Rapamycin Controls Lymphoproliferation and Reverses T-Cell Responses in a Patient with a Novel STIM1 Loss-of-Function Deletion

Abstract

Purpose: Deficiency of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) results in combined immunodeficiency accompanied by extra-immunological findings like enamel defects and myopathy. We here studied a patient with a STIM1 loss-of-function mutation who presented with severe lymphoproliferation. We sought to explore the efficacy of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin in controlling disease manifestations and reversing aberrant T-cell subsets and functions, which has never been used previously in this disorder.

Methods: Clinical findings of the patient were collected over time. We performed immunological evaluations before and after initiation of rapamycin treatment, including detailed lymphocyte subset analyses, alterations in frequencies of circulating T follicular helper (cT_FH) and regulatory T (Treg) cells and their subtypes as well as T cell activation and proliferation capacities.

Results: A novel homozygous exon 2 deletion in STIM1 was detected in a 3-year-old girl with severe lymphoproliferation, recurrent infections, myopathy, iris hypoplasia, and enamel hypoplasia. Lymphoproliferation was associated with severe T-cell infiltrates. The deletion resulted in a complete loss of protein expression, associated with a lack of store-operated calcium entry response, defective T-cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Interestingly, patient blood contained fewer cT_FH and increased circulating follicular regulatory (cT_FR) cells. Abnormal skewing towards T_H2-like responses in certain T-cell subpopulations like cT_FH, non-cT_FH memory T-helper, and Treg cells was associated with increased eosinophil numbers and serum IgE levels. Treatment with rapamycin controlled lymphoproliferation, improved T-cell activation and proliferation capacities, reversed T-cell responses, and repressed high IgE levels and eosinophilia.

Conclusions: This study enhances our understanding of STIM1 deficiency by uncovering additional abnormal T-cell responses, and reveals for the first time the potential therapeutic utility of rapamycin for this disorder.

Keywords: Ca2+ release-activated calcium channel; Stromal interaction molecule 1; circulating T follicular helper cells; rapamycin; regulatory T cells.