Further Delineation of the Spectrum of XMEN Disease in Six Chinese Pediatric Patients

Abstract

X-linked MAGT1 deficiency with increased susceptibility to EBV-infection and N-linked glycosylation defect (XMEN) disease is a primary immunodeficiency caused by loss-of-function variants in the MAGT1 gene. Only two patients from one family have been diagnosed with XMEN in China. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the genetic, clinical, and immunological characteristics of six pediatric patients in a Chinese cohort. Medical records were retrieved, immunological phenotypes were assessed, and infectious microbes in patients were detected. Six male patients (mean age, 6.3 years) from five unrelated families were genetically diagnosed as XMEN. Five patients presented with a major complaint of elevated liver enzymes, while one patient was referred for recurrent fever, cough and skin rash. Five patients developed EBV viremia, and one patient developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Histopathological findings from liver biopsy tissues showed variable hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and glycogenosis. Immune phenotypes included CD4 T-cell lymphopenia, elevated B cells, inverted CD4/CD8 ratios, and elevated αβDNTs. No pathogenic microbes other than EBV were identified in these patients. This study reports the clinical and molecular features of Chinese patients with XMEN. For patients with transaminase elevation, chronic EBV infection and EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease, the possibility of XMEN should be considered in addition to isolated liver diseases.