Localized immune system defects had been suspected previously in affected dogs because of frequent infections and unexpected deaths due to opportunistic respiratory tract infections.
At Monday's hearing, the scientists were joined by a vocal group of parents of autistic children who say their children's symptoms, including developmental delays, social inhibition and immune system defects, were caused by a toxic accumulation of mercury from vaccines for pertussis, diphtheria, hepatitis B, and measles, mumps and rubella.
The updated annotated tables list a wide selection of mouse mutants with hair growth abnormalities, classified into four categories: Mutations that affect hair follicle (1) morphogenesis, (2) cycling, (3) structure, and (4) mutations that induce extrafollicular events (for example immune system defects) resulting in secondary hair growth abnormalities.
The inciting immune system defects are unknown.
Surprisingly, although XIAP is the most potent caspase inhibitor of the IAPs [6], the phenotype of Xiap knockout mice is very mild [7] and humans harbouring XIAP/BIRC4 mutations have immune system defects due to abnormal NK cell function, but are otherwise normal [8].
A likely candidate for this mechanism is senescence-related immune system defects.
Zinc has also been implicated in many diseases including immune system defects [ 6], neurodegeneration [ 7], diabetes [ 8], and cancer [ 9].
Although a multitude of immune system defects may occur, these can be generally categorized as immunomodulation (immune suppression or potentiation), hypersensitivity (i.e., allergy), and autoimmunity.
The preferential sensitivity of the lymphoblasts to a reduction in EMG1 levels might be expected to result in immune system defects.
