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Die klinisch-rheumatologische Praxis ist in den letzten 2 Jahrzehnten mit einer stets steigenden Anzahl autoinflammatorischer Erkrankungen konfrontiert, deren immunologische Pathomechanismen aufgeklart wurden und die sich teilweise klinisch gut einordnen lassen. Diente die gezielte genetische Diagnostik bislang der Bestatigung der klinischen Diagnose, so hat sich heute die genetische Sequenzierungstechnik verbessert. Die Hochdurchsatzsequenzierung z. B. durch Panelsequenzierung, Whole-Exom- und Whole-Genom-Sequenzierung ermoglicht einen vollig neuen diagnostischen Ansatz. Die Entscheidung zur klinischen und/oder genetischen Diagnosestellung ist damit zur taglichen Herausforderung geworden. In dieser Arbeit werden die klinischen, immunologischen und genetischen Aspekte der autoinflammatorischen Erkrankungen gegenubergestellt.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease of preterm infants. Mouse models of hyperoxia-induced lung injury are often used to study pathogenesis and potential therapeutic approaches of BPD. Beside histological studies, gene expression analysis of lung tissue is typically used as experimental readout. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the standard method for gene expression analysis; however, the accuracy of the quantitative data depends on the appropriate selection of reference genes. No data on validated reference genes for hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury in mice are available. In this study, 12 potential reference genes were systematically analyzed for their expression stability in lung tissue of neonatal mice exposed to room air or hyperoxia and healthy adult controls using published software algorithms. Analysis of gene expression data identified Hprt, Tbp, and Hmbs as the most stable reference genes and proposed combinations of Hprt/Sdha or Hprt/Rpl13a as potential normalization factors. These reference genes and normalization factors were validated by comparing Il6 gene and protein expression and may facilitate accurate gene expression analysis in lung tissues of similar designed studies.

Zusammenfassung Ziel der Studie Die Häufigkeit Seltener Erkrankungen im Krankengut von Krankenhäusern und Universitätsklinika ist unbekannt. Der ICD-10 bildet Diagnosen Seltener Erkrankungen nur unzureichend ab, über entsprechende Entlassdiagnosen ist die Häufigkeit Seltener Erkrankungen nicht abschätzbar. Die Systematik des gegenwärtigen Krankenhausentgeltsystems scheint nicht auf eine leistungsgerechte Vergütung in der Behandlung dieser Erkrankungen ausgelegt. Durch Einführung einer verpflichtenden Dokumentation von Seltenen Erkrankungen sollte erstmalig eine repräsentative Abschätzung der Häufigkeit von stationär behandelten Seltenen Erkrankungen an einem Universitätsklinikum gegeben werden. Methodik Seit 2017 erfolgt für alle stationär behandelten Patienten des Universitätsklinikums Dresden die obligate Abfrage, ob eine Seltene Erkrankung vorliegt. Im Falle eines Vorliegens, erfolgt eine Kodierung der Seltenen Erkrankung auf Basis der Orpha-Kennnummer, welche dazu in das Krankhausinformationssystem ORBIS implementiert wurde. Ergebnisse Exemplarisch wurde das Jahr 2019 ausgewertet, in welchem am Universitätsklinikum Dresden von insgesamt 70 937 Entlassfällen für 19% eine Seltene Erkrankung kodiert wurde. Schlussfolgerung Erstmals wurde eine prospektive und als lückenlos anzusehende Erhebung von Seltenen Erkrankungen an einem deutschen Universitätsklinikum umgesetzt. Die seitens der Europäischen Union definierte Prävalenz Seltener Erkrankungen von 6 bis 8% wurde um ein Mehrfaches überschritten. Mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit wird die tatsächliche Häufigkeit dennoch erheblich unterschätzt, da die Qualität der Kodierung mit der Nutzercompliance korreliert. Dadurch unterstreicht die Erfassung die besondere Rolle von Patienten mit Seltener Erkrankung in der Versorgungsrealität von Universitätsklinika.

Epidemiological data show a significant association between childhood atopic eczema (AE) and an increased risk to develop attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the underlying mechanisms of the comorbidity of AE and ADHD are mostly unknown. We investigated whether alterations of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function represent a shared feature of AE and ADHD potentiating AE-ADHD comorbidity. Children aged 6–12 years with AE, ADHD, or comorbid AE + ADHD and healthy control (HC) children were examined cross-sectionally (N = 145). To evaluate HPA axis function, salivary cortisol in response to psychosocial stress (Trier Social Stress Test for Children, TSST-C), after awakening (cortisol awakening response, CAR), and throughout the day (short diurnal profile) and hair cortisol capturing long-term HPA axis activity were assessed. Quantile regression analyses showed an attenuated cortisol response (% maximum change) to the TSST-C in children with ADHD compared to HC. A diminished cortisol response to acute stress was also observed in the comorbid AE + ADHD group, in which the reduction was numerically even more pronounced. Contrary to our previous findings, no alteration of the cortisol response to the TSST-C was observed in children with AE. However, in children with AE, increased ADHD-like behavior (i.e., inattention, impulsivity, and overall ADHD symptom severity) was associated with a reduced HPA axis response to acute stress. No such associations were observed in children without AE. Groups did not differ in CAR, short diurnal profile, and hair cortisol. These findings underscore the potential relevance of HPA axis function in the pathophysiology of AE and ADHD with emphasis on stress reactivity. Additional studies are required to further explore the separate and joint role of the HPA axis in the pathophysiology of AE and ADHD.

The nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway is crucial in inflammatory and immune responses. NF-κB2 plays a pivotal role in the noncanonical pathway important for peripheral lymphoid organ development, B-cell maturation and antibody production. 1 Heterozygous mutations in the NFKB2 gene have been identified as a molecular cause of primary immunodeficiency. Previously described NF-κB2-defective patients presented with hypogammaglobulinemia in early childhood and suffered from recurrent respiratory tract infections. 2 Clinical and immunological features are often compatible with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), but additional defects in T and NK cells have been reported. 3-5,9 . Other typical symptoms such as ectodermal dysplasia with alopecia totalis and trachyonychia may be autoimmune manifestations. About half of the patients develop isolated ACTH deficiency with consecutive cortisol deficiency, an unusual feature in large cohorts of CVID patients. Susceptibility to herpes infections has also been described.

BACKGROUND. Undifferentiated systemic autoinflammatory diseases (USAIDs) present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Chronic interferon (IFN) signaling and cytokine dysregulation may identify diseases with available targeted treatments. METHODS. Sixty-six consecutively referred USAID patients underwent underwent screening for the presence of an interferon signature using a standardized type-I IFN-response-gene score (IRG-S), cytokine profiling, and genetic evaluation by next-generation sequencing. RESULTS. Thirty-six USAID patients (55%) had elevated IRG-S. Neutrophilic panniculitis (40% vs. 0%), basal ganglia calcifications (46% vs. 0%), interstitial lung disease (47% vs. 5%), and myositis (60% vs. 10%) were more prevalent in patients with elevated IRG-S. Moderate IRG-S elevation and highly elevated serum IL-18 distinguished 8 patients with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) and recurrent macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Among patients with panniculitis and progressive cytopenias, 2 patients were compound heterozygous for potentially novel LRBA mutations, 4 patients harbored potentially novel splice variants in IKBKG (which encodes NF-κB essential modulator [NEMO]), and 6 patients had de novo frameshift mutations in SAMD9L. Of additional 12 patients with elevated IRG-S and CANDLE-, SAVI- or Aicardi-Goutières syndrome-like (AGS-like) phenotypes, 5 patients carried mutations in either SAMHD1, TREX1, PSMB8, or PSMG2. Two patients had anti-MDA5 autoantibody-positive juvenile dermatomyositis, and 7 could not be classified. Patients with LRBA, IKBKG, and SAMD9L mutations showed a pattern of IRG elevation that suggests prominent NF-κB activation different from the canonical interferonopathies CANDLE, SAVI, and AGS. CONCLUSIONS. In patients with elevated IRG-S, we identified characteristic clinical features and 3 additional autoinflammatory diseases: IL-18-mediated PAP and recurrent MAS (IL-18PAP-MAS), NEMO deleted exon 5-autoinflammatory syndrome (NEMO-NDAS), and SAMD9L-associated autoinflammatory disease (SAMD9L-SAAD). The IRG-S expands the diagnostic armamentarium in evaluating USAIDs and points to different pathways regulating IRG expression. Fil: de Jesus, Adriana A.. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases; Estados Unidos Fil: Hou, Yangfeng. Shandong University; China Fil: Brooks, Stephen. National Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases; Estados Unidos Fil: Malle, Louise. cahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Estados Unidos Fil: Biancotto, Angelique. No especifíca; Fil: Huang, Yan. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases; Estados Unidos Fil: Calvo, Katherine R.. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos Fil: Marrero, Bernadette. No especifíca; Fil: Moir, Susan. No especifíca; Fil: Oler, Andrew J.. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases ; Estados Unidos Fil: Deng, Zuoming. National Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases; Estados Unidos Fil: Montealegre Sanchez, Gina A.. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases ; Estados Unidos Fil: Ahmed, Amina. No especifíca; Fil: Allenspach, Eric. Washington State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Arabshahi, Bita. Virginia Commonwealth University; Estados Unidos Fil: Behrens, Edward. University of Pennsylvania; Estados Unidos Fil: Benseler, Susanne. University of Calgary; Canadá Fil: Bezrodnik, Liliana. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Bout Tabaku, Sharon. No especifíca; Fil: Brescia, AnneMarie C.. No especifíca; Fil: Brown, Diane. No especifíca; Fil: Burnham, Jon M.. University of Pennsylvania; Estados Unidos Fil: Caldirola, Maria Soledad. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones en Patologías Pediátricas; Argentina Fil: Carrasco, Ruy. No especifíca; Fil: Chan, Alice Y.. University of California; Estados Unidos Fil: Cimaz, Rolando. Università degli Studi di Milano; Italia Fil: Dancey, Paul. Janeway Children's Hospital And Rehabilitation Centre; Canadá Fil: Dare, Jason. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: DeGuzman, Marietta. Baylor College Of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Dimitriades, Victoria. No especifíca; Fil: Ferguson, Ian. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Ferguson, Polly. University of Iowa; Estados Unidos Fil: Finn, Laura. University of Washington; Estados Unidos Fil: Gattorno, Marco. No especifíca; Fil: Grom, Alexei A.. No especifíca; Fil: Hanson, Eric P.. No especifíca; Fil: Hashkes, Philip J.. No especifíca; Fil: Hedrich, Christian M.. University of Liverpool; Reino Unido Fil: Herzog, Ronit. University of New York; Estados Unidos Fil: Horneff, Gerd. Universitat zu Köln; Alemania Fil: Jerath, Rita. Augusta University; Estados Unidos Fil: Kessler, Elizabeth. University of Missouri; Estados Unidos Fil: Kim, Hanna. No especifíca; Fil: Kingsbury, Daniel J.. No especifíca; Fil: Laxer, Ronald M.. University Of Toronto. Hospital For Sick Children; Canadá Fil: Lee, Pui Y.. Children's Hospital Boston; Estados Unidos Fil: Lee Kirsch, Min Ae. Technische Universität Dresden; Alemania Fil: Lewandowski, Laura. No especifíca; Fil: Li, Suzanne. Hackensack University Medical Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Lilleby, Vibke. Oslo University Hospital; Noruega Fil: Mammadova, Vafa. Azerbaijan Medical University; Azerbaiyán Fil: Moorthy, Lakshmi N.. Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Estados Unidos Fil: Nasrullayeva, Gulnara. Azerbaijan Medical University; Azerbaiyán Fil: O'Neil, Kathleen M.. Riley Hospital for Children; Estados Unidos Fil: Onel, Karen. Hospital for Special Surgery; Estados Unidos Fil: Ozen, Seza. Hacettepe University; Turquía Fil: Pan, Nancy. Hospital for Special Surgery; Estados Unidos Fil: Pillet, Pascal. Children Hospital Pellegrin-Enfants; Francia Fil: Piotto, Daniela G.P.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Punaro, Marilynn G.. University of Texas; Estados Unidos Fil: Reiff, Andreas. University of Nebraska; Estados Unidos Fil: Reinhardt, Adam. University of Nebraska; Estados Unidos Fil: Rider, Lisa G.. No especifíca; Fil: Rivas Chacon, Rafael. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital; Estados Unidos Fil: Ronis, Tova. Children’s National Health System; Estados Unidos Fil: Rösen Wolff, Angela. Technische Universität Dresden; Alemania Fil: Roth, Johannes. Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario; Canadá Fil: Mckerran Ruth, Natasha. Medical University of South Carolina; Estados Unidos Fil: Rygg, Marite. Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Noruega Fil: Schmeling, Heinrike. University of Calgary; Canadá Fil: Schulert, Grant. Children’s Hospital Medical Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Scott, Christiaan. University of Cape Town; Sudáfrica Fil: Seminario, Gisella. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; Argentina Fil: Shulman, Andrew. University of California at Irvine; Estados Unidos Fil: Sivaraman, Vidya. Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Estados Unidos Fil: Son, Mary Beth. Boston Children’s Hospital; Estados Unidos Fil: Stepanovskiy, Yuriy. Shupyk National Medical Academy for Postgraduate Education; Ucrania Fil: Stringer, Elizabeth. Dalhousie University Halifax; Canadá Fil: Taber, Sara. Hospital for Special Surgery; Estados Unidos Fil: Terreri, Maria Teresa. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; Brasil Fil: Tifft, Cynthia. No especifíca; Fil: Torgerson, Troy. University of Washington; Estados Unidos Fil: Tosi, Laura. Children’s National Health System; Estados Unidos Fil: van Royen Kerkhof, Annet. Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Utrech; Países Bajos Fil: Wampler Muskardin, Theresa. New York University School of Medicine; Estados Unidos Fil: Canna, Scott W.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados Unidos Fil: Goldbach Mansky, Raphaela. National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases ; Estados Unidos

ZusammenfassungAutoinflammatorische Erkrankungen sind durch systemische oder organbezogene Entzündung gekennzeichnet, welche zumindest initial von fehlregulierten Mechanismen des angeborenen Immunsystems ausgehen. Einige monogene autoinflammatorische Erkrankungen manifestieren in der Perinatalperiode, sodass sie Differenzialdiagnosen zu Infektionen des Neugeborenen darstellen. Im vorliegenden Artikel werden Einblicke in die klinische Präsentation und die molekulare Pathophysiologie Inflammasom-vermittelter monogener Erkrankungen mit Manifestation im Neugeborenenalter gegeben.

A growing number of studies show an association between seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) with depression and anxiety. The underlying mechanisms of a link between SAR and affect, however, are still unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate depressive symptoms and anxiety in SAR patients and their association to inflammatory and endocrine parameters. SAR patients (n=41) and non-allergic, healthy controls (n=42) were assessed during (pollen season) and out of symptomatic periods (non-pollen season). Inflammatory cytokine profile (Interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF-α), Immunoglobulin-E (IgE), hair cortisol concentrations (HCC), as well as sleep quality were measured. The present data show that during acute allergic inflammation SAR patients experienced a significant increase in Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-) II scores when (a) compared to the asymptomatic period and (b) when compared to the non-allergic controls, while no differences in anxiety were observed. Increased BDI-II scores in SAR patients were significantly associated with levels of IL-6 as well as IL-6/IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-10 ratios and further, to an early age at manifestation of SAR and poor sleep quality. These findings support a close relationship between acute allergic processes and affective states, with inflammatory cytokines, sleep, and age of manifestation as potentially relevant mediators.

Das phanotypische und genetische Spektrum autoinflammatorischer Erkrankungen hat in den letzten Jahren stetig zugenommen. So sind mittlerweile mehrere monogen bedingte autoinflammatorische Erkrankungen bekannt, bei denen Fieberschube nicht im Vordergrund stehen und die neben Zeichen systemischer Entzundung auch Autoimmunphanomene oder eine pathologische Infektanfalligkeit aufweisen. Fur autoinflammatorische Erkrankungen, die mit einer unkontrollierten Aktivitat der Zytokine, IL-1β, TNF-α oder Typ-1-IFN einhergehen, stehen kausale Therapien zur Verfugung. Daher kommt der Sicherung der genetischen Diagnose eine grose Rolle zu. Die molekulargenetische Abklarung eines Patienten mit Autoinflammation sollte in Abhangigkeit von der Symptomkonstellation stufenweise erfolgen. Bei eindeutigen Symptomen kann als Erstes die Einzelgensequenzierung erfolgen. NGS-basierte Methoden wie die Panelsequenzierung und die Exomsequenzierung sowie die Array-CGH sind bei unklarer Symptomatik sinnvoll.

Annals of the rheumatic diseases 76(5), 906-913 (2017). doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-210324, Published by BMJ Publ. Group, London

Background Rare autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) including Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome (CAPS), Tumor Necrosis Receptor-Associated Periodic Syndrome (TRAPS) and Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency Syndrome (MKD)/ Hyper-IgD Syndrome (HIDS) are genetically defined and characterized by recurrent fever episodes and inflammatory organ manifestations. Early diagnosis and early start of effective therapies control the inflammation and prevent organ damage. The PRO-KIND initiative of the German Society of Pediatric Rheumatology (GKJR) aims to harmonize the diagnosis and management of children with rheumatic diseases nationally. The task of the PRO-KIND CAPS/TRAPS/MKD/HIDS working group was to develop evidence-based, consensus diagnosis and management protocols including the first AID treat-to-target strategies. Methods The national CAPS/TRAPS/MKD/HIDS expert working group was established, defined its aims and conducted a comprehensive literature review synthesising the recent (2013 to 2018) published evidence including all available recommendations for diagnosis and management. General and disease-specific statements were anchored in the 2015 SHARE recommendations. An iterative expert review process discussed, adapted and refined these statements. Ultimately the GKJR membership vetted the proposed consensus statements, agreement of 80% was mandatory for inclusion. The approved statements were integrated into three disease specific consensus treatment plans (CTPs). These were developed to enable the implementation of evidence-based, standardized care into clinical practice. Results The CAPS/TRAPS/MKD/HIDS expert working group of 12 German and Austrian paediatric rheumatologists completed the evidence synthesis and modified a total of 38 statements based on the SHARE recommendation framework. In iterative reviews 36 reached the mandatory agreement threshold of 80% in the final GKJR member survey. These included 9 overarching principles and 27 disease-specific statements (7 for CAPS, 11 TRAPS, 9 MKD/HIDS). A diagnostic algorithm was established based on the synthesized evidence. Statements were integrated into diagnosis- and disease activity specific treat-to-target CTPs for CAPS, TRAPS and MKD/HIDS. Conclusions The PRO-KIND CAPS/TRAPS/MKD/HIDS working group established the first evidence-based, actionable treat-to-target consensus treatment plans for three rare hereditary autoinflammatory diseases. These provide a path to a rapid evaluation, effective control of disease activity and tailored adjustment of therapies. Their implementation will decrease variation in care and optimize health outcomes for children with AID.

Introduction: The German PID-NET registry was founded in 2009, serving as the first national registry of patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID) in Germany. It is part of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) registry. The primary purpose of the registry is to gather data on the epidemiology, diagnostic delay, diagnosis, and treatment of PIDs. Methods: Clinical and laboratory data was collected from 2,453 patients from 36 German PID centres in an online registry. Data was analysed with the software Stata® and Excel. Results: The minimum prevalence of PID in Germany is 2.72 per 100,000 inhabitants. Among patients aged 1-25, there was a clear predominance of males. The median age of living patients ranged between 7 and 40 years, depending on the respective PID. Predominantly antibody disorders were the most prevalent group with 57% of all 2,453 PID patients (including 728 CVID patients). A gene defect was identified in 36% of patients. Familial cases were observed in 21% of patients. The age of onset for presenting symptoms ranged from birth to late adulthood (range 0-88 years). Presenting symptoms comprised infections (74%) and immune dysregulation (22%). Ninety-three patients were diagnosed without prior clinical symptoms. Regarding the general and clinical diagnostic delay, no PID had undergone a slight decrease within the last decade. However, both, SCID and hyper IgE- syndrome showed a substantial improvement in shortening the time between onset of symptoms and genetic diagnosis. Regarding treatment, 49% of all patients received immunoglobulin G (IgG) substitution (70%-subcutaneous; 29%-intravenous; 1%-unknown). Three-hundred patients underwent at least one hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Five patients had gene therapy. Conclusion: The German PID-NET registry is a precious tool for physicians, researchers, the pharmaceutical industry, politicians, and ultimately the patients, for whom the outcomes will eventually lead to a more timely diagnosis and better treatment. peerReviewed

Autoinflammatory diseases represent an expanding spectrum of diseases characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and systemic inflammation, due to disorders of innate immunity. Since the concept of autoinflammation was first affirmed in 1999 to define TNF-receptor associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), many other monogenic autoinflammatory diseases have been identified. Uncontrolled secretion of IL-1β is responsible for the many of these syndromes, as also confirmed by the dramatic clinical response to IL-1 blockade. More recently, different mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several monogenic autoinflammatory diseases, including cell stress, dysregulation in NF-κB signaling, ubiquitination, protein folding, type I interferon production and complement activation. In this chapter, we discuss IL-1β and other members of the IL-1 family and their inhibitors involved in monogenic autoinflammatory diseases, focusing on the mechanisms underlying their secretion in health and disease. Furthermore, we describe type I interferons and their role in autoinflammation.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder, covering a clinical spectrum with asymptomatic inflammation of single bones at the one end, and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) at the other end. The exact molecular pathophysiology of CNO remains largely unknown. Provided familial clusters and the association with inflammatory disorders of the skin and intestine suggest a genetic predisposition. Recently, profound dysregulation of cytokine responses was demonstrated in CRMO. Failure to produce antiinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-19 contributes to activation of inflammasomes and subsequent IL-1β release. In IL-10–deficient and in CNO-prone chronic multifocal osteomyelitis mice, IL-1β was linked to bone inflammation. Further, alterations to the gut microbiome were suggested in contributing to IL-1β release from innate immune cells in mice, offering an interesting target in the search for molecular mechanisms in CNO. Here, we summarize clinical presentation and treatment options in CNO/CRMO, current pathophysiological concepts, available mouse models, and promising future scientific directions.

Caspase-1 is an integral regulator of the innate immune system. Its core functions are the processing and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1 beta) and IL-18 and the initiation of proinflammatory cell death, which is referred to as pyroptosis. Activation of caspase-1 plays a pivotal role during immune defense mechanisms against infections by the innate immune system. Dysregulated activation of caspase-1 has been recognized to be involved in the pathophysiology of a constantly increasing number of inflammatory diseases. This article gives an overview of the regulation and function of caspase-1 and its involvement in monogenic, polygenic and/or polyetiological rheumatic diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) susceptibility loci that were identified by candidate gene studies demonstrate association with systemic JIA in the largest study population assembled to date. METHODS: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 11 previously reported systemic JIA risk loci were examined for association in 9 populations, including 770 patients with systemic JIA and 6,947 controls. The effect of systemic JIA-associated SNPs on gene expression was evaluated in silico in paired whole genome and RNA sequencing data from the lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) of 373 European subjects from the 1000 Genomes Project. Responses of systemic JIA-associated SNPs to anakinra treatment were evaluated in 38 US patients for whom treatment response data were available. RESULTS: We found no association between the previously reported 26 SNPs and systemic JIA. Expanded analysis of the regions containing the 26 SNPs revealed only 1 significant association: the promoter region of IL1RN (P < 1 × 10(-4) ). Systemic JIA-associated SNPs correlated with IL1RN expression in LCLs, with an inverse correlation between systemic JIA risk and IL1RN expression. The presence of homozygous IL1RN high expression alleles correlated strongly with a lack of response to anakinra therapy (odds ratio 28.7 [95% confidence interval 3.2-255.8]). CONCLUSION: In our study, IL1RN was the only candidate locus associated with systemic JIA. The implicated SNPs are among the strongest known determinants of IL1RN and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist levels, linking low expression with increased systemic JIA risk. Homozygous high expression alleles predicted nonresponsiveness to anakinra therapy, making them ideal candidate biomarkers to guide systemic JIA treatment. This study is an important first step toward the personalized treatment of systemic JIA.

Die Typ-1-Interferonopathien stellen eine Gruppe genetisch bedingter seltener Erkrankungen dar, die durch eine Fehlfunktion des angeborenen Immunsystems hervorgerufen werden. Gemeinsames Kennzeichen ist eine Dysregulation der antiviralen Typ-1-Interferon(IFN)-Achse, die zu einer konstitutiven Typ-1-IFN-Aktivierung fuhrt. Als systemisch-entzundliche Erkrankungen ist das klinische Spektrum der Typ-1-Interferonopathien sehr breit und sowohl durch Autoinflammation als auch durch Autoimmunitat gekennzeichnet. Hierbei stehen neurologische und kutane Manifestationen im Vordergrund. Pathogenetisch liegen den Typ-1-Interferonopathien Storungen im Metabolismus und in der immunologischen Erkennung von intrazellularen Nukleinsauren zugrunde. Unser derzeitiges Verstandnis der molekularen Pathogenese der Typ-1-Interferonopathien weist darauf hin, dass eine immunmodulatorische Intervention, die der inadaquaten Typ-1-IFN-Aktvierung entgegenwirkt, therapeutisch wirksam sein konnte.

Die septische Granulomatose („chronic granulomatous disease“, CGD) ist ein angeborener Immundefekt mit rezidivierenden Infektionen sowie erhohtem Risiko fur Autoimmunerkrankungen und Autoinflammation. Die Prognose der Erkrankung wurde masgeblich durch eine fruhe Diagnose und die fruhe Stammzelltransplantation verbessert. Beschrieben wird der Fall eines 11 Monate alten Jungen, der bei rezidiverem Fieber mit unklarem Fokus und Hepatosplenomegalie aufgenommen wurde. Er ist das erste Kind eines deutschen unverwandten Paares. Fieber trat erstmalig im 4. Lebensmonat auf und rezidivierte im 5, 8. und 11. Lebensmonat. Der wegweisende Befund einer massiven Lymphknotenschwellung fuhrte zur Verdachtsdiagnose einer infektiosen Lymphadenitis auf Grundlage einer Phagozytenfunktionsstorung. Die Diagnose einer CGD wurde funktionell und molekular gesichert. Wir behandelten das Kind initial mit i.v.-verabreichtem Antibiotikum uber 6 Wochen und empfahlen die Durchfuhrung einer „Reduced-intensity“-Stammzelltransplantation, die im Alter von 14 Monaten erfolgreich und komplikationslos erfolgte. Die elektive Stammzelltransplantation ist die einzige kurative Therapie der CGD und sollte daher allen Patienten mit einem 10/10 HLA-passenden Spender dringend empfohlen werden.

Osteoporosis induction in a sheep model by steroid administration combined with ovariectomy recapitulates decreased bone formation and substandard matrix mineralization in patients. Recently, the role of osteocytes has been frequently addressed, with focus on their role in osteoclastogenesis. However, the quantification of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) signaling in osteocytes was not studied in sheep. The current study reproduced the sheep model of osteoporosis to study the RANKL/OPG ratio correlation to the method of osteoporosis induction. We investigated the induction of osteoporosis after 8 months using 31 female merino land sheep divided into four groups: control, ovariectomy, ovariectomy with dietary limitation, and ovariectomy with dietary limitation and steroid injection. In accordance to previous reports, the present study showed trabecular thinning, higher numbers of apoptotic osteocytes, and imbalanced metabolism, leading to defective mineralization. The global RANKL/OPG ratio in the spine after 8 months of steroid and dietary treatment was not different from that of the control. Interestingly, assessment of the osteocyte-specific RANKL/OPG ratio showed that the steroid-induced osteoporosis in its late progressive phase stimulates RANKL expression in osteocytes. Sclerostin is suggested to induce RANKL expression in osteocytes. The findings of this study can contribute to further explain the success of sclerostin antibodies in treating osteoporotic patients despite increased osteocyte-expressed RANKL.

Background The pathophysiological origin of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is largely unknown. However, individuals with presumably pathogenic mutations in FAMIN have been reported, associating this gene with a rare subtype of this disorder. FAMIN, that is formerly also referred to as LACC1 or C13orf31, has recently been shown to play a crucial role in immune-metabolic functions and is involved in regulation of inflammasome activation and promotion of ROS production. Case presentation We describe two siblings with severe familial forms of juvenile arthritis in which whole-exome-sequencing revealed a novel homozygous frameshift mutation (NM_153218.2:c.827delC¸. p.(T276fs*2) in FAMIN. Conclusions The observation of a new deleterious mutation adds further evidence that pathogenic mutations in FAMIN are causal for a monogenic form of JIA. Furthermore the associated phenotype is not restricted to systemic JIA, but can also be found in other forms of familial juvenile arthritis.

Background: IL-12p40 plays an important role in the activation of the T-cell lines like Th17 and Th1-cells. Theses cells are crucial in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. A polymorphism in its promoter region and the genotype IL12p40 pro1.1 leads to a higher production of IL-12p40. We studied whether there is a difference in the distribution of the genotype in patients with JIA and the healthy population. Methods: In 883 patients and 321 healthy controls the IL-12p40 promoter genotype was identified by ARMS-PCR. Results: There is no association of IL-12p40 pro polymorphism neither in patients with JIA compared to controls nor in subtypes of JIA compared to oligoarthritis. We found a non-significant tendency of a higher prevalence of the genotype pro1.1 in systemic arthritis (32.4 %) and in rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis (30.5 %) and a lower pro1.1 genotype in persistent oligoarthritis (20.7 %) and in enthesitis-related arthritis (17 %). Likelihood of the occurrence of genotype IL12-p40 pro1.1 in patients with systemic arthritis (OR 1.722, CI 95 % 1.344-2.615, p 0.0129) and RF-negative polyarthritis (OR 1.576, CI 95 % 1.046-2.376, p 0.0367) compared to persistent oligoarthritis was significantly higher. This was also true for comparison of their homozygous genotypes IL-12p40 pro 1.1 and 2.2 in systemic arthritis (OR 1.779, CI 95 % 1.045-3.029, p 0.0338). However, in Bonferroni correction for multiple hypothesis this was not significant. Conclusion: A tendency of a higher prevalence of the genotype IL-12p40 pro1.1 in systemic arthritis and in rheumatoid factor negative polyarthritis was observed but not significant. Further investigations should be done to clarify the role IL-12p40 in the different subtypes of JIA.

Patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) suffer from severe bacterial and fungal infections and deregulated inflammation, which are often associated with granuloma formation. We describe a 2-year-old boy who was seemingly healthy at the age of 1 year when a conventional chest radiograph was taken to exclude pulmonary aspiration of a piece of apple. Incidentally, a space-occupying mediastinal mass was revealed that was further evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Varying solid and also cystic, septated parts of the mass could be discerned and it was considered to be a teratoma. Removal of the mass by surgery was arduous because of adhesiveness to surrounding areas and led to severe complications. Unexpectedly, histopathologic examination revealed massive acute granulomatous inflammation with liquefied thymic cysts. X-linked CGD was subsequently diagnosed by a dihydrorhodamine 123 assay and sequencing of the CYBB gene (hotspot mutation c.742-743insA). This is the third example that we are aware of, where CGD granulomas were mistaken for neoplasms. The other 2 patients were initially believed to have tumors of the stomach and the urinary bladder, respectively. All patients initially received inadequate treatment. We discuss possible strategies to avoid such tragic confusions.

Recent studies showed a notable frequency of somatic mosaicism of the NLRP3 gene in chronic, infantile, neurological, cutaneous and articular (CINCA) syndrome (35%) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS)(12.5%) patients that were not detectable by common Sanger sequencing.

Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) is an autoinflammatory bone disorder mostly affecting children and adolescents. Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is the most severe form of CNO. It is characterized by recurring episodes of bone inflammation that can last for years and may cause chronic pain, pathological fractures, and disability. Despite recent advances in targeting disease mechanisms, the exact pathophysiology of CNO/CRMO remains unknown. Diagnosis of CNO can be challenging, because symptoms tend to be mild and highly variable, and is further complicated by the absence of widely accepted diagnostic criteria and disease biomarkers.

Patients with unexplained recurrent febrile episodes and CASP1 variants suffer from systemic sterile inflammation despite altered enzymatic activity of procaspase-1 and reduced IL-1β release. Most recent findings from our group indicate that the proinflammatory effects of CASP1 variants with reduced or abrogated enzymatic activity could be due to receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIP2) mediated increase of NF-kB activation. These findings are additionally supported by a trend to elevated IL-6 and TNF-α expression in patients with CASP1 variants.

Background Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients are susceptible to recurrent opportunistic infections and to recurrent or chronic inflammations of presumably non-infectious origin. Both types of manifestations are often accompanied by granuloma formation. Both can remain unnoticed until they deteriorate considerably and can become life-threatening if not treated in time. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of regular follow-up visits in CGD patients. Methods Findings of imaging (ultrasound, radiographs, computer-tomography, magnetic resonance imaging), lung function tests, histopathological and microbiological assessments of biopsies have been reviewed. Results A total of 32 CGD patients have been evaluated within 15 years. Of these eight patients have been checked regularly for more than 5 years. Early detection prior to specific clinical signs and consecutive treatment of six lung manifestations and one liver manifestation such as interstitial pneumonia with formation of small granulomas, formation of large granulomas, fibrosis, Aspergillus infections, and abscesses could presumably prevent considerable aggravation in seemingly healthy or mildly symptomatic patients. In contrast, patients without surveillance who presented with severe symptoms (seven manifestations) often had irreversible organ damage or even died. Conclusions Regular follow-up visits can help prevent or mitigate clinical manifestations, improve life quality and expectancy and weigh indication for bone marrow transplantation in CGD patients.

Dominant mutations in the CIAS1 gene cause a spectrum of autoinflammatory diseases such as familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, FCAS, which is characterized by episodes of urticaria, arthralgia, fever and conjunctivitis after generalized exposure to cold. We here describe patients of two German families with the 592G-->A, V198M mutation, which has been described to induce FCAS before. However, in our patients the clinical phenotype was very different from this disease. They never had urticaria, cold induced fever or conjunctivitis; instead the following symptoms occurred: Very regular periodic fever, irregular severe febrile episodes, relatively mild arthralgia, dry cough, cardiomyopathy, nephropathy and euthyroid thyroiditis all being reversible. We conclude that the clinical phenotype associated with mutations in the CIAS1 gene is much broader than assumed before.

The collection of sputum for microbiological examination in young cystic fibrosis patients can be very difficult. However, a knowledge of bacterial flora colonizing the patient's airways is of paramount importance for proper antimicrobial therapy. It is also known that cystic fibrosis patients colonized by Pseudomonas species have a poorer prognosis than Pseudomonas-negative patients. Noninvasive ways of diagnosing airway inflammation that require only minimal cooperation of the patient might yield new possibilities for early detection of airway colonisation. The breath condensate method as a noninvasive diagnostic technique seems especially appropriate for use in children. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the breath condensate method could be used for detection of Pseudomonas species in children with cystic fibrosis. In total, 32 breath condensate and seven sputum samples were obtained from 13 cystic fibrosis patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa- or Burkholderia cepacia-positive sputum culture (20 samples were obtained during forced expiration). PCR for combined detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Burkholderia cepacia was performed. PCR results of all breath condensate samples were negative for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, or Burkholderia cepacia, while all sputum sample results were positive. A minimum DNA quantity of 10 fg could be detected in dilution series of the positive control group. We conclude that the breath condensate method cannot be used as a tool for detection of Pseudomonas species.

Die Septische Granulomatose wird durch die Unfahigkeit von Phagozyten hervorgerufen, aufgenommene Erreger mit Hilfe von mikrobizidem reaktivem Sauerstoff abzutoten. Besonders Formen der Septischen Granulomatose mit Restaktivitat neigen dazu, andere Krankheitsbilder manchmal tauschend ahnlich nachzuahmen und den Behandler in eine diagnostische Falle zu locken. Eine klinisch bisher unauffallige 8jahrige Patientin zeigte viele Symptome, die sehr gut mit einer exogen allergischen Alveolitis vereinbar waren, wie u.a. eine ausgepragte restriktive Ventilationsstorung, ein suggestives Rontgenbild des Thorax, in der Mehrzahl CD8-positive Lymphozyten in der bronchoalveolaren Lavageflussigkeit sowie eine suggestive histologische Befundung. Hinweise auf die wahre Grunderkrankung, wie Neutrophilie und hoher Anti-Aspergillustiter konnten leicht ubersehen werden. Da auch eine infektiose Genese nicht auszuschliesen war, wurde die Patientin in Unkenntnis der Grunderkrankung mit einer Kombination aus Antibiotika und Prednisolon behandelt. Nach kurzzeitiger deutlicher Besserung kam es zu einer dramatischen respiratorischen Verschlechterung mit massivem nun im Tracheobronchialsekret nachweisbaren Aspergillusbefall. Die Patientin verstarb unter dem Bild eines ARDS in der respiratorischen Insuffizienz trotz erfolgreich zuruckgedrangter Aspergillusinfektion. Diskussion: In allen Fallen, bei denen die Septische Granulomatose zur Differentialdiagnose gehort, mus– insbesondere vor einer Steroidtherapie – eine adaquate Diagnostik erfolgen.

Caspase-1 is a proinflammatory enzyme that is activated by the NLRP3 inflammasome in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress independent of the classical unfolded protein response. This finding linked ER stress to chronic inflammatory diseases. In patients suffering from unexplained recurrent febrile episodes we detected several genetic variants of CASP1 leading to reduced enzymatic activity due to destabilization of the caspase-1 dimer interface.

Two brothers in their fifties presented with a medical history of suspected fungal allergy, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, alveolitis, and invasive aspergillosis and pulmonary fistula, respectively. Eventually, after a delay of 50 years, chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) was diagnosed in the index patient. We found a new splice mutation in the NCF2 (p67-phox) gene, c.1000 + 2T → G, that led to several splice products one of which lacked exons 11 and 12. This deletion was in frame and allowed for remarkable residual NADPH oxidase activity as determined by transduction experiments using a retroviral vector. We conclude that p67-phox which lacks the 34 amino acids encoded by the two exons can still exert considerable functional activity. This activity can partially explain the long-term survival of the patients without adequate diagnosis and treatment, but could not prevent progressing lung damage.

Cryopyrinopathies are a subgroup of autoinflammatory syndromes. Most cases have mutations in the CIAS1/NLRL3 gene, encoding the cryopyrin/NLRP3 protein. Cryopyrin, together with other proteins, is involved in the assembly of the cryopyrin/NLRP3 inflammasome. Mutations in CIAS1/NLRP3 result in increased IL-1β cleavage from biologically inactive pro-IL-1β. This results in systemic inflammation and three associated disorders of different severity, forming a clinical continuum with overlapping features. The mildest from, familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), is characterized by remitting fevers, urticaria-like rash, polyarthralgia/arthritis, and usually caused by cold exposure. More severe forms are Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) and CINCA/NOMID. We report an 8-year-old boy with FCAS, who presented with overlapping features with MWS. He showed good response to seasonal anakinra treatment. Mutation analysis in CIAS1/NLRP3, PYCARD, and CASP1 was performed. Serum cytokine profiles, and cytokine expression from resting monocytes, and in response to mild hypothermia, and LPS stimulation were determined. Mutations in CIAS1/NLRP3, PYCARD, and CASP1 were not found. In response to mild hypothermia, an enhanced IL-1β expression by patient monocytes resulted in increased IL-6 and TNF-α secretion, as compared to control cells. The addition of the IL-1β receptor antagonist (anakinra) reversed these effects. In response to LPS stimulation, patient monocytes produced high level of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α. This was markedly less pronounced in control monocytes. FCAS results in cold-induced cytokine dysregulation and systemic inflammation. Symptoms can be treated, using IL-1β antagonists. Further research is warranted, particularly in order to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms in “mutation negative” individuals.

We report on a 22-year-old girl with a history of recurrent febrile episodes, chronic arthritis, urticarial rash, and neurological symptoms including right hemiparesis, internal hydrocephalus, mental retardation, progressive deafness, and visual impairment. Treatment starting at age 20 months, including different combinations of immunosuppressive and antiinflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and anti-TNFalpha antibody, was unsuccessful. Four years ago, we found a heterozygous S595G mutation in the NLRP3 gene of this patient. This prompted us to introduce anakinra, which resulted in considerable improvement of the patient's complaints.

Background: The flow cytometric dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) assay is used as a screening test for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), but complete myeloperoxidase (MPO) deficiency can also lead to a strongly decreased DHR signal. Our aim was to devise simple laboratory methods to differentiate MPO deficiency (false positive for CGD) and NADPH oxidase abnormalities (true CGD).Methods: We measured NADPH-oxidase and MPO activity in neutrophils from MPO-deficient patients, CGD patients, NADPH-oxidase–transfected K562 cells and cells with inhibited and substituted MPO.Results: Eosinophils from MPO-deficient individuals retain eosinophilic peroxidase and therefore generate a normal DHR signal. The addition of recombinant human MPO enhances the DHR signal when simply added to a suspension of MPO-deficient cells but not when added to NADPH-oxidase–deficient (CGD) cells. Lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (LCL) is increased in neutrophils from MPO-deficient patients, whereas neutrophils from patients with CGD show a decreased response.Conclusions: A false-positive result caused by MPO deficiency can be easily ascertained because, unlike cells from a CGD patient, cells from MPO-deficient patients (a) contain functionally normal eosinophils, (b) show a significant enhancement of the DHR signal following addition of rhMPO, and (c) generate a strong LCL signal.

Caspase-1 is a proinflammatory enzyme that is activated by the NLRP3 inflammasome in response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress independent of the classical unfolded protein response. This finding linked ER stress to chronic inflammatory diseases. In patients suffering from unexplained recurrent febrile episodes we detected several genetic variants of CASP1 leading to reduced enzymatic activity due to destabilization of the caspase-1 dimer interface.

Caspase-1 (Interleukin-1 Converting Enzyme, ICE) is a proinflammatory enzyme mediating cleavage and secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. Caspase-1 plays pivotal roles in the innate immune system and in inflammatory diseases like periodic fever syndromes, arthritis, or type-II-diabetes. In previous studies published by our group, genetic variants of procaspase-1 had been detected in patients suffering from autoinflammatory symptoms. Analyses of the procaspase-1 variants in HEK293T cells revealed reduced enzymatic activity of caspase-1 but enhanced ability to activate NF-κB signaling. The latter was mediated by enhanced CARD/CARD interactions of procaspase-1 with RIP2.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is the most severe presentation of the autoinflammatory bone disorder chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO). The pathophysiology of CNO remains to be determined. We recently demonstrated reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK1 and 2 in monocytes from CRMO patients responsible for impaired activation of the transcription factor signaling protein (Sp-)1. This resulted in failure to express the immuno-modulatory cytokine IL-10. The IL10 gene, together with its homologues IL19 and IL20, is organized in the 145 kb spanning IL10 cytokine cluster on chromosome 1q32. In most cells, including monocytes, IL-10 cytokine family members are co-regulated in response to certain stimuli. IL-10 and IL-19 mainly have immune-modulating functions, while IL-20 acts as a pro-inflammatory cytokine contributing to inflammatory bone-loss. The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multi-protein complex forming in response to innate stimuli, subsequently mediating the cleavage and release of IL-1β. Enhanced inflammasome activation in IL-10 deficient mice was linked with bone-loss. Convincing evidence of this mechanism playing a role in CNO, however, is lacking.

Objectives: Certain genetic variants in the CARD15 gene are accompanied by an enhanced risk to develop Crohn disease with the main activity in the terminal ileum and ensuing stricturing early in life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relation between CARD15 mutations and overall disease activity and response to therapy in pediatric patients. Methods: 65 genomic DNA samples from such patients were tested for the presence of three main Crohn associated mutations in CARD 15 by direct genomic sequencing. The number of mutations (none, one or two alleles affected) was correlated with body mass index and height, Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index, therapy and therapeutical success in terms of body mass index and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index improvement. Results: The authors found a nonsignificant trend of a lower body mass index and higher Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index in patients with CARD15 mutations. Physicians uninformed about their CARD15 status prescribed significantly more budesonide and prednisolone intermittently and more alimentary supplementation to these patients. The average improvement in terms of body mass index and Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index after 2 years of therapy was roughly similar in all patient groups. Conclusions: Pediatric Crohn patients with CARD15 mutations have a higher disease activity and need a more intensive therapy. With some exceptions, their medium-term response to therapy is nevertheless satisfying.

Chronic granulomatous disease is an inherited defect in host defense mechanisms mainly affecting neutrophil function. Pulmonary infection with Aspergillus nidulans in a child with chronic granulomatous disease could not be eliminated by a combination of caspofungin and liposomal amphotericin B. Voriconazole was successful in clearing the infection.

Crohn disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disorder that is caused by environmental and genetic factors. Mutations in the CARD15 gene have been recently identified to be associated with the disease. Until now no genetic study has focused directly on a pediatric population.The authors sequenced all 12 exons of the CARD15 gene in 55 pediatric patients with Crohn disease from Saxony. Their average age at onset was 11.2 years (1-17.5 years). The authors also evaluated the genotype-phenotype relationship in the patients.Fourteen different polymorphic and/or disease-related nucleotide alterations have been identified in the patients. Sixty-five percent of their genomic DNA samples harbored at least one of six mutations within the CARD15 gene, which previously has been identified as being associated with Crohn disease. The authors found that the cytosine insertion mutation 3020insC was significantly more common in their pediatric population than in patients with Crohn disease (26% versus 11% of the alleles) whose results were reported in the literature. The genotype-phenotype analysis showed that the authors' patients with at least one of the six CARD15 disease-associated mutations had a high risk of inflammation located in the terminal ileum and ascending colon. In 10 of 19 patients with two mutations, intestinal resection surgery was necessary because of stricturing.In the authors' pediatric patients, the genetic influence on Crohn disease was more pronounced than that reported in any other study, and it strongly affected the clinical phenotype.

We describe a previously symptom-free 13-year-old boy with dominant partial interferon-γ receptor-1 deficiency and unusual varicella-zoster virus reactivation. This case supports the unsettled notion that some interferon-γ R-deficient patients are at enhanced risk for viral disease.

We have detected several genetic variants of CASP1 in patients suffering from unexplained recurrent febrile episodes. Paradoxically, in vitro and in vivo analyses of patients’ cells revealed decreased enzymatic activity of these caspase-1 variants leading to impaired cytokine production despite the proinflammatory phenotype of the patients. The pathophysiological processes associated with CASP1 variants are still under investigation.

Neutrophils of patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) are profoundly defective in killing microorganisms. As in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, CGD patients are highly susceptible to life-threatening invasive Aspergillus infections, and conventional antimycotic treatment is not always successful. The new drug, caspofungin, was used to treat Aspergillus lung infection in one child with CGD.

Chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular (CINCA) syndrome is characterized by fever, chronic meningitis, uveitis, sensorineural hearing loss, urticarial skin rash, and a deforming arthritis. In the CIAS1 gene of many but not all CINCA patients, disease-associated mutations have been found recently. We here describe two such patients from Germany. One of them, a 3-yr-old boy, has a 1709A-->G, Y570C, mutation, which has previously been described to cause CINCA syndrome. His clinical course is very severe and no satisfying response has been achieved even with high doses of local and systemic steroids. The other patient has a somewhat milder clinical course and considerable improvement could be accomplished with moderate and low doses of steroids. In her CIAS1 gene we have found a 1043C-->T, T348M, mutation, which has only been detected in Muckle-Wells syndrome before. Our results suggest that the severity of symptoms in CINCA patients may be influenced by the underlying mutation in the CIAS1 gene. Furthermore, our observations support the view that CINCA syndrome and Muckle-Wells syndrome are essentially the same disease with different degrees of severity.

The proinflammatory enzyme caspase-1 belongs to the family of cystein proteases and plays a pivotal role in innate immunity. Classically, caspase-1 mediated proinflammatory signaling is thought to be dependent on its enzymatic activity. Interestingly, a number of patients carrying variants of the CASP1 gene show proinflammatory symptoms like febrile episodes despite of reduced enzymatic activity of the caspase-1 protein resulting in decreased IL-1β production. In vitro investigations of this contradictory phenomenon revealed receptor interacting protein kinase 2 (RIP2) as a potential mediator between decreased caspase-1 activity and increased inflammation. In order to investigate the role of enzymatically inactive caspase-1 in an in vivo situation, we generated a mouse model expressing enzymatically inactive caspase-1.

Somatic mosaicism of NLRP3 has been identified in a high percentage of “mutation-negative” patients suffering from chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular (CINCA) syndrome.