Primary Immune Deficiency 2 Flashcards
- Briefly outline how lymphocytes are derived from stem cells in the bone marrow.
Some will develop into pre-T cells which leave the bone marrow and undergo thymic selection in the thymus to become mature CD4 or CD8 T lymphocytes
Pre- and Pro-B cells can leave the bone marrow and become IgM B cells
These cells can then produce an early IgM response and become IgM memory and plasma B cells
They can also undergo a germinal centre reaction and undergo class switching and affinity maturation
- Name a defect in stem cells that causes SCID and name the gene that is mutated.
Reticular dysgenesis – adenylate kinase 2 (AK2)
- What is the most common type of SCID?
X-linked SCID
- Which mutation is responsible for X-linked SCID?
Mutation in common gamma chain on Xq13.1
This is a component of many cytokine receptors leading to an inability to respond to cytokines, causing arrest in T and NK cell development and the production of immature B cells
- Describe the typical cell counts you would expect to see in X-linked SCID.
Very low T cells
Very low NK cells
Normal or increased B cells
Low immunoglobulin
- Describe the pathophysiology of adenosine deaminase deficiency.
This is an enzyme required by lymphocytes for cell metabolism
ADA deficiency leads to failure of maturation along any lineage
- Describe the typical cell counts you would expect to see in ADA deficiency.
Very low T cells
Very low B cells
Very low NK cells
- Describe the clinical phenotype of SCID.
Unwell by 3 months age (once protection by maternal IgG dissipates)
Infections of all types
Failure to thrive
Persistent diarrhoea
Unusual skin disease (colonisation of infant’s empty bone marrow by maternal lymphocytes can cause a graft-versus-host disease-like condition)
Family history of early death
- What are the two mechanisms by which CD8+ T cells kill cells?
Perforin and granzyme
Fas ligand
- Which cellular insults are CD8+ T cells particularly important in protecting against?
Viral infections
Tumour
- In which group of syndromes does the thymus gland fail to develop properly?
22q11.2 deletion syndromes (e.g. Di George syndrome)
This is characterised by failure of development of the pharyngeal pouch
- What are the main clinical features of 22q11.2 deletion syndromes?
Facial abnormalities (high forehead, low set ears, cleft palate, small mouth and jaw)
Underdeveloped parathyroid gland (resulting in hypocalcaemia)
Oesophageal atresia
Underdeveloped thymus
Complex congenital heart disease
- What are the immunological consequences of an underdeveloped thymus gland?
Normal B cell count
Low T cell count
Homeostatic proliferation with age (T cell numbers increase with age)
Immune function is mildly impaired and tends to improve with age
- What condition is caused by a deficiency of MHC Class II? Briefly outline its pathophysiology.
Bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS) type 2
Deficiency of MHC Class II means that CD4+ T cells cannot be selected in the thymus leading to CD4+ T cell deficiency
- Which defect leads to Bare lymphocyte syndrome?
Defects in the regulatory proteins involved in expression of class II genes:
• Regulatory factor X
• Class II transactivator
- Describe the typical cell counts that you would expect to see in Bare Lymphocyte syndrome type 2.
Normal CD8+
Very low CD4+
Normal B cell count
Low IgG
- Outline the clinical phenotype of bare lymphocyte syndrome.
Unwell by 3 months of age
Infections of all types
Failure to thrive
Family history of early death
- What are the common clinical features of T lymphocyte deficiencies?
Viral infections (e.g. CMV)
Fungal infections (e.g. PCP)
Some bacterial infections (e.g. TB, salmonella)
Early malignancy
- List some investigations that may be used for suspected T cell deficiencies.
Total white cell count and differentials
Lymphocyte subsets
Immunoglobulins
Functional tests of T cell activation and proliferation
HIV test
- How are lymphocyte counts different in children compared to adults?
Higher in children compared to adults
- Describe the typical levels of CD4, CD8, B cells, IgM and IgG that you would expect to see in the following diseases:
a. SCID
b. Di George
c. BLS Type 2
a. SCID CD4 low CD8 low B cells normal/low IgM normal/low IgG low b. Di George CD4 low CD8 low B cells normal IgM normal IgG normal/low c. BLS Type 2 CD4 low CD8 normal B cells normal IgM normal IgG low
- Outline some management approaches for immunodeficiency involving T cells.
Aggressive prophylaxis/treatment of infection
Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Enzyme replacement therapy (e.g. PEG-ADA for ADA deficiency)
Gene therapy
Thymic transplantation (in Di George syndrome)
- Describe the stereotypical presentation in the following lymphocyte deficiencies.
a. X-linked SCID:
b. IFN-gamma receptor deficiency:
c. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome:
d. Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome Type 2:
a. X-linked SCID: severe recurrent infections from 3 months of age, CD4 and CD8 are absent, B cells present, Ig low, normal facial features and echocardiogram
b. IFN-gamma receptor deficiency: young adult with chronic infection with Mycobaterium marinum
c. 22q11.2 deletion syndrome: recurrent infections in childhood, abnormal facial features, congenital heart disease, normal B cells, low T cells, low IgA and IgG
d. Bare Lymphocyte Syndrome Type 2: 6-month old baby with two recent serious bacterial infections. T cell present but only CD8. IgM present but IgG is low
- What determines the class and effector function of immunoglobulin?
heavy chain
Constant region of the heavy chain