Correction of neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia in X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome by allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Abstract

X-linked hyper-IgM (X-HIM) syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by defects in both cellular and humoral immunity. X-HIM is caused by mutations in the gene for CD40 ligand (CD40L), a T cell membrane protein that mediates T cell-dependent immune functions. We report the case of a 6-year-old male with X-HIM due to an intronic mutation resulting in aberrant CD40L RNA splicing and absence of detectable CD40L protein. The patient had a history of multiple infectious complications and chronic neutropenia requiring treatment with recombinant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an HLA-matched sibling donor. Following successful engraftment, T cell CD40L expression and immunoglobulin isotype switching were reconstituted and neutropenia resolved. Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation can correct neutropenia and reconstitute immune function in X-HIM.