Ataxia telangiectasia: why should the ERS care?
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Neurological and immunological contributions to lung disease in A-T require proactive and multidisciplinary management http://ow.ly/TqT44
Why indeed should we care? The answer is that ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients will present to respiratory paediatricians for diagnosis, when standard testing, if the diagnosis is not made, may do irreparable harm; and both adult and paediatric respiratory physicians will be involved in managing the respiratory disease, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. So there is a real “need to know” which is why the ERS convened a task force on A-T, whose findings are published in the European Respiratory Review [1].
A-T is an autosomal recessive, progressive, multisystem disease caused by mutations in the gene ATM (Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated) (11q22.3). This gene is expressed ubiquitously and encodes ATM kinase, a serine/threonine protein kinase, which is involved in signalling following cellular stress. It activates over a hundred proteins involved in the DNA damage response, cell cycle regulation and other pathways. ATM has important roles in neuroprotection, both adaptive and innate immunity, inflammatory responses, metabolism (e.g. insulin signalling), longevity and fertility. It has been estimated that a human cell is confronted with one million DNA lesions every day, placing DNA damage response mechanisms in a position of paramount importance. This has to be a very precise and efficient system to prevent cells with damaged DNA from dividing further or being passed on through germline mutation. The DNA double strand break (DSB) represents one of the most cytotoxic DNA lesions. DSBs can be generated by exposure to ionising radiation or various chemical compounds [2].
The Orphanet registry estimates the average prevalence of A-T to be 1 per 100 000 children [3]. A-T has a large number of other complex and diverse manifestations that vary with age. Neurological symptoms, particularly progressive cerebellar ataxia and abnormalities of the eye movements appear from an early age, and malignant disease is common. Some children first come to medical attention because of recurrent sino-pulmonary infections (which affect ∼50% of children with A-T). Oculocutaneous telangiectasia may not occur until 4 or 5 years of age, so this clue is not available in early life. Laboratory tests may show an elevated alpha-fetoprotein level, immunological deficiencies and chromosomal instability; one lesson is to have a low threshold for the measurement of alpha-fetoprotein as a screening test, especially in young children with infections plus another sign, especially drooling or ataxia. Patients with A-T die prematurely with the leading causes of death being respiratory diseases and cancer, hence the importance of receiving respiratory management right from the start. Also, it is good to consider the diagnosis before rather than after embarking on radiological investigations such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), given the sensitivity of the patients to radiation. There is no definitive treatment available at present, and no randomised controlled trials of treatment; supportive care is the mainstay of management. Median survival is 25 years [4].
A respiratory physician needs to recognise the following major lung disease phenotypes in known A-T patients.
Why indeed should we care? The answer is that ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients will present to respiratory paediatricians for diagnosis, when standard testing, if the diagnosis is not made, may do irreparable harm; and both adult and paediatric respiratory physicians will be involved in managing the respiratory disease, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. So there is a real “need to know” which is why the ERS convened a task force on A-T, whose findings are published in the European Respiratory Review [1].
A-T is an autosomal recessive, progressive, multisystem disease caused by mutations in the gene ATM (Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mutated) (11q22.3). This gene is expressed ubiquitously and encodes ATM kinase, a serine/threonine protein kinase, which is involved in signalling following cellular stress. It activates over a hundred proteins involved in the DNA damage response, cell cycle regulation and other pathways. ATM has important roles in neuroprotection, both adaptive and innate immunity, inflammatory responses, metabolism (e.g. insulin signalling), longevity and fertility. It has been estimated that a human cell is confronted with one million DNA lesions every day, placing DNA damage response mechanisms in a position of paramount importance. This has to be a very precise and efficient system to prevent cells with damaged DNA from dividing further or being passed on through germline mutation. The DNA double strand break (DSB) represents one of the most cytotoxic DNA lesions. DSBs can be generated by exposure to ionising radiation or various chemical compounds [2].
The Orphanet registry estimates the average prevalence of A-T to be 1 per 100 000 children [3]. A-T has a large number of other complex and diverse manifestations that vary with age. Neurological symptoms, particularly progressive cerebellar ataxia and abnormalities of the eye movements appear from an early age, and malignant disease is common. Some children first come to medical attention because of recurrent sino-pulmonary infections (which affect ∼50% of children with A-T). Oculocutaneous telangiectasia may not occur until 4 or 5 years of age, so this clue is not available in early life. Laboratory tests may show an elevated alpha-fetoprotein level, immunological deficiencies and chromosomal instability; one lesson is to have a low threshold for the measurement of alpha-fetoprotein as a screening test, especially in young children with infections plus another sign, especially drooling or ataxia. Patients with A-T die prematurely with the leading causes of death being respiratory diseases and cancer, hence the importance of receiving respiratory management right from the start. Also, it is good to consider the diagnosis before rather than after embarking on radiological investigations such as high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), given the sensitivity of the patients to radiation. There is no definitive treatment available at present, and no randomised controlled trials of treatment; supportive care is the mainstay of management. Median survival is 25 years [4].
A respiratory physician needs to recognise the following major lung disease phenotypes in known A-T patients.
Date Issued
2015-11-30
Date Acceptance
2015-09-10
Citation
European Respiratory Journal, 2015, 46 (6), pp.1557-1560
ISSN
1399-3003
Publisher
European Respiratory Society: ERJ
Start Page
1557
End Page
1560
Journal / Book Title
European Respiratory Journal
Volume
46
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
© 2015 ERS. This is an author-submitted, peer-reviewed version of a manuscript that has been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal, prior to copy-editing, formatting and typesetting. This version of the manuscript may not be duplicated or reproduced without prior permission from the copyright owner, the European Respiratory Society. The publisher is not responsible or liable for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or in any version derived from it by any other parties. The final, copy-edited, published article, which is the version of record, is available without a subscription 18 months after the date of issue publication.
Sponsor
National Institute for Health Research
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000366948700008&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
BRU 6535
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Respiratory System
LUNG-DISEASE
NUTRITIONAL-STATUS
IMMUNODEFICIENCY
INFECTIONS
DEFICIENCY
CHILD
Ataxia Telangiectasia
Cough
Deglutition Disorders
Europe
Humans
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Lung Diseases
Lung Diseases, Interstitial
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Pneumonia
Pulmonary Medicine
Recurrence
Respiratory Tract Infections
Sinusitis
Societies, Medical
11 Medical And Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published