Allogeneic transplantation successfully corrects immune defects, but not susceptibility to colitis, in a patient with nuclear factor-kappaB essential modulator deficiency.
BACKGROUND
Boys with X-linked ectodermal dysplasia and immunodeficiency caused by mutations of nuclear factor-kappaB essential modulator have defects in innate and adaptive immunity, and some have colitis.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine whether curing the immune defect in such patients by means of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation abolishes the susceptibility to colitis.


METHODS
A boy with X-linked hypohydrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency underwent allogeneic transplantation from a matched unaffected sibling identified by means of preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Toll-like receptor (TLR) function was assessed by measuring TLR agonist-induced cytokine production in whole blood tested in vitro. B-cell proliferation was measured by means of tritiated thymidine incorporation. Natural killer cell function was examined in PBMCs by means of K562 target cell lysis. Colitis severity was assessed clinically based on corticosteroid requirement and histology of large intestinal biopsy specimens.


RESULTS
Defects in cytokine production in response to TLR agonists, CD40-mediated proliferation, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity were all corrected after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Despite successful hematopoietic and immune reconstitution, the patient continued to have flares of colitis, often associated with bacterial infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings strongly suggest that nuclear factor-kappaB essential modulator deficiency intrinsic to the intestinal epithelium is sufficient to predispose to colitis, despite robust correction of immune defects.
Division of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, USA. sung-yun.pai@childrens.harvard.edu
Sung-Yun
SY
Pai
Ofer
O
Levy
Haifa H
HH
Jabara
Jonathan N
JN
Glickman
Liat
L
Stoler-Barak
Jessica
J
Sachs
Samuel
S
Nurko
Jordan S
JS
Orange
Raif S
RS
Geha
D000293:Adolescent; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003092:Colitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004476:Ectodermal Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D040181:Genetic Diseases, X-Linked / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase / Q000235:genetics*; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D020014:K562 Cells; D008297:Male; D035781:Siblings; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000819:agonists / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
C491731:IKBKG protein, human; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D051550:I-kappa B Kinase