Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Resolves the Immune Deficit Associated with STAT3-Dominant-Negative Hyper-IgE Syndrome

Autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency (PID) with multisystem pathology [1], caused by dominant-negative loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) [2, 3] (STAT3-HIES). STAT3 is integral to lymphocyte development and differentiation. STAT3-deficient humans and mice have impaired cellular and humoral immune responses [4, 5], explaining the diverse immunologic manifestations [2‐4]. In the context of infection, there is poor differentiation of T lymphocytes into T_H17 cells, resulting in low IL17 and IL22 production [6], which contributes to susceptibility to encapsulated organisms and fungi.

HSCT was initially reported as unsuccessful in STAT3-HIES by our group [7]. Based on this impression, supportive treatment has been largely adopted [1], but many patients develop severe life-limiting pulmonary disease. However, over the years, eight case reports of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) for STAT3-HIES have been published [7‐12], three of them performed following the diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s B cell lymphoma, which is a known complication of this primary immunodeficiency [8]. In these eight cases, five patients had received myeloablative conditioning regimens, while three had reduced-intensity conditioning. Seven patients, including two with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, were recently reported as alive and well 4–20 years following report of HSCT [13], while one patient had died from the pre-existing lymphoma post-transplant [10].

We initially reported failure of HSCT to resolve or cure the immune defect in our first patient. However, we now acknowledge that STAT3-HIES patients have experienced sustained benefit from HSCT. At the time of our report, the molecular cause of STAT3-HIES was unknown, and we based our statements on failure to normalize the serum IgE level and an apparent failure to change the immunological defect. We have now shown that the IL17A levels of that patient approaches normal (although not measured pre-transplant) and memory B-lymphocytes are present. We now report a series of eight patients successfully treated with HSCT in the UK, including the long-term follow up of our previously reported patient [7].

In selected patients for whom samples were available, IL17A levels were measured by Luminex (Bio-Plex, Biorad, UK) [14], 24 hours after stimulation in whole blood (96 Costar-F plates, 1:5 diluted in RPMI) of healthy controls and patients. Stimulations were performed using PHA (Sigma-Aldrich, 10 μg/ml) and compared with unstimulated medium samples. Data were compared with historic controls, which had been stimulated under identical conditions. P values were calculated using the two-tailed Mann-Whitney test or the Wilcoxon matched pairs test, excluding the data of P5 before HSCT.

Parents, and, where appropriate, patients consented to the procedure and data collection.

Transplants were performed between 1996 and 2019. Demographic data, genetic mutation, and pre-HSCT clinical status are summarized in Table 1. All patients had dominant loss-of-function mutations in STAT3 with a classical clinical phenotype, and all had significant lung or skin-related complications prior to HSCT.

Details of conditioning regimen, cell source, and graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) prophylaxis are detailed in Table 2. One patient received conventional myeloablative conditioning, four received reduced-toxicity myeloablative conditioning, and three received reduced intensity conditioning, one of whom rejected and was successfully re-transplanted following a reduced-toxicity myeloablative regimen (patient six). All inoculi were matched at 10/10 HLA-loci, apart from the first product for patient six, which was a 9/10 match (DQ mismatch).

All patients survived and no patient experienced significant GvHD. Seven patients had complete or high level (>90%) donor chimerism and one had partial chimerism; however, all had improvement in immune phenotype, with a reduction in clinical symptoms, halting of progression of lung disease and improvement in skin infections. Non-immune manifestations showed variable improvement, with one patient developing further fractures and two patients demonstrating worsening scoliosis post-transplant. One patient has recently had vasculopathy with an ST segment elevation myocardial infarction with ectatic coronary vasculature [12]. Patient clinical status post-HSCT are summarized in Table 3.

In the one patient (patient 5) for whom pre- and post-transplant IL17A levels were available, IL17A was higher post-transplant. For patients 2, 3, and 4, IL17A levels were present post-transplant, but lower than controls (Fig. 1).

Patient 1 had significant pulmonary infection (complicated cystic bronchiectasis with Pseudomonas infection and widespread Aspergillus infection leading to pulmonary hypertension) with two lobectomies, complicated by development of bronchopleural fistula. He subsequently developed a Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis requiring surgical drainage, complicated by prolonged air leak. Transplantation at age 7 years was relatively uncomplicated. There was no viral re-activation, progression of chest lesions, or acute graft versus host disease. Six years post-transplant, his eczema had resolved and he was no longer getting significant respiratory infections. Immunoglobulin support has ceased, and normal vaccine and T-lymphocyte proliferative responses have been demonstrated. His scoliosis, exacerbated by his two previous left sided lobectomies, had deteriorated requiring spinal fusion surgery. Following this, his right lower airway integrity has been compromised, severely impairing his respiratory capacity. He now is reliant on overnight CPAP and can only ambulate short distances.

Patient 2 experienced frequent staphylococcal skin infections and cystic bronchiectasis infected with Pseudomonas, because of which transplantation was offered when aged 6 years. Despite 100% donor chimerism, the procedure was initially described as unsuccessful [7] because of continued elevated serum IgE. However, long-term follow-up confirmed sustained clinical improvement with no further respiratory or skin infections. Serum IgE levels diminished and remained reduced, and immunoglobulin support is no longer required. She developed thoracolumbar scoliosis, arterial hypertension, and gonadal failure. With 20 years follow-up, pulmonary status includes stable lingular bronchiectasis and non-progressive right upper lobe pulmonary cysts.

Patient 3 experienced frequent severe bronchopneumonias and progressive bronchiectasis despite immunoglobulin replacement, as well as osteopenia and lumbar vertebrae compression fractures. Transplantation at 13 years was relatively uneventful, and 13 years post-transplant, he demonstrates 100% donor chimerism with reduced serum IgE levels. Lung function has improved to normal values. Hemoptysis has stopped, and there is no computerized tomographic evidence of pulmonary disease progression. An increase in IL17A production after polyclonal stimulation was demonstrated post-HSCT (Fig. 2), and T_H17 cells display normal response to IFN-γ and IL12 and normal IL12 production (data not shown). However, at 11 years post-HSCT, he sustained an anterior myocardial infarction, accompanied by classical clinical, electrocardiographic and biochemical signs and parameters. Angiography revealed proximal ectasia causing mid-vessel occlusion of his left anterior descending coronary artery but otherwise unobstructed coronary vessels. He was commenced on aspirin 75 mg for 3 months with rivaroxaban 2.5 mg BID for 3 years and clopidogrel 75 mg long term [12].

Patient 6 had persistent multiple skin infections with severe eczema and lymphadenitis through childhood and a single lung abscess. Additionally, a persistent Staphylococcus aureus hepatic abscess required surgical drainage on four occasions. Further to this, the patient required surgical excision of Candida albicans retroperitoneal lymphadenitis and a fungal liver abscess. The patient developed bowel perforation of unknown etiology at 6 years of age, before HSCT. An immune-mediated acute rejection of first graft was confirmed at day 13 post-transplant, followed by an autologous recovery. In this period, the patient experienced an enterococcal septic arthritis, with collapse of femoral head, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and further episodes of fungal lymphadenitis. A second transplant procedure using a reduced toxicity treosulfan-based regimen was successful. The patient has good immune reconstitution and has ceased immunosuppression and immunoglobulin replacement.

Patient 8 presented as a neonate with staphylococcal skin infection and went on to develop recurrent skin infection, pneumonia, and otitis media. She demonstrated elevated serum IgE with poor pneumococcal antibody titers following vaccination and almost no T_H17 cells. Her pulmonary disease progressed with findings of Aspergillus on bronchoalveolar lavage leading to a diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, treated with antifungal therapy, corticosteroids, and anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies. She underwent HSCT aged 6 years with an uncomplicated course. One year post-HSCT, she reports only dry skin with no infection. Pulmonary function is stable and she is asymptomatic from cough or dyspnoea. Serum IgE has fallen to 392 kU/L. She remains on immunoglobulin replacement but has normal B lymphocyte numbers.

Published data on the outcome of allogeneic HSCT for STAT3-HIES patients are limited, perhaps stemming from our initial report indicating non-utility [7]. A recent report by Oikonomopoulou et al. [13] summarizes the data of 7 patients transplanted between 1998 and 2018, one of which was the patient we originally reported in 2000 [7]. For three of these, the transplant indication was lymphoma [9, 10], and thus, although the STAT3-HIES was reported as cured, their transplant indication and management could be considered separately. The first of these patients died 6 months following transplant from interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, although with pre-existing abnormal immune parameters, including raised IgE, normalized post-transplant [10]. The other two patients, with follow up of 10 and 14 years, respectively, both with 100% donor chimerism, were reported to have normalized immunological parameters including a normalized proportion of T_H17⁺ lymphocytes. Furthermore, other abnormalities associated with STAT3-HIES, including coarse facies and osteoporosis, were reported to have resolved, and there was no symptomatic development of STAT3-HIES-associated vasculopathy, although it is not clear if any screening was performed [9]. A further patient, transplanted because of a complicated infectious history, was reported after 42 months of follow-up. The patient had full donor chimerism and remained infection-free after discontinuing anti-microbial prophylaxis. Vaccine antibody responses were demonstrated and IgE normalized, STAT3 signaling was restored in hematopoietic-derived cells, and the percentage of Th17⁺ lymphocytes and central memory T lymphocytes to normal ranges was established [11]. Finally, 2 patients, transplanted for recurrent infection, were reported with 8 and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. Immunological parameters normalized and the infection frequency significantly diminished, but non-immunological features of STAT3-HIES remained, including a propensity to recurrent fractures and development of a new pneumatocele, associated with ≤50% donor chimerism [8].

Our current report extends follow-up of the initial patient to over 18 years and reports on a further 7 patients, one recently published in the context of new onset vasculopathy complications [12], thus contributing the largest series to date. Perhaps the most remarkable observation is that despite pre-transplant severe, progressive lung disease—itself a significant risk factor for HSCT outcome—as well as other significant pre-transplant sequelae, all patients in our series survived. Importantly, pulmonary disease has stabilized in all and improved in some, as demonstrated on clinical, functional, and radiological parameters (Table 1; Fig. 3). No peri-transplant pulmonary inflammatory complications were observed, unlike the post-HSCT course seen in many PID patients. GvHD was infrequent and insignificant. Notably, no patients have required further lung surgery post-HSCT. Most patients have remained on some antimicrobial prophylaxis, in view of treating physician concerns of recurrent infections in pre-existing bronchiectatic lungs—despite this, control of lung disease reported by patients has stabilized or improved. Aspergillus infection, likely from pre-existing colonization or infection, recurred through, or after transplantation in some, but did not cause the severe complications usually associated with transplant-associated aspergillosis. Other significant infections reduced in frequency or resolved completely, accepting that most patients remained on antimicrobial prophylaxis. Importantly, eczema improved in all patients and skin infections were abolished post-transplant.

STAT3 plays an important part in normal endothelial cell biology [16], and endothelial dysfunction is known to contribute to initiation of transplant-related inflammatory complications [17]. It may be that the lack of severe post-HSCT inflammatory complications including acute graft-versus-host disease, observed in these patients and the previously reported cases, might be due to reduced endothelial cell upregulation, conferred by dominant negative STAT3-LOF mutations.

Although serum IgE levels remain above the adult reference range, they are substantially lower post-HSCT compared with pre-HSCT levels, although, in non-transplanted patients, IgE levels may fall over time [1]. More importantly, in those patients for whom data were available, normal T_H17 function and associated cytokine responses are demonstrated (Fig. 1), confirming previous reports [8, 9, 11].

As expected, many extra-immune manifestations have not resolved post-HSCT, and patients retain coarse facial features, as well as bone-related complications, although it is noteworthy that only one patient has developed fractures post-transplantation. No patient has developed lymphoma to date. Critically, however, one patient (#3) recently experienced an anterior myocardial infarction, with evidence of thrombotic occlusion of dilated (ectatic) coronary vessels upon angiography. We estimated this patient’s 10-year risk of developing a heart attack or stroke, using the QRISK3 calculator, as 0.1%, which suggests that conventional cardiovascular risk factors were unlikely to account for the event, and disease-associated vasculopathy is more likely to be implicated [12]. Screening of coronary vasculature had not been performed prior to this event, and so it is unclear whether HSCT ameliorated, accelerated, or had no effect on these coronary vessels. Whether earlier HSCT will favorably alter the pre-disposition to vascular complications documented in these patients remains to be seen. Further research is required to establish the clinical significance of these wider complications of STAT3-HIES and capture the long-term impact of STAT3-HIES on patients’ quality of life across the spectrum of presentations.

Contrary to our previous assertion [7], this series, along with other published reports, further supports the notion that allogeneic HSCT can improve the immunological deficit, modify the pulmonary course in these patients, and improve the skin condition. The future challenge will be to identify which patients will benefit from early consideration of this therapy to prevent end-organ damage, reduce hospitalization and improve quality of life, as well as which conditioning regimen to use. The importance of complete or high donor chimerism is not established, and further work is required to determine optimum conditioning regimens and minimum effective donor chimerism level. Furthermore, it will be particularly important to determine whether HSCT can alter the risk of developing vascular anomalies, which may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.