Description
Complement component 8 deficiency is a disorder that causes the immune system to malfunction, resulting in a form of immunodeficiency. Immunodeficiencies are conditions in which the immune system is not able to protect the body effectively from foreign invaders such as bacteria. People with complement component 8 deficiency have a significantly increased risk of recurrent bacterial infections, particularly by a bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis. Infection by this bacterium causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Although meningitis can be life-threatening, individuals with complement component 8 deficiency are less likely to die from the infection than people in the general population who contract it.
The severity of complement component 8 deficiency varies widely. While some people with this condition experience one or more infections, others do not have any health problems related to the disorder.
There are two types of complement component 8 deficiency, types I and II, classified by their genetic cause. The two types have the same signs and symptoms.
Frequency
Complement component 8 deficiency is a rare disorder, although its prevalence is unknown. Type I occurs in several populations, particularly in people with Hispanic, Japanese, or African Caribbean heritage, whereas type II primarily occurs in people of Northern European descent.
Causes
Complement component 8 deficiency is caused by mutations in the C8A or C8B gene. C8A gene mutations underlie type I, and C8B gene mutations cause type II. These genes provide instructions for making pieces of a protein complex called complement component 8. This complex is composed of an alpha subunit, produced from the C8A gene, a beta subunit, produced from the C8B gene, and a gamma subunit, produced from another gene called C8G.
Complement component 8 aids in a part of the body's immune response known as the complement system. The complement system is a group of proteins that work together to destroy foreign invaders, trigger inflammation, and remove debris from cells and tissues. Complement component 8 combines with several other complement proteins to form the membrane attack complex (MAC), which inserts itself in the outer membrane of bacterial cells. This complex creates a hole (pore) in the membrane, which kills the bacterium.
Mutations in either C8A or C8B lead to a shortage of the respective subunit, which impairs formation of complement component 8. Without complement component 8, membrane attack complexes cannot form, which impairs the immune response, particularly against Neisseria meningitidis. This impaired immune response leaves affected individuals prone to recurrent episodes of meningitis.
Inheritance
This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.
Other Names for This Condition
- C8 deficiency
Additional Information & Resources
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Patient Support and Advocacy Resources
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
Scientific Articles on PubMed
References
- Bubeck D. The making of a macromolecular machine: assembly of the membrane attack complex. Biochemistry. 2014 Apr 1;53(12):1908-15. doi: 10.1021/bi500157z. Epub 2014 Mar 18. Citation on PubMed
- Kaufmann T, Hansch G, Rittner C, Spath P, Tedesco F, Schneider PM. Genetic basis of human complement C8 beta deficiency. J Immunol. 1993 Jun 1;150(11):4943-7. Citation on PubMed
- Kojima T, Horiuchi T, Nishizaka H, Fukumori Y, Amano T, Nagasawa K, Niho Y, Hayashi K. Genetic basis of human complement C8 alpha-gamma deficiency. J Immunol. 1998 Oct 1;161(7):3762-6. Citation on PubMed
- Merle NS, Noe R, Halbwachs-Mecarelli L, Fremeaux-Bacchi V, Roumenina LT. Complement System Part II: Role in Immunity. Front Immunol. 2015 May 26;6:257. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00257. eCollection 2015. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Rosa DD, Pasqualotto AC, de Quadros M, Prezzi SH. Deficiency of the eighth component of complement associated with recurrent meningococcal meningitis--case report and literature review. Braz J Infect Dis. 2004 Aug;8(4):328-30. doi: 10.1590/s1413-86702004000400010. Epub 2004 Nov 19. Citation on PubMed
- Saucedo L, Ackermann L, Platonov AE, Gewurz A, Rakita RM, Densen P. Delineation of additional genetic bases for C8 beta deficiency. Prevalence of null alleles and predominance of C-->T transition in their genesis. J Immunol. 1995 Nov 15;155(10):5022-8. Citation on PubMed
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