title: An inframe perforin gene deletion in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is associated with perforin expression.
abstract: Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is an autosomal recessive disease of early childhood manifested by hypercytokinemia and organ infiltration of macrophages and activated lymphocytes, and it is characterized by a fulminant clinical course. The molecular mechanism underlying this disease appears to be a deregulation of apoptosis of activated T cells and macrophages. Approximately 20-40% of patients with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis reported worldwide had a perforin gene mutation. We report herein a novel perforin variant in the homozygous state in an Omani boy who was diagnosed 44 days after birth. Sequence analysis of the perforin gene coding region revealed a 12-base pair deletion (codon 284-287) resulting in the deletion of four amino acids in the membrane attack complex domain of the protein. This deletion maintains the reading frame of the perforin mRNA. Both parents were heterozygotes for this molecular defect. Flow-cytometric analysis revealed intracellular perforin expression at the lower end of the normal range in the cytotoxic T cells (CD3+/CD8+) and (CD3+/CD56+) and in around 50% of the natural killer cells (CD3-/CD56+). This is an additional example of a perforin variant which is associated with a significant level of cellular perforin expression and thus confirms that drastic reduction in its expression is not a constant feature in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, Hematology, and Biochemistry, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Al-Khoud, Oman.
authors.forename: Shanmugakonar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muralitharan
authors.forename: Zakia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Al Lamki
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Brian Sidney
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: Yasser A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Wali
authors.forename: Mathew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zachariah
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romana
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bayoumi
authors.forename: Rajagopal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnamoorthy
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001483:Base Sequence; D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017353:Gene Deletion; D014644:Genetic Variation; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010375:Pedigree; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D016364:Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015938:Complement Membrane Attack Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D054353:Perforin; D004247:DNA