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Cucinotta F, Lintas C, Tomaiuolo P, Baccarin M, Picinelli C, Castronovo P, Sacco R, Piras IS, Turriziani L, Ricciardello A, Scattoni ML, Persico AM. Diagnostic yield and clinical impact of chromosomal microarray analysis in autism spectrum disorder. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2023; 11:e2182. [PMID: 37186221 PMCID: PMC10422062 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by high heritability estimates and recurrence rates; its genetic underpinnings are very heterogeneous and include variable combinations of common and rare variants. Array-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) offers significant sensitivity for the identification of copy number variants (CNVs), which can act as susceptibility or causal factors for ASD. METHODS The aim of this study was to evaluate both diagnostic yield and clinical impact of aCGH in 329 ASD patients of Italian descent. RESULTS Pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs were identified in 50/329 (15.2%) patients, whereas 89/329 (27.1%) carry variants of uncertain significance. The 10 most enriched gene sets identified by Gene Ontology Enrichment Analysis are primarily involved in neuronal function and synaptic connectivity. In 13/50 (26.0%) patients with pathogenic/likely pathogenic CNVs, the outcome of array-CGH led to the request of 25 additional medical exams which would not have otherwise been prescribed, mainly including brain MRI, EEG, EKG, and/or cardiac ultrasound. A positive outcome was obtained in 12/25 (48.0%) of these additional tests. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the satisfactory diagnostic yield of aCGH, underscoring its potential for better, more in-depth care of children with autism when genetic results are analyzed also with a focus on patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
- IRCCS Centro Neurolesi “Bonino Pulejo”MessinaItaly
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
- Synlab GeneticsBioggioSwitzerland
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
| | - Ignazio Stefano Piras
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and NeurogeneticsUniversity “Campus Bio‐Medico”RomeItaly
- Neurogenomics DivisionThe Translational Genomics Research InstitutePhoenixArizonaUSA
| | - Laura Turriziani
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0‐90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of MessinaMessinaItaly
| | | | - Antonio M. Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program, Modena University Hospital & Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
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Tomaiuolo P, Piras IS, Sain SB, Picinelli C, Baccarin M, Castronovo P, Morelli MJ, Lazarevic D, Scattoni ML, Tonon G, Persico AM. RNA sequencing of blood from sex- and age-matched discordant siblings supports immune and transcriptional dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder. Sci Rep 2023; 13:807. [PMID: 36646776 PMCID: PMC9842630 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27378-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition with onset in early childhood, still diagnosed only through clinical observation due to the lack of laboratory biomarkers. Early detection strategies would be especially useful in screening high-risk newborn siblings of children already diagnosed with ASD. We performed RNA sequencing on peripheral blood, comparing 27 pairs of ASD children vs their sex- and age-matched unaffected siblings. Differential gene expression profiling, performed applying an unpaired model found two immune genes, EGR1 and IGKV3D-15, significantly upregulated in ASD patients (both p adj = 0.037). Weighted gene correlation network analysis identified 18 co-expressed modules. One of these modules was downregulated among autistic individuals (p = 0.035) and a ROC curve using its eigengene values yielded an AUC of 0.62. Genes in this module are primarily involved in transcriptional control and its hub gene, RACK1, encodes for a signaling protein critical for neurodevelopment and innate immunity, whose expression is influenced by various hormones and known "endocrine disruptors". These results indicate that transcriptomic biomarkers can contribute to the sensitivity of an intra-familial multimarker panel for ASD and provide further evidence that neurodevelopment, innate immunity and transcriptional regulation are key to ASD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ignazio Stefano Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Simona Baghai Sain
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy.,Department of Genetics, Synlab Suisse SA, Bioggio, Switzerland
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco J Morelli
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Dejan Lazarevic
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tonon
- Center for Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Program, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giuseppe Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
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Chehbani F, Tomaiuolo P, Picinelli C, Baccarin M, Castronovo P, Scattoni ML, Gaddour N, Persico AM. Yield of array-CGH analysis in Tunisian children with autism spectrum disorder. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e1939. [PMID: 35762097 PMCID: PMC9356560 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with strong genetic underpinnings. Microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) technology has been proposed as a first-level test in the genetic diagnosis of ASD and of neurodevelopmental disorders in general. METHODS We performed aCGH on 98 Tunisian children (83 boys and 15 girls) diagnosed with ASD according to DSM-IV criteria. RESULTS "Pathogenic" or "likely pathogenic" copy number variants (CNVs) were detected in 11 (11.2%) patients, CNVs of "uncertain clinical significance" in 26 (26.5%), "likely benign" or "benign" CNVs were found in 37 (37.8%) and 24 (24.5%) patients, respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis involving genes spanning rare "pathogenic," "likely pathogenic," or "uncertain clinical significance" CNVs, as well as SFARI database "autism genes" in common CNVs, detected eight neuronal Gene Ontology classes among the top 10 most significant, including synapse, neuron differentiation, synaptic signaling, neurogenesis, and others. Similar results were obtained performing g: Profiler analysis. Neither transcriptional regulation nor immune pathways reached significance. CONCLUSIONS aCGH confirms its sizable diagnostic yield in a novel sample of autistic children from North Africa. Recruitment of additional families is under way, to verify whether genetic contributions to ASD in the Tunisian population, differently from other ethnic groups, may involve primarily neuronal genes, more than transcriptional regulation and immune-related pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fethia Chehbani
- Department of Psychiatry, Research Laboratory “Vulnerability to Psychotic Disorders LR 05 ES 10”Monastir University HospitalMonastirTunisia
- Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of MonastirMonastirTunisia
| | | | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
- Department of GeneticsSynlab Suisse SABioggioSwitzerland
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental DisordersMilanItaly
| | | | - Naoufel Gaddour
- Unit of Child PsychiatryMonastir University HospitalMonastirTunisia
| | - Antonio M. Persico
- Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry ProgramModena University Hospital & Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
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Piras IS, Picinelli C, Iennaco R, Baccarin M, Castronovo P, Tomaiuolo P, Cucinotta F, Ricciardello A, Turriziani L, Nanetti L, Mariotti C, Gellera C, Lintas C, Sacco R, Zuccato C, Cattaneo E, Persico AM. Huntingtin gene CAG repeat size affects autism risk: Family-based and case-control association study. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:341-351. [PMID: 32652810 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Huntingtin (HTT) gene contains a CAG repeat in exon 1, whose expansion beyond 39 repeats consistently leads to Huntington's disease (HD), whereas normal-to-intermediate alleles seemingly modulate brain structure, function and behavior. The role of the CAG repeat in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was investigated applying both family-based and case-control association designs, with the SCA3 repeat as a negative control. Significant overtransmission of "long" CAG alleles (≥17 repeats) to autistic children and of "short" alleles (≤16 repeats) to their unaffected siblings (all p < 10-5 ) was observed in 612 ASD families (548 simplex and 64 multiplex). Surprisingly, both 193 population controls and 1,188 neurological non-HD controls have significantly lower frequencies of "short" CAG alleles compared to 185 unaffected siblings and higher rates of "long" alleles compared to 548 ASD patients from the same families (p < .05-.001). The SCA3 CAG repeat displays no association. "Short" HTT alleles seemingly exert a protective effect from clinically overt autism in families carrying a genetic predisposition for ASD, while "long" alleles may enhance autism risk. Differential penetrance of autism-inducing genetic/epigenetic variants may imply atypical developmental trajectories linked to HTT functions, including excitation/inhibition imbalance, cortical neurogenesis and apoptosis, neuronal migration, synapse formation, connectivity and homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Stefano Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaele Iennaco
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Turriziani
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nanetti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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5
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Cucinotta F, Ricciardello A, Turriziani L, Calabrese G, Briguglio M, Boncoddo M, Bellomo F, Tomaiuolo P, Martines S, Bruschetta M, La Fauci Belponer F, Di Bella T, Colombi C, Baccarin M, Picinelli C, Castronovo P, Lintas C, Sacco R, Biederer T, Kellam B, Scherer SW, Persico AM. FARP-1 deletion is associated with lack of response to autism treatment by early start denver model in a multiplex family. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1373. [PMID: 32588496 PMCID: PMC7507005 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display impressive clinical heterogeneity, also involving treatment response. Genetic variants can contribute to explain this large interindividual phenotypic variability. Methods Array‐CGH (a‐CGH) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed on a multiplex family with two small children diagnosed with ASD at 17 and 18 months of age. Both brothers received the same naturalistic intervention for one year according to the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), applied by the same therapists, yielding dramatically different treatment outcomes. Results The older sibling came out of the autism spectrum, while the younger sibling displayed very little, in any, improvement. This boy was subsequently treated applying a structured Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention paired with Augmentative Alternative Communication, which yielded a partial response within another year. The ESDM nonresponsive child carries a novel maternally inherited 65 Kb deletion at chr. 13q32.2 spanning FARP1. Farp1 is a synaptic scaffolding protein, which plays a significant role in neural plasticity. Conclusion These results represent a paradigmatic example of the heuristic potential of genetic markers in predicting treatment response and possibly in supporting the targeted prescription of specific early intervention approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Turriziani
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Giorgia Calabrese
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Marilena Briguglio
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Maria Boncoddo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Fabiana Bellomo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Silvia Martines
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Marianna Bruschetta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Tiziana Di Bella
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Costanza Colombi
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Thomas Biederer
- Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Barbara Kellam
- Genetics & Genome Biology Program, Toronto, Canada.,The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Stephen W Scherer
- Genetics & Genome Biology Program, Toronto, Canada.,The Centre for Applied Genomics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,McLaughlin Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "G. Martino" University Hospital of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Baccarin M, Picinelli C, Tomaiuolo P, Castronovo P, Costa A, Verdecchia M, Cannizzaro C, Barbieri G, Sacco R, Persico AM, Lintas C. Appropriateness of array-CGH in the ADHD clinics: A comparative study. Genes Brain Behav 2020; 19:e12651. [PMID: 32141190 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorder with a worldwide prevalence of about 5%. The disorder is characterized by inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behavior and is often comorbid with other neuropsychiatric conditions. Array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) testing has been proved to be useful to detect chromosomal aberrations in several neuropsychiatric conditions including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). The usefulness of array-CGH in the ADHD clinics is still debated and no conclusive evidence has been reached to date. We performed array-CGH in 98 children and adolescents divided in two similarly sized groups according to the clinical diagnosis: (a) one group diagnosed with ADHD as primary diagnosis; (b) the other group in which ADHD was co-morbid with ASD and/or ID. We detected pathogenetic and likely pathogenetic copy number variants (CNVs) in 12% subjects in which ADHD was co-morbid with autism and/or intellectual disability and in 8.5% subjects diagnosed with ADHD as primary diagnosis. Detection of CNVs of unknown clinical significance was similar in the two groups being 27% and 32%, respectively. Benign and likely benign CNVs accounted for 61% and 59.5% in the first and second group, respectively. Differences in the diagnostic yield were not statistically significant between the two groups (P > .05). Our data strongly suggest that array-CGH (a) is a valuable diagnostic tool to detect clinically significant CNVs in individuals with ADHD even in the absence of comorbidity with ASD and/or ID and (b) should be implemented routinely in the ADHD clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Costa
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Magda Verdecchia
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Cannizzaro
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Giusi Barbieri
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
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Castronovo P, Baccarin M, Ricciardello A, Picinelli C, Tomaiuolo P, Cucinotta F, Frittoli M, Lintas C, Sacco R, Persico AM. Phenotypic spectrum of NRXN1 mono- and bi-allelic deficiency: A systematic review. Clin Genet 2019; 97:125-137. [PMID: 30873608 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Neurexins are presynaptic cell adhesion molecules critically involved in synaptogenesis and vesicular neurotransmitter release. They are encoded by three genes (NRXN1-3), each yielding a longer alpha (α) and a shorter beta (β) transcript. Deletions spanning the promoter and the initial exons of the NRXN1 gene, located in chromosome 2p16.3, are associated with a variety of neurodevelopmental, psychiatric, neurological and neuropsychological phenotypes. We have performed a systematic review to define (a) the clinical phenotypes most associated with mono-allelic exonic NRXN1 deletions, and (b) the phenotypic features of NRXN1 bi-allelic deficiency due to compound heterozygous deletions/mutations. Clinically, three major conclusions can be drawn: (a) incomplete penetrance and pleiotropy do not allow reliable predictions of clinical outcome following prenatal detection of mono-allelic exonic NRXN1 deletions. Newborn carriers should undergo periodic neuro-behavioral observations for the timely detection of warning signs and the prescription of early behavioral intervention; (b) the presence of additional independent genetic risk factors should always be sought, as they may influence prognosis; (c) children with exonic NRXN1 deletions displaying early-onset, severe psychomotor delay in the context of a Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome 2 phenotype, should undergo DNA sequencing of the spared NRXN1 allele in search for mutations or very small insertions/deletions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Castronovo
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Myriam Frittoli
- Laboratory for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Mafalda Luce Center, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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Ciaccio C, Scuvera G, Tucci A, Gentilin B, Baccarin M, Marchisio P, Avignone S, Milani D. New Insights into Kleefstra Syndrome: Report of Two Novel Cases with Previously Unreported Features and Literature Review. Cytogenet Genome Res 2018; 156:127-133. [DOI: 10.1159/000494532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Kleefstra syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic condition resulting from either 9q34.3 microdeletions or mutations in the EHMT1 gene located in the same genomic region. To date, approximately 100 patients have been reported, thereby allowing the core phenotype of KS to be defined as developmental delay/intellectual disability, generalized hypotonia, neuropsychiatric anomalies, and a distinctive facial appearance. Here, to further expand the knowledge on genotype and phenotype of this condition, we report 2 novel cases: one patient carrying a 46-kb 9q34.3 deletion and showing macrocephaly never described in KS, and a second patient carrying a classic 9q34.3 deletion, presenting with a previously unreported skeletal feature (postaxial polydactyly of the right foot) and an unusual brain anomaly (olfactory bulb hypoplasia) observed via magnetic resonance imaging. Further, we provide a review of the current literature regarding KS and compare these 2 patients with those previously described, thereby confirming that the genotype-phenotype correlation in KS remains difficult to determine.
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Lintas C, Sacco R, Tabolacci C, Brogna C, Canali M, Picinelli C, Tomaiuolo P, Castronovo P, Baccarin M, Persico AM. An Interstitial 17q11.2 de novo Deletion Involving the CDK5R1 Gene in a High-Functioning Autistic Patient. Mol Syndromol 2018; 9:247-252. [PMID: 30733659 DOI: 10.1159/000491802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe a 32-year-old male patient diagnosed with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder carrying a de novo 196-kb interstitial deletion at chromosome 17q11.2. The deletion was detected by array CGH (180K Agilent) and confirmed by quantitative PCR on genomic DNA. The deleted region spans the entire PSMD11 and CDK5R1 genes and partially the MYO1D gene. The CDK5R1 gene encodes for a regulatory subunit of the cyclin-dependent kinase 5 responsible for its brain-specific activation. This gene has been previously associated with intellectual disability in humans. A reduction in CDK5R1 transcript was detected, consistent with the genomic deletion. Based on the functional role of CDK5R1, this gene appears as the best candidate to explain the clinical phenotype of our patient, whose neuropsychological profile has more resemblance with some of the higher brain function anomalies recently described in the CreER-p35 conditional knockout mouse model than previously described patients with intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Lintas
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tabolacci
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia Brogna
- Service for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Canali
- Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, Department of Medicine, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy.,Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90," "G. Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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10
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Peron A, Boito S, Rizzuti T, Borzani I, Baccarin M, Bedeschi MF, Lalatta F. Prenatal upper-limb mesomelia and 2q31.1 microdeletions affecting the regulatory genome. Genet Med 2018. [DOI: 10.1038/gim.2018.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
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11
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Silipigni R, Monfrini E, Baccarin M, Giangiobbe S, Lalatta F, Guerneri S, Bedeschi MF. Familial Duplication/Deletion of 1q42.13q43 as Meiotic Consequence of an Intrachromosomal Insertion in Chromosome 1. Cytogenet Genome Res 2017; 153:73-80. [DOI: 10.1159/000485226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rearrangements of the region 1q42.13q43 are rare, with only 7 cases reported to date. The imbalances described are usually the result of inherited translocations with other chromosomes. Moreover, few cases of both inter- and intrachromosomal deletions/duplications detected cytogenetically have been described. We report the molecular cytogenetic characterization of an inverted insertion involving the region 1q42.13q43 and segregating in 2 generations of a family. The deletion and the duplication of the same segment were detected in 2 affected family members. SNP array analysis showed the familial origin of the deletion/duplication due to the occurrence of a crossing-over during meiosis. Our report underlines the importance of determining the correct origin of chromosomal aberrations using different molecular cytogenetic tests in order to provide a good estimation of the reproductive risk for the members of the family.
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12
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Bedeschi MF, Calvello M, Paganini L, Pezzani L, Baccarin M, Fontana L, Sirchia SM, Guerneri S, Canazza L, Leva E, Colombo L, Lalatta F, Mosca F, Tabano S, Miozzo M. Sequence variants identification at the KCNQ1OT1:TSS differentially Methylated region in isolated omphalocele cases. BMC Med Genet 2017; 18:115. [PMID: 29047350 PMCID: PMC5648441 DOI: 10.1186/s12881-017-0470-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background Omphalocele is a congenital midline ventral body wall defect that can exist as isolated malformation or as part of a syndrome. It can be considered one of the major and most frequent clinical manifestation of Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) in case of loss of methylation at KCNQ1OT1: Transcription Star Site-Differentially Methylated Region (TSS-DMR) or in presence of CDKN1C mutations. The isolated form of the omphalocele accounts approximately for about the 14% of the total cases and its molecular etiology has never been fully elucidated. Methods Given the tight relationship with BWS, we hypothesized that the isolated form of the omphalocele could belong to the heterogeneous spectrum of the BWS associated features, representing an endophenotype with a clear genetic connection. We therefore investigated genetic and epigenetic changes affecting BWS imprinted locus at 11p15.5 imprinted region, focusing in particular on the KCNQ1OT1:TSS DMR. Results We studied 21 cases of isolated omphalocele detected during pregnancy or at birth and identified the following rare maternally inherited variants: i) the non-coding variant G > A at nucleotide 687 (NR_002728.3) at KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR, which alters the methylation pattern of the imprinted allele, in one patient; ii) the deletion c.624-629delGGCCCC at exon 1 of CDKN1C, with unknown clinical significance, in two unrelated cases. Conclusions Taken together, these findings suggest that KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR could be a susceptibility locus for the isolated omphalocele. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-017-0470-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Francesca Bedeschi
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Mariarosaria Calvello
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Leda Paganini
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lidia Pezzani
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Fontana
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia M Sirchia
- Department of Health Science, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorena Canazza
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Ernesto Leva
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Colombo
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Faustina Lalatta
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Mosca
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Tabano
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Miozzo
- Division of Pathology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Department of Pathophysiology & Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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13
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Ronzoni L, Grassi FS, Pezzani L, Tucci A, Baccarin M, Esposito S, Milani D. 7p22.1 microduplication syndrome: Refinement of the critical region. Eur J Med Genet 2016; 60:114-117. [PMID: 27866048 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2016.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
7p22.1 microduplication syndrome is mainly characterized by developmental and speech delay, craniofacial dysmorphisms and skeletal abnormalities. The minimal critical region includes two OMIM genes: ACTB and RNF216. Here, we report on a girl carrying the smallest 7p22.1 microduplication detected to date, contributing to the delineation of the clinical phenotype of the 7p22.1 duplication syndrome and to the refinement of the minimal critical region. Our patient shares several major features of the 7p22.1 duplication syndrome, including craniofacial dysmorphisms and speech and motor delay, but she also presents with renal anomalies. Based on present and published dup7p22.1 patients we suggest that renal abnormalities might be an additional feature of the 7p22.1 microduplication syndrome. We also pinpoint the ACTB gene as the key gene affecting the 7p22.1 duplication syndrome phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Ronzoni
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sofia Grassi
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lidia Pezzani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Tucci
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Magini P, Palombo F, Boito S, Lanzoni G, Mongelli P, Rizzuti T, Baccarin M, Pippucci T, Seri M, Lalatta F. Prenatal diagnosis of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome. Am J Med Genet A 2016; 170:3258-3264. [PMID: 27612164 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is an overgrowth syndrome and it is usually diagnosed postnatally, on the basis of phenotype. Prenatal ultrasonography may show fetal alterations, but they are not pathognomonic and most of them are frequently detectable only from the 20th week of gestation. Nevertheless, early diagnosis is important to avoid neonatal complications and make timely and informed decisions about the pregnancy. We report on four fetuses from two unrelated families, in whom the application of whole exome sequencing and array-CGH allowed the identification of GPC3 alterations causing SGBS. The careful follow up of pregnancies and more sophisticated analysis of ultrasound findings led to the identification of early prenatal alterations, which will improve the antenatal diagnosis of SGBS. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Magini
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Flavia Palombo
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Simona Boito
- Obstetric and Gynecology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Giulia Lanzoni
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Patrizia Mongelli
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Tommaso Rizzuti
- Pathology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS, Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetic Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Tommaso Pippucci
- Medical Genetics Unit, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Seri
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Faustina Lalatta
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
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15
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Milani D, Cagnoli GA, Baccarin M, Alfei E, Guerneri S, Esposito S. Insights into 6q21-q22: Refinement of the critical region for acro-cardio-facial syndrome. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2016; 56:187-189. [PMID: 27038333 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Deletions on chromosome 6q are rarely reported in the literature, and genotype-phenotype correlations are poorly understood. We report a child with a deletion of the 6q21-q22 chromosomal region, providing some intriguing results about the correlation between this region and acro-cardio-facial syndrome, congenital heart disease, split hand and foot malformation, and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Anna Cagnoli
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Alfei
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Department of Pediatric Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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16
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Montemurro T, Viganò M, Ragni E, Barilani M, Parazzi V, Boldrin V, Lavazza C, Montelatici E, Banfi F, Lauri E, Giovanelli S, Baccarin M, Guerneri S, Giordano R, Lazzari L. Angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells from cord blood: soluble factors and extracellular vesicles for cell regeneration. Eur J Cell Biol 2016; 95:228-38. [PMID: 27139721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2016.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In a recent work, our group showed the existence of two distinct mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) subsets within human umbilical cord blood. One less proliferative and short-living (SL-CBMSC), the other with higher growth rate and long-living (LL-CBMSC), and therefore better suited for regenerative medicine applications. We examined whether LL-CBMSC possess peculiar paracrine properties able to affect angiogenesis or inflammatory processes. It was shown for the first time that pro-angiogenic, proliferation-stimulating and tissue repairing factors were released at high level not only as soluble cytokines, but also as mRNA precursors embedded in membrane vesicles. The combination of this primary (proteic factors interacting with surface receptors) and delayed (mRNA transferred and translated via vesicle fusion and cargo release) interaction in endothelial target cells resulted in strong blood vessel induction with the development of capillary-like structures. In addition, LL-CBMSC dynamically modulated their release of pro-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory factors in an in vitro model of damage. In conclusion, LL-CBMSC synthesize and secrete multiple factors that may be attuned in response to the status of the target cell, a crucial requisite when paracrine mechanisms are needed at onset of tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Montemurro
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Mariele Viganò
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Enrico Ragni
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario Barilani
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Parazzi
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Valentina Boldrin
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Cristiana Lavazza
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa Montelatici
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Banfi
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lauri
- Anatomia Patologica, Ospedale Sacco, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Giovanelli
- Milano Cord Blood Bank, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratorio Citogenetica e Genetica molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Laboratorio Citogenetica e Genetica molecolare, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Rosaria Giordano
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenza Lazzari
- Unit of Cell Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy.
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17
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Mandò C, Razini P, Novielli C, Anelli GM, Belicchi M, Erratico S, Banfi S, Meregalli M, Tavelli A, Baccarin M, Rolfo A, Motta S, Torrente Y, Cetin I. Impaired Angiogenic Potential of Human Placental Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Intrauterine Growth Restriction. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 5:451-63. [PMID: 26956210 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Human placental mesenchymal stromal cells (pMSCs) have never been investigated in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). We characterized cells isolated from placental membranes and the basal disc of six IUGR and five physiological placentas. Cell viability and proliferation were assessed every 7 days during a 6-week culture. Expression of hematopoietic, stem, endothelial, and mesenchymal markers was evaluated by flow cytometry. We characterized the multipotency of pMSCs and the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial content and function. Cell viability was high in all samples, and proliferation rate was lower in IUGR compared with control cells. All samples presented a starting heterogeneous population, shifting during culture toward homogeneity for mesenchymal markers and occurring earlier in IUGR than in controls. In vitro multipotency of IUGR-derived pMSCs was restricted because their capacity for adipocyte differentiation was increased, whereas their ability to differentiate toward endothelial cell lineage was decreased. Mitochondrial content and function were higher in IUGR pMSCs than controls, possibly indicating a shift from anaerobic to aerobic metabolism, with the loss of the metabolic characteristics that are typical of undifferentiated multipotent cells. SIGNIFICANCE This study demonstrates that the loss of endothelial differentiation potential and the increase of adipogenic ability are likely to play a significant role in the vicious cycle of abnormal placental development in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). This is the first observation of a potential role for placental mesenchymal stromal cells in intrauterine growth restriction, thus leading to new perspectives for the treatment of IUGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Mandò
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Fetal Research Giorgio Pardi, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Razini
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Novielli
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Fetal Research Giorgio Pardi, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gaia Maria Anelli
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Fetal Research Giorgio Pardi, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marzia Belicchi
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Ystem S.R.L., Milan, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Banfi
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirella Meregalli
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Ystem S.R.L., Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tavelli
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rolfo
- Department of Surgical Science, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Silvia Motta
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Yvan Torrente
- Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Centro Dino Ferrari, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Ystem S.R.L., Milan, Italy UNISTEM Interdepartmental Centre for Stem Cell Research, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Cetin
- "L. Sacco" Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Fetal Research Giorgio Pardi, Universitá degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy Department of Mother and Child, Luigi Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy
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18
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Ronzoni L, Tagliaferri F, Tucci A, Baccarin M, Esposito S, Milani D. Interstitial 6q25 microdeletion syndrome: ARID1B is the key gene. Am J Med Genet A 2016; 170A:1257-61. [PMID: 26754677 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Interstitial deletions of the long arm of chromosome 6 are rare. Clinically, these deletions are considered to be part of a unique microdeletion syndrome associated with intellectual disability and speech impairment, typical dysmorphic features, structural anomalies of the brain, microcephaly, and non-specific multiple organ anomalies. The critical region for the interstitial 6q microdeletion phenotype was mapped to 6q24-6q25, particularly the 6q25.3 region containing the genes ARID1B and ZDHHC14. It has been hypothesized that haploinsufficiency of these genes impairs normal development of the brain and is responsible for the phenotype. This case report describes a girl presenting with typical features of 6q microdeletion syndrome, including global developmental delay, speech impairment, distinct dysmorphic features, dysgenesis of the corpus callosum, common limb anomalies, and hearing loss. Chromosome analysis by array-CGH revealed a small interstitial 6q deletion spanning approximately 1.1 Mb of DNA and containing only one coding gene, ARID1B. We suggest that ARID1B is the key gene behind 6q microdeletion syndrome, and we discuss its possible role in the phenotypic manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Ronzoni
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Tagliaferri
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Arianna Tucci
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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Silipigni R, Cattaneo E, Baccarin M, Fumagalli M, Bedeschi MF. Rare interstitial deletion of chromosome 2p11.2p12. Report of a new patient with developmental delay and unusual clinical features. Eur J Med Genet 2015; 59:39-42. [PMID: 26700408 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2015.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
De novo interstitial deletions of the short arm of chromosome 2 are rare chromosomal abnormalities. Patients showing these kind of microdeletions have developmental delay/intellectual disability, minor facial anomalies including high forehead, frontal bossing, broad nasal bridge, abnormal ears and congenital defects such as skeletal and genital malformations. We describe the second child of a healthy and non consanguineous couple presenting at birth multiple malformations and minor facial anomalies. Because of the clinical findings, an array CGH analysis was performed using Agilent 60K microarray oligonucleotide. The analysis detected a 9.3 Mb deletion on the short arm of chromosome 2 at band p11.2p12 spanning the bases 77,946,599-87,277,610. The five patients previously described display a minimal common deleted region which explains the clinical features shared by all of them, while their individual characteristics might be explained by the different sizes of the deletion. The common deleted region involves several genes (CTNNA2, LRRTM1, REEP1), highly expressed in the nervous system. The deletion found in this case overlaps with most of those reported in literature but our patient displays extra clinical signs such as bilateral choanal atresia and atrial septal defect. It was impossible to find any direct correlation between the genes involved in the deletion and the choanal atresia and the heart defect. The question remains open as to whether these clinical features are a consequence of the deletion or are due to a second pathogenic event. Our case emphasizes the difficulties to find a close correlation between a large deletion and a well defined clinical picture. As only five patients with 2p11.2p12 deletions, reported in the literature are characterized by array CGH, further reports will be necessary to well define a clinical phenotype related to the 2p11.2p12 microdeletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosamaria Silipigni
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elisa Cattaneo
- Medical Genetics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Fumagalli
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Clinical Science and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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Pezzani L, Milani D, Manzoni F, Baccarin M, Silipigni R, Guerneri S, Esposito S. HOXA genes cluster: clinical implications of the smallest deletion. Ital J Pediatr 2015; 41:31. [PMID: 25881986 PMCID: PMC4395968 DOI: 10.1186/s13052-015-0137-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background HOXA genes cluster plays a fundamental role in embryologic development. Deletion of the entire cluster is known to cause a clinically recognizable syndrome with mild developmental delay, characteristic facies, small feet with unusually short and big halluces, abnormal thumbs, and urogenital malformations. The clinical manifestations may vary with different ranges of deletions of HOXA cluster and flanking regions. Case presentation We report a girl with the smallest deletion reported to date involving the entire HOXA cluster at 7p15.2-p14.3. The patient was the third child born to a healthy and non-consanguineous Italian couple. She was born at the 34th week of gestation by caesarean section due to cholestasis of pregnancy. Her birth weight, length, and occipitofrontal circumference were 2,140 g (25-50th centile), 46 cm (50th centile), and 33 cm (75-90th centile), respectively. The Apgar scores were 8 at both the 1st and 5th minutes. The patient presented with typical mild facial anomalies, hand and feet abnormalities, urinary anomalies, and mild speech delay. Unexpectedly, the patient demonstrated complex unusual features of multiple episodes of oxyhemoglobin desaturation, laryngeal stridor and a branchial cyst. Chromosome analysis of the patient revealed an apparently normal karyotype at the 550 band level. Based on array comparative genomic hybridization, a 2.5 Mb interstitial deletion was detected at 7p15.2p14.3 (chr7: 26,333,553-28,859,312), involving the entire HOXA cluster and a small number of other genes as SNX10, SKAP2, EVX1, HIBADH, TAX1BP1, JAZF1, and CREB5. Conclusions This report improves our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations of HOXA genes cluster deletions via the identification and characterization of the smallest deletion (as well as critical region) reported to date. In particular we discuss the possible implications of preterm and haploinsufficiency in the pathogenesis of the unusual findings, furthermore opening new discussion and interpretation cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Pezzani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy.
| | - Donatella Milani
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy.
| | - Francesca Manzoni
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy.
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Rosamaria Silipigni
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
| | - Susanna Esposito
- Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via Commenda 9, Milan, 20122, Italy.
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Ronzoni L, Peron A, Bianchi V, Baccarin M, Guerneri S, Silipigni R, Lalatta F, Bedeschi MF. Molecular cytogenetic characterization of a 2q35-q37 duplication and a 4q35.1-q35.2 deletion in two cousins: A genotype-phenotype analysis. Am J Med Genet A 2015; 167:1551-9. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Ronzoni
- Medical Genetics Unit; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Angela Peron
- Medical Genetics Unit; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Vera Bianchi
- Medical Genetics Unit; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Silvana Guerneri
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Rosamaria Silipigni
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
| | - Faustina Lalatta
- Medical Genetics Unit; Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico; Milan Italy
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Ami D, Di Segni M, Forcella M, Meraviglia V, Baccarin M, Doglia SM, Terzoli G. Role of water in chromosome spreading and swelling induced by acetic acid treatment: a FTIR spectroscopy study. Eur J Histochem 2014; 58:2330. [PMID: 24705001 PMCID: PMC3980214 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2014.2330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The so called chromosome preparation is a procedure consisting of three strictly connected stages that enables to obtain chromosomes of quality suitable for cytogenetic analysis. Interestingly, experimental evidence strongly suggested that chromosome spreading and swelling (key processes that allow their counting and detailed structural analysis) are induced in the last fixative-evaporation stage by the interaction, mediated by acetic acid, between water from the environmental humidity, and the cytoplasmic matrix and the chromatin. However, since a considerable variation in the quality of chromosome preparations is observed, strongly depending on the environmental conditions in which the procedure takes place, a better comprehension of the mechanisms underlying chromosome preparation is required. To this aim, here we analysed intact lymphocytes before and at each stage of the chromosome preparation protocol by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a technique widely used for the study not only of isolated biomolecules, but also of complex biological systems, such as whole cells. Interestingly, we found that the chromosome preparation protocol induces significant structural changes of cell proteins and DNA, in particular due to the interaction with acetic acid. Moreover, noteworthy, through the monitoring of changes in the water combination band between 2300 and 1800 cm–1, we provided evidence at molecular level of the crucial role of the bound water to the cytoplasmic matrix and to the chromatin in determining the chromosome spreading and swelling. Our FTIR results, therefore, underline the need to perform the last fixative-evaporation stage in standardized and optimized temperature and relative humidity conditions, thus providing chromosomes of high quality for the cytogenetic analysis that would lead in this way to more reliable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ami
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 2, Milano, 20126, Italy.
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Colombo F, Baldan F, Mazzucchelli S, Martin-Padura I, Marighetti P, Cattaneo A, Foglieni B, Spreafico M, Guerneri S, Baccarin M, Bertolini F, Rossi G, Mazzaferro V, Cadamuro M, Maggioni M, Agnelli L, Rebulla P, Prati D, Porretti L. Evidence of distinct tumour-propagating cell populations with different properties in primary human hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21369. [PMID: 21731718 PMCID: PMC3121782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Increasing evidence that a number of malignancies are characterised by tumour cell heterogeneity has recently been published, but there is still a lack of data concerning liver cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate and characterise tumour-propagating cell (TPC) compartments within human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods After long-term culture, we identified three morphologically different tumour cell populations in a single HCC specimen, and extensively characterised them by means of flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, karyotyping and microarray analyses, single cell cloning, and xenotransplantation in NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ−/− mice. Results The primary cell populations (hcc-1, -2 and -3) and two clones generated by means of limiting dilutions from hcc-1 (clone-1/7 and -1/8) differently expressed a number of tumour-associated stem cell markers, including EpCAM, CD49f, CD44, CD133, CD56, Thy-1, ALDH and CK19, and also showed different doubling times, drug resistance and tumorigenic potential. Moreover, we found that ALDH expression, in combination with CD44 or Thy-1 negativity or CD56 positivity identified subpopulations with a higher clonogenic potential within hcc-1, hcc-2 and hcc-3 primary cell populations, respectively. Karyotyping revealed the clonal evolution of the cell populations and clones within the primary tumour. Importantly, the primary tumour cell population with the greatest tumorigenic potential and drug resistance showed more chromosomal alterations than the others and contained clones with epithelial and mesenchymal features. Conclusions Individual HCCs can harbor different self-renewing tumorigenic cell types expressing a variety of morphological and phenotypical markers, karyotypic evolution and different gene expression profiles. This suggests that the models of hepatic carcinogenesis should take into account TPC heterogeneity due to intratumour clonal evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Colombo
- Experimental Hepatology Laboratory, Centre of Transfusion Medicine, Cellular Therapy and Cryobiology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
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Rossini A, Frati C, Lagrasta C, Graiani G, Scopece A, Cavalli S, Musso E, Baccarin M, Di Segni M, Fagnoni F, Germani A, Quaini E, Mayr M, Xu Q, Barbuti A, DiFrancesco D, Pompilio G, Quaini F, Gaetano C, Capogrossi MC. Human cardiac and bone marrow stromal cells exhibit distinctive properties related to their origin. Cardiovasc Res 2010; 89:650-60. [PMID: 20833652 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvq290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (BMStC) transplantation into the infarcted heart improves left ventricular function and cardiac remodelling. However, it has been suggested that tissue-specific cells may be better for cardiac repair than cells from other sources. The objective of the present work has been the comparison of in vitro and in vivo properties of adult human cardiac stromal cells (CStC) to those of syngeneic BMStC. METHODS AND RESULTS Although CStC and BMStC exhibited a similar immunophenotype, their gene, microRNA, and protein expression profiles were remarkably different. Biologically, CStC, compared with BMStC, were less competent in acquiring the adipogenic and osteogenic phenotype but more efficiently expressed cardiovascular markers. When injected into the heart, in rat a model of chronic myocardial infarction, CStC persisted longer within the tissue, migrated into the scar, and differentiated into adult cardiomyocytes better than BMStC. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that although CStC and BMStC share a common stromal phenotype, CStC present cardiovascular-associated features and may represent an important cell source for more efficient cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Rossini
- Laboratorio di Biologia Vascolare e Medicina Rigenerativa, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milano, Italy
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