A novel de novo canonical splice site mutation in the PTCH1 gene in a male patient with mild psychomotor retardation and autistic traits: a case report

Basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS), or Gorlin syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene PTCH1 with complete penetrance and variable expressivity characterized by a broad spectrum of developmental anomalies and a predisposition to neoplasms. Herein, we report a novel de novo splice site mutation in the PTCH1 gene related to mild developmental delay and autistic traits in a 4-year-old male patient.

Influence of HLA-A, -B, -DR Polymorphisms on the Severity of COVID-19: A Case-Control Study in the Iranian Population

BACKGROUND

As an emerging pandemic disease, COVID-19 encompasses a spectrum of clinical diagnoses, from the common cold to severe respiratory syndrome. Considering the shreds of evidence demonstrating the relationship between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) allele diversity and infectious disease susceptibility, this study was conducted to determine the association of HLA alleles with COVID-19 severity in Iranian subjects.

METHODS

In this case-control study, a total of 200 unrelated individuals (consisting of 100 people with severe COVID-19 and an average age of 55.54 as the case group, and 100 patients with mild COVID-19 with an average age of 48.97 as the control group) were recruited, and HLA typing (Locus A, B, and DR) was performed using the Olerup sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) HLA-typing kit.

RESULTS

Our results showed that HLA-A*11 and HLA-DRB1*14 alleles were more frequently observed in severe COVID-19 cases, while HLA-B*52 was more common in mild cases, which was in agreement with some previous studies.

CONCLUSION

Our results confirmed the evidence for the association of HLA alleles with COVID-19 outcomes. We found that HLA-A*11 and HLA-DRB1*14 alleles may be susceptibility factors for severe COVID-19, while HLA-B*52 may be a protective factor. These findings provide new insight into the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and help patient management.

Young Breast Cancer: Novel Gene Methylation in WBC

Introduction:

Breast cancer is a highly diverse disease, and epigenomic alterations, as principle changes in the pathogenesis of breast cancer, have recently been noticed in epimarker research on peripheral blood.

Methods:

In this study, DNA samples isolated from the white blood cells of 30 breast cancer patients were compared to 30 healthy controls using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation microarray (MeDIP-chip) to determine differentially methylated region as a potential epimarker in cancer and control cases.

Results:

A total of 1799 differentially methylated regions were identified, including ZNF154, BCL9, and HOXD9, in which significant methylation differences were confirmed in breast cancer patients through a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Differential methylation of the mentioned genes has been reported in different cancer tissues and cell-free DNA, including breast cancer. Methylation of those genes listed in the white blood cells of our young patients not only relates to their importance in the pathogenesis of breast cancer but may also highlight their potential as primary epimarkers that can warrant further evaluation in large cohort studies. It is important to note that methylation alteration in WBC, as well as genetic mutation, can be identified years before cancer development, which emphasizes this issue as a potential screening marker.

DNA methylation and gene expression of sFRP2, sFRP4, Dkk 1, and Wif1 during osteoblastic differentiation of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells

OBJECTIVES

Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are an irresistible choice for use in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. BMSCs osteoblastic differentiation is also important in bone development, diseases, malignancies, and cancers studies. Wnt signaling pathway antagonists, Dickkopf-1 (Dkk 1), Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins (sFRPs), and Wnt Inhibitory Factor 1 (Wif1) play important roles in inducing osteoblastic differentiation. This study is the first to investigate the association between DNA methylation and gene expression of Dkk1, sFRP2, sFRP4, and Wif1 during BMSCs osteoblastic differentiation.

METHODS

Human BMSCs were isolated and characterized using flow cytometry. Then, cells were treated with osteo-differentiation medium for three weeks. Alizarin red S staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (alkaline phosphatase/osteocalcin) were performed for confirmation. The expression of Dkk 1, sFRP2, sFRP4, and Wif1 genes was evaluated at days 7, 14, and 21 using real-time PCR. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was performed to detect the methylation status of the promoters of the genes.

RESULTS

Data showed significant decreases (P < 0.05) during various days of BMSCs differentiation, while the promoters of the genes remained mostly un-methylated.

CONCLUSIONS

The down-regulation of Dkk 1, sFRP2, sFRP4, and Wif1 regulates various stages of human BMSCs during osteoblastic differentiation. DNA methylation does not interfere in the down-regulation of these genes, except for Wif1. We propose that the Wnt antagonist gene promoters should remain un-methylated during osteoblastic differentiation of BMSCs and that the down-regulation of these genes may contribute to other epigenetic mechanisms, other than DNA methylation, which implicitly indicates the role of DNA methylation in osteogenic cancers.

Various Signaling Pathways in Multiple Myeloma Cells and Effects of Treatment on These Pathways

Multiple myeloma (MM) results from malignancy in plasma cells and occurs at ages > 50 years. MM is the second most common hematologic malignancy after non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which constitutes 1% of all malignancies. Despite the great advances in the discovery of useful drugs for this disease such as dexamethasone and bortezomib, it is still an incurable malignancy owing to the development of drug resistance. The tumor cells develop resistance to apoptosis, resulting in greater cell survival, and, ultimately, develop drug resistance by changing the various signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, survival, differentiation, and apoptosis. We have reviewed the different signaling pathways in MM cells. We reached the conclusion that the most important factor in the drug resistance in MM patients is caused by the bone marrow microenvironment with production of adhesion molecules and cytokines. Binding of tumor cells to stromal cells prompts cytokine production of stromal cells and launches various signaling pathways such as Janus-activated kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription, Ras/Raf/MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase/AKT, and NF-KB, which ultimately lead to the high survival rate and drug resistance in tumor cells. Thus, combining various drugs such as bortezomib, dexamethasone, lenalidomide, and melphalan with compounds that are not common, including CTY387, LLL-12, OPB31121, CNTO328, OSI-906, FTY720, triptolide, and AV-65, could be one of the most effective treatments for these patients.

Modulation of microRNAs expression in hematopoietic stem cells treated with sodium butyrate in inducing fetal hemoglobin expression

Context Inherited hemoglobin diseases are the most common single-gene disorders. Induction of fetal hemoglobin in beta hemoglobin disorders compensate for abnormal chain and ameliorate the clinical complications. Sodium butyrate is used conventionally for fetal hemoglobin induction; it can be replaced by safer therapeutic tools like microRNAs, small non-coding RNAs that control number of epigenetic mechanisms. Objective In this study, we compared the changes in the microRNAs of differentiated erythroid cells between control and sodium butyrate treated groups. The objective is to find significant association between these changes and gamma chain up regulation. Materials and methods First, CD133⁺ hematopoietic stem cells were isolated from cord blood by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) technique. After proliferation, the cells were differentiated to erythroid lineage in culture medium by EPO, SCF, and IL3. Meanwhile, the test group was treated with sodium butyrate. Then, gamma chain upregulation was verified by qPCR technique. Finally, microRNA profiling was performed through microarray assay and some of them confirmed by qPCR. Result Results demonstrated that gamma chain was 5.9-fold upregulated in the treated group. Significant changes were observed at 76 microRNAs, in which 20 were up-regulated and 56 were down-regulated. Discussion Five of these microRNAs including U101, hsa-miR-4726-5p, hsa-miR7109 5p, hsa-miR3663, and hsa-miR940 had significant changes in expression and volume. Conclusion In conclusion, it can be assumed that sodium butyrate can up-regulate gamma chain gene, and change miRNAs expression. These results can be profitable in future studies to find therapeutic goal suitable for such disorders.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Different Polymorphisms of β-globin Gene in Ahvaz

BACKGROUND

Hemoglobinopathy and thalassemia are prevalent genetic disorders throughout the world. Beta thalassemia is one of these disorders with high prevalence in Iran, especially in Khuzestan province. In this study, the rate of different mutations in β-globin gene for prenatal diagnosis in fetal samples was evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this experimental pilot study, 316 fetal samples (chorionic villus or amniotic fluid) suspicious to hemoglobin disorders were enrolled. Afterwards, DNA was extracted and PCR and DNA sequencing were used for evaluation of different mutations in β-globin gene.

RESULTS

Amongst 316 samples evaluated for prenatal diagnosis, 180 cases (56.8%) were carrying at least one mutated gene of β-thalassemia. In addition, results showed that CD 36-37 (- T) and IVS II-1 (G > A) polymorphisms are the most prevalent polymorphisms of β-thalassemia in Ahvaz city with 13.9% and 10.1% rates, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Using molecular tests for prenatal diagnosis is considered an efficient approach for reducing the birth of children with hemoglobinopathy and identification of prevalent mutations in each region.