Haploinsufficiency at the human IFNGR2 locus contributes to mycobacterial disease

Hum Mol Genet. 2013 Feb 15;22(4):769-81. doi: 10.1093/hmg/dds484. Epub 2012 Nov 16.

Abstract

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD) is a rare syndrome, the known genetic etiologies of which impair the production of, or the response to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). We report here a patient (P1) with MSMD whose cells display mildly impaired responses to IFN-γ, at levels, however, similar to those from MSMD patients with autosomal recessive (AR) partial IFN-γR2 or STAT1 deficiency. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing revealed only one candidate variation for both MSMD-causing and IFN-γ-related genes. P1 carried a heterozygous frame-shift IFNGR2 mutation inherited from her father. We show that the mutant allele is intrinsically loss-of-function and not dominant-negative, suggesting haploinsufficiency at the IFNGR2 locus. We also show that Epstein-Barr virus transformed B lymphocyte cells from 10 heterozygous relatives of patients with AR complete IFN-γR2 deficiency respond poorly to IFN-γ, in some cases as poorly as the cells of P1. Naive CD4(+) T cells and memory IL-4-producing T cells from these individuals also responded poorly to IFN-γ, whereas monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) did not. This is consistent with the lower levels of expression of IFN-γR2 in lymphoid than in myeloid cells. Overall, MSMD in this patient is probably due to autosomal dominant (AD) IFN-γR2 deficiency, resulting from haploinsufficiency, at least in lymphoid cells. The clinical penetrance of AD IFN-γR2 deficiency is incomplete, possibly due, at least partly, to the variability of cellular responses to IFN-γ in these individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Base Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Haploinsufficiency*
  • Heterozygote
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / physiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections / genetics
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / genetics*
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Pedigree
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Receptors, Interferon / deficiency
  • Receptors, Interferon / genetics*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Sequence Deletion

Substances

  • IFNGR2 protein, human
  • Receptors, Interferon
  • Interferon-gamma