The evolution of cellular deficiency in GATA2 mutation

Blood. 2014 Feb 6;123(6):863-74. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-07-517151. Epub 2013 Dec 17.

Abstract

Constitutive heterozygous GATA2 mutation is associated with deafness, lymphedema, mononuclear cytopenias, infection, myelodysplasia (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia. In this study, we describe a cross-sectional analysis of 24 patients and 6 relatives with 14 different frameshift or substitution mutations of GATA2. A pattern of dendritic cell, monocyte, B, and natural killer (NK) lymphoid deficiency (DCML deficiency) with elevated Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L) was observed in all 20 patients phenotyped, including patients with Emberger syndrome, monocytopenia with Mycobacterium avium complex (MonoMAC), and MDS. Four unaffected relatives had a normal phenotype indicating that cellular deficiency may evolve over time or is incompletely penetrant, while 2 developed subclinical cytopenias or elevated Flt3L. Patients with GATA2 mutation maintained higher hemoglobin, neutrophils, and platelets and were younger than controls with acquired MDS and wild-type GATA2. Frameshift mutations were associated with earlier age of clinical presentation than substitution mutations. Elevated Flt3L, loss of bone marrow progenitors, and clonal myelopoiesis were early signs of disease evolution. Clinical progression was associated with increasingly elevated Flt3L, depletion of transitional B cells, CD56(bright) NK cells, naïve T cells, and accumulation of terminally differentiated NK and CD8(+) memory T cells. These studies provide a framework for clinical and laboratory monitoring of patients with GATA2 mutation and may inform therapeutic decision-making.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • B-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Biomarkers
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Clonal Evolution
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / pathology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • GATA2 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Killer Cells, Natural / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Monocytes / pathology*
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / blood
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / genetics
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / pathology*
  • Pedigree
  • Prognosis
  • Young Adult
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 / metabolism

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • GATA2 Transcription Factor
  • GATA2 protein, human
  • FLT3 protein, human
  • fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3