Immunoglobulin G4-related disease and B-cell malignancy due to an IKZF1 gain-of-function variant.

BACKGROUND: Monoallelic loss-of-function IKZF1 (IKAROS) variants cause B-cell deficiency or combined immunodeficiency, whereas monoallelic gain-of-function IKZF1 variants have recently been reported to cause hypergammaglobulinemia, abnormal plasma cell differentiation, autoimmune and allergic manifestations, and infections.

METHODS: We studied seven relatives with autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and lymphoproliferative diseases. We analysed biopsy results and performed whole-exome sequencing and immunological studies.

RESULTS: Disease onset occurred at a mean age of 25.2 years (range: 10-64, years). Six patients suffered from autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, four had confirmed immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), and five developed B-cell malignancies: lymphoma in four and multiple myeloma in the remaining patient. Patients without immunosuppression were not particularly prone to infectious diseases. Three patients suffered from life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia, one of whom had autoantibodies neutralizing interferon (IFN)-α. The recently described IKZF1 gain-of-function p.R183H variant was found in the five affected relatives tested and in a six-year-old asymptomatic girl. Immunological analysis revealed hypergammaglobulinemia and high frequencies of certain lymphocyte subsets (exhausted B cells, effector memory CD4 T cells, TEMRA and CD28- CD57+ CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, Th2 and Tfh2 cells) attesting to immune dysregulation. Partial clinical responses to rituximab and corticosteroids were observed, and treatment with lenalidomide, which promotes IKAROS degradation, was initiated in three patients.

CONCLUSION: Heterozygosity for gain-of-function IKZF1 variants underlies autoimmunity/inflammatory diseases, IgG4-RD and B-cell malignancies, the onset of which may occur in adulthood. Clinical and immunological data are similar to those for patients with unexplained IgG4-RD. Patients may therefore benefit from treatments inhibiting pathways displaying IKAROS-mediated overactivity.