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Topic: Immune System

Title: Defects in lymphocyte telomere homeostasis contribute to cellular immune phenotype in patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia Published: October 1, 2017 Publication: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Authors: Aubert G, Strauss KA, Lansdorp PM, Rider NL

Abstract:
Mutations in the long noncoding RNA RNase component of the mitochondrial RNA processing endoribonuclease (RMRP) give rise to the autosomal recessive condition cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH). The CHH disease phenotype has some overlap with dyskeratosis congenita, a well-known "telomere disorder." RMRP binds the telomerase reverse transcriptase (catalytic subunit) in some cell lines, raising the possibility that RMRP might play a role in telomere biology.
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Title: Reduced thymic output, cell cycle abnormalities, and increased apoptosis of T lymphocytes in patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia Published: July 1, 2011 Publication: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

Authors: de la Fuente MA, Recher M, Rider NL, Strauss KA, Morton DH, Adair M, Bonilla FA, Ochs HD, Gelfand EW, Pessach IM, Walter JE, King A, Giliani S, Pai SY, Notarangelo LD

Abstract:
Cartilage-hair hypoplasia (CHH) is characterized by metaphyseal dysplasia, bone marrow failure, increased risk of malignancies, and a variable degree of immunodeficiency. CHH is caused by mutations in the RNA component of the mitochondrial RNA processing (RMRP) endoribonuclease gene, which is involved in ribosomal assembly, telomere function, and cell cycle control.
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Title: Human ITCH E3 ubiquitin ligase deficiency causes syndromic multisystem autoimmune disease Published: March 12, 2010 Publication: The American Journal of Human Genetics

Authors: Lohr NJ, Molleston JP, Strauss KA, Torres-Martinez W, Sherman EA, Squires RH, Rider NL, Chikwava KR, Cummings OW, Morton DH, Puffenberger EG

Abstract:
Ubiquitin ligases play an important role in the regulation of the immune system. Absence of Itch E3 ubiquitin ligase in mice has been shown to cause severe autoimmune disease. Using autozygosity mapping in a large Amish kindred, we identified a linkage region on chromosome 20 and selected candidate genes for screening. We describe, in ten patients, identification of a mutation resulting in truncation of ITCH. These patients represent the first reported human phenotype associated with ITCH deficiency. These patients not only have multisystem autoimmune disease but also display morphologic and developmental abnormalities. This disorder underscores the importance of ITCH ubiquitin ligase in many cellular processes.
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Title: Immunologic and clinical features of 25 Amish patients with RMRP 70 A–>G cartilage hair hypoplasia Published: April 1, 2009 Publication: Clinical Immunology

Authors: Rider NL, Morton DH, Puffenberger E, Hendrickson CL, Robinson DL, Strauss KA

Abstract:
Cartilage-hair hypoplasia is a short limbed skeletal dysplasia associated with impairments in host-defense. To better understand the clinical heterogeneity of this disorder, we studied 25 Amish patients with homozygous mutations in RMRP (RMRP 70 A>G). Despite mutation homogeneity, eight (32%) patients had severe or recurrent infections, two (8%) of these children underwent bone-marrow transplantation for combined immunodeficiency, and the remainder were healthy. Features distinguishing patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation from others were shorter birth length, and lower serum IgG, undetectable serum IgA, and elevated circulating NK cells before 2 years of age. Irrespective of clinical phenotype, most patients had lymphopenia and reduced lymphocyte proliferation to mitogens in vitro. Our cohort analysis suggests that many patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia are at risk for infection susceptibility particularly during the first 2 years of life. Gauging this risk is difficult, and thus careful monitoring of all patients with cartilage-hair hypoplasia is warranted.
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Title: Clinical application of DNA microarrays: molecular diagnosis and HLA matching of an Amish child with severe combined immune deficiency Published: July 1, 2008 Publication: Clinical Immunology

Authors: Strauss KA, Puffenberger EG, Bunin N, Rider NL, Morton MC, Eastman JT 3rd, Morton DH

Abstract:
Amish and Mennonite children with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) often die without treatment as a result of delayed diagnoses and prohibitive costs of therapy. In this detailed case report, we describe the novel use of DNA microarrays to improve the diagnosis and management of an Amish infant with SCID. Using 10,000 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotypes from the patient, her parents, and seven siblings, we identified the recombinase activating genes for diagnostic sequencing, and then characterized a novel pathogenic variant in RAG1 (c.2974A>G). The same genotype data were used to identify a sibling stem cell donor who was haplo-identical at human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and blood group (ABO) loci. Autozygosity and linkage analysis of SNP genotypes within a family narrows the search for SCID candidate genes and provides a relatively simple and inexpensive way to identify potential tissue donors among biological siblings.
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