A case of WHIM syndrome associated with diabetes and hypothyroidism

Pediatr Diabetes. 2009 Nov;10(7):484-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-5448.2009.00503.x. Epub 2009 May 19.

Abstract

The WHIM syndrome is a rare immunological disorder characterized by warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, and myelokathexis. We hypothesized that immunological or genetic mechanisms may link WHIM syndrome and type 1 diabetes. We report that the young girl with WHIM syndrome developed diabetes and transient hypothyroidism. A nonsense mutation (C-->T) truncating the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) C-terminal cytoplasmic tail domain occurred at nucleotide position 1000(R334X) of the CXCR4 gene in one allele of the patient was identified, and the person was diagnosed as having WHIM syndrome. Recent observation suggested that the CXCR4, a G-protein-coupled receptor with a unique ligand, CXCL12, might be involved in the pathogenesis for type 1 diabetes. Taken into consideration the concurrent prevalence of the two disorders and the speculated common pathogenesis associated with the CXCR4, our patient may enable us to understand the genetic damage related to accelerated apoptosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemokine CXCL12 / genetics*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Codon, Nonsense
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / complications*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications*
  • Hypothyroidism / drug therapy
  • Hypothyroidism / immunology
  • Immune System Diseases / complications
  • Immune System Diseases / genetics*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Polyuria / etiology
  • Receptors, CXCR4 / genetics*
  • Syndrome
  • Thyroid Hormones / blood
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • CXCL12 protein, human
  • CXCR4 protein, human
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Codon, Nonsense
  • Receptors, CXCR4
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Thyroxine