Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), caused by defective lymphocyte homeostasis, is characterized by the following: Non-malignant lymphoproliferation (lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly with or without hypersplenism) that often improves with age. Autoimmune disease, mostly directed toward blood cells. Lifelong increased risk for both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In ALPS-FAS (the most common and best-characterized type of ALPS, associated with heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS), non-malignant lymphoproliferation typically manifests in the first years of life, inexplicably waxes and wanes, and then often decreases without treatment in the second decade of life; in many affected individuals, however, neither splenomegaly nor the overall expansion of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood decreases. Although autoimmunity is often not present at the time of diagnosis or at the time of the most extensive lymphoproliferation, autoantibodies can be detected before autoimmune disease manifests clinically. In ALPS-FAS caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous (biallelic) pathogenic variants in FAS, severe lymphoproliferation occurs before, at, or shortly after birth, and usually results in death at an early age. ALPS-sFAS, resulting from somatic FAS pathogenic variants in selected cell populations, notably the alpha/beta double-negative T cells (a/ß-DNT cells), appears to be similar to ALPS-FAS resulting from heterozygous germline pathogenic variants in FAS, although lower incidence of splenectomy and lower lymphocyte counts have been reported in ALPS-sFAS and no cases of lymphoma have yet been published.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome type III is an autosomal recessive disorder of immune dysregulation. The phenotype is variable, but most patients have significant lymphadenopathy associated with variable autoimmune manifestations. Some patients may have recurrent infections. Lymphocyte accumulation results from a combination of impaired apoptosis and excessive proliferation (summary by Oliveira, 2013). For a general description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of ALPS, see 601859.

B-cell expansion with NFKB and T-cell anergy is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by onset in infancy of splenomegaly and polyclonal expansion of B cells, resulting in peripheral lymphocytosis. Affected individuals also show mild immune dysfunction, including some defective antibody responses and T-cell anergy. There may be a predisposition to the development of B-cell malignancy (summary by Snow et al., 2012).

Immunodeficiency-72 with autoinflammation and lymphoproliferation (IMD72) is an autosomal recessive immunologic disorder characterized by onset of recurrent infections or systemic inflammation in the first year of life. Affected individuals develop bacterial and viral infections that can be severe, including bacteremia, recurrent pneumonia, and meningitis, consistent with an immunodeficiency. There is also an autoimmune and hyperinflammatory aspect to the disorder, manifest as atopy or allergies, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphoproliferation, including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Immunologic workup shows variable abnormalities, including low or high Ig subsets, increased B cells, irregular T-cell activation and cytokine response, impaired immune synapse formation, and defective cellular migration. At the cellular level, these defects are related to abnormal F-actin polymerization and altered intracellular signaling (summary by Cook et al., 2020).

Immunodeficiency-105 (IMD105) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by onset of recurrent infections in early infancy. Manifestations may include pneumonia, dermatitis, and lymphadenopathy. B-cell lymphoma was reported in 1 patient. Laboratory studies show decreased or absent numbers of nonfunctional T cells, normal or increased levels of B cells, hypogammaglobulinemia, and normal or low NK cells. The disorder is caused by a deficiency of transmembrane protein CD45 (PTPRC) on leukocytes, which plays an important role in T- and B-cell development (Cale et al., 1997; Kung et al., 2000). For a general phenotypic description and a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of autosomal recessive SCID, see 601457.