A genotype-phenotype correlation study in a group of 54 patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia.
BACKGROUND
X-linked (Bruton's) agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a rare immunodeficiency caused by a block in B-cell development caused by mutations in the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene. Many aspects of XLA and BTK function remain unresolved; atypical presentations have been reported, and no clear genotype-phenotype correlation has been established.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to contribute to the understanding of XLA through the phenotypic and biochemical characterization of a large group of Spanish patients with agammaglobulinemia. We also sought to classify the mutations according to their severity to analyze a genotype-phenotype correlation.


METHODS
Clinical and analytic data were collected from the clinical records. We studied the BTK gene, protein expression, and function, and the findings were correlated with the phenotypic information.


RESULTS
Fifty-four patients were given diagnoses of XLA. We identified 38 different mutations in BTK, 26 not described in other patients, and several uncommon clinical phenotypes or analytic characteristics were found. The statistical analysis shows that less severe mutations or minimal detection of protein by means of flow cytometry are associated with decreased severity in clinical and analytic data, demonstrating a clear relation between the type of mutation and the disease expressivity. However, some exemptions to this rule were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
XLA is a variable disease. Globally, a genotype-phenotype correlation is observed, but individual discrepancies between the severity of the mutation and the clinical and analytic phenotype suggest that other loci or ambient factors significantly influence the disease presentation and evolution.
López-Granados
Eduardo
E
Department of Clinical Immunology, Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK. eduardo.lopez@clinical-medicine.oxford.ac.uk
Pérez de Diego
Rebeca
R
Ferreira Cerdán
Antonio
A
Fontán Casariego
Gumersindo
G
García Rodríguez
Maria Cruz
MC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; D000361:Agammaglobulinemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics
D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000077329:Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; C000625949:BTK protein, human