Uniparental Disomy of Chromosome 4: A Case of Whole Chromosome UPD Presenting with LRBA Deficiency

Purpose

Lipopolysaccharide-responsive beige-like anchor protein (LRBA) encodes a widely expressed cytosolic protein that participates in polarized vesicle trafficking. Homozygous loss-of-function LRBA mutations can lead to immune deficiency due to the lack of immune regulation, classified as a part of Tregopathies. We present a case of a 49-year-old female, with polyarthralgia in metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints bilaterally, and morning stiffness, leading to the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis treated with pulse steroid therapy. She had experienced sepsis and in-depth scrutiny revealed panhypogammaglobulinemia. After being referred to the immunology clinic, she was followed under the diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)-like inborn errors of immunity (IEI).

Methods and Results

Physical examination and diagnostic follow-up revealed massive splenomegaly accompanied by portal hypertension, and ulcerations in the colon. She also presented with periodic hematuria and dysuria. Cystoscopic biopsy revealed mast cell-derived interstitial cystitis which has not been previously reported in LRBA deficiency in the literature to our knowledge. A multi-gene next-generation sequencing panel performed for immune deficiencies (264 genes and 524 amplicons), resulted in the identification of an apparently homozygous LRBA mutation (p.Arg722His) in the Beige and Chediak-Higashi (BEACH) domain. The SNP array showed copy neutral absence of heterozygosity of the entire chromosome 4, which is consistent with uniparental isodisomy of chromosome 4.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this case study underscores the critical role of LRBA in immune regulation and highlights the clinical heterogeneity associated with LRBA deficiency. The patient’s presentation with severe immune dysregulation, including massive splenomegaly, portal hypertension, and the novel finding of mast cell-derived interstitial cystitis, expands the clinical spectrum of LRBA mutations. The identification of an apparently homozygous LRBA mutation via next-generation sequencing further emphasizes the importance of genetic analysis in diagnosing monogenic defects manifested as CVID-like phenotype. This is the first reported case of LRBA deficiency due to whole chromosome UPD to our knowledge. Future research should focus on elucidating the full range of clinical manifestations and developing targeted therapies for patients with LRBA deficiency.