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Collins RT, Gravenhorst V, Faury G, Kwiatkowska J, Schmelzer CEH, Schneider H, Waldoch A, Pankau R. Clinical Care for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Williams-Beuren Syndrome. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e036997. [PMID: 39291481 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.124.036997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a congenital multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, central nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. Cardiovascular abnormalities, which consist principally of vascular stenoses, occur in approximately 80% of people with WBS and are the predominant cause of early morbidity and mortality. Supravalvar aortic stenosis and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis are the most common stenotic lesions in WBS, though other stenoses often occur, including stenoses of the coronary arteries. Approximately one-third of people with WBS undergo cardiovascular interventions. The risk of sudden cardiac death is markedly higher than the general population, with most events occurring in the periprocedural period. Because of the rarity of WBS and the often-complex nature of the cardiovascular abnormalities, most physicians, including cardiologists, have limited experience in caring for patients with WBS. Further, heretofore, clinical cardiovascular management guidelines based on international expert consensus have not been available. This state-of-the-art review provides a comprehensive synopsis of the cardiovascular abnormalities in WBS and presents clinical management guidelines based on the authors' expert consensus.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Thomas Collins
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington KY USA
| | - Verena Gravenhorst
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Gilles Faury
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1300 CHU Grenoble France
| | - Joanna Kwiatkowska
- Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects Department Medical University of Gdańsk Poland
| | - Christian E H Schmelzer
- Department of Biological and Macromolecular Materials Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS Halle (Saale) Germany
| | - Heike Schneider
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Neonatology University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | - Anna Waldoch
- Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Defects Department Medical University of Gdańsk Poland
| | - Rainer Pankau
- Department of Pediatrics University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel Germany
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Ikeda A, Hakuno Y, Asada K, Ikeda T, Yamagata T, Hirai M. Developmental process of the understanding of linguistic register in children: A comparison of typically developing children, autistic children, and children with Williams syndrome. Autism Res 2024. [PMID: 39169654 DOI: 10.1002/aur.3219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Although the developmental process of linguistic register-the appropriate manner of speech as determined by the listener and social situation-has been gradually clarified in typically developing (TD) children, research on the mechanism and developmental process of register acquisition in atypically developing children are insufficient. This study compared the developmental process of understanding linguistic register among TD children, autistic children, and those with Williams syndrome (WS), and examined the contributions of social cognition and motivation to the acquisition of linguistic register. Two experiments were designed to assess the recognition of which linguistic register to use when communicating with different listeners and of the listener's feelings according to the speakers' use of register. The results revealed that the process of understanding register-listener associations was nearly identical among all groups of children and their understanding improved with age. Conversely, their understanding of the effect of register selection on the listener's feelings varied. Importantly, as TD children mature, they become aware that adult listeners may feel negatively when spoken to in an inappropriate register, whereas autistic children and those with WS do not exhibit the same awareness. Thus, our results suggest that atypical social cognition and motivation do not disturb the understanding of register-listener associations. However, social cognition and motivation play important roles in understanding the effect of register selection on the listener's feelings. These findings provide a significant contribution to clarifying the mechanism of linguistic register acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayaka Ikeda
- Department of Psychology, Senshu University, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
- Center for Development of Advanced Medical Technology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yoko Hakuno
- Center for Development of Advanced Medical Technology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
- Center for Design of Future Symbiosis, Global Research Institute, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosuke Asada
- Faculty of Sociology, Toyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ikeda
- Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Takanori Yamagata
- Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hirai
- Center for Development of Advanced Medical Technology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
- Department of Cognitive and Psychological Sciences, Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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Liu D, Billington CJ, Raja N, Wong ZC, Levin MD, Resch W, Alba C, Hupalo DN, Biamino E, Bedeschi MF, Digilio MC, Squeo GM, Villa R, Parrish PCR, Knutsen RH, Osgood S, Freeman JA, Dalgard CL, Merla G, Pober BR, Mervis CB, Roberts AE, Morris CA, Osborne LR, Kozel BA. Matrisome and Immune Pathways Contribute to Extreme Vascular Outcomes in Williams-Beuren Syndrome. J Am Heart Assoc 2024; 13:e031377. [PMID: 38293922 PMCID: PMC11056152 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.123.031377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS) is a characteristic feature of Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). Its severity varies: ~20% of people with Williams-Beuren syndrome have SVAS requiring surgical intervention, whereas ~35% have no appreciable SVAS. The remaining individuals have SVAS of intermediate severity. Little is known about genetic modifiers that contribute to this variability. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed genome sequencing on 473 individuals with Williams-Beuren syndrome and developed strategies for modifier discovery in this rare disease population. Approaches include extreme phenotyping and nonsynonymous variant prioritization, followed by gene set enrichment and pathway-level association tests. We next used GTEx v8 and proteomic data sets to verify expression of candidate modifiers in relevant tissues. Finally, we evaluated overlap between the genes/pathways identified here and those ascertained through larger aortic disease/trait genome-wide association studies. We show that SVAS severity in Williams-Beuren syndrome is associated with increased frequency of common and rarer variants in matrisome and immune pathways. Two implicated matrisome genes (ACAN and LTBP4) were uniquely expressed in the aorta. Many genes in the identified pathways were previously reported in genome-wide association studies for aneurysm, bicuspid aortic valve, or aortic size. CONCLUSIONS Smaller sample sizes in rare disease studies necessitate new approaches to detect modifiers. Our strategies identified variation in matrisome and immune pathways that are associated with SVAS severity. These findings suggest that, like other aortopathies, SVAS may be influenced by the balance of synthesis and degradation of matrisome proteins. Leveraging multiomic data and results from larger aorta-focused genome-wide association studies may accelerate modifier discovery for rare aortopathies like SVAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delong Liu
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Charles J. Billington
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMN
| | - Neelam Raja
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Zoe C. Wong
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Mark D. Levin
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Wulfgang Resch
- The High Performance Computing FacilityCenter for Information Technology, National Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Camille Alba
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineBethesdaMD
| | - Daniel N. Hupalo
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military MedicineBethesdaMD
| | | | | | | | - Gabriella Maria Squeo
- Laboratory of Regulatory and Functional GenomicsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia)Italy
| | - Roberta Villa
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico Medical Genetic UnitMilanItaly
| | - Pheobe C. R. Parrish
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
- Department of Genome SciencesUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWA
| | - Russell H. Knutsen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Sharon Osgood
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Joy A. Freeman
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
| | - Clifton L. Dalgard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, School of Medicinethe Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesdaMD
| | - Giuseppe Merla
- Laboratory of Regulatory and Functional GenomicsFondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della SofferenzaSan Giovanni Rotondo (Foggia)Italy
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical BiotechnologyUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Barbara R. Pober
- Section of Genetics, Department of PediatricsMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMA
| | - Carolyn B. Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesUniversity of LouisvilleLouisvilleKY
| | - Amy E. Roberts
- Department of Cardiology and Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of PediatricsBoston Children’s HospitalBostonMA
| | - Colleen A. Morris
- Department of PediatricsKirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLVLas VegasNV
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoCanada
| | - Beth A. Kozel
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMD
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Zhao Y, Wang Y, Shi L, McDonald-McGinn DM, Crowley TB, McGinn DE, Tran OT, Miller D, Lin JR, Zackai E, Johnston HR, Chow EWC, Vorstman JAS, Vingerhoets C, van Amelsvoort T, Gothelf D, Swillen A, Breckpot J, Vermeesch JR, Eliez S, Schneider M, van den Bree MBM, Owen MJ, Kates WR, Repetto GM, Shashi V, Schoch K, Bearden CE, Digilio MC, Unolt M, Putotto C, Marino B, Pontillo M, Armando M, Vicari S, Angkustsiri K, Campbell L, Busa T, Heine-Suñer D, Murphy KC, Murphy D, García-Miñaúr S, Fernández L, Zhang ZD, Goldmuntz E, Gur RE, Emanuel BS, Zheng D, Marshall CR, Bassett AS, Wang T, Morrow BE. Chromatin regulators in the TBX1 network confer risk for conotruncal heart defects in 22q11.2DS. NPJ Genom Med 2023; 8:17. [PMID: 37463940 PMCID: PMC10354062 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-023-00363-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) affecting the conotruncal region of the heart, occurs in 40-50% of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). This syndrome is a rare disorder with relative genetic homogeneity that can facilitate identification of genetic modifiers. Haploinsufficiency of TBX1, encoding a T-box transcription factor, is one of the main genes responsible for the etiology of the syndrome. We suggest that genetic modifiers of conotruncal defects in patients with 22q11.2DS may be in the TBX1 gene network. To identify genetic modifiers, we analyzed rare, predicted damaging variants in whole genome sequence of 456 cases with conotruncal defects and 537 controls, with 22q11.2DS. We then performed gene set approaches and identified chromatin regulatory genes as modifiers. Chromatin genes with recurrent damaging variants include EP400, KAT6A, KMT2C, KMT2D, NSD1, CHD7 and PHF21A. In total, we identified 37 chromatin regulatory genes, that may increase risk for conotruncal heart defects in 8.5% of 22q11.2DS cases. Many of these genes were identified as risk factors for sporadic CHD in the general population. These genes are co-expressed in cardiac progenitor cells with TBX1, suggesting that they may be in the same genetic network. The genes KAT6A, KMT2C, CHD7 and EZH2, have been previously shown to genetically interact with TBX1 in mouse models. Our findings indicate that disturbance of chromatin regulatory genes impact the TBX1 gene network serving as genetic modifiers of 22q11.2DS and sporadic CHD, suggesting that there are some shared mechanisms involving the TBX1 gene network in the etiology of CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingjie Zhao
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Yujue Wang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Lijie Shi
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Donna M McDonald-McGinn
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - T Blaine Crowley
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Daniel E McGinn
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Oanh T Tran
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Daniella Miller
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Jhih-Rong Lin
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Elaine Zackai
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - H Richard Johnston
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Eva W C Chow
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Jacob A S Vorstman
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, Research Institute and Autism Research Unit, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Claudia Vingerhoets
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200, MD, the Netherlands
| | - Therese van Amelsvoort
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200, MD, the Netherlands
| | - Doron Gothelf
- The Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Edmond and Lily Sapfra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Gan, 5262000, Israel
| | - Ann Swillen
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Breckpot
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Joris R Vermeesch
- Center for Human Genetics, University Hospital Leuven, Department of Human Genetics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Stephan Eliez
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
| | - Maude Schneider
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
| | - Marianne B M van den Bree
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Wales, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Michael J Owen
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurosciences, Cardiff University, Wales, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Wendy R Kates
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13202, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, 13202, USA
| | - Gabriela M Repetto
- Center for Genetics and Genomics, Facultad de Medicina Clinica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, 7710162, Chile
| | - Vandana Shashi
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Kelly Schoch
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Carrie E Bearden
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - M Cristina Digilio
- Department of Medical Genetics, Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Marta Unolt
- Department of Medical Genetics, Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
- Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology, and Obstetrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Carolina Putotto
- Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology, and Obstetrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Bruno Marino
- Department of Pediatrics, Gynecology, and Obstetrics, La Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, 00185, Italy
| | - Maria Pontillo
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Marco Armando
- Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
- Developmental Imaging and Psychopathology Lab, University of Geneva, Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Unit at Bambino Gesù Hospital, Rome, 00165, Italy
| | - Kathleen Angkustsiri
- Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics, MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Linda Campbell
- School of Psychology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, 2258, Australia
| | - Tiffany Busa
- Department of Medical Genetics, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, 13284, France
| | - Damian Heine-Suñer
- Genomics of Health and Unit of Molecular Diagnosis and Clinical Genetics, Son Espases University Hospital, Balearic Islands Health Research Institute, Palma de Mallorca, 07120, Spain
| | - Kieran C Murphy
- Department of Psychiatry, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, 505095, Ireland
| | - Declan Murphy
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, and Neuroscience, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- Behavioral and Developmental Psychiatry Clinical Academic Group, Behavioral Genetics Clinic, National Adult Autism and ADHD Service, South London and Maudsley Foundation National Health Service Trust, London, SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Sixto García-Miñaúr
- Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, 28046, Spain
| | - Luis Fernández
- Institute of Medical and Molecular Genetics, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, 28046, Spain
| | - Zhengdong D Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Elizabeth Goldmuntz
- Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Raquel E Gur
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Beverly S Emanuel
- Division of Human Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, 19104, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Department of Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Christian R Marshall
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, The Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Anne S Bassett
- Clinical Genetics Research Program and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalglish Family 22q Clinic, Toronto General Hospital, and Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Bernice E Morrow
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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Zhou J, Wu Y, Xu X, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Chen H, Zhuang J, Chen J, Teng Y. Identification and characterization of novel elastin gene mutations in eleven families with supravalvular aortic stenosis. Front Genet 2022; 13:1059640. [PMID: 36518217 PMCID: PMC9742416 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1059640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) is a rare congenital heart disease affecting approximately 1 in 25,000 live births. In some patients it is accompanied by pulmonary artery stenosis, particularly of pulmonary artery branches. Chronic stenosis can lead to cardiac hypertrophy and even circulatory failure. Familial autosomal dominant SVAS is frequently associated with elastin (ELN) gene mutations, whereas Williams-Beuren syndrome is a complex developmental disorder caused by heterozygous microdeletions of 26-28 genes at 7q11.23, including ELN. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 42 individuals from 11 Chinese families with SVAS to identify the pathogenic gene mutations involved. Aortic tissue was obtained for histological analyses, and quantitative reverse-transcription-PCR and western blotting were used to verify the expression of elastin molecules. Results: Five point mutations and six frameshift mutations in the ELN gene were detected in the peripheral blood of all investigated families. Nine were nonsense mutations that result in premature stop codons, and the other two were missense mutations. All variants were heterozygous. Nine of the variants were novel, and have not been included in databases or previously reported. One mutation occurred in individuals from two different families. Reduced elastin protein expression was evident in patients' aortic tissue. Conclusions: The novel mutations of ELN were found to be pathogenic, which confirmed by reduced elastin expression and leads to SVAS. Thus, detailed cardiac testing and genetic counseling are warranted for patients and asymptomatic individuals with these mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueheng Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Key Laboratory for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases of Ministry of Health, National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Rui-Jin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiong Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haisheng Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jimei Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Teng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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Frequency of QTc Interval Prolongation in Children and Adults with Williams Syndrome. Pediatr Cardiol 2022; 43:1559-1567. [PMID: 35366065 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-022-02883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
QTc prolongation (≥ 460 ms), according to Bazett formula (QTcB), has been identified to be increased in Williams syndrome (WS) and suggested as a potential cause of increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The Bazett formula tends to overestimate QTc in higher heart rates. We performed a retrospective chart review of WS patients with ≥ 1 electrocardiogram (EKG) with sinus rhythm, no evidence of bundle branch blocks, and measurable intervals. A total of 280 EKGs from 147 patients with WS were analyzed and 123 EKGs from 123 controls. The QTc was calculated using Bazett formula. The average QTcB for individuals with WS and controls was 444 ± 24 ms and 417 ± 26 ms, respectively (p < 0.001). In our WS cohort 34.4% had at least 1 EKG with a QTcB ≥ 460 ms. The mean heart rate (HR) from patients with WS was significantly higher than controls (96 bpm vs 76 bpm, p < 0.001). Linear regression showed that HR contributed 27% to QTcB prolongation in the patients with WS. Patients with WS have a mean QTcB in the normal range but higher than controls, and a higher than expected frequency of QTc ≥ 460 ms compared to the general population. HR is also higher in WS and contributes modestly to the WS QTcB prolongation. Future studies are needed to assess if these findings contribute risk to sudden cardiac death but in the interim we recommend routine EKG testing, especially when starting QTc prolonging medications.
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Luperchio TR, Kozel BA. Extending the spectrum in aortopathy: stenosis to aneurysm. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 76:101962. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2022.101962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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8
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Procknow SS, Kozel BA. Emerging mechanisms of elastin transcriptional regulation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C666-C677. [PMID: 35816641 PMCID: PMC9448287 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00228.2022] [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: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Elastin provides recoil to tissues that stretch such as the lung, blood vessels, and skin. It is deposited in a brief window starting in the prenatal period and extending to adolescence in vertebrates, and then slowly turns over. Elastin insufficiency is seen in conditions such as Williams-Beuren syndrome and elastin-related supravalvar aortic stenosis, which are associated with a range of vascular and connective tissue manifestations. Regulation of the elastin (ELN) gene occurs at multiple levels including promoter activation/inhibition, mRNA stability, interaction with microRNAs, and alternative splicing. However, these mechanisms are incompletely understood. Better understanding of the processes controlling ELN gene expression may improve medicine's ability to intervene in these rare conditions, as well as to replace age-associated losses by re-initiating elastin production. This review describes what is known about the ELN gene promoter structure, transcriptional regulation by cytokines and transcription factors, and posttranscriptional regulation via mRNA stability and micro-RNA and highlights new approaches that may influence regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara S Procknow
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Beth A Kozel
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Knutsen RH, Gober LM, Kronquist EK, Kaur M, Donahue DR, Springer D, Yu ZX, Chen MY, Fu YP, Choobdar F, Nguyen ML, Osgood S, Freeman JL, Raja N, Levin MD, Kozel BA. Elastin Insufficiency Confers Proximal and Distal Pulmonary Vasculopathy in Mice, Partially Remedied by the KATP Channel Opener Minoxidil: Considerations and Cautions for the Treatment of People With Williams-Beuren Syndrome. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:886813. [PMID: 35665242 PMCID: PMC9160528 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.886813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Williams Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a recurrent microdeletion disorder that removes one copy of elastin (ELN), resulting in large artery vasculopathy. Early stenosis of the pulmonary vascular tree is common, but few data are available on longer-term implications of the condition. Methods Computed tomography (CT) angiogram (n = 11) and echocardiogram (n = 20) were performed in children with WBS aged 3.4–17.8 years. Controls (n = 11, aged 4.4–16.8 years) also underwent echocardiogram. Eln+/− mice were analyzed by invasive catheter, echocardiogram, micro-CT (μCT), histology, and pressure myography. We subsequently tested whether minoxidil resulted in improved pulmonary vascular endpoints. Results WBS participants with a history of main or branch pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis requiring intervention continued to exhibit increased right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP, echocardiogram) relative to their peers without intervention (p < 0.01), with no clear difference in PA size. Untreated Eln+/− mice also show elevated RVSP by invasive catheterization (p < 0.0001), increased normalized right heart mass (p < 0.01) and reduced caliber branch PAs by pressure myography (p < 0.0001). Eln+/− main PA medias are thickened histologically relative to Eln+/+ (p < 0.0001). Most Eln+/− phenotypes are shared by both sexes, but PA medial thickness is substantially greater in Eln+/− males (p < 0.001). Eln+/− mice showed more acute proximal branching angles (p < 0.0001) and longer vascular segment lengths (p < 0.0001) (μCT), with genotype differences emerging by P7. Diminished PA acceleration time (p < 0.001) and systolic notching (p < 0.0001) were also observed in Eln+/− echocardiography. Vascular casting plus μCT revealed longer generation-specific PA arcade length (p < 0.0001), with increased PA branching detectable by P90 (p < 0.0001). Post-weaning minoxidil decreased RVSP (p < 0.01) and normalized PA caliber (p < 0.0001) but not early-onset proximal branching angle or segment length, nor later-developing peripheral branch number. Conclusions Vascular deficiencies beyond arterial caliber persist in individuals with WBS who have undergone PA stenosis intervention. Evaluation of Eln+/− mice reveals complex vascular changes that affect the proximal and distal vasculatures. Minoxidil, given post-weaning, decreases RVSP and improves lumen diameter, but does not alter other earlier-onset vascular patterns. Our data suggest additional therapies including minoxidil could be a useful adjunct to surgical therapy, and future trials should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Russell H. Knutsen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Leah M. Gober
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Elise K. Kronquist
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Maninder Kaur
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Danielle R. Donahue
- Mouse Imaging Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Danielle Springer
- Murine Phenotyping Core, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Zu Xi Yu
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Marcus Y. Chen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yi-Ping Fu
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Feri Choobdar
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - My-Le Nguyen
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sharon Osgood
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Joy L. Freeman
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Neelam Raja
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Mark D. Levin
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Beth A. Kozel
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Beth A. Kozel
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Griffith E, Alfonso N, Hehmeyer K, Pope K. Genetic syndromes and their associations with congenital heart disease. PROGRESS IN PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ppedcard.2022.101521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Pulmonary arteries of Williams syndrome patients exhibit altered serotonin metabolism genes and degenerated medial layer architecture. Pediatr Res 2021; 90:1065-1072. [PMID: 33531674 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01359-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Williams-Beuren syndrome (WS) is characterized by cardiovascular abnormalities associated with a multigene deletion on 7q11.23, in particular elastin (ELN). Peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis (PPAS) frequently affects pediatric patients with WS. Molecular investigation of WS pulmonary arterial (PA) tissue is limited by tissue scarcity. METHODS We compared transcriptomes, tissue architecture, and localized changes in protein expression in PA tissue from patients with WS (n = 8) and donors (n = 5). RESULTS Over 100 genes were differentially expressed at the ≥4-fold level, including genes related to the serotonin signaling pathway: >60-fold downregulation of serotonin transporter SLC6A4 and >3-fold upregulation of serotonin receptor HTR2A. Histologic examination revealed abnormal elastin distribution and smooth muscle cell morphology in WS PA, with markedly shorter, disorganized elastin fibers, and expanded proteoglycan-rich extracellular matrix between muscle layers. CONCLUSIONS There were significant abnormalities in the PA expression of genes regulating serotonin signaling, metabolism, and receptors in WS. Those changes were associated with distinct changes in the arterial structure and may play a role in the stenosis-promoting effects of elevated shear stress at PA bifurcations in WS. IMPACT Serotonin pathway signaling is significantly altered in the pulmonary arteries of patients with Williams syndrome and severe peripheral arterial stenosis. The present study compares the histological and biochemical characteristics of pulmonary arteries from patients with Williams syndrome to those of controls, something that has not, to our knowledge, been done previously. It demonstrates marked abnormalities in the pulmonary arteries of patients with Williams syndrome, especially significant pathologic alterations in the signaling of the serotonin pathway. The findings of this study provide direction for the development of potential therapies to treat pulmonary artery stenosis in patients with Williams syndrome.
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Khan J, Al-Obaidy KI, Fan R. Williams Syndrome With Rare Ureteric Abnormality. Cureus 2021; 13:e17210. [PMID: 34540437 PMCID: PMC8443071 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17210] [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] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS), also known as Williams-Beuren syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder characterized by infantile hypercalcemia, short stature, a varying degree of mental retardation, elfin-like facial features, and cardiovascular abnormalities, including systemic hypertension, aortic hypoplasia, coarctation of the aorta, and valvular heart disease (aortic and pulmonic stenosis, mitral valve prolapsed or bicuspid aortic valve). It is also characterized by friendly and outgoing personality. The majority of WS cases are sporadic, while few are familial. Both sporadic and familial cases are due to deletion of chromosome 7 (7q11.23). Herein, we present an autopsy case of a 16-day-old male infant born to a 25-year-old mother with a history of William syndrome. Prenatal echocardiogram showed supravalvular aortic stenosis and pulmonary stenosis. The postnatal course was complicated by feeding difficulties and desaturation. Gross autopsy findings included generalized edema, macrocephaly with short neck, and multiple facial anomalies (mandibular hypoplasia, depressed nasal bridge, long philtrum, ear malformation, and wide mouth). The heart was hypertrophied with obstructed ventricles and rudimentary, hypoplastic aortic root. An enlarged, dilated, and tortuous left ureter was a unique finding to this case, in addition to variation in the renal arteries' size and an small bowel outpouching located 33 cm from the ileocecal valve. Cytogenetic analysis revealed deletion of chromosome 7 (7q11.23). In conclusion, majority of WS cases are sporadic, and few are familial and are inherited as autosomal dominant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaffar Khan
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Khaleel I Al-Obaidy
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Rong Fan
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
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Yanagisawa H, Yokoyama U. Extracellular matrix-mediated remodeling and mechanotransduction in large vessels during development and disease. Cell Signal 2021; 86:110104. [PMID: 34339854 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The vascular extracellular matrix (ECM) is synthesized and secreted during embryogenesis and facilitates the growth and remodeling of large vessels. Proper interactions between the ECM and vascular cells are pivotal for building the vasculature required for postnatal dynamic circulation. The ECM serves as a structural component by maintaining the integrity of the vessel wall while also regulating intercellular signaling, which involves cytokines and growth factors. The major ECM component in large vessels is elastic fibers, which include elastin and microfibrils. Elastin is predominantly synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and uses microfibrils as a scaffold to lay down and assemble cross-linked elastin. The absence of elastin causes developmental defects that result in the subendothelial proliferation of SMCs and inward remodeling of the vessel wall. Notably, elastic fiber formation is attenuated in the ductus arteriosus and umbilical arteries. These two vessels function during embryogenesis and close after birth via cellular proliferation, migration, and matrix accumulation. In dynamic postnatal mechano-environments, the elastic fibers in large vessels also serve an essential role in proper signal transduction as a component of elastin-contractile units. Disrupted mechanotransduction in SMCs leads to pathological conditions such as aortic aneurysms that exhibit outward remodeling. This review discusses the importance of the ECM-mainly the elastic fiber matrix-in large vessels during developmental remodeling and under pathological conditions. By dissecting the role of the ECM in large vessels, we aim to provide insights into the role of ECM-mediated signal transduction that can provide a basis for seeking new targets for intervention in vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromi Yanagisawa
- Life Science Center for Survival Dynamics, Tsukuba Advanced Research Alliance, The University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, 305-8577, Japan.
| | - Utako Yokoyama
- Department of Physiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
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Kozel BA, Barak B, Ae Kim C, Mervis CB, Osborne LR, Porter M, Pober BR. Williams syndrome. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2021; 7:42. [PMID: 34140529 PMCID: PMC9437774 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-021-00276-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a relatively rare microdeletion disorder that occurs in as many as 1:7,500 individuals. WS arises due to the mispairing of low-copy DNA repetitive elements at meiosis. The deletion size is similar across most individuals with WS and leads to the loss of one copy of 25-27 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. The resulting unique disorder affects multiple systems, with cardinal features including but not limited to cardiovascular disease (characteristically stenosis of the great arteries and most notably supravalvar aortic stenosis), a distinctive craniofacial appearance, and a specific cognitive and behavioural profile that includes intellectual disability and hypersociability. Genotype-phenotype evidence is strongest for ELN, the gene encoding elastin, which is responsible for the vascular and connective tissue features of WS, and for the transcription factor genes GTF2I and GTF2IRD1, which are known to affect intellectual ability, social functioning and anxiety. Mounting evidence also ascribes phenotypic consequences to the deletion of BAZ1B, LIMK1, STX1A and MLXIPL, but more work is needed to understand the mechanism by which these deletions contribute to clinical outcomes. The age of diagnosis has fallen in regions of the world where technological advances, such as chromosomal microarray, enable clinicians to make the diagnosis of WS without formally suspecting it, allowing earlier intervention by medical and developmental specialists. Phenotypic variability is considerable for all cardinal features of WS but the specific sources of this variability remain unknown. Further investigation to identify the factors responsible for these differences may lead to mechanism-based rather than symptom-based therapies and should therefore be a high research priority.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beth A. Kozel
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience and The School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Chong Ae Kim
- Department of Pediatrics, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolyn B. Mervis
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, USA
| | - Lucy R. Osborne
- Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Melanie Porter
- Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Barbara R. Pober
- Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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Heinz A. Elastic fibers during aging and disease. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 66:101255. [PMID: 33434682 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Elastic fibers are essential constituents of the extracellular matrix of higher vertebrates and endow several tissues and organs including lungs, skin and blood vessels with elasticity and resilience. During the human lifespan, elastic fibers are exposed to a variety of enzymatic, chemical and biophysical influences, and accumulate damage due to their low turnover. Aging of elastin and elastic fibers involves enzymatic degradation, oxidative damage, glycation, calcification, aspartic acid racemization, binding of lipids and lipid peroxidation products, carbamylation and mechanical fatigue. These processes can trigger an impairment or loss of elastic fiber function and are associated with severe pathologies. There are different inherited or acquired pathological conditions, which influence the structure and function of elastic fibers and microfibrils predominantly in the cardiorespiratory system and skin. Inherited elastic-fiber pathologies have a direct or indirect impact on elastic-fiber formation due to mutations in the fibrillin genes (fibrillinopathies), in the elastin gene (elastinopathies) or in genes encoding proteins that are associated with microfibrils or elastic fibers. Acquired elastic-fiber pathologies appear age-related or as a result of multiple factors impairing tissue homeostasis. This review gives an overview on the fate of elastic fibers over the human lifespan in health and disease.
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