Osteoclast stimulation factor 1 (Ostf1) KNOCKOUT increases trabecular bone mass in mice

Osteoclast stimulation factor 1 (OSTF1) is an SH3-domain containing protein that was initially identified as a factor involved in the indirect activation of osteoclasts. It has been linked to spinal muscular atrophy in humans through its interaction with SMN1, and is one of six genes deleted in a human developmental microdeletion syndrome. To investigate the function of OSTF1, we generated an Ostf1 knockout mouse model, with exons 3 and 4 of Ostf1 replaced by a LacZ orf. Extensive X-Gal staining was performed to examine the developmental and adult expression pattern, followed by phenotyping. We show widespread expression of the gene in the vasculature of most organs and in a number of cell types in adult and embryonic mouse tissues. Furthermore, whilst SHIRPA testing revealed no behavioural defects, we demonstrate increased trabecular mass in the long bones, confirming a role for OSTF1 in bone development

MED13L-related intellectual disability: involvement of missense variants and delineation of the phenotype

International audienceMolecular anomalies in MED13L, leading to haploinsufficiency, have been reported in patients with moderate to severe intellectual disability (ID) and distinct facial features, with or without congenital heart defects. Phenotype of the patients was referred to "MED13L haploinsufficiency syndrome." Missense variants in MED13L were already previously described to cause the MED13L-related syndrome, but only in a limited number of patients. Here we report 36 patients with MED13L molecular anomaly, recruited through an international collaboration between centers of expertise for developmental anomalies. All patients presented with intellectual disability and severe language impairment. Hypotonia, ataxia, and recognizable facial gestalt were frequent findings, but not congenital heart defects. We identified seven de novo missense variations, in addition to protein-truncating variants and intragenic deletions. Missense variants clustered in two mutation hot-spots, i.e., exons 15-17 and 25-31. We found that patients carrying missense mutations had more frequently epilepsy and showed a more severe phenotype. This study ascertains missense variations in MED13L as a cause for MED13L-related intellectual disability and improves the clinical delineation of the condition