5 months (0-150), five patients died (four from PTLD) and five were alive without evidence of disease. By aCGH, 5/10 demonstrated a complex profile. The most frequent abnormalities were +7q (5/10), +16q (5/10), +17q (5/10), +17p (4/10), +5q (4/10), t7 (4/10), t9 (3/10), del1p (3/10). No del17p13 (TP53) were observed. Del1p32.3 (CDKN2C) was observed in 2 cases. On univariate prognostic analysis, a complex aCGH was associated with a shorter OS. Thus, cytogenetic abnormalities seem to be closely related to those reported in multiple myeloma or diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Complex aCGH constitutes an unfavorable prognostic marker and aCGH should be integrated in the evaluation of patients with PLL/PCM-PTLD. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Human MSH6 deficiency is associated with impaired antibody maturation.

Ig class-switch recombination (Ig-CSR) deficiencies are rare primary immunodeficiencies characterized by defective switched isotype (IgG/IgA/IgE) production. Depending on the molecular defect, defective Ig-CSR may also be associated with impaired somatic hypermutation (SHM) of the Ig V regions. Although the mechanisms underlying Ig-CSR and SHM in humans have been revealed (at least in part) by studying natural mutants, the role of mismatch repair in this process has not been fully elucidated. We studied in vivo and in vitro Ab maturation in eight MSH6-deficient patients. The skewed SHM pattern strongly suggests that MSH6 is involved in the human SHM process. Ig-CSR was found to be partially defective in vivo and markedly impaired in vitro. The resolution of γH2AX foci following irradiation of MSH6-deficient B cell lines was also found to be impaired. These data suggest that in human CSR, MSH6 is involved in both the induction and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in switch regions.

A rare case of lysozyme-induced anaphylaxis in a child with egg allergy.

We report an unusual case of anaphylaxis induced by the lysozyme-containing over-the-counter-drug Lysopaine®, which contains 20 mg lysozyme hydrochloride and 1.5 mg cetylpyridinium chloride, in a 9-year-old child with allergy to hen's egg as well as multiple IgE-mediated food allergies. The involvement of lysozyme was confirmed by positive skin prick tests for Lysopaine® and the presence of specific IgE against lysozyme. Our case highlights the importance of properly educating allergic patients to recognize allergens, even minor ones. Despite the presence of lysozyme in various food and drug products, it is not necessarily perceived as an allergenic protein by patients with egg allergy, and the labeling may be misleading, thereby exposing patients to potentially severe reactions.

Protective effect of IgM against colonization of the respiratory tract by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia.

BACKGROUND: Primary immunoglobulin deficiencies lead to recurrent bacterial infections of the respiratory tract and bronchiectasis, even with adequate immunoglobulin replacement therapy. It is not known whether patients able to secrete IgM (eg, those with hyper-IgM [HIgM] syndrome) are as susceptible to these infections as patients who lack IgM production (eg, those with panhypogammaglobulinemia [PHG]). OBJECTIVE: This study is aimed at identifying specific microbiological and clinical (infections) characteristics that distinguish immunoglobulin-substituted patients with PHG from patients with HIgM syndrome. METHODS: A cohort of patients with HIgM syndrome (n = 25) and a cohort of patients with PHG (n = 86) were monitored prospectively for 2 years while receiving similar polyvalent immunoglobulin replacement therapies. Regular bacterial analyses of nasal swabs and sputum were performed, and clinical events were recorded. In parallel, serum and saliva IgM antibody concentrations were measured. RESULTS: When compared with patients with PHG, patients with HIgM syndrome were found to have a significantly lower risk of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae carriage in particular (relative risk, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21-0.63). Moreover, patients with HIgM syndrome (including those unable to generate somatic hypermutations of immunoglobulin genes) displayed anti-nontypeable H influenzae IgM antibodies in their serum and saliva. Also, patients with HIgM syndrome had a lower incidence of acute respiratory tract infections. CONCLUSIONS: IgM antibodies appear to be microbiologically and clinically protective and might thus attenuate the infectious consequences of a lack of production of other immunoglobulin isotypes in patients with HIgM syndrome. Polyvalent IgG replacement therapy might not fully compensate for IgM deficiency. It might thus be worth adapting long-term antimicrobial prophylactic regimens according to the underlying B-cell immunodeficiency phenotype.

[Advice in autoimmunity biological diagnosis: guidelines for drafting comments on biological results]. / Prestation de conseil en auto-immunité : aide à la rédaction de commentaires pour les comptes rendus de résultats.

The ISO 15189 accreditation of biological analysis requires the presence of interpretation in the analysis report. The interpretation in the field of autoimmunity which includes many analyses and methods can be complex for biologists who may not have clinical data and for clinicians who may not be aware of technical difficulties. The French group of the european group EASI (European autoimmunity standardisation initiative) proposes a list of comments and advice in order to help biologists when interpreting auto-immune analyses results in several situations. These comments should be adapted to the clinical and biological situation (other biological results, clinical data…) and should alert the clinician. A dialogue between the biologist and the clinician is essential to adjust the interpretation on clinical data in order to provide a better health care for the patient.

Human CARMIL2 deficiency underlies a broader immunological and clinical phenotype than CD28 deficiency.

Patients with inherited CARMIL2 or CD28 deficiency have defective T cell CD28 signaling, but their immunological and clinical phenotypes remain largely unknown. We show that only one of three CARMIL2 isoforms is produced and functional across leukocyte subsets. Tested mutant CARMIL2 alleles from 89 patients and 52 families impair canonical NF-κB but not AP-1 and NFAT activation in T cells stimulated via CD28. Like CD28-deficient patients, CARMIL2-deficient patients display recalcitrant warts and low blood counts of CD4+ and CD8+ memory T cells and CD4+ TREGs. Unlike CD28-deficient patients, they have low counts of NK cells and memory B cells, and their antibody responses are weak. CARMIL2 deficiency is fully penetrant by the age of 10 yr and is characterized by numerous infections, EBV+ smooth muscle tumors, and mucocutaneous inflammation, including inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with somatic reversions of a mutant allele in CD4+ T cells have milder phenotypes. Our study suggests that CARMIL2 governs immunological pathways beyond CD28.

Human T-bet governs the generation of a distinct subset of CD11chighCD21low B cells.

High-level expression of the transcription factor T-bet characterizes a phenotypically distinct murine B cell population known as "age-associated B cells" (ABCs). T-bet-deficient mice have reduced ABCs and impaired humoral immunity. We describe a patient with inherited T-bet deficiency and largely normal humoral immunity including intact somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation and memory B cell formation in vivo, and B cell differentiation into Ig-producing plasmablasts in vitro. Nevertheless, the patient exhibited skewed class switching to IgG1, IgG4, and IgE, along with reduced IgG2, both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, T-bet was required for the in vivo and in vitro development of a distinct subset of human B cells characterized by reduced expression of CD21 and the concomitantly high expression of CD19, CD20, CD11c, FCRL5, and T-bet, a phenotype that shares many features with murine ABCs. Mechanistically, human T-bet governed CD21loCD11chi B cell differentiation by controlling the chromatin accessibility of lineage-defining genes in these cells: FAS, IL21R, SEC61B, DUSP4, DAPP1, SOX5, CD79B, and CXCR4. Thus, human T-bet is largely redundant for long-lived protective humoral immunity but is essential for the development of a distinct subset of human CD11chiCD21lo B cells.

Immunoglobulin deposition disease with a membranous pattern and a circulating monoclonal immunoglobulin G with charge-dependent aggregation properties.

A 62-year-old woman presented with nephrotic syndrome, monoclonal gammopathy, and membranous-like nephropathy with nonorganized deposits composed of monoisotypic immunoglobulin G1 lambda protein. Nephrotic syndrome remitted after a brief course of treatment with melphalan despite ongoing production of the monoclonal protein. The circulating monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 lambda showed unusual in vitro aggregation properties, including dependence on low ionic strength and neutral pH, suggesting that electrostatic interactions had a role in the precipitation process. This case illustrates the importance of looking for monoclonal immunoglobulin deposits when kidney biopsy findings are suggestive of membranous nephropathy. In addition, our in vitro demonstrations of the role of physicochemical factors in immunoglobulin precipitation help elucidate the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin deposition disorders. Although binding to podocyte antigens is a well-recognized determinant of subepithelial immunoglobulin deposition, proneness to aggregation as described in this case also might be nephritogenic.

Aspergillus fumigatus Infection in Humans With STAT3-Deficiency Is Associated With Defective Interferon-Gamma and Th17 Responses.

In humans, loss-of-function mutation in the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) gene is frequently associated with susceptibility to bacterial as well as fungal infections including aspergillosis, although its pathogenesis remains largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the immune responses obtained after stimulation with Aspergillus fumigatus in STAT3-deficient patients. A. fumigatus conidial killing efficiencies of both monocytes and neutrophils isolated from whole blood samples of STAT3-deficient patients were not different compared to those of healthy controls. After stimulation with A. fumigatus conidia, lower concentrations of adaptive cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-17 and IL-22) were secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from STAT3-deficient patients compared to those from healthy controls. Moreover, the frequency of IFN-γ and IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells was lower in STAT3-deficient patients vs. healthy controls. Among the STAT3-deficient patients, those with aspergillosis showed further lower secretion of IFN-γ upon stimulation of their PBMCs with A. fumigatus conidia compared to the patients without aspergillosis. Together, our study indicated that STAT3-deficiency leads to a defective adaptive immune response against A. fumigatus infection, particularly with a lower IFN-γ and IL-17 responses in those with aspergillosis, suggesting potential therapeutic benefit of recombinant IFN-γ in STAT3-deficient patients with aspergillosis.

[Performance criteria for the verification of IgE and tryptase assay methods: recommendations from the AllergoBioNet network]. / Critères de performance pour la vérification des méthodes de dosages des IgE et de la tryptase : recommandations du réseau AllergoBioNet.

Accreditation of an in vitro diagnostic assay according to the NF/EN/ISO 15189 standard requires to analyze its technical performance before implementation for routine use, and annually when reviewing effectiveness of quality controls. Performance is evaluated through repeatability, intermediate fidelity, accuracy and uncertainty of measurement. The coefficients of variation (CV) of the intra-assay and inter-assay precision tests must be compared with those of "peers" (results from laboratories employing the same method) and also with those obtained with "all methods", i.e., results from all laboratories performing the same assay, irrespective of the method. To our best knowledge, there is currently no French or international recommendation on what the acceptable limits of performance for specific IgE and tryptase assays should be. Therefore, the AllergoBioNet network of hospital allergy laboratories set out to characterize the performance of their current methods as a basis for the development of recommendations. The results provided by 24 centers were analyzed and led to consensus recommendations for specific IgE, total IgE and tryptase assays.

Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with ANCA of IgA class.

Pauci-immune renal vasculitis is associated strongly with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) class, which are detected in 80% to 90% of affected patients. IgA ANCAs have been reported in association with various conditions, but never in the setting of pauci-immune vasculitis. A 28-year-old man with unexplained polyclonal hyper-IgA1 diagnosed in childhood presented with decreased kidney function, nephrotic syndrome, and microscopic hematuria. Kidney biopsy showed pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis. Serum test results were negative for IgG ANCA by means of both indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. Conversely, indirect immunofluorescence performed using anti-IgA antibody was strongly positive with a cytoplasmic ANCA pattern, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test had positive results for both antimyeloperoxidase and anti-proteinase 3 IgA. IgA ANCAs were not detected in 2 control serum samples from 1 patient with polyclonal hyper-IgA and 1 patient with monoclonal hyper-IgA. The patient received corticosteroids and 4 weekly perfusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2). After a 6-month follow-up, decreased kidney function and nephrotic syndrome persisted and IgA ANCA titers were unchanged. However, a control kidney biopsy showed a decrease in vasculitis activity. This first case of pauci-immune vasculitis associated with ANCA of the IgA class suggests the potential pathogenetic role of these peculiar antibodies. Additional studies are needed to determine whether IgA ANCAs, which are not routinely screened for, can be detected in patients with pauci-immune vasculitis either alone or in association with IgG ANCA.

Effects of seven potential probiotic strains on specific immune responses in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

This pilot study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of seven probiotic strains. Eighty-three healthy volunteers aged 18-62 years consumed 2 x 10(10) CFU of bacteria or a placebo (maltodextrin) over 3 weeks (D0-D21). Subjects received an oral cholera vaccine at D7 and at D14; blood and saliva samples were collected at D0, D21 and D28. Serum samples were analyzed for specific IgA, IgG and IgM, and saliva samples were analyzed for specific IgA only, by ELISA. Statistical analyses were based on Wilcoxon's signed-rank test (intragroup analyses) and exact median t-test (intergroup analyses). Salivary analysis showed no difference in specific IgA concentrations between groups. Serum analysis indicated an effect of some of the tested strains on specific humoral responses. Between D0 and D21, IgG increased in two probiotic groups, for example, Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04 and Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, compared with controls (P=0.01). Trends toward significant changes in immunoglobulin serum concentrations compared with controls (P<0.1) were found for six out of the seven probiotic strains. In conclusion, some strains of probiotics demonstrated a faster immune response measured with serum immunoglobulin indicators, especially IgG, although overall vaccination was not influenced. Specific strains of probiotics may thus act as adjuvants to the humoral immune response following oral vaccination.

A recessive form of hyper-IgE syndrome by disruption of ZNF341-dependent STAT3 transcription and activity.

Heterozygosity for human signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) dominant-negative (DN) mutations underlies an autosomal dominant form of hyper-immunoglobulin E syndrome (HIES). We describe patients with an autosomal recessive form of HIES due to loss-of-function mutations of a previously uncharacterized gene, ZNF341 ZNF341 is a transcription factor that resides in the nucleus, where it binds a specific DNA motif present in various genes, including the STAT3 promoter. The patients' cells have low basal levels of STAT3 mRNA and protein. The autoinduction of STAT3 production, activation, and function by STAT3-activating cytokines is strongly impaired. Like patients with STAT3 DN mutations, ZNF341-deficient patients lack T helper 17 (TH17) cells, have an excess of TH2 cells, and have low memory B cells due to the tight dependence of STAT3 activity on ZNF341 in lymphocytes. Their milder extra-hematopoietic manifestations and stronger inflammatory responses reflect the lower ZNF341 dependence of STAT3 activity in other cell types. Human ZNF341 is essential for the STAT3 transcription-dependent autoinduction and sustained activity of STAT3.

Transforming growth factor-beta and natural killer T-cells are involved in the protective effect of a bacterial extract on type 1 diabetes.

The onset of type 1 diabetes in NOD mice is delayed by oral administration of a bacterial extract (OM-85) and can be completely prevented by its intraperitoneal administration. Optimal prevention is observed when starting treatment at 3 or 6 weeks of age, and some effect is still observed with treatment at 10 weeks of age. Using genetically deficient mice and cytokine-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, we demonstrate here that the therapeutic effect does not involve T-helper type 2 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4 and -10) but is tightly dependent on transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. Natural killer T-cells also participate in the therapeutic effect because CD1d(-/-) NOD mice are partially resistant to the protective effect of OM-85. The question remains of the specificity of the protective effect of OM-85, which may include proinflammatory components. It will thus be important to further characterize the molecular components that afford protection from type 1 diabetes. Lipopolysaccharide is excluded, but other Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists could be involved because OM-85 stimulated dendritic cells and induced TGF-beta production by splenocytes in a TLR-2-, TLR-4-, and MyD88-dependent fashion.

Detection of interferon alpha protein reveals differential levels and cellular sources in disease.

Type I interferons (IFNs) are essential mediators of antiviral responses. These cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), diabetes mellitus, and dermatomyositis, as well as monogenic type I interferonopathies. Despite a fundamental role in health and disease, the direct quantification of type I IFNs has been challenging. Using single-molecule array (Simoa) digital ELISA technology, we recorded attomolar concentrations of IFNα in healthy donors, viral infection, and complex and monogenic interferonopathies. IFNα protein correlated well with functional activity and IFN-stimulated gene expression. High circulating IFNα levels were associated with increased clinical severity in SLE patients, and a study of the cellular source of IFNα protein indicated disease-specific mechanisms. Measurement of IFNα attomolar concentrations by digital ELISA will enhance our understanding of IFN biology and potentially improve the diagnosis and stratification of pathologies associated with IFN dysregulation.

Type I interferon-mediated autoinflammation due to DNase II deficiency.

Microbial nucleic acid recognition serves as the major stimulus to an antiviral response, implying a requirement to limit the misrepresentation of self nucleic acids as non-self and the induction of autoinflammation. By systematic screening using a panel of interferon-stimulated genes we identify two siblings and a singleton variably demonstrating severe neonatal anemia, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, liver fibrosis, deforming arthropathy and increased anti-DNA antibodies. In both families we identify biallelic mutations in DNASE2, associated with a loss of DNase II endonuclease activity. We record increased interferon alpha protein levels using digital ELISA, enhanced interferon signaling by RNA-Seq analysis and constitutive upregulation of phosphorylated STAT1 and STAT3 in patient lymphocytes and monocytes. A hematological disease transcriptomic signature and increased numbers of erythroblasts are recorded in patient peripheral blood, suggesting that interferon might have a particular effect on hematopoiesis. These data define a type I interferonopathy due to DNase II deficiency in humans.

Autoimmune diabetes onset results from qualitative rather than quantitative age-dependent changes in pathogenic T-cells.

Diabetogenic T-cells can be detected in pre-diabetic nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice after transfer in NOD-SCID recipients. Here we demonstrate that 6-week-old pre-diabetic NOD mice, >2 months before disease onset, already harbor pathogenic T-cells in equal numbers to overtly diabetic animals. The delay in diabetes appearance is explained by the presence of regulatory CD4+ CD25+ T-cells that control diabetogenic effectors and that are, in our hands, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta-dependent. Our present results suggest, however, that diabetes onset is only partly explained by a decline in this regulatory T-cell activity. Another major factor appears to be the progressive resistance of diabetogenic cells to TGF-beta-dependent mediated inhibition. We propose that progression to overt disease correlates with the pathogenic T-cell's escape from TGF-beta-dependent T-cell-mediated regulation.