A Heterozygous Gain-of-Function Variant in IKBKB Associated with Autoimmunity and Autoinflammation

Abstract

Purpose: Biallelic loss-of-function variants in IKBKB cause severe combined immunodeficiency. We describe a case of autoimmunity and autoinflammation in a male infant with a heterozygous gain-of-function (GOF) IKBKB variant.

Methods: Case report and review of the literature. We performed in silico variant analysis, measurement of plasma soluble biomarkers associated with immune activation, functional stimulation of patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and functional validation of variants transduced in Jurkat cells.

Results: A patient with two heterozygous IKBKB variants (E518K and T559M) presents with previously undescribed autoimmune cytopenias and autoinflammation. He had decreased TNF-α-induced IkBα degradation in vitro, and had increased serum biomarkers associated with macrophage recruitment and activation. Jurkat cells transduced with the IKKb T559M variant showed increased basal levels of phosphorylation of IKKα/b and p65, and higher degradation of IkBα suggesting a GOF mechanism. No significant changes were observed in Jurkat cells transduced with the E518K variant.

Conclusions: A GOF variant in IKBKB may associate with autoinflammation and autoimmunity highlighting a novel clinical phenotype.

Keywords: Autoimmunity; Autoinflammation; Inborn error of Immunity; NF-κB signaling; Primary immunodeficiency; T cell lymphopenia.