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CD71 + erythroid cells (CECs) are recognized to have an immunoregulatory function via direct cell–cell interaction and soluble mediators. Circulating CECs appear in newborns or patients with hemolytic and cardiopulmonary disorders. To assess the biological role of CECs in systemic inflammation, we studied the gene expression and function in systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells of SoJIA patients expressed upregulated erythropoiesis-related genes. It represented the largest expansion of CECs during active phase SoJIA among other inflammatory diseases. Despite the opposing roles of erythropoietin and hepcidin in erythropoiesis, both serum levels were in concert with the amounts of SoJIA-driven CECs. Circulating CECs counts in inflammatory diseases were positively correlated with the levels of C-reactive protein, IL-6, IL-18, or soluble TNF receptors. Co-culture with active SoJIA-driven CECs suppressed secretions of IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 from healthy donor monocytes. The top upregulated gene in SoJIA-driven CECs was ARG2 compared with CECs from cord blood controls, although cytokine production from monocytes was suppressed by co-culture, even with an arginase inhibitor. CECs are driven to the periphery during the acute phase of SoJIA at higher levels than other inflammatory diseases. Circulating CECs may control excessive inflammation via the immunoregulatory pathways, partly involving arginase-2.

IntroductionPrimary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are rare inherited diseases resulting in impaired immunity. People with PID experience lower health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) and disease-related burdens in daily activities. This ongoing, prospective observational study aims to evaluate disease activity, treatment status, treatment-related burden, daily activities, and HR-QOL in patients with PID in Japan over a 1-year period. In this interim report (database lock: July 29, 2022), we present baseline results.MethodsParticipants were enrolled between November 2021 and May 2022; data were collected four times/year per participant until May 2023 using an online electronic patient-reported outcomes system. Patients with PID and healthy volunteers aged ≥12 years, residing in Japan, and with access to a smartphone were eligible. HR-QOL (primary endpoint) was assessed by the EuroQol-5 Dimensions-5 Levels (EQ-5D-5L) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Work productivity was assessed by the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) Questionnaire. Other aspects of PID and burden were assessed with a new questionnaire developed in-house. The study is registered at the University hospital Medical Information Network clinical trials registry (UMIN000045622).ResultsThe full interim analysis set comprised 71 patients with PID and 47 healthy volunteers. The most common International Union of Immunological Societies PID category was primary antibody deficiency (56.3% of patients). Complications were common, especially recurrent respiratory tract infections (63.4%). Most patients with PID were treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapy (73.2%); 22.4% of these patients had serum immunoglobulin levels <700 mg/dL. Among patients who did not undergo hematopoietic cell transplantation, EQ-5D-5L (n=67) and SF-36 (n=59) Physical and Mental Component Summary scores were significantly lower than in healthy volunteers (p < 0.001). WPAI absenteeism, work productivity loss, and activity impairment scores were significantly lower in 42 working patients with PID than in 37 working healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Other results indicated that patients with PID experience substantial burdens related to medical visits, expenses, work, and daily activities.DiscussionThis interim analysis confirms that patients with PID in Japan have lower HR-QOL and work productivity compared with healthy individuals and experience substantial limitations and burdens in their daily lives.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHLH) is a fatal hyperinflammation syndrome arising from the genetic defect of perforin-mediated cytolysis. Curative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is needed before development of central nervous system (CNS) disease. We studied treatment outcomes of 13 patients (FHLH2 n  = 11, FHLH3 n  = 2) consecutively diagnosed from 2011 to 2022 by flow cytometric screening for non-myeloablative HCT in a regional treatment network in Kyushu, Japan. One patient with a novel PRF1 variant escaped screening, but all patients with FHLH2 reached diagnosis and 8 of them received HCT until 3 and 9 months of age, respectively. The earliest HCT was conducted 65 days after birth. Three pretransplant deaths occurred in newborns with liver failure at diagnosis. Ten posttransplant patients have remained disease-free, 7 of whom had no neurological involvement. Time from first etoposide infusion to HCT was shorter in patients without CNS disease or bleeding than in patients with those factors (median [range] days: 62 [50–81] vs. 122 [89–209], p  = 0.016). Six of 9 unrelated patients had a PRF1 c.1090_1091delCT variant. These results suggest that the critical times to start etoposide and HCT are within 3 months after birth and during etoposide control, respectively. Newborn screening may increase the percentage of disease-free survivors without complications.

We describe a case of RAS-associated autoimmune leukoproliferative disease with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)-like symptoms, such as recurrent pneumonia, sinusitis, and otitis media, that occurred 7 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Whole-exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous CFAP43 nonsense variant. Environmental factors related to hematopoietic cell transplantation may have led to PCD symptoms in this patient with this variant. Genetic screening can help avoid subsequent complications during patient management.

Vitamin deficiencies are an emerging concern in the management of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Particular attention is required for recognizing the variable signs caused by unbalanced food intakes. We herein report two patients with multiple vitamin deficiencies who needed critical care showing different prognoses. Patient 1 with ‘Shoshin’ beriberi presenting with cardiac arrest had thiamine deficiency developed severe neurological sequelae despite rapid vitamin supplementation. Patient 2, who had leg pain and a limping gait, showed a rapid recovery with intravenous infusion and tube feeding after being diagnosed with scurvy. A literature search revealed several children with ASD with critically ill thiamine deficiency, but few reports documented a life-threatening condition in the form of cardiac arrest at the onset. Considering the high observation rate of food selectivity in children with ASD, early intervention is required to prevent the exacerbation of vitamin deficiencies to severe neurological disabilities.

IntroductionEmicizumab prophylaxis is approved for people of all ages with haemophilia A (HA) including infants and children. Although previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of emicizumab in infants with HA, real-world data on emicizumab use in infants are limited. The Haemophilia A in Infancy and NewbOrns: multi-instituional prospective observational study to assess the efficacy anD safety of Emicizumab (HINODE) study aims to evaluate the coagulation potential and safety of emicizumab prophylaxis in infants with congenital HA from birth to <12 months of age.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre, observational study conducted in Japan in infants with congenital HA aged <12 months who are receiving or are scheduled to receive prophylactic emicizumab at an approved dosing regimen: 1.5 mg/kg weekly, 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 6 mg/kg every 4 weeks. The target inclusion is 50 infants. The primary endpoint is to evaluate the relationship between global coagulation test parameters (using clot waveform analysis and thrombin generation assay) and plasma emicizumab concentrations in infants aged from 6 to <12 months. Secondary endpoints include evaluating coagulation profiles in infants aged <6 months and changes between the age of <6 and 6 to <12 months. Additionally, coagulation parameters will be evaluated with the in vitro addition of anti-idiotype antibodies against emicizumab or the addition of a factor VIII product in infants aged from 6 to <12 months. The study will also evaluate adverse events and bleeds.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the MINS Clinical Trial Review Committee (no. 230214) and will be conducted in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, the Act on the Protection of Personal Information and the Guidance of Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Biological Research Involving Human Subjects. Written informed consent for participation in the study will be obtained from a legally acceptable representative. Results will be published in scientific/medical journals and presented at international congresses.Trial registration numberJapan Registry of Clinical Trials; jRCT1031230264.

Background IL10RA (IL10 receptor subunit alpha) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disease that causes inflammatory bowel disease during early infancy. Its clinical course is often fatal and the only curative treatment is allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In Japan, only case reports are available, and there are no comprehensive reports of treatment outcomes. Methods We retrospectively analyzed patients with IL10RA deficiency in Japan. Results Two newly identified and five previously reported patients were included in this study. Five patients underwent HCT; one untransplanted patient survived to age 14, and one died of influenza encephalopathy before transplantation. All five HCT recipients underwent HCT at the age before 2 years. They all were conditioned with fludarabine/busulfan- or fludarabine /melphalan-based regimens. The donor source was human leukocyte antigen haploidentical donor bone marrow (BM) for two patients and unrelated umbilical cord blood (CB) for two patients. One patient experienced graft failure with unrelated CB and required a second transplant with unrelated BM. All patients who underwent HCT survived and demonstrated an improved performance status. Conclusion In cases of IL10RA deficiency, the need for transplantation should be promptly assessed, and early transplantation should be considered. (190/250)

PurposeHematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative therapy for patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Here, we conducted a nationwide study to assess the outcome of SCID patients after HCT in Japan.MethodsA cohort of 181 SCID patients undergoing their first allogeneic HCT in 1974–2016 was studied by using the Japanese national database (Transplant Registry Unified Management Program, TRUMP).ResultsThe 10-year overall survival (OS) of the patients who received HCT in 2006–2016 was 67%. Umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation was performed in 81 patients (45%). The outcomes of HCT from HLA-matched UCB (n = 21) and matched sibling donors (n = 22) were comparable, including 10-year OS (91% vs. 91%), neutrophil recovery (cumulative incidence at 30 days, 89% vs. 100%), and platelet recovery (cumulative incidence at 60 days, 89% vs. 100%). Multivariate analysis of the patients who received HCT in 2006–2016 demonstrated that the following factors were associated with poor OS: bacterial or fungal infection at HCT (hazard ratio (HR): 3.8, P = 0.006), cytomegalovirus infection prior to HCT (HR: 9.4, P = 0.03), ≥ 4 months of age at HCT (HR: 25.5, P = 0.009), and mismatched UCB (HR: 19.8, P = 0.01).ConclusionWe showed the potential of HLA-matched UCB as a donor source with higher priority for SCID patients. We also demonstrated that early age at HCT without active infection is critical for a better prognosis, highlighting the importance of newborn screening for SCID.

Background Methylmalonic acidemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of propionate catabolism characterized by the accumulation of propionic acid and methylmalonic acid caused by methylmalonyl-CoA mutase deficiency. Clinical presentations range from acute deterioration in the neonatal period to later onset with a heterogeneous clinical course. Metabolite accumulation results in systemic involvement, affecting the nervous, gastrointestinal, and renal system functions and causing cardiomyopathy. Bone marrow dysfunction manifesting as neutropenia and anemia is a common hematological finding. Although rare, three cases of secondary hemophagocytosis were documented. Case presentation An 18-year-old male patient diagnosed with methylmalonic acidemia presented with vomiting and altered mental status. He had a medical history of presumably hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) at the age of 17 months. Physical examination, laboratory tests, and bone marrow aspiration results met the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria, confirming a recurrent HLH. Although he recovered after intensive treatment, his cognitive function declined. Retrospective analysis revealed higher serum levels of ferritin during acute decompensations compared with nonattack periods. Correlation analysis revealed a strong relationship between serum ferritin and propionylcarnitine, one of the major propionyl-CoA-derived metabolites. Conclusions HLH is a rare and underrecognized hematologic emergency in methylmalonic acidemia, and its early diagnosis and treatment are critical. Serum ferritin may be a useful clinical biomarker in the diagnosis of HLH-associated attacks in methylmalonic acidemia.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) occurs in neonates with disseminated infection of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Little has been reported on the control of rapid HLH progression. We studied the cytokine profile and genetic basis of two index cases with divergent outcomes after early treatment of type 2 HSV infection. One survivor had fever and elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon (IFN)-β, and IFN-γ at diagnosis. The other neonate had no fever or TNF-α production, but significant IL-6 or IFN responses during the treatment course, and died 19 days after birth. Among 16 reported cases of neonatal HSV-HLH including index cases, eight deceased neonates experienced significantly less fever at presentation (p = 0.028), lower platelet counts (p = 0.019), and lower ratios of soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) to ferritin levels (p = 0.044) than eight survivors. The 100-day overall survival rates were significantly higher in patients with fever (p = 0.004), > 100 × 109/L of platelet counts (p = 0.035) or > 20 of sIL-2R/ferritin ratio at diagnosis (p = 0.004). The first febrile and cytokine responses to HSV infection predict the early outcome of neonatal HSV-HLH.