Pleiotropic defects in lymphocyte activation caused by caspase-8 mutations lead to human immunodeficiency.
Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death that is controlled by aspartate-specific cysteine proteases called caspases. In the immune system, apoptosis counters the proliferation of lymphocytes to achieve a homeostatic balance, which allows potent responses to pathogens but avoids autoimmunity. The CD95 (Fas, Apo-1) receptor triggers lymphocyte apoptosis by recruiting Fas-associated death domain (FADD), caspase-8 and caspase-10 proteins into a death-inducing signalling complex. Heterozygous mutations in CD95, CD95 ligand or caspase-10 underlie most cases of autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), a human disorder that is characterized by defective lymphocyte apoptosis, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly and autoimmunity. Mutations in caspase-8 have not been described in ALPS, and homozygous caspase-8 deficiency causes embryonic lethality in mice. Here we describe a human kindred with an inherited genetic deficiency of caspase-8. Homozygous individuals manifest defective lymphocyte apoptosis and homeostasis but, unlike individuals affected with ALPS, also have defects in their activation of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and natural killer cells, which leads to immunodeficiency. Thus, caspase-8 deficiency in humans is compatible with normal development and shows that caspase-8 has a postnatal role in immune activation of naive lymphocytes.
D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018106:CD28 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases / Q000235:genetics*; D002455:Cell Division; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D018106:CD28 Antigens; D017252:CD3 Complex; D016207:Cytokines; C505530:CASP8 protein, human; C506433:CASP9 protein, human; D053181:Caspase 8; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D002118:Calcium