Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) gain-of-function mutations and disseminated coccidioidomycosis and histoplasmosis

Elizabeth P. Sampaio, Amy P. Hsu, Joseph Pechacek, Hannelore I. Bax, Dalton L. Dias, Michelle L. Paulson, Prabha Chandrasekaran, Lindsey B. Rosen, Daniel S. Carvalho, Li Ding, Donald C. Vinh, Sarah K. Browne, Shrimati Datta, Joshua D. Milner, Douglas B. Kuhns, Debra A. Long Priel, Mohammed A. Sadat, Michael Shiloh, Brendan De Marco, Michael AlvaresJason W. Gillman, Vivek Ramarathnam, Maite De La Morena, Liliana Bezrodnik, Ileana Moreira, Gulbu Uzel, Daniel Johnson, Christine Spalding, Christa S. Zerbe, Henry Wiley, David E. Greenberg, Susan E. Hoover, Sergio D. Rosenzweig, John N. Galgiani, Steven M. Holland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

175 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Impaired signaling in the IFN-γ/IL-12 pathway causes susceptibility to severe disseminated infections with mycobacteria and dimorphic yeasts. Dominant gain-of-function mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) have been associated with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Objective: We sought to identify the molecular defect in patients with disseminated dimorphic yeast infections. Methods: PBMCs, EBV-transformed B cells, and transfected U3A cell lines were studied for IFN-γ/IL-12 pathway function. STAT1 was sequenced in probands and available relatives. Interferon-induced STAT1 phosphorylation, transcriptional responses, protein-protein interactions, target gene activation, and function were investigated. Results: We identified 5 patients with disseminated Coccidioides immitis or Histoplasma capsulatum with heterozygous missense mutations in the STAT1 coiled-coil or DNA-binding domains. These are dominant gain-of-function mutations causing enhanced STAT1 phosphorylation, delayed dephosphorylation, enhanced DNA binding and transactivation, and enhanced interaction with protein inhibitor of activated STAT1. The mutations caused enhanced IFN-γ-induced gene expression, but we found impaired responses to IFN-γ restimulation. Conclusion: Gain-of-function mutations in STAT1 predispose to invasive, severe, disseminated dimorphic yeast infections, likely through aberrant regulation of IFN-γ-mediated inflammation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1624-1634.e17
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume131
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Coccidioides immitis
  • Histoplasma capsulatum
  • IFN-γ
  • Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1
  • progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
  • thrush

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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