Severe combined immunodeficiency due to defective binding of the nuclear factor of activated T cells in T lymphocytes of two male siblings.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and alloreactive T cell lines of two male infants born to consanguinous parents and presenting with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) showed a pronounced deficiency in T cell activation. Although phenotypically normal, the proliferative response of the childrens' T cells was strongly reduced but could be improved by the addition of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Furthermore both childrens' T cells were unable to produce the cytokines IL-2, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). This multiple cytokine production deficiency could not be restored by IL-2 or co-stimulatory signals provided by antigen-presenting cells (APC). Moreover, mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-gamma could not be detected. In contrast, expression of the activation-dependent cell surface markers CD25 and CD69 was within normal limits. To determine whether the functional defect of the patients' T cells was due to the absence or abnormal binding of transcription factors involved in cytokine gene expression, electrophoretic mobility shift assays were used to examine the DNA binding of AP-1, Oct, CREB, SP1, NF-kappa B and the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) to their respective response elements in the promoter of the IL-2 gene. Whereas AP-1, NF-kappa B, Oct, CREB and SP1 displayed normal binding activities in nuclear extracts, the binding of NF-AT to its IL-2 promoter response element was barely detectable both before and after T cell stimulation. Our results strongly suggest that this NF-AT/DNA binding defect is responsible for the multiple cytokine deficiency and the SCID phenotype observed in the two infant brothers.
Feske
S
S
Department of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg, Germany.
Müller
J M
JM
Graf
D
D
Kroczek
R A
RA
Dräger
R
R
Niemeyer
C
C
Baeuerle
P A
PA
Peter
H H
HH
Schlesier
M
M
D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D016511:Severe Combined Immunodeficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004247:DNA