Inherited disorders of NF-κB-mediated immunity in man

The transcription factors of the NF-κB family play an important role in immunity to infection in animal models. Three human primary immunodeficiencies associated with impaired NF-κB signaling were recently described. X-linked recessive anhidrotic ectodermal dysplasia with immunodeficiency (XL-EDA-ID) is caused by hypomorphic mutations in the gene encoding NEMO/IKKγ, the regulatory subunit of the IκB-kinase (IKK) complex. Autosomal dominant EDA-ID (AD-EDA-ID) is caused by a hypermorphic mutation in the gene encoding the inhibitory protein IκBα. Autosomal recessive immunodeficiency without EDA is caused by mutations in the gene encoding IRAK-4, a kinase acting upstream from the IKK complex in the TIR signaling pathway. The description of the infectious phenotypes associated with these genetic defects has initiated the forward genetic dissection of NF-κB-mediated immunity in man.