Combined immunodeficiency with autoimmunity caused by a homozygous missense mutation in inhibitor of nuclear factor 𝛋B kinase alpha (IKKα)

Abstract

Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase alpha (IKKα) is critical for p100/NF-κB2 phosphorylation and processing into p52 and activation of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway. A patient with recurrent infections, skeletal abnormalities, absent secondary lymphoid structures, reduced B cell numbers, hypogammaglobulinemia, and lymphocytic infiltration of intestine and liver was found to have a homozygous p.Y580C mutation in the helix-loop-helix domain of IKKα. The mutation preserves IKKα kinase activity but abolishes the interaction of IKKα with its activator NF-κB–inducing kinase and impairs lymphotoxin-β–driven p100/NF-κB2 processing and <i>VCAM1</i> expression. Homozygous IKKα^Y580C/Y580C mutant mice phenocopy the patient findings; lack marginal zone B cells, germinal centers, and antigen-specific T cell response to cutaneous immunization; have impaired <i>Il17a</i> expression; and are susceptible to cutaneous <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> infection. In addition, these mice demonstrate a severe reduction in medullary thymic epithelial cells, impaired thymocyte negative selection, a restricted TCRVβ repertoire, a selective expansion of potentially autoreactive T cell clones, a decreased frequency of regulatory T cells, and infiltration of liver, pancreas, and lung by activated T cells coinciding with organ damage. Hence, this study identifies IKKα deficiency as a previously undescribed cause of primary immunodeficiency with associated autoimmunity.