Analysis of MECP2 gene mutations in Rett syndrome patients

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a progressive X-linked dominant childhood neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting 1/10,000-15,000 girls. The disease-causing gene was identified as MECP2 on chromosome Xq28, and mutations have been found in approximately 80% of patients diagnosed with RTT. We screened for eight recurrent MECP2 mutations (R106W, P152R, T158M, R306C, R168X), one rare mutation (F155S) and one polymorphism (E397K) in 63 RTT patients divided into four groups as classic-RTT (n=43), variant-RTT (n=14), male-RTT (n=4), and familial-RTT (n=2). We identified the recurrent mutations in 18 cases. These are three R106W, two P152R, five T158M, five R306C, and three R270X mutations. R168X and F155S were not detected in our patients. Only one patient had the E397K polymorphism who also had the R306C mutation. All these mutations were confirmed via sequencing analysis. In exon 4 of MECP2, several deletion types of mutations are known. By PCR analysis, two patients were found to have an approximately 44 bp deletion in exon 4. Also, a novel mutation – T197M– was identified in one of the patients. We identified a boy affected by RTT who is mosaic for the R270X mutation, and had a normal male karyotype. This result show that a recurrent MECP2 mutation could lead to a similar phenotype in females and males, if the male is a mosaic for the mutation in his somatic cells. MECP2 mutation frequency for the four groups is as follows: 37.2% for the classic-RTT, 28.57% for the variantRTT, and 25% for the male-RTT groups. No mutation was found in the familial group. We could not find a consistent correlation between the clinical symptoms and the type of mutations or the X chromosome inactivation patterns of the patients.Sayı, AyçaM.S

Multiplex-PCR-based screening and computational modeling of virulence factors and t-cell mediated immunity in helicobacter pylori infections for accurate clinical diagnosis

The outcome of H. pylori infection is closely related with bacteria's virulence factors and host immune response. The association between T cells and H. pylori infection has been identified, but the effects of the nine major H. pylori specific virulence factors; cagA, vacA, oipA, babA, hpaA, napA, dupA, ureA, ureB on T cell response in H. pylori infected patients have not been fully elucidated. We developed a multiplex- PCR assay to detect nine H. pylori virulence genes with in a three PCR reactions. Also, the expression levels of Th1, Th17 and Treg cell specific cytokines and transcription factors were detected by using qRT-PCR assays. Furthermore, a novel expert derived model is developed to identify set of factors and rules that can distinguish the ulcer patients from gastritis patients. Within all virulence factors that we tested, we identified a correlation between the presence of napA virulence gene and ulcer disease as a first data. Additionally, a positive correlation between the H. pylori dupA virulence factor and IFN-γ, and H. pylori babA virulence factor and IL-17 was detected in gastritis and ulcer patients respectively. By using computer-based models, clinical outcomes of a patients infected with H. pylori can be predicted by screening the patient's H. pylori vacA m1/m2, ureA and cagA status and IFN-γ (Th1), IL-17 (Th17), and FOXP3 (Treg) expression levels. Herein, we report, for the first time, the relationship between H. pylori virulence factors and host immune responses for diagnostic prediction of gastric diseases using computer—based models

Somatic Mosaicism For A Mecp2 Mutation Associated With Classic Rett Syndrome In A Boy

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