Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome: a comprehensive review

MJ Massaad, N Ramesh… - Annals of the New York …, 2013 - Wiley Online Library
MJ Massaad, N Ramesh, RS Geha
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2013Wiley Online Library
Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X‐linked primary immunodeficiency characterized
by microthrombocytopenia, eczema, recurrent infections, and an increased incidence of
autoimmunity and malignancies. The disease is caused by mutations in the WAS gene
expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells. WAS protein (WASp) is a multidomain protein
that exists in complex with several partners that play important roles in its function. WASp
belongs to a family of proteins that relay signals from the surface of the cell to the actin …
Wiskott‐Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is a rare X‐linked primary immunodeficiency characterized by microthrombocytopenia, eczema, recurrent infections, and an increased incidence of autoimmunity and malignancies. The disease is caused by mutations in the WAS gene expressed exclusively in hematopoietic cells. WAS protein (WASp) is a multidomain protein that exists in complex with several partners that play important roles in its function. WASp belongs to a family of proteins that relay signals from the surface of the cell to the actin cytoskeleton. Mutations in the WAS gene have various effects on the level of WASp, which, in turn, correlates with the severity of the disease. In addition to WAS, mutations in the WAS gene can result in the mild variant X‐linked thrombocytopenia, or in X‐linked neutropenia, characterized by neutropenia with myelodysplasia. The absence of functional WASp leads to a severe clinical phenotype that can result in death if not diagnosed and treated early in life. The treatment of choice with the best outcome is hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, preferably from a matched related donor.
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