First Case of Idiopathic Eosinophilic Meningoencephalitis in a Sheep

A 1.5-year-old ewe was presented with neurological signs that had been observed from about 2 days prior to death. There had been no clinical response to anti-inflammatory and antibiotic treatment. Histopathological examination of the brain revealed a severe and widespread eosinophilic meningoencephalomyelitis of unknown aetiology. Defining histological features included diffuse angiocentric eosinophilic infiltrates in the neuroparenchyma and meninges, neuronal necrosis, astrocytosis, neuropil vacuolation and occasional glial scars. Differential diagnostics for eosinophilic meningoencephalitis were taken into account and investigated by means of special stains, immunohistochemistry, bacteriology and polymerase chain reaction. No pathological changes or ancillary tests were supportive or revealed a specific aetiology for the condition and therefore it was considered idiopathic. Idiopathic meningoencephalitis is a rare disease, mainly described in man and rarely in dogs, with no apparent aetiological cause or potential breed predisposition. To our knowledge this is the first case of idiopathic eosinophilic meningoencephalitis in a sheep and provides a histopathological guideline for prospective comparative pathology studies.

A new forest dwelling button spider from South Africa (Araneae, Theridiidae, Latrodectus)

The medically important spider genus Latrodectus Walckenaer 1805, commonly referred to as "button spiders" in South Africa, is represented by six species in the country. Using morphology and the COI barcoding gene we describe a new forest dwelling species, Latrodectus umbukwane n. sp. Wright, Wright, Lyle and Engelbrecht. Females have red markings on both the ventral and posterior dorsal surfaces of the abdomen, parallel spermathecae and three loops of the copulatory ducts. Males have an embolus with four loops and diagnostic white markings on the ventral surface of the abdomen that darken with age. Egg sacs are smooth, large, and bright purple when freshly laid, turning shiny grey with time. Latrodectus umbukwane n. sp. is known only from sand forest vegetation types in northern Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A predicted geographic distribution for this species is provided based on cartographic mapping of known habitat and altitudinal preference, from which area of occupancy (AOO; 698 km2) and extent of occurrence (EOO; 4963 km2) were calculated to assess potential IUCN Red List status. Due to the uncertainty of the distribution of this species, a Red List status of Data Deficient (DD) is recommended. An updated key to the southern African species of Latrodectus is provided.

DNA methylation and gene expression patterns in adipose tissue differ significantly within young adult monozygotic BMI-discordant twin pairs

BACKGROUND

Little is known about epigenetic alterations associated with subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in obesity. Our aim was to study genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression differences in SAT in monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs who are discordant for body mass index (BMI). This design completely matches lean and obese groups for genetic background, age, gender and shared environment.

METHODS

14We analyzed DNA methylome and gene expression from SAT, together with body composition (magnetic resonance imaging/spectroscopy) and glucose tolerance test, lipids and C-reactive protein from 26 rare BMI-discordant (intrapair difference in BMI ⩾3 kg m(-2)) MZ twin pairs identified from 10 birth cohorts of young adult Finnish twins.

RESULTS

We found 17 novel obesity-associated genes that were differentially methylated across the genome between heavy and lean co-twins. Nine of them were also differentially expressed. Pathway analyses indicated that dysregulation of SAT in obesity includes a paradoxical downregulation of lipo/adipogenesis and upregulation of inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling. Furthermore, CpG sites whose methylation correlated with metabolically harmful fat depots (intra-abdominal and liver fat) also correlated with measures of insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and low-grade inflammation, thus suggesting that epigenetic alterations in SAT are associated with the development of unhealthy obesity.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study in BMI-discordant MZ twin pairs reporting genome-wide DNA methylation and expression profiles in SAT. We found a number of novel genes and pathways whose methylation and expression patterns differ within the twin pairs, suggesting that the pathological adaptation of SAT to obesity is, at least in part, epigenetically regulated.

Two high throughput technologies to detect segmental aneuploidies identify new Williams-Beuren syndrome patients with atypical deletions

OBJECTIVE

To develop and compare two new technologies for diagnosing a contiguous gene syndrome, the Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS).

METHODS

The first proposed method, named paralogous sequence quantification (PSQ), is based on the use of paralogous sequences located on different chromosomes and quantification of specific mismatches present at these loci using pyrosequencing technology. The second exploits quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) to assess the relative quantity of an analysed locus.

RESULTS

A correct and unambiguous diagnosis was obtained for 100% of the analysed samples with either technique (n = 165 and n = 155, respectively). These methods allowed the identification of two patients with atypical deletions in a cohort of 182 WBS patients. Both patients presented with mild facial anomalies, mild mental retardation with impaired visuospatial cognition, supravalvar aortic stenosis, and normal growth indices. These observations are consistent with the involvement of GTF2IRD1 or GTF2I in some of the WBS facial features.

CONCLUSIONS

Both PSQ and QPCR are robust, easy to interpret, and simple to set up. They represent a competitive alternative for the diagnosis of segmental aneuploidies in clinical laboratories. They have advantages over fluorescence in situ hybridisation or microsatellites/SNP genotyping for detecting short segmental aneuploidies as the former is costly and labour intensive while the latter depends on the informativeness of the polymorphisms.

[The contribution of molecular genetics to clinical cardiology: the example of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

Recent advances in molecular genetics have resulted in the identification of pathogenic mutations in a number of genes which cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). In order to integrate this increasing genetic knowledge of HCM into the cardiology clinic, we offer all patients and their families diagnosis and genetic counselling based on these current data. In addition, within the framework of a multidisciplinary project between the Divisions of Medical Genetics, Cardiology and Pediatric Cardiology of the University Hospitals of Geneva, we have developed a resequencing array enabling rapid molecular diagnosis of HCM. Data from this study will enhance our understanding of the aetiology of HCM, and improve our knowledge of genotype-phenotype correlations. This information will enable us to develop new therapeutic and preventive concepts, with the aim of tailoring therapies to the specific genetic variant of each patient and its family.

The cerebellar transcriptome during postnatal development of the Ts1Cje mouse, a segmental trisomy model for Down syndrome

The central nervous system of persons with Down syndrome presents cytoarchitectural abnormalities that likely result from gene-dosage effects affecting the expression of key developmental genes. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated the transcriptome of the cerebellum of the Ts1Cje mouse model of Down syndrome during postnatal development using microarrays and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Genes present in three copies were consistently overexpressed, with a mean ratio relative to euploid of 1.52 as determined by qPCR. Out of 63 three-copy genes tested, only five, nine and seven genes had ratios >2 or <1.2 at postnatal days 0 (P0), P15 and P30, respectively. This gene-dosage effect was associated with a dysregulation of the expression of some two-copy genes. Out of 8258 genes examined, the Ts1Cje/euploid ratios differed significantly from 1.0 for 406 (80 and 154 with ratios above 1.5 and below 0.7, respectively), 333 (11 above 1.5 and 55 below 0.7) and 246 genes (59 above 1.5 and 69 below 0.7) at P0, P15 and P30, respectively. Among the two-copy genes differentially expressed in the trisomic cerebellum, six homeobox genes, two belonging to the Notch pathway, were severely repressed. Overall, at P0, transcripts involved in cell differentiation and development were over-represented among the dysregulated genes, suggesting that cell differentiation and migration might be more altered than cell proliferation. Finally, global gene profiling revealed that transcription in Ts1Cje mice is more affected by the developmental changes than by the trisomic state, and that there is no apparent detectable delay in the postnatal development of the cerebellum of Ts1Cje mice.

255.Dnmt3L: a coordinator of epigenetic modifications during spermatogenesis

Spermatogenesis is a process with unique epigenetic requirements. The differentiation from diploid spermatogonia to haploid spermatozoa requires regulation of genomic imprint establishment, stage specific gene expression, meiotic division, and the histone-protamine transition. The methyltransferase regulator, Dnmt3L, is expressed during gametogenesis and is necessary for establishment of maternal methylation imprints in the oocyte. Targeted disruption of Dnmt3L does not appear to affect oogenesis, as mature oocytes are generated, however resultant heterozygous progeny die mid gestation due to biallelic expression of imprinted genes. Dnmt3L–/– males however show spermatogenic arrest. We found that this arrest occurs during prophase I of meiosis, with spermatocytes lost by both apoptosis and germ cell sloughing. A progressive degeneration ensues, resulting in a Sertoli cell phenotype. Electron microscopy of meiotic spermatocytes revealed that homologous chromosomes fail to align and form synaptonemal complexes. Furthermore, Dnmt3L–/– spermatocytes show abnormal methylation on paternally imprinted genes and abnormal global retention of histone acetylation, implicating Dnmt3L in histone deacetylase recruitment. Thus, during spermatogenesis, Dnmt3L is crucial for two distinct epigenetic modifications; imprint establishment and global histone deacetylation prior to homologous chromosome alignment. The latter defect is likely to affect the alignment of homologous chromosomes and trigger the pachytene checkpoint leading to spermatocyte death. Since Dnmt3L has no DNA methlytransferase or HDAC activity itself, we propose that Dnmt3L is essential for the coordination of epigenetic layers, at least during spermatogenesis.

The murine orthologue of the Golgi-localized TPTE protein provides clues to the evolutionary history of the human TPTE gene family

The human TPTE gene encodes a testis-specific protein that contains four potential transmembrane domains and a protein tyrosine phosphatase motif, and shows homology to the tumor suppressor PTEN/MMAC1. Chromosomal mapping revealed multiple copies of the TPTE gene present on the acrocentric chromosomes 13, 15, 21 and 22, and the Y chromosome. Zooblot analysis suggests that mice may possess only one copy of TPTE. In the present study, we report the isolation and initial characterization of the full-length cDNA of the mouse homologue Tpte. At least three different mRNA transcripts ( Tpte.a, b, c) are produced via alternative splicing, encoding predicted proteins that would contain four potential transmembrane domains and a protein tyrosine phosphatase motif. Transfection of a 5'EGFP-TPTE fusion protein in Hela cells revealed an intracellular localization within the Golgi apparatus. Tpte was mapped by radiation hybrid to a region of mouse chromosome 8 that shows conserved synteny with human 13q14.2-q21 between NEK3 and SGT1. This region of the human genome was found to contain a partial, highly diverged copy of TPTE that is likely to represent the ancestral copy from which the other copies of TPTE arose through duplication events. The Y chromosome copy of TPTE is a pseudogene and is not therefore involved in the testis expression of this gene family.

From PREDs and open reading frames to cDNA isolation: revisiting the human chromosome 21 transcription map

A supernumerary copy of human chromosome 21 (HC21) causes Down syndrome. To understand the molecular pathogenesis of Down syndrome, it is necessary to identify all HC21 genes. The first annotation of the sequence of 21q confirmed 127 genes, and predicted an additional 98 previously unknown "anonymous" genes (predictions (PREDs) and open reading frames (C21orfs)), which were foreseen by exon prediction programs and/or spliced expressed sequence tags. These putative gene models still need to be confirmed as bona fide transcripts. Here we report the characterization and expression pattern of the putative transcripts C21orf7, C21orf11, C21orf15, C21orf18, C21orf19, C21orf22, C21orf42, C21orf50, C21orf51, C21orf57, and C21orf58, the GC-rich sequence DNA-binding factor candidate GCFC (also known as C21orf66), PRED12, PRED31, PRED34, PRED44, PRED54, and PRED56. Our analysis showed that most of the C21orfs originally defined by matching spliced expressed sequence tags were correctly predicted, whereas many of the PREDs, defined solely by computer prediction, do not correspond to genuine genes. Four of the six PREDs were incorrectly predicted: PRED44 and C21orf11 are portions of the same transcript, PRED31 is a pseudogene, and PRED54 and PRED56 were wrongly predicted. In contrast, PRED12 (now called C21orf68) and PRED34 (C21orf63) are now confirmed transcripts. We identified three new genes, C21orf67, C21orf69, and C21orf70, not previously predicted by any programs. This revision of the HC21 transcriptome has consequences for the entire genome regarding the quality of previous annotations and the total number of transcripts. It also provides new candidates for genes involved in Down syndrome and other genetic disorders that map to HC21.

Differential gene expression studies to explore the molecular pathophysiology of Down syndrome

Trisomy 21, which causes Down syndrome, is the model human disorder due to the presence of a supernumerary chromosome. The completion of the sequence of chromosome 21 and the development of appropriate animal models now provide the molecular infrastructure and the reagents to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the different phenotypes of Down syndrome. The study of the overexpression of single genes, and the dysregulation of global gene expression will enhance the understanding of the pathogenesis of the cognitive impairment of this syndrome.

Isolation and initial characterization of the mouse Dnmt3l gene

We have isolated and sequenced the mouse zinc finger gene, Dnmt3l (DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase 3-like), on mouse chromosome 10, showing similarity to members of the DNMT3/Dnmt3 family. The Dnmt3l protein contains an ADD zinc finger, which Dnmt3l shares with other Dnmt3 family members and Atrx. RT-PCR analysis showed Dnmt3l expression in testis, thymus, ovary, and heart, as well as in 7-day, 15-day, and 17-day mouse embryos.

Isolation and characterization of the UBASH3A gene on 21q22.3 encoding a potential nuclear protein with a novel combination of domains

In order to identify candidate genes for Down syndrome phenotypes or monogenic disorders that map to human chromosome 21q22.3, we have used genomic sequence and expressed sequence tags mapping to an autosomal recessive deafness (DFNB10) critical region to isolate a novel 2.5-kb cDNA that maps between TFF1 and D21S49. A semi-quantitative reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction method revealed that UBASH3A gene expression is limited to only a few tissues, with its highest expression in spleen, peripheral blood leukocytes, and bone marrow. The putative 661-amino-acid protein shows considerable homology to a hypothetical protein from Drosophila melanogaster but only domain homologies to other organisms. Both the human and D. melanogaster proteins contain protein-protein interaction domains, viz., SH3 and ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains, in addition to a novel domain also containing a nuclear localization signal. This is the first protein described containing both UBA and SH3 domains. The gene, thus called UBASH3A, spans 40 kb and is divided into 15 exons. Mutation analysis excluded UBASH3A as being responsible for DFNB10.

Exercise and oral contraceptive use suppress the normal age-related increase in bone mass and strength of the femoral neck in women 18-31 years of age

Women who exercise during their second and third decades may increase their peak bone mass and lower their eventual risk for postmenopausal fracture. However, the effects of exercise in younger women can be modulated by the use of oral contraceptives, which may prevent the normal accretion of bone mass that would otherwise occur. We hypothesized that exercise intervention in young adult women would significantly increase both bone mass and the bending rigidity of the femoral neck. We further hypothesized that exercise intervention in the presence of oral contraceptive use would have a negative effect on bone mass and bending rigidity. Women 18-31 years of age (n = 123) were classified by oral contraceptive use (OC, NOC) and age (18-23, 24-31 years), and then randomized into exercise or nonexercise groups. The exercise protocol consisted of three sessions/week of aerobic and nonaerobic exercises, and continued for 2 years. Each 6 months, the femoral neck of each subject was scanned using a Lunar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner, and bone mineral content, density and geometric information were used to calculate estimated stresses and bending rigidity at the hip. Percent changes from baseline were analyzed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Women who neither exercised nor took oral contraceptives (NE/NOC) had the greatest percentage increases in cross-sectional area (4.98 +/- 2.29%), cross-sectional moment of inertia (9.45 +/- 2.37%), total bone mineral density (2.07 +/- 2.09%), fracture index (8.03 +/- 2.03%), and safety factor (20.03 +/- 5.79%) over the 24 month exercise program. Women who exercised and did not take oral contraceptives (E/NOC) declined on most variables related to femoral strength and bone mass, whereas those women who took oral contraceptives were usually intermediate between NE/NOC and E/NOC, whether they exercised or not. These data show that either exercise or OC use is associated with a suppression of the normal increase in bone mass and mechanical strength in the femoral neck in women 18-31 years old, but the combination of exercise and OC use appears to have a less suppressive effect.

The imprinted antisense RNA at the Igf2r locus overlaps but does not imprint Mas1

The gene encoding the insulin-like growth-factor type-2 receptor (Igf2r) is maternally expressed and imprinted. A CpG island in Igf2r intron 2 that carries a maternal-specific methylation imprint was shown in a transgenic model to be essential for Igf2r imprinting and for the production of an antisense RNA from the paternal allele. We report here that the endogenous region2 is the promoter for this antisense RNA (named Air, for antisense Igf2r RNA) and that the 3' end lies 107,796 bp distant in an intron of the flanking, but non-imprinted, gene Mas1.

The uniqueness of the imprinting mechanism

An epigenetic imprinting mechanism that is based on a gamete-specific methylation imprint restricts expression of a subset of mammalian genes to one parental chromosome. Recent results suggest that imprints may act only indirectly to induce monoallelic expression of coding genes. Instead, atypical non-coding RNAs appear to be a primary target of the imprints, and their parental-specific repression correlates with parental-specific expression of linked coding genes.

The FSHD region on human chromosome 4q35 contains potential coding regions among pseudogenes and a high density of repeat elements

The distal end of chromosome 4q contains the locus involved in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD1). Specific genomic deletions within a tandem DNA repeat (D4Z4) are associated with the disease status, but no causal genes have yet been discovered. In a systematic search for genes, a 161-kb stretch of genomic DNA proximal to D4Z4 was sequenced, analyzed for homologies, and subjected to gene prediction programs. A major fraction (45%) of the subtelomeric region is composed of repeat sequences attributable mainly to LINE-1 elements. Apart from the previously identified FRG1 and TUB4q sequences, several additional potential coding regions were identified by analyzing the sequence with exon prediction programs. So far, we have been unable to demonstrate transcripts by RT-PCR or cDNA library hybridization. However, several retrotransposed pseudogenes were identified. The high density of pseudogenes and repeat elements is consistent with the subtelomeric location of this region and explains why previous transcript identification studies have been problematic.

The FSHD-associated repeat, D4Z4, is a member of a dispersed family of homeobox-containing repeats, subsets of which are clustered on the short arms of the acrocentric chromosomes

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder that maps to human chromosome 4q35. FSHD is tightly linked to a polymorphic 3.3-kb tandem repeat locus, D4Z4. D4Z4 is a complex repeat: it contains a novel homeobox sequence and two other repetitive sequence motifs. In most sporadic FSHD cases, a specific DNA rearrangement, deletion of copies of the repeat at D4Z4, is associated with development of the disease. However, no expressed sequences from D4Z4 have been identified. We have previously shown that there are other loci similar to D4Z4 within the genome. In this paper we describe the isolation of two YAC clones that map to chromosome 14 and that contain multiple copies of a D4Z4-like repeat. Isolation of cDNA clones that map to the acrocentric chromosomes and Southern blot analysis of somatic cell hybrids show that there are similar loci on all of the acrocentric chromosomes. D4Z4 is a member of a complex repeat family, and PCR analysis of somatic cell hybrids shows an organization into distinct subfamilies. The implications of this work in relation to the molecular mechanism of FSHD pathogenesis is discussed. We propose the name 3.3-kb repeat for this family of repetitive sequence elements.

Analysis of the tandem repeat locus D4Z4 associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

The sequence of the tandem repeat sequence (D4Z4) associated with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) has been determined: each copy of the 3.3 kb repeat contains two homeoboxes and two previously described repetitive sequences, LSau and a GC-rich low copy repeat designated hhspm3. By Southern blotting, FISH and isolation of cDNA and genomic clones we show that there are repeat sequences similar to D4Z4 at other locations in the human genome. Southern blot analysis of primate genomic DNA indicates that the copy number of D4Z4-like repeats has increased markedly within the last 25 million years. Two cDNA clones were isolated and found to contain stop codons and frameshifts within the homeodomains. An STS was produced to the cDNAs and analysis of a somatic cell hybrid panel suggests they map to chromosome 14. No cDNA clones mapping to the chromosome 4q35 D4Z4 repeats have been identified, although the possibility that they encode a protein cannot be ruled out. Although D4Z4 may not encode a protein, there is an association between deletions within this locus and FSHD. The D4Z4 repeats contain LSau repeats and are adjacent to 68 bp Sau3A repeats. Both of these sequences are associated with heterochromatic regions of DNA, regions known to be involved in the phenomenon of position effect variegation. We postulate that deletion of D4Z4 sequences could produce a position effect.

An alternatively spliced transcript, p65 delta 2, of the gene encoding the p65 subunit of the transcription factor NF-kappa B

We have identified a second alternatively spliced transcript of the NF-kappa B transcription factor p65 subunit. This transcript, named p65 delta 2, varies from p65 at two functionally important regions.

XH1--a new cervical carcinoma cell line and xenograft model of tumour invasion, 'metastasis' and regression

A new cell line, XH1, has been derived from an invasive focally keratinising adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix in a 32 year old patient. It has been maintained in long term monolayer culture for 26 months, and passaged over 100 times (much greater than 300 population doublings). It is aneuploid with a mean chromosome number of 78. Examination using two minisatellite hypervariable DNA probes has shown it to be different from other cell lines maintained in this laboratory and from HeLa. Two sublines, XH1a and XH1b, show marked differences in monolayer culture, growth in soft agar, and xenograft formation. XH1 and XH1a cells readily form subcutaneous xenografts, and lung colonies can be established by their intravenous injection. Subcutaneous injection of XH1b cells results in rapid cell growth for a few days after which the tumour undergoes degeneration and then regresses completely. The XH1 karyotype has many rearranged chromosomes. Parental XH1 cells and both sublines show integration of HPV16 into the genome.

Experience with bladder training in 65 patients

The results of in-patient bladder training in 65 women with frequency, urgency and urge incontinence are reported. There was a good initial response in 88%. By 6 months the response rate had fallen to 38%. Patients with sensory urgency appeared to do better than those with detrusor instability and it is suggested that bladder training may be indicated as primary treatment in sensory urgency. Eysenck Personality Inventory testing was carried out in 43 patients. The mean neuroticism score was high, with non-responders having a higher neuroticism score than responders. Patients with detrusor instability had a higher mean neuroticism score than those with sensory urgency. Introverted patients appeared to do better than extraverts with bladder training.

Heats of Vulcanization of Synthetic Rubbers

1. The heats of vulcanization for natural rubber and Buna-S are nearly equal. The data for both materials indicate two different chemical reactions during vulcanization. At low sulfur percentages, the principal reaction forms soft vulcanized rubber and is accompanied by little or no heat evolution. Above the 2 per cent sulfur region, a second reaction predominates, forming hard rubber and producing a relatively large quantity of heat. 2. The presence of an accelerator (Santocure) in Buna-S has little, if any, effect on heat of vulcanization. 3. The addition of carbon black to Buna-S lowers the heat of vulcanization in the region above 4 per cent sulfur. The calories evolved in a 10 per cent sulfur compound decrease linearly with percentage of carbon black. 4. The heats of vulcanization of Buna-N (Hycar OR-15) indicate the presence of two chemical reactions. Unlike natural rubber and Buna-S, the ebonite reaction does not predominate until the sulfur concentration is raised above 10 per cent. 5. The heat of vulcanization of Butyl rubber with sulfur is equal to the heat evolved with natural rubber containing 0.6 per cent sulfur. If one sulfur atom reacts per double bond, the maximum amount combining would be 0.72 per cent sulfur. During the vulcanization of Butyl rubber with p-quinone dioxime and lead peroxide, a large amount of heat is evolved by a side reaction between the vulcanizing agents. The reaction involving the Butyl rubber produces about 6 calories per gram, a considerably higher value than the 1 calorie produced by sulfur vulcanization. 6. The heat of vulcanization of Neoprene-GN without added agents corresponds to a value for smoked sheet rubber containing 4.5 per cent sulfur. The addition of zinc oxide and magnesia decreases the heat of vulcanization.