EXPERIENCE AND REASON |
a Unité d'Immunologie et d'Hématologie Pédiatriques
d Centre d'études des Déficits Immunitaires
e Service de Dermatologie
h Développement Normal et Pathologique du Système Immunitaire, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U429, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
b Service de Génétique, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Hôpital de l'Hotel Dieu, Lyon, France
c Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
f Laboratoire de Génétique Humaine des Maladies Infectieuses, Université René Descartes-Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U550, Faculté de Médecine Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France
g Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| ABSTRACT |
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B essential modulator (NEMO)/I
B kinase complex and a hypermorphic mutation in inhibitor
of nuclear factor
B (I
B
) both result in impaired nuclear factor
B activation and are associated with X-recessive and autosomal-dominant forms of anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency, respectively. Autosomal-dominant anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency is also associated with a severe T-cell phenotype. It is not known whether hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can cure immune deficiency in children with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency. A boy with autosomal-dominant anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency and a severe T-cell immunodeficiency underwent transplantation at 1 year of age with haploidentical T-celldepleted bone marrow after myeloablative conditioning. Engraftment occurred, with full hematopoietic chimerism. Seven years after transplantation, clinical outcome is favorable, with normal T-cell development. As expected, the developmental features of the anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia syndrome have appeared and persisted. This is the first report of successful hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a child with anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is well tolerated and efficiently cures the profound immunodeficiency associated with autosomal-dominant anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency.
Key Words: anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia hematopoietic stem cell transplantation NF-
B primary immunodeficiency
Abbreviations: EDA, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia EDA-ID, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency NF-
B, nuclear factor
B NEMO, nuclear factor
B essential modulator OL-EDA-ID, osteopetrosis, lymphedema, anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, and immunodeficiency XR, X-recessive AD, autosomal dominant HSCT, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation I
B
, inhibitor
of NF-
B IgG, immunoglobulin G GVHD, graft-versus-host disease BMT, bone marrow transplant TNF-
, tumor necrosis factor
IL, interleukin TLR, Toll-like receptor
Anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (EDA) is a rare syndrome that is characterized by the aberrant development of skin appendages, including hair (hypotrichosis or atrichosis), teeth (hypodontia or anodontia, with conical incisors), and eccrine sweat glands (hypohidrosis or anhidrosis), resulting in characteristic facial features and heat intolerance.1 Some children with EDA also experience severe infections that are caused by a variety of microorganisms.216 The term EDA with immunodeficiency (EDA-ID) was coined by Abinun7,8 to describe the latter group of patients, after identification of an impaired antibody response to polysaccharides in 1 of them. After the identification of amorphic mutations in the X-linked NEMO gene, encoding nuclear factor
B (NF-
B) essential modulator (NEMO)/I
B kinase complex, an essential component of the NF-
B signaling pathway, in male fetuses who died in utero of the X-dominant syndrome of incontinentia pigmenti,15,17 2 boys with EDA-ID, osteopetrosis, and lymphedema (OL-EDA-ID) were found to carry a hypomorphic mutation in NEMO.13,1517 Both patients with OL-EDA-ID were hemizygous for the same mutation of the stop codon (X420W).
Patients with X-recessive EDA-ID (XR-EDA-ID) without osteopetrosis and lymphedema have been shown to bear various hypomorphic mutations in the coding region of NEMO.9,1214,1820 The spectrum of disorders that are associated with mutations in NEMO expands beyond "classical" EDA-ID, to patients with an immunodeficiency and conical teeth,21 and even a pure immunodeficiency.22,23 We also recently reported a child with an autosomal dominant form of EDA-ID (AD-EDA-ID), heterozygous for a hypermorphic mutation in IKBA, which encodes the inhibitor
of NF-
B (I
B
). This mutation prevents I
B
phosphorylation and its subsequent degradation, enhancing the inhibitory capacity of I
B
and impairing NF-
B activation.24 The same mutation was documented recently in another, unrelated patient with AD-EDA-ID.25 In patients with XL-EDA-ID or AD-EDA-ID, the clinical features of EDA result from impaired signaling via the EDA receptor, as shown by the similar developmental phenotype of children with mutations in EDA receptor or its ligand ectodysplasin.26
The infections that are associated with XL-EDA-ID vary from patient to patient, but the overall prognosis is poor. Approximately half of the patients reported have died of overwhelming infection in childhood.3,5,716,18,20,27 The pathogens involved mostly were pyogenic bacteria, notably Streptococcus pneumoniae, and poorly virulent mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium avium. In routine immunologic workup, impaired antibody response to polysaccharides is the phenotype that most consistently is observed in patients.8,13 The multiplicity and the severity of infections in these patients reflect the large number of receptors, including members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor, interleukin (IL)-1R, and Toll-like receptor (TLR) superfamilies, which are known to signal via NF-
B.22,28,29 The clinical features of AD-EDA-ID are even more severe, consistent with the broader and more severe immunologic abnormalities detected, with a lack of memory T cells in vivo and an impaired T-cell response to CD3 and antigens in vitro.24 It is interesting that a child with a mutation in NEMO was reported recently to have a distinct but related T-cell phenotype,19 indicating that both AD-EDA-ID and XR-EDA-ID may be associated with profound T-cell deficiency.
The severity of the prognosis of children with EDA-ID raises the question as to whether hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) would be beneficial in these patients. The activation of NF-
B in leukocytes during protective immunity suggests that this may be the case.30 However, the NEMO and IKBA genes are ubiquitously expressed, and NF-
B activation controls a number of fundamental biological processes.31,32 HSCT in patients with EDA-ID therefore raises several concerns. First, known (EDA, OL) and currently unknown developmental phenotypes that may appear later in life are unlikely to be caused by impaired NF-
B activation in hematopoietic cells. Second, vulnerability to infections may result from the impairment of NF-
B activation in cells that are derived from both the hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic lineages. Third, myeloablative conditioning regimens may be particularly toxic in these patients, as suggested by the death of our patient with XR-OL-EDA-ID from veno-occlusive disease shortly after HSCT.16 We describe here the clinical features of a boy with life-threatening AD-EDA-ID and his favorable outcome 7 years after HSCT.
| CASE REPORT |
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T cells were detected, and all of the
/ß T cells had the naive CD45RA phenotype, with no CD45RO memory T cells detected. These findings are consistent with a complete lack of proliferation in response to CD3-specific antibodies and the recovery of proliferation after the addition of recombinant IL-2- or CD28-specific antibody. Conversely, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus ionomycin induced a normal proliferative response, with a normal expression of activation markers HLA-DR, CD40L, and CD25. The T-cell receptor repertoire of the CD4 and CD8 subsets, as analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, was normal. NK cells were present (CD3, CD16+, and CD56+ lymphocytes), and NK activity was normal. The whole-blood response to lipopolysaccharide, IL-1ß, and TNF-
was impaired, in terms of IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-10 secretion, respectively, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. As reported by Courtois et al,24 the presence of a hypermorphic heterozygous mutation of I
B
has impaired the phosphorylation of I
B
by IKK. The patient underwent HSCT at the age of 12 months because of his poor clinical condition and the severity of his immunologic abnormalities. The bone marrow donor was his haploidentical mother (HLA A 32/11, B 35/35, and DRB1 15/11 for the mother and HLA A 32/11, B 35/61, and DRB1 15/15 for the patient). The conditioning regimen consisted of 5 mg/kg per day busulfan, from day 10 (with the day of HSCT taken as day 0) to day 7 (20 mg/kg total dose), and 50 mg/kg per day cyclophosphamide from day 5 to day 2 (200 mg/kg total dose). The patient's bone marrow was depleted of T cells by means of CD34+ stem cell enrichment (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladback, Germany). The patients received 7.5 x 106 CD34+ cells per kg and 3.5 x 105 CD3+ cells per kg. He also received an infusion of anti-CD2 (BE-2, mouse IgG2b; Diaclone, Besançon, France; 0.2 mg/kg per day from day 2 to day 10) antileukocyte function antigen-1 (25.3, mouse IgG1; Pasteur Mérieux, Paris, France; 0.2 mg/kg per day from day 3 to day 9) antibodies to prevent graft failure and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).33 There was no additional GVH prophylaxis. Infections were prevented by hospitalization in a sterile isolator, oral nonabsorbable antibiotics, and intravenous acyclovir treatment (1600 mg/m2 per day) starting 11 days before transplantation until day 60 and weekly treatment with intravenously administered immunoglobulins (400 mg/kg) for 6 months. The blood products that were used tested negative for cytomegalovirus and were irradiated.
Seven days after transplantation, the patient developed seizures that required 2 days of intensive care and phenobarbital treatment. MRI scans were normal. CSF contained large numbers of white blood cells (92/mm3) and a high concentration of interferon
(75 IU/mL), consistent with a viral disease. However, bacteriologic and virologic CSF cultures were negative. Two months after HSCT, the patient developed progressive interstitial pneumonia while hospitalized in the sterile isolator. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed, and a Pneumocystis jiroveci infection was identified. This infection resolved favorably after intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment. Persistent diarrhea was observed before HSCT and continued for 3 months after HSCT, improving thereafter. Gastric, duodenal, and colonic biopsy results then were normal (data not shown). Total parenteral nutrition was continued for 5 months after HSCT and then was stopped definitively. The patient did not develop GVHD.
The patient reached an absolute blood neutrophil count of 500/mm3 on day 25 and a CD3+ lymphocyte count of 350/mm3 on day 102 and of 870/mm3 on day 110, with a CD4+ lymphocyte count of 307/mm3. T cells from the patient proliferated in vitro after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin on day 110 and after stimulation with tetanus toxoid, poliovirus after immunization, and candidin on day 210. CD4 CD45 RO memory T cells were present on day 145. Chimerism was assessed 3 months and 3, 5, and 7 years after gender-mismatched bone marrow transplant (BMT), by fluorescence in situ hybridization. We observed 100% heterologous chimerism in T cells, B cells, and monocytes.
One year after BMT, at the age of 2 years, the patient displayed better growth and normal nutrition. During the next 6 years of follow-up, the patient's growth gradually improved in weight (1 SD) and height (1 SD). Distinctive mild facial dysmorphy became evident by the age of 4 years: frontal bossing; saddle nose; and fine, lightly pigmented, sparse hair. These facial features were not specific, but their association with conical milk teeth and dry skin suggested a diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasia. Orthopanoramic radiograph showed severe hypodontia, with the absence of 5 permanent teeth (15, 25, 35, 44, and 45; Fig 1). Clinical lymphedema was not observed, and skeletal radiograph was normal, with no evidence of osteopetrosis.
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Serum IgG levels remained normal 6 months after the last immunoglobulin infusion (Tables 1 and 2). Moreover, the patient's specific antibody response to both protein (tetanus toxoid, poliovirus) and polysaccharide (Haemophilus influenzae b) antigens was normal but low for S pneumoniae antigens (Tables 1 and 2). There were no detectable antibodies to varicella zoster virus, however, and the percentage of memory (CD27) B cells was low (2%). Immune reconstitution otherwise was excellent, with a lymphocyte count of 12730/mm3, normal lymphocyte distribution (73% CD3+ T cells, 39% CD4+ T cells, 27% CD8+ T cells) and the presence of memory T cells, as shown by assessment of CD45RO expression. T-cell proliferation in response to CD3-specific antibody and to the tetanus toxoid and poliovirus recall antigens was normal (Tables 1 and 2). The patient's whole blood also responded normally to lipopolysaccharide, IL-1ß, and TNF-
, in terms of IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 secretion, respectively (data not shown). However, lymphocytosis (median: 11580/mm3; mean: 12402; range: 6280-18140) persisted. The last assessment of chimerism, 7 years after BMT, was based on the analysis of fluorescence in situ hybridization and showed 100% heterologous chimerism in T cells, B cells, and monocytes. Immunoglobulin substitution nevertheless was reinstituted on clinical and immunologic grounds.
| DISCUSSION |
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, which bind to TLR-4, IL-1R, and TNF-
receptors, respectively, was shown to be normal in terms of IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 production, respectively. This immunologic phenotype, like the chimerism, remained stable during the 7 years after transplantation. The child therefore grew and developed normally. These data clearly indicate that the most severe immunologic abnormalities that are associated with AD-EDA-ID can be controlled by HSCT, suggesting that the extrahematopoietic activation of NF-
B is not required for the development of mature T cells and responses to most agonists of the TLR, IL-1R, and TNF receptor superfamilies. Our patient with AD-EDA-ID underwent HSCT before we knew that he was carrying a mutation in IKBA, as it is difficult to detect signs of EDA in young children. HSCT clearly did not prevent known EDA developmental abnormalities. Unlike these developmental defects, the clinical consequences of the immunodeficiency that are observed in AD-EDA-ID can be cured by HSCT.
The patient did not present GVHD and experienced no life-threatening infections in the 7 years after transplantation. He has experienced recurrent planar warts in the past 2 years, however, as reported in a few other NEMO-deficient patients.34 Recurrent bacterial infections of the respiratory tract were not correlated with any major abnormality in antibody response but required continuous immunoglobulin substitution. Similarly, the 2 episodes of zoster infections were not correlated with any detectable T-cell phenotype. These relatively benign infections may reflect imperfect immune reconstitution after haploidentical HSCT. Furthermore, as for severe combined immunodeficient patients, response to pneumococcal polysaccharide was low.35 Alternatively, impaired NF-
B signaling in nonhematopoietic cells may have had an undetectable effect on hematopoietic immune responses, accounting for these infections. Impaired NF-
B signaling in nonhematopoietic cells also may have impaired host defenses directly. For example, the persistent alteration of the NF-
B pathway in keratinocytes may have been responsible for the patient's warts.29,36 This situation is reminiscent of the recurrent papilloma virus infections that are observed in certain severe combined immunodeficient patients after transplantation, possibly as a result of a deficiency of
c-dependent molecule expression in keratinocytes.37
Finally, the conditioning regimen was well tolerated by our patient. Another patient who had XR-OL-EDA-ID and severe immunodeficiency and underwent HSCT16 died of veno-occlusive disease 11 days after transplantation, as a result of the toxicity of the conditioning regimen, perhaps, at least in part, because of an increase in apoptosis, as observed in male patients with incontinentia pigmenti and male NEMO knockout mice, which die in utero.3841 However, this child with a NEMO mutation was in very poor clinical condition at the time of transplantation, and the patient herein reported did not experience any major conditioning toxicity. Therefore, despite the minor complications that were observed and unknown long-term outcome, our positive experience is consistent with the indication of HSCT in patients with AD-EDA-ID associated with mutations in IKBA. Seven years of follow-up in a child with a good quality of life is encouraging. HSCT should be considered the optimal treatment not only for AD-EDA-ID but also possibly for selected cases of XR-EDA-ID with a severe immunodeficiency. Subtle biochemical differences between patients with NEMO and I
B
deficiencies may render HSCT in patients with NEMO more difficult. Pilot studies therefore should be conducted to determine whether patients with severe mutations in NEMO can be treated by HSCT. Potentially life-saving HSCT should be offered to patients with NEMO and IKBA mutations and severe immunodeficiency.
| ACKNOWLEDGMENTS |
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| FOOTNOTES |
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Address correspondence to Jean-Laurent Casanova, MD, PhD, Laboratoire de Génétique Humaine des Maladies Infectieuses, Université René Descartes-INSERM U550, Faculté de Médecine Necker-Enfants Malades, 75015 Paris, France. E-mail: casanova{at}necker.fr
The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
Dr Le Deist's current address is Département de Microbiologie et d'Immunologie, Hôpital Sainte Justine, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1C5.
Drs Dupuis-Girod and Cancrini contributed equally to this study.
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