Therapeutic modalities and clinical outcomes in a large cohort with LRBA deficiency and CTLA4 insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: LPS-responsive beige-like anchor (LRBA) deficiency (LRBA-/-) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA4) insufficiency (CTLA4+/-) are mechanistically overlapped diseases presenting with recurrent infections and autoimmunity. The effectiveness of different treatment regimens remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the comparative efficacy and long-term outcome of therapy with immunosuppressants, CTLA4-immunoglobulin (abatacept), and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a single-country multicenter cohort of 98 patients with a 5-year median follow-up. METHODS: The 98 patients (63 LRBA-/- and 35 CTLA4+/-) were followed and evaluated at baseline and every 6 months for clinical manifestations and response to the respective therapies. RESULTS: The LRBA-/- patients exhibited a more severe disease course than did the CTLA4+/- patients, requiring more immunosuppressants, abatacept, and HSCT to control their symptoms. Among the 58 patients who received abatacept as either a primary or rescue therapy, sustained complete control was achieved in 46 (79.3%) without severe side effects. In contrast, most patients who received immunosuppressants as primary therapy (n = 61) showed either partial or no disease control (72.1%), necessitating additional immunosuppressants, abatacept, or transplantation. Patients with partial or no response to abatacept (n = 12) had longer disease activity before abatacept therapy, with higher organ involvement and poorer disease outcomes than those with a complete response. HSCT was performed in 14 LRBA-/- patients; 9 patients (64.2%) showed complete remission, and 3 (21.3%) continued to receive immunosuppressants after transplantation. HSCT and abatacept therapy gave rise to similar probabilities of survival. CONCLUSIONS: Abatacept is superior to immunosuppressants in controlling disease manifestations over the long term, especially when started early, and it may provide a safe and effective therapeutic alternative to transplantation.

Defective Treg generation and increased type 3 immune response in leukocyte adhesion deficiency 1.

In 15 Turkish LAD-1 patients and controls, we assessed the impact of pathogenic ITGB2 mutations on Th17/Treg differentiation and functions, and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) subsets. The percentage of peripheral blood Treg cells, in vitro-generated induced Tregs differentiated from naive CD4+ T cells were decreased despite the elevated absolute counts of CD4+ cells in LAD-1 patients. Serum IL-23 levels were elevated in LAD-1 patients. Post-curdlan stimulation, LAD-1 patient-derived PBMCs produced more IL-17A. Additionally, the percentages of CD18-deficient Th17 cells expanded from total or naïve CD4+ T cells were higher. The blood ILC3 subset was significantly elevated in LAD-1. Finally, LAD-1 PBMCs showed defects in trans-well migration and proliferation and were more resistant to apoptosis. Defects in de novo generation of Tregs from CD18-deficient naïve T cells and elevated Th17s, and ILC3s in LAD-1 patients' peripheral blood suggest a type 3-skewed immunity and may contribute to LAD-1-associated autoimmune symptoms.

Atypical Localization of Eczema Discriminates DOCK8 or STAT3 Deficiencies from Atopic Dermatitis.

PURPOSE: Autosomal recessive dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8-/-) and autosomal dominant signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3-/+) deficiencies are inborn errors of immunity (IEI) disorders present with the classic features of eczema and create a dilemma during differentiation from atopic dermatitis (AD). Therefore, an appropriate approach is required for eczema to diagnose DOCK8-/- and STAT3-/+ early. Here, we described a set of clinical and immunological variables, including atypical AD localizations and lymphocyte subsets, to differentiate DOCK8-/- or STAT3-/+ from AD. METHODS: This multicenter study involved 100 patients with DOCK8-/- and STAT3-/+ and moderate/severe AD. We recruited disease manifestations, including detailed localizations of eczema, infections, and allergy. Principle component analysis (PCA) was used to discriminate DOCK8-/- or STAT3-/+ from AD. RESULTS: There were 43 patients with DOCK8-/-, 23 with STAT3-/+, and 34 with AD. Pneumonia, severe infections, mucocutaneous candidiasis, and skin abscesses were commonly observed in DOCK8 and STAT3 deficiencies. Atypical skin involvement with neonatal rash, retro auricular, axillary, sacral, and genital eczema discriminate DOCK8-/- and STAT3-/+ from AD with high specificity ranges between 73.5 and 94.1% and positive predictive index ranges between 55 and 93.1%. Together with using absolute numbers of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells, the combined clinical and laboratory features showed perfect differentiation between DOCK8-/- or STAT3-/+ and AD via PCA. CONCLUSIONS: The described features can be easily implemented by physicians providing early diagnosis of DOCK8 and STAT3 deficiencies.

CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cell in food allergy: Does it predict anaphylaxis?

BACKGROUND: Food allergy (FA), hence the incidence of food anaphylaxis, is a public health problem that has increased in recent years. There are still no biomarkers for patients with FA to predict severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis. OBJECTIVE: There is limited information on whether regulatory T (Treg) cell levels are a biomarker that predicts clinical severity in cases presenting with FA, and which patients are at a greater risk for anaphylaxis. METHODS: A total of 70 children were included in the study: 25 who had IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and presented with non-anaphylactic symptoms (FA/A-), 16 who had IgE-mediated CMPA and presented with anaphylaxis (FA/A+) (a total of 41 FA cases), and a control group consisting of 29 children without FA. The study was conducted by performing CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cell flow cytometric analysis during resting at least 2 weeks after the elimination diet to FA subjects. RESULTS: When the FA group was compared with healthy control subjects, CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cell rates were found to be significantly lower in the FA group (p < 0.001). When the FA/A- and FA/A+ groups and the control group were compared in terms of CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cell ratios, they were significantly lower in the FA/A- and FA/A+ groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although there was no significant difference between the FA/A+ group and the FA/A- group in terms of CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cells, our study is important, as it is the first pediatric study we know to investigate whether CD4+CD25+CD127loFOXP3+ cells in FA predict anaphylaxis.

Eight years of follow-up experience in children with mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency, caused by non-tuberculous mycobacteria or Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine and characterized by severe diseases in childhood. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we examined eight years followed-up 12 Turkish children with genetically proven MSMD and we tried to evaluate the survival rate with succesfull disease management, rate of consanguinity, molecular, cellular and clinical features of patients. In addition, we wanted to emphasize the importance of early diagnosis before administration of BCG vaccine in countries where this vaccine is routinely used. METHODS: Twelve patients diagnosed with molecular studies [IFNγR1 complete (n = 1), IFNγR2 partial (n = 3), IL12Rß1 (n = 6), NEMO (n = 1), STAT1 mutation (n = 1)] were included. RESULTS: Ten patients (83%) were born from consanguineous parents and frequency of family history for the primary immunodeficiency was 58% (n = 7). All the cases had been immunized with BCG vaccine (Mycobacterium bovis) due to lack of early diagnosis. Two patients had BCG-itis and four patients had "BCG-osis". Survival rate was 75% after successful disease management with antibiotics, anti-tuberculous agents and recombinant IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that MSMD must be differentiated from different forms of primary immunodeficiencies, so clinicians should be aware of MSMD especially in patients with BCG vaccine complications and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection.

Severe combined immunodeficiencies: Expanding the mutation spectrum in Turkey and identification of 12 novel variants.

Human Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEIs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases, with relatively mild clinical course or severe types that can be life-threatening. Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is the most severe form of IEIs, which is caused by monogenic defects that impair the proliferation and function of T, B, and NK cells. According to the most recent report by the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), SCID is caused by mutations in IL2RG, JAK3, FOXN1, CORO1A, PTPRC, CD3D, CD3E, CD247, ADA, AK2, NHEJ1, LIG4, PRKDC, DCLRE1C, RAG1 and RAG2 genes. The targeted next-generation sequencing (TNGS) workflow based on Ion AmpliSeq™ Primary Immune Deficiency Research Panel was designed for sequencing 264 IEI-related genes on Ion S5™ Sequencer. Herein, we present 21 disease-causing variants (12 novel) which were identified in 22 patients in eight different SCID genes. Next-generation sequencing allowed a rapid and an accurate diagnosis SCID patients.

Comparing the levels of CTLA-4-dependent biological defects in patients with LRBA deficiency and CTLA-4 insufficiency.

BACKGROUND: Lipopolysaccharide-responsive beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) deficiency and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein-4 (CTLA-4) insufficiency are recently described disorders that present with susceptibility to infections, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferation. Clinical and immunological comparisons of the diseases with long-term follow-up have not been previously reported. We sought to compare the clinical and laboratory manifestations of both diseases and investigate the role of flow cytometry in predicting the genetic defect in patients with LRBA deficiency and CTLA-4 insufficiency. METHODS: Patients were evaluated clinically with laboratory assessments for lymphocyte subsets, T follicular helper cells (TFH ), LRBA expression, and expression of CD25, FOXP3, and CTLA4 in regulatory T cells (Tregs) at baseline and 16 h post-stimulation. RESULTS: LRBA-deficient patients (n = 29) showed significantly early age of symptom onset, higher rates of pneumonia, autoimmunity, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive compared to CTLA-4 insufficiency (n = 12). In total, 29 patients received abatacept with favorable responses and the overall survival probability was not different between transplanted versus non-transplanted patients in LRBA deficiency. Meanwhile, higher probability of survival was observed in CTLA-4-insufficient patients (p = 0.04). The T-cell subsets showed more deviation to memory cells in CTLA-4-insufficiency, accompanied by low percentages of Treg and dysregulated cTFH cells response in both diseases. Cumulative numbers of autoimmunities positively correlated with cTFH frequencies. Baseline CTLA-4 expression was significantly diminished in LRBA deficiency and CTLA-4 insufficiency, but significant induction in CTLA-4 was observed after short-term T-cell stimulation in LRBA deficiency and controls, while this elevation was less in CTLA-4 insufficiency, allowing to differentiate this disease from LRBA deficiency with high sensitivity (87.5%) and specificity (90%). CONCLUSION: This cohort provided detailed clinical and laboratory comparisons for LRBA deficiency and CTLA-4 insufficiency. The flow cytometric approach is useful in predicting the defective gene; thus, targeted sequencing can be conducted to provide rapid diagnosis and treatment for these diseases impacting the CTLA-4 pathway.

Consensus Middle East and North Africa Registry on Inborn Errors of Immunity.

BACKGROUND: Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are a heterogeneous group of genetic defects of immunity, which cause high rates of morbidity and mortality mainly among children due to infectious and non-infectious complications. The IEI burden has been critically underestimated in countries from middle- and low-income regions and the majority of patients with IEI in these regions lack a molecular diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed the clinical, immunologic, and genetic data of IEI patients from 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The data was collected from national registries and diverse databases such as the Asian Pacific Society for Immunodeficiencies (APSID) registry, African Society for Immunodeficiencies (ASID) registry, Jeffrey Modell Foundation (JMF) registry, J Project centers, and International Consortium on Immune Deficiency (ICID) centers. RESULTS: We identified 17,120 patients with IEI, among which females represented 39.4%. Parental consanguinity was present in 60.5% of cases and 27.3% of the patients were from families with a confirmed previous family history of IEI. The median age of patients at the onset of disease was 36 months and the median delay in diagnosis was 41 months. The rate of registered IEI patients ranges between 0.02 and 7.58 per 100,000 population, and the lowest rates were in countries with the highest rates of disability-adjusted life years (DALY) and death rates for children. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most frequent IEI entities diagnosed in 41.2% of the cohort. Among 5871 patients genetically evaluated, the diagnostic yield was 83% with the majority (65.2%) having autosomal recessive defects. The mortality rate was the highest in patients with non-syndromic combined immunodeficiency (51.7%, median age: 3.5 years) and particularly in patients with mutations in specific genes associated with this phenotype (RFXANK, RAG1, and IL2RG). CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive registry highlights the importance of a detailed investigation of IEI patients in the MENA region. The high yield of genetic diagnosis of IEI in this region has important implications for prevention, prognosis, treatment, and resource allocation.

CD137 deficiency causes immune dysregulation with predisposition to lymphomagenesis.

Dysregulated immune responses are essential underlying causes of a plethora of pathologies including cancer, autoimmunity, and immunodeficiency. We here investigated 4 patients from unrelated families presenting with immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and malignancy. We identified 4 distinct homozygous mutations in TNFRSF9 encoding the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member CD137/4-1BB, leading to reduced, or loss of, protein expression. Lymphocytic responses crucial for immune surveillance, including activation, proliferation, and differentiation, were impaired. Genetic reconstitution of CD137 reversed these defects. CD137 deficiency is a novel inborn error of human immunity characterized by lymphocytic defects with early-onset Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoma. Our findings elucidate a functional role and relevance of CD137 in human immune homeostasis and antitumor responses.

Incomplete penetrance for isolated congenital asplenia in humans with mutations in translated and untranslated RPSA exons.

Isolated congenital asplenia (ICA) is the only known human developmental defect exclusively affecting a lymphoid organ. In 2013, we showed that private deleterious mutations in the protein-coding region of RPSA, encoding ribosomal protein SA, caused ICA by haploinsufficiency with complete penetrance. We reported seven heterozygous protein-coding mutations in 8 of the 23 kindreds studied, including 6 of the 8 multiplex kindreds. We have since enrolled 33 new kindreds, 5 of which are multiplex. We describe here 11 new heterozygous ICA-causing RPSA protein-coding mutations, and the first two mutations in the 5'-UTR of this gene, which disrupt mRNA splicing. Overall, 40 of the 73 ICA patients (55%) and 23 of the 56 kindreds (41%) carry mutations located in translated or untranslated exons of RPSA. Eleven of the 43 kindreds affected by sporadic disease (26%) carry RPSA mutations, whereas 12 of the 13 multiplex kindreds (92%) carry RPSA mutations. We also report that 6 of 18 (33%) protein-coding mutations and the two (100%) 5'-UTR mutations display incomplete penetrance. Three mutations were identified in two independent kindreds, due to a hotspot or a founder effect. Finally, RPSA ICA-causing mutations were demonstrated to be de novo in 7 of the 23 probands. Mutations in RPSA exons can affect the translated or untranslated regions and can underlie ICA with complete or incomplete penetrance.

22q11.2 deletion syndrome: 20 years of experience from two pediatric immunology units and review of clues for diagnosis and disease management.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients diagnosed with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and determine the clues directing to diagnosis and evaluation of immunological findings for excellent management of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-three pediatric patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome diagnosed between 1998 and 2019 at Pediatric Immunology Division of Ege University Faculty of Medicine and SBU Izmir Dr Behcet Uz Children's Education and Research Hospital were evaluated. RESULTS: This study includes the largest case series reported from Turkey. Congenital cardiac anomalies were the most common pathology associated with the syndrome (90.9%). Hypocalcemic symptoms were observed in 13 patients (40%). Twenty-two of the 33 (66.6%) patients were diagnosed before two years of age. Autoimmune diseases, dysmorphic facial findings, recurrent infections, growth retardation, and speech impairment were other clues for diagnosis in older patients. Clinical spectrum and immunological abnormalities of this syndrome are quite variable. All T-cell subset counts were less than 5th percentile below median by age in one patient (3%) and 10 patients had normal all T-cell subset counts (30.3%). Overall, 69.6% of the patients had normal IgG, IgA, and IgM levels and two patients had panhypogammaglobulinemia. Recurrent infections were revealed in 75.7% of the patients during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of cardiac anomaly is more helpful in the diagnosis, especially under two years of age. Patients with immunologically high or standard risk did not show any difference in terms of numbers and severity of infections and autoimmunity.

Do microdeletions lead to immune deficiency?

INTRODUCTION: Microdeletion syndromes may be accompanied by immunological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and laboratory data as well as the immune functions of patients diagnosed with a microdeletion syndrome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 39 patients diagnosed with microdeletion syndrome who were monitored at the Pediatric Genetics and Immunology clinics at Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital were included in this study. All data for this research were obtained from patient records and by individual consultation with their parents. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients, 15 were monitored for a diagnosis of Williams syndrome, 12 for DiGeorge syndrome, 4 for Prader-Willi syndrome, 2 for Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, 1 for a 1p36 deletion, 1 for Smith-Magenis syndrome, 2 for Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome type 2 (TRPS2), and 2 for Cri-du-chat syndrome. Of these 39 patients, 10 (25.6%) had a medical history of frequent upper respiratory tract infections. One of the cases with TRPS2 and another with Smith-Magenis syndrome had previously received intravenous antibiotic therapy for infectious disease. Five of the 12 patients with DiGeorge syndrome had low T lymphocytes. Two of the patients with DiGeorge syndrome with a history of frequent infections, with hypogammaglobinemia, and low lymphocytes were receiving regular intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement. CONCLUSIONS: It must be taken into account that patients with microdeletion syndromes, especially those with DiGeorge syndrome, may also have immunodeficiencies; therefore, these patients should be closely monitored to prevent development of any complications.

Chronic granulamatous disease: Two decades of experience from a paediatric immunology unit in a country with high rate of consangineous marriages.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections resulting from the inadequacy of phagocytic leucocytes to produce reactive oxygen radicals. CGD is a genetically heterogeneous disease with an X-linked recessive (XR-CGD) form caused by mutations in the CYBB (OMIM #300481) gene encoding the gp91(phox) protein, and an autosomal recessive (AR-CGD) form caused by mutations in the CYBA (OMIM #608508), NCF1 (OMIM #608512), NCF2 (OMIM #608515) and NCF4 (OMIM #601488) genes encoding p22(phox), p47(phox), p67(phox) and p40(phox), respectively. The genetic mutation of one of the cytosolic p47phox/p67phox proteins and membrane-bound gp91phox/p22phox proteins, which constitutes the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex, causes the disease. In this study, we evaluated the clinical, laboratory and genetic findings and the prognostic effects of molecular inheritance of our 24 CGD cases (14 XR, 10 autosomal recessive-AR). Consanguinity (three XR and all AR cases) showed statistically significant relationship with the type of hereditary inheritance (P < 0.001). 83% patients had an infection since early infancy. The mean age of initiation of symptoms was earlier in XR cases, and 78% patients had respiratory tract infections. Bone marrow transplantation was performed in five XR cases (two ex) and four AR (one ex) cases. Three of nine XR and two of six AR cases deceased on medical follow-up. In countries especially with high consanguinity rates, the early diagnosis for appropriate prophylactic treatment of CGD is quietly important to avoid from recurrent severe infections, early death and fatal complications of late transplantation.

Mutations affecting the actin regulator WD repeat-containing protein 1 lead to aberrant lymphoid immunity.

BACKGROUND: The actin-interacting protein WD repeat-containing protein 1 (WDR1) promotes cofilin-dependent actin filament turnover. Biallelic WDR1 mutations have been identified recently in an immunodeficiency/autoinflammatory syndrome with aberrant morphology and function of myeloid cells. OBJECTIVE: Given the pleiotropic expression of WDR1, here we investigated to what extent it might control the lymphoid arm of the immune system in human subjects. METHODS: Histologic and detailed immunologic analyses were performed to elucidate the role of WDR1 in the development and function of B and T lymphocytes. RESULTS: Here we identified novel homozygous and compound heterozygous WDR1 missense mutations in 6 patients belonging to 3 kindreds who presented with respiratory tract infections, skin ulceration, and stomatitis. In addition to defective adhesion and motility of neutrophils and monocytes, WDR1 deficiency was associated with aberrant T-cell activation and B-cell development. T lymphocytes appeared to develop normally in the patients, except for the follicular helper T-cell subset. However, peripheral T cells from the patients accumulated atypical actin structures at the immunologic synapse and displayed reduced calcium flux and mildly impaired proliferation on T-cell receptor stimulation. WDR1 deficiency was associated with even more severe abnormalities of the B-cell compartment, including peripheral B-cell lymphopenia, paucity of B-cell progenitors in the bone marrow, lack of switched memory B cells, reduced clonal diversity, abnormal B-cell spreading, and increased apoptosis on B-cell receptor/Toll-like receptor stimulation. CONCLUSION: Our study identifies a novel role for WDR1 in adaptive immunity, highlighting WDR1 as a central regulator of actin turnover during formation of the B-cell and T-cell immunologic synapses.

Characteristics of the patients followed with the diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency and the complications.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we aimed to retrospectively evaluate the clinical and laboratory findings and complications of 28 common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical features and laboratory data of 28 CVID patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were male. In 53.5% of the cases, complications included inflammatory bowel disease, cytopenia, bronchiectasis, granulomatous lymphocytic interstitial lung disease (ILD) and asthma. In their immunological evaluations, IgG, IgM, and IgA mean values were 474.8 ±214.1 mg/dl; 56.7 ±41.9 mg/dl; 35.3 ±58.2 mg/dl, respectively, and the vaccine response was positive in 64.2% of the cases. In all age groups, absolute lymphocyte counts, naive (CD19+IgD+27-), nonswitch (CD19+IgD-27+) memory B cells were numerically higher when compared to the data of healthy children; however, although switch memory (CD19+IgD+27+) B cells were proportionally low in the 4-8 and 12-18 age groups, they were low both numerically and proportionally in the 8-12 age group. No statistically significant difference was found between the cases with complications and without complications. But the cases with pulmonary complications were compared within the group, the CD8 ratio was high but the IgA level was low in patients with bronchiectasis and CD3 was numerically and proportionally low in the cases with ILD compared to others. According to the Paris classification, 11/27 (40.7%) of the cases, 3/27 (11.1%) of them and 13/27 (48.2%) of them were evaluated as MB0, MB1, and MB2, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In genetic studies, TACI (trans-membrane activator and calcium-modulating cyclophilin ligand interactor - TNFRSF13B) mutation was found positive in 25% of the cases.

Late diagnosis of leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II and Bombay blood type in a child: a rare case report.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II (LAD II) is a rare, autosomal, recessive inherited immunodeficiency disease that induces frequent and recurrent infections, persistent leukocytosis, severe mental and growth retardation, and impaired wound healing. The Bombay blood group is a rare blood group phenotype that is characterised by the deficiency of H, A, and B antigens on the surface of red cells. LAD II and the Bombay blood group are always seen together, because both of them are associated with a global defect in the common pathway of fucose metabolism. Here we report the case of an 11-year-old boy with LAD II, who presented with the Bombay blood group. Agglutination with strength of 4+ was detected in all cross-matching due to erythrocyte transfusions for our patient. Therefore, the Bombay blood group was incidentally determined due to deficient expression of the CD15 adhesion molecules on the surface of the leukocytes according to the results of flow cytometry. Upon detecting the Bombay blood type, LAD II was then diagnosed as a result of flow cytometry and the clinical findings of mental retardation and history of recurrent infections such as abscesses.

Neurodevelopmental evaluation of children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to perform a neurodevelopmental evaluation of the children with cyanotic congenital heart disease and to determine the factors that affect the neurodevelopmental status. METHODS: The study was performed in the Pediatric Cardiology Department of Behcet Uz Children's Hospital between February and August 2013. Children between the age of six to forty-two months were included in the study and were evaluated in three groups (two patient groups and the control group). In group A, patients with isolated cyanotic congenital heart disease were enrolled. Group B consisted of the patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease with other concomitant diseases. Group C included the healthy control group. For the neurodevelopmental evaluation Bayley Scale of Infant Development- II (BSID-II) was used. Mental Developmental Index (MDI) and Psychmotor Developmental Index (PDI) scores were calculated. Factors possibly effective on neurodevelopment were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty eight patients (32 in group A and 6 in group B) and 33 healthy subjects in group C were included in the study. Mean age of the patient group was 22.5±11.2 months. In group A mean MDI Score (82.5±14.7) was significantly lower than group C (92.3±6.9) (P=0.001). Similarly mean PDI Score in group A (82.0±18.2) was found significantly lower than group C (92.5±7.4) (P=0.003). When group A and B were compared, mean MDI and PDI scores were lower in group B, but the difference was not statistically significant. For group A, according to the psychomotor development index, 41.6% of the patients were found to be mildly to severely retarded. In terms of the mental development index, 34.4% of the patients had moderate or mild retardation. The sex, socioeconomic status, gestational age, birth weight, comorbidities, history of surgery and reoperation, length of stay in intensive care unit were not found influential on the MDI and PDI scores of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Mental-motor retardation is frequently encountered in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease. These patients may benefit from motor, language, speech, developmental and educational therapies. For this reason, these children have to be under regular follow up for neurodevelopmental status.

Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 regulates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation and promotes TH17 cell differentiation.

BACKGROUND: The autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES) caused by dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency shares clinical features with autosomal dominant HIES because of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutations, including recurrent infections and mucocutaneous candidiasis, which are suggestive of TH17 cell dysfunction. The mechanisms underlying this phenotypic overlap are unclear. OBJECTIVE: We sought to elucidate common mechanisms operating in the different forms of HIES. METHODS: We analyzed the differentiation of CD4+ TH cell subsets in control and DOCK8-deficient subjects. We also examined the role of DOCK8 in regulating STAT3 activation in T cells. TH cell differentiation was analyzed by ELISA, flow cytometry, and real-time PCR measurements of cytokines and TH cell transcription factors. The interaction of DOCK8 and STAT3 signaling pathways was examined by using flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, coimmunoprecipitation, and gene expression analysis. RESULTS: There was a profound block in the differentiation of DOCK8-deficient naive CD4+ T cells into TH17 cells. A missense mutation that disrupts DOCK8 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity while sparing protein expression also impaired TH17 cell differentiation. DOCK8 constitutively associated with STAT3 independent of GEF activity, whereas it regulated STAT3 phosphorylation in a GEF activity-dependent manner. DOCK8 also promoted STAT3 translocation to the nucleus and induction of STAT3-dependent gene expression. CONCLUSION: DOCK8 interacts with STAT3 and regulates its activation and the outcome of STAT3-dependent TH17 differentiation. These findings might explain the phenotypic overlap between DOCK8 deficiency and autosomal dominant HIES.

Tuberculosis masked by immunodeficiency: a review of two cases diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a genetically heterogeneous primary immunodeficiency that is characterized by recurrent and life-threatening infections resulting from defects in phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system and granuloma formation due to increased inflammatory response. The most commonly involved organs are the lungs, skin, lymph nodes, and liver due to infection. It may present with recurrent pneumonia, hilar lymphadenopathy, empyema, abscess, reticulonodular patterns, and granulomas due to lung involvement. In recent years, mycobacterial disease susceptibility has been reported in CGD cases. This article presents two male cases, one of whom is aged 18 months and the other is aged 5 years, who were diagnosed with CGD and tuberculosis during examination due to extended pneumonia. This report is presented because CGD should be considered not only in the presence of skin abscesses and Aspergillus infections, but also in the differential diagnosis for cases with BCG-itis and/or tuberculosis. It should be kept in mind that mycobacterial infections can occur during the course of the disease.

The extended clinical phenotype of 64 patients with dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) cause a combined immunodeficiency (CID) also classified as autosomal recessive (AR) hyper-IgE syndrome (HIES). Recognizing patients with CID/HIES is of clinical importance because of the difference in prognosis and management. OBJECTIVES: We sought to define the clinical features that distinguish DOCK8 deficiency from other forms of HIES and CIDs, study the mutational spectrum of DOCK8 deficiency, and report on the frequency of specific clinical findings. METHODS: Eighty-two patients from 60 families with CID and the phenotype of AR-HIES with (64 patients) and without (18 patients) DOCK8 mutations were studied. Support vector machines were used to compare clinical data from 35 patients with DOCK8 deficiency with those from 10 patients with AR-HIES without a DOCK8 mutation and 64 patients with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) mutations. RESULTS: DOCK8-deficient patients had median IgE levels of 5201 IU, high eosinophil levels of usually at least 800/µL (92% of patients), and low IgM levels (62%). About 20% of patients were lymphopenic, mainly because of low CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell counts. Fewer than half of the patients tested produced normal specific antibody responses to recall antigens. Bacterial (84%), viral (78%), and fungal (70%) infections were frequently observed. Skin abscesses (60%) and allergies (73%) were common clinical problems. In contrast to STAT3 deficiency, there were few pneumatoceles, bone fractures, and teething problems. Mortality was high (34%). A combination of 5 clinical features was helpful in distinguishing patients with DOCK8 mutations from those with STAT3 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: DOCK8 deficiency is likely in patients with severe viral infections, allergies, and/or low IgM levels who have a diagnosis of HIES plus hypereosinophilia and upper respiratory tract infections in the absence of parenchymal lung abnormalities, retained primary teeth, and minimal trauma fractures.