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Najafi P, Reimer C, Gilthorpe JD, Jacobsen KR, Ramløse M, Paul NF, Simianer H, Tetens J, Falker-Gieske C. Genomic evidence for the suitability of Göttingen Minipigs with a rare seizure phenotype as a model for human epilepsy. Neurogenetics 2024; 25:103-117. [PMID: 38383918 PMCID: PMC11076379 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-024-00750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a complex genetic disorder that affects about 2% of the global population. Although the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures can be reduced by a range of pharmacological interventions, there are no disease-modifying treatments for epilepsy. The development of new and more effective drugs is hindered by a lack of suitable animal models. Available rodent models may not recapitulate all key aspects of the disease. Spontaneous epileptic convulsions were observed in few Göttingen Minipigs (GMPs), which may provide a valuable alternative animal model for the characterisation of epilepsy-type diseases and for testing new treatments. We have characterised affected GMPs at the genome level and have taken advantage of primary fibroblast cultures to validate the functional impact of fixed genetic variants on the transcriptome level. We found numerous genes connected to calcium metabolism that have not been associated with epilepsy before, such as ADORA2B, CAMK1D, ITPKB, MCOLN2, MYLK, NFATC3, PDGFD, and PHKB. Our results have identified two transcription factor genes, EGR3 and HOXB6, as potential key regulators of CACNA1H, which was previously linked to epilepsy-type disorders in humans. Our findings provide the first set of conclusive results to support the use of affected subsets of GMPs as an alternative and more reliable model system to study human epilepsy. Further neurological and pharmacological validation of the suitability of GMPs as an epilepsy model is therefore warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pardis Najafi
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Reimer
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Höltystr. 10, 31535, Neustadt, Germany
| | - Jonathan D Gilthorpe
- Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Umeå University, 901 87, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Kirsten R Jacobsen
- Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs A/S, Sorø Landevej 302, 4261, Dalmose, Denmark
| | - Maja Ramløse
- Ellegaard Göttingen Minipigs A/S, Sorø Landevej 302, 4261, Dalmose, Denmark
| | - Nora-Fabienne Paul
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henner Simianer
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Tetens
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Clemens Falker-Gieske
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Burckhardtweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research, Georg-August-University, Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
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Frasuńska J, Pollak A, Turczyn P, Kutkowska-Kaźmierczak A, Pepłowski J, Płoski R, Tarnacka B. A Study of Polish Family with Scoliosis and Limb Contractures Expands the MYH3 Disease Spectrum. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:125. [PMID: 38275606 PMCID: PMC10815230 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A disease associated with malfunction of the MYH3 gene is characterised by scoliosis, contractures of the V fingers, knees and elbows, dysplasia of the calf muscles, foot deformity and limb length asymmetry. The aim of this study was to identify the cause of musculoskeletal deformities in a three-generation Polish family by exome sequencing. The segregation of the newly described c.866A>C variant of the MYH3 gene in the family indicates an autosomal dominant model of inheritance. The detected MYH3 variant segregates the disease within the family. The presented results expand the MYH3 disease spectrum and emphasize the clinical diagnostic challenge in syndromes harbouring congenital spine defects and joint contractures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Frasuńska
- Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (J.F.); (B.T.)
| | - Agnieszka Pollak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Paweł Turczyn
- Clinic of Early Arthritis, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland;
| | | | - Jakub Pepłowski
- The Rare Diseases Laboratory, Laboratory of Genetics, University Center for Laboratory Medicine, University Clinical Centre of the Medical University of Warsaw, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Beata Tarnacka
- Department of Rehabilitation, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland; (J.F.); (B.T.)
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Maffioli E, Nonnis S, Grassi Scalvini F, Negri A, Tedeschi G, Toni M. The Neurotoxic Effect of Environmental Temperature Variation in Adult Zebrafish ( Danio rerio). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15735. [PMID: 37958719 PMCID: PMC10648238 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurotoxicity consists of the altered functionality of the nervous system caused by exposure to chemical agents or altered chemical-physical parameters. The neurotoxic effect can be evaluated from the molecular to the behavioural level. The zebrafish Danio rerio is a model organism used in many research fields, including ecotoxicology and neurotoxicology. Recent studies by our research group have demonstrated that the exposure of adult zebrafish to low (18 °C) or high (34 °C) temperatures alters their brain proteome and fish behaviour compared to control (26 °C). These results showed that thermal variation alters the functionality of the nervous system, suggesting a temperature-induced neurotoxic effect. To demonstrate that temperature variation can be counted among the factors that generate neurotoxicity, eight different protein datasets, previously published by our research group, were subjected to new analyses using an integrated proteomic approach by means of the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software (Release December 2022). The datasets consist of brain proteome analyses of wild type adult zebrafish kept at three different temperatures (18 °C, 26 °C, and 34 °C) for 4 days (acute) or 21 days (chronic treatment), and of BDNF+/- and BDNF-/- zebrafish kept at 26 °C or 34 °C for 21 days. The results (a) demonstrate that thermal alterations generate an effect that can be defined as neurotoxic (p value ≤ 0.05, activation Z score ≤ -2 or ≥2), (b) identify 16 proteins that can be used as hallmarks of the neurotoxic processes common to all the treatments applied and (c) provide three protein panels (p value ≤ 0.05) related to 18 °C, 34 °C, and BDNF depletion that can be linked to anxiety-like or boldness behaviour upon these treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maffioli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Simona Nonnis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.)
- CRC “Innovation for Well-Being and Environment” (I-WE), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Grassi Scalvini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Armando Negri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.)
| | - Gabriella Tedeschi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (DIVAS), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy; (E.M.); (S.N.); (F.G.S.); (A.N.)
- CRC “Innovation for Well-Being and Environment” (I-WE), Università degli Studi di Milano, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Mattia Toni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin”, Sapienza University, Via Alfonso Borrelli 50, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Han QT, Yang WQ, Zang C, Zhou L, Zhang CJ, Bao X, Cai J, Li F, Shi Q, Wang XL, Qu J, Zhang D, Yu SS. The toxic natural product tutin causes epileptic seizures in mice by activating calcineurin. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:101. [PMID: 36894540 PMCID: PMC9998865 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01312-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Tutin, an established toxic natural product that causes epilepsy in rodents, is often used as a tool to develop animal model of acute epileptic seizures. However, the molecular target and toxic mechanism of tutin were unclear. In this study, for the first time, we conducted experiments to clarify the targets in tutin-induced epilepsy using thermal proteome profiling. Our studies showed that calcineurin (CN) was a target of tutin, and that tutin activated CN, leading to seizures. Binding site studies further established that tutin bound within the active site of CN catalytic subunit. CN inhibitor and calcineurin A (CNA) knockdown experiments in vivo proved that tutin induced epilepsy by activating CN, and produced obvious nerve damage. Together, these findings revealed that tutin caused epileptic seizures by activating CN. Moreover, further mechanism studies found that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and voltage- and Ca2+- activated K+ (BK) channels might be involved in related signaling pathways. Our study fully explains the convulsive mechanism of tutin, which provides new ideas for epilepsy treatment and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Tong Han
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Wan-Qi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Caixia Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Linchao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Chong-Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiuqi Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jie Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Fangfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Qinyan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Xiao-Liang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Dan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China.
| | - Shi-Shan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100050, China.
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5
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Biedziak B, Dąbrowska J, Szponar-Żurowska A, Bukowska-Olech E, Jamsheer A, Mojs E, Mulle J, Płoski R, Mostowska A. Identification of a new familial case of 3q29 deletion syndrome associated with cleft lip and palate via whole-exome sequencing. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:205-219. [PMID: 36317839 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Many unbalanced large copy number variants reviewed in the paper are associated with syndromic orofacial clefts, including a 1.6 Mb deletion on chromosome 3q29. The current report presents a new family with this recurrent deletion identified via whole-exome sequencing and confirmed by array comparative genomic hybridization. The proband exhibited a more severe clinical phenotype than his affected mother, comprising right-sided cleft lip/alveolus and cleft palate, advanced dental caries, heart defect, hypospadias, psychomotor, and speech delay, and an intellectual disability. Data analysis from the 3q29 registry revealed that the 3q29 deletion increases the risk of clefting by nearly 30-fold. No additional rare and pathogenic nucleotide variants were identified that could explain the clefting phenotype and observed intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity. These data suggest that the 3q29 deletion may be the primary risk factor for clefting, with additional genomic variants located outside the coding sequences, methylation changes, or environmental exposure serving as modifiers of this risk. Additional studies, including whole-genome sequencing or methylation analyses, should be performed to identify genetic factors underlying the phenotypic variation associated with the recurrent 3q29 deletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Biedziak
- Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Anomalies, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Justyna Dąbrowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Szponar-Żurowska
- Department of Orthodontics and Craniofacial Anomalies, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | | | - Aleksander Jamsheer
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Ewa Mojs
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jennifer Mulle
- Psychiatry, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrianna Mostowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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Hagihara H, Shoji H, Kuroiwa M, Graef IA, Crabtree GR, Nishi A, Miyakawa T. Forebrain-specific conditional calcineurin deficiency induces dentate gyrus immaturity and hyper-dopaminergic signaling in mice. Mol Brain 2022; 15:94. [PMID: 36414974 PMCID: PMC9682671 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-022-00981-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin (Cn), a phosphatase important for synaptic plasticity and neuronal development, has been implicated in the etiology and pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and Alzheimer's disease. Forebrain-specific conditional Cn knockout mice have been known to exhibit multiple behavioral phenotypes related to these disorders. In this study, we investigated whether Cn mutant mice show pseudo-immaturity of the dentate gyrus (iDG) in the hippocampus, which we have proposed as an endophenotype shared by these disorders. Expression of calbindin and GluA1, typical markers for mature DG granule cells (GCs), was decreased and that of doublecortin, calretinin, phospho-CREB, and dopamine D1 receptor (Drd1), markers for immature GC, was increased in Cn mutants. Phosphorylation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) substrates (GluA1, ERK2, DARPP-32, PDE4) was increased and showed higher sensitivity to SKF81297, a Drd1-like agonist, in Cn mutants than in controls. While cAMP/PKA signaling is increased in the iDG of Cn mutants, chronic treatment with rolipram, a selective PDE4 inhibitor that increases intracellular cAMP, ameliorated the iDG phenotype significantly and nesting behavior deficits with nominal significance. Chronic rolipram administration also decreased the phosphorylation of CREB, but not the other four PKA substrates examined, in Cn mutants. These results suggest that Cn deficiency induces pseudo-immaturity of GCs and that cAMP signaling increases to compensate for this maturation abnormality. This study further supports the idea that iDG is an endophenotype shared by certain neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Hagihara
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
| | - Hirotaka Shoji
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
| | - Mahomi Kuroiwa
- Department of Pharmacology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011 Japan
| | - Isabella A. Graef
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Gerald R. Crabtree
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Akinori Nishi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka 830-0011 Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Center for Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192 Japan
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Lengyel A, Pinti É, Pikó H, Kristóf Á, Abonyi T, Némethi Z, Fekete G, Haltrich I. Clinical evaluation of rare copy number variations identified by chromosomal microarray in a Hungarian neurodevelopmental disorder patient cohort. Mol Cytogenet 2022; 15:47. [PMID: 36320065 PMCID: PMC9623912 DOI: 10.1186/s13039-022-00623-z] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neurodevelopmental disorders are genetically heterogeneous pediatric conditions. The first tier diagnostic method for uncovering copy number variations (CNVs), one of the most common genetic etiologies in affected individuals, is chromosomal microarray (CMA). However, this methodology is not yet a routine molecular cytogenetic test in many parts of the world, including Hungary. Here we report clinical and genetic data of the first, relatively large Hungarian cohort of patients whose genetic testing included CMA. METHODS Clinical data were retrospectively collected for 78 children who were analyzed using various CMA platforms. Phenotypes of patients with disease-causing variants were compared to patients with negative results using the chi squared/Fisher exact tests. RESULTS A total of 30 pathogenic CNVs were identified in 29 patients (37.2%). Postnatal growth delay (p = 0.05564), pectus excavatum (p = 0.07484), brain imaging abnormalities (p = 0.07848), global developmental delay (p = 0.08070) and macrocephaly (p = 0.08919) were more likely to be associated with disease-causing CNVs. CONCLUSION Our results allow phenotypic expansion of 14q11.2 microdeletions encompassing SUPT16H and CHD8 genes. Variants of unknown significance (n = 24) were found in 17 patients. We provide detailed phenotypic and genetic data of these individuals to facilitate future classification efforts, and spotlight two patients with potentially pathogenic alterations. Our results contribute to unraveling the diagnostic value of rare CNVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lengyel
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Éva Pinti
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Henriett Pikó
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Árvai Kristóf
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tünde Abonyi
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zaránd Némethi
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - György Fekete
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Irén Haltrich
- grid.11804.3c0000 0001 0942 9821II. Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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Li J, Cao J. Case report: A novel PPP3CA truncating mutation within the regulatory domain causes severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy in a Chinese patient. Front Neurol 2022; 13:889167. [PMID: 36158964 PMCID: PMC9491239 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.889167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Developmental and epileptic encephalopathy 91 (DEE91; OMIM#617711) is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by heterozygous PPP3CA variants. To the best of our knowledge, only a few DEE91 cases have been reported. Results This study reports a boy who experienced recurrent afebrile convulsions and spasms at the age of 2 months. After being given multiple antiepileptic treatments with levetiracetam, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), prednisone, topiramate, and clonazepam, his seizures were not completely relieved. At the age of 4 months, the patient exhibited delayed neuromotor development and difficulty in feeding; at the age of 6 months, he was diagnosed with developmental regression with recurrent spasms and myoclonic seizures that could respond to vigabatrin. At the age of 1 year and 4 months, the patient showed profound global developmental delay (GDD) with intermittent absence seizures. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a novel loss-of-function variant c.1258_1259insAGTG (p. Val420Glufs*32) in PPP3CA. Conclusion This finding expands the genetic spectrum of the PPP3CA gene and reinforces the theory that DEE91-associated truncating variants cluster within a 26-amino acid region in the regulatory domain (RD) of PPP3CA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieling Li
- Department of Medical General Ward, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Cao
- Department of Medical General Ward, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Cao
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Wang Z, Li H, Wang H, Li X, Zhang Q, Wang H, Li K, Qiu Y. TRIM72 exerts antitumor effects in breast cancer and modulates lactate production and MCT4 promoter activity by interacting with PPP3CA. Anticancer Drugs 2022; 33:489-501. [PMID: 35324524 PMCID: PMC8997701 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes cancer progression, yet its value as a therapeutic target remains underexploited. Tripartite motif-containing 72 (TRIM72) may protect cells against various stresses including hypoxia. Recently, low TRIM72 expression has been implicated in cancer progression. However, the biological role and molecular mechanism of TRIM72 in breast cancer (BC) remain unclear. Herein, we analyzed the TRIM72 expression in BC tissue and cell lines by western blot (WB) and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. We established the overexpression of TRIM72 using plasmids and lentiviral-mediated upregulation, as well as downregulation of protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP3CA) by siRNA. The tumor-suppressive roles of TRIM72 were assessed on BT549 and MDA-MB-231 cells by MTS, Transwell, and flow cytometry assays in vitro and in xenografted tumors in vivo. The molecular mechanism of TRIM72 was investigated by luciferase reporter and co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay. Lactate production was measured by ELISA under hypoxic environments induced by CoCl2. Moreover, the expression of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-associated proteins was detected by WB in BC cells. Results showed that TRIM72 was downregulated in BC. Overexpression of TRIM72 inhibited tumor proliferation and invasion in vitro and in a xenograft tumor model. Mechanistically, PPP3CA altered the inhibitory effects of TRIM72 on hypoxia-induced lactate production and monocarboxylate transporter 4-promoter activity, as well as the effect of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Our study suggests that TRIM72 modulates the TME and plays tumor-suppressive roles in BC progression. Therefore, TRIM72 may serve as a potential therapeutic target in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong
| | - Haixia Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
| | - Hongxia Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
| | - Xin Li
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Clinic Laboratory, Zhuzhou Central Hospital, Zhuzhou, Hunan
| | - Haifang Wang
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
| | - Kui Li
- Huayin Medical Laboratory Center Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yurong Qiu
- Laboratory Medicine Center, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University
- Huayin Medical Laboratory Center Co., Ltd, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Stembalska A, Rydzanicz M, Walas W, Gasperowicz P, Pollak A, Pienkowski VM, Biela M, Klaniewska M, Gamrot Z, Gronska E, Ploski R, Smigiel R. Severe Infantile Axonal Neuropathy with Respiratory Failure Caused by Novel Mutation in X-Linked LAS1L Gene. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13050725. [PMID: 35627110 PMCID: PMC9142081 DOI: 10.3390/genes13050725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
LAS1L encodes a nucleolar ribosomal biogenesis protein and is also a component of the Five Friends of Methylated CHTOP (5FMC) complex. Mutations in the LAS1L gene can be associated with Wilson−Turner syndrome (WTS) and, much more rarely, severe infantile hypotonia with respiratory failure. Here, we present an eighteen-month old boy with a phenotype of spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD). By applying WES, we identified a novel hemizygous synonymous variant in the LAS1L gene inherited from an unaffected mother (c.846G > C, p.Thr282=). We suggest that the identified variant impairs the RNA splicing process. Furthermore, we proved the absence of any coding regions by qPCR and sequencing cDNA using amplicon deep sequencing and Sanger sequencing methods. According to the SMARD phenotype, severe breathing problems causing respiratory insufficiency, hypotonia, and feeding difficulties were observed in our patient from the first days of life. Remarkably, our case is the second described patient with a SMARD-like phenotype due to a mutation in the LAS1L gene and the first with a variant impacting splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Małgorzata Rydzanicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (A.P.); (V.M.P.); (R.P.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Wojciech Walas
- Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital in Opole, 45-401 Opole, Poland;
| | - Piotr Gasperowicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (A.P.); (V.M.P.); (R.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Pollak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (A.P.); (V.M.P.); (R.P.)
| | - Victor Murcia Pienkowski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (A.P.); (V.M.P.); (R.P.)
- MMG, Marseille Medical Genetics U1251, Aix Marseille University, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Mateusz Biela
- Department of Family and Paediatric Nursing, Medical University, 50-996 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Magdalena Klaniewska
- Department of Family and Paediatric Nursing, Medical University, 50-996 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
| | - Zuzanna Gamrot
- Care and Therapy Unit for Mechanically Ventilated Children and Young People, 41-506 Chorzow, Poland; (Z.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Ewa Gronska
- Care and Therapy Unit for Mechanically Ventilated Children and Young People, 41-506 Chorzow, Poland; (Z.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Rafal Ploski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (P.G.); (A.P.); (V.M.P.); (R.P.)
| | - Robert Smigiel
- Department of Family and Paediatric Nursing, Medical University, 50-996 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.B.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (R.S.)
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11
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Investigation of Copy Number Variations (CNVs) of the Goat PPP3CA Gene and Their Effect on Litter Size and Semen Quality. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040445. [PMID: 35203154 PMCID: PMC8868321 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary PPP3CA is one of the candidate genes for goat reproduction, but no studies have been carried out yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the associations between copy number variations in the goat PPP3CA gene and litter size and semen quality in goats, including Shaanbei white cashmere goats (SBWC) (n = 353) and Guizhou Heima (GZHM) goats (n = 64). Based on the association analysis, the results showed that only CNV1 (copy number variation 1) and CNV2 (copy number variation 2) were distinctly related to the first-birth litter size in female goats (p = 7.6802 × 10−11; p = 5.0895 × 10−9), and they were also significantly associated with the semen quality of SBWC goats (p < 0.05). These findings prove that the PPP3CA gene plays an important role in reproduction traits in goats. Abstract Copy number variations (CNVs) have many forms of variation structure, and they play an important role in the research of variety diversity, biological evolution and disease correlation. Since CNVs have a greater impact on gene regulation and expression, more studies are being finalized on CNVs in important livestock and poultry species. The protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP3CA) is a key candidate gene involved in the goat fecundity trait, and has important effects on precocious puberty, estrogen signal transduction pathways and oocyte meiosis. Additionally, PPP3CA also has a dephosphorylation effect in the process of spermatogonial stem cell meiosis and spermatogenesis. So far, there is no research on the relationship between the copy number variations of the PPP3CA gene and reproduction traits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between copy number variations in the goat PPP3CA gene and litter size and semen quality in Shaanbei white cashmere goats (SBWC) (n = 353) and Guizhou Heima goats (n = 64). Based on the association analysis, the results showed that only CNV1 and CNV2 within the PPP3CA gene were distinctly related to the first-birth litter size in female goats (p = 7.6802 × 10−11; p = 5.0895 × 10−9, respectively) and they were also significantly associated with the semen quality of SBWC goats (p < 0.05). In addition, individuals with Loss genotypes demonstrated better phenotypic performance compared to those with other types. Therefore, CNV1 and CNV2 of the PPP3CA gene are potentially useful for breeding, as they are linked to important goat reproduction traits.
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12
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Further Delineation of Developmental Delay with Gastrointestinal, Cardiovascular, Genitourinary, and Skeletal Abnormalities Caused by ZNF699 Gene Mutation. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020168. [PMID: 35205213 PMCID: PMC8872584 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Until 2021, the ZNF699 gene was not associated with any human genetic disease. There were only two studies exploring the associations between variants in ZNF699 and alcohol dependence. In 2021 Bertoli-Avella et al. reported 13 patients with a ZNF699 gene mutation. All patients presented global developmental delay and with systemic manifestations. A new phenotype was proposed and called DEGCAGS syndrome (OMIM 619488) (developmental delay with gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, genitourinary, and skeletal abnormalities). The DEGCAGS syndrome is inherited in the autosomal recessive mode. Here, we report a new case (14th up to date) of a patient with ZNF699 gene mutation, whose symptoms and dysmorphic features were similar to those presented by Bertoli-Avella et al. In addition, we have analyzed the frequency of occurrence of particular symptoms in the patients described so far.
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13
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Dushar M, Nowaczyk J, Pyrżak B, Akopyan H, Śmigiel R, Walczak A, Rydzanicz M, Płoski R, Szczałuba K. Efficacy and safety of sirolimus therapy in familial hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia caused by AKT2 mutation inherited from the mosaic father. Eur J Med Genet 2021; 64:104368. [PMID: 34673243 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2021.104368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Activating mutation in the insulin signal-transducing kinase AKT2 results in severe hypoinsulinemic hypoketotic hypoglycemia and a characteristic phenotype of possible overgrowth and, sometimes, acanthosis nigricans. Herein, we describe a metabolic and hormonal profile before and during treatment with sirolimus in two brothers with AKT2 mutation inherited from the mosaic father, who showed low-level mosaicism in sperm. The boys, aged 1 and 14, who had severe non-insulin-dependent hypoketotic hypoglycemia and a typical dysmorphism, were admitted to endocrinology department for the analysis of their metabolic parameters: lipids, lactate, ammonia, glucose, insulin, c-peptide, and hormones (GH, IGF1, IGFBP3, TSH, fT4, cortisol, ACTH) before and during treatment with sirolimus. Previously, they had been treated with high-carbohydrate diet. The brothers were started on sirolimus with subsequent normalization of glycemia and reduced carbohydrate feedings overnight. The lowest fasting glucose levels improved from 20 mg/dl to 45 mg/dl in both sibs. The BMI of both brothers significantly dropped. After 6 months of sirolimus therapy we did not observe any laboratory or clinical side effects of the treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marya Dushar
- SI Institute of Hereditary Pathology NAMS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Jędrzej Nowaczyk
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Pyrżak
- Department of Paediatrics and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hayane Akopyan
- SI Institute of Hereditary Pathology NAMS of Ukraine, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Robert Śmigiel
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Propaedeutic of Paediatrics and Rare Disorders, Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Walczak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Szczałuba
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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14
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Panneerselvam S, Wang J, Zhu W, Dai H, Pappas JG, Rabin R, Low KJ, Rosenfeld JA, Emrick L, Xiao R, Xia F, Yang Y, Eng CM, Anderson A, Chau V, Soler-Alfonso C, Streff H, Lalani SR, Mercimek-Andrews S, Bi W. PPP3CA truncating variants clustered in the regulatory domain cause early-onset refractory epilepsy. Clin Genet 2021; 100:227-233. [PMID: 33963760 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
PPP3CA encodes the catalytic subunit of calcineurin, a calcium-calmodulin-regulated serine-threonine phosphatase. Loss-of-function (LoF) variants in the catalytic domain have been associated with epilepsy, while gain-of-function (GoF) variants in the auto-inhibitory domain cause multiple congenital abnormalities. We herein report five new patients with de novo PPP3CA variants. Interestingly, the two frameshift variants in this study and the six truncating variants reported previously are all located within a 26-amino acid region in the regulatory domain (RD). Patients with a truncating variant had more severe earlier onset seizures compared to patients with a LoF missense variant, while autism spectrum disorder was a more frequent feature in the latter. Expression studies of a truncating variant showed apparent RNA expression from the mutant allele, but no detectable mutant protein. Our data suggest that PPP3CA truncating variants clustered in the RD, causing more severe early-onset refractory epilepsy and representing a type of variants distinct from LoF or GoF missense variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sugi Panneerselvam
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Julia Wang
- Medical Scientist Training Program and Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Wenmiao Zhu
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Hongzheng Dai
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John G Pappas
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetic Services, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Rabin
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Genetic Services, NYU School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Karen J Low
- University Hospital Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Lisa Emrick
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Rui Xiao
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yaping Yang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Christine M Eng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Anne Anderson
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Vann Chau
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Claudia Soler-Alfonso
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haley Streff
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Seema R Lalani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Saadet Mercimek-Andrews
- Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Stollery Children's Hospital, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Weimin Bi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Baylor Genetics Laboratories, Houston, Texas, USA
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15
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Szczałuba K, Rydzanicz M, Walczak A, Kosińska J, Koppolu A, Biernacka A, Iwanicka-Pronicka K, Grajkowska W, Jurkiewicz E, Kowalczyk P, Płoski R. Brain Tissue Low-Level Mosaicism for MTOR Mutation Causes Smith-Kingsmore Phenotype with Recurrent Hypoglycemia-A Novel Phenotype and a Further Proof for Testing of an Affected Tissue. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071269. [PMID: 34359351 PMCID: PMC8303645 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
De novo somatic variants in genes encoding components of the PI3K-AKT3-mTOR pathway, including MTOR, have been linked to hemimegalencephaly or focal cortical dysplasia. Similarly to other malformations of cortical development, this condition presents with developmental delay and intractable epilepsy, often necessitating surgical treatment. We describe a first patient with the Smith-Kingsmore syndrome phenotype with recurrent hypoglycemia caused by low-level mosaic MTOR mutation restricted to the brain. We provide discussion on different aspects of somatic mosaicism. Deep exome sequencing combined with a variant search in multiple tissues and careful phenotyping may constitute a key to the diagnosis of the causes of rare brain anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Szczałuba
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (R.P.); Tel.: +48-22-5720-695 (K.S. & R.P.); Fax: +48-22-5720-696 (K.S. & R.P.)
| | - Małgorzata Rydzanicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Walczak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Joanna Kosińska
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Agnieszka Koppolu
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
| | - Anna Biernacka
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Wiesława Grajkowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Elżbieta Jurkiewicz
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Paweł Kowalczyk
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Pawinskiego 3c Str., 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (M.R.); (A.W.); (J.K.); (A.K.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (R.P.); Tel.: +48-22-5720-695 (K.S. & R.P.); Fax: +48-22-5720-696 (K.S. & R.P.)
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16
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Klaniewska M, Jedrzejowska M, Rydzanicz M, Paprocka J, Biela M, Wolanska E, Pollak A, Debek E, Sasiadek M, Ploski R, Gos M, Smigiel R. Case Report: Further Delineation of Neurological Symptoms in Young Children Caused by Compound Heterozygous Mutation in the PIEZO2 Gene. Front Genet 2021; 12:620752. [PMID: 33995476 PMCID: PMC8113815 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.620752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PIEZO2 protein is a unique ion channel that converts mechanical impulses into cellular signals in somatosensory neurons and is involved in various mechanotransduction pathways. The recessive PIEZO2 loss-of-function pathogenic variants are associated with distal arthrogryposis with impaired proprioception and touch (DAIPT). Here we present three new DAIPT patients. The genetic diagnosis was established by exome sequencing and let us to identify 6 novel loss-of-function PIEZO2 variants: four splicing (c.1080+1G>A, c.4092+1G>T, c.6355+1G>T, and c.7613+1G>A), one nonsense (c.6088C>T) and one frameshift variant (c.6175_6191del) for which mosaic variant was identified in proband's mother. All patients presented typical symptoms at birth, with congenital contractures, bilateral hip dislocation/dysplasia, generalized hypotonia, transient feeding and difficulties. Two were afflicted by transient respiratory insufficiency. In all children motor development was severely delayed. In one patient, severe cognitive delay was also observed. Moreover, among the cases described by us there is the youngest diagnosed child to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Klaniewska
- Department of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Maria Jedrzejowska
- Rare Diseases Research Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Justyna Paprocka
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medical Science, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
| | - Mateusz Biela
- Department of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Wolanska
- Department of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Pollak
- Rare Diseases Research Platform, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emilia Debek
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Sasiadek
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Rafal Ploski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Monika Gos
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Mother and Child, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Robert Smigiel
- Department of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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17
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Wolańska E, Pollak A, Rydzanicz M, Pesz K, Kłaniewska M, Rozensztrauch A, Skiba P, Stawiński P, Płoski R, Śmigiel R. The Role of the Reanalysis of Genetic Test Results in the Diagnosis of Dysmorphic Syndrome Caused by Inherited xq24 Deletion including the UBE2A and CXorf56 Genes. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030350. [PMID: 33673493 PMCID: PMC7997426 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychomotor delay, hypotonia, and intellectual disability, as well as heart defects, urogenital malformations, and characteristic cranio-facial dysmorphism are the main symptoms of dysmorphic syndrome associated with intergenic deletion in the Xq24 chromosome region including the UBE2A and CXorf56 genes. To date, there is limited information in the literature about the symptoms and clinical course of the Xq24 deletion. Here, we present a case of Xq24 deletion including the UBE2A and CXorf56 genes in a nine-year-old boy, in whom the array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) and whole exome sequencing (WES) tests were performed in 2015 with normal results. The WES results were reanalyzed in 2019. Intergenic, hemizygous deletion in the Xq24 chromosome region including the UBE2A and CXorf56 genes was revealed and subsequently confirmed in the array-CGH study as the deletion of 35kb in the Xq24 region. Additionally, the carriership of deletion in the mother of the child was confirmed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewelina Wolańska
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Propaedeutic of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (R.Ś.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Agnieszka Pollak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (A.P.); (M.R.); (P.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Małgorzata Rydzanicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (A.P.); (M.R.); (P.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Karolina Pesz
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Magdalena Kłaniewska
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Propaedeutic of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (R.Ś.)
| | - Anna Rozensztrauch
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Paweł Skiba
- Department of Genetics, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; (K.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Piotr Stawiński
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (A.P.); (M.R.); (P.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland; (A.P.); (M.R.); (P.S.); (R.P.)
| | - Robert Śmigiel
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Propaedeutic of Pediatrics and Rare Disorders, Wroclaw Medical University, 51-618 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.K.); (R.Ś.)
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18
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Materna-Kiryluk A, Pollak A, Gawalski K, Szczawinska-Poplonyk A, Rydzynska Z, Sosnowska A, Cukrowska B, Gasperowicz P, Konopka E, Pietrucha B, Grzywa TM, Banaszak-Ziemska M, Niedziela M, Skalska-Sadowska J, Stawiński P, Śladowski D, Nowis D, Ploski R. Mosaic IL6ST variant inducing constitutive GP130 cytokine receptor signaling as a cause of neonatal onset immunodeficiency with autoinflammation and dysmorphy. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:226-233. [PMID: 33517393 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-6 signal transducer (IL6ST) encodes the GP130 protein which transduces the proinflammatory signaling of the IL6 cytokine family through Janus kinase signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway (JAK/STAT) activation. Biallelic loss-of-function IL6ST variants cause autosomal recessive hyper-IgE syndrome or a variant of the Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome. Somatic gain-of-function IL6ST mutations, in particular, small monoallelic in-frame deletions of which the most prevalent is the IL6ST Ser187_Tyr190del, are an established cause of inflammatory hepatocellular tumors, but so far, no disease caused by such mutations present constitutively has been described. Herein, we report a pediatric proband with a novel syndrome of neonatal onset immunodeficiency with autoinflammation and dysmorphy associated with the IL6ST Tyr186_Tyr190del variant present constitutively. Tyr186_Tyr190del was found by exome sequencing and was shown to be de novo (absent in proband's parents and siblings) and mosaic (present in approximately 15-40% of cells depending on the tissue studied-blood, urine sediment, hair bulbs and buccal swab). Functional studies were performed in the Epstein-Barr virus-immortalized patient's B cell lymphoblastoid cell line, which carried the variant in approximately 95% of the cells. Western blot showed that the patient's cells exhibited constitutive hyperphosphorylation of Tyr705 in STAT3, which is indicative of IL6-independent activation of GP130. Interestingly, the STAT3 phosphorylation could be inhibited with ruxolitinib as well as tofacitinib, which are clinically approved JAK1 and JAK3 (to lesser extent JAK2 and JAK1) inhibitors, respectively. Given our results and the recent reports of ruxolitinib and tofacitinib use for the treatment of diseases caused by direct activation of STAT3 or STAT1, we speculate that these drugs may be effective in the treatment of our patient's condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Materna-Kiryluk
- Polish Registry of Congenital Malformations, Chair and Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan 61-701, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Pollak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Karol Gawalski
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szczawinska-Poplonyk
- Department of Pediatric Pneumonology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Institute of Pediatrics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan 60-572, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Rydzynska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland
| | - Anna Sosnowska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland
| | - Bożena Cukrowska
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw 04-730, Poland
| | - Piotr Gasperowicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Ewa Konopka
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw 04-730, Poland
| | - Barbara Pietrucha
- Department of Clinical Immunology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw 04-730, Poland
| | - Tomasz M Grzywa
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland.,The Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-091, Poland
| | - Magdalena Banaszak-Ziemska
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Rheumatology, Institute of Pediatrics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan 60-572, Poland
| | - Marek Niedziela
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Rheumatology, Institute of Pediatrics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan 60-572, Poland
| | - Jolanta Skalska-Sadowska
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology University of Medical Sciences, Poznań 61-854, Poland
| | - Piotr Stawiński
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
| | - Dariusz Śladowski
- Department of Transplantology and Central Tissue Bank, Centre for Biostructure, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-004, Poland
| | - Dominika Nowis
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw 02-097, Poland
| | - Rafal Ploski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Warsaw Medical University, Warsaw 02-106, Poland
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19
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Zirak MR, Rahimian R, Mousavizadeh K, Dehpour AR. Mechanisms underlie the proconvulsant effects of sildenafil. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 134:111142. [PMID: 33360157 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Zirak
- Department of Pharmacodynamics and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reza Rahimian
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| | - Kazem Mousavizadeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center and Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad Reza Dehpour
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Leukoencephalopathy with Calcifications and Cysts—The First Polish Patient with Labrune Syndrome. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110869. [PMID: 33218075 PMCID: PMC7698922 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukoencephalopathy with calcifications and cysts (LCC) is a triad of neuroradiological symptoms characteristic of Labrune syndrome, which was first described in 1996. For 20 years, the diagnosis was only based on clinical, neuroradiological and histopathological findings. Differential diagnosis included a wide spectrum of diseases. Finally, in 2016, genetic mutation in the SNORD118 gene was confirmed to cause Labrune syndrome. The authors describe a case of a teenage girl with progressive headaches, without developmental delay, presenting with calcifications and white matter abnormality in neuroimaging. Follow-up studies showed the progression of leukoencephalopathy and cyst formation. The first symptoms and initial imaging results posed diagnostic challenges. The final diagnosis was established based on genetic results. The authors discuss the possible therapy of LCC with Bevacizumab.
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21
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Szczałuba K, Makuła E, Piórecka-Makuła A, Sicińska J, Rydzanicz M, Gasperowicz P, Płoski R, Werner B. Intracardiac tumor as a rare manifestation of genetic syndromes-presentation of a family with Gorlin syndrome and a literature review. J Appl Genet 2020; 61:559-565. [PMID: 32964316 PMCID: PMC7652740 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-020-00582-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Intracardiac tumors in children are relatively rare, but their clinical consequences may include severe outflow tract obstruction, embolism, cardiac insufficiency, or rhythm disturbances. In some cases, the tumor may constitute part of a genetic condition and prompt additional investigations, as well as a modification of therapeutic management. Herein, we present a molecularly confirmed familial case of Gorlin syndrome with an early cardiac tumor as a presenting sign. We provide detailed clinical characteristics of the affected individuals and a useful review of syndromic causes of pediatric cardiac tumors in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Szczałuba
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, ul Pawinskiego 3c, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Makuła
- Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Piórecka-Makuła
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology and General Pediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Sicińska
- Clinical Department of Dermatology, Central Clinical Hospital of the MSWiA, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Rydzanicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, ul Pawinskiego 3c, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Gasperowicz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, ul Pawinskiego 3c, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, ul Pawinskiego 3c, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Bożena Werner
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology and General Pediatrics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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22
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Rapid Whole-Exome Sequencing as a Diagnostic Tool in a Neonatal/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9072220. [PMID: 32668698 PMCID: PMC7408678 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9072220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic disorders are the leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Due to the large number of genetic diseases, molecular and phenotype heterogeneity and often severe course, these diseases remain undiagnosed. In infants with a suspected acute monogenic disease, rapid whole-exome sequencing (R-WES) can be successfully performed. R-WES (singletons) was performed in 18 unrelated infants with a severe and/or progressing disease with the suspicion of genetic origin hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Blood samples were also collected from the parents. The results from the R-WES were available after 5-14 days. A conclusive genetic diagnosis was obtained in 13 children, corresponding to an overall diagnostic yield of 72.2%. For nine patients, R-WES was used as a first-tier test. Eight patients were diagnosed with inborn errors of metabolism, mainly mitochondrial diseases. In two patients, the disease was possibly caused by variants in genes which so far have not been associated with human disease (NARS1 and DCAF5). R-WES proved to be an effective diagnostic tool for critically ill infants in ICUs suspected of having a genetic disorder. It also should be considered as a first-tier test after precise clinical description. The quickly obtained diagnosis impacts patient's medical management, and families can receive genetic counseling.
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23
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Yang S, Shen X, Kang Q, Kuang X, Ning Z, Liu S, Liao H, Cao Z, Yang L. Clinical and Genetic Study on a Chinese Patient with Infantile Onset Epileptic Encephalopathy carrying a PPP3CA Null Variant: a case report. BMC Pediatr 2020; 20:315. [PMID: 32593294 PMCID: PMC7320544 DOI: 10.1186/s12887-020-02213-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background PPP3CA gene encodes the catalytic subunit A of a calcium-dependent protein phosphatase called calcineurin. However, two distinct mechanisms in PPP3CA deficiency would cause two clinically different diseases. Gain-of-function mutations in the autoinhibitory domain at the C-terminus would cause ACCIID that stands for arthrogryposis, cleft palate, craniosynostosis and impaired intellectual development. While loss-of-function mutations in PPP3CA would cause infantile or early childhood onset epileptic encephalopathy1, named as IECEE1. IECEE1 is a severe epileptic neurodevelopmental disorder and mainly characterized by psychomotor delay. Here, we report a Chinese patient who was clinically and genetically diagnosed as IECEE1. We also extensively analyzed electroencephalogram (EEG) features of the patient in this study. Case presentation A 2-year-old Chinese patient who had recurrent polymorphic seizures was clinically and genetically diagnosed as IECEE1. A frameshift variant c.1283insC (p.T429NfsX22) was identified in this case. Multiple types of abnormal features were observed in the EEG, comparing with the previous reports. Conclusions These findings could expand the spectrum of PPP3CA mutations and might also support the diagnosis and further study of IECEE1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Xiang Shen
- Running Gene Inc., Haohai Mansion, No.7 Shangdi 5th Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Qingyun Kang
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaojun Kuang
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Zeshu Ning
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Shulei Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Hongmei Liao
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China
| | - Zhenhua Cao
- Running Gene Inc., Haohai Mansion, No.7 Shangdi 5th Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Liming Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Children's Hospital, No.86 Ziyuan Road, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, China.
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24
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Roy J, Cyert MS. Identifying New Substrates and Functions for an Old Enzyme: Calcineurin. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:a035436. [PMID: 31308145 PMCID: PMC7050593 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a035436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Biological processes are dynamically regulated by signaling networks composed of protein kinases and phosphatases. Calcineurin, or PP3, is a conserved phosphoserine/phosphothreonine-specific protein phosphatase and member of the PPP family of phosphatases. Calcineurin is unique, however, in its activation by Ca2+ and calmodulin. This ubiquitously expressed phosphatase controls Ca2+-dependent processes in all human tissues, but is best known for driving the adaptive immune response by dephosphorylating the nuclear factor of the activated T-cells (NFAT) family of transcription factors. Therefore, calcineurin inhibitors, FK506 (tacrolimus), and cyclosporin A serve as immunosuppressants. We describe some of the adverse effects associated with calcineurin inhibitors that result from inhibition of calcineurin in nonimmune tissues, illustrating the many functions of this enzyme that have yet to be elucidated. In fact, calcineurin has essential roles beyond the immune system, from yeast to humans, but since its discovery more than 30 years ago, only a small number of direct calcineurin substrates have been shown (∼75 proteins). This is because of limitations in current methods for identification of phosphatase substrates. Here we discuss recent insights into mechanisms of calcineurin activation and substrate recognition that have been critical in the development of novel approaches for identifying its targets systematically. Rather than comprehensively reviewing known functions of calcineurin, we highlight new approaches to substrate identification for this critical regulator that may reveal molecular mechanisms underlying toxicities caused by calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jagoree Roy
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020
| | - Martha S Cyert
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-5020
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