A potential founder variant in CARMIL2/RLTPR in three Norwegian families with warts, molluscum contagiosum, and T‐cell dysfunction

Background Four patients from three Norwegian families presented with a common skin phenotype of warts, molluscum contagiosum, and dermatitis since early childhood, and various other immunological features. Warts are a common manifestation of human papilloma virus (HPV), but when they are overwhelming, disseminated and/or persistent, and presenting together with other immunological features, a primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDD) may be suspected. Methods and results The four patients were exome sequenced as part of a larger study for detecting genetic causes of primary immunodeficiencies. No disease‐causing variants were identified in known primary immunodeficiency genes or in other disease‐related OMIM genes. However, the same homozygous missense variant in CARMIL2 (also known as RLTPR) was identified in all four patients. In each family, the variant was located within a narrow region of homozygosity, representing a potential region of autozygosity. CARMIL2 is a protein of undetermined function. A role in T‐cell activation has been suggested and the mouse protein homolog (Rltpr) is essential for costimulation of T‐cell activation via CD28, and for the development of regulatory T cells. Immunophenotyping demonstrated reduced regulatory, CD4+ memory, and CD4+ follicular T cells in all four patients. In addition, they all seem to have a deficiency in IFNγ ‐synthesis in CD4+ T cells and NK cells. Conclusions We report a novel primary immunodeficiency, and a differential molecular diagnosis to CXCR4‐, DOCK8‐, GATA2‐, MAGT1‐, MCM4‐, STK4‐, RHOH‐, TMC6‐, and TMC8‐related diseases. The specific variant may represent a Norwegian founder variant segregating on a population‐specific haplotype. A likely Norwegian founder variant was detected by exome sequencing in four patients from three different families. The patients had signs of primary immunodeficiency and common skin phenotype of warts, molluscs, and dermatitis since early childhood.