Two patients with complete defects in interferon gamma receptor-dependent signaling

J Clin Immunol. 2007 Sep;27(5):490-6. doi: 10.1007/s10875-007-9097-8. Epub 2007 May 21.

Abstract

Unusual susceptibility to mycobacterial infections can be caused by deleterious mutations in genes that encode the interferon-gamma receptor 1 chain. Such mutations hamper the activation of macrophages by a type 1 immune response and result in enhanced survival of intracellular pathogens. We here report two patients with unusual mycobacterial infections, both diagnosed with homozygous deleterious interferon-gamma receptor 1 gene mutations. Patient 1 became ill after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination at the age of 9 months and died at the age of 18 months. She carried a homozygous C71Y mutation in the extracellular part of the mature interferon-gamma receptor 1 protein, resulting in the lack of detectable protein expression and absence of interferon-gamma dependent signaling. Patient 2 became ill at the age of 3 years, is still alive at 19 years of age, and has suffered from five successive infection episodes with atypical mycobacteria. A homozygous splice-site mutation in intron 3 was identified, resulting in the deletion of exon 3 at the mRNA level and consequently a truncated interferon-gamma receptor 1 protein with absence of the transmembrane domain. Protein expression and interferon-gamma dependent signaling were not detectable.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / immunology*
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / metabolism
  • Infant
  • Interferon gamma Receptor
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections / genetics
  • Mycobacterium Infections / immunology
  • Point Mutation
  • RNA Splice Sites / genetics
  • Receptors, Interferon / deficiency*
  • Receptors, Interferon / genetics*
  • Receptors, Interferon / physiology
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Signal Transduction / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*

Substances

  • RNA Splice Sites
  • Receptors, Interferon