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Eggermann T, Soellner L, Buiting K, Kotzot D. Mosaicism and uniparental disomy in prenatal diagnosis. Trends Mol Med 2015; 21:77-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2014.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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SNP arrays in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: an improved diagnostic strategy. Eur J Med Genet 2013; 56:546-50. [PMID: 23892181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2013.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2012] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is an overgrowth disorder with an increased risk of childhood tumors that results from a dysregulation of imprinted gene expression in the 11p15 region. Since epigenetic defects are the most frequent anomalies, first-line diagnostic methods involve methylation analysis. When paternal isodisomy is suspected, it should be confirmed by a second technique capable of distinguishing true 11p15 paternal disomy (patUPD) from paternal 11p15 duplication or 11p15 trisomy. We sought to evaluate the interest of using SNP arrays in the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome diagnostic strategy. We analyzed the SNP profiles of 25 Beckwith Wiedemann patients with previously determined methylation indexes. Among them, 3 had 11p15 trisomies, 13 had patUPD, 8 had an inconclusive methylation index and 1 had a normal result. All known trisomies and known patUPDs were detected. Moreover we found 7 low-rate mosaicisms 11p15 patUPDs among the 8 patients with an inconclusive methylation index. We were able to precisely characterize the sizes and mosaicism rates of the anomalies. We demonstrate that SNP arrays are of real diagnostic interest in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: 1) they help to distinguish patUPDs from trisomies more precisely than karyotyping and FISH, 2) they help determine the size and mosaicism rate of patUPDs, 3) they provide complementary information in inconclusive cases, helping to distinguish low-rate patUPD mosaicism from other BWS-related molecular defects.
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3
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Doi T, Fujiwara N, Puri P, Bannigan J, Thompson J. Presenilin genes are downregulated during somitogenesis in the cadmium-induced omphalocele chick model. Pediatr Surg Int 2012; 28:129-33. [PMID: 21986620 DOI: 10.1007/s00383-011-2994-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although the precise pathogenesis of ventral body wall (VBW) defects is not clearly understood, it has recently postulated that disruption of somite development during early embryogenesis may cause failure of proper VBW formation. The administration of cadmium (Cd) after 60 h of incubation induces omphalocele spectrum in the chick embryo. Previous studies have shown that one of the earliest histological changes seen in this model is abnormal cell death in the somite, occurring at 4 h post treatment (4H). However, the molecular mechanism by which Cd acts in this critical period of embryogenesis still remains unclear. Presenilins are expressed in somites and play an important role in vertebrate development, including somitogenesis and thus VBW formation. We designed this study to test the hypothesis that gene expression levels of presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and presenilin 2 (PSEN2) are downregulated during the critical period of early embryogenesis in the Cd-induced omphalocele in the chick model. METHODS After 60 h of incubation, chick embryos were exposed to either saline or 50 μM cadmium and divided into two groups: control and Cd (n = 8 at each time point for each group). Real-time RT-PCR was performed to evaluate the relative mRNA expression levels of PSEN1 and PSEN2 in the Cd-induced omphalocele chick model. Differences between two groups at each time point were analysed statistically and the significance was accepted at p < 0.05. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy was performed to evaluate the protein expression/distribution of presenilins in the somite of chick embryo. RESULTS The relative mRNA expression levels of PSEN1 and PSEN2 were significantly downregulated in the Cd group at 4H compared with controls (p < 0.005) (Table). However, there were no significant differences at the other time points. At 4H, immunofluorescence of presenilins (green) was markedly diminished in the Cd-treated embryos, whereas strong immunofluorescence of them was seen in the somite (dermomyotome) in controls (Fig. 1). 1 Immunofluorescence Confocal Microscopy for PSEN1 and PSEN2 in the dermomyotome of the somite in the trunk level of chick embryo 4H post treatment. Intensity of PSEN1 immunofluorescence (green) was markedly diminished in Cd-treated embryos, whereas strong PSEN1 expression was seen in the dermomyotome in controls. PSEN2 immunofluorescence was also decreased in the Cd-treated embryos, whereas strong PSEN2 immunofluorescence (green) was observed predominantly in the dermomyotome in controls. Immunofluorescence in orange is DNA counter staining by DAPI CONCLUSION: We provide evidence, for the first time, that gene expression of presenilins is downregulated during the narrow window of very early embryogenesis in the Cd chick model. Decreased expression of presenilins may contribute to omphalocele phenotype in Cd chick model, by disrupting somite development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Doi
- National Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin 12, Ireland
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Soon PSH, McDonald KL, Robinson BG, Sidhu SB. Molecular markers and the pathogenesis of adrenocortical cancer. Oncologist 2008; 13:548-61. [PMID: 18515740 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2007-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenal tumors are common, with an estimated incidence of 7.3% in autopsy cases, while adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are rare, with an estimated prevalence of 4-12 per million population. Because the prognoses for adrenocortical adenomas (ACAs) and ACCs are vastly different, it is important to be able to accurately differentiate the two tumor types. Advancement in the understanding of the pathophysiology of ACCs is essential for the development of more sensitive means of diagnosis and treatment, resulting in better clinical outcome. Adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) occur as a component of several hereditary tumor syndromes, which include the Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, multiple endocrine neoplasia 1, Carney complex, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The genes involved in these syndromes have also been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of sporadic ACTs. The adrenocorticotropic hormone-cAMP-protein kinase A and Wnt pathways are also implicated in adrenocortical tumorigenesis. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms involved in adrenocortical tumorigenesis, including results of comparative genomic hybridization, loss of heterozygosity, and microarray gene-expression profiling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patsy S H Soon
- Cancer Genetics, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Engström W, Shokrai A, Otte K, Granérus M, Gessbo A, Bierke P, Madej A, Sjölund M, Ward A. Transcriptional regulation and biological significance of the insulin like growth factor II gene. Cell Prolif 2007; 31:173-89. [PMID: 9925986 PMCID: PMC6647699 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2184.1998.tb01196.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The insulin like growth factors I and II are the most ubiquitous in the mammalian embryo. Moreover they play a pivotal role in the development and growth of tumours. The bioavailability of these growth factors is regulated on a transcriptional as well as on a posttranslational level. The expression of non-signalling receptors as well as binding proteins does further tune the local concentration of IGFs. This paper aims at reviewing how the transcription of the IGF genes is regulated. The biological significance of these control mechanisms will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Engström
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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6
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Abstract
Fetuses with omphalocele have an increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities. The risk varies with maternal age, gestational age at diagnosis, association with umbilical cord cysts, complexity of associated anomalies, and the contents of omphalocele. There is considerable evidence that genetics contributes to the etiology of omphalocele. This article provides an overview of chromosomal abnormalities associated with omphalocele and a comprehensive review of associated full aneuploidy such as trisomy 18, trisomy 13, triploidy, trisomy 21, 45,X, 47,XXY, and 47,XXX, partial aneuploidy such as dup (3q), dup (11p), inv (11), dup (1q), del (1q), dup (4q), dup (5p), dup (6q), del (9p), dup (15q), dup(17q), Pallister-Killian syndrome with mosaic tetrasomy 12p and Miller-Dieker lissencephaly syndrome with deletion of 17p13.3, and uniparental disomy (UPD) such as UPD 11 and UPD 14. Omphalocele is a prominent marker for chromosomal abnormalities. Perinatal identification of omphalocele should alert chromosomal abnormalities and familial unbalanced translocations, and prompt thorough cytogenetic investigations and genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ping Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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Cooper WN, Luharia A, Evans GA, Raza H, Haire AC, Grundy R, Bowdin SC, Riccio A, Sebastio G, Bliek J, Schofield PN, Reik W, Macdonald F, Maher ER. Molecular subtypes and phenotypic expression of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Eur J Hum Genet 2005; 13:1025-32. [PMID: 15999116 DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) results from mutations or epigenetic events involving imprinted genes at 11p15.5. Most BWS cases are sporadic and uniparental disomy (UPD) or putative imprinting errors predominate in this group. Sporadic cases with putative imprinting defects may be subdivided into (a) those with loss of imprinting (LOI) of IGF2 and H19 hypermethylation and silencing due to a defect in a distal 11p15.5 imprinting control element (IC1) and (b) those with loss of methylation at KvDMR1, LOI of KCNQ1OT1 (LIT1) and variable LOI of IGF2 in whom there is a defect at a more proximal imprinting control element (IC2). We investigated genotype/epigenotype-phenotype correlations in 200 cases with a confirmed molecular genetic diagnosis of BWS (16 with CDKN1C mutations, 116 with imprinting centre 2 defects, 14 with imprinting centre 1 defects and 54 with UPD). Hemihypertrophy was strongly associated with UPD (P<0.0001) and exomphalos was associated with an IC2 defect or CDKN1C mutation but not UPD or IC1 defect (P<0.0001). When comparing birth weight centile, IC1 defect cases were significantly heavier than the patients with CDKN1C mutations or IC2 defect (P=0.018). The risk of neoplasia was significantly higher in UPD and IC1 defect cases than in IC2 defect and CDKN1C mutation cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a risk of neoplasia for all patients of 9% at age 5 years, but 24% in the UPD subgroup. The risk of Wilms' tumour in the IC2 defect subgroup appears to be minimal and intensive screening for Wilms' tumour appears not to be indicated. In UPD patients, UPD extending to WT1 was associated with renal neoplasia (P=0.054). These findings demonstrate that BWS represents a spectrum of disorders. Identification of the molecular subtype allows more accurate prognostic predictions and enhances the management and surveillance of BWS children such that screening for Wilms' tumour and hepatoblastoma can be focused on those at highest risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy N Cooper
- 1Medical and Molecular Genetics Section, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Barr CL, Best L, Weksberg R. Linkage study in families with posterior helical ear pits and Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS 2001; 104:120-6. [PMID: 11746041 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) is defined by a group of anomalies, including macrosomia, macroglossia, omphalocele, and ear creases. Several minor anomalies have also been reported in the syndrome, including posterior helical ear pits (PHEP). Two independent linkage studies of pedigrees with autosomal dominant inheritance have shown linkage of WBS to 11p15.5 markers. Further confirming the location of WBS to this location is the finding of 11p15.5 duplications and translocations, as well as uniparental disomy for a small area of 11p15.5. In this study, members of previously described families exhibiting autosomal dominant inheritance of the PHEP phenotype were genotyped for three markers in the 11p15.5 region. These three markers were in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF2), insulin (INS), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) region. The data were examined by linkage analysis using the same genetic model used previously to demonstrate linkage of WBS to markers on chromosome 11p15.5: an autosomal dominant model with a penetrance of 0.90 and a gene frequency of 0.001. In one large pedigree, linkage analysis of the 11p15.5 markers excluded the PHEP phenotype from the IGF2, INS, and TH region. In the four other pedigrees examined, the marker loci were not sufficiently informative or the pedigrees did not provide sufficient power to exclude linkage from this region. The strongest evidence against linkage of the PHEP phenotype to 11p15.5 was evident by inspection of the segregation of the haplotypes of the markers in the pedigrees. In two informative pedigrees, relatives with the PHEP phenotype did not share the same haplotype of markers identical by descent. Our results show that the PHEP phenotype is not linked to chromosome 11p15.5 in the informative families tested. In the families examined, there are not enough individuals with WBS to determine if WBS was linked to 11p15.5 in these families. Although locus heterogeneity has not been demonstrated in WBS, it is possible that a second WBS locus exists and that the PHEP phenotype in these families is linked to a second WBS locus. Alternatively, the PHEP phenotype may occur independently of WBS so that the association of WBS and PHEP in our pedigrees may, in fact, represent causal heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Barr
- Department of Psychiatry, The Hospital for Sick Children, The Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Squire JA, Li M, Perlikowski S, Fei YL, Bayani J, Zhang ZM, Weksberg R. Alterations of H19 imprinting and IGF2 replication timing are infrequent in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Genomics 2000; 65:234-42. [PMID: 10857747 DOI: 10.1006/geno.2000.6155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an overgrowth disorder resulting from dysregulation of multiple imprinted genes through a variety of distinct mechanisms. A frequent alteration in BWS involves changes in the imprinting status of the coordinately regulated IGF2 and H19 genes on 11p15. Patients have been categorized according to alterations in the imprinted expression, allele-specific methylation, and regional replication timing of these genes. In this work, IGF2/H19 expression, H19 DNA methylation, and IGF2 regional replication timing were studied in nine karyotypically normal BWS fibroblasts and two BWS patients with maternally inherited 11p15 chromosomal rearrangements. Informative patients (9/9) maintained normal monoallelic H19 expression/methylation, despite biallelic IGF2 expression in 6/9. Replication timing studies revealed no changes in the pattern of asynchronous replication timing for both a patient with biallelic IGF2 expression and a patient carrying an 11p15 inversion. In contrast, a patient with a chromosome 11;22 translocation and normal H19 expression/methylation exhibited partial loss of asynchrony and a shift toward earlier replication times. These results indicate that in BWS, (1) H19 imprinting alterations are less frequent than previously estimated, (2) IGF2 imprinting and H19 imprinting are not necessarily coordinated, and (3) alterations in regional replication timing are generally not correlated with either chromosomal rearrangements or the imprinting status of IGF2 and H19.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Squire
- Ontario Cancer Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
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10
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11
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12
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Eggenschwiler J, Ludwig T, Fisher P, Leighton PA, Tilghman SM, Efstratiadis A. Mouse mutant embryos overexpressing IGF-II exhibit phenotypic features of the Beckwith-Wiedemann and Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndromes. Genes Dev 1997; 11:3128-42. [PMID: 9389646 PMCID: PMC316748 DOI: 10.1101/gad.11.23.3128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/1997] [Accepted: 10/06/1997] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In mice, the imprinted Igf2 gene (expressed from the paternal allele), which encodes a growth-promoting factor (IGF-II), is linked closely to the reciprocally imprinted H19 locus on chromosome 7. Also imprinted (expressed from the maternal allele) is the Igf2r gene on chromsome 17 encoding the type 2 IGF receptor that is involved in degradation of excess IGF-II. Double mutant embryos carrying a deletion around the H19 region and also a targeted Igf2r allele, both inherited maternally, have extremely high levels of IGF-II (7- and 11-fold higher than normal in tissues and serum, respectively) as a result of biallelic Igf2 expression (imprint relaxation by deletion of H19-associated sequence) in combination with lack of the IGF2R-mediated IGF-II turnover. This excess of IGF-II causes somatic overgrowth, visceromegaly, placentomegaly, omphalocele, and cardiac and adrenal defects, which are also features of the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS), a genetically complex human disorder associated with chromosomal abnormalities in the 11p15.5 region where the IGF2 gene resides. In addition, the double mutant mouse embryos exhibit skeletal defects and cleft palate, which are manifestations observed frequently in the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome, another overgrowth disorder overlapping phenotypically, but not genetically, with BWS.
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MESH Headings
- Abnormalities, Multiple/etiology
- Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics
- Abnormalities, Multiple/metabolism
- Adrenal Cortex/abnormalities
- Adrenal Cortex/embryology
- Animals
- Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome/etiology
- Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome/genetics
- Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome/metabolism
- Bone and Bones/abnormalities
- Bone and Bones/embryology
- Cleft Palate/embryology
- Crosses, Genetic
- Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57
- Disease Models, Animal
- Eye Abnormalities/embryology
- Female
- Fetal Death
- Fetus/abnormalities
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Heart Defects, Congenital
- Hernia, Umbilical/embryology
- Humans
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/biosynthesis
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/genetics
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor II/physiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Nuclear Proteins/genetics
- Phenotype
- Receptor, IGF Type 2/genetics
- Receptor, IGF Type 2/metabolism
- Sequence Deletion
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Affiliation(s)
- J Eggenschwiler
- Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University, New York, New York 10032, USA
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13
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Catchpoole D, Lam WW, Valler D, Temple IK, Joyce JA, Reik W, Schofield PN, Maher ER. Epigenetic modification and uniparental inheritance of H19 in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. J Med Genet 1997; 34:353-9. [PMID: 9152830 PMCID: PMC1050940 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.34.5.353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome associated with a characteristic pattern of visceromegaly and predisposition to childhood tumours. BWS is a genetically heterogeneous disorder; most cases are sporadic but approximately 15% are familial and a small number of BWS patients have cytogenetic abnormalities involving chromosome 11p15. Genomic imprinting effects have been implicated in familial and non-familial BWS. We have investigated the molecular pathology of 106 sporadic BWS cases; 17% (14/83) of informative cases had uniparental disomy (UPD) for chromosome 11p15.5. In each case UPD appeared to result from a postzygotic event resulting in mosaicism for segmental paternal isodisomy. The critical region for isodisomy was refined to a 25 cM interval between D11S861 and D11S2071 which contained the IGF2, H19, and p57(KIP2) genes. In three cases isodisomy for 11q markers was detected but this did not extend further than 11q13-q21 suggesting that complete chromosome 11 disomy may not produce a BWS phenotype. The allele specific methylation status of the H19 gene was investigated in 80 sporadic BWS cases. All 13 cases with UPD tested displayed hypermethylation consistent with an excess of paternal H19 alleles. In addition, five of 63 (8%) cases with normal biparental inheritance had H19 hypermethylation consistent with an "imprinting centre" mutation (ICM) or "imprinting error" (IE) lesion. The phenotype of patients with putative ICM/IE mutations was variable and overlapped with that of non-UPD sporadic BWS cases with normal H19 methylation. However, exomphalos was significantly (p < 0.05) more common in the latter group. These findings may indicate differential effects on the expression of imprinted genes in chromosome 11p15 according to the precise molecular pathology. Analysis of H19 methylation is useful for the diagnosis of both UPD or altered imprinting in BWS and shows that a variety of molecular mechanisms may cause relaxation of IGF2 imprinting in BWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Catchpoole
- Cambridge University Department of Pathology, UK
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14
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Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is an overgrowth syndrome associated with a predisposition to embryonal tumors, most commonly Wilms' (WT). Overlapping clinical phenotypes are seen in two other disorders, Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) and Perlman syndrome (PS). BWS is a genetically heterogeneous disorder most often associated with normal chromosomes and a negative family history. However, autosomal dominant transmission of BWS is reported, as are chromosome 11p15.5 abnormalities, uniparental paternal disomy (UPD) of chromosome 11p15.5, and altered expression of the imprinted gene insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) from the normally repressed maternal allele. Crucial to our understanding of the large variety of genetic presentations in BWS is the concept of genomic imprinting, a process in which gene expression specific to parent-of-origin is observed. The current genetic and molecular data for BWS are best explained by a model assuming an imprinted domain for 11p15.5, whereby altered expression of one or more genes in this region contributes to the BWS phenotype. In this model, a defined chromatin structure is reflected in coordinated control of multiple genes in the domain, as well as specific patterns of replication timing and gene expression. Data supporting this viewpoint include the maternally derived 11p15.5 translocation breakpoints associated with BWS, and the recent finding that the normally asynchronous pattern of replication timing for the imprinted gene IGF2 can be disrupted, shifted by a BWS-associated translocation 400 kh from IGF2. As we unravel the molecular basis of the different BWS patient subgroups, we will achieve a better understanding of this overgrowth syndrome and its relationship to WT.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Weksberg
- Department of Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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15
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Abstract
This review has briefly considered some of the vast amount of information that has been gathered on genomic imprinting and its role in PWS, AS, BWS and Russell-Silver syndrome. The pace of investigation into the phenomenon of imprinting will undoubtedly continue, because our understanding remains far from complete. Newer approaches to identifying imprinted genes based on their expression rather than their location are likely to uncover currently unknown genes. We can also look forward to more insight into the fascinating complexities of the imprinting process.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Lindgren
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Illinois, USA
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16
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Leonard NJ, Bernier FP, Rudd N, Machin GA, Bamforth F, Bamforth S, Grundy P, Johnson C. Two pairs of male monozygotic twins discordant for Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS 1996; 61:253-7. [PMID: 8741870 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8628(19960122)61:3<253::aid-ajmg9>3.0.co;2-v] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) is a congenital anomaly syndrome which classically consists of exomphalos, macroglossia, and gigantism. The syndrome is also associated with a variety of minor anomalies and affected individuals have an increased risk of developing rare embryonal cell tumors. To date, 15 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs have been reported of which 13 are discordant for WBS. All except one pair of the discordant WBS twin pairs have been female. We report two pairs of male MZ twins, each discordant for WBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Leonard
- Department of Genetics, University of Calgary
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17
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Schofield PN, Nystrom A, Smith J, Spitz L, Grant D, Zapf J. Expression of a high molecular weight form of insulin-like growth factor II in a Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome associated adrenocortical adenoma. Cancer Lett 1995; 94:71-7. [PMID: 7621447 DOI: 10.1016/0304-3835(95)03826-i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome is a rare condition (1/13,700 live births) occurring in both inherited and sporadic forms in the population. It is manifest as a fetal overgrowth syndrome, in which hypertrophy dominates the clinical picture. An additional complication is that these children are predisposed to a specific subset of childhood neoplasms, amongst which are Wilms' tumour and adrenocortical carcinoma. We report here the synthesis by an associated adrenal tumour of large quantities of a high molecular weight form of insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II), associated with profound suppression of circulating IGFs in the patient's serum. As with other tumours of this type, the tumours showed loss of material on chromosome 11p.
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18
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Slatter RE, Elliott M, Welham K, Carrera M, Schofield PN, Barton DE, Maher ER. Mosaic uniparental disomy in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. J Med Genet 1994; 31:749-53. [PMID: 7837249 PMCID: PMC1050119 DOI: 10.1136/jmg.31.10.749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome with variable expression. The major features are anterior abdominal wall defects, macroglossia, and gigantism and less commonly neonatal hypoglycaemia, organomegaly, congenital renal anomalies, hemihypertrophy and embryonal tumours occur. BWS is a genetically heterogeneous disorder; most cases are sporadic but approximately 15% are familial and a small number of BWS patients have cytogenetic abnormalities involving chromosome 11p15. Genomic imprinting effects have been implicated in familial and non-familial BWS, and uniparental disomy (UPD) for chromosome 11 has been reported in sporadic cases. We investigated the incidence, pathogenesis, and clinical associations of UPD in 49 patients with non-familial BWS and a normal karyotype. UPD for chromosome 11p15 was detected in nine of 32 (28%) informative patients. A further two patients appeared to be disomic at the WT1 locus in chromosome 11p13, but were uninformative at chromosome 11p15.5 loci tested. In all cases with UPD the affected person was mosaic for a paternal isodisomy and a normal cell line indicating that UPD had arisen as a postzygotic event. Compared to cases in which paternal isodisomy for chromosomes 11p15.5 had been excluded (n = 23), BWS patients with UPD was more likely to have hemihypertrophy (6/9 versus 1/23, p < 0.001) and less likely to have exomphalos (0/9 versus 13/23, p < 0.01), but there were no significant differences between disomic and non-disomic cases in the incidence of hypoglycaemia, nephromegaly, neoplasia, and developmental delay. The detection of UPD in BWS patients allows accurate genetic counselling to be provided and provides an insight into the molecular pathogenesis of BWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- R E Slatter
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Addenbrooke's NHS Trust, Cambridge, UK
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Elliott M, Bayly R, Cole T, Temple IK, Maher ER. Clinical features and natural history of Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome: presentation of 74 new cases. Clin Genet 1994; 46:168-74. [PMID: 7820926 DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-0004.1994.tb04219.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) is a congenital overgrowth syndrome with variable expression. To define the range and frequency of complications in BWS, we have studied a cohort of 76 affected patients (two previously reported). The most frequent complications were macroglossia (97%), abdominal wall defect (80%) and birth weight or postnatal growth > 90th centile (88%). Other common features were ear creases/pits (76%), facial naevus flammeus (62%), nephromegaly (59%) and hypoglycaemia (63%). Rarer complications included hemihypertrophy (24%), moderate/severe developmental delay (4%), congenital heart defects (6.5%), polydactyly (4%), neoplasia (4%) and cleft palate (2.5%). Pre-term labour occurred in 53% and polyhydramnios in 33% of BWS pregnancies. The six deaths all occurred in babies born pre-term, three of whom had major congenital abnormalities. Five patients (6.5%) from four kindreds had an unequivocal family history of BWS, but 15 of 68 apparently sporadic cases had a relative with possible BWS (minor features only). Incomplete penetrance may lead to familial BWS being underdiagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Elliott
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Southampton, UK
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Kubota T, Saitoh S, Matsumoto T, Narahara K, Fukushima Y, Jinno Y, Niikawa N. Excess functional copy of allele at chromosomal region 11p15 may cause Wiedemann-Beckwith (EMG) syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS 1994; 49:378-83. [PMID: 7909196 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.1320490405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Wiedemann-Beckwith syndrome (WBS) is a genetic disorder with overgrowth and predisposition to Wilms' tumor. The putative locus of the gene responsible for this syndrome is assigned to chromosome region 11p15.5, and genomic imprinting in this region has been proposed: the paternally derived gene(s) at 11p15.5 is selectively expressed, while the maternally transmitted gene(s) is inactive. We examined 18 patients for the parental origin of their 11p15 regions. DNA polymorphism analyses using 6 loci on chromosome 11 showed that 2 patients with duplications of 11p15 regions from their respective fathers and one from the mother, indicating the transmission of an excessive paternal gene at 11p15 to each patient. Our results, together with the previous findings in karyotypically normal or abnormal patients and in overgrowth mouse experiments, are consistent with imprinting hypothesis that overexpression of paternally derived gene(s) at 11p15.5, probably the human insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) gene, may cause the phenotype. Total constitutional uniparental paternal disomy (UPD) or segmental UPD for the 6 loci examined of chromosome 11 was not observed in our 12 sporadic patients. In order to explain completely the inheritance of this syndrome in patients with various chromosomal constitutions, we propose an alternative imprinting mechanism involving the other locus that may be paternally imprinted and may suppress the expression of this gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Kubota
- Department of Human Genetics, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, Japan
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Weksberg R, Shen DR, Fei YL, Song QL, Squire J. Disruption of insulin-like growth factor 2 imprinting in Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Nat Genet 1993; 5:143-50. [PMID: 8252039 DOI: 10.1038/ng1093-143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
To study insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) imprinting in BWS (Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, an overgrowth syndrome associated with Wilms and other embryonal tumours), we examined allele-specific expression using an Apal polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of IGF2. Four of six BWS fibroblast strains demonstrated biallelic expression, as did the tongue tissue from one of these patients. Paternal heterodisomy was excluded for all BWS patients with biallelic expression, suggesting strongly that the BWS phenotype in some patients involves disruption of IGF2 imprinting. Constitutional loss of IGF2 imprinting in a subgroup of our BWS patients, and recent reports of loss of imprinting in sporadic Wilms tumour, further strengthens the view that IGF2 overexpression plays an important role in somatic overgrowth and the development of embryonal tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Weksberg
- Department of Genetics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
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Dahl KR, Rouse GA, de Lange M. Prenatal Sonogra phic Evaluation of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome. JOURNAL OF DIAGNOSTIC MEDICAL SONOGRAPHY 1993. [DOI: 10.1177/875647939300900506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) was first described by Beckwith in 1963 and Wiedemann in 1964 as a syndrome of macroglossia, visceromegaly,. omphalocele, gigantism, and neonatal hypoglycemia. Additonal features of the syndrome, which occurs in approximately 1 in every 14,000 births, have been subsequently described. The authors report 2 cases of fetal BWS observed sonographically, and review 16 previously reported cases. Pohydramnios and growth acceleration may occur before 20 weeks, but macrlossia has not been reported before 28.5 weeks. Searching for ear creases in a fetus with suspected BWS may be merited, but visualization of normal ear lobes does not exclude the possibility of BWS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Glenn A. Rouse
- Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, California
| | - Marie de Lange
- Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354
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Zumkeller W, Schofield PN. The role of insulin-like growth factors and IGF-binding proteins in the physiological and pathological processes of the kidney. VIRCHOWS ARCHIV. B, CELL PATHOLOGY INCLUDING MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY 1992; 62:207-20. [PMID: 1279887 DOI: 10.1007/bf02899684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins are implicated in the growth regulation of the kidney during embryogenesis and differentiation. Recent evidence also suggests that IGFs play a role in kidney physiology (glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow) and pathology (diabetic renal hypertrophy, nephritis, glomerulosclerosis, kidney tumours, chronic renal failure). This review focuses on the biology of IGFs at the molecular, protein and receptor levels and considers their importance in renal physiology and pathology. The current data demonstrate a central role for the IGFs in the mediation of a wide variety of effects on renal growth, function and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Zumkeller
- Institute of Child Health, University of London, UK
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