Deficiency in the dedicator of cytokinesis-8 (DOCK8) gene, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, results in autosomal recessive Hyper-IgE syndrome characterized by recurrent pulmonary infections, eczema, cutaneous viral infections, elevated serum IgE levels, food allergy, low numbers of T cells, and deficient antibody responses. We have found that DOCK8 deficient patients have impaired IgG antibody responses, lack of memory B cells, reduced numbers of marginal zone (MZ)-like B cells and of follicular helper (TFH) cells. Unlike normal subjects, they make IgE antibodies to pneumococcal antigens. We also made the novel observation that DOCK8 functions downstream of TLR9 in B cells, and is essential for TLR9-induced activation of STAT3, which plays an important role in the differentiation of B cells into antibody producing cells, and demonstrated that DOCK8 associates with MyD88 and the tyrosine kinase Pyk2 in B cells, undergoes phosphorylation by Pyk2 and is critical for the activation of a Lyn-Syk-STAT3 cascade following TLR9 ligation in human and mouse B cells. We propose to test the overall hypothesis that DOCK8 is a key regulator of B cell activity. We will take advantage of our access to a large population of DOCK8 deficient patients, of newly constructed Dock8-/- mice whose B cells phenocopy the defects in the patients, and of mice that carry a conditional (floxed) Dock8 allele, to test the hypothesis tht DOCK8 promotes protective T dependent (TD) and type II T independent (TI) Ab. responses, but inhibits allergic IgE Ab. responses by mechanisms both intrinsic and extrinsic to B cells. We will 1) Test the hypothesis that ligand binding to TLR9 in B cells recruits and activates the tri- molecular MyD88/DOCK8/Pyk2 complex, resulting in STAT3 activation and B cell differentiation. 2) Test the hypothesis that DOCK8 cells plays a critical role in IgG antibody responses by mediating TLR9 signaling, promoting T follicular helper cell function and driving the development of MZ B cells. 3) Test the hypothesis that DOCK8 is a regulator of IgE antibody production and that IgE antibodies to microbial antigens enhance the susceptibility to infection in DOCK8 deficiency. A deeper knowledge of the role of DOCK8 in B cell function will further our understanding of the susceptibility of DOCK8 patients to infection. Since DOCK8 deficiency predisposes to autoimmunity, allergy and cancer, its study is likely to provide novel and important insights into the pathogenesis of these common conditions.

Public Health Relevance

Autosomal recessive Hyper-IgE syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency diseases caused by mutations in the dedicator of cytokinesis-8 (DOCK8) gene. We propose to examine the role of DOCK8 in promoting protective IgG antibody responses, and inhibiting harmful IgE antibody responses. A deeper knowledge of the role of DOCK8 in B cell function will further our understanding of the susceptibility of DOCK8 patients to infection. Since DOCK8 deficiency predisposes to autoimmunity, allergy and cancer, its study is also likely to provide novel and important insights into the pathogenesis of these common conditions.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI100315-02
Application #
8639460
Study Section
Cellular and Molecular Immunology - B Study Section (CMIB)
Program Officer
Johnson, David R
Project Start
2013-04-01
Project End
2018-03-31
Budget Start
2014-04-01
Budget End
2015-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Alroqi, Fayhan J; Charbonnier, Louis-Marie; Baris, Safa et al. (2018) Exaggerated follicular helper T-cell responses in patients with LRBA deficiency caused by failure of CTLA4-mediated regulation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 141:1050-1059.e10
Alroqi, Fayhan J; Charbonnier, Louis-Marie; Keles, Sevgi et al. (2017) DOCK8 Deficiency Presenting as an IPEX-Like Disorder. J Clin Immunol 37:811-819
Jabara, Haifa H; Lee, John J; Janssen, Erin et al. (2017) Heterozygosity for transmembrane activator and calcium modulator ligand interactor A144E causes haploinsufficiency and pneumococcal susceptibility in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol 139:1293-1301.e4
Yee, Christina S; Massaad, Michel J; Bainter, Wayne et al. (2016) Recurrent viral infections associated with a homozygous CORO1A mutation that disrupts oligomerization and cytoskeletal association. J Allergy Clin Immunol 137:879-88.e2
Al-Herz, Waleed; Chu, Julia I; van der Spek, Jet et al. (2016) Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcomes for 11 patients with dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency. J Allergy Clin Immunol 138:852-859.e3
Keles, Sevgi; Charbonnier, Louis Marie; Kabaleeswaran, Venkataraman et al. (2016) Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 regulates signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 activation and promotes TH17 cell differentiation. J Allergy Clin Immunol 138:1384-1394.e2
Janssen, Erin; Tohme, Mira; Hedayat, Mona et al. (2016) A DOCK8-WIP-WASp complex links T cell receptors to the actin cytoskeleton. J Clin Invest 126:3837-3851
Charbonnier, Louis-Marie; Janssen, Erin; Chou, Janet et al. (2015) Regulatory T-cell deficiency and immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked-like disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in LRBA. J Allergy Clin Immunol 135:217-27
Janssen, Erin; Morbach, Henner; Ullas, Sumana et al. (2014) Dedicator of cytokinesis 8-deficient patients have a breakdown in peripheral B-cell tolerance and defective regulatory T cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 134:1365-1374
Al-Zahrani, Daifulah; Raddadi, Ali; Massaad, Michel et al. (2014) Successful interferon-alpha 2b therapy for unremitting warts in a patient with DOCK8 deficiency. Clin Immunol 153:104-108

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