B cells in the pneumococcus-infected lung are heterogeneous and require CD4+ T cell help including CD40L to become resident memory B cells.

Recovery from respiratory pneumococcal infections generates lung-localized protection against heterotypic bacteria, mediated by resident memory lymphocytes. Optimal protection in mice requires re-exposure to pneumococcus within days of initial infection. Serial surface marker phenotyping of B cell populations in a model of pneumococcal heterotypic immunity revealed that bacterial re-exposure stimulates the immediate accumulation of dynamic and heterogeneous populations of B cells in the lung, and is essential for the establishment of lung resident memory B (BRM) cells. The B cells in the early wave were activated, proliferating locally, and associated with both CD4+ T cells and CXCL13. Antagonist- and antibody-mediated interventions were implemented during this early timeframe to demonstrate that lymphocyte recirculation, CD4+ cells, and CD40 ligand (CD40L) signaling were all needed for lung BRM cell establishment, whereas CXCL13 signaling was not. While most prominent as aggregates in the loose connective tissue of bronchovascular bundles, morphometry and live lung imaging analyses showed that lung BRM cells were equally numerous as single cells dispersed throughout the alveolar septae. We propose that CD40L signaling from antigen-stimulated CD4+ T cells in the infected lung is critical to establishment of local BRM cells, which subsequently protect the airways and parenchyma against future potential infections.

Racial and ethnic disparities in early mortality among patients with inborn errors of immunity.

BACKGROUND: Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy in the United States have been widely documented. To date, there remains a paucity of similar data in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEIs). OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to examine racial and ethnic differences in mortality due to an IEI in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed National Center for Health Statistics national mortality data from 2003 to 2018. We quantified age-adjusted death rate and age-specific death rate as a result of an IEI for each major racial and ethnic group in the United States and examined the association of race and ethnicity with death at a younger age. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2018, IEIs were reported as the underlying or contributing cause of death in 14,970 individuals nationwide. The age-adjusted death rate was highest among Black patients (4.25 per 1,000,000 person years), compared with 2.01, 1.71, 1.50, and 0.92 per 1,000,000 person years for White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients, respectively. The odds of death before age 65 years were greatest among Black patients (odds ratio [OR] = 5.15 [95% CI = 4.61-5.76]), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native patients (OR = 3.58 [95% CI = 2.30-5.82]), compared with White patients. The odds of death before age 24 years were greater among Hispanic patients than among non-Hispanic patients (OR = 3.60 [95% CI = 3.08-4.18]). CONCLUSION: Our study highlights racial and ethnic disparities in mortality due to an IEI and the urgent need to further identify and systematically remove barriers in care for historically marginalized patients with IEIs.

Interstitial lung diseases in inborn errors of immunity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Our goal is to review current understanding of interstitial lung disease (ILD) affecting patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). This includes understanding how IEI might predispose to and promote development or progression of ILD as well as how our growing understanding of IEI can help shape treatment of ILD in these patients. Additionally, by examining current knowledge of ILD in IEI, we hope to identify key knowledge gaps that can become focus of future investigative efforts. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent identification of novel IEI associated with ILD and the latest reports examining treatment of ILD in IEI are included. Of noted interest, are recent clinical studies of immunomodulatory therapy for ILD in common variable immunodeficiency. SUMMARY: ILD is a frequent complication found in many IEI. This article provides a guide to identifying manifestations of ILD in IEI. We review a broad spectrum of IEI that develop ILD, including antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation disorders that promote autoimmunity and autoinflammation. This work integrates clinical information with molecular mechanisms of disease and diagnostic assessments to provide an expedient overview of a clinically relevant and expanding topic.

Diagnostic testing for interstitial lung disease in common variable immunodeficiency: a systematic review.

Introduction: Common variable immunodeficiency related interstitial lung disease (CVID-ILD, also referred to as GLILD) is generally considered a manifestation of systemic immune dysregulation occurring in up to 20% of people with CVID. There is a lack of evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CVID-ILD. Aim: To systematically review use of diagnostic tests for assessing patients with CVID for possible ILD, and to evaluate their utility and risks. Methods: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched. Papers reporting information on the diagnosis of ILD in patients with CVID were included. Results: 58 studies were included. Radiology was the investigation modality most commonly used. HRCT was the most reported test, as abnormal radiology often first raised suspicion of CVID-ILD. Lung biopsy was used in 42 (72%) of studies, and surgical lung biopsy had more conclusive results compared to trans-bronchial biopsy (TBB). Analysis of broncho-alveolar lavage was reported in 24 (41%) studies, primarily to exclude infection. Pulmonary function tests, most commonly gas transfer, were widely used. However, results varied from normal to severely impaired, typically with a restrictive pattern and reduced gas transfer. Conclusion: Consensus diagnostic criteria are urgently required to support accurate assessment and monitoring in CVID-ILD. ESID and the ERS e-GLILDnet CRC have initiated a diagnostic and management guideline through international collaboration. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022276337.

B cells promote granulomatous inflammation during chronic Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in mice.

The current study reveals that in chronic TB, the B cell-deficient µMT strain, relative to wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice, displays in the lungs lower levels of inflammation that are associated with decreased CD4+ T cell proliferation, diminished Th1 response, and enhanced levels of interleukin (IL)-10. The latter result raises the possibility that B cells may restrict lung expression of IL-10 in chronic TB. These observations are recapitulated in WT mice depleted for B cells using anti-CD20 antibodies. IL-10 receptor (IL-10R) blockade reverses the phenotypes of decreased inflammation and attenuated CD4+ T cell responses in B cell-depleted mice. Together, these results suggest that in chronic murine TB, B cells, by virtue of their capacity to restrict expression of the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive IL-10 in the lungs, promote the development of a robust protective Th1 response, thereby optimizing anti-TB immunity. This vigorous Th1 immunity and restricted IL-10 expression may, however, allow the development of inflammation to a level that can be detrimental to the host. Indeed, decreased lung inflammation observed in chronically infected B cell-deficient mice, which exhibit augmented lung IL-10 levels, is associated with a survival advantage relative to WT animals. Collectively, the results reveal that in chronic murine TB, B cells play a role in modulating the protective Th1 immunity and the anti-inflammatory IL-10 response, which results in augmentation of lung inflammation that can be host-detrimental. Intriguingly, in tuberculous human lungs, conspicuous B cell aggregates are present in close proximity to tissue-damaging lesions manifesting necrosis and cavitation, suggesting the possibility that in human TB, B cells may contribute to the development of exacerbated pathology that is known to promote transmission. Since transmission is a major hindrance to TB control, investigating into whether B cells can shape the development of severe pulmonic pathological responses in tuberculous individuals is warranted.

The lung in inborn errors of immunity: From clinical disease patterns to molecular pathogenesis.

In addition to being a vital organ for gas exchange, the lung is a crucial immune organ continuously exposed to the external environment. Genetic defects that impair immune function, called inborn errors of immunity (IEI), often have lung disease as the initial and/or primary manifestation. Common types of lung disease seen in IEI include infectious complications and a diverse group of diffuse interstitial lung diseases. Although lung damage in IEI has been historically ascribed to recurrent infections, contributions from potentially targetable autoimmune and inflammatory pathways are now increasingly recognized. This article provides a practical guide to identifying the diverse pulmonary disease patterns in IEI based on lung imaging and respiratory manifestations, and integrates this clinical information with molecular mechanisms of disease and diagnostic assessments in IEI. We cover the entire IEI spectrum, including immunodeficiencies and immune dysregulation with monogenic autoimmunity and autoinflammation, as well as recently described IEI with pulmonary manifestations. Although the pulmonary manifestations of IEI are highly relevant for all age groups, special emphasis is placed on the pediatric population, because initial presentations often occur during childhood. We also highlight the pivotal role of genetic testing in the diagnosis of IEI involving the lungs and the critical need to develop multidisciplinary teams for the challenging evaluation of these rare but potentially life-threatening disorders.

Genomic characterization of lymphomas in patients with inborn errors of immunity.

Patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) have a higher risk of developing cancer, especially lymphoma. However, the molecular basis for IEI-related lymphoma is complex and remains elusive. Here, we perform an in-depth analysis of lymphoma genomes derived from 23 IEI patients. We identified and validated disease-causing or -associated germline mutations in 14 of 23 patients involving ATM, BACH2, BLM, CD70, G6PD, NBN, PIK3CD, PTEN, and TNFRSF13B. Furthermore, we profiled somatic mutations in the lymphoma genome and identified 8 genes that were mutated at a significantly higher level in IEI-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) than in non-IEI DLBCLs, such as BRCA2, NCOR1, KLF2, FAS, CCND3, and BRWD3. The latter, BRWD3, is furthermore preferentially mutated in tumors of a subgroup of activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome patients. We also identified 5 genomic mutational signatures, including 2 DNA repair deficiency-related signatures, in IEI-associated lymphomas and a strikingly high number of inter- and intrachromosomal structural variants in the tumor genome of a Bloom syndrome patient. In summary, our comprehensive genomic characterization of lymphomas derived from patients with rare genetic disorders expands our understanding of lymphomagenesis and provides new insights for targeted therapy.

Convergence of cytokine dysregulation and antibody deficiency in common variable immunodeficiency with inflammatory complications.

BACKGROUND: Noninfectious complications are the greatest cause of morbidity and mortality in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), but their pathogenesis remains poorly defined. OBJECTIVE: Using high-throughput approaches, we aimed to identify, correlate, and determine the significance of immunologic features of CVID with noninfectious complications (CVIDc). METHODS: We simultaneously applied proteomics, RNA sequencing, and mass cytometry to a large cohort with primary antibody deficiency. RESULTS: CVIDc is differentiated from uncomplicated CVID, other forms of primary antibody deficiency, and healthy controls by a distinct plasma proteomic profile. In addition to confirming previously reported elevations of 4-1BB, IL-6, IL-18, and IFN-γ, we found elevations of colony-stimulating factor 1, IL-12p40, IL-18R, oncostatin M, TNF, and vascular endothelial growth factor A to differentiate CVIDc. This cytokine dysregulation correlated with deficiency of LPS-specific antibodies and increased soluble CD14, suggesting microbial translocation. Indicating potential significance of reduced LPS-specific antibodies and resultant microbial-induced inflammation, CVIDc had altered LPS-induced gene expression matching plasma proteomics and corresponding with increased CD14+CD16- monocytes, memory T cells, and tissue inflammation ameliorated by T-cell-targeted therapy. Unsupervised machine learning accurately differentiated subjects with CVIDc and supported cytokine dysregulation, antibody deficit, and T-cell activation as defining and convergent features. CONCLUSIONS: Our data expand understanding of CVIDc proteomics, establish its link with deficiency of IgA and LPS-specific antibodies, and implicate altered LPS-induced gene expression and elevated monocytes and T cells in this cytokine dysregulation. This work indicates that CVIDc results when insufficient antibody neutralization of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, like LPS, occurs in those with a heightened response to these inflammatory mediators, suggesting a 2-hit model of pathogenesis requiring further exploration.

State-of-the-art diagnostic evaluation of common variable immunodeficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the current understanding of diagnostic and postdiagnostic evaluation of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). DATA SOURCES: PubMed Central database. STUDY SELECTIONS: Original research articles and review articles from 2015 to 2020 including seminal articles that shaped the diagnostic and postdiagnostic evaluation of CVID were incorporated. This work focuses on initial diagnosis of CVID, genetic evaluations, and postdiagnostic assessment of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and hepatobiliary diseases including spleen and lymph node enlargement. RESULTS: CVID presents not only with frequent infections but also with noninfectious complications such as autoimmunity, gastrointestinal disease, chronic lung disease, granulomas, liver disease, lymphoid hyperplasia, splenomegaly, or malignancy. The risk of morbidity and mortality is higher in patients with CVID and noninfectious complications. Detailed diagnostic approaches, which may incorporate genetic testing, can aid characterization of individual CVID cases and shape treatment in some instances. Moreover, continued evaluation after CVID diagnosis is key to optimal management of this complex disorder. These postdiagnostic evaluations include pulmonary function testing, radiologic studies, and laboratory evaluations that may be conducted at frequencies determined by disease activity. CONCLUSION: Although the diagnosis can be achieved similarly in all patients with CVID, those with noninfectious complications have distinct concerns during clinical evaluation. State-of-the-art workup of CVID with noninfectious complications typically includes genetic analysis, which may shape precision therapy, and thoughtful application of postdiagnostic tests that monitor the presence and progression of disease in the myriad of tissues that may be affected. Even with recent advancements, knowledge gaps in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of CVID persist, and continued research efforts are needed.

Safety and Tolerability of Manual Push Administration of Subcutaneous IgPro20 at High Infusion Rates in Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency: Findings from the Manual Push Administration Cohort of the HILO Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and tolerability of IgPro20 manual push (also known as rapid push) infusions at flow rates of 0.5-2.0 mL/min. METHODS: Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) with previous experience administering IgPro20 (Hizentra®, CSL Behring, King of Prussia, PA, USA) were enrolled in the Hizentra® Label Optimization (HILO) study (NCT03033745) and assigned to Pump-assisted Volume Cohort, Pump-assisted Flow Rate Cohort, or Manual Push Flow Rate Cohort; this report describes the latter. Patients administered IgPro20 via manual push at 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mL/min/site for 4 weeks each. Responder rates (percentage of patients who completed a predefined minimum number of infusions), safety outcomes, and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) trough levels were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were treated; 2 patients (12.5%) discontinued at the 1.0-mL/min level (unrelated to treatment). Responder rates were 100%, 100%, and 87.5% at 0.5-, 1.0-, and 2.0-mL/min flow rates, respectively. Mean weekly infusion duration decreased from 103-108 to 23-28 min at the 0.5- and 2.0-mL/min flow rates, respectively. Rates of treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) per infusion were 0.023, 0.082, and 0.025 for the 0.5-, 1.0-, and 2.0-mL/min flow rates, respectively. Most TEAEs were mild local reactions and tolerability (infusions without severe local reactions/total infusions) was 100% across flow rate levels. Serum IgG levels (mean [SD]) were similar at study start (9.36 [2.53] g/L) and end (9.58 [2.12] g/L). CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous IgPro20 manual push infusions at flow rates up to 2.0 mL/min were well tolerated and reduced infusion time in treatment-experienced patients with PID. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03033745.

Chronic Lung Disease in Primary Antibody Deficiency: Diagnosis and Management.

Chronic lung disease is a complication of primary antibody deficiency (PAD) associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Manifestations of lung disease in PAD are numerous. Thoughtful application of diagnostic approaches is imperative to accurately identify the form of disease. Much of the treatment used is adapted from immunocompetent populations. Recent genomic and translational medicine advances have led to specific treatments. As chronic lung disease has continued to affect patients with PAD, we hope that continued advancements in our understanding of pulmonary pathology will ultimately lead to effective methods that alleviate impact on quality of life and survival.

B Cell Dysregulation in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Interstitial Lung Disease.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most frequently diagnosed primary antibody deficiency. About half of CVID patients develop chronic non-infectious complications thought to be due to intrinsic immune dysregulation, including autoimmunity, gastrointestinal disease, and interstitial lung disease (ILD). Multiple studies have found ILD to be a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in CVID. Yet, the precise mechanisms underlying this complication in CVID are poorly understood. CVID ILD is marked by profound pulmonary infiltration of both T and B cells as well as granulomatous inflammation in many cases. B cell depletive therapy, whether done as a monotherapy or in combination with another immunosuppressive agent, has become a standard of therapy for CVID ILD. However, CVID is a heterogeneous disorder, as is its lung pathology, and the precise patients that would benefit from B cell depletive therapy, when it should administered, and how long it should be repeated all remain gaps in our knowledge. Moreover, some have ILD recurrence after B cell depletive therapy and the relative importance of B cell biology remains incompletely defined. Developmental and functional abnormalities of B cell compartments observed in CVID ILD and related conditions suggest that imbalance of B cell signaling networks may promote lung disease. Included within these potential mechanisms of disease is B cell activating factor (BAFF), a cytokine that is upregulated by the interferon gamma (IFN-γ):STAT1 signaling axis to potently influence B cell activation and survival. B cell responses to BAFF are shaped by the divergent effects and expression patterns of its three receptors: BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI), and B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Moreover, soluble forms of BAFF-R, TACI, and BCMA exist and may further influence the pathogenesis of ILD. Continued efforts to understand how dysregulated B cell biology promotes ILD development and progression will help close the gap in our understanding of how to best diagnose, define, and manage ILD in CVID.

Serum B-Cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) Levels Differentiate Primary Antibody Deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Primary antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most prevalent primary immunodeficiencies. More severe forms of PADs-common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)-require immunoglobulin replacement therapy (IRT) and may have serious complications. Differentiating severe PAD from milder hypogammaglobulinemia not requiring IRT can involve prolonged evaluations and treatment discontinuation. Severe PAD is defined by plasma cell deficiency, but this requires a biopsy to establish. Serum B-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) is elevated in multiple myeloma, but levels are reduced among patients with myeloma in remission who have hypogammaglobulinemia. OBJECTIVE: To measure the sBCMA level in 165 subjects to determine whether it differentiates severe PAD-CVID and XLA-from less severe forms not requiring IRT and those without PAD. METHODS: sBCMA, B cells, and tissue plasma cells were measured among subjects with and without PAD, and correlated to clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS: Subjects with an IgG level of less than 600 mg/dL had reduced sBCMA levels compared with subjects with PAD with IgG levels of greater than or equal to 600 mg/dL and controls without PAD. sBCMA level was lower in patients with CVID and XLA compared with patients with IgA or IgG deficiency and controls. sBCMA level correlated with gastrointestinal plasma cells. sBCMA level of less than 15 ng/mL had 97% positive predictive value for CVID or XLA, whereas 25 ng/mL or more had an 88% negative predictive value. CONCLUSIONS: sBCMA level is profoundly reduced in patients with severe PAD, including those with CVID and XLA and those with IgG levels of less than 600 mg/dL. sBCMA level measurement has potential to augment clinical evaluation of PAD. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate sBCMA for new PAD diagnosis and determine the necessity of IRT.

Factors Beyond Lack of Antibody Govern Pulmonary Complications in Primary Antibody Deficiency.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary complications occur frequently in primary antibody deficiency (PAD). While the impact of antibody deficiency may appear implicit for certain respiratory infections, immunoglobulin replacement therapy does not completely ameliorate pulmonary complications in PAD. Thus, there may be antibody-independent factors influencing susceptibility to respiratory disease in PAD, but these remain incompletely defined. METHODS: We harnessed the multicenter US Immunodeficiency Network primary immunodeficiency registry to compare prevalence of asthma, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease (ILD), and respiratory infections between two forms of PAD: common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) and x-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). We also defined the clinical and immunological characteristics associated with ILD and asthma in CVID. RESULTS: Asthma, bronchiectasis, ILD, pneumonia, and upper respiratory infections were more prevalent in CVID than XLA. ILD was associated with autoimmunity, bronchiectasis, and pneumonia as well as fewer B and T cells in CVID. Asthma was the most common chronic pulmonary complication and associated with lower IgA and IgM in CVID. Age of symptom onset or CVID diagnosis was unrelated with ILD or asthma. CONCLUSION: Despite having less severe immunoglobulin deficiency than XLA, respiratory infections, ILD, and asthma were more common in CVID. Among CVID patients, ILD was associated with autoimmunity and reduced lymphocytes and asthma with lower immunoglobulins. Though our results are tempered by registry limitations, they provide evidence that factors beyond lack of antibody promote pulmonary complications in PAD. Efforts to understand how genetic etiology, nature of concurrent T cell deficiency, and propensity for autoimmunity shape pulmonary disease may improve treatment of PAD.

BAFF-driven B cell hyperplasia underlies lung disease in common variable immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency and is frequently complicated by interstitial lung disease (ILD) for which etiology is unknown and therapy inadequate. METHODS: Medical record review implicated B cell dysregulation in CVID ILD progression. This was further studied in blood and lung samples using culture, cytometry, ELISA, and histology. Eleven CVID ILD patients were treated with rituximab and followed for 18 months. RESULTS: Serum IgM increased in conjunction with ILD progression, a finding that reflected the extent of IgM production within B cell follicles in lung parenchyma. Targeting these pulmonary B cell follicles with rituximab ameliorated CVID ILD, but disease recurred in association with IgM elevation. Searching for a stimulus of this pulmonary B cell hyperplasia, we found B cell-activating factor (BAFF) increased in blood and lungs of progressive and post-rituximab CVID ILD patients and detected elevation of BAFF-producing monocytes in progressive ILD. This elevated BAFF interacts with naive B cells, as they are the predominant subset in progressive CVID ILD, expressing BAFF receptor (BAFF-R) within pulmonary B cell follicles and blood to promote Bcl-2 expression. Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 was linked with exclusion of apoptosis from B cell follicles in CVID ILD and increased survival of naive CVID B cells cultured with BAFF. CONCLUSION: CVID ILD is driven by pulmonary B cell hyperplasia that is reflected by serum IgM elevation, ameliorated by rituximab, and bolstered by elevated BAFF-mediated apoptosis resistance via BAFF-R. FUNDING: NIH, Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium, and Rare Disease Foundation.

Current Understanding and Recent Developments in Common Variable Immunodeficiency Associated Autoimmunity.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most prevalent symptomatic primary immunodeficiency and comprises a group of disorders with similar antibody deficiency but a myriad of different etiologies, most of which remain undefined. The variable aspect of CVID refers to the approximately half of patients who develop non-infectious complications in addition to heightened susceptibility to infection. The pathogenesis of these complications is poorly understood and somewhat counterintuitive because these patients that are defined by their immune futility simultaneously have elevated propensity for autoimmune disease. There are numerous aspects of immune dysregulation associated with autoimmunity in CVID that have only begun to be studied. These findings include elevations of T helper type 1 and follicular helper T cells and B cells expressing low levels of CD21 as well as reciprocal decreases in regulatory T cells and isotype-switched memory B cells. Recently, advances in genomics have furthered our understanding of the fundamental biology underlying autoimmunity in CVID and led to precision therapeutic approaches. However, these genetic etiologies are also associated with clinical heterogeneity and incomplete penetrance, highlighting the fact that continued research efforts remain necessary to optimize treatment. Additional factors, such as commensal microbial dysbiosis, remain to be better elucidated. Thus, while recent advances in our understanding of CVID-associated autoimmunity have been exciting and substantial, these current scientific advances must now serve as building blocks for the next stages of discovery.