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Mutation in a winged-helix DNA-binding motif causes atypical bare lymphocyte syndrome

Nature Immunology volume 3, pages 1075–1081 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Bare lymphocyte syndrome (BLS) is an autosomal recessive severe-combined immunodeficiency that can result from mutations in four different transcription factors that regulate the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes. We have identified here the defective gene that is responsible for the phenotype of the putative fifth BLS complementation group. The mutation was found in the regulatory factor that binds X-box 5 (RFX5) and was mapped to one of the arginines in a DNA-binding surface of this protein. Its wild-type counterpart restored binding of the RFX complex to DNA, transcription of all MHC class II genes and the appearance of these determinants on the surface of BLS cells.

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Figure 1: Characterization of MHC class II expression in Ker cells.
Figure 2: Retroviral delivery of wild-type RFX5 rescues expression of MHC class II on the surface of Ker cells.
Figure 3: RFX5 from Ker cells carries a DBD point mutation.
Figure 4: RFX complex from Ker cells shows severely impaired DNA binding.
Figure 5: Wild-type RFX5 rescues transcription of silent genes in Ker cells.
Figure 6: The proposed binding interface between DNA and RFX.

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Acknowledgements

We thank P. Zupanc-Ecimovic for secretarial assistance; E. Vanin for the RD114 retroviral system and advice; G. Tosi for D1.12 and B7.21 antibodies; and other members of our laboratory for helpful discussions. Supported by the Peter und Traudl Engelhorn Stiftung (M. G.) and a grant from Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, Rosalind Russell Medical Research Center, University of California, San Francisco, 94143-0703, CA, USA

    Nada Nekrep, Nabila Jabrane-Ferrat & B. Matija Peterlin

  2. Institute of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Nada Nekrep

  3. Immunology Outpatient Clinic, Vienna, Austria

    Hermann M. Wolf & Martha M. Eibl

  4. Max-Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany

    Matthias Geyer

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  1. Nada Nekrep
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Correspondence to B. Matija Peterlin.

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Nekrep, N., Jabrane-Ferrat, N., Wolf, H. et al. Mutation in a winged-helix DNA-binding motif causes atypical bare lymphocyte syndrome. Nat Immunol 3, 1075–1081 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni840

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