FOXI3 haploinsufficiency contributes to low T-cell receptor excision circles and T-cell lymphopenia

Background: Newborn screening can identify neonatal T-cell lymphopenia through detection of a low number of copies of T-cell receptor excision circles in dried blood spots collected at birth. After a positive screening result, further diagnostic testing is required to determine whether the subject has severe combined immunodeficiency or other causes of T-cell lymphopenia. Even after thorough evaluation, approximately 15% of children with a positive result of newborn screening for T-cell receptor excision circles remain genetically undiagnosed. Identifying the underlying genetic etiology is necessary to guide subsequent clinical management and family planning.

Objective: We sought to elucidate the genetic basis of patients with T-cell lymphopenia without an apparent genetic diagnosis.

Methods: We used clinical genomic testing as well as functional and immunologic assays to identify and elucidate the genetic and mechanistic basis of T-cell lymphopenia.

Results: We report 2 unrelated individuals with nonsevere T-cell lymphopenia and abnormal T-cell receptor excision circles who harbor heterozygous loss-of-function variants in forkhead box I3 transcription factor (FOXI3).

Conclusion: Our findings support the notion that haploinsufficiency of FOXI3 results in T-cell lymphopenia with variable expressivity and that FOXI3 may be a key modulator of thymus development.