STAT6 gain-of-function variant exacerbates multiple allergic symptoms

Abstract

Background Allergic diseases were long considered to be complex multifactorial disorders. However, recent findings indicate that severe allergic inflammation can be caused by monogenic immune defects. Objectives We sought to clarify the molecular pathogenesis of a patient with early-onset multiple allergic diseases, a high serum IgE level, hypereosinophilia, treatment-resistant severe atopic dermatitis with increased dermal collagen fiber deposition, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder with numerous polypoid nodules. Methods A missense variant in STAT6 was identified, and its function was examined using peripheral blood, transfected HEK293 cells, lymphoblastoid cell lines, and knock-in mice with the corresponding mutation. Results Whole-exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous missense variant in signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) (p.Asp419Asn). Luciferase reporter assay revealed that the transcriptional activity of this STAT6 mutant was upregulated even without IL-4 stimulation. Phosphorylation of STAT6 was not observed in either the patient’s TH2 cells or lymphoblastoid cell lines without stimulation, whereas it was induced more strongly in both by IL-4 stimulation compared with healthy controls. STAT6 protein was present in the nuclear fraction of the lymphoblastoid cell lines of the patient even in the absence of IL-4 stimulation. The patient’s gastric mucosa showed upregulation of STAT6-, fibrosis-, and germinal center formation–related molecules. Some of the knock-in mice with the corresponding mutation spontaneously developed dermatitis with skin thickening and eosinophil infiltration. Moreover, serum IgE levels and mRNA expression of type 2 cytokines were increased in the knock-in mice—with or without development of spontaneous dermatitis—compared with the wild-type mice. Conclusions A novel STAT6 gain-of-function variant is a potential cause of primary atopic disorders. Allergic diseases were long considered to be complex multifactorial disorders. However, recent findings indicate that severe allergic inflammation can be caused by monogenic immune defects. We sought to clarify the molecular pathogenesis of a patient with early-onset multiple allergic diseases, a high serum IgE level, hypereosinophilia, treatment-resistant severe atopic dermatitis with increased dermal collagen fiber deposition, and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorder with numerous polypoid nodules. A missense variant in STAT6 was identified, and its function was examined using peripheral blood, transfected HEK293 cells, lymphoblastoid cell lines, and knock-in mice with the corresponding mutation. Whole-exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous missense variant in signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) (p.Asp419Asn). Luciferase reporter assay revealed that the transcriptional activity of this STAT6 mutant was upregulated even without IL-4 stimulation. Phosphorylation of STAT6 was not observed in either the patient’s TH2 cells or lymphoblastoid cell lines without stimulation, whereas it was induced more strongly in both by IL-4 stimulation compared with healthy controls. STAT6 protein was present in the nuclear fraction of the lymphoblastoid cell lines of the patient even in the absence of IL-4 stimulation. The patient’s gastric mucosa showed upregulation of STAT6-, fibrosis-, and germinal center formation–related molecules. Some of the knock-in mice with the corresponding mutation spontaneously developed dermatitis with skin thickening and eosinophil infiltration. Moreover, serum IgE levels and mRNA expression of type 2 cytokines were increased in the knock-in mice—with or without development of spontaneous dermatitis—compared with the wild-type mice. A novel STAT6 gain-of-function variant is a potential cause of primary atopic disorders.