MedGen

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a multifactorial disorder of the small intestine that is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. It is characterized by malabsorption resulting from inflammatory injury to the mucosa of the small intestine after the ingestion of wheat gluten or related rye and barley proteins (summary by Farrell and Kelly, 2002). For additional phenotypic information and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of celiac disease, see 212750. [from OMIM]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibodies against nuclear, cytoplasmic, and cell surface molecules that transcend organ-specific boundaries. Tissue deposition of antibodies or immune complexes induces inflammation and subsequent injury of multiple organs and finally results in clinical manifestations of SLE, including glomerulonephritis, dermatitis, thrombosis, vasculitis, seizures, and arthritis. Evidence strongly suggests the involvement of genetic components in SLE susceptibility (summary by Oishi et al., 2008). Genetic Heterogeneity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus An autosomal recessive form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLEB16; 614420) is caused by mutation in the DNASE1L3 gene (602244) on chromosome 3p14.3. An X-linked dominant form of SLE (SLEB17; 301080) is caused by heterozygous mutation in the TLR7 gene (300365) on chromosome Xp22. See MAPPING and MOLECULAR GENETICS sections for a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of susceptibility to SLE. [from OMIM]

Multiple congenital anomalies-hypotonia-seizures syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by neonatal hypotonia, lack of psychomotor development, seizures, dysmorphic features, and variable congenital anomalies involving the cardiac, urinary, and gastrointestinal systems. Most affected individuals die before 3 years of age (summary by Maydan et al., 2011). The disorder is caused by a defect in glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis. For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of MCAHS, see MCAHS1 (614080). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of GPI biosynthesis defects, see GPIBD1 (610293). [from OMIM]

Activated PI3K-delta syndrome (also known as APDS) is a disorder that impairs the immune system. Individuals with this condition often have low numbers of white blood cells (lymphopenia), particularly B cells and T cells. Normally, these cells recognize and attack foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, to prevent infection. The severity of activated PI3K-delta syndrome varies widely. Some people may have multiple, severe infections while others show mild symptoms to none at all.

There are two types of activated PI3K-delta syndrome, each with different genetic causes.

Most commonly, people with activated PI3K-delta syndrome develop recurrent infections that begin in childhood, particularly in the lungs, sinuses, and ears. Over time, recurrent respiratory tract infections can lead to a condition called bronchiectasis, which damages the passages leading from the windpipe to the lungs (bronchi) and can cause breathing problems. People with activated PI3K-delta syndrome may also have chronic active viral infections, such as Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus, or cytomegalovirus infections.

Another possible feature of activated PI3K-delta syndrome is abnormal clumping of white blood cells. These clumps can lead to enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy) or an enlarged spleen (splenomegaly). The white blood cells can also build up to form solid masses (nodular lymphoid hyperplasia), usually in the moist lining of the airways or intestines. While nodular lymphoid hyperplasia is not cancerous (benign), activated PI3K-delta syndrome increases the risk of developing forms of blood cancer called Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Some people with activated PI3K-delta syndrome develop autoimmunity, which occurs when the body attacks its own tissues and organs by mistake. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

The pathogenesis of HIV infection and the progression from infection to AIDS vary significantly between exposed individuals. Infection occurs after the virus, which has macrophage (M)- and T lymphocyte (T)-tropic strains and more than 12 subtypes, survives an array of nonspecific, nongenetic environmental and host factors. [from OMIM]

X-linked hyper IgM syndrome (HIGM1), a disorder of abnormal T- and B-cell function, is characterized by low serum concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgE with normal or elevated serum concentrations of IgM. Mitogen proliferation may be normal, but NK- and T-cell cytotoxicity can be impaired. Antigen-specific responses are usually decreased or absent. Total numbers of B cells are normal but there is a marked reduction of class-switched memory B cells. Defective oxidative burst of both neutrophils and macrophages has been reported. The range of clinical findings varies, even within the same family. More than 50% of males with HIGM1 develop symptoms by age one year, and more than 90% are symptomatic by age four years. HIGM1 usually presents in infancy with recurrent upper- and lower-respiratory tract bacterial infections, opportunistic infections including Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, and recurrent or protracted diarrhea that can be infectious or noninfectious and is associated with failure to thrive. Neutropenia is common; thrombocytopenia and anemia are less commonly seen. Autoimmune and/or inflammatory disorders (such as sclerosing cholangitis) as well as increased risk for neoplasms have been reported as medical complications of this disorder. Significant neurologic complications, often the result of a CNS infection, are seen in 5%-15% of affected males. Liver disease, a serious complication of HIGM1 once observed in more than 80% of affected males by age 20 years, may be decreasing with adequate screening and treatment of Cryptosporidium infection. [from GeneReviews]

JAK3-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is an inherited disorder of the immune system. Individuals with JAK3-deficient SCID lack the necessary immune cells to fight off certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi. They are prone to repeated and persistent infections that can be very serious or life-threatening. Often the organisms that cause infection in people with JAK3-deficient SCID are described as opportunistic because they ordinarily do not cause illness in healthy people. Affected infants typically develop chronic diarrhea, a fungal infection in the mouth called oral thrush, pneumonia, and skin rashes. Persistent illness also causes affected individuals to grow more slowly than other children. Without treatment, people with JAK3-deficient SCID usually live only into early childhood. [from MedlinePlus Genetics]

MHC class II deficiency-3 (MHC2D3) is a rare autosomal recessive immunodeficiency characterized by the onset of recurrent and persistent infections from birth. Infectious agents include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa, usually affecting the respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. Laboratory studies show decreased CD4+ T cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, an inverted CD4:CD8 ratio, and absence of MHC type II antigens (HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP) on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. Most patients die in infancy or early childhood unless they undergo bone marrow transplantation, which can be curative, although complications are common. Rare patients may survive longer, even without bone marrow transplant. MHC class II deficiency may not be detected by newborn T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) screening (summary by El Hawary et al., 2019; Mousavi Khorshidi et al., 2023). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of MHC class II deficiency, see MHC2D1 (209920). [from OMIM]

NOTE: ARCHIVED ON 15 JULY 2020 BECAUSE SIMEPREVIR IS NO LONGER LICENSED FOR USE IN THE USA. THIS SUMMARY IS FOR HISTORIAL REFERENCE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE UPDATED. Simeprevir is a hepatitis C virus (HCV) protease inhibitor used in combination with other drugs to treat chronic hepatitis genotype 1 or 4 infection. Previously, the standard care of patients with HCV infection was peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, but ~40-50% of patients with HCV genotype 1 infection had a suboptimal sustained virological response (SVR). A SVR is defined as undetectable HCV RNA by the end of treatment and at a specific number of weeks after the end of treatment. The addition of simeprevir increased the SVR in patients with HCV genotype 1 infection who were previously untreated. However, there were reports of treatment failure, most commonly in adults, who failed to respond to previous peginterferon and ribavirin treatment. The FDA-approved drug label for simeprevir contains information regarding a genetic variant near the IFNL3 gene (a C to T change; rs12979860), which is a strong predictor of response to peginterferon alfa and ribavirin treatment. The label states that in phase 3 clinical trials, SVR rates were lower in patients with CT and TT genotypes, compared to patients with the CC genotype. However, patients of all IFNL3 genotypes had highest SVR rates when being treated with regimens that included simeprevir. In addition, the label strongly recommends patients with HCV genotype 1a infection should be screened for the presence of virus with the S3 Q80K polymorphism. If Q80K is detected, the label strongly recommends that alternative therapy be considered. [from Medical Genetics Summaries]

Hyper-IgE syndrome-3 with recurrent infections (HIES3) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder characterized by childhood onset of atopic dermatitis, skin infections particularly with Staphylococcus aureus, recurrent sinopulmonary infections, and increased serum IgE and IgG. Patients are susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections, including chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Immunologic workup shows impaired differentiation of CD4+ T cells into T-helper 17 cells, decreased memory B cells, and often decreased NK cells (summary by Beziat et al., 2018). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of hyper-IgE syndrome, see HIES1 (147060). [from OMIM]

Sofosbuvir is an antiviral agent used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Sofosbuvir is FDA-approved to treat patients infected with HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, as part of a combination antiviral treatment regimen. HCV genotype 1 is the most prevalent worldwide and HCV genotype 3 is the next most prevalent. Sofosbuvir may also be used as part of the treatment regimen of HCV genotypes 5 or 6. About 180 million people worldwide are infected with chronic hepatitis C, which is a major cause of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Viral eradication is suboptimal with peginterferon plus ribavirin-based therapy, with only about half of patients with HCV genotype 1 infection achieving a sustained virological response (SVR) after 24 weeks. A SVR is defined as undetectable HCV RNA by the end of treatment or at a specific number of weeks after the initiation of treatment, e.g., undetectable HCV RNA at 12 weeks is annotated (SVR12). Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), such as sofosbuvir, were developed to improve viral eradication rates. They target HCV-encoded proteins involved in viral replication and infection. Sofosbuvir, the first and thus far only DAA, targets NS5B polymerase, the viral enzyme required for HCV RNA replication. Sofosbuvir may be used in combination with peginterferon. The genetic variant rs12979860, located in the INFL4 gene, is a strong predictor of response to peginterferon-based therapies. The variant is a C to T change—individuals with the favorable "C/C" genotype have about a 2-fold higher likelihood of achieving SVR compared to individuals with CT or TT genotypes. (Note, because the association of rs12979860 with treatment response was reported several years before the discovery of IFNL4, the variant is commonly, but mistakenly, referred to as IL28B, which is the previous name for the IFNL3 gene.) For specific treatment regimens that include sofosbuvir, although the IFNL4 variant still influences treatment outcomes, the SVR remains relatively high for all IFNL4 genotypes. For example in the NEUTRINO study, which is referred to in the FDA-approved drug label for sofosbuvir, the SVR12 rate was 99% in individuals with baseline C/C alleles and 87% in individuals with baseline non-C/C alleles. The individuals in this study had HCV genotype 1 or 4 infection, and were receiving sofosbuvir plus peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy. The drug label for sofosbuvir also discusses viral resistance. In cell culture, the amino acid substitution S282T in the viral NS5B polymerase is associated with reduced susceptibility to sofosbuvir. During the ELECTRON trial, this substitution was transiently detected in one individual who relapsed during sofosbuvir monotherapy. However, the clinical significance of such substitutions remains unknown. [from Medical Genetics Summaries]

Lymphoproliferative syndrome-3 (LPFS3) is an autosomal recessive early-onset immunologic disorder characterized by increased susceptibility to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in B cells, resulting in abnormal B-cell proliferation and increased susceptibility to B-cell malignancies, including Hodgkin lymphoma. Patients usually have hypogammaglobulinemia without lymphopenia, although some subsets of immune cells may be low and some patients may have recurrent infections. The disorder results from impaired signaling from proliferating B cells to effector T cells that provide immune surveillance. There may be an increased risk of solid tumors in heterozygous carriers (summary by Abolhassani et al., 2017). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of lymphoproliferative syndrome, see XLP1 (308240). [from OMIM]

Immunodeficiency-68 (IMD68) is an autosomal recessive primary immunodeficiency characterized by severe systemic and invasive bacterial infections beginning in infancy or early childhood. The most common organisms implicated are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas, although other organisms may be observed. IMD68 is life-threatening in infancy and early childhood. The first invasive infection typically occurs before 2 years of age, with meningitis and upper respiratory infections being common manifestations. The mortality rate in early childhood is high, with most deaths occurring before 8 years of age. Affected individuals have an impaired inflammatory response to infection, including lack of fever and neutropenia, although erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein may be elevated. General immunologic workup tends to be normal, with normal levels of B cells, T cells, and NK cells. However, more detailed studies indicate impaired cytokine response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and IL1B (147720) stimulation; response to TNFA (191160) is usually normal. Patients have good antibody responses to most vaccinations. Viral, fungal, and parasitic infections are generally not observed. Early detection is critical in early childhood because prophylactic treatment with IVIg or certain antibiotics is effective; the disorder tends to improve naturally around adolescence. At the molecular level, IMD68 results from impaired function of selective Toll receptor (see TLR4, 603030)/IL1R (see IL1R1; 147810) signaling pathways that ultimately activate NFKB (164011) to produce cytokines (summary by Picard et al., 2010). See also IMD67 (607676), caused by mutation in the IRAK4 gene (602170), which shows a similar phenotype to IMD68. As the MYD88 and IRAK4 genes interact in the same intracellular signaling pathway, the clinical and cellular features are almost indistinguishable (summary by Picard et al., 2010). [from OMIM]

Infantile-onset multisystem autoimmune disease-3 (ADMIO3) is an autosomal recessive disorder of immune dysregulation characterized by the onset of various systemic autoimmune manifestations in the first months or years of life. Features may include hypothyroidism, type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic inflammatory manifestations (fever, hepatomegaly), and autoimmune cytopenias. Laboratory studies show normal levels of T, B, and NK cells, but CD4+ (see 186940) T cells demonstrate hyperproliferation when stimulated in vitro (Janssen et al., 2022). For a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of ADMIO, see ADMIO1 (615952). [from OMIM]

A rare, primary immunodeficiency. It is caused by a currently undetermined defect in the Fas-induced apoptosis pathway. No mutations in Fas, FASLG or CASP10 are detectable. Disruption of Fas-induced apoptosis impairs lymphocyte homeostasis and immune tolerance. Characteristic laboratory findings include an increase in circulating, double-negative (CD4-/CD8-) T cells in the setting of immune-mediated anemia, thrombocytopenia and neutropenia. Clinical signs present in childhood include fatigue, pallor, bruising, hepatosplenomegaly and chronic, non-malignant, non-infectious lymphadenopathy. The clinical course is influenced by a strong association with other autoimmune disorders and an increased risk for developing Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. [from NCI]

A rare genetic combined T and B cell immunodeficiency characterised by life-threatening infections due to disrupted transferrin receptor 1 endocytosis, resulting in defective cellular iron transport and impaired T and B cell function. Patients present with early-onset chronic diarrhoea, severe recurrent infections and failure to thrive. Laboratory studies reveal hypo or agammaglobulinaemia, normal lymphocyte counts but decreased numbers of memory B cells, intermittent neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, and mild anaemia (resistant to iron supplementation) with low mean corpuscular volume. [from SNOMEDCT_US]

Common variable immunodeficiency-15 (CVID15) is an autosomal dominant immunologic disorder characterized by the onset of severe recurrent infections in infancy or early childhood. Laboratory studies show hypogammaglobulinemia with antibody deficiencies of IgM, IgG, and IgA due to impaired plasma cell homeostasis, although other B cell subset numbers are normal. T and NK cells are also normal. Treatment with IV Ig results in a favorable clinical response to recurrent infections (Schubert et al., 2018). For a general description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of common variable immunodeficiency, see CVID1 (607594). [from OMIM]

Deficiency of janus kinase-3 causing the near absence of T lymphocytes and Natural killer cells; and normal or elevated B lymphocytes due to an autosomal recessive variant of severe combined immunodeficiency. [from MONDO]

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with 2 cardinal features: a granulocytic differentiation block and reciprocal and balanced translocations that always involve rearrangement of the RARA gene (180240). The most frequent translocation is t(15,17)(q21;q22), which fuses the RARA gene with the PML gene (102578) and represents more than 98% of APL (Vitoux et al., 2007). [from OMIM]

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a cardiac electrophysiologic disorder, characterized by QT prolongation and T-wave abnormalities on the EKG that are associated with tachyarrhythmias, typically the ventricular tachycardia torsade de pointes (TdP). TdP is usually self-terminating, thus causing a syncopal event, the most common symptom in individuals with LQTS. Such cardiac events typically occur during exercise and emotional stress, less frequently during sleep, and usually without warning. In some instances, TdP degenerates to ventricular fibrillation and causes aborted cardiac arrest (if the individual is defibrillated) or sudden death. Approximately 50% of untreated individuals with a pathogenic variant in one of the genes associated with LQTS have symptoms, usually one to a few syncopal events. While cardiac events may occur from infancy through middle age, they are most common from the preteen years through the 20s. Some types of LQTS are associated with a phenotype extending beyond cardiac arrhythmia. In addition to the prolonged QT interval, associations include muscle weakness and facial dysmorphism in Andersen-Tawil syndrome (LQTS type 7); hand/foot, facial, and neurodevelopmental features in Timothy syndrome (LQTS type 8); and profound sensorineural hearing loss in Jervell and Lange-Nielson syndrome. [from GeneReviews]