Comèl-Netherton syndrome defined as primary immunodeficiency

Background

Mutations in serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5), encoding the serine protease inhibitor lympho-epithelial Kazal-type 5 related inhibitor (LEKTI), cause Comèl-Netherton syndrome, an autosomal-recessive disease characterized by congenital ichthyosis, bamboo hair, and atopic diathesis. Despite increased frequency of infections, the immunocompetence of patients with Comèl-Netherton syndrome has not been extensively investigated.

Objective

To define Comèl-Netherton syndrome as a primary immunodeficiency disorder and to explore the benefit of intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy.

Methods

We enrolled 9 patients with Comèl-Netherton syndrome, sequenced SPINK5, and analyzed LEKTI expression by immunohistochemistry. Immune function was assessed by measuring cognate immunity, serum cytokine levels, and natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Results

All patients presented with recurrent skin infections caused predominantly by Staphylococcus aureus. All but 1 reported recurrent respiratory tract infections; 78% had sepsis and/or pneumonia; 67% had recurrent gastrointestinal disease and failure to thrive. Mutations in SPINK5—including 6 novel mutations—were identified in 8 patients. LEKTI expression was decreased or absent in all patients.

Immunologic evaluation revealed reduced memory B cells and defective responses to vaccination with Pneumovax and bacteriophage phiX174, characterized by impaired antibody amplification and class-switching. Immune dysregulation was suggested by a skewed T_h1 phenotype and elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels, whereas serum concentrations of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 and natural killer cell cytotoxicity were decreased. Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin resulted in remarkable clinical improvement and temporarily increased natural killer cell cytotoxicity.

Conclusion

These data provide new insights into the immunopathology of Comèl-Netherton syndrome and demonstrate that this multisystem disorder, characterized by lack of LEKTI expression in epithelial cells, is complicated by cognate and innate immunodeficiency that responds favorably to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy.

Key words: Comèl-Netherton syndrome, SPINK5, LEKTI, immune deficiency, NK-cell cytotoxicity, selective antibody deficiency, IVIG, ichthyosis, bamboo hair, atopic diathesis

Abbreviations used: CCL5, Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5, FITC, Fluorescein isothiocyanate, FOXP3, Forkhead box protein 3, IVIG, Intravenous immunoglobulin, LEKTI, Lympho-epithelial Kazal-type 5 related inhibitor, NK, Natural killer, SPINK5, Serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5, TCRBV, T-cell receptor β-chain variable, WAS, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome