X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency

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X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency
Other namesX-SCID
X-linked recessive is the inheritance pattern of this disorder
SpecialtyHematology Edit this on Wikidata

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (X-SCID) is an

NK cells
.

In the absence of

interleukin receptor common gamma chain protein, which is a cytokine receptor sub-unit that is part of the receptors for IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21.[2][3]

Symptoms and signs

People with X-SCID often have infections very early in life, before three months of age. This occurs due to the decreased amount of

In some patients symptoms may not appear for the first six months after birth.[6] This is likely due to passive immunity received from the mother in order to protect the baby from infections until the newborn is able to make their own antibodies.[6] As a result, there can be a silent period where the baby displays no symptoms of X-SCID followed by the development of frequent infections.[citation needed]

Genetics

X-SCID is caused by a mutation occurring in the xq13.1 locus of the X-chromosome.

heterozygous) for the disorder. Because females have two X-chromosomes, the mother will not be affected by carrying only one abnormal X-chromosome, but any male children will have a 50% chance of being affected with the disorder by inheriting the faulty gene. Likewise, her female children will have a 50% chance of being carriers for the immunodeficiency. X-SCID can also arise through de novo mutations and can be prevented in females by X-inactivation. In X-inactivation the preferential selection of the non-mutant X chromosome during development results in the outcome that none of the mature female cells actively express the X-SCID mutation, they are immunologically unaffected and have no carrier burden. A de novo mutation is an alteration in a gene caused by the result of a mutation in a germ cell (egg or sperm) or in the fertilized egg itself, rather than having been inherited from a carrier. Since only 1/3 of all X-SCID patients have a positive family history of SCID, it is hypothesized that de novo mutations account for a significant percentage of cases.[8] X-inactivation occurs in a completely random manner, in females, very early in embryonic development. Once an X is inactivated, it remains inactivated throughout the life of that cell and any of its daughter cells. It is important to note that X-inactivation is reversed in female germline cells, so that all new oocytes receive an active X. Regardless of which X is inactivated in her somatic cells, a female will have a 50% chance of passing on the disease to any male children.[9]

Pathophysiology

glial cells, and cells of the monocyte lineage, depending on the cell type and receptor activated.[11] The most important receptors for X-SCID are those for Interleukin 2, Interleukin 4, Interleukin 7, and Interleukin 15. Specifically, Interleukin 2 and Interleukin 7 are responsible for T-cell proliferation and survival.[12] Likewise, the action of Interleukin 4 and Interleukin 15 will lead to proliferation and differentiation of B-cells into antibody secreting plasma cells.[12] Lastly, Interleukin 15 helps generate developed and matured natural killer cells.[5]

The gene that encodes the common gamma chain in these interleukin receptors is mutated in X-SCID. The mutation leads to an absent or abnormally functioning common gamma chain. The mutation can occur through large, or even single nucleotide, deletions in the IL2RG gene, that disable the common gamma chain so that it is unable to bind with other receptor subunits and signal cytokine activation.[11] Normally, when the interleukin binds to the trimeric receptor protein containing the alpha, beta, and gamma subunits, the common gamma subunit activates Janus Kinase 3 (JAK3), which leads to the phosphorylation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 5, STAT5. The STAT5 proteins dimerize and translocate to the nucleus, controlling subsequent downstream signalling.[1] Due to the fact that the common gamma chain is absent or abnormal, this downstream pathway is inhibited. This change prevents the T-lymphocytes from signaling other cells, like B-lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Because these cells never receive these signals, they can never mature and differentiate into full grown immune cells.[citation needed]

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of X-SCID is possible through lymphocyte cell counts, lymphocyte function tests, and

natural killer cells.[9]

Cell type Normal lymphocyte count average (range) X-SCID count average (range) Refs
T-cells 3,680 (2,500–5,500) 200 (0-800) [9]
B-cells 730 (300–2,000) 1,300 (44 - >3,000)
NK cells 420 (170–1,100) <100
Total 0–3 months: 5,400 (3,400–7,300) <2,000

Individuals with X-SCID often have decreased lymphocyte function. This can be tested through the introduction of agents to the immune system; the reaction of the lymphocytes is then observed. In X-SCID,

immunoglobulins, substances that aid in fighting off infections, are very low.[citation needed
]

The absence of a

thymic shadow on chest X-rays is also indicative of X-SCID.[9] In a normal child, a distinctive sailboat shaped shadow near the heart can be seen.[6] The thymus gland in normal patients will gradually decrease in size because the need for the thymus gland diminishes. The decrease in the size of the thymus gland occurs because the body already has a sufficient number of developed T-cells.[13] However, a patient with X-SCID will be born with an abnormally small thymus gland at birth.[9]
This indicates that the function of thymus gland, of forming developed T-cells, has been impaired.

Since the mutation in X-SCID is X-linked, there are

IL2RG
mutations. Finally, if none of those options are available, there is an unusual pattern of nonrandom X-chromosome inactivation on lymphocytes in carriers, thus looking for such inactivation would prove useful.

If a mother is pregnant and the family has a known history of immunodeficiency, then doctors may perform diagnostic assessment in-utero. Chorionic Villus Sampling, which involves sampling of the placental tissue using a catheter inserted through the cervix, can be performed 8 to 10 weeks into gestation.[14] Alternatively, Amniocentesis, which entails extracting a sample of the fluid which surrounds the fetus, can be performed 15 to 20 weeks into gestation.[14]

Early detection of X-SCID (and other types of SCID) is also made possible through detection of T-cell recombination excision circles, or TRECs. TRECs are composed of excised DNA fragments which are generated during normal splicing of T-cell surface antigen receptors and T-cell maturation.

Quantitative PCR is then performed and the number of TRECs determined.[17] Individuals who have the SCID phenotype will have TREC counts as low as <30, compared to approximately 1020 for a healthy infant.[18] A low TREC count indicates that there is insufficient development of T-cells in the thymus gland.[19] This technique can predict SCID even when lymphocyte counts are within the normal range. Newborn screening of X-SCID based on TREC count in dried blood samples has recently been introduced in several states in the United States including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin.[20] In addition, pilot trials are being performed in several other states beginning in 2013.[21]

Treatments

Treatment for X-linked SCID can be divided into two main groups, the prophylactic treatment (i.e. preventative) and curative treatment.[22] The former attempts to manage the opportunistic infections common to SCID patients[22] and the latter aims at reconstituting healthy T-lymphocyte function.[23]

From the late 60s to early 70s, physicians began using "bubbles", which were plastic enclosures used to house newborns suspected to have SCIDS, immediately after birth.

Antibodies, Y-shaped proteins created by plasma cells, recognize and neutralize any pathogens in the body.[28] However, the IVIG is expensive, in terms of time and finance.[29] Therefore, the aforementioned treatments only prevent the infections, and are by no means a cure for X-linked SCID.[23]

Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a standard curative procedure and results in a full immune reconstitution, if the treatment is successful.

hematopoietic stem cells[30] which become common lymphoid or common myeloid progenitors.[37] In particular, the common lymphoid progenitor gives rise to the lymphocytes involved in the immune response (B-cell, T-cell, natural killer cell).[37] Therefore, a BMT will result in a full immune reconstitution but there are aspects of BMT that need to be improved (i.e. GvHD).[38]

Gene therapy is another treatment option which is available only for clinical trials.[34] X-linked SCID is a monogenic disorder, the IL2RG gene is mutated, so gene therapy will replace this mutated gene with a normal one.[39] This will result in a normal functioning gamma chain protein of the interleukin receptor.[35] In order to transfer a functional gene into the target cell, viral or non-viral vectors can be employed.[35] Viral vectors, such as the retrovirus, that incorporate the gene into the genome result in long-term effects.[34] This, coupled with the bone marrow stem cells, has been successful in treating individuals with X-SCID.[40] In one particular trial by Cavazzana-Calvo et al., ten children were treated with gene therapy at infancy for X-SCID.[41] Nine of the ten were cured of X-SCID.[41] However, about three years after treatment, two of the children developed T-cell leukemia due to insertion of the IL2RG gene near the LMO2 gene and thereby activating the LMO2 gene (a known oncogene).[42] A third child developed leukemia within two years of that study being published, likely as a direct result of the therapy.[43] This condition is known as insertional mutagenesis, where the random insertion of a gene interferes with the tumor suppressor gene or stimulates an oncogene.[34] There is currently no approved gene therapy on the market, but there are many clinical trials into which X-SCID patients may enroll. Therefore, research in the field of gene therapy today and in the future is needed to avoid the occurrence of leukemia.[35] In particular, research into the use of insulator and suicide genes is warranted as this may prevent cancer from developing.[34] The insulator gene inhibits the activation of adjacent genes. On the other hand, the suicide gene is stimulated when a tumour begins to form, and this will result in the deactivation of the therapeutic gene.[34] Moreover, the use of restriction enzymes such as the zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) is being studied.[34] The ZFN allows the researcher to choose the site of gene integration.[34] Vector safety is important in the field of gene therapy, hence vectors that self-inactivate the promoter and enhancer (SIN) and adenoviruses that creates no immune response are prominent areas of research for vector biologists.[34]

Prognosis

X-linked SCID is a known pediatric emergency which primarily affects males.[31] If the appropriate treatment such as intravenous immunoglobulin supplements, medications for treating infections or a bone marrow transplant is not administered, then the prognosis is poor.[17] The patients with X-linked SCID usually die two years after they are born.[38] For this reason, the diagnosis of X-linked SCID needs to be done early to prevent any pathogens from infecting the infant.

However, the patients have a higher chance of survival if the diagnosis of X-linked SCID is done as soon as the baby is born.[17] This involves taking preventative measures to avoid any infections that can cause death. For example, David Vetter had a high chance of having X-linked SCID because his elder sibling had died due to SCID.[44] This allowed the doctors to place David in the bubble and prevented infections.[44] In addition, if X-linked SCID is known to affect a child, then live vaccines should not be administered and this can save the infant's life. Live attenuated vaccines, which consist of weakened pathogens inserted into the body to create an immune response, can lead to death in infants with X-linked SCID.[45] Moreover, with proper treatments, such as a bone marrow transplant, the prognosis is good. The bone marrow transplant has been successful in treating several patients and resulted in a full immune reconstitution and the patient can live a healthy life.[46] The results of bone marrow transplant are most successful when the closest human leukocyte antigen match has been found.[47] If a close match is not found, however, there is a chance of graft-versus-host-disease which means the donor bone marrow attacks the patient's body.[35] Hence, a close match is required to prevent any complications.

Epidemiology

There is no information on birth ratios/rates, but "X-Linked SCID is the most common form of SCID and it has been estimated to account for 46% to 70% of all SCID cases."[48]

See also

Notes and references

References

External links