4. Primary immunodeficiency 2 Flashcards
Causes of SCID
> 20 possible pathways identified, e.g. deficiency of cytokine receptors, deficiency of signalling molecules, metabolic defects. (Effect on different lymphocyte subsets (T, B and NK) depend on the exact mutation.)
How common is X-linked SCID?
Most common form of SCID. 45% of all severe combined immunodeficiency
What mutation causes SCID?
Mutation of common gamma chain on chromosome Xq13.1.
How common is ADA deficiency
16.5% of all SCID?
What protects the SCID neonate in first 3 months of life
Active transport of maternal IgG across placenta
What is the clinical phenotype of SCID?
Unwell by 3 months of age, infections of all types, failure to thrive, persistent diarrhoea, unusual skin disease, colonisation of infant’s empty bone marrow by maternal lymphocytes - this is sort of like graft-versus-host disease because the maternal lymphocytes are in the baby’s bone marrow, family history of early death
What is the mutation in Di George syndrome?
22q11.2 deletion syndrome
DiGeorge syndrome features
- Characterised by developmental defect of the pharyngeal pouch.
CATCH - Cardiac abnormalities/congenital HD (ToF)
- Abnormal facies: high forehead, low set abnormally folded ears, cleft palate, small mouth and jaw.
- Thymic aplasia (± oesophageal atresia)
- Cleft palate
- Hypocalcaemia (underdeveloped parathyroid gland), hypoparathyroidism
(Consequences of underdeveloped thymus: Normal B cells, low T cells, homeostatic proliferation with age, immune function is mildly impaired and tends to improve with age.)
Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome features
Unwell by 3 months of age, infections of all types, failure to thrive, family history of early infant death
What causes bare lymphocyte syndrome type 1?
Similar to type 2, condition - caused by failure of expression of MHC Class I (HLA molecules)
Clinical features of T lymphocyte deficiencies
Viral infections (e.g. cytomegalovirus), fungal infections (e.g. PCP, cryptosporidium), some bacterial infections (especially intracellular organisms, e.g. TB, salmonella), early malignancy
Ix of T cell deficiencies
- Total white cell count and differential (IMPORTANT: lymphocyte counts in children are much HIGHER than in adults),
- lymphocyte subsets (quantify CD4, CD8, B cell and NK cells),
- immunoglobulins (IgM present but NO IgG or IgA),
- functional tests of T cell activation and proliferation (useful if signalling or activation defects are suspected),
- HIV test
SCID Ix results
Normal: –
Low: CD4, CD8, maybe B cell, maybe IgM, IgG
DiGeorge Ix results
Normal: B cell, IgM
Low: CD4, CD8 and maybe low IgG
Bare lymphocyte syndrome type 2 Ix results
Normal: CD8, B cell, IgM
Low: CD4 and IgG
Severe recurrent infections from 3 months, T cells absent, B cells present, Igs low. Normal facial features and cardiac echo
X-linked SCID
Recurrent childhood infections, abnormal facial features, congenital heart disease, normal B cells, reduced T cells, Low IgA, Low IgG
22q11.2 deletion syndrome (Di George)
Bruton’s X linked agammaglobulinaemia clinical phenotype
- Boys present in the first few years of life (they are fine for the first few months)
- Recurrent bacterial infections e.g. otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, gastroenteritis
- Viral, fungal and parasitic infections e.g. enterovirus, pneumocystis
- Failure to thrive
What causes Hyper IgM syndrome?
- This condition blocks the maturation of IgM B cells through germinal centres into B cells that produce other classes of immunoglobulin.
- The IgM B cells are unable to enter a germinal centre reaction
- This is due to a mutation in CD40 ligand gene (CD40L, CD154) -> technically a T cell problem
- This mutation means CD4+ T cells CANNOT signal to B cells and help them during the germinal centre reaction.
- CD40L is a member of the TNF receptor family
- It is encoded on Xq26
(Cannot undergo class switching)
Common variable immune deficiency is defined by:
- Marked reduction in IgG, and low IgA and/or IgE
- poor/absent response to immunisation
- Absence of other defined immunodeficiency
Selective IgA deficiency - what is the cause and how does it present?
Genetic component, but cause yet unknown. 2/3rd asymptomatic, 1/3rd have recurrent respiratory tract infections. (And GI symptoms (IgA found in both GI and resp mucosa). A lot of people with IgA deficiency will not be aware of it.
Investigations of b cell deficiencies
- Total white cell count and differential,
- Lymphocyte subset,
- Serum immunoglobulins and protein electrophoresis
- Functional tests of B cell function
SCID Ix results
Low cd4, cd8, IgG, IgA and maybe low B cell, IgM
Brutons X linked Ix results
Low b cell, IgM, IgG, IgA, normal CD4 and CD8 T cells
Hyper IgM X-linked results
high IgM, low IgG and IgA, normal CD4, CD8 and B cell
Selective IgA deficiency results
Low IgA, normal CD4, CD8, B cell, IgM, IgG
CVID results
Low IgG, low IgA (or IgE), normal CD4, CD8, B cell, IgM
1 year old boy. Recurrent bacterial infections. CD4 and CD8 T cells present. B cells absent. IgG, IgA, IgM all absent.
Bruton’s X-Linked hypogammaglobulinaemia
Recurrent bacterial infections as a child, episode of pneumocystis pneumonia, high IgM, absent IgA, absent IgG
X-linked Hyper IgM syndrome - mutation of CD40 ligand
Adult with bronchiectasis, recurrent sinusitis and development of atypical SLE
Common variable immunodeficiency
What are the components of the adaptive immune system?
T lymphocytes (CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells), B lymphocytes (B cell, plasma cells, antibodies), soluble components (cytokines and chemokines)
What is the definition of primary lymphoid organs?
Sites of development of lymphocytes
What happens in the bone marrow in terms of lymphocyte development?
T and B cells are derived from haematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. B cells will mature in the bone marrow
What happens in the thymus in terms of lymphocyte development?
Site of T cell maturation. Most active in the foetal and neonatal period, involutes after puberty
Summarise lymphoid development?
- Lymphocytes are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow
- Some will progress along the T cell lineage - they will leave the bone marrow and undergo thymic selection before exiting as mature CD4 and CD8 T cells
- On the other hand, the cells can leave the bone marrow as Pro B cells or Pre B cells which then become IgM B cells
- These can then undergo germinal centre reactions and mature into memory B cells and plasma cells
What is reticular dysgenesis the most severe form of?
Most severe form of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). It is called severe COMBINED because it affects both B and T lymphocytes
What mutation has occured in reticular dysgenesis?
Mutation in mitochondrial energy metabolism enzyme adenylate kinase 2 (AK2)