Single-gene association between GATA-2 and autoimmune hepatitis: A novel genetic insight highlighting immunologic pathways to disease

JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY

卷:64

Article

Webb, Gwilym^1,2  Chen, Yung-Yi^1,2  Li, Ka-Kit^1,2  Neil, Desley³  Oo, Ye Htun^1,2  Richter, Alex⁴  Bigley, Venetia⁵  Collin, Matthew⁵  Adams, David H.^1,2  Hirschfield, Gideon M.^1,2 

[1] Univ Birmingham, Liver Res Ctr, Birmingham, W Midlands, England

[2] NIHR Birmingham Liver Biomed Res Unit, Birmingham, W Midlands, England

[3] Queen Elizabeth Hosp, Dept Pathol, Birmingham B15 2TH, W Midlands, England

[4] Queen Elizabeth Hosp, Dept Immunol, Birmingham B15 2TH, W Midlands, England

[5] Newcastle Univ, Inst Cellular Med, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England

关键词: Regulatory T cell;    Pathogenesis;    Immune-mediated liver disease;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.jhep.2016.01.017

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Background & Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), an immune mediated liver disease, originates as a consequence of interacting genetic and environmental risk factors. Treatment remains nonspecific and prone to side effects. Deficiencies in regulatory T cell (Treg) function are hypothesized to contribute to the pathogenesis of AIH. Methods: We describe an adult patient who presented with AIH in the context of monocytopenia. The patient was characterized by GATA2 gene sequencing, flow cytometry of peripheral blood for leucocyte subsets, ELISA for serum Flt-3 ligand, and immunohistochemistry of liver biopsy tissue. Results: Sequencing confirmed a GATA2 mutation. Peripheral Treg were absent in the context of a preserved total T cell count. Immunostaining for the Treg transcription factor FOXP3 was reduced in liver tissue as compared to a control AIH specimen. There were marked deficiencies in multiple antigen-presenting cell subsets and Flt-3 ligand was elevated. These findings are consistent with previous reports of GATA2 dysfunction. Conclusions: The association of a GATA2 mutation with AIH is previously unrecognized. GATA2 encodes a hematopoietic cell transcription factor, and mutations may manifest as monocytopenia, dendritic and B cell deficiencies, myelodysplasia, and immunodeficiency. Tregs may be depleted as in this case. Our findings provide support for the role of Tregs in AIH, complement reports of other deficiencies in T cell regulation causing AIH-like syndromes, and support the rationale of attempting to modulate the Treg axis for the therapeutic benefit of AIH patients. (C) 2016 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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