Encyclopedia
T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy is a type of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), which is a group of disorders characterized by an almost total lack of immune protection from foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. People with this form of SCID are missing functional immune cells called T cells, which normally recognize and attack foreign invaders to prevent infection. Without functional T cells, affected individuals develop repeated and persistent infections starting early in life. The infections result in slow growth and can be life-threatening; without effective treatment, most affected individuals live only into infancy or early childhood.
- genetic conditions
1. Introduction
T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy also affects growth of the hair and nails. Congenital alopecia refers to an absence of hair that is apparent from birth. Affected individuals have no scalp hair, eyebrows, or eyelashes. Nail dystrophy is a general term that describes malformed fingernails and toenails; in this condition, the nails are often ridged, pitted, or abnormally curved.
Researchers have described abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) in at least two cases of this condition. However, it is not yet known whether central nervous system abnormalities are a common feature of T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy.
2. Frequency
T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy is a rare disorder. It has been diagnosed in only a few individuals, almost all of whom are members of a large extended family from a community in southern Italy.
3. Causes
T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy results from mutations in the FOXN1 gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that is important for development of the skin, hair, nails, and immune system. Studies suggest that this protein helps guide the formation of hair follicles and the growth of fingernails and toenails. The FOXN1 protein also plays a critical role in the formation of the thymus, which is a gland located behind the breastbone where T cells mature and become functional. Researchers suspect that the FOXN1 protein is also involved in the development of the central nervous system, although its role is unclear.
Mutations in the FOXN1 gene prevent cells from making any functional FOXN1 protein. Without this protein, hair and nails cannot grow normally. A lack of FOXN1 protein also prevents the formation of the thymus. When this gland is not present, the immune system cannot produce mature, functional T cells to fight infections. As a result, people with T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy develop recurrent serious infections starting early in life.
4. Inheritance
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition. However, some people who carry one copy of a mutated FOXN1 gene have abnormal fingernails or toenails.
5. Other Names for This Condition
- T-cell immunodeficiency, congenital alopecia, and nail dystrophy
- congenital alopecia and nail dystrophy associated with severe functional T-cell immunodeficiency
- Pignata Guarino syndrome
- winged helix deficiency
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/t-cell-immunodeficiency-congenital-alopecia-and-nail-dystrophy
References
- Adriani M, Martinez-Mir A, Fusco F, Busiello R, Frank J, Telese S, MatrecanoE, Ursini MV, Christiano AM, Pignata C. Ancestral founder mutation of the nude(FOXN1) gene in congenital severe combined immunodeficiency associated withalopecia in southern Italy population. Ann Hum Genet. 2004 May;68(Pt 3):265-8.
- Amorosi S, D'Armiento M, Calcagno G, Russo I, Adriani M, Christiano AM, WeinerL, Brissette JL, Pignata C. FOXN1 homozygous mutation associated with anencephalyand severe neural tube defect in human athymic Nude/SCID fetus. Clin Genet. 2008 Apr;73(4):380-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2008.00977.x.
- Amorosi S, Vigliano I, Del Giudice E, Panico L, Maruotti GM, Fusco A,Quarantelli M, Ciccone C, Ursini MV, Martinelli P, Pignata C. Brain alteration ina Nude/SCID fetus carrying FOXN1 homozygous mutation. J Neurol Sci. 2010 Nov15;298(1-2):121-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2010.08.066.
- Frank J, Pignata C, Panteleyev AA, Prowse DM, Baden H, Weiner L, GaetanielloL, Ahmad W, Pozzi N, Cserhalmi-Friedman PB, Aita VM, Uyttendaele H, Gordon D, OttJ, Brissette JL, Christiano AM. Exposing the human nude phenotype. Nature. 1999Apr 8;398(6727):473-4.
- Pignata C, Fiore M, Guzzetta V, Castaldo A, Sebastio G, Porta F, Guarino A.Congenital Alopecia and nail dystrophy associated with severe functional T-cellimmunodeficiency in two sibs. Am J Med Genet. 1996 Oct 16;65(2):167-70.
- Pignata C, Fusco A, Amorosi S. Human clinical phenotype associated with FOXN1 mutations. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2009;665:195-206. Review.
- Pignata C. A lesson for unraveling complex aspects of novel immunodeficienciesfrom the human equivalent of the nude/SCID phenotype. J Hematother Stem Cell Res.2002 Apr;11(2):409-14. Review.
- Vigliano I, Gorrese M, Fusco A, Vitiello L, Amorosi S, Panico L, Ursini MV,Calcagno G, Racioppi L, Del Vecchio L, Pignata C. FOXN1 mutation abrogatesprenatal T-cell development in humans. J Med Genet. 2011 Jun;48(6):413-6. doi:10.1136/jmg.2011.089532.
