00:01
Examples of primary immunodeficiencies
affecting B-cells include common variable
immunodeficiency, X-linked agammaglobulinemia,
selective IgA deficiency.
00:21
So looking first at common variable immunodeficiency; in
patients with this condition, there is low IgG, and IgA and/or IgM.
00:42
The gene defects in most patients
have yet to be fully defined.
00:49
But in some patients, mutations
have been identified in a number
of different molecules important in the B-cell response - TAC1,
CD19, ICOS, substance P, MHC Class
II, various complement components,
mismatch repair protein MSH5, B-cell surface receptor BAFF.
And these patients have recurrent infections
with a number of different species - S.
pneumoniae, Hemophilus influenza,
Mycoplasma species and so forth.
01:32
In X-linked agammaglobulinemia, as the name
suggests, the gene is on the X chromosome.
01:38
And agammaglobulinemia means
without gamma globulins.
01:43
And most of the gamma globulins
are the immunoglobulins.
01:47
This is due to mutations in the
Bruton’s tyrosine kinase or Btk gene.
01:53
There’s a developmental
defect at the pre-B stage.
01:59
Antibody production is
grossly compromised.
02:03
And there are infections with a number of different pyogenic
bacteria, and also with the fungus pneumocystis jirovecii.
Looking at selective IgA deficiency, both circulating
IgA and secretory dimeric IgA are affected.
02:20
The gene defects in most patients
have yet to be discovered.
02:25
Maybe you’ve got selective IgA deficiency and you
don’t even know about it, you’ll be absolutely fine.
02:30
Most patients, there’s no consequence.
02:33
And this is because other classes of
antibody, including IgM transported
to mucosal surfaces by the poly-Ig
receptor compensate for the lack of IgA.
02:45
It’s actually quite a common theme
in immunology, that there are
lots of different mechanisms that
can take over if one is defective.