Expression of Bruton's tyrosine kinase gene and endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors in X-linked agammaglobulinemia

Orientador: Maria Marluce dos Santos VilelaTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências MédicasResumo: A agamaglobulinemia ligada ao X (XLA; OMIM#300755) é caracterizada por um bloqueio na diferenciação dos linfócitos B na medula óssea, levando à profunda hipogamaglobulinemia e reduzido número ou ausência de linfócitos B periféricos. Os pacientes são susceptíveis a infecções recorrentes por bactérias encapsuladas e enterovírus. XLA é causada por mutações no gene da tirosina quinase de Bruton (BTK). Contudo, não há estudos de relação entre expressão protéica e o tipo de mutação, nem sobre as conseqüências da retenção intracelular do excesso de proteínas mal formadas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar a expressão de BTK e sua relação com o tipo de mutação em pacientes com XLA, assim como verificar suas conseqüências nos sensores de estresse do retículo endoplasmático. O diagnóstico de XLA foi baseado em infecções recorrentes, níveis significativamente reduzidos de IgM, IgG e IgA, linfócitos B circulantes <2% e mutação identificada no gene BTK. A expressão dos transcritos de BTK foi avaliada por PCR quantitativo em tempo real em oito pacientes XLA e oito controles. Pela mesma técnica, foi avaliada a expressão de 10 genes do estresse do retículo endoplasmático em seis pacientes e seis controles. Foram caracterizadas quatro mutações missense, uma mutação nonsense, dois frameshifts e um defeito em sítio de splicing. As mutações do tipo nonsense, frameshift e defeito em sítio de splicing levaram à formação de stop codon prematuro. Foi detectado um perfil de expressão de BTK diferenciado nos pacientes com mutações com stop codon prematuro em comparação aos pacientes com mutações missense e controles saudáveis. Especificamente, os pacientes com mutações com stop codon prematuro apresentaram redução da expressão de BTK (P = 0,004). No entanto, verificamos que as mutações missense não afetaram a expressão de BTK. Por meio de imunocitoquímica, encontramos que as mutações com stop codon prematuro levaram à deficiência da expressão da proteína BTK e as do tipo missense resultaram na localização anormal da proteína no citoplasma celular, o que evidencia a síntese de proteína não funcional. Os pacientes com XLA apresentaram expressão aumentada do marcador de estresse do retículo endoplasmático XBP1 (P = 0,002). Em conclusão, a quantificação da expressão de mRNA para BTK é uma ferramenta para diferenciar as conseqüências mutacionais em pacientes com XLA. Ela também pode contribuir para o estudo de transcritos em outras doenças genéticas com diferentes tipos de mutação. Este é o primeiro relato de estresse do retículo endoplasmático na agamaglobulinemia ligada ao XAbstract: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA, OMIM # 300755) is characterized by a block in differentiation of B lymphocytes in the bone marrow, leading to profound hypogammaglobulinemia and few or no peripheral B lymphocytes. Patients are susceptible to recurrent infections by encapsulated bacteria and enteroviruses. XLA is caused by mutations in the Bruton tyrosine kinase gene (BTK). However, there have been no studies on the relationship between protein expression and the type of mutation, nor on the consequences of the disruption of protein folding that results in intracellular retention. The objectives of this study were to evaluate BTK expression and its mutation type in patients with XLA, as well as to verify their consequences on the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensors. The XLA diagnosis was based on recurrent infections, significantly reduced levels of IgM, IgG and IgA, circulating B lymphocytes <2% and BTK gene mutation identified. The expression of BTK transcripts was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR in eight XLA patients and eight control subjects. By the same technique, the expression of 10 endoplasmic reticulum stress genes was measured in six patients and six controls. Four missense mutations, one nonsense mutation, two frameshifts and a splice site defect were characterized. Mutations of the nonsense type, frameshift and splice site defect led to a premature stop codon formation. A differential profile of expression of BTK was detected in patients with mutations that led to a premature stop codon compared to patients with missense mutations and healthy controls. Specifically, patients with mutations resulting in a premature stop codon exhibited reduced expression of BTK gene (P = 0.004). However, it was found that missense mutations did not affect BTK expression. By immunocytochemistry, we found that mutations with a premature stop codon impaired expression of BTK protein and that missense mutations led to an abnormal localization of the protein in the cell cytoplasm, showing the synthesis of a non-functional protein. Patients with XLA showed increased expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress marker XBP1 (P = 0.002). In conclusion, the quantification of mRNA expression for BTK is a tool to differentiate mutational consequences in patients with XLA. It can also contribute to the study of transcripts in other genetic diseases with different types of mutation. This is the first report on endoplasmic reticulum stress in X-linked agammaglobulinemiaDoutoradoSaude da Criança e do AdolescenteDoutora em Ciência

Btk Mutations Selectively Regulate Btk Expression And Upregulate Monocyte Xbp1 Mrna In Xla Patients.

Mutations in the Bruton agammaglobulinemia tyrosine kinase (BTK) gene are responsible for X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA). Unfolded or misfolded proteins can trigger stress pathways in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), known as unfolded protein response (UPR). The aim was to clarify the involvement of UPR in XLA pathophysiology. By reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, we evaluated the expression of BTK and 12 UPR-related genes in eight patients. Moreover, we assessed the BTK protein expression and pattern in the patients' monocytes by flow cytometry and fluorescence immunocytochemistry. We found a reduced BTK expression in patients with stop codon mutations (P < 0.02). However, missense mutations did not affect BTK expression. Flow cytometry showed a reduction of BTK in patients which was corroborated by an absent or nonfunctional protein synthesis revealed by immunocytochemistry. In contrast with the other UPR-related genes, X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) was markedly upregulated in the patients (P < 0.01), suggesting Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation since BTK directly interacts with TLRs as a negative regulator and XBP1 can be activated in direct response to TLR ligation. Different BTK mutations can be identified by the BTK expression. Inasmuch as UPR-related genes were downregulated or unaltered in patients, we speculate the involvement of the TLRs-XBP1 axis in the XLA pathophysiology. Such data could be the basis for further studies of this novel pathomechanism concerning XLA.3171-18

Mutations of Bruton's tyrosine kinase gene (BTK) in brazilian patients with X - linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA)

Orientador: Maria Marluce dos Santos VilelaDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Ciencias MedicasResumo: A agamaglobulinemia ligada ao X (XLA; OMIM#300755) é uma imunodeficiência primária humoral caracterizada por um bloqueio na diferenciação dos linfócitos B na medula óssea, levando à profunda hipogamaglobulinemia e reduzido número ou ausência de células B periféricas. Os pacientes com XLA são susceptíveis a infecções recorrentes por bactérias encapsuladas e enterovírus devido à deficiência de anticorpos. Mutações no gene codificante da tirosina quinase de Bruton (Btk) são responsáveis pela doença. Btk é uma tirosina quinase citoplasmática da família Tec importante no desenvolvimento, na diferenciação e na sinalização dos linfócitos B. A detecção de mutações no gene btk possibilita o diagnóstico definitivo de XLA. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e caracterizar mutações em btk. Foram incluídos 6 pacientes conforme os critérios do PAGID e ESID: indivíduos do sexo masculino com menos de 2% de linfócitos B periféricos, hipogamaglobulinemia e história de infecções bacterianas de repetição. A triagem de mutações foi realizada com a técnica de SSCP e possíveis mutações foram confirmadas por seqüenciamento. A expressão de Btk nos pacientes e mães foi avaliada em monócitos por citometria de fluxo. Dentre os pacientes analisados as principais manifestações clínicas foram as infecções do trato respiratório. Todos tiveram início dos sintomas durante o primeiro ano de vida, linfócitos B periféricos abaixo de 2% e hipogamaglobulinemia anterior ao início da terapia de reposição de imunoglobulinas. Foram identificadas cinco mutações em btk, três novas (p.Ala347fsX55, p.I355T e p.Thr324fsX24) e duas já descritas na literatura (p.Q196X e p.E441X). A detecção das mutações nos pacientes permitiu a análise mutacional de mães, avós e tias maternas. Três mães e uma avó foram confirmadas portadoras de XLA. Em adição, os valores de expressão de Btk obtidos mostraram deficiência da proteína (4,5% a 65,2%) nos pacientes e um padrão bimodal de expressão de Btk foi observado nas mães, indicando o estado de portadora de XLA. Em um dos pacientes não foi identificada mutação, entretanto a expressão de Btk mostrou-se reduzida. O uso combinado da análise genética e da avaliação da expressão de Btk por citometria de fluxo possibilitou o diagnóstico definitivo de XLA e a identificação de portadoras da doença.Abstract: X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA; OMIM# 300755) is a primary humoral immunodeficiency characterized by a block in early B cell differentiation, leading to profound hypogammaglobulinemia and few or no circulating B cells. Patients with XLA are susceptible to recurrent infections by encapsulated bacteria and enteroviruses due to antibody deficiency. Mutations in the Bruton tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene have been identified as responsible for XLA. Btk is a cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase of the Tec family important in B-lymphocyte development, differentiation, and signaling. Detection of a btk mutation allows definitive diagnosis of XLA. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize mutations in btk. Six patients were included according to the criteria of PAGID and ESID: males with less than 2% of circulating B cells, hypogammaglobulinemia and a history of recurrent bacterial infections. Mutation screening was performed with SSCP technique and possible mutations were confirmed by sequencing. Expression of Btk protein in patients and mothers was assessed in monocytes by flow cytometry. The major clinical manifestations among patients were respiratory tract infections. All had onset of symptoms during the first year of life, circulating B cells below 2% and hypogammaglobulinemia before the start of immunoglobulin replacement therapy. We identified five mutations in btk, three novel (p.Ala347fsX55, p.I355T and p.Thr324fsX24) and two recurrent mutations (p.Q196X and p.E441X). The btk mutations detection in patients enabled the screening of mothers, grandmothers and maternal aunts. Three mothers and one grandmother were confirmed XLA carriers. In addition, flow cytometric evaluation of Btk expression in monocytes revealed that Btk deficiency (4,5% a 65,2%) was present in patients and a bimodal pattern of Btk expression was observed in mothers, indicating that they were XLA carriers. In one patient no mutation was identified, but his Btk expression was reduced. The combined use of genetic analysis and flow cytometric assay of Btk protein expression allowed the definitive diagnosis of XLA and its carriers detection.MestradoSaude da Criança e do AdolescenteMestre em Saude da Criança e do Adolescent

Immunogenicity of a Whole-Cell Pertussis Vaccine with Low Lipopolysaccharide Content in Infants▿

The lack of a clear correlation between the levels of antibody to pertussis antigens and protection against disease lends credence to the possibility that cell-mediated immunity provides primary protection against disease. This phase I comparative trial had the aim of comparing the in vitro cellular immune response and anti-pertussis toxin (anti-PT) immunoglobulin G (IgG) titers induced by a cellular pertussis vaccine with low lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content (wPlow vaccine) with those induced by the conventional whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccine. A total of 234 infants were vaccinated at 2, 4, and 6 months with the conventional wP vaccine or the wPlow vaccine. Proliferation of CD3+ T cells was evaluated by flow cytometry after 6 days of peripheral blood mononuclear cell culture with stimulation with heat-killed Bordetella pertussis or phytohemagglutinin (PHA). CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and T-cell receptor γδ-positive (γδ+) cells were identified in the gate of blast lymphocytes. Gamma interferon, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and IL-10 levels in supernatants and serum anti-PT IgG levels were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The net percentage of CD3+ blasts in cultures with B. pertussis in the group vaccinated with wP was higher than that in the group vaccinated with the wPlow vaccine (medians of 6.2% for the wP vaccine and 3.9% for the wPlow vaccine; P = 0.029). The frequencies of proliferating CD4+, CD8+, and γδ+ cells, cytokine concentrations in supernatants, and the geometric mean titers of anti-PT IgG were similar for the two vaccination groups. There was a significant difference between the T-cell subpopulations for B. pertussis and PHA cultures, with a higher percentage of γδ+ cells in the B. pertussis cultures (P < 0.001). The overall data did suggest that wP vaccination resulted in modestly better specific CD3+ cell proliferation, and γδ+ cell expansions were similar with the two vaccines

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved