AUTHOR=Chavoshzadeh Zahra , Fallah Shahrzad , Zeinali Vahide , Sharafian Samin , Delavari Samaneh , Mesdaghi Mehrnaz , Djidjik Reda , Belaid Brahim , Ikinciogullari Aydan , Haskologlu Sule , Dogu Figen , Genel Ferah , Gulez Nesrin , Baris Safa , Ozen Ahmet , Karakoc-Aydiner Elif , Kiykim Ayça , Meric Zeynep , Kutukculer Necil , Aygun Ayse , Aksu Guzide , Karaca Neslihan Edeer , Geyik Mehmet , Keles Sevgi , Reisli Ismail , Nail Guner Sukru , Boukari Rachida , Hakem Saliha , Belbouab Reda , Barbouche Mohamed-Ridha , Ben-Mustapha Imen , Mekki Najla , Ben-Ali Meriem , Sobh Ali , Elnagdy Marwa , Djenouhat Kamel , Tahiat Azzeddine , Shendi Hiba Mohammed , Alkuwaiti Amna , Nasrullayeva Gulnara , Alfars Tariq , Alsukaiti Nashat , Massaad Michel , Mehawej Cybel , Megarbane Andre , Irani Carla , Elghazali Gehad , Al-Tamemi Salem , Khalifa Nisreen , Alzyoud Raed , Gultekin Sara Sebnem Kilic , Kose Hulya , Khodaverdy Hedieh , Shamsian Bibi Shahin , Eslami Narges , Momen Tooba , Sherkat Roya , Aleyasin Soheila , Esmaeilzadeh Hossein , Ahanchian Hamid , Salami Fereshte , Fekrvand Saba , Dupre Loïc , Ochs Hans D. , Rezaei Nima , Al-Herz Waleed , Abolhassani Hassan 

TITLE=Clinical and molecular findings in actin-related inborn errors of immunity: the middle East and North Africa registry

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1584681

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2025.1584681

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThe majority of monogenic inborn errors of immunity presenting as actinopathies were reported originally from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries indicating a high prevalence of these entities in the region. However, their prognosis is unclear due to rarity and lack of comprehensive treatment outcomes.MethodsWe evaluated clinical, immunological, and genetic abnormalities associated with 15 genetic entities of actinopathies. Based on the function of mutant genes in actin-regulatory pathways, patients were classified into CDC42- and RAC2-related subcategories.ResultsA total of 503 individuals (29.5% females) from 17 countries were considered with a median age of 120 months. Although most patients presented initially with allergic phenotypes (37.7%), the most prevalent manifestations throughout the lifespan were infection in respiratory tracts (72.2%). Primary clinical diagnosis was mainly combined immunodeficiencies (48.3%) and the majority of cases were molecularly assigned to the CDC42 pathway (64.8%). The most common genetic defects were reported within the DOCK8 (n = 209) followed by the WAS (n = 94) and the CARMIL2 (n = 15) genes. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was conducted on 24.0% of patients, which significantly improved survival in patients with defects in WAS, DOCK8 and DOCK2. Overall mortality was 23.0%, mainly due to sepsis and malignancy.ConclusionPatients with defects in RAC2-associated regulators of actin usually present with late-onset symptoms due to normal immune profiles, but a higher rate of EBV and HPV infections, autoimmune cytopenia, asthma, and lymphoproliferation compared to defects in the CDC42 pathway. The severity of mutations in patients of the CDC42 group helps to estimate the prognosis of the disease and prioritization of HSCT.