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Answers from Exomes Exome sequencing, which targets only the protein-coding regions of the genome, has the potential to identify the underlying genetic causes of rare inherited diseases. Angulo et al. (p. 866 , published online 17 October; see Perspective by Conley and Fruman ) performed exome sequencing of individuals from seven unrelated families with severe, recurrent respiratory infections. The patients carried the same mutation in the gene coding for the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ). The mutation caused aberrant activation of this kinase, which plays a key role in immune cell signaling. Drugs inhibiting PI3Kδ are already in clinical trials for other disorders.

Homozygous missense mutations in POLE1 caused an inherited disorder characterized by facial dysmorphism, immunodeficiency, livedo, and short stature., DNA polymerase ε (Polε) is a large, four-subunit polymerase that is conserved throughout the eukaryotes. Its primary function is to synthesize DNA at the leading strand during replication. It is also involved in a wide variety of fundamental cellular processes, including cell cycle progression and DNA repair/recombination. Here, we report that a homozygous single base pair substitution in POLE1 (polymerase ε 1), encoding the catalytic subunit of Polε, caused facial dysmorphism, immunodeficiency, livedo, and short stature (“FILS syndrome”) in a large, consanguineous family. The mutation resulted in alternative splicing in the conserved region of intron 34, which strongly decreased protein expression of Polε1 and also to a lesser extent the Polε2 subunit. We observed impairment in proliferation and G1- to S-phase progression in patients’ T lymphocytes. Polε1 depletion also impaired G1- to S-phase progression in B lymphocytes, chondrocytes, and osteoblasts. Our results evidence the developmental impact of a Polε catalytic subunit deficiency in humans and its causal relationship with a newly recognized, inherited disorder.

We report the first prospective study describing the prevalence and clinical consequences of norovirus infection in hospitalized children with primary immunodeficiencies. Fecal samples from 62 children were systematically screened for virus. Norovirus was the most frequent pathogen (11 of 24 positive samples) found in both combined and humoral immunocompromised children. Norovirus shedding was associated with gastrointestinal symptoms and concomitant viremia in 54.5% and 25% of cases, respectively. Norovirus excretion was prolonged: 57.1% of fecal samples were still positive after a median of 9.5-months follow-up. Further large longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the clinical consequences of norovirus shedding in patients with primary immunodeficiencies.

International audience; ABSTRACT: Autosomal dominant deficiency of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is the main genetic etiology of hyper-immunoglobulin (Ig) E syndrome. We documented the molecular, cellular, and clinical features of 60 patients with heterozygous STAT3 mutations from 47 kindreds followed in France. We identified 11 known and 13 new mutations of STAT3. Low levels of interleukin (IL)-6-dependent phosphorylation and nuclear translocation (or accumulation) of STAT3 were observed in Epstein-Barr virus-transformed B lymphocytes (EBV-B cells) from all STAT3-deficient patients tested. The immunologic phenotype was characterized by high serum IgE levels (96% of the patients), memory B-cell lymphopenia (94.5%), and hypereosinophilia (80%). A low proportion of IL-17A-producing circulating T cells was found in 14 of the 15 patients tested. Mucocutaneous infections were the most frequent, typically caused by Staphylococcus aureus (all patients) and Candida albicans (85%). Up to 90% of the patients had pneumonia, mostly caused by Staph. aureus (31%) or Streptococcus pneumoniae (30%). Recurrent pneumonia was associated with secondary bronchiectasis and pneumatocele (67%), as well as secondary aspergillosis (22%). Up to 92% of the patients had dermatitis and connective tissue abnormalities, with facial dysmorphism (95%), retention of decidual teeth (65%), osteopenia (50%), and hyperextensibility (50%). Four patients developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The clinical outcome was favorable, with 56 patients, including 43 adults, still alive at the end of study (mean age, 21 yr; range, 1 mo to 46 yr). Only 4 patients died, 3 from severe bacterial infection (aged 1, 15, and 29 yr, respectively). Antibiotic prophylaxis (90% of patients), antifungal prophylaxis (50%), and IgG infusions (53%) improved patient health, as demonstrated by the large decrease in pneumonia recurrence. Overall, the prognosis of STAT3 deficiency may be considered good, provided that multiple prophylactic measures, including IgG infusions, are implemented.

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) represents a life-threatening condition for patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) and causes one-third of deaths in this population. This study offers a descriptive review of invasive mold infection (mIFI) in children with CGD over an extended period of time.In a cohort of patients with CGD registered in the French National database for Primary Immunodeficiency, we performed a retrospective review of proven mIFI episodes (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Invasive Fungal Infections Cooperative Group and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Mycoses Study Group 2008 criteria) occurring from 1984 through 2009.Twenty-nine proven mIFIs were identified in 24 patients. Thirteen (54%) of 24 children were receiving itraconazole prophylaxis. Seven episodes were caused by Aspergillus fumigatus, 10 by Aspergillus nidulans, 2 by Aspergillus species, and 6 by other opportunistic molds (4 patients only had positive pathological examination findings). First proven mIFI occurred later in the group that received itraconazole than in the group without (median time to mIFI, 10 vs 4 years; P.01), with a higher proportion of infections due to A. nidulans and other opportunistic molds (P.05). Course of IFI was complex, with the median duration of therapy and hospitalization reaching 446 and 153 days, respectively. Combined antifungal therapy was commonly used. Four patients received geno-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as salvage therapy. Global cure rate among the cohort reached 75%, but sequelae were frequent. Prognosis has improved over time (43% mortality during 1985-1990 vs 6% thereafter; P = .06). Mortality tended to be lower in the group that recieved itraconazole prophylaxis but at the cost of a longer duration of therapy among cured patients.Management of mIFI remains challenging in patients with CGD, but significant improvements have been made over the past decade.

Background Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short-limbed skeletal dysplasia. Some patients also have defects in cell-mediated immunity and antibody production. Granulomatous inflammation has been described in patients with various forms of primary immunodeficiencies but has not been reported in patients with CHH. Objective We sought to describe granulomatous inflammation as a novel feature in patients with CHH, assess associated immunodeficiency, and evaluate treatment options. Methods In a retrospective observational study we collected clinical data on 21 patients with CHH to identify and further characterize patients with granulomatous inflammation. Results Four unrelated patients with CHH (with variable degrees of combined immunodeficiency) had epithelioid cell granulomatous inflammation in the skin and visceral organs. Anti–TNF-α mAb therapy in 3 of these patients led to significant regression of granulomas. However, 1 treated patient had fatal progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy caused by the JC polyomavirus. In 2 patients immune reconstitution after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation led to the complete disappearance of granulomas. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of granulomatous inflammation in patients with CHH. Although TNF-α antagonists can effectively suppress granulomas, the risk of severe infectious complications limits their use in immunodeficient patients.

Background The outcomes of gene therapy to correct congenital immunodeficiencies are unknown. We reviewed long-term outcomes after gene therapy in nine patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), which is characterized by the absence of the cytokine receptor common γ chain. Methods The nine patients, who lacked an HLA-identical donor, underwent ex vivo retrovirus-mediated transfer of γ chain to autologous CD34+ bone marrow cells between 1999 and 2002. We assessed clinical events and immune function on long-term follow-up. Results Eight patients were alive after a median follow-up period of 9 years (range, 8 to 11). Gene therapy was initially successful at correcting immune dysfunction in eight of the nine patients. However, acute leukemia developed in four patients, and one died. Transduced T cells were detected for up to 10.7 years after gene therapy. Seven patients, including the three survivors of leukemia, had sustained immune reconstitution; three patients required immunoglobulin-replacement therapy. Sustained thymopoiesis was established by the persistent presence of naive T cells, even after chemotherapy in three patients. The T-cell−receptor repertoire was diverse in all patients. Transduced B cells were not detected. Correction of the immunodeficiency improved the patients’ health. Conclusions After nearly 10 years of follow-up, gene therapy was shown to have corrected the immunodeficiency associated with SCID-X1. Gene therapy may be an option for patients who do not have an HLA-identical donor for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation and for whom the risks are deemed acceptable. This treatment is associated with a risk of acute leukemia. (Funded by INSERM and others.)

Complete lack of function of the tyrosine kinase ZAP70 in humans results in a severe immunodeficiency, characterized by a lack of mature CD8(+) T cells and non-functional CD4(+) T cells. We report herein an immunodeficiency with an inherited hypomorphic mutation of ZAP70 due to a single G-to-A substitution in a non-coding intron. This mutation introduces a new acceptor splice site and allows low levels of normal alternative splicing and of WT ZAP70 expression. This partial deficiency results in a compromised TCR signaling that was totally restored by increased expression of ZAP70, demonstrating that defective activation of the patient T cells was indeed caused by the low level of ZAP70 expression. This partial ZAP70 deficiency was associated with an attenuated clinical and immunological phenotype as compared with complete ZAP70 deficiency. CD4(+) helper T-cell populations including, follicular helper T cells, Th1, Th17 and Treg were detected in the blood. Finally, the patient had no manifestation of autoimmunity suggesting that the T-cell tolerogenic functions were not compromised, in contrast to what has been observed in mice carrying hypomorphic mutations of Zap70. This report extends the phenotype spectrum of ZAP70 deficiency with a residual function of ZAP70.

Purpose To identify prognostic factors and to evaluate the outcome of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) failure after induction therapy. Patients and Methods Between June 1993 and December 1999, 1,395 leukemic children were included in the French Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia 93 study. Results Fifty-three patients (3.8%) had a leukemic induction failure (LIF) after three- or four-drug induction therapy. In univariate analysis, high WBC count (P = .001), mediastinal mass (P = .017), T-cell phenotype (T-ALL; P = .001), t(9;22) translocation (P = .001), and a slow early response (at day 8 and/or on day 21, P = .001) were predictive of LIF. The following three prognostic groups for LIF were identified by multivariate analysis: a low-risk group with B-cell progenitor (BCP) ALL without t(9;22) (odds ratio [OR] = 1), an intermediate-risk group with T-ALL and a mediastinal mass (OR = 7.4, P < .0001), and a high-risk group with BCP-ALL and t(9;22) or T-ALL without a mediastinal mass (OR = 28.4, P < .0001). Complete remission (CR) was subsequently obtained in 43 patients (81%). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of the 53 patients was 30% ± 6%. The 5-year OS rate among allogeneic graft recipients, autologous graft recipients, and after chemotherapy were 30.4% ± 9.6% (50% ± 26% after genoidentical transplantation), 50% ± 17.7%, and 41.7% ± 14.2%, respectively (P = .18). Fourteen patients (26%) were still in first CR after a median of 83 months (range, 53 to 117 months). Conclusion Three risk categories for LIF in children with ALL were identified. Approximately one third of patients with LIF can be successfully treated with salvage therapy overall. Subsequent CR after LIF is mandatory for cure.

Mevalonic aciduria is a rare, inborn error of isoprene biosynthesis characterized by severe, periodic attacks of fever and inflammation, developmental delay, ataxia, and dysmorphic features. This autosomal recessive disease is caused by a mutation in the mevalonate kinase gene that severely reduces mevalonate kinase activity. A 3-year-old boy with mevalonic aciduria whose condition had failed to improve with antiinflammatory treatment underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-identical sister who was a heterozygous carrier of the mutant gene. We observed sustained remission of febrile attacks and inflammation during a 15-month follow-up period.

Mutations of the Activation-Induced Cytidine Deaminase (AID) gene have been found in patients with autosomal recessive hyper-IgM (HIGM) syndrome type 2. We retrospectively analyzed clinical, immunologic and genetic characteristics of 29 patients from 22 families with AID deficiency. Patients' median age at diagnosis and at last evaluation was 4.9 years (range: 0 to 53) and 14.2 years (range: 2.7 to 63), respectively. Most patients had suffered from recurrent and severe infections, however, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of infections. Lymphoid hyperplasia developed in 22 patients and persisted in 7 at last follow-up. It is striking to note that six patients developed autoimmune or inflammatory disorders including diabetes mellitus, polyarthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, Crohn's disease and chronic uveitis. Fifteen distinct AID mutations were found but there was no significant genotype-phenotype correlation. In conclusion, AID-deficient patients are prone to infections and lymphoid hyperplasia, which may be prevented by early-onset IVIG replacement, but also to autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.

Objective To assess the efficacy of etanercept in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and to assess the tolerance of these patients to etanercept. Methods All JIA patients with active chronic polyarthritis, who were first treated with etanercept between November 1999 and June 2001 in 18 French centers because of poor response or intolerance to methotrexate, were included in this open-label, prospective, multicenter study. A standardized questionnaire was sent to the treating physicians. We assessed the validated international core-set score for JIA activity every 3 months and performed an intent-to-treat analysis. We also compared the risk of treatment failure in patients defined as having systemic-onset, oligoarticular-onset, or polyarticular-onset JIA. Results Sixty-one patients were enrolled and were followed up for a median of 13 months. Treatment had to be stopped in 1 patient who became pregnant and in 12 patients due to severe side effects, including neurologic or psychiatric disorders, retrobulbar optic neuropathy, major weight gain, severe infection, cutaneous vasculitis with systemic symptoms, hemorrhagic diarrhea, uveitis flare, and pancytopenia. All of these side effects disappeared after discontinuation of etanercept. Crohn's disease was subsequently diagnosed in 1 child. Scores improved by ≥30% in 73% of patients after 3 months, but this proportion decreased to 39% after 12 months. The response rate was significantly lower in patients with systemic-onset JIA than in those with oligoarticular- or polyarticular-onset JIA. Conclusion Treatment of JIA with etanercept may be associated with a wide spectrum of severe side effects. Although most patients initially respond to etanercept, this initial response is not always followed by sustained improvement over longer periods of time. In addition, the higher rate of treatment failure in the group with systemic-onset JIA indicates that these patients in particular may require alternative treatments.

Resume Les meningo-encephalites a enterovirus sont particulierement graves chez les sujets agammaglobulinemiques. Elles sont associees a une mortalite importante et a de possibles sequelles neurologiques. Une nouvelle observation caracterisee par une guerison, est rapportee. Observation – Un patient âge de trois ans, porteur d'une agammaglobulinemie a presente, alors qu'il disposait d'un taux residuel d'IgG efficace de 10 g/l sous traitement, des troubles neurologiques que l'etude du liquide cephalo-rachidien a permis de rapporter a une meningo-encephalite a Echovirus 27. Un traitement par immunoglobulines intraventriculaires administre par la voie d'un reservoir d'Ommaya permettait la guerison sur le plan clinique, biologique et virologique. L'evolution, a l'âge actuel de 13 ans, est favorable. Conclusion – Les cas de guerison d'une meningo-encephalite a Echovirus chez un patient agammaglobulinemique sont rarement rapportes. Le pronostic depend de la precocite du diagnostic et du degre de dissemination de l'infection. Il est possible qu'un traitement par immunoglobulines par voie intraventriculaire augmente les chances de succes therapeutique.

Type I Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is a rare congenital platelet function disorder, characterized by undetectable platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa). Severe bleeding is controlled by transfusion of normal platelets, leading in some cases to the occurrence of anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies, which induces a loss of transfused platelet efficacy. We used immunoadsorption on protein A Sepharose (IA-PA), which has been shown to be efficient in decreasing the titre of antibodies in several immune diseases, in three patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies on five different occasions. IA-PA was well tolerated with no deleterious side-effects reported. It induced a dramatic decrease of total immunoglobulin (Ig)G, including anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibody levels, as assessed by the monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens test and the ex vivo inhibition of normal platelet aggregation induced by the patient's platelet-rich or platelet-poor plasma. Elimination of the antibody was associated with a correction of the bleeding time following platelet transfusion. IA-PA combined with platelet transfusion made it possible to control two life-threatening haemorrhages, and allowed two surgical procedures and one bone marrow transplantation to be performed safely. Our experience suggests that IA-PA, which restores the haemostatic efficacy of platelet transfusion, is a valuable therapeutic strategy in patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies.

International audience; Granulomas may develop as a response to a local antigenic trigger, leading to the activation of macrophages and T-lymphocytes. Primary immunodeficiency (PID) is associated with the development of extensive cutaneous granulomas, whose aetiology remains unknown. We performed high-throughput sequencing of the transcriptome of cutaneous granuloma lesions on two consecutive index cases, and RT-PCR in a third consecutive patient. The RA27/3 vaccine strain of rubella virusthe core component of a universally used paediatric vaccinewas present in the cutaneous granuloma of these three consecutive PID patients. Controls included the healthy skin of two patients, non-granulomatous cutaneous lesions of patients with immunodeficiency, and skin biopsy samples of healthy individuals, and were negative. Expression of viral antigens was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Persistence of the rubella vaccine virus was also demonstrated in granuloma lesions sampled 4-5years earlier. The persistence of the rubella virus vaccine strain in all three consecutive cutaneous granuloma patients with PID strongly suggests a causal relationship between rubella virus and granuloma in this setting.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) consists of lesions composed of cells with a dendritic Langerhans cell (LC) phenotype. The clinical course of LCH ranges from spontaneous resolution to a chronic and sometimes lethal disease. We studied 25 patients with various clinical forms of the disease. In bone and chronic lesions, LCH cells had immature phenotype and function. They coexpressed LC antigens CD1a and Langerin together with monocyte antigens CD68 and CD14. Class II antigens were intracellular and LCH cells almost never expressed CD83 or CD86 or dendritic cell (DC)–Lamp, despite their CD40 expression. Consistently, LCH cells sorted from bone lesions (eosinophilic granuloma) poorly stimulated allogeneic T-cell proliferation in vitro. Strikingly, however, in vitro treatment with CD40L induced the expression of membrane class II and CD86 and strongly increased LCH cell allostimulatory activity to a level similar to that of mature DCs. Numerous interleukin-10–positive (IL-10+), Langerin−, and CD68+ macrophages were found within bone and lymph node lesions. In patients with self-healing and/or isolated cutaneous disease, LCH cells had a more mature phenotype. LCH cells were frequently CD14− and CD86+, and macrophages were rare or absent, as were IL-10–expressing cells. We conclude that LCH cells in the bone and/or chronic forms of the disease accumulate within the tissues in an immature state and that most probably result from extrinsic signals and may be induced to differentiate toward mature DCs after CD40 triggering. Drugs that enhance the in vivo maturation of these immature DCs, or that induce their death, may be of therapeutic benefit.

Une neutropenie est definie par une diminution du nombre absolu de polynucleaires neutrophiles circulants dans le sang peripherique. Une neutropenie profonde peut s'accompagner de complications infectieuses severes qui peuvent mettre en jeu le pronostic vital, la severite des infections etant generalement parallele a la profondeur de la neutropenie. Les formes severes imposent une prise en charge tres attentive.

Activation of tyrosine kinase genes is a frequent event in human hematologic malignancies. Because gene activation could be associated with gene dysregulation, we attempted to screen for activating gene mutation based on high-level gene expression. We focused our study on the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene in 90 cases of acute leukemia. This strategy led to the identification of a novel JAK2-acquired mutation in a patient with Down syndrome (DS) with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). This mutation involves a 5–amino acid deletion within the JH2 pseudokinase domain (JAK2ΔIREED). Expression of JAK2ΔIREED in Ba/F3 cells induced constitutive activation of the JAK-STAT pathway and growth factor–independent cell proliferation. These results highlight the JAK2 pseudokinase domain as an oncogenic hot spot and indicate that activation of the JAK-STAT pathway may contribute to lymphoid malignancies and hematologic disorders observed in children with DS.

To the Editor Activated Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase δ syndrome (APDS) is a novel autosomal dominant (AD) primary immunodeficiency (PID), caused by a heterozygous gain-of-function mutation in the PIK3CD gene encoding the p110δ protein, the catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ (PI3Kδ)(1). The c.3061G>A mutation results in a substitution of a glutamic acid by a lysine at position 1021 (E1021K). This new PID is characterized by recurrent respiratory infections, leading to bronchiectasis, progressive lymphopenia, and defective antibody production. Both T and B cell compartments are affected as shown by the propensity of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells to die after in vitro stimulation and their poor capacity for cytokine production, as well as an immunoglobulin (Ig) class switch recombination defect (CSR-D). Most of the cases have an increase of serum IgM levels and a decrease of IgG2 isotype, while total IgG and IgA levels can be either normal or strongly decreased. The clinical presentation is variable, ranging from combined immunodeficiency requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to an isolated primary antibody deficiency which can be well controlled by IgG substitution. In order to identify new APDS patients, we genotyped the PIK3CD gene at position c.3061G as described previously (1) in a cohort of 139 patients with immunological phenotype of Ig CSR-D. We found 8 new APDS patients with the E1021K heterozygous mutation in the PIK3CD gene (“see Tables E1 and E2”) in addition to the 17 described previously (1), bringing the total number of known patients carrying this PIK3CD mutation to 25. We noticed that among these eight new APDS patients two developed B-cell lymphomas, suggesting that a constitutively active PI3Kδ predisposes to malignancies. These two cases are herein reported (Table1A, ​,1B1B). Table 1A Table 1B Lymphocyte populations Patient 1 has no familial history of PID, but his mother died at 35 years of age of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage. He was referred to our hospital at the age of 2 years with recurrent bronchopulmonary infections, lymphadenopathy, hepato-splenomegaly, liver disease (elevated transaminases and portal septal fibrosis at liver biopsy). He had increased serum IgM levels (4.25g/L), normal IgG (5.7 g/L) and decreased IgA (0.65g/L) levels, compatible with the diagnosis of CSR-D. The CD40L and CD40 defects were excluded and intravenous IgG substitution was initiated. At 8 years of age, he developed a high grade diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, WHO classification) of biliary tract (Figure 1 a-c). In situ hybridization for Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was negative and Bcl-6 was expressed as shown by immunohistochemistry. The patient recovered after nine courses of chemotherapy (UKCCSG 9002 protocol; “see E3”). At 19 years of age, under IgG substitution, he again developed a high grade EBV(-) DLBCL of the colon, which was found to be Bcl-6 negative (Figure 1 d-f). He received CHOP (Cyclophophamide, vincristine, steroids) plus rituximab. He died from large bowel perforation and bleeding 12 days after the third course of chemotherapy. Figure 1 B-cell lymphomas. Patient 2 belongs to a family in which two siblings were reported as suffering from a CSR-D (data from the affected sister P7 “see Tables E1 and E2”). From the age of 5 months, he suffered recurrent upper (recurrent acute otitis media) and lower respiratory tract infections complicated by bronchiectasis, chronic non-infectious diarrhea with malabsorption syndrom and failure to thrive. Other infections were also noticed, including pericarditis caused by Echo virus infection and recurrent synovitis. The diagnosis of CSR-D was made, according to his familial history and IgG substitution was started. At 6 and 8 years of age, he displayed episodes of massive enlargement of lymph nodes (cervical and mesenteric) with no malignant feature at biopsy. Serum Ig levels revealed an increase of IgM (4.5g/L at 5 years and 13g/L at 11 years) and a decrease of IgG (

Forty patients (nine adults aged 20-54; 31 children aged 1-17) with Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA) were treated with recombinant human interleukin-3 (IL-3) in a European multicentre compassionate-need study. IL-3 was given as a daily subcutaneous injection at a starting dose of 2.5 micrograms/kg, escalating at day 21 to 5 micrograms/kg, and then to 10 micrograms/kg if there was no response, for a total duration of 12 weeks. Three children achieved a significant response, achieving sustained remissions off all therapy. At the time of entry, one was steroid-responsive and transfusion-independent, and two were transfusion-dependent. Two adults had a transient reduction in transfusion requirements, but could not tolerate the complete course of therapy. Eosinophilia was common; neutrophil and platelet counts were unaffected except in three patients in whom previously noted mild thrombocytopenia was transiently exacerbated. Clinical response to IL-3 did not correlate with in vitro culture results. A comparison of individual patient characteristics of our study with previously reported series confirms earlier impressions that patients who have never achieved significant in vivo erythropoiesis in response to steroids or during a spontaneous remission are highly unlikely to respond to IL-3. In contrast, there may be a 50% chance of a sustained remission, off steroids, in children who are steroid-dependent and transfusion-independent at the time of IL-3 therapy, suggesting a possible role for a short course of IL-3 earlier in the treatment of children with steroid-responsive DBA.

Resume L'aspergillose pulmonaire est devenue la principale cause de deces chez les enfants atteints de granulomatose septique chronique (GSC). Elle peut survenir avant l'âge de 1 an et est alors souvent revelatrice de la GSC. Observation. - Un nouveau-ne de sexe masculin a ete hospitalisea J27 de vie pour une fievre a 39°C, des troubles hemodynamiques et un syndrome inflammatoire biologique, rattaches a une infection pulmonaire. Le scanner thoracique a revele de multiples nodules intraparenchymateux bilateraux. Une biopsie pulmonaire chirurgicale a montre des granulomes histiocytaires avec des cellules geantes multinucleees. Les cultures des differents prelevements (biopsie pulmonaire, trachee, lavage alveolaire) ont permis d'isoler un Aspergillus fumigatus . L'etude de la chemiluminescence des polynucleaires neutrophiles (PN) a permis d'evoquer le diagnostic de GSC, confirme par l'analyse ulterieure des fonctions du PN. L'infection aspergillaire a regresse apres 12 mois de traitement par amphotericine B iv. Conclusion. - L'etude de la chemiluminescence doit etre effectuee chez un petit nourrisson atteint de pneumopathie multifocale en contexte infectieux, qui peut etre revelatrice d'une GSC.

International audience; We report the clinical description and molecular dissection of a new fatal human inherited disorder characterized by chronic autoinflammation, invasive bacterial infections and muscular amylopectinosis. Patients from two kindreds carried biallelic loss-of-expression and loss-of-function mutations in HOIL1 (RBCK1), a component of the linear ubiquitination chain assembly complex (LUBAC). These mutations resulted in impairment of LUBAC stability. NF-κB activation in response to interleukin 1β (IL-1β) was compromised in the patients' fibroblasts. By contrast, the patients' mononuclear leukocytes, particularly monocytes, were hyper-responsive to IL-1β. The consequences of human HOIL-1 and LUBAC deficiencies for IL-1β responses thus differed between cell types, consistent with the unique association of autoinflammation and immunodeficiency in these patients. These data suggest that LUBAC regulates NF-κB–dependent IL-1β responses differently in different cell types.

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is characterized by persistent cutaneous lesions caused by a specific group of related human papillomavirus genotypes (EV-HPVs) in otherwise healthy individuals. Autosomal recessive (AR) EVER1 and EVER2 deficiencies account for two thirds of known cases of EV. AR RHOH deficiency has recently been described in two siblings with EV-HPV infections as well as other infectious and tumoral manifestations. We report here the whole-exome based discovery of AR MST1 deficiency in a 19-year-old patient with a T-cell deficiency associated with EV-HPV, bacterial and fungal infections. MST1 deficiency has recently been described in seven patients from three unrelated kindreds with profound T-cell deficiency and various viral and bacterial infections. The patient was also homozygous for a rare ERCC3 variation. Our findings broaden the clinical range of infections seen in MST1 deficiency and provide a new genetic etiology of susceptibility to EV-HPV infections. Together with the recent discovery of RHOH deficiency, they suggest that T cells are involved in the control of EV-HPVs, at least in some individuals.

International audience; 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.

Inherited deficiency of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecules impairs antigen presentation to CD4+ T cells and results in combined immunodeficiency (CID). Autosomal-recessive mutations in the RFXANK gene account for two-thirds of all cases of MHC class II deficiency. We describe here the genetic, clinical, and immunologic features of 35 patients from 30 unrelated kindreds from North Africa sharing the same RFXANK founder mutation, a 26-bp deletion called I5E6-25_I5E6 + 1), and date the founder event responsible for this mutation in this population to approximately 2250 years ago (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1750-3025 years). Ten of the 23 patients who underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) were cured, with the recovery of almost normal immune functions. Five of the patients from this cohort who did not undergo HSCT had a poor prognosis and eventually died (at ages of 1-17 years). However, 7 patients who did not undergo HSCT (at ages of 6-32 years) are still alive on Ig treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis. RFXANK deficiency is a severe, often fatal CID for which HSCT is the only curative treatment. However, some patients may survive for relatively long periods if multiple prophylactic measures are implemented.

WOS: 000292635200053, PubMed ID: 21700883, Impaired immune functions leading to primary immunodeficiencies often correlate with paradoxical autoimmune complications; patients with hyper-IgM syndromes who are deficient in activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), which is required for classs-witch recombination and somatic hypermutation, are prone to develop autoimmune diseases. To investigate the impact of AID-deficiency on early B-cell tolerance checkpoints in humans, we tested by ELISA the reactivity of recombinant antibodies isolated from single B cells from AID-deficient patients. New emigrant/transitional and mature naive B cells from AID-deficient patients express an abnormal Ig repertoire and high frequencies of autoreactive antibodies, demonstrating that AID is required for the establishment of both central and peripheral B-cell tolerance. In addition, B-cell tolerance was further breached in AID-deficient patients as illustrated by the detection of anti-nuclear IgM antibodies in the serum of all patients. Thus, we identified a major and previously unsuspected role for AID in the removal of developing autoreactive B cells in humans., National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious DiseasesUnited States Department of Health & Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health (NIH) - USANIH National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [AI061093, AI071087, AI082713]; Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche MedicaleInstitut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale (Inserm); CEE European Primary Antibody Deficiencies [201549]; Association Contre le Cancer, We thank Dr. S. Rudchenko and S. Semova for cell sorting, Dr. C. Price for providing CD40L-deficient patient samples, Mrs. M. C. Stolzenberg and M. Forveille for excellent technical assistance, Dr. J. Craft for providing tonsil samples, and Dr. D. Schatz for advice and discussions. We also thank all the members of the Immunodeficiency Clinic of the Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite Laval. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Grants AI061093, AI071087, and AI082713 (to E. M.), Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale, CEE European Primary Antibody Deficiencies Contract Seventh Framework Program (201549), and Association Contre le Cancer (F. R.-L. and A.D.).

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare genetic disease caused by germline biallelic mutations in the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM) that result in partial or complete loss of ATM expression or activity. The course of the disease is characterized by neurologic manifestations, infections, and cancers.We studied A-T progression and investigated whether manifestations were associated with the ATM genotype.We performed a retrospective cohort study in France of 240 patients with A-T born from 1954 to 2005 and analyzed ATM mutations in 184 patients, along with neurologic manifestations, infections, and cancers.Among patients with A-T, the Kaplan-Meier 20-year survival rate was 53.4%; the prognosis for these patients has not changed since 1954. Life expectancy was lower among patients with mutations in ATM that caused total loss of expression or function of the gene product (null mutations) compared with that seen in patients with hypomorphic mutations because of earlier onset of cancer (mainly hematologic malignancies). Cancer (hazard ratio, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.6-4.5) and respiratory tract infections (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.8) were independently associated with mortality. Cancer (hazard ratio, 5.8; 95% CI, 2.9-11.6) was a major risk factor for mortality among patients with null mutations, whereas respiratory tract infections (hazard ratio, 4.1; 95% CI, 1.8-9.1) were the leading cause of death among patients with hypomorphic mutations.Morbidity and mortality among patients with A-T are associated with ATM genotype. This information could improve our prognostic ability and lead to adapted therapeutic strategies.

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: M.L.M. receives funding from the NIH and the FDA and has a patent pending for culture conditions for thymus tissue for transplantation. B.H.D. and I.K.C. receive funding from the NIH, and E.A.M. receives funding from the NIH and the FDA. The remaining authors declare no competing financial interests., © 2011 by The American Society of Hematology, FOXN1 deficiency is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by athymia, alopecia totalis, and nail dystrophy. Two infants with FOXN1 deficiency were transplanted with cultured postnatal thymus tissue. Subject 1 presented with disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin infection and oligoclonal T cells with no naive markers. Subject 2 had respiratory failure, human herpes virus 6 infection, cytopenias, and no circulating T cells. The subjects were given thymus transplants at 14 and 9 months of life, respectively. Subject 1 received immunosuppression before and for 10 months after transplantation. With follow up of 4.9 and 2.9 years, subjects 1 and 2 are well without infectious complications. The pretransplantation mycobacterial disease in subject 1 and cytopenias in subject 2 resolved. Subject 2 developed autoimmune thyroid disease 1.6 years after transplantation. Both subjects developed functional immunity. Subjects 1 and 2 have 1053/mm(3) and 1232/mm(3) CD3(+) cells, 647/mm(3) and 868/mm(3) CD4(+) T cells, 213/mm(3) and 425/mm(3) naive CD4(+) T cells, and 10 200 and 5700 T-cell receptor rearrangement excision circles per 100 000 CD3(+) cells, respectively. They have normal CD4 T-cell receptor β variable repertoires. Both subjects developed antigen-specific proliferative responses and have discontinued immunoglobulin replacement. In summary, thymus transplantation led to T-cell reconstitution and function in these FOXN1 deficient infants., Funding sources included National Institutes of Health (NIH; grant nos. R01AI47040 and R01AI54843 to M.L.M. and M01RR30 NCRR, Clinical Research, to Duke University) and grants from “Fundação para a Ciênia e a Tecnologia” (FCT) and “Programa Operacional Ciêcia e Inovação 010” (POCI2010) PIC/83068 to R.M.V. and PTDC/66248 to A.E.S. A.S.A. received a scholarship from FCT. Thymus transplantation for subjects 1 and 2 was financially supported by the Portuguese and French national health services, respectively. M.L.M. is a member of the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Summary Lifelong immunoglobulin replacement is the standard, expensive therapy for severe primary antibody deficiencies. This treatment can be administrated either by intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or subcutaneous infusions (SCIG) and delivered at home or in an out-patient setting. This study aims to determine whether SCIG is cost-effective compared with IVIG from a French social insurance perspective. Because both methods of administration provide similar efficacies, a cost-minimization analysis was performed. First, costs were calculated through a simulation testing different hypothesis on costs drivers. Secondly, costs were estimated on the basis of field data collected by a questionnaire completed by a population of patients suffering from agammaglobulinaemia and hyper-immunoglobulin (Ig)M syndrome. Patients' satisfaction was also documented. Results of the simulation showed that direct medical costs ranged from €19 484 for home-based IVIG to €25 583 for hospital-based IVIG, with home-based SCIG in between at €24 952 per year. Estimations made from field data were found to be different, with significantly higher costs for IVIG. This result was explained mainly by a higher immunoglobulin mean dose prescribed for IVIG. While the theoretical model showed very little difference between SCIG and hospital-based IVIG costs, SCIG appears to be 25% less expensive with field data because of lower doses used in SCIG patients. The reality of the dose difference between both routes of administration needs to be confirmed by further and more specific studies.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative treatment for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Detailed assessment of the long-term outcome of HSCT, ie, the occurrence of clinical events and the quality and stability of immune reconstitution, is now required. We performed a single-center retrospective analysis of the long-term outcome of HSCT in 90-patient cohort followed for between 2 and 34 years (median, 14 years). Clinical events and immune reconstitution data were collected. Almost half the patients have experienced one or more significant clinical events, including persistent chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), autoimmune and inflammatory manifestations, opportunistic and nonopportunistic infections, chronic human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, and a requirement for nutritional support. With the notable exception of severe HPV infection, these complications tend to become less common 15 years later after HSCT. A multivariate analysis showed that the occurrence of these events correlated with non–genoidentical donors, diagnosis of Artemis SCID, and quality of immune reconstitution. In most cases, HSCT enables long-term survival with infrequent sequelae. However, the occurrence of relatively late-onset complications is a concern that requires specific means of prevention and justifies careful patient follow-up.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is characterized by splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, hypergammaglobulinemia, accumulation of double-negative TCRαβ+ CD4−CD8− T cells (DNT cells), and autoimmunity. Previously, DNT cell detection and a functional defect of T cells in a FAS-induced apoptosis test in vitro had been used for ALPS diagnosis. However, a functional defect can also be detected in mutation-positive relatives (MPRs) who remain free of any ALPS-related disease. In contrast, lymphocytes from patients carrying a somatic mutation of FAS exhibit normal sensitivity to FAS-induced apoptosis in vitro. We assessed the soluble FAS-L concentration in the plasma of ALPS patients carrying FAS mutations. Overall, we showed that determination of the FAS-L represents, together with the IL-10 concentration and the DNT cell percentage, a reliable tool for the diagnosis of ALPS.

L’ataxie-telangiectasie (A-T) est une maladie genetique rare presentant des manifestations multiples que l’on peut resumer sur le plan clinique : par une ataxie cerebelleuse, des telangiectasies cutaneo-muqueuses, un deficit immunitaire et un risque eleve de cancer ; sur le plan biologique : par une instabilite chromosomique avec des rearrangements specifiques lymphocytaires. La maladie a ete individualisee en 1941 par un medecin belge, le Docteur Denise Louis-Bar, a laquelle nous devons la premiere description de la maladie. C’est une maladie complexe dont le tableau incomplet dans les premieres annees de vie rend le diagnostic souvent difficile. L’identification du gene ATM (ataxia-telangiectasia mutated), en 1995, a constitue une avancee considerable dans les possibilites diagnostiques et la comprehension de la physiopathologie de la maladie (1). Les perspectives therapeutiques restent aujourd’hui encore limitees. Nous decrirons les caracteristiques cliniques, biologiques et moleculaires de l’A-T ainsi que celles de deux pathologies proches qui ont en commun ses anomalies cytogenetiques : A-T like disorder (ATLD) et syndrome de Nijmegen. Nous evoquerons les diagnostics differentiels de ces pathologies.

Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease that affects mainly young children, and which features granulomas containing Langerhans-type dendritic cells. The role of several human herpesviruses (HHV) in the pathogenesis of LCH was suggested by numerous reports but remains debated. Epstein-barr virus (EBV, HHV-4), & Cytomegalovirus (CMV, HHV-5) can infect Langerhans cells, and EBV, CMV and HHV-6 have been proposed to be associated with LCH based on the detection of these viruses in clinical samples. Methodology We have investigated the prevalence of EBV, CMV and HHV-6 infection, the characters of antibody response and the plasma viral load in a cohort of 83 patients and 236 age-matched controls, and the presence and cellular localization of the viruses in LCH tissue samples from 19 patients. Principal Findings The results show that prevalence, serological titers, and viral load for EBV, CMV and HHV-6 did not differ between patients and controls. EBV was found by PCR in tumoral sample from 3/19 patients, however, EBV small RNAs EBERs –when positive-, were detected by in situ double staining in bystander B CD20+ CD79a+ lymphocytes and not in CD1a+ LC. HHV-6 genome was detected in the biopsies of 5/19 patients with low copy number and viral Ag could not be detected in biopsies. CMV was not detected by PCR in this series. Conclusions/Significance Therefore, our findings do not support the hypothesis of a role of EBV, CMV, or HHV-6 in the pathogenesis of LCH, and indicate that the frequent detection of Epstein-barr virus (EBV) in Langerhans cell histiocytosis is accounted for by the infection of bystander B lymphocytes in LCH granuloma. The latter observation can be attributed to the immunosuppressive micro environment found in LCH granuloma.

Background Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare clonal granulomatous disease that affects mainly children. LCH can involve various tissues such as bone, skin, lung, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and the central nervous system, and is frequently responsible for functional sequelae. The pathophysiology of LCH is unclear, but the uncontrolled proliferation of Langerhans cells (LCs) is believed to be the primary event in the formation of granulomas. The present study was designed to further investigate the nature of proliferating cells and the immune mechanisms involved in the LCH granulomas. Methods and Findings Biopsies (n = 24) and/or blood samples (n = 25) from 40 patients aged 0.25 to 13 y (mean 7.8 y), were studied to identify cells that proliferate in blood and granulomas. We found that the proliferating index of LCs was low (∼1.9%), and we did not observe expansion of a monocyte or dendritic cell compartment in patients. We found that LCH lesions were a site of active inflammation, tissue remodeling, and neo-angiogenesis, and the majority of proliferating cells were endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and polyclonal T lymphocytes. Within granulomas, interleukin 10 was abundant, LCs expressed the TNF receptor family member RANK, and CD4+ CD25high FoxP3high regulatory T cells (T-regs) represented 20% of T cells, and were found in close contact with LCs. FoxP3+ T-regs were also expanded compared to controls, in the blood of LCH patients with active disease, among whom seven out of seven tested exhibited an impaired skin delayed-type hypersensitivity response. In contrast, the number of blood T-regs were normal after remission of LCH. Conclusions These findings indicate that LC accumulation in LCH results from survival rather than uncontrolled proliferation, and is associated with the expansion of T-regs. These data suggest that LCs may be involved in the expansion of T-regs in vivo, resulting in the failure of the host immune system to eliminate LCH cells. Thus T-regs could be a therapeutic target in LCH., Frederic Geissmann and colleagues find that Langerhans cell accumulation in Langerhans cell histiocytosis results from survival rather than uncontrolled proliferation, and is associated with the expansion of regulatory T cells., Editors' Summary Background. Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disease, affecting mainly children, in which the number of Langerhans cells (immune system cells that are also known as histiocytes) in the body greatly increases. In LCH, immature Langerhans cells spread throughout the body—they are usually found only in the skin and airways—and accumulate in small inflamed nodules called granulomas. The symptoms and severity of LCH depend on where these granulomas (which contain several different types of cells) occur. Granulomas in bone, for example, can weaken the bone and lead to frequent fractures. Other symptoms of LCH include skin rashes, breathing difficulties, and hearing problems. LCH is usually treated with corticosteroids, drugs that suppress immune function, but if the disease is widespread, anticancer drugs may also be used. Most affected children recover from the disease but the disease can be fatal if multiple organs are affected. Why Was This Study Done? For many years LCH has been regarded as a cancer-like condition (hence the use of anticancer drugs in its treatment) in which the uncontrolled proliferation of Langerhans cells drives the formation of granulomas. However, some researchers are beginning to ask whether LCH might actually be a problem with the immune system—Langerhans cells are dendritic cells, and these normally activate the immune response when the body is challenged by bacteria or viruses. To find better ways to treat LCH It is important to understand the underlying defect in the disease and how it develops. In this study, the researchers have investigated which cells in LCH granulomas are proliferating and whether immune mechanisms are involved in the development of LCH. What Did the Researchers Do and Find? The researchers stained slices of LCH granulomas with antibodies (proteins made by the immune system) that label different types of cell and with an antibody that recognizes Ki-67, a protein made by proliferating cells. On average, only 6% of the proliferating cells in the granulomas were Langerhans cells. 12% were T lymphocytes (immune system cells that directly kill bacteria and viruses and stimulate antibody production by B lymphocytes). The rest were endothelial cells (which line blood vessels) and fibroblasts (which form the framework that supports the tissues of the body). These data suggest that abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells is not responsible for maintenance and spread of granulomas—so could increased survival of these cells lead to their accumulation in granulomas instead? When the researchers investigated the immunological characteristics of LCH granulomas, they found that many of the T cells in the granulomas were regulatory T cells (T-regs), a type of T cell that inhibits T cell responses and prevents the body from attacking itself. Consistent with the presence of T-regs, IL10 (a protein made by T cells that suppresses the function of Langerhans cells) was abundant within the granulomas. Furthermore, the Langerhans cells in the granulomas expressed RANK, a protein that stimulates the proliferation of T-regs, and patients with LCH had a higher proportion of T-regs in their blood than did healthy children; this proportion decreased during their treatment for LCH. Finally, all the children with LCH that the researchers tested had an impaired delayed-type hypersensitivity response, an indication that the increased numbers of T-regs had inhibited their immune system. What Do These Findings Mean? These findings indicate that proliferation of Langerhans cells is not the driving force behind the development of LCH. Instead they suggest that abnormal Langerhans cells induce the accumulation of T-regs within the granuloma. These T-regs inhibit the induction of an efficient immune response against the Langerhans cells, and this sets up a vicious cycle in which the increased survival of Langerhans cells leads to their accumulation in granulomas, the production of more T-regs, and so on. This new model, although it is based on the investigation of a small number of patients with LCH, strongly suggests that drugs that target T-regs should be investigated as treatments for LCH. Additional Information. Please access these Web sites via the online version of this summary at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.0040253. Information is available for patients and health professionals on Langerhans cell histiocytosis from the Histiocytosis Association of America Information is also available (in French) for patients and health professionals on the Histiocytose.org Web site, which has links to the Association Histiocytose France and Groupe d'Etude des Histiocytoses The MedlinePlus encyclopedia contains a page on histiocytosis (in English and Spanish) Information is made available by the UK charity Cancerbackup on Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children Wikipedia page on regulatory T cells (note: Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit; available in several languages)

To evaluate the longer-term utility of genotypic resistance testing in HIV-1-infected children with virological failure.Children aged 3 months-18 years switching antiretroviral therapy (ART) with HIV-1 RNA2,000 copies/ml were randomized between genotypic testing (Virtual Phenotype) and no testing at baseline and subsequent virological failures. Children were followed to at least 96 weeks.One hundred and seventy eligible children, from 24 clinical centres in six countries, were randomized to resistance testing (n = 87) or no testing (n = 83) between June 2000-July 2003. At baseline, mean HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ T-cell percentage were 4.7 log10 copies/ml and 20%, respectively. Children had taken ART for a mean of 5 years; 24% had received all three classes, 53% nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)+protease inhibitors (PIs), 9% NRTIs+non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and 14% NRTIs only. There was no difference between the arms in the drug classes or the individual PIs/NNRTIs prescribed. However, 49% in the resistance test arm (RT) versus 19% in the no-test arm (NT) continued at least one NRTI from their failing regimen; 56% versus 19% were prescribed didanosine+stavudine as their NRTI backbone. Adjusting for baseline HIV-1 RNA, mean reductions in HIV-1 RNA at 48 weeks were 1.51 log10 copies/ml in the RT arm and 1.23 in the NT arm (P = 0.3); the difference between the arms was smaller at week 96 (RT: 1.50, NT: 1.47; P = 0.9).In this first paediatric trial of resistance testing, we observed a substantial difference in NRTI-prescribing behaviour across arms. However statistically significant evidence of a long-term virological or immunological benefit was not observed. This trial is registered as an International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial, number ISRCTN14367816.

Background The prevalence of autoimmunity in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (chr22q11DS) is 8.5%. Objectives However, there is a lack of clinical description in the literature. Methods From a French retrospective study, we have collected the data of autoimmunity in patients with chr22q11DS. For each patient: initial presentation, treatment, outcome, antibodies and lymphocyte subset analyses have been collected. Results Fifteen cases were selected. The age at onset of autoimmunity ranged from 1 to 14 years old (median 4 years), most children had several autoimmune manifestations (median 2). Seven patients had autoimmune cytopenias (7 thrombopenias, 5 anemias, 3 neutropenias) and among them, 2 children also had autoimmune hepatitis. Five juvenile idiopathic arthritis were observed: 3 severe polyarthritis rheumatoid factor negative, 1 spondylarthropathy with uveitis and 1 oligoarthritis. 3 children developed mere joint inflammatory pain associated with good response to NSAIDs. Additionally, one celiac disease was diagnosed associated with B+ polyclonal lymphoproliferative disease. One child had autoimmune thyroiditis. A teenager presented acute focal neurological symptoms with hyperintensities of the brain white matter at MRI and positive anti-nuclear and anti-histones antibodies. A Churg-Strauss syndrome was considered, facing severe asthma, nasal polyps, corticosteroid dependence and fever, but ANCA were negative. All patients received several treatments (median 2) and currently, after a median follow-up of 10 years, 10 patients are in complete remission (5 without any treatment and 5 with immunosuppressants), 3 are in partial remission, 1 pancytopenia and 1 polyarthritis are not controlled. The age at chr22q11DS diagnosis ranged from the neonatal period to 16 years (median 7 years). In 8 cases chr22q11DS was diagnosed after the beginning of autoimmunity with a delay from 1 to 11 years (median 7 years). Lymphocyte subset analyses have shown lymphopenia, with a reduction of naive T-cell count. Conclusions Chr22q11DS, similar to other primary immunodeficiencies, must be considered facing atypical autoimmunity, even though clinical dysmorphic features are mild. The diagnosis is easily confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization study. Naive T-cell lymphopenia may predispose to a high risk of autoimmunity. Disclosure of Interest None declared

The differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) is governed by various signals in the microenvironment. Monocytes and DCs circulate in peripheral blood, which contains high levels of natural antibodies (NAbs). NAbs are germ-line-encoded and occur in the absence of deliberate immunization or microbial aggression. To assess the importance of NAbs in the milieu on DC development, we examined the status of DCs in patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia, a disease characterized by paucity of B cells and circulating antibodies. We demonstrate that the in vitro differentiation of DCs is severely impaired in these patients, at least in part because of low levels of circulating NAbs. We identified NAbs reactive with the CD40 molecule as an important component that participates in the development of DCs. CD40-reactive NAbs restored normal phenotypes of DCs in patients. The maturation process induced by CD40-reactive NAbs was accompanied by an increased IL-10 and decreased IL-12 production. The transcription factor analysis revealed distinct signaling pathways operated by CD40-reactive NAbs compared to those by CD40 ligand. These results suggest that B cells promote bystander DC development through NAbs and the interaction between NAbs and DCs may play a role in steady-state migration of DCs.

Haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation is a life-saving treatment for severe combined immune deficiency. However, there has been little long-term follow-up of this treatment. There is evidence for the persistance of partial immunodeficiency associated with significant infections, including severe human papillomavirus (HPV) disease. We did a retrospective analysis of severe HPV disease in a group of 41 patients with severe combined immune deficiency from one centre who were alive 10 years or longer after haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation. Nine of the 41 patients had extensive chronic HPV disease limited to the skin, with a median onset at 8 years after transplantation. Four had lesions typical of epidermodysplasia verruciformis, a rare genodermatosis. Transplant characteristics, immune status, and chimerism of these nine patients did not differ significantly from those of the other patients. The nine patients with HPV disease had severe combined immune deficiency associated with either common gammac receptor cytokine subunit or Janus kinase-3 (JAK-3) deficiency. By contrast, patients with other forms of severe combined immune deficiency did not have any signs of HPV disease. That genetic causes are the only predisposing factor to be identified for severe combined immune deficiency, suggests that natural-killer cells or gammac/JAK-3-dependent signalling in keratinocytes could have a role in anti-HPV immunity.

Type I Glanzmann's thrombasthenia is a rare congenital platelet function disorder, characterized by undetectable platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb-IIIa (GPIIb-IIIa). Severe bleeding is controlled by transfusion of normal platelets, leading in some cases to the occurrence of anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies, which induces a loss of transfused platelet efficacy. We used immunoadsorption on protein A Sepharose (IA-PA), which has been shown to be efficient in decreasing the titre of antibodies in several immune diseases, in three patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies on five different occasions. IA-PA was well tolerated with no deleterious side-effects reported. It induced a dramatic decrease of total immunoglobulin (Ig)G, including anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibody levels, as assessed by the monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigens test and the ex vivo inhibition of normal platelet aggregation induced by the patient's platelet-rich or platelet-poor plasma. Elimination of the antibody was associated with a correction of the bleeding time following platelet transfusion. IA-PA combined with platelet transfusion made it possible to control two life-threatening haemorrhages, and allowed two surgical procedures and one bone marrow transplantation to be performed safely. Our experience suggests that IA-PA, which restores the haemostatic efficacy of platelet transfusion, is a valuable therapeutic strategy in patients with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia and anti-GPIIb-IIIa isoantibodies.

Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common chronic gastrointestinal diseases, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Studies of monogenic diseases can provide insight into the pathogenesis of IBD. Objective We thought to determine the underlying molecular causes of IBD occurring in 2 unrelated families in association with an immune deficiency. Methods We performed genetic linkage analysis and candidate gene sequencing on 13 patients from a large consanguineous family affected by early-onset IBD, progressive immune deficiency, and, in some cases, autoimmunity and alopecia, a condition we named enteropathy-lymphocytopenia-alopecia. The candidate gene was also sequenced in an unrelated patient with a similar phenotype. We performed histologic analysis of patients' intestinal biopsy specimens and carried out functional assays on PBMCs. Gut organoids derived from a patient's biopsy specimen were analyzed. Results We identified biallelic missense mutations in tetratricopeptide repeat domain 7A (TTC7A) in all patients from both families. The resulting TTC7A depletion modified the proliferation, adhesion, and migratory capacities of lymphocytes through inappropriate activation of the RhoA signaling pathway. Normal function was restored by wild-type TTC7A expression or addition of a RhoA kinase inhibitor. The growth and polarity of gut epithelial organoids were also found to be dependent on the RhoA signaling pathway. Conclusions We show that TTC7A regulates the actin cytoskeleton dynamics in lymphocytes through the RhoA signaling pathway and is required in both lymphocytes and epithelial cells for maintaining equilibrium between cell proliferation, migration, polarization, and cell death. Our study highlights variability in the phenotypic expression resulting from TTC7A deficiency and outlines that impairment of both epithelial cells and lymphocytes cooperatively causes IBD.

Background Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare phagocytic disorder that results in not only infections but also potentially severe inflammatory manifestations that can be difficult to diagnose and treat. Objective To describe inflammatory manifestations in a single-center cohort of patients with CGD. Methods Medical records of patients treated at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital (Paris, France) between 1968 and 2009 and registered at the French National Reference Center for Primary Immunodeficiencies (CEREDIH) were retrospectively reviewed. Results In a study population of 98 patients, a total of 221 inflammatory episodes were recorded in 68 individuals (69.4%). The incidence rate of inflammatory episodes was 0.15 per person-year (0.18 in patients with X-linked [XL] CGD and 0.08 in patients with autosomal-recessive [AR] CGD). The most commonly affected organs were the gastrointestinal tract (in 88.2% of the patients), lungs (26.4%), the urogenital tract (17.6%), and eyes (8.8%). Inflammation at other sites (the skin, central nervous system, and tympanum) and autoimmune manifestations (lupus, arthritis, etc) were recorded in 19.1% and 10.3% of the patients, respectively. Granuloma was found in 50% of the 44 histological analyses reviewed. The risk of inflammatory episodes was 2-fold higher in patients with XL-CGD than in patients with AR-CGD (relative risk, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.43-3.46). Conclusions Patients with XL-CGD have a higher risk of developing inflammatory episodes than do patients with AR-CGD. Although the most commonly affected organ is the gastrointestinal tract, other sites can be involved, making the management of patients with CGD a complex, multidisciplinary task.

Objectif 8,5% des enfants atteints du syndrome de Di George (DGS) presentent des manifestations auto immunes (MAI), qui sont peu decrites dans la litterature. Materiels et methodes Nous avons etudie retrospectivement, via le reseau de la SHIP et de la SOFREMIP, les MAI chez les enfants DGS et etudie leur profil immunologique. Resultats Quinze dossiers ont ete retenus: 7 mono, bi ou tricytopenies (7 thrombopenies, 5 anemies, 2 neutropenies), 5 arthrites inflammatoires (3 polyarthrites, 1 spondylarthropathie, 1 oligoarthrite), 2 hepatites, 1 maladie cœliaque compliquee d’un syndrome lymphoproliferatif B, 1 thyroidite, 1 syndrome de Churg et Strauss et 1 lupus incomplets. L’âge au diagnostic du SDG variait entre la naissance et 16 ans (moyenne 6,5 ans) tandis que l’âge au diagnostic de MAI entre 1 et 14 ans (moyenne 5,5 ans). Dans 8 cas sur 15 le diagnostic de SDG a ete pose ulterieurement au diagnostic de MAI avec une errance diagnostique allant de 1 a 11 ans. L’etude des sous populations lymphocytaires a montre une lymphopenie T predominant sur les populations naives. Conclusion Un DGS incomplet doit etre recherche chez un enfant presentant des MAI inhabituelles. Une lymphopenie T predominant sur les cellules naives definit un groupe a haut risque d’auto-immunite.

We report on a three generation family with four affected members presenting with a combination of B cell immunodeficiency, distal limbs abnormalities, genitourinary malformations, and mild dysmorphic features. All affected patients had normal intelligence and growth. No chromosomal abnormalities were observed using both standard and high resolution banding methods on the patients' lymphocytes. The observation of affected subjects of both sexes along with the occurrence of one male to male transmission suggests autosomal dominant inheritance of the trait with marked intrafamilial variable expression of the disease. While several multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) syndromes include both skeletal dysplasia and immune deficiency, the striking combination of congenital anomalies presented here, for which we propose the acronym BILU (B cell Immunodeficiency, Limb anomalies, and Urogenital malformations), is likely to represent a novel MCA syndrome. The proband (case 1, IV.1, fig 1) is an only child, born to unrelated parents. He was born at term by caesarian section with normal measurements (weight 3620 g, length 50 cm, and OFC 37 cm). Genital anomalies noted at birth included micropenis, scrotal hypospadias, and bilateral cryptorchidism, which required multiple surgical corrections. Despite testosterone substitution therapy, the size of the testes and penis only increased during puberty. Endocrine investigations including basal state testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, adrenal hormones, gonadotrophin plasma levels, gonadotrophin response to LHRH, and testosterone response to HCG were normal. Ultrasonography of the urinary system showed bilateral hydronephrosis. Figure 1 (A) Three generation pedigree including four affected members. The arrow indicates the proband. (B) (a, b) Face of the proband (IV.1). (c, d) Face of proband's father (III.2). Urography (IV) showed right hydronephrosis with atresia of the upper segment of the right ureter, right vesicoureteral reflux, and absence of secretion in the left kidney (fig 2). A left ureteronephrectomy was performed at 2½ months. Histological examination of the left urinary …

Epidemiological studies have suggested that ataxia-telangiectasia (AT) heterozygotes have a predisposition to cancer, especially breast cancer in women. Now, haplotyping can identify heterozygotes for AT mutation (ATM) in AT families, allowing the risk of cancer associated with ATM heterozygosity status to be better assessed. We report a family study of AT patients, in which we estimated the risk of cancer according to ATM heterozygosity status. We analyzed demographic characteristics and occurrence of cancer in 1,423 relatives of AT patients. Haplotyping was performed in living relatives. The probability of being heterozygotes for ATM was calculated for deceased relatives. The risk of developing cancer was estimated in the cohort of relatives, and expected numbers of cancer cases were calculated from French age period-specific incidence rates. The number of cancers at all sites in the total population of relatives was not higher than expected. However, significant heterogeneity was found according to ATM heterozygosity status. This is mainly due to the increased risk of breast cancer previously observed in obligate heterozygotes. In obligate heterozygotes, relative risk (RR) was non-significantly increased for thyroid cancer, leukemia and liver cancer. Risks of ovarian, lung, pancreatic, kidney, stomach and colorectal cancers were non-significantly increased in the group with 0.5 probability of being heterozygotes. The RR was not significantly increased for any site of cancer, except for breast. Therefore, there is no evidence that specific screening of relatives of AT patients would be justified at particular sites other than the breast. However, the amplitude of the risk of breast cancer estimated in heterozygous women does not appear to justify a separate screening program from that already available to women with a first-degree relative affected by breast cancer.

Epidemiological studies in ataxia telangiectasia (AT) families have suggested that AT heterozygotes could have an increased cancer risk, especially breast cancer (BC) in women. It has also been suggested that an increased sensibility of AT heterozygotes to the effect of ionizing radiation could be responsible for the increased BC risk. BC relative risk (RR) estimation in AT heterozygotes within families ascertained through AT children is presented here. Family data collected included demographic characteristics, occurrence of cancers, past radiation exposures and blood samples. DNA samples were studied using seven ATM linked microsatellites markers allowing AT haplotypes reconstitution. The relative risk of BC was assessed using French estimated incidence rates. A significant increase risk of BC is found among obligate ATM heterozygotes with a point estimate of 3.32 (P = 0.002). BC relative risk calculated according to age is significantly increased among the obligate ATM heterozygotes female relatives with an age ≤ 44 years (RR = 4.55, P = 0.005). The BC relative risk is statistically borderline among the obligate ATM heterozygote female relatives with an age ≥ 45 years (RR = 2.48, P = 0.08). The estimated BC relative risk among ATM heterozygotes is consistent with previously published data. However, the increased risk is only a little higher than classical reproductive risk factors and similar to the risk associated with a first-degree relative affected by BC. © 1999 Cancer Research Campaign

Patients with X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome [CD40 ligand (CD40L) deficiency] are prone to infections by intracellular parasites. It has been suggested that this susceptibility is caused by defective macrophage activation through the CD40L-CD40 pathway. We studied the CD40-mediated activation of monocytes and dendritic cells from patients affected with a CD40L+ hyper-IgM syndrome characterized by a defect of B lymphocyte responses to CD40 agonists. We show that the CD40-induced production of IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-alpha by monocytes, and IL-12 by dendritic cells, and expression of the activation markers CD83, the costimulatory molecules CD86 and CD80, and HLA-DR antigens were all similar in patient and control cells. This observation is consistent with the clinical characteristics of the syndrome: a defect of immunoglobulin switch but no susceptibility to opportunistic infections, as observed in CD40L-deficient patients. These observations suggest that CD40-mediated activation pathways could be, at least in part, different in B and monocytic/dendritic cell lineages.

Among 34 children with AIDS enrolled in a trial with 2'-3' dideoxyinosine (ddI), six (aged 1-6 years) developed liver abnormalities within 2-18 months after institution of ddI. Two children died of fulminant hepatic failure (one had also an adenovirus infection), and four had a striking elevation of alkaline phosphatases (AP: 1120-7000 IU/L). All of them received sulfa drugs and antifungic treatment with ketoconazole or fluconazole. Three had a serology positive for hepatitis C virus. The evolution of liver enzymes following withdrawal and rechallenge with ddI in the children with elevated AP was an indication of drug-induced toxicity in two patients. In both of the others, readministration of ddI did not cause any subsequent problems. Liver histology in the patients with fulminant hepatitis showed an extensive hepatic necrosis. Liver biopsy done in two other patients revealed a mild granulomatous hepatitis in one and nonspecific changes (i.e., steatosis and a mild inflammation) in the other. Hepatic toxicity has been described with ddI and other nucleoside analogs in adult patients. These six children had many potential causes of liver disease. It may be that ddI is not hepatotoxic per se but that it precipitates liver disease in predisposed patients. We recommend that liver functions be carefully monitored when using this drug.