A Novel Complete Autosomal-Recessive STAT1 LOF Variant Causes Immunodeficiency with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis-Like Hyperinflammation

Boehmer, Daniel F. R.; Koehler, Lisa M.; Magg, Thomas; Metzger, Philipp; Rohlfs, Meino; Ahlfeld, Julia; Rack-Hoch, Anita; Reiter, Karl; Albert, Michael H.; Endres, Stefan; Rothenfusser, Simon; Klein, Christoph; König, Lars M. und Hauck, Fabian (2020): A Novel Complete Autosomal-Recessive STAT1 LOF Variant Causes Immunodeficiency with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis-Like Hyperinflammation. In: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology-in Practice, Bd. 8, Nr. 9: S. 3102-3111

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Complete signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) deficiency causes a rare primary immunodeficiency that is characterized by defective IFN-dependent gene expression leading to life-threatening viral and mycobacterial infections early in life. OBJECTIVE: To characterize a novel STAT1 loss-of-function variant leading to pathological infection susceptibility and hyperinflammation. METHODS: Clinical, immunologic, and genetic characterization of a patient with severe infections and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-like hyperinflammation was investigated. RESULTS: We reported a child of consanguineous parents who presented with multiple severe viral infections that ultimately triggered hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and liver failure. Despite intensified therapy with antivirals and cytomegalovirus-specific donor cells, the child died after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation because of cytomegalovirus reactivation with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Exome sequencing revealed a homozygous STAT1 variant (p.Val339ProfsTer18), leading to loss of STAT1 protein expression. Upon type I and type II IFN stimulation, immune and nonimmune cells showed defective upregulation of IFN-stimulated genes and increased susceptibility to viral infection in vitro. Increased viral infection rates were paralleled by hyperinflammatory ex vivo cytokine responses with increased production of TNF, IL-6, and IL-18. CONCLUSIONS: Complete STAT1 deficiency is a devastating disorder characterized by severe viral infections and ensuing hyperinflammatory responses. Early diagnosis can be made by exome sequencing and variant validation by functional testing of STAT1-dependent programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 surface expression on monocytes. Furthermore, high awareness for hyperinflammatory complications and potential targeted treatment strategies such as IL-18 binding protein could be considered. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only definitive treatment strategy but remains challenging. (C) 2020 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISSN: 2213-2198
• Sprache: Englisch