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Jurca AD, Galea-Holhos LB, Jurca AA, Atasie D, Petchesi CD, Severin E, Jurca CM. Wolfram Syndrome Type I Case Report and Review-Focus on Early Diagnosis and Genetic Variants. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2024; 60:1064. [PMID: 39064493 PMCID: PMC11278941 DOI: 10.3390/medicina60071064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Wolfram syndrome type 1 (OMIM# 222300; ORPHAcode 3463) is an extremely rare autosomal recessive syndrome with a 25% recurrence risk in children. It is characterized by the presence of juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus (DM), progressive optic atrophy (OA), diabetes insipidus (DI), and sensorineural deafness (D), often referred to by the acronym DIDMOAD. It is a severe neurodegenerative disease with a life expectancy of 39 years, with death occurring due to cerebral atrophy. For a positive diagnosis, the presence of diabetes mellitus and optic nerve atrophy is sufficient. The disease occurs because of pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene. The aim of this article is to present a case report of Wolfram Syndrome Type I, alongside a review of genetic variants, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, therapy, and long-term management. Emphasizing the importance of early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach, the study aims to enhance understanding and improve outcomes for patients with this complex syndrome. Materials and Methods: A case of a 28-year-old patient diagnosed with DM at the age of 6 and with progressive optic atrophy at 26 years old is presented. Molecular diagnosis revealed the presence of a heterozygous nonsense variant WFS1 c.1943G>A (p.Trp648*), and a heterozygous missense variant WFS1 c.1675G>C (p.Ala559Pro). Results: The molecular diagnosis of the patient confirmed the presence of a heterozygous nonsense variant and a heterozygous missense variant in the WFS1 gene, correlating with the clinical presentation of Wolfram syndrome type 1. Both allelic variants found in our patient have been previously described in other patients, whilst this combination has not been described before. Conclusions: This case report and review underscores the critical role of early recognition and diagnosis in Wolfram syndrome, facilitated by genetic testing. By identifying pathogenic variants in the WFS1 gene, genetic testing not only confirms diagnosis but also guides clinical management and informs genetic counseling for affected families. Timely intervention based on genetic insights can potentially reduce the progressive multisystem manifestations of the syndrome, thereby improving the quality of life and outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Daniel Jurca
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410081 Oradea, Romania; (A.D.J.); (C.D.P.); (C.M.J.)
| | - Larisa Bianca Galea-Holhos
- Department of Morphological Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410081 Oradea, Romania
| | | | - Diter Atasie
- Departament II Medical Clinic, Faculty of Medicine, University “Lucian Blaga of Sibiu”, Lucian Blaga Street 2A, 550169 Sibiu, Romania;
| | - Codruta Diana Petchesi
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410081 Oradea, Romania; (A.D.J.); (C.D.P.); (C.M.J.)
- Regional Center of Medical Genetics Bihor, County Emergency Clinical Hospital Oradea (Part of ERN-ITHACA), 410469 Oradea, Romania
| | - Emilia Severin
- Genetics Department, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020027 Bucharest, District 2, Romania
| | - Claudia Maria Jurca
- Department of Preclinical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410081 Oradea, Romania; (A.D.J.); (C.D.P.); (C.M.J.)
- Regional Center of Medical Genetics Bihor, County Emergency Clinical Hospital Oradea (Part of ERN-ITHACA), 410469 Oradea, Romania
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Kõks S. Genomics of Wolfram Syndrome 1 (WFS1). Biomolecules 2023; 13:1346. [PMID: 37759745 PMCID: PMC10527379 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wolfram Syndrome (WFS) is a rare, autosomal, recessive neurogenetic disorder that affects many organ systems. It is characterised by diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellites, optic atrophy, and deafness and, therefore, is also known as DIDMOAD. Nearly 15,000-30,000 people are affected by WFS worldwide, and, on average, patients suffering from WFS die at 30 years of age, usually from central respiratory failure caused by massive brain atrophy. The more prevalent of the two kinds of WFS is WFS1, which is a monogenic disease and caused by the loss of the WFS1 gene, whereas WFS2, which is more uncommon, is caused by mutations in the CISD2 gene. Currently, there is no treatment for WFS1 to increase the life expectancy of patients, and the treatments available do not significantly improve their quality of life. Understanding the genetics and the molecular mechanisms of WFS1 is essential to finding a cure. The inability of conventional medications to treat WFS1 points to the need for innovative strategies that must address the fundamental cause: the deletion of the WFS1 gene that leads to the profound ER stress and disturbances in proteostasis. An important approach here is to understand the mechanism of the cell degeneration after the deletion of the WFS1 gene and to describe the differences in these mechanisms for the different tissues. The studies so far have indicated that remarkable clinical heterogeneity is caused by the variable vulnerability caused by WFS1 mutations, and these differences cannot be attributed solely to the positions of mutations in the WFS1 gene. The present review gives a broader overview of the results from genomic studies on the WFS1 mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulev Kõks
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, 8 Verdun Street, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
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Di Lorenzo C, Di Lorenzo G, Coppola G, Parisi V, Grieco GS, Santorelli FM, Pascale E, Pierelli F. Genetics Influences Drug Consumption in Medication Overuse Headache, Not in Migraine: Evidence From Wolframin His611Arg Polymorphism Analysis. Front Neurol 2021; 11:599517. [PMID: 33551959 PMCID: PMC7862332 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.599517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism can influence drug consumption in psychiatric patients with impulsive addictive behavior. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism in MOH, a secondary headache belonging to the spectrum of addictive disorders, episodic migraine (EM), and healthy subjects (HS), and its influence on drug consumption. Methods: One-hundred and seventy-two EM, 107 MOH, and 83 HS were enrolled and genotyped for the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism. Subjects were classified as homozygous for allele His (H/H subjects), homozygous for allele Arg (R/R subjects), and heterozygous (H/R subjects), regrouped as R/R and carriers of allele H (non-R/R), and matched for clinical data. Results: There were no differences in allelic distributions between the three groups (p = 0.19). Drug consumption and other clinical characteristics were not influenced by the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism (p = 0.42; β = 0.04) in the EM group. Among the MOH population, R/R subjects consumed more analgesics (p < 0.0001; β = −0.38), particularly combination drugs (p = 0.0001; d = 2.32). Discussion: The Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism has a similar prevalence between the MOH, EM, and HS groups. The presence of the R/R genotype does not influence symptomatic drug consumption in EM, whereas it determines an increased use of symptomatic drugs in the MOH group, in particular combination drugs (i.e., drugs containing psychoactive compounds). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism plays its effect only in the MOH population, influencing the impulsivity control underlying addictive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cherubino Di Lorenzo
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Giorgio Di Lorenzo
- Chair of Psychiatry, Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Coppola
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Parisi
- IRCCS Fondazione G.B. Bietti per lo Studio e la Ricerca in Oftalmologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Gaetano S Grieco
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Fondazione Istituto Neurologico Casimiro Mondino, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Esterina Pascale
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierelli
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome Polo Pontino, Latina, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
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Liu F, Liu X, Xu Z, Yuan P, Zhou Q, Jin J, Yan X, Xu Z, Cao Q, Yu J, Cheng Y, Wan R, Hong K. Molecular mechanisms of Ellis‑van Creveld gene variations in ventricular septal defect. Mol Med Rep 2017; 17:1527-1536. [PMID: 29257216 PMCID: PMC5780092 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.8088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ellis-van Creveld (EVC) gene is associated with various congenital heart diseases. However, studies on EVC gene variations in ventricular septal defect (VSD) and the underlying molecular mechanisms are sparse. The present study detected 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 65 patients with VSD and 210 control patients from the Chinese Han population. Of the identified SNPs only the c.1727G>A SNP site was positively associated with the development of VSD (P<0.007). A known mutation, c.343C>G, was also identified, which causes a leucine to valine substitution at amino acid 115 of the EVC protein (p.L115V). The results of functional prediction indicated that c.343C>G may be a pathogenic mutation. In addition, in NIH3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblast cells, the EVC c.343C>G mutation significantly decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Further investigation demonstrated that in NIH3T3 cells, overexpression of EVC c.343C>G mutation reduced the binding between EVC and smoothened, which further downregulated the activity of the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway and the expression of downstream cyclin D1 and B-cell lymphoma 2 proteins with SAG. The c.1727G>A SNP of the EVC gene increased VSD susceptibility in patients from the Chinese Han population. The molecular mechanism underlying the development of VSD induced by the EVC c.343C>G mutation may be due to a reduction in the anti-apoptotic and proliferative abilities of cardiomyocytes via downregulation of Hh pathway activity. The results of the present study may provide novel targets for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with VSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Xiao Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhenyan Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Ping Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qiongqiong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jiejing Jin
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Xia Yan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zixuan Xu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Qing Cao
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Yingzhang Cheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Rong Wan
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Kui Hong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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Rao AR, Yourshaw M, Christensen B, Nelson SF, Kerner B. Rare deleterious mutations are associated with disease in bipolar disorder families. Mol Psychiatry 2017; 22:1009-1014. [PMID: 27725659 PMCID: PMC5388596 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2016.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common, complex and heritable psychiatric disorder characterized by episodes of severe mood swings. The identification of rare, damaging genomic mutations in families with BD could inform about disease mechanisms and lead to new therapeutic interventions. To determine whether rare, damaging mutations shared identity-by-descent in families with BD could be associated with disease, exome sequencing was performed in multigenerational families of the NIMH BD Family Study followed by in silico functional prediction. Disease association and disease specificity was determined using 5090 exomes from the Sweden-Schizophrenia (SZ) Population-Based Case-Control Exome Sequencing study. We identified 14 rare and likely deleterious mutations in 14 genes that were shared identity-by-descent among affected family members. The variants were associated with BD (P<0.05 after Bonferroni's correction) and disease specificity was supported by the absence of the mutations in patients with SZ. In addition, we found rare, functional mutations in known causal genes for neuropsychiatric disorders including holoprosencephaly and epilepsy. Our results demonstrate that exome sequencing in multigenerational families with BD is effective in identifying rare genomic variants of potential clinical relevance and also disease modifiers related to coexisting medical conditions. Replication of our results and experimental validation are required before disease causation could be assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliz R Rao
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael Yourshaw
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Stanley F Nelson
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Berit Kerner
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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Exome chip analyses in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2016; 6:e923. [PMID: 27754487 PMCID: PMC5315553 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable childhood-onset neuropsychiatric condition, often persisting into adulthood. The genetic architecture of ADHD, particularly in adults, is largely unknown. We performed an exome-wide scan of adult ADHD using the Illumina Human Exome Bead Chip, which interrogates over 250 000 common and rare variants. Participants were recruited by the International Multicenter persistent ADHD CollaboraTion (IMpACT). Statistical analyses were divided into 3 steps: (1) gene-level analysis of rare variants (minor allele frequency (MAF)<1%); (2) single marker association tests of common variants (MAF⩾1%), with replication of the top signals; and (3) pathway analyses. In total, 9365 individuals (1846 cases and 7519 controls) were examined. Replication of the most associated common variants was attempted in 9847 individuals (2077 cases and 7770 controls) using fixed-effects inverse variance meta-analysis. With a Bonferroni-corrected significance level of 1.82E-06, our analyses of rare coding variants revealed four study-wide significant loci: 6q22.1 locus (P=4.46E-08), where NT5DC1 and COL10A1 reside; the SEC23IP locus (P=6.47E-07); the PSD locus (P=7.58E-08) and ZCCHC4 locus (P=1.79E-06). No genome-wide significant association was observed among the common variants. The strongest signal was noted at rs9325032 in PPP2R2B (odds ratio=0.81, P=1.61E-05). Taken together, our data add to the growing evidence of general signal transduction molecules (NT5DC1, PSD, SEC23IP and ZCCHC4) having an important role in the etiology of ADHD. Although the biological implications of these findings need to be further explored, they highlight the possible role of cellular communication as a potential core component in the development of both adult and childhood forms of ADHD.
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Ginns EI, Galdzicka M, Elston RC, Song YE, Paul SM, Egeland JA. Disruption of sonic hedgehog signaling in Ellis-van Creveld dwarfism confers protection against bipolar affective disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:1212-8. [PMID: 25311364 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, an autosomal recessively inherited chondrodysplastic dwarfism, is frequent among Old Order Amish of Pennsylvania. Decades of longitudinal research on bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) revealed cosegregation of high numbers of EvC and Bipolar I (BPI) cases in several large Amish families descending from the same pioneer. Despite the high prevalence of both disorders in these families, no EvC individual has ever been reported with BPI. The proximity of the EVC gene to our previously reported chromosome 4p16 BPAD locus with protective alleles, coupled with detailed clinical observations that EvC and BPI do not occur in the same individuals, led us to hypothesize that the genetic defect causing EvC in the Amish confers protection from BPI. This hypothesis is supported by a significant negative association of these two disorders when contrasted with absence of disease (P=0.029, Fisher's exact test, two-sided, verified by permutation to estimate the null distribution of the test statistic). As homozygous Amish EVC mutations causing EvC dwarfism do so by disrupting sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling, our data implicate Shh signaling in the underlying pathophysiology of BPAD. Understanding how disrupted Shh signaling protects against BPI could uncover variants in the Shh pathway that cause or increase risk for this and related mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- E I Ginns
- Departments of Clinical Labs, Neurology, Pediatrics, Pathology and Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - M Galdzicka
- Departments of Clinical Labs and Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School/UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - R C Elston
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Y E Song
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - S M Paul
- Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - J A Egeland
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
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8
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Ketamine and suicidal ideation in depression: Jumping the gun? Pharmacol Res 2015; 99:23-35. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Revised: 05/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Kowal A, Mostowska A, Mydlak D, Eberdt-Gołąbek B, Misztal M, Jagodziński PP, Hozyasz KK. EVC gene polymorphisms and risks of isolated hypospadias - a preliminary study. Cent European J Urol 2015; 68:257-62. [PMID: 26251756 PMCID: PMC4526603 DOI: 10.5173/ceju.2015.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hypospadias has a complex etiology with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to the condition. Urogenital abnormalities including hypospadias, are found in 22% of cases with Ellis van Creveld syndrome (EvC). Mutations in the EVC gene can cause major and minor anomalies, which form phenotypes that partially overlap with those present in EvC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between nucleotide variants of the EVC gene and the risk of hypospadias. Material and methods Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the EVC gene (rs3774856, rs2302075, rs1383180, rs7680768) were taken under investigation in 96 patients with isolated hypospadias and 284 matched controls. Genotyping of all polymorphisms was carried out by PCR and followed by appropriate restriction enzyme digestion (PCR-RFLP). Results Individuals homozygous for the SNP rs2302075 (p.Thr449Lys) showed an elevated risk for hypospadias. Haplotypes containing the rs2302075 variant also revealed modest associations with hypospadias, which did not survive multiple testing corrections. None of the other tested EVC polymorphisms displayed significant association with the risk of hypospadias, either in dominant or recessive inheritance models. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that polymorphic variants of the EVC gene do not substantially contribute to the risk of hypospadias based on our study population. However, further studies should help to clarify the relationship between polymorphisms of EVC and hypospadias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrzej Kowal
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrianna Mostowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dariusz Mydlak
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Matthew Misztal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł P Jagodziński
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Kamil K Hozyasz
- Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
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Sokolowski M, Wasserman J, Wasserman D. An overview of the neurobiology of suicidal behaviors as one meta-system. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:56-71. [PMID: 25178164 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Revised: 06/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Suicidal behaviors (SB) may be regarded as the outmost consequence of mental illnesses, or as a distinct entity per se. Regardless, the consequences of SB are very large to both society and affected individuals. The path leading to SB is clearly a complex one involving interactions between the subject's biology and environmental influences throughout life. With the aim to generate a representative and diversified overview of the different neurobiological components hypothesized or shown implicated across the entire SB field up to date by any approach, we selected and compiled a list of 212 gene symbols from the literature. An increasing number of novel gene (products) have been introduced as candidates, with half being implicated in SB in only the last 4 years. These candidates represent different neuro systems and functions and might therefore be regarded as competing or redundant explanations. We then adopted a unifying approach by treating them all as parts of the same meta-system, using bioinformatic tools. We present a network of all components connected by physical protein-protein interactions (the SB interactome). We proceeded by exploring the differences between the highly connected core (~30% of the candidate genes) and its peripheral parts, observing more functional homogeneity at the core, with multiple signal transduction pathways and actin-interacting proteins connecting a subset of receptors in nerve cell compartments as well as development/morphology phenotypes and the stress-sensitive synaptic plasticity processes of long term potentiation/depression. We suggest that SB neurobiology might also be viewed as one meta-system and perhaps be explained as intrinsic unbalances acting within the core or as imbalances arising between core and specific peripheral components.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Sokolowski
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Wasserman
- National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - D Wasserman
- 1] National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute (KI), Stockholm, Sweden [2] WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Methods Development and Training in Suicide Prevention, Stockholm, Sweden
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Kovacs-Nagy R, Elek Z, Szekely A, Nanasi T, Sasvari-Szekely M, Ronai Z. Association of aggression with a novel microRNA binding site polymorphism in the wolframin gene. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2013; 162B:404-12. [PMID: 23650218 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Rare mutations in the WFS1 gene lead to Wolfram syndrome, a severe multisystem disorder with progressive neurodegeneration and diabetes mellitus causing life-threatening complications and premature death. Only a few association studies using small clinical samples tested the possible effects of common WFS1 gene variants on mood disorders and suicide, the non-clinical spectrum has not been studied yet. Self-report data on Aggression, Impulsiveness, Anxiety, and Depression were collected from a large (N = 801) non-psychiatric sample. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected to provide an adequate coverage of the entire WFS1 gene, as well as to include putative microRNA binding site polymorphisms. Molecular analysis of the assumed microRNA binding site variant was performed by an in vitro reporter-gene assay of the cloned 3' untranslated region with coexpression of miR-668. Among the 17 WFS1 SNPs, only the rs1046322, a putative microRNA (miR-668) binding site polymorphism showed significant association with psychological dimensions after correction for multiple testing: those with the homozygous form of the minor allele reported higher aggression on the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (P = 0.0005). Functional effect of the same SNP was also demonstrated in a luciferase reporter system: the minor A allele showed lower repression compared to the major G allele, if co-expressed with miR-668. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing a microRNA binding site polymorphism of the WFS1 gene and its association with human aggression based on a large, non-clinical sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reka Kovacs-Nagy
- Institute of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Furczyk K, Schutová B, Michel TM, Thome J, Büttner A. The neurobiology of suicide - A Review of post-mortem studies. J Mol Psychiatry 2013; 1:2. [PMID: 25408895 PMCID: PMC4223890 DOI: 10.1186/2049-9256-1-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of suicidal behaviour, which constitutes one of the most serious problems both in psychiatry and general medical practice, still remains to a large degree unclear. As a result, scientists constantly look for new opportunities of explaining the causes underlying suicidality. In order to elucidate the biological changes occurring in the brains of the suicide victims, studies based on post-mortem brain tissue samples are increasingly being used. These studies employ different research methods to provide an insight into abnormalities in brain functioning on various levels, including gene and protein expression, neuroplasticity and neurotransmission, as well as many other areas. The aim of this paper to summarize the available data on the post-mortem studies, to provide an overview of main research directions and the most up-to-date findings, and to indicate the possibilities of further research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Furczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstrasse 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Barbora Schutová
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstrasse 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Tanja M Michel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstrasse 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Johannes Thome
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstrasse 20, 18147 Rostock, Germany ; College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 PP UK
| | - Andreas Büttner
- Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Rostock, St.-Georg-Strasse 108, 18055 Rostock, Germany
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WFS1 variants in Finnish patients with diabetes mellitus, sensorineural hearing impairment or optic atrophy, and in suicide victims. J Hum Genet 2013; 58:495-500. [PMID: 23595122 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2013.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the wolframin gene, WFS1, cause Wolfram syndrome, a rare recessive neurodegenerative disorder. The clinical features include early-onset bilateral optic atrophy (OA), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes insipidus, hearing impairment, urinary tract abnormalities and psychiatric illness, and, furthermore, WFS1 variants appear to be associated with non-syndromic DM and hearing impairment. Variation of WFS1 was investigated in Finnish subjects consisting 182 patients with DM, 117 patients with sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) and 44 patients with OA, and in 95 suicide victims. Twenty-two variants were found in the coding region of WFS1, including three novel nonsynonymous variants. The frequency of the p.[His456] allele was significantly higher in the patients with SNHI (11.5%; corrected P=0.00008), DM (6.6%; corrected P=0.036) or OA (9.1%; corrected P=0.043) than that in the 285 controls (3.3%). The frequency of the p.[His611] allele was 55.8% in the patients with DM being higher than that in the controls (47%; corrected P=0.039). The frequencies of p.[His456] and p.[His611] were similarly increased in an independent group of patients with DM (N=299). The results support previous findings that genetic variation of WFS1 contributes to the risk of DM and SNHI.
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