Brief CommunicationMutations in Recombination Activating Gene 1 and 2 in patients with severe combined immunodeficiency disorders in Egypt

- The RAG1/2 genes were sequenced from ten patients with SCID/OS from Egypt.
- This is the first study on RAG1/2 sequencing in PID from Egypt.
- We identified homozygous pathogenic mutations in five of the ten patients.
- Prenatal diagnosis identified a heterozygote mutation with subsequent healthy birth.
- This study allows us to prepare for BMT at an early age and even prenatally.

The Recombination Activating Genes (RAG) 1/2 are important for the development and function of T and B cells. Loss of RAG1/2 function results in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), which could lead to early death. We studied the prevalence of RAG1/2 mutations in ten SCID patients in Egypt. We identified two novel homozygous nonsense mutations in RAG1, a novel homozygous deletion, and a previously reported homozygous missense mutation from four patients, as well as two homozygous mutations in RAG2 from the same patient. Prenatal diagnosis performed in the mother of a patient with RAG1 deficiency determined that the fetus was heterozygous for the same mutation. This represents the first report on RAG1/2 mutations in SCID patients in Egypt. The early diagnosis dramatically affects the outcome of the disease by allowing bone marrow transplantation at an early age, and providing prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling for families with a history of SCID.