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The New England Journal of Medicine Dec 2020Adult-onset inflammatory syndromes often manifest with overlapping clinical features. Variants in ubiquitin-related genes, previously implicated in autoinflammatory...
BACKGROUND
Adult-onset inflammatory syndromes often manifest with overlapping clinical features. Variants in ubiquitin-related genes, previously implicated in autoinflammatory disease, may define new disorders.
METHODS
We analyzed peripheral-blood exome sequence data independent of clinical phenotype and inheritance pattern to identify deleterious mutations in ubiquitin-related genes. Sanger sequencing, immunoblotting, immunohistochemical testing, flow cytometry, and transcriptome and cytokine profiling were performed. CRISPR-Cas9-edited zebrafish were used as an in vivo model to assess gene function.
RESULTS
We identified 25 men with somatic mutations affecting methionine-41 (p.Met41) in UBA1, the major E1 enzyme that initiates ubiquitylation. (The gene lies on the X chromosome.) In such patients, an often fatal, treatment-refractory inflammatory syndrome develops in late adulthood, with fevers, cytopenias, characteristic vacuoles in myeloid and erythroid precursor cells, dysplastic bone marrow, neutrophilic cutaneous and pulmonary inflammation, chondritis, and vasculitis. Most of these 25 patients met clinical criteria for an inflammatory syndrome (relapsing polychondritis, Sweet's syndrome, polyarteritis nodosa, or giant-cell arteritis) or a hematologic condition (myelodysplastic syndrome or multiple myeloma) or both. Mutations were found in more than half the hematopoietic stem cells, including peripheral-blood myeloid cells but not lymphocytes or fibroblasts. Mutations affecting p.Met41 resulted in loss of the canonical cytoplasmic isoform of UBA1 and in expression of a novel, catalytically impaired isoform initiated at p.Met67. Mutant peripheral-blood cells showed decreased ubiquitylation and activated innate immune pathways. Knockout of the cytoplasmic UBA1 isoform homologue in zebrafish caused systemic inflammation.
CONCLUSIONS
Using a genotype-driven approach, we identified a disorder that connects seemingly unrelated adult-onset inflammatory syndromes. We named this disorder the VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome. (Funded by the NIH Intramural Research Programs and the EU Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program.).
Topics: Age of Onset; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Autoimmune Diseases; Cytokines; Exome; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked; Genotype; Giant Cell Arteritis; Humans; Immunoblotting; Inflammation; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Mutation, Missense; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Polychondritis, Relapsing; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Sweet Syndrome; Syndrome; Ubiquitin-Activating Enzymes
PubMed: 33108101
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2026834 -
Yonsei Medical Journal Jan 2023Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises group of small vessel vasculitides, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA),... (Review)
Review
Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) comprises group of small vessel vasculitides, including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). In 2022, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) jointly proposed new classification criteria for AAV (the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria). In this review, we briefly summarize the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for GPA, MPA, and EGPA, and introduce our clinical experience with applying them to patients who were previously diagnosed with AAV based on three criteria: firstly, the classification criteria for GPA and EGPA proposed by the ACR in 1990; secondly, the algorithm for the classification of AAV and polyarteritis nodosa proposed by the European Medicines Agency algorithm in 2007 (the 2007 EMA algorithm); and thirdly, the revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference nomenclature of vasculitides in 2012 (the 2012 CHCC definitions). We found that concordance rate was highest in patients with MPA (96.6%), followed by those with EGPA (86.3%) and GPA (73.8%). In addition, compared to previous criteria, we noted several issues of the undervalued or overvalued items in the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for classifying AAV and provided several suggestions. To increase the diagnostic accuracy and reduce the discordance rate among the new and previous criteria for AAV, we suggest that the previous criteria should be considered together with the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria when applying the classification criteria for AAV to patients suspected of AAV.
Topics: Humans; United States; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Churg-Strauss Syndrome; Rheumatology; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis; Microscopic Polyangiitis
PubMed: 36579374
DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2022.0435 -
Frontiers in Medicine 2022Vasculitis is an inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels that causes damage to a wide variety of organs through tissue ischemia. Vasculitis is classified according to... (Review)
Review
Vasculitis is an inflammatory disorder of the blood vessels that causes damage to a wide variety of organs through tissue ischemia. Vasculitis is classified according to the size (large, medium, or small) of the blood vessels. In 2020, VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome, a novel autoinflammatory syndrome, was described. Somatic mutations in methionine-41 of UBA1, the major E1 enzyme that initiates ubiquitylation, are attributed to this disorder. This new disease entity connects seemingly unrelated conditions: inflammatory syndromes (relapsing chondritis, Sweet's syndrome, or neutrophilic dermatosis) and hematologic disorders (myelodysplastic syndrome or multiple myeloma). Notably, such patients sometimes develop vasculitis, such as giant cell arteritis and polyarteritis nodosa, and fulfill the corresponding classification criteria for vasculitis. Thus, vasculitis can be an initial manifestation of VEXAS syndrome. In this research topic exploring the link between autoinflammatory diseases and vasculitis, we first provide an overview of the disease mechanisms and clinical phenotypes of VEXAS syndrome. Then, a literature review using the PubMed database was performed to delineate the clinical characteristics of vasculitis associated with VEXAS syndrome. Finally, the therapeutic options and unmet needs of VEXAS syndrome are discussed.
PubMed: 36045928
DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.983939 -
International Journal of Molecular... Nov 2023Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), also known as panarteritis nodosa, represents a form of necrotizing vasculitis that predominantly affects medium-sized vessels, although it... (Review)
Review
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN), also known as panarteritis nodosa, represents a form of necrotizing vasculitis that predominantly affects medium-sized vessels, although it is not restricted to them and can also involve smaller vessels. The clinical presentation is heterogeneous and characterized by a significant number of patients exhibiting general symptoms, including asthenia, fever, and unintended weight loss. Although PAN can involve virtually any organ, it preferentially affects the skin, nervous system, and the gastrointestinal tract. Orchitis is a rare but specific manifestation of PAN. The absence of granulomas, glomerulonephritis, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies serves to distinguish PAN from other types of vasculitis. Major complications consist of hemorrhagic and thrombotic events occurring in mesenteric, cardiac, cerebral, and renal systems. Historically, PAN was frequently linked to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, but this association has dramatically changed in recent years due to declining HBV prevalence. Current epidemiological research often identifies a connection between PAN and genetic syndromes as well as neoplasia. This article provides a comprehensive review of PAN, specifically focusing on the progression of its clinical manifestations over time.
Topics: Male; Humans; Polyarteritis Nodosa; Vasculitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Gastrointestinal Tract
PubMed: 38068989
DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316668 -
Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology 2022Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), and the prevalence of any IMID is higher in IBD patients... (Review)
Review
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), and the prevalence of any IMID is higher in IBD patients than in the general population. IBD and other IMIDs involve alterations in innate and adaptive immune responses. Their co-occurrence depends on shared immune and inflammatory processes, pathogenic mechanisms, and genetic and environmental risk factors, including drugs, especially tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. The more common IMIDs associated with IBD have been widely described, so this review focuses on the less frequent associations. The IMIDs discussed here are skin disorders (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa, and hidradenitis suppurativa), hepato-pancreatic diseases (autoimmune hepatitis, granulomatous hepatitis, and autoimmune pancreatitis), endocrine diseases (autoimmune thyroid diseases, and type 1 diabetes mellitus), multiple sclerosis, and respiratory diseases (asthma, bronchiectasis, and interstitial pneumonia). The early detection of IMIDs in IBD patients is important to prevent their deleterious clinical course and limit their psychological impact. Care for IBD patients with IMIDs should be multispecialist, with a single therapeutic strategy instead of treating each disease separately.
PubMed: 35924080
DOI: 10.1177/17562848221115312 -
Reumatologia Clinica Jan 2024VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) syndrome is an adult-onset autoinflammatory syndrome characterized by somatic mutations in the UBA1 gene... (Review)
Review
VEXAS (Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, Autoinflammatory, Somatic) syndrome is an adult-onset autoinflammatory syndrome characterized by somatic mutations in the UBA1 gene and is considered the prototype of hematoinflammatory diseases. Patients with VEXAS syndrome exhibit inflammatory and hematological manifestations that can lead to clinical diagnoses such as relapsing polychondritis, polyarteritis nodosa, Sweet syndrome, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Diagnosis requires bone marrow evaluation to identify cytoplasmic vacuoles in myeloid and erythroid precursors. However, genetic confirmation of mutations in UBA1 is necessary. Treatment is challenging and often involves glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants with variable responses. Hypomethylating agents and allogenic haemopoietic stem cell transplant are considered promising therapies. Prognosis is influenced by genetic and clinical factors. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the pathogenesis, clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of VEXAS syndrome for the Latin American medical community.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Myelodysplastic Syndromes; Glucocorticoids; Immunosuppressive Agents; Mutation; Skin Diseases, Genetic
PubMed: 38160120
DOI: 10.1016/j.reumae.2023.12.004 -
Biomedicines May 2021The term coronary "artery vasculitis" is used for a diverse group of diseases with a wide spectrum of manifestations and severity. Clinical manifestations may include... (Review)
Review
The term coronary "artery vasculitis" is used for a diverse group of diseases with a wide spectrum of manifestations and severity. Clinical manifestations may include pericarditis or myocarditis due to involvement of the coronary microvasculature, stenosis, aneurysm, or spontaneous dissection of large coronaries, or vascular thrombosis. As compared to common atherosclerosis, patients with coronary artery vasculitis are younger and often have a more rapid disease progression. Several clinical entities have been associated with coronary artery vasculitis, including Kawasaki's disease, Takayasu's arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, ANCA-associated vasculitis, giant-cell arteritis, and more recently a Kawasaki-like syndrome associated with SARS-COV-2 infection. This review will provide a short description of these conditions, their diagnosis and therapy for use by the practicing cardiologist.
PubMed: 34072772
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060622 -
Kidney Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) May 2023Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) were first proposed 20 years ago and caused by dysregulation of the innate immune system, leading to episodes of systemic inflammation.... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) were first proposed 20 years ago and caused by dysregulation of the innate immune system, leading to episodes of systemic inflammation. Advances in next-generation sequencing and biological technology have resulted in the identification of new monogenic diseases and the corresponding signaling pathways that may guide us in targeted therapy. The kidney is a major target organ of various inflammatory processes.
SUMMARY
During systemic inflammation, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF, lead to over-transcription and release of acute phase reactant serum amyloid A (SAA). Sustained high SAA levels promote a cascade of pathophysiological events, including protein misfolding, protein fragmentation, and aggregation into highly ordered amyloid fibrils. Amyloid fibril deposition in the kidney cause progressive glomerular and vascular damage. Renal AA amyloidosis is a common and severe complication of AIDs, including familial Mediterranean fever, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes, TNF receptor-associated periodic fever syndrome, mevalonate kinase deficiency/hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome, and deficiency of adenosine deaminase 2. Amyloidosis may even be the first clinical manifestation in some patients, presenting with asymptomatic proteinuria, nephritic syndrome, progressive renal insufficiency, or end-stage kidney disease. In addition, major dysregulated pathways in different AIDs lead to endogenous inflammation, which is due to direct endothelial cytotoxicity caused by IL-1β, type I interferon, or possibly immune complexes. The kidney is frequently affected by various vasculitis, and kidney involvement is a major determinant of treatment options and outcomes. The renal vasculitis involved in AIDs includes renal artery Takayasu vasculitis, polyarteritis nodosa, and IgA vasculitis. Moreover, other kidney diseases, such as glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis, and renal tubular dysfunction, were also reported in AIDs.
KEY MESSAGES
Kidney manifestations can be a coexisting disease seen with AIDs. They may also be one of the characteristics of AIDs. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that amyloidosis, vasculitis, or other kidney diseases may be associated with AIDs in order to make appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Kidney biopsy may be of great significance. Biologics, which switch off the underlying cytokine-mediated inflammatory process, have the potential to restore organ damage and improve the outcome in the very early stage of the disease.
PubMed: 37497206
DOI: 10.1159/000529917 -
Rheumatology (Oxford, England) Jul 2022To study the prevalence, risk and clinical associations of hypothyroidism among several forms of vasculitis.
OBJECTIVE
To study the prevalence, risk and clinical associations of hypothyroidism among several forms of vasculitis.
METHODS
Patients with GCA, Takayasu's arteritis (TAK), PAN and the three forms of ANCA-associated vasculitis [AAV; granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)] enrolled in a prospective, multicentre, longitudinal study were included.
RESULTS
The study included data on 2085 patients [63% female, 90% White] with a mean age of 54.6 years (s.d. 17.2). Diagnoses were GCA (20%), TAK (11%), PAN (5%), GPA (42%), microscopic polyangiitis (8%) and EGPA (14%). Hypothyroidism was present in 217 patients (10%) (83% female), with a mean age 59.8 years (s.d. 14.5). Age- and sex-adjusted risk of hypothyroidism was GCA, odds ratio (OR) 0.61 (95% CI 0.41, 0.90); TAK, OR 0.57 (95% CI 0.31, 1.03); PAN, OR 0.59 (95% CI 0.25, 1.38); GPA, OR 1.51 (95% CI 1.12, 2.05); microscopic polyangiitis, OR 1.81 (95% CI 1.18, 2.80) and EGPA, OR 0.82 (95% CI 0.52, 1.30). Among patients with AAV, age- and sex-adjusted risk of hypothyroidism was higher with positive MPO-ANCA [OR 1.89 (95% CI 1.39, 2.76)]. The clinical manifestations of vasculitis were similar in patients with and without hypothyroidism, except transient ischaemic attacks, which were more frequently observed in patients with GCA and hypothyroidism (12% vs 2%; P = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Differences in the risk of hypothyroidism among vasculitides may be due to genetic susceptibilities or immune responses. This study confirms an association of hypothyroidism with MPO-ANCA.
Topics: Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; Churg-Strauss Syndrome; Female; Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis; Humans; Hypothyroidism; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Microscopic Polyangiitis; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34730828
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keab817