Autoimmune-autoinflammatory rheumatoid arthritis overlaps: a rare but potentially important subgroup of diseases

At the population level, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is generally viewed as autoimmune in nature with a small subgroup of cases having a palindromic form or systemic autoinflammatory disorder (SAID) phenotype. Herein, we describe resistant cases of classical autoantibody associated RA that had clinical, genetic and therapeutic responses indicative of coexistent autoinflammatory disease. Five patients with clinically overlapping features between RA and SAID including polysynovitis and autoantibody/shared epitope positivity, and who had abrupt severe self-limiting attacks including fevers and serositis, are described. Mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms in recognised autoinflammatory pathways were evident. Generally, these cases responded poorly to conventional Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD) treatment with some excellent responses to colchicine or interleukin 1 pathway blockade. A subgroup of RA cases have a mixed autoimmune-autoinflammatory phenotype and genotype with therapeutic implications

Biallelic JAK1 mutations in immunodeficient patient with mycobacterial infection

Mutations in genes encoding components of the immune system cause primary immunodeficiencies. Here, we study a patient with recurrent atypical mycobacterial infection and early-onset metastatic bladder carcinoma. Exome sequencing identified two homozygous missense germline mutations, P733L and P832S, in the JAK1 protein that mediates signalling from multiple cytokine receptors. Cells from this patient exhibit reduced JAK1 and STAT phosphorylation following cytokine stimulations, reduced induction of expression of interferon-regulated genes and dysregulated cytokine production; which are indicative of signalling defects in multiple immune response pathways including Interferon-γ production. Reconstitution experiments in the JAK1-deficient cells demonstrate that the impaired JAK1 function is mainly attributable to the effect of the P733L mutation. Further analyses of the mutant protein reveal a phosphorylation-independent role of JAK1 in signal transduction. These findings clarify JAK1 signalling mechanisms and demonstrate a critical function of JAK1 in protection against mycobacterial infection and possibly the immunological surveillance of cancer.Wellcome Trust (095198/Z/10/Z and 090233/Z/09/Z); Higher Education Funding Council for England; Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR); Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre; NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre; Alfonso Martin Escudero Foundatio

Identification of Critical Transcriptomic Signaling Pathways in Patients with H Syndrome and Rosai-Dorfman Disease

Biallelic mutations in SLC29A3 cause histiocytosis-lymphadenopathy plus syndrome, also known as H syndrome (HS). HS is a complex disorder, with ~ 25% of patients developing autoinflammatory complications consisting of unexplained fevers, persistently elevated inflammatory markers, and unusual lymphadenopathies, with infiltrating CD68+, S100+, and CD1a− histiocytes, resembling the immunophenotype found in Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD). We investigated the transcriptomic profiles of monocytes, non-activated (M0), classically activated (M1), and alternatively activated macrophages (M2) in two patients with HS, one without autoinflammatory (HS1) and one with autoinflammatory complications (HS2). RNA sequencing revealed a dysregulated transcriptomic profile in both HS patients compared to healthy controls (HC). HS2, when compared to HS1, had several differentially expressed genes, including genes associated with lymphocytic-histiocytic predominance (e.g. NINL) and chronic immune activation (e.g. B2M). The transcriptomic and cytokine profiles of HS patients were comparable to patients with SAID with high levels of TNF. SERPINA1 gene expression was found to be upregulated in all patients studied. Moreover, higher levels of IFNγ were found in the serum of both HS patients when compared to HC. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of the DEGs in HS patients revealed the terms “type I IFN,” “IFNγ signaling pathway,” and “immune responses” as the top 3 most significant terms for monocytes. Gene expression analysis of lymph node biopsies from sporadic and H syndrome-associated RDD suggests common underlying pathological process. In conclusion, monocytes and macrophages from both HS patients showed transcriptomic profiles similar to SAIDs and also uniquely upregulated IFNγ signature. These findings may help find better therapeutic options for this rare disorder

Expanding clinical phenotype and novel insights into the pathogenesis of ICOS deficiency

Background: Inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) deficiency has been categorized as a combined immunodeficiency often complicated by enteropathies, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and malignancy. We report seven new patients and four novel ICOS mutations resulting in a common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)–like phenotype and show that dysregulated IL-12 release, reduced cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA4) expression, and skewing towards a Th1-dominant phenotype are all associated with inflammatory complications in this condition. Methods: A combination of whole exome and Sanger sequencing was used to identify novel mutations. Standard clinical and immunological evaluation was performed. FACS and ELISA-based assays were used to study cytokine responses and ICOS/ICOSL/CTLA4 expression following stimulation of whole blood and PBMCs with multiple TLR ligands, anti-CD3, and PHA. Results: Four novel ICOS mutations included homozygous c.323_332del, homozygous c.451C>G, and compound heterozygous c.58+1G>A/c.356T>C. The predominant clinical phenotype was that of antibody deficiency associated with inflammatory complications in 4/7 patients. Six out of seven patients were treated with immunoglobulin replacement and one patient died from salmonella sepsis. All patients who were tested showed reduced IL-10 and IL-17 cytokine responses, normal IL-1β, IL6, and TNF release following LPS stimulation and highly elevated IL-12 production in response to combined LPS/IFNγ stimulation. This was associated with skewing of CD4+ T cells towards Th1 phenotype and increased expression of ICOSL on monocytes. Lastly, reduced CTLA4 expression was found in 2 patients. One patient treated with ustekinumab for pancytopenia due to granulomatous bone marrow infiltration failed to respond to this targeted therapy. Conclusions: ICOS deficiency is associated with defective T cell activation, with simultaneously enhanced stimulation of monocytes. The latter is likely to result from a lack of ICOS/ICOSL interaction which might be necessary to provide negative feedback which limits monocytes activation

Biallelic interferon regulatory factor 8 mutation: A complex immunodeficiency syndrome with dendritic cell deficiency, monocytopenia, and immune dysregulation

Background: The homozygous K108E mutation of interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF8) is reported to cause dendritic cell (DC) and monocyte deficiency. However, more widespread immune dysfunction is predicted from the multiple roles ascribed to IRF8 in immune cell development and function. Objective: We sought to describe the effect on hematopoiesis and immunity of the compound heterozygous R83C/R291Q mutation of IRF8, which is present in a patient with recurrent viral infection, granuloproliferation, and intracerebral calcification. Methods: Variant IRF8 alleles were identified by means of exome sequencing, and their function was tested by using reporter assays. The cellular phenotype was studied in detail by using flow cytometry, functional immunologic assay transcriptional profiling, and antigen receptor profiling. Results: Both mutations affected conserved residues, and R291Q is orthologous to R294, which is mutated in the BXH2 IRF8-deficient mouse. R83C showed reduced nuclear translocation, and neither mutant was able to regulate the Ets/IRF composite element or interferon-stimulated response element, whereas R291Q retained BATF/JUN interactions. DC deficiency and monocytopenia were observed in blood, dermis, and lung lavage fluid. Granulocytes were consistently increased, dysplastic, and hypofunctional. Natural killer cell development and maturation were arrested. TH1, TH17, and CD8+ memory T-cell differentiation was significantly reduced, and T cells did not express CXCR3. B-cell development was impaired, with fewer memory cells, reduced class-switching, and lower frequency and complexity of somatic hypermutation. Cell-specific gene expression was widely disturbed in interferon- and IRF8-regulated transcripts. Conclusions: This analysis defines the clinical features of human biallelic IRF8 deficiency, revealing a complex immunodeficiency syndrome caused by DC and monocyte deficiency combined with widespread immune dysregulation

Evidence of B Cell Clonality and Investigation Into Properties of the IgM in Patients With Schnitzler Syndrome

The Schnitzler Syndrome (SchS) is an acquired, autoinflammatory condition successfully treated with IL-1 inhibition. The two main defining features of this late-onset condition are neutrophilic urticarial dermatoses (NUD) and the presence of an IgM monoclonal component. While the former aspect has been extensively studied in this disease setting, the enigmatic paraproteinaemia and its potential consequential effects within SchS, has not previously been thoroughly addressed. Previous studies analyzing clonal B cell repertoires have largely focused on autoimmune disorders such as Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) and hematological malignancies such as Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL), where B-cell clonality is central to disease pathology. The present study uses next-generation sequencing to provide detailed insight into aspects of B cell VDJ recombination and properties of the resulting immunoglobulin chains. An overview of IgH regional dynamics in 10 SchS patients, with a particular focus on CDR3 sequences and VDJ gene usage is reported, highlighting the presence of specific B cell expansions. Protein microarray detected a substantial proportion of autoreactive IgM to nuclear target proteins, though a single universal target was not identified. Together, these genetic and functional findings impart new understanding into this rare disorder

Critical care workers have lower seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG compared with non-patient facing staff in first wave of COVID19

With the first 2020 surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, many health care workers (HCW) were re-deployed to critical care environments to support intensive care teams to look after high numbers of patients with severe COVID-19. There was considerable anxiety of increased risk of COVID19 for staff working in these environments. Using a multiplex platform to assess serum IgG responses to SARS-CoV-2 N, S and RBD proteins, and detailed symptom reporting, we screened over 500 HCW (25% of the total workforce) in a quaternary level hospital to explore the relationship between workplace and evidence of exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Whilst 45% of the cohort reported symptoms that they consider may have represented COVID-19, overall seroprevalence was 14% with anosmia and fever being the most discriminating symptoms for seropositive status. There was a significant difference in seropositive status between staff working in clinical and non-clinical roles (9% patient facing critical care, 15% patient facing non-critical care, 22% nonpatient facing). In the seropositive cohort, symptom severity increased with age for men and not for women. In contrast, there was no relationship between symptom severity and age or sex in the seronegative cohort reporting possible COVID-19 symptoms. Of the 12 staff screened PCR positive (10 symptomatic), 3 showed no evidence of seroconversion in convalescence. Conclusion The current approach to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) appears highly effective in protecting staff from patient acquired infection in the critical care environment including protecting staff managing interhospital transfers of COVID-19 patients. The relationship between seroconversion and disease severity in different demographics warrants further investigation. Longitudinally paired virological and serological surveillance, with symptom reporting are urgently required to better understand the role of antibody in the outcome of HCW exposure during subsequent waves of COVID-19 in health care environments

A robust model for read count data in exome sequencing experiments and implications for copy number variant calling

Exome sequencing has proven to be an effective tool to discover the genetic basis of Mendelian disorders. It is well established that copy number variants (CNVs) contribute to the etiology of these disorders. However, calling CNVs from exome sequence data is challenging. A typical read depth strategy consists of using another sample (or a combination of samples) as a reference to control for the variability at the capture and sequencing steps. However, technical variability between samples complicates the analysis and can create spurious CNV calls

SARS-COV-2 antibody responses to AZD1222 vaccination in West Africa

Real-world data on vaccine-elicited neutralising antibody responses for two-dose AZD1222 in African populations are limited. We assessed baseline SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and levels of protective neutralizing antibodies prior to vaccination rollout using binding antibodies analysis coupled with pseudotyped virus neutralisation assays in two cohorts from West Africa: Nigerian healthcare workers (n = 140) and a Ghanaian community cohort (n = 527) pre and post vaccination. We found 44 and 28% of pre-vaccination participants showed IgG anti-N positivity, increasing to 59 and 39% respectively with anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgG-specific antibodies. Previous IgG anti-N positivity significantly increased post two-dose neutralizing antibody titres in both populations. Serological evidence of breakthrough infection was observed in 8/49 (16%). Neutralising antibodies were observed to wane in both populations, especially in anti-N negative participants with an observed waning rate of 20% highlighting the need for a combination of additional markers to characterise previous infection. We conclude that AZD1222 is immunogenic in two independent West African cohorts with high background seroprevalence and incidence of breakthrough infection in 2021. Waning titres post second dose indicates the need for booster dosing after AZD1222 in the African setting despite hybrid immunity from previous infection