Association of a syndrome resembling Wegener's granulomatosis with low surface expression of HLA class-I molecules

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_088A105AED7C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Association of a syndrome resembling Wegener's granulomatosis with low surface expression of HLA class-I molecules
Journal
Lancet
Author(s)
Moins-Teisserenc  H. T., Gadola  S. D., Cella  M., Dunbar  P. R., Exley  A., Blake  N., Baykal  C., Lambert  J., Bigliardi  P., Willemsen  M., Jones  M., Buechner  S., Colonna  M., Gross  W. L., Cerundolo  V.
ISSN
0140-6736 (Print)
Publication state
Published
Issued date
11/1999
Volume
354
Number
9190
Pages
1598-603
Notes
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't --- Old month value: Nov 6
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Granulomatous syndromes, such as Wegener's granulomatosis, are defined according to complex criteria, but the underlying cause is rarely identified. We present evidence for a new aetiology for chronic granulomatous lesions associated with a recessive genetic defect, which is linked to the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) locus. METHODS: Five adults with necrotising granulomatous lesions in the upper respiratory tract and skin, associated with recurrent bacterial respiratory infections and skin vasculitis, were identified. A diagnosis of Wegener's granulomatosis was considered in all of them, but abandoned because of an incompatible disease course and resistance to immunosuppressive treatments. Peripheral-blood samples were taken and analysed by immunohistochemistry and fluorescent-activated-cell-sorter analysis. Since all five patients were homozygous for the HLA locus, we looked for genetic defects located within the HLA-locus with PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. FINDINGS: A severe decrease in cell-surface expression of HLA class-I molecule was seen in all patients. Defective expression of the transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP) genes was responsible for the HLA class-I down-regulation, and in two patients we identified a mutation in the TAP2 gene responsible for the defective expression of the TAP complex. We showed the presence of autoreactive natural killer (NK) cells and gammadelta T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood cells of two patients. Correction of the genetic defect in vitro restored normal expression of HLA class-I molecules and prevented self-reactivity in the patients' cells. Histology of granulomatous lesions showed the presence of a large proportion of activated NK cells. INTERPRETATION: Our findings define the cause and pathogenesis of a new syndrome that affects patients with a defective surface expression of HLA class-I molecules. The syndrome resembles Wegener's granulomatosis both clinically and histologically. Patients have chronic necrotising granulomatous lesions in the upper respiratory tract and skin, recurrent infections of the respiratory tract, and skin vasculitis. A predominant NK population within the granulomatous lesions suggests that the pathophysiology of the skin lesions may relate to the inability of HLA class-I molecules to turn off NK cell responses. Accurate genetic analysis of a defined syndrome can provide a better understanding of the cause and pathogenesis of a disease.
Keywords
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/genetics/immunology/metabolism Adult Alleles Blotting, Western Codon Diagnosis, Differential Down-Regulation Female Granulomatous Disease, Chronic/diagnosis/*genetics/immunology Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/*genetics/immunology/metabolism Humans Immunohistochemistry Killer Cells, Natural/immunology/metabolism Mutation Phenotype Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Wegener Granulomatosis/diagnosis
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
25/01/2008 16:30
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:30
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