STAT1 Hyperphosphorylation and Defective IL12R/IL23R Signaling Underlie Defective Immunity in Autosomal Dominant Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis.

Smeekens, S.P.
Plantinga, T.S.
Veerdonk, F.L. van de
Heinhuis, B.
Hoischen, A.
Joosten, L.A.B.
Arkwright, P.D.
Gennery, A.
Kullberg, B.J.
Veltman, J.A.
Lilic, D.
Meer, J.W.M. van der
Netea, M.G.

Open link

Publication date

January 2011

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0029248

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

ISSN

1932-6203

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

We recently reported the genetic cause of autosomal dominant chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (AD-CMC) as a mutation in the STAT1 gene. In the present study we show that STAT1 Arg274Trp mutations in the coiled-coil (CC) domain is the genetic cause of AD-CMC in three families of patients. Cloning and transfection experiments demonstrate that mutated STAT1 inhibits IL12R/IL-23R signaling, with hyperphosphorylation of STAT1 as the likely underlying molecular mechanism. Inhibition of signaling through the receptors for IL-12 and IL-23 leads to strongly diminished Th1/Th17 responses and hence to increased susceptibility to fungal infections. The challenge for the future is to translate this knowledge into novel strategies for the treatment of t...