Since 2003, rare inborn errors of human type I IFN immunity have been discovered, each underlying a few severe viral illnesses. Autoantibodies neutralizing type I IFNs due to rare inborn errors of autoimmune regulator (AIRE)-driven T cell tolerance were discovered in 2006, but not initially linked to any viral disease. These two lines of clinical investigation converged in 2020, with the discovery that inherited and/or autoimmune deficiencies of type I IFN immunity accounted for approximately 15%-20% of cases of critical COVID-19 pneumonia in unvaccinated individuals. Thus, insufficient type I IFN immunity at the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a general determinant of life-threatening COVID-19. These findings illustrate the unpredictable, but considerable, contribution of the study of rare human genetic diseases to basic biology and public health.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9888384PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/JCI166283DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

inborn errors
12
type ifn
12
ifn immunity
12
life-threatening covid-19
8
type ifns
8
rare inborn
8
type
5
unlocking life-threatening
4
covid-19 types
4
types inborn
4

Similar Publications

Background: Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a rare life-threatening inborn error of neurotransmitter biosynthesis. It is characterized by deficient biosynthesis of neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, leading to catecholamines deficiency and sympathetic deprivation, while the parasympathetic system remains functional. Since 2012, gene therapy has led to clinical improvements in symptoms and motor function with a severe phenotype.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

ATM Expression and Activation in Ataxia Telangiectasia Patients with and without Class Switch Recombination Defects.

J Clin Immunol

January 2025

Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children´s Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 62 Qarib St., Keshavarz Blvd, Tehran, 14194, Iran.

Background: Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase plays a critical role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients exhibit abnormalities in immunoglobulin isotype expression and class switch recombination (CSR). This study investigates the role of residual ATM kinase expression and activity in the severity of A-T disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT-1) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a defect in tyrosine (tyr) degradation. This defect results in the accumulation of succinylacetone (SA), causing liver failure with a high risk of hepatocarcinoma and kidney injury, leading in turn to Fanconi syndrome with urine loss of phosphate and secondary hypophosphatemic rickets (HR). HT-1 diagnosis is usually made in infants with acute or chronic liver failure or by neonatal screening programs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: AADCd is a rare neurometabolic disorder presenting in infancy. Children with AADCd have motor dysfunction and development delays that result in the need for lifelong care; quality of life is greatly impacted. Current characterizations of health-related quality of life and associated health state utilities (HSUs) may be underestimated in AADCd.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We present the case of a toddler displaying neuroregression post-acute gastroenteritis, initially suggesting neurodegenerative disorders. Further investigations showed atypical results-neuroimaging was inconsistent with suspected disorders, while fundus evaluation, evoked potentials and nerve conduction velocity were normal. Specialised tests using gas chromatography mass spectrometry and tandem mass spectrometry identified methylmalonic acidaemia (MMA), implicating abnormal neurometabolism.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!