Pyogenic bacterial infections in humans with IRAK-4 deficiency

Science. 2003 Mar 28;299(5615):2076-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1081902. Epub 2003 Mar 13.

Abstract

Members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) and interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) superfamily share an intracytoplasmic Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain, which mediates recruitment of the interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) complex via TIR-containing adapter molecules. We describe three unrelated children with inherited IRAK-4 deficiency. Their blood and fibroblast cells did not activate nuclear factor kappaB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and failed to induce downstream cytokines in response to any of the known ligands of TIR-bearing receptors. The otherwise healthy children developed infections caused by pyogenic bacteria. These findings suggest that, in humans, the TIR-IRAK signaling pathway is crucial for protective immunity against specific bacteria but is redundant against most other microorganisms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Child
  • Codon, Terminator
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins*
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases
  • Interleukins / immunology
  • Interleukins / metabolism
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Male
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / chemistry
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Monocytes / immunology
  • Mutation
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Pedigree
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / deficiency*
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / genetics*
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism
  • Pneumococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Pneumococcal Infections / metabolism
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / chemistry
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / immunology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Receptors, Interleukin / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / chemistry
  • Signal Transduction
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology

Substances

  • Codon, Terminator
  • Cytokines
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Interleukins
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
  • Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinases