Publication
Title
Blood-based test for diagnosis and functional subtyping of familial Mediterranean fever
Author
Abstract
Background and objective Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is the most common monogenic autoinflammatory disease (AID) worldwide. The disease is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene encoding the inflammasome sensor Pyrin. Clinical diagnosis of FMF is complicated by overlap in symptoms with other diseases, and interpretation of genetic testing is confounded by the lack of a clear genotype-phenotype association for most of the 340 reported MEFV variants. In this study, the authors designed a functional assay and evaluated its potential in supporting FMF diagnosis. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from patients with Pyrin--associated autoinflammation with an FMF phenotype (n=43) or with autoinflammatory features not compatible with FMF (n=8), 10 asymptomatic carriers and 48 healthy donors. Sera were obtained from patients with distinct AIDs (n=10), and whole blood from a subset of patients and controls. The clinical, demographic, molecular genetic factors and other characteristics of the patient population were assessed for their impact on the diagnostic test read--out. Interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-18 levels were measured by Luminex assay. Results The ex vivo colchicine assay may be performed on whole blood or PBMC. The functional assay robustly segregated patients with FMF from healthy controls and patients with related clinical disorders. The diagnostic test distinguished patients with classical FMF mutations (M694V, M694I, M680I, R761H) from patients with other MEFV mutations and variants (K695R, P369S, R202Q, E148Q) that are considered benign or of uncertain clinical significance. Conclusion The ex vivo colchicine assay may support diagnosis of FMF and functional subtyping of Pyrin-associated autoinflammation.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Annals of the rheumatic diseases / European League against Rheumatism [Kilchberg] - London, 1939, currens
Publication
London : British Medical Association , 2020
ISSN
0003-4967 [print]
1468-2060 [online]
DOI
10.1136/ANNRHEUMDIS-2019-216701
Volume/pages
79 :7 (2020) , p. 960-968
ISI
000542734200027
Pubmed ID
32312770
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
T-cell receptor diversity and AT-rich DNA sensing by glial cells as key features in controlling neurological varicella-zoster virus infections.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 20.08.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
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