Long-term follow up of families with pathogenic NFKB1 variants reveals incomplete penetrance and frequent inflammatory sequelae

Nuclear factor lc light-chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-lcB) family of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors are involved in key cellular signaling pathways. Previously, hypogammaglobulinemia and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)-like phenotypes have been associated with NFKB1 variants and loss-of -function NFKB1 variants have been reported as the most common monogenic cause for CVID among Euro-peans. Here, we describe a Finnish cohort of NFKB1 carriers consisting of 31 living subjects in six different families carrying five distinct heterozygous variants. In contrast to previous reports, the clinical penetrance was not complete even with advancing age and the prevalence of CVID/hypogammaglobulinemia was significantly lower, whereas (auto)inflammatory manifestations were more common (42% of the total cohort). At current stage of knowledge, routine genetic screening of asymptomatic individuals is not recommended, but counseling of potential adult carriers seems necessary.

Automated summary

The NF-κB family of transcription factors is important in cellular signaling pathways, and NFKB1 variants have been associated with CVID and immunodeficiency. However, the penetrance and prevalence of CVID are relatively low, while inflammatory manifestations are more common.