Functional evaluation of neutrophils in CD40L-DEFICIENCY patients

• Grant number: 17/04187-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: July 01, 2017
• End date: September 30, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Condino Neto
• Grantee: Tábata Takahashi França
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Patients with X-Linked Hyper IgM Syndrome (X-HIGM), a rare immunodeficiency caused by the deficiency of the CD40 ligand molecule (CD40L), are highly susceptible to infections by several classes of microorganisms, and opportunistic infections caused by fungi represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, even in patients undergoing treatment with the current drug protocols. Recent studies point to changes in important effector responses in X-HIGM patients' phagocytes, such as lower production of reactive oxygen species, dysregulation in NETs generation and deficient fungicidal activity, even though the persistence of infections cannot be justified by only these mechanisms, because some of them have been shown to be only partially reduced. The CD40-CD40L interaction play a key role in several immune processes and its absence in the bone marrow results in dysregulation of the granulopoiesis process, as demonstrated by neutropenia and incomplete neutrophil maturation in X-HIGM patients. Defects in neutrophil maturation can lead to dysregulation in various mechanisms that precede activation and action at the infectious site, such as survival rate, receptor expression and migration capacity, thereby compromising any subsequent immune response. Preliminary X-HIGM patients' neutrophil assays confirmed the presence of immature peripheral neutrophils and a strong reduction in migration, indicating the presence of defects not yet elucidated. Based on these observations, we propose to investigate the functional profile presented by neutrophils of patients with CD40L deficiency prior to their effector role at the infectious site - such as viability and subpopulation profile; mechanisms involved in the recruitment to the infectious site, such as adhesion capacity, migration, chemotaxis and degranulation; and finally, fungal recognition immediately preceding the effector response against microorganisms. In addition, we will investigate whether the in vitro interferon-gamma (IFN-³) treatment, known to boost phagocyte activity, has the potential to improve these cells' response. The elucidation of the immunopathological mechanisms involved in the susceptibility of X-HIGM patients' to infections will allow a better understanding of the function of CD40-CD40L interaction in the bone marrow and in the immune response. In addition, advances in knowledge associated with the study of the effect of IFN-³ treatment can substantiate the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of patients affected by this syndrome. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FRANCA, TABATA TAKAHASHI; BARREIROS, LUCILA AKUNE; SALGADO, RANIERI COELHO; DA SILVA NAPOLEAO, SARAH MARIA; GOMES, LILLIAN NUNES; SEVERO FERREIRA, JANAIRA FERNANDES; PRANDO, CAROLINA; WEBER, CRISTINA WORM; WATANABE DI GESU, REGINA SUMIKO; MONTENEGRO, CECILIA; et al. CD40 Ligand Deficiency in Latin America: Clinical, Immunological, and Genetic Characteristics. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, JAN 2022. (20/01688-0, 17/04187-9, 18/18886-9, 16/22158-3)

FRANCA, TABATA T.; LEITE, LUIZ F. B.; MAXIMO, TIAGO A.; LAMBERT, CHRISTIANE G.; ZURRO, NURIA B.; FORTE, WILMA C. N.; CONDINO-NETO, ANTONIO. A Novel de Novo Mutation in the CD40 Ligand Gene in a Patient With a Mild X-Linked Hyper-IgM Phenotype Initially Diagnosed as CVID: New Aspects of Old Diseases. FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS, v. 6, MAY 4 2018. (17/04187-9)

FRANCA, TABATA T.; BARREIROS, LUCILA A.; AL-RAMADI, BASEL K.; OCHS, HANS D.; CABRAL-MARQUES, OTAVIO; CONDINO-NETO, ANTONIO. CD40 ligand deficiency: treatment strategies and novel therapeutic perspectives. EXPERT REVIEW OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY, v. 15, n. 5, p. 529-540, MAY 4 2019. (16/22158-3, 17/04187-9, 18/09407-0)

FRANCA, TABATA TAKAHASHI; AL-SBIEI, ASHRAF; BASHIR, GHADA; MOHAMED, YASSIR AWAD; SALGADO, RANIERI COELHO; BARREIROS, LUCILA AKUNE; DA SILVA NAPOLEAO, SARAH MARIA; WEBER, CRISTINA WORM; SEVERO FERREIRA, JANAIRA FERNANDES; ARANDA, CAROLINA SANCHEZ; et al. CD40L modulates transcriptional signatures of neutrophils in the bone marrow associated with development and trafficking. JCI INSIGHT, v. 6, n. 16, AUG 23 2021. (16/22158-3, 20/01688-0, 18/18886-9, 17/04187-9, 20/07069-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

FRANÇA, Tábata Takahashi. Genotype and phenotype of Latin American patients with CD40L deficiency and new immunopathological mechanisms associated with the disease. 2021. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.