Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a hereditary immune deficiency caused by mutations in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits. X-linked CGD caused by mutations in gp91(phox) is characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and by an increased incidence of autoimmunity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The concurrent occurrence of microbial infection, autoimmunity, and IBD suggests the presence of complicated profiles of cytokines in patients with CGD. However, the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses to microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) are poorly defined in patients with CGD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the cytokine and chemokine profiles in two patients with X-linked CGD. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and stimulated with various bacterial and fungal MAMPs. RESULTS: Production of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α was enhanced by PBMCs isolated from patients with X-linked CGD as compared with those from healthy controls when stimulated with bacterial and fungal MAMPs. CONCLUSION: A dysregulated balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines may contribute to the manifestations of recurrent infection, autoimmunity, and IBD in patients with X-linked CGD.