Improved superoxide-generating ability by interferon γ due to splicing pattern change of transcripts in neutrophils from patients with a splice site mutation inCYBB gene

Abstract

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is an inherited disorder of host defense against microbial infections caused by defective activity of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Based on an increase of neutrophil superoxide-generating ability in response to interferon γ (IFN-γ) in a single patient with CGD, multicentered group studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of prophylactic IFN-γ. However, no apparent increase of the phagocyte superoxide generation was found in patients enrolled in these studies. The present report offers an additional kindred in whom an IFN-γ–dependent increase in neutrophil superoxide production was observed in 3 affected patients. The defect in the CYBB gene for gp91-phox was identified as an otherwise silent mutation adjacent to the third intron of theCYBB gene that alters messenger RNA splicing. By molecular analysis, significant differences were found in the splicing pattern ofCYBB gene transcripts in patient neutrophils between 1 and 25 days after administration of IFN-γ. Furthermore, a complete transcript containing the missing exons could be detected in all specimens after the treatment. The changes in the splicing pattern of the transcripts and the prolonged effect on superoxide-generating ability of patient neutrophils indicate that IFN-γ induced a partial correction of the abnormal splicing of CYBB gene transcripts in myeloid progenitor cells.