"Mutation negative" familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) in an 8-year-old boy: clinical course and functional studies

Rheumatol Int. 2012 Sep;32(9):2629-36. doi: 10.1007/s00296-011-2019-3. Epub 2011 Jul 22.

Abstract

Cryopyrinopathies are a subgroup of autoinflammatory syndromes. Most cases have mutations in the CIAS1/NLRL3 gene, encoding the cryopyrin/NLRP3 protein. Cryopyrin, together with other proteins, is involved in the assembly of the cryopyrin/NLRP3 inflammasome. Mutations in CIAS1/NLRP3 result in increased IL-1β cleavage from biologically inactive pro-IL-1β. This results in systemic inflammation and three associated disorders of different severity, forming a clinical continuum with overlapping features. The mildest from, familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), is characterized by remitting fevers, urticaria-like rash, polyarthralgia/arthritis, and usually caused by cold exposure. More severe forms are Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) and CINCA/NOMID. We report an 8-year-old boy with FCAS, who presented with overlapping features with MWS. He showed good response to seasonal anakinra treatment. Mutation analysis in CIAS1/NLRP3, PYCARD, and CASP1 was performed. Serum cytokine profiles, and cytokine expression from resting monocytes, and in response to mild hypothermia, and LPS stimulation were determined. Mutations in CIAS1/NLRP3, PYCARD, and CASP1 were not found. In response to mild hypothermia, an enhanced IL-1β expression by patient monocytes resulted in increased IL-6 and TNF-α secretion, as compared to control cells. The addition of the IL-1β receptor antagonist (anakinra) reversed these effects. In response to LPS stimulation, patient monocytes produced high level of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. This was markedly less pronounced in control monocytes. FCAS results in cold-induced cytokine dysregulation and systemic inflammation. Symptoms can be treated, using IL-1β antagonists. Further research is warranted, particularly in order to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms in "mutation negative" individuals.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Caspase 1 / genetics*
  • Child
  • Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes / genetics*
  • Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Humans
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antirheumatic Agents
  • CARD Signaling Adaptor Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human
  • PYCARD protein, human
  • Caspase 1