Dominant-activating germline mutations in the gene encoding the PI(3)K catalytic subunit p110δ result in T cell senescence and human immunodeficiency.

Abstract

The p110δ subunit of phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI(3)K) is selectively expressed in leukocytes and is critical for lymphocyte biology. Here we report fourteen patients from seven families who were heterozygous for three different germline, gain-of-function mutations in PIK3CD (which encodes p110δ). These patients presented with sinopulmonary infections, lymphadenopathy, nodular lymphoid hyperplasia and viremia due to cytomegalovirus (CMV) and/or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Strikingly, they had a substantial deficiency in naive T cells but an over-representation of senescent effector T cells. In vitro, T cells from patients exhibited increased phosphorylation of the kinase Akt and hyperactivation of the metabolic checkpoint kinase mTOR, enhanced glucose uptake and terminal effector differentiation. Notably, treatment with rapamycin to inhibit mTOR activity in vivo partially restored the abundance of naive T cells, largely 'rescued' the in vitro T cell defects and improved the clinical course.

• Authors: Carrie L Lucas, Hye Sun Kuehn, Fang Zhao, Julie E Niemela, Elissa K Deenick, Umaimainthan Palendira, Danielle T Avery, Leen Moens, Jennifer L Cannons, Matthew Biancalana, Jennifer Stoddard, Weiming Ouyang, David M Frucht, V Koneti Rao, T Prescott Atkinson, Anahita Agharahimi, Ashleigh A Hussey, Les R Folio, Kenneth N Olivier, Thomas A Fleisher, Stefania Pittaluga, Steven M Holland, Jeffrey I Cohen, Joao B Oliveira, Stuart G Tangye, Pamela L Schwartzberg, Michael J Lenardo, Gulbu Uzel
• Journal: Nature immunology (Nat Immunol) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. 88-97 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1529-2916 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24165795 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• MTOR protein, human
• Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
• PIK3CD protein, human
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Sirolimus

Topics

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (therapeutic use)
• Cell Differentiation (genetics)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cellular Senescence (genetics)
• Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
• Cytomegalovirus Infections (blood, genetics, virology)
• Epstein-Barr Virus Infections (blood, genetics, virology)
• Female
• Genes, Dominant
• Germ-Line Mutation
• Humans
• Immunoblotting
• Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes (drug therapy, genetics)
• Male
• Pedigree
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (chemistry, genetics)
• Phosphorylation
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt (metabolism)
• Sirolimus (therapeutic use)
• T-Lymphocytes (metabolism)
• TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases (metabolism)
• Viremia (drug therapy, genetics, virology)