Germline cytotoxic lymphocytes defective mutations in Chinese patients with lymphoma

Clinical and genetic analysis of macrophage activation syndrome complicating juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

BACKGROUND

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a serve complication of juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIMs). This study delineates the clinical manifestations and genetic underpinnings of JIIM-MAS patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively analysed clinical and UNC13D gene from JIIM patients admitted to our centre between 2011 and 2021 to identify cases of MAS. Additionally, a literature review summarising reported cases of JIIMs and MAS was performed.

RESULTS

Of 773 JIIM patients, 10 (1.3%) were diagnosed with MAS. All patients presented with persistent fever and hyperferritinaemia. Seventy percent of patients met the HLH-2004 criteria, while 90% met the 2016 sJIA-MAS criteria. Most patients received combined treatment of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. UNC13D gene analysis was performed in six patients. A homozygous pathogenic mutation (c.2588G>A) was detected in one patient with recurrent MAS, and twenty-eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected. Eighty percent of patients exhibiting a consistent combination of ten SNPs compared to JIIM patients without MAS (35%).

CONCLUSION

MAS is an early and often overlooked complication of JIIMs. The 2016 sJIA-MAS criteria may facilitate early diagnosis. Combined corticosteroid and immunosuppressant therapy prove effective. An increased prevalence of UNC13D gene polymorphisms was observed in JIIM-MAS patients, highlighting the necessity for further investigations.

IMPACT

This study aimed to delineate the clinical manifestations and genetic underpinnings of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in ten patients with juvenile idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (JIIMs). MAS has been recognised as a complication of JIIMs. However, only a few case reports provide comprehensive descriptions of MAS in JIIM patients, and there are few reports related to UNC13D mutations in these patients. This article offers single-centre clinical insights to enhance the identification and management of MAS in JIIM patients, while also highlighting the potential association between MAS occurrence and UNC13D gene polymorphisms.

Germline defects of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-related genes presenting as adult-onset peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Germline mutations in genes involved in perforin-granzyme-mediated cytotoxicity such as PRF1, UNC13D, STX11, and STXBP2 were known to cause familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). In this study, we reported a unique group of 3 patients with germline mutations of UNC13D and STX11 genes and presented as adult-onset peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) with cytotoxic T-cell phenotype and atypical lymphoma presentations. CD107a degranulation assay and NK-cell activity analysis demonstrated impaired cytotoxic function of the NK/T-cells of the patients with FHL-related mutations. Gene expression profile study revealed that up-regulated genes of the cytotoxic T-cells were enriched in autoimmune-related pathways. It was possible that impaired cytotoxic lymphocyte-mediated immune surveillance and autoantigen stimulation may both participate in PTCL oncogenesis. Germline defects of FLH-related genes may represent a novel predisposing factor for PTCLs.

Hallmarks of Cancers: Primary Antibody Deficiency Versus Other Inborn Errors of Immunity

Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) comprise more than 450 inherited diseases, from which selected patients manifest a frequent and early incidence of malignancies, mainly lymphoma and leukemia. Primary antibody deficiency (PAD) is the most common form of IEI with the highest proportion of malignant cases. In this review, we aimed to compare the oncologic hallmarks and the molecular defects underlying PAD with other IEI entities to dissect the impact of avoiding immune destruction, genome instability, and mutation, enabling replicative immortality, tumor-promoting inflammation, resisting cell death, sustaining proliferative signaling, evading growth suppressors, deregulating cellular energetics, inducing angiogenesis, and activating invasion and metastasis in these groups of patients. Moreover, some of the most promising approaches that could be clinically tested in both PAD and IEI patients were discussed.