The Significance Of Western Blot In Primary Immunodeficiencies: Examples From Two Families

Abstract

Introduction: Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) with extended clinical spectrum, evaluated in rare genetic disorders, are difficult to diagnose and treat. Utilization of the next generation sequencing more than 300 genes have been associated with PIDs and new genes are continued to be determined. Even though, variants identified by the next generation sequencing are described as pathogenic in silico, investigating their possible pathogenic roles by analysing protein expression is crucial in patients. Western blot method is an old and reliable method used in molecular biology to investigate the responses of intracellular and extracellular proteins to exogenous stimuli and evaluate protein expression as existing or lost, increased or decreased as well as determining cell-specific protein isoforms, and in particular truncated proteins responsible for occurrence of a disease. Material and Methods: In this study, STK4 and LRBA protein expressions were evaluated with western blot in three patients from two families having STK4 variants and one patient having LRBA variant from a family. Results: It was determined that protein expression was lost in patients. Conclusions: New variants were evaluated as pathogenic due to lose of protein expressions in patients.