The transcription factor NFkB is a master regulator of many important cellular processes, including inflammatory responses to invading pathogens. Patients with defects in NFkB signaling are susceptible to life threatening infections and have defects in skin development, known as the syndrome of ectodermal dysplasia with immune deficiency. We have identified a patient with ectodermal dysplasia with immune deficiency with a novel heterozgous mutation in IkappaBalpha (IkBa) a regulator of NFkB activity. This mutation results in the deletion of the first twelve amino acids of IkBa, termed lkBaDelta1-12. lkBaDelta1-12 cannot be normally phosphorylated and degraded following inflammatory stimuli, and, therefore impairs NFkB activation. This novel mutation in IkaBa identifies a previously unappreciated subdomain that is essential to its function and the regulation of NFkB function. The analysis of this IkaBa mutation will be performed by Douglas McDonald, M.D., Ph.D. in the Division of Immunology at Children's Hospital, Boston. Dr. McDonald's goals are to enhance understanding of the roles of IkBa and NFkB in human immunity. These studies will also greatly enrich Dr. McDonald's scientific and clinical skills as a physician scientist. The goals of the studies proposed are to characterize the role of the N-terminal 12 amino acids of IkBa in IkBa processing. We will study the importance of the N-terminal 12 amino acids of IkBa in protein-protein interactions with IKKbeta, the protein kinase that phosphorylates IkBa, leading to IkBa degradation and NFkB activation. We will examine the mechanisms by which lkBaDelta1-12 impairs NFkB function by use of electrophorectic mobility shift assays and the use of NFkB-Luciferase reporter constructs to quantitate NFkB activity. We will further study the role of NFkB in the development and function of the immune system by generating an lkBaDelta1-12 knock-in mouse model of impaired NFkB function. This mouse model will have the advantage of being non-lethal, compared to previous NFkB knock-out mouse models, which have lethal phenotypes. The lkBaDelta1-12 knock-in model will recapitulate the condition found in the patient who is the inspiration behind these studies. The mouse knock-in model will allow for analysis of the importance of IkBa and NFkB in immune system development and function and provide better insights into how the immune system protects against infectious diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08AI076625-02
Application #
7545486
Study Section
Allergy & Clinical Immunology-1 (AITC)
Program Officer
Prograis, Lawrence J
Project Start
2008-01-01
Project End
2011-12-31
Budget Start
2009-01-01
Budget End
2009-12-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$132,300
Indirect Cost
Name
Children's Hospital Boston
Department
Type
DUNS #
076593722
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
McDonald, Douglas R (2012) TH17 deficiency in human disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 129:1429-35; quiz 1436-7
Jabara, Haifa H; McDonald, Douglas R; Janssen, Erin et al. (2012) DOCK8 functions as an adaptor that links TLR-MyD88 signaling to B cell activation. Nat Immunol 13:612-20
McDonald, Douglas R; Massaad, Michel J; Johnston, Alicia et al. (2010) Successful engraftment of donor marrow after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in autosomal-recessive hyper-IgE syndrome caused by dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency. J Allergy Clin Immunol 126:1304-5.e3
McDonald, Douglas R; Goldman, Frederick; Gomez-Duarte, Oscar D et al. (2010) Impaired T-cell receptor activation in IL-1 receptor-associated kinase-4-deficient patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol 126:332-7, 337.e1-2
Mooster, Jana L; Cancrini, Caterina; Simonetti, Alessandra et al. (2010) Immune deficiency caused by impaired expression of nuclear factor-kappaB essential modifier (NEMO) because of a mutation in the 5' untranslated region of the NEMO gene. J Allergy Clin Immunol 126:127-32.e7