Publications by authors named "Kate Del Bel"

Pathogenic PHF21A variation causes PHF21A-related neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Although amorphic alleles, including haploinsufficiency, have been established as a disease mechanism, increasing evidence suggests that missense variants as well as frameshift variants extending the BHC80 carboxyl terminus also cause disease. Expanding on these, we report a proposita with intellectual disability and overgrowth and a novel de novo heterozygous PHF21A splice variant (NM_001352027.

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Background: Early identification of children at risk of asthma can have significant clinical implications for effective intervention and treatment. This study aims to disentangle the relative timing and importance of early markers of asthma.

Methods: Using the CHILD Cohort Study, 132 variables measured in 1754 multi-ethnic children were included in the analysis for asthma prediction.

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Article Synopsis
  • Scientists found that a special protein called JAK1 can cause allergies and skin problems in mice when changed in a certain way.
  • They discovered that JAK1 also helps control inflammation in the lungs, showing it works differently in different parts of the body.
  • This research might help create better medicines that target specific problems related to JAK1.
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Microtubule affinity-regulating kinase 4 (MARK4) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in tau phosphorylation and regulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Abnormal tau phosphorylation and dysregulation of the mTOR pathway are implicated in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we report a gain-of-function variant in in two siblings with childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disability and dysmorphic features.

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Allergic diseases affect millions of people worldwide. An increase in their prevalence has been associated with alterations in the gut microbiome, i.e.

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Background: Helios (encoded by ), a member of the Ikaros family of transcription factors, is a zinc finger protein involved in embryogenesis and immune function. Although predominantly recognised for its role in the development and function of T lymphocytes, particularly the CD4 regulatory T cells (Tregs), the expression and function of Helios extends beyond the immune system. During embryogenesis, Helios is expressed in a wide range of tissues, making genetic variants that disrupt the function of Helios strong candidates for causing widespread immune-related and developmental abnormalities in humans.

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Tandem splice acceptors (NAGN AG) are a common mechanism of alternative splicing, but variants that are likely to generate or to disrupt tandem splice sites have rarely been reported as disease causing. We identify a pathogenic intron 23 CLTC variant (NM_004859.4:c.

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Article Synopsis
  • STAT6 is a key transcription factor involved in allergic inflammation, and researchers identified 16 patients from 10 families across three continents with severe allergic conditions related to its dysfunction.
  • These patients exhibited various symptoms like early-onset immune issues, treatment-resistant skin conditions, asthma, and food allergies, all linked to rare mutations in the STAT6 gene that lead to a gain-of-function phenotype.
  • The study suggests that these mutations cause a novel autosomal dominant allergic disorder and highlights the successful use of the anti-IL-4Rα antibody, dupilumab, as a precision treatment for managing symptoms and improving immune responses.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Researchers discovered a recurrent mutation in the IRF4 gene, identified as p.T95R, linked to an autosomal dominant combined immunodeficiency (CID) in seven patients from six different families, leading to severe vulnerability to opportunistic infections and low antibody levels.
  • - The mutation caused significant defects in the maturation of B cells and alterations in T cell populations, resulting in impaired immune responses, as demonstrated in both human patients and a knock-in mouse model with similar symptoms.
  • - The altered IRF4 protein exhibited unusual behaviors, including stronger DNA binding but reduced activity on typical target genes, while also activating noncanonical genes, showcasing a complex interaction that disrupts normal immune function and leads to disease.
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Background: Early antibiotic exposure is linked to persistent disruption of the infant gut microbiome and subsequent elevated pediatric asthma risk. Breastfeeding acts as a primary modulator of the gut microbiome during early life, but its effect on asthma development has remained unclear.

Methods: We harnessed the CHILD cohort to interrogate the influence of breastfeeding on antibiotic-associated asthma risk in a subset of children (n = 2,521).

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Article Synopsis
  • Primary atopic disorders are genetic immune conditions that lead to severe allergic responses, and studying these can help understand and potentially treat common allergic diseases.
  • A specific mutation in the JAK1 gene causes severe allergic reactions and changes in blood cell development, as seen in studies using zebrafish and human stem cells.
  • Treatment with the drug ruxolitinib in children with this JAK1 mutation significantly improved their growth and allergic symptoms, highlighting the importance of JAK1 in immune system regulation and therapy.
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Alternative use of short distance tandem sites such as NAGN AG are a common mechanism of alternative splicing; however, single nucleotide variants are rarely reported as likely to generate or to disrupt tandem splice sites. We identify a pathogenic intron 5 STK11 variant (NM_000455.4:c.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study identifies the first human case of complete deficiency in NFAT1, a protein crucial for immune cell activation, linked to a specific genetic mutation in the NFATC2 gene.* -
  • The patient exhibited severe health issues including joint contractures, bone growths, and recurrent B-cell lymphoma, suggesting NFAT1's role in both immune response and cancer development.* -
  • The findings also reveal how the lack of NFAT1 affects immune cell distribution and function, indicating the need for better diagnosis and caution regarding the long-term use of calcineurin inhibitors.*
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Article Synopsis
  • KIAA1109 variants are linked to Alkuraya-Kucinskas syndrome, which causes issues like cerebral underdevelopment, clubfeet, and arthrogryposis, with severity depending on the type of genetic change.
  • Severe cases often stem from biallelic truncating variants leading to miscarriage or early death, while milder forms may result from biallelic missense variants causing developmental delays.
  • A family study revealed a specific splice donor mutation in KIAA1109, resulting in partial mRNA skipping, which may explain the milder phenotypes seen in some patients.
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B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11B (BCL11B) is a CH zinc finger transcription factor that is critically important for regulating the development and function of a variety of systems including the central nervous system, the skin, and the immune system. Germline heterozygous variants are associated with a spectrum of clinical disorders, including severe combined immunodeficiency as well as neurological, craniofacial, and dermal defects. Of these individuals, ~50% present with severe allergic disease.

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Background: KRAS (KRAS proto-oncogene, GTPase; OMIM: 190,070) encodes one of three small guanosine triphosphatase proteins belonging to the RAS family. This group of proteins is responsible for cell proliferation, differentiation and inhibition of apoptosis. Gain-of-function variants in KRAS are commonly found in human cancers.

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X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED) is the most common form of ectodermal dysplasia. Clinical and genetic heterogeneity between different ectodermal dysplasia types and evidence of incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity increase the potential for misdiagnosis. We describe a family with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (XLHED) presenting with variable expressivity of symptoms between affected siblings.

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Cutaneous manifestations are common in monogenic immune disorders, including both infectious and non-infectious etiologies. We report follow-up of a case initially published in Pediatric Dermatology in 2001 of a 13-year-old boy with a history of inflammatory skin lesions and neutropenia who developed neutrophilic dermatoses precipitated by G-CSF. Whole exome sequencing performed at 36 years of age revealed a gain-of-function mutation in the WAS gene, leading to a diagnosis of X-linked neutropenia.

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We report three new cases of a germline heterozygous gain-of-function missense (p.(Met1141Lys)) mutation in the C2 domain of phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLCG2) associated with symptoms consistent with previously described auto-inflammation and phospholipase Cγ2 (PLCγ2)-associated antibody deficiency and immune dysregulation (APLAID) syndrome and pediatric common variable immunodeficiency (CVID). Functional evaluation showed platelet hyper-reactivity, increased B cell receptor-triggered calcium influx and ERK phosphorylation.

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Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) is used to treat autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, but its mechanism of action is not completely understood. We asked whether IVIg can induce interleukin-10 (IL-10) and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production in human monocytes, and whether this response is reduced in monocytes from people with an Fcγ receptor IIA (FcγRIIA) gene variant, which is associated with increased risk of inflammatory diseases and poor response to antibody-based biological therapy. IVIg increased IL-10 production and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which required FcγRI and FcγRIIB and activation of MAPKs, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38.

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Objectives: Clinicians need to be aware of the growing list of defined monogenic etiologies of autoimmune diseases. This is particularly relevant when evaluating children, as these rare monogenic forms of autoimmunity tend to present very early in life.

Methods And Results: By harnessing the transformative power of next generation sequencing, we made the unifying diagnosis of RAS-associated autoimmune leukoproliferative disease (RALD), caused by the somatic gain-of-function p.

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MALT1 mutations impair normal NF-κB activation and paracaspase activity to cause a novel combined immunodeficiency. The clinical and immunological phenotype of MALT1 deficiency can be successfully treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation following reduced intensity conditioning.

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In this Letter to the Editor we report the case of two siblings with fatal pneumococcal meningitis as the initial manifestation of IRAK-4 deficiency caused by previously undescribed mutations in IRAK4. The letter also highlights the importance of invasive pneumococcal infection as a critical 'red flag' warning of the potential for an underlying primary immunodeficiency and identifies some of the challenges in making the clinical diagnosis of IRAK-4 deficiency.

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