CIAS1 Gene Research Articles

Association between development of severe COVID-19 and a polymorphism in the CIAS1 gene that codes for an inflammasome component

An elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine response is associated with severe life-threatening symptoms in individuals with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID). The inflammasome is an intracellular structure responsible for generation of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. NALP3, a product of the CIAS1 gene, is the rate-limiting component for inflammasome activity. We evaluated if a CIAS1 42 base pair length polymorphism (rs74163773) was associated with severe COVID. DNA from 93 individuals with severe COVID, 38 with mild COVID, and 98 controls were analyzed for this polymorphism. The 12 unit repeat allele is associated with the highest inflammasome activity. Five alleles, corresponding to 6, 7, 9, 12 or 13 repeat units, divided into 12 genotypes were identified. The frequency of the 12 unit repeat allele was 45.3% in those with severe disease as opposed to 30.0% in those with mild disease and 26.0% in controls (p < 0.0001, severe vs. controls). In contrast, the 7 unit repeat allele frequency was 30.1% in controls as opposed to 14.0% and 12.5% in those with severe or mild disease, respectively (p ≤ 0.0017). We conclude that individuals positive for the CIAS1 12 allele may be at elevated risk for development of severe COVID due to an increased level of induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Differences in disease activity in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome in mutation-positive and mutation-negative patients

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an inherited disease which is caused by gain-of function mutations in CIAS1 gene function resulting in increased secretion of active IL-1β. As known more than 40% of patients with CAPS are genetic negative in CIAS1 gene. One of theories explains this is a fact is a somatic mozaicism.

Evaluation of autoinflammatory disease genes in nasal polyposis*

To investigate cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome 1 (CIAS 1) gene polymorphisms that cause autoinflammatory diseases in patients with nasal polyposis (NP). The study included 30 patients diagnosed with NP and 30 healthy age-matched individuals as a control group. CIAS1 polymorphisms were assessed by DNA sequence analysis. Patients with nasal polyps and the control group were compared in terms of gene polymorphisms. Each of the 8 polymorphisms of the CIAS1 gene was analyzed separately in the patient group. The most frequently observed polymorphisms in the patient group were c.732G > A in 83%, c.663C > T in 23%, and c.1308C > A in 23% of the patients. c.732G > A polymorphism was evaluated separately. Guanine was transformed to adenine at the 732nd nucleotide position of the CIAS1 gene in the cDNA of chromosome 1. The CIAS1 gene c.732G > A polymorphism was thought to be responsible for an increase in disease susceptibility. The frequency of the "A" allele is higher in the patient group compared to the control group. Autoinflammatory diseases seem like a candidate to be one of these factors. This is the first report to define the role of autoinflammatory diseases among these factors.

Interleukine-6 and TNFα blockers provide only partial and short-term temporal improvement in cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an inherited disease which is caused by gain-of function mutations in CIAS1 gene function resulting in increased secretion of active IL-1β. IL-1β also can stimulate the production of other proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, TNFα and so on (downstream cascade). The use of IL-1 blockers dramatically controls inflammation in CAPS patients and provide a persistent amelioration of the inflammatory manifestations. The data about using of IL-6 or TNFα blockers in CAPS are very limited.

AB1115 A novel mutation in the CIAS1/NLRP3 gene associated with an unexpected phenotype of caps

BackgroundCryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is an autoinflammatory syndrome caused by heterozygous mutations of CIAS1/NLRP3 gene. Affected patients may present three different phenotypes: familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), Muckle-Wells syndrome and...

Cryopyrin-associated Periodic Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Japanese Literature

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome is an autoinflammatory syndrome caused by mutations of the CIAS1 gene (currently named NLRP3), and is characterized by periodic attacks of an urticaria-like rash, fever, head-ache, conjunctivitis and arthralgia. We report here a case of a 1-year-old boy with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, which manifested as a recurrent skin rash in the postnatal period. Genetic analysis revealed a missense mutation of the CIAS1 gene in the mother and infant.

Síndrome de Muckle-Wells y síndrome autoinflamatorio familiar inducido por frío

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) belong to the cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) with CIAS1 gene mutations as a common molecular basis. Patients with FCAS have the least severe clinical phenotype but are characterized by the development of symptoms induced by a generalized exposure to cold appearing during the first months of childhood. It is important to make differential diagnosis between FCAS and acquired cold urticaria (ACU) and familial atypical cold urticaria (FACU). Muckle-Wells syndrome is characterized by recurrent fever and urticarial rash, progressive sensorineural deafness and the development of secondary amyloidosis, but it is not considered the most severe disease of this group. Sensorineural deafness and amyloidosis are the two major complications of MWS and determine poor prognosis of the disease.

Síndrome CINCA/NOMID

CINCA/NOMID syndrome was first reported in 1981, identified as a new disease in 1987 and the main cause discovered in 2001, when mutations in the CIAS1 gene modifying the structure of the protein cryopirin were found in those patients (although other factors seem to play a role). Together with the major symptoms that characterized the syndrome, neurological, cutaneous and articular manifestations, others have been added which seem to be quite constant among CINCA/NOMID diagnosed patients: pre and perinatal symptoms, morfological changes, outbreaks of fever and biological abnormalities which reveal a persistent inflammatory background. The radiological studies have been able to identify the physis as the origin of the osteoarticular malformations seen in this syndrome. Diferential diagnosis includes diseases with similar onset at the neonatal period or infancy: systemic onset juvenile idiopathic athritis, periodic fever associated with mevalonate kinase deficiency, deficiency of IL-1 receptor antagonist (DIRA) and Muckle-Wells syndrome.

A novel Y331X nonsense mutation in TNFRSF1A gene in two unrelated Turkish families with periodic fever syndrome

The autoinflammatory disorders differ in severity, as well as age of onset, duration, and manifestations, but they all share some common features: recurring fever peaks, inflammation of serosal membranes, musculoskeletal involvement, varying types of skin rash, amyloidosis as a sequel of the disease. TRAPS is very rare in Turkish population and we present two unrelated Turkish children with similar clinical phenotypes and laboratory findings related with autoinflammatory disorders and with novel p. Y331X mutation in TNFRSF1A gene. Both of the patients were male and they had recurrent fever without abdominal pain and arthralgia. Full cDNA and exon-intron binding regions of TNFRSF1A, MEFV, MVK, CIAS1 genes were analysed by direct DNA sequencing methods in order to differentiate TRAPS, FMF, HIDS, CINCA/MWS/FCAS respectively. We screened ten exons of TNFRSF1A gene, and detected a heterozygous c.1080C>G nucleotide substitution in exon 10 in both of the unrelated patients, resulting p.Y360X nonsense (protein truncated) mutation. According to classical TNFRSF1A gene nomenclature and the agreement of 30th amino acid as the first one, it is accepted as p.Y331X. It was interesting to determine same mutations in fathers of two patients. In one of the cases, E148Q heterozygous mutation, which is one of the disease-causing mutations of MEFV gene, was detected. No nucleotide substitution was identified in exon and exon-intron splicing regions encoding 396 amino acid of MVK gene in both of the patients. In CIAS1 gene, two different nucleotide substitutions resulting synonymous amino acid mutation were detected in exon 3: c.[732G>A] and c.[786A>G] nucleotide substitutions and compatible p.A242A (according to c.DNA p.A244A) and p.R260R (according to c.DNA p.R262R) synonymous amino acid mutations. These nucleotide substitutions were also detected in parents and were reported to be normal variations in Turkish population. In conclusion, in Turkish patients, with dominantly inherited recurrent fever, TRAPS is a diagnosis worthy of attention and novel mutations have to be reported with phenotype associations.

The 423Q polymorphism of the X‐linked inhibitor of apoptosis gene influences monocyte function and is associated with periodic fever

Hereditary periodic fever syndromes (HPFs) develop as a result of uncontrolled activation of the inflammatory response, with a substantial contribution from interleukin-1beta or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). The HPFs include familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), hyperimmunoglobulinemia D with periodic fever syndrome (HIDS), TNF receptor-associated syndrome (TRAPS), and cryopyrinopathies, which are attributable to mutations of the MEFV, MVK, TNFRSF1A, and CIAS1 genes, respectively. However, in many patients, the mutated gene has not been determined; therefore, the condition in these patients with an HPF-like clinical picture is referred to as idiopathic periodic fever (IPF). The aim of this study was to assess involvement of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP), which plays a role in caspase inhibition and NF-kappaB signaling, both of which are processes that influence the development of inflammatory cells. The XIAP gene (X-linked) was sequenced in 87 patients with IPF, 46 patients with HPF (13 with HIDS, 17 with TRAPS, and 16 with FMF), and 182 healthy control subjects. The expression of different alleles was evaluated by sequencing XIAP-specific complementary DNA mini-libraries and by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analyses. The functional effect of XIAP on caspase 9 activity was assessed by a fluorimetric assay, and cytokine secretion was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sequencing disclosed a 1268A>C variation that caused a Q423P amino acid substitution. The frequency of 423Q-homozygous female patients and 423Q-hemizygous male patients was significantly higher in the IPF group than in the control group (69% versus 51%; odds ratio 2.17, 95% confidence interval 1.23-3.87, P = 0.007), whereas no significant difference was detected in the HPF group (59%) compared with controls. In primary lymphocytes and transfected cell lines, 423Q, as compared with 423P, was associated with higher XIAP protein and messenger RNA expression and lower caspase 9 activation. In lipopolysaccharide-activated monocytes, 423Q was associated with higher secretion of TNFalpha. These results suggest that 423Q is a predisposing factor for IPF development, possibly through its influence on monocyte function.

Polymorphism in a gene coding for the inflammasome component NALP3 and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome

Patients with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) and control subjects were tested for a polymorphism in the gene coding for the NALP3 component of inflammasomes, cytoplasmic structures regulating interleukin (IL)-1beta production. DNA from 143 women with VVS and 182 control women were tested for a length polymorphism in intron 4 of the gene (CIAS1) that codes for NALP3. Vestibular tissue was examined for NALP3 expression. Whole blood cultures were tested for Candida albicans-induced IL-1beta production. The allele 12 frequency was higher in control subjects than in the patients with VVS (P = .02). Among patients with VVS and a self-reported history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), the allele 7 frequency was 43.9% as compared with 30.8% in patients with no history of RVVC and 26.9% in control women (P = .035 vs other patients and .001 vs control subjects). NALP3 was identified in vestibular tissue. C albicans-induced IL-1beta production was reduced in samples from women with the 7,7 genotype (P = .030). Polymorphism in the CIAS1 gene may play a central role in the triggering of VVS in a subset of patients.

Long term management of patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS): focus on rilonacept (IL-1 Trap)

Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of inherited inflammatory disorders consisting of familial cold-induced autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS), Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS), and neonatal-onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID; also known as chronic infantile neurologic, cutaneous, articular [CINCA] syndrome). These rare disorders are associated with heterozygous mutations in the NLRP3 (CIAS1) gene, which encodes the protein NALP3 or cryopyrin, and inflammation driven by excessive production of the cytokine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). Amyloidosis is a serious complication with 25% of MWS patients developing amyloidosis, with occasional fatal consequences, whilst up to 20% of CINCA/NOMID patients die from various complications, before reaching the early adulthood. In some CINCA/NOMID adult survivors amyloidosis can also occur. Prior to the discovery of the CIAS1 gene mutations and the advent of IL-1 targeted therapy, treatment was aimed at suppressing inflammation, with limited success. The selective blockade of IL-1beta, with anakinra (IL-1 receptor antagonist), not only provided supportive evidence for the role of IL-1beta in CAPS, but also demonstrated the efficacy of targeting IL-1beta for treatment of these conditions. In February, 2008, 'Orphan Drug' approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for rilonacept (IL-1 Trap/Arcalyst(), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc) was given for the treatment of two CAPS disorders, FCAS and MWS in adults and children 12 years and older, making rilonacept the first therapy approved for the treatment of CAPS.

Síndrome CINCA: presentación de un caso con exacerbación febril de sus lesiones cutáneas

Chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous articular (CINCA) syndrome is a serious chronic systemic inflammatory disease that presents at a young age and that is characterized by skin, joint, and central nervous system disease. Skin symptoms are the first to appear, in the form of a longstanding nonpruritic urticarial rash, with exacerbations coinciding with episodes of fever, arthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. The findings of biopsy of skin lesions are extremely variable but characterized by perivascular neutrophilic infiltrate.With the discovery of mutations in the CIAS1 gene, which encodes a protein known as cryopyrin, this entity has been classified as one of the cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory diseases, along with familial cold urticaria and Muckle-Wells syndrome. This discovery has also made available new therapeutic options. We present the case of a boy diagnosed with CINCA syndrome who presented with an outbreak of painful skin lesions and fever. These lesions were thought to be an exacerbation of underlying lesions during an episode of fever.

A pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the long‐acting interleukin‐1 inhibitor rilonacept (interleukin‐1 trap) in patients with familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome

Familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) is caused by mutations in the CIAS1 gene, leading to excessive secretion of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), which is associated with cold-induced fevers, joint pain, and systemic inflammation. This pilot study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of rilonacept (IL-1 Trap), a long-acting IL-1 receptor fusion protein, in patients with FCAS. Five patients with FCAS were studied in an open-label trial. All patients received an initial loading dose of 300 mg of rilonacept by subcutaneous injection, were evaluated 6 and 10 days later for clinical efficacy, and remained off treatment until a clinical flare occurred. At the time of flare, patients were again treated with 300 mg of rilonacept and then given maintenance doses of 100 mg/week. Patients whose FCAS was not completely controlled were allowed a dosage increase to 160 mg/week and then further to 320 mg/week during an intrapatient dosage-escalation phase. Safety, disease activity measures (daily diary reports of rash, joint pain and/or swelling, and fevers), health quality measures (Short Form 36 health survey questionnaire), and serum markers of inflammation (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], serum amyloid A [SAA], and IL-6) were determined at 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months after initiation of rilonacept and were compared with baseline values. In all patients, clinical symptoms typically induced by cold (rash, fever, and joint pain/swelling) improved within days of rilonacept administration. Markers of inflammation (ESR, hsCRP, and SAA) showed statistically significant reductions (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) at doses of 100 mg. Dosage escalation to 160 mg and 320 mg resulted in subjectively better control of the rash and joint pain. Furthermore, levels of the acute-phase reactants ESR, hsCRP, and SAA were lower at the higher doses; the difference was statistically significant only for the ESR. All patients continued taking the study drug. The drug was well-tolerated. Weight gain in 2 patients was noted. No study drug-related serious adverse events were seen. In this study, we present 2-year safety and efficacy data on rilonacept treatment in 5 patients with FCAS. The dramatic improvement in clinical and laboratory measures of inflammation, the sustained response, and the good tolerability suggest that this drug may be a promising therapeutic option in patients with FCAS, and the data led to the design of a phase III study in this patient population.

M2081 Glucocorticoid Receptor Polymorphism in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

of the two disease-causing polymorphisms in a Swedish cohort of patients with CD. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 125 consecutive CD patients (64 men, 61 women). The samples were frozen and stored at -70 centigrade. DNA was isolated and amplified using specific primers and the Q705K polymorphism of CIAS1 and C10X polymorphism of CARD8 were detected by the commercially available Megabace SNuPe genotyping kit. Moreover, the three most common polymorphisms of NOD2 were assessed, i.e. insC, 702, and 908, respectively. The results were compared to blood DNA bank controls (n=806). Results: At least one allele variant in the NOD2 gene was found in 16 % of CD patients, OR=2.32 (95 % CI: 1.39-3.88). Ten percent of the patients carried heterozygote polymorphisms in both of the CIAS1 and CARD8 genes, OR=2.34 (95 % CI: 1.13-4.84). None of these patients had polymorphisms in the NOD2 gene. Conclusions: Compound polymorphisms of CIAS1 and CARD8 doubled the susceptibility for CD in our cohort. This may be an important genetic risk factor in individuals with normal NOD2. However, the data needs confirmation in larger patient groups.

Anakinra improves sensory deafness in a Japanese patient with Muckle‐Wells syndrome, possibly by inhibiting the cryopyrin inflammasome

Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) is a dominantly inherited autoinflammatory syndrome. Patients with MWS have a mutation in CIAS1, the gene encoding cryopyrin, a component of the inflammasome that regulates the processing of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). In this report we describe an 8-year-old Japanese girl with MWS who had symptoms of periodic fever, urticarial rash, conjunctivitis, arthropathy, and sensory deafness. Laboratory analysis of the patient's serum showed abnormally high concentrations of C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, and IL-1beta, and she had a heterozygous mutation in the CIAS1 gene, with C-to-T transversion at nucleotide position 778, encoding an arginine-to-tryptophan mutation at position 260 (R260W). Mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from the patient secreted large amounts of IL-1beta, without stimulation, and were highly sensitive to muramyldipeptide and lipopolysaccharide. After treatment with anakinra, laboratory results normalized, and clinical symptoms, including sensory deafness, disappeared, while MNCs appeared to remain activated. Thus, our case suggests that anakinra possibly affects the cryopyrin inflammasome and markedly improves the clinical and laboratory manifestations of MWS.

Alternatively Spliced CIAS1 mRNA in a Variant Case of Muckle Wells Syndrome

Muckle wells syndrome (MWS) is a rare autosomal dominant, hearing loss, amyloidosis, and an urticarial-like rash. The gene responsible for MWS, CIAS1, encodes the protein crypoyrin, which is a component of the inflammasome complex. Mutations in cryopryrin result in dysregulated release of IL-1 beta, leading to MWS and other related autoinflammatory syndromes (eg, neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disorder and familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome). Here we report a 3-year old girl who was diagnosed with MWS, and demonstrated a unique alternatively spliced CIAS1 mRNA product. RT-PCR analysis was performed on mRNA obtained from patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells using CIAS1-specific 3′ and 5′ primers. PCR products were sub-cloned and sequenced. The patient presented with a history of a chronic, relapsing non-pruritic urticaria-like rash associated with fever, abdominal pain, and arthralgia. Laboratory studies showed persistently elevated ESR, thrombocytosis, anemia, and elevated WBC, despite treatment with immunosuppressive agents (steroids and methotrexate). Given her clinical presentation, analysis of her CIAS1 gene was performed which demonstrated that most of her CIAS1 mRNA had alternatively spliced out exon 5, with minimal full-length mRNA product. Based on her medical presentation and abnormal C1AS1 mRNA splice products, she was diagnosed with variant-MWS. Anakinra (IL-1R antagonist) treatment resulted in complete resolution of all clinical symptoms, and normalization of all laboratory values. We believe this case is the first description of alternatively spliced CIAS1 mRNA products associated with MWS.

Exacerbation of Skin Lesions During Fever in a Patient With Chronic Infantile Neurologic Cutaneous Articular Syndrome

Chronic infantile neurologic cutaneous articular (CINCA) syndrome is a serious chronic systemic inflammatory disease that presents at a young age and that is characterized by skin, joint, and central nervous system disease. Skin symptoms are the first to appear, in the form of a longstanding nonpruritic urticarial rash, with exacerbations coinciding with episodes of fever, arthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. The findings of biopsy of skin lesions are extremely variable but characterized by perivascular neutrophilic infiltrate. With the discovery of mutations in the CIAS1 gene, which encodes a protein known as cryopyrin, this entity has been classified as one of the cryopyrin-associated autoinflammatory diseases, along with familial cold urticaria and Muckle-Wells syndrome. This discovery has also made available new therapeutic options. We present the case of a boy diagnosed with CINCA syndrome who presented with an outbreak of painful skin lesions and fever. These lesions were thought to be an exacerbation of underlying lesions during an episode of fever.

Coexistent MEFV and CIAS1 mutations manifesting as familial Mediterranean fever plus deafness

We report two individuals with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) confirmed on genetic testing who also had progressive deafness and mutations in the CIAS1 gene. This is the first report of...

A variant Muckle-Wells syndrome with a novel mutation in CIAS1 gene responding to anakinra

Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS) is a subset of autoinflammatory diseases. It is characterized by recurrent inflammatory crises associated with fever, abdominal pain, persistent urticaria, arthralgia, sensorineural deafness, and possible development of multiorgan amyloid A protein (AA)-type amyloidosis. Mutations in the CIAS1 gene have been reported in MWS. Interleukin 1B (IL-1B) probably plays a major role in the pathophysiology of the disease, and IL-1B blockade may be therapeutic for this syndrome. We report here a Turkish child with MWS treated with anakinra. A novel mutation (I480F) was identified in exon 3 of the CIAS1 gene in this patient. The resolution of inflammatory symptoms, normalization of serological values, and improvement in hearing was noted with anakinra treatment.