The clinical case of limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q associated with myasthenic syndrome and lung damage

Limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q is one of the rarest forms of plectinopathies and is represented by an isolated muscular dystrophic syndrome, according to two previously described literature reports. There are five forms of plectinopathies, including limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q, are caused by mutations in the PLEC gene, the alternative splicing of which determines the synthesis of 9 isoforms of the plectin protein (1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 3) performing cytolinker function in the neuronal, epithelial and muscle tissue.The article describes the family observation of three sick siblings with the limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q phenotype due to the presence of a new homozygous mutation (NM_201378.3:c.58G>T, NP_958780.1:p.Glu20Ter) in the isoform 1f PLEC revealed by whole-exome sequencing. Clinical, electromyography, visualization and histopathological features of limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q were analyzed in detail. The onset of clinical manifestations in all the described siblings was observed in early childhood with moderate weakness mainly in the pelvic girdle muscles and proximal lower limbs with minimal involvement of the muscles of the shoulder girdle. A distinctive aspect is the stagnation of the myodystrophic process until 20—21 years, followed by the progression and development of episodes of respiratory failure, as well as the formation of rigidity of the cervical, thoracic spine and moderate contracture of the Achilles tendons. Typical features are marked atrophy of paravertebral muscles with the formation of pterygoid scapula and the presence of hypertrophy m. gastrocnemius, m. quadriceps femoris, m. deltoideus and m. triceps brachii. Histopathological examination m. vastus lateralis revealed myodystrophic process without inflammatory infiltration, muscle fiber cytoskeleton disorganization resulted from the plectin loss.Electrocardiography signs of the early repolarization syndrome, focal cardiosclerosis and sinus tachycardia are described. For the first time, involvement in the pathological process of pulmonary tissue in the form of noninfectious bronchiolitis, atelectasis, and the development of the myasthenic syndrome causing episodes of respiratory failure resulted in the death of two described siblings aged 29 and 31 years. Discussed pathogenetic role of PLEC 1f isoform in the development of described syndromes, expands understanding of rare nosology limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q

Enhanced thylakoid photoprotection can increase yield and canopy radiation use efficiency in rice

High sunlight can raise plant growth rates but can potentially cause cellular damage. The likelihood of deleterious effects is lowered by a sophisticated set of photoprotective mechanisms, one of the most important being the controlled dissipation of energy from chlorophyll within photosystem II (PSII) measured as non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). Although ubiquitous, the role of NPQ in plant productivity remains uncertain because it momentarily reduces the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis. Here we used plants overexpressing the gene encoding a central regulator of NPQ, the protein PsbS, within a major crop species (rice) to assess the effect of photoprotection at the whole canopy scale. We accounted for canopy light interception, to our knowledge for the first time in this context. We show that in comparison to wild-type plants, psbS overexpressors increased canopy radiation use efficiency and grain yield in fluctuating light, demonstrating that photoprotective mechanisms should be altered to improve rice crop productivity

Клинический случай поясно-конечностной мышечной дистрофии 2Q, ассоциированной с миастеническим синдромом и поражением легких

Limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q is one of the rarest forms of plectinopathies and is represented by an isolated muscular dystrophic syndrome, according to two previously described literature reports. There are five forms of plectinopathies, including limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q, are caused by mutations in the PLEC gene, the alternative splicing of which determines the synthesis of 9 isoforms of the plectin protein (1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 3) performing cytolinker function in the neuronal, epithelial and muscle tissue.The article describes the family observation of three sick siblings with the limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q phenotype due to the presence of a new homozygous mutation (NM_201378.3:c.58G>T, NP_958780.1:p.Glu20Ter) in the isoform 1f PLEC revealed by whole-exome sequencing. Clinical, electromyography, visualization and histopathological features of limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q were analyzed in detail. The onset of clinical manifestations in all the described siblings was observed in early childhood with moderate weakness mainly in the pelvic girdle muscles and proximal lower limbs with minimal involvement of the muscles of the shoulder girdle. A distinctive aspect is the stagnation of the myodystrophic process until 20—21 years, followed by the progression and development of episodes of respiratory failure, as well as the formation of rigidity of the cervical, thoracic spine and moderate contracture of the Achilles tendons. Typical features are marked atrophy of paravertebral muscles with the formation of pterygoid scapula and the presence of hypertrophy m. gastrocnemius, m. quadriceps femoris, m. deltoideus and m. triceps brachii. Histopathological examination m. vastus lateralis revealed myodystrophic process without inflammatory infiltration, muscle fiber cytoskeleton disorganization resulted from the plectin loss.Electrocardiography signs of the early repolarization syndrome, focal cardiosclerosis and sinus tachycardia are described. For the first time, involvement in the pathological process of pulmonary tissue in the form of noninfectious bronchiolitis, atelectasis, and the development of the myasthenic syndrome causing episodes of respiratory failure resulted in the death of two described siblings aged 29 and 31 years. Discussed pathogenetic role of PLEC 1f isoform in the development of described syndromes, expands understanding of rare nosology limb-girdle muscle dystrophy 2Q.Поясно-конечностная мышечная дистрофия 2Q является одной из наиболее редких форм плектинопатий и проявляется изолированным мышечным дистрофическим синдромом согласно двум ранее представленным в литературе описаниям. Пять существующих форм плектинопатий, в том числе поясно-конечностная мышечная дистрофия 2Q, обусловлены мутациями в гене PLEC, альтернативный сплайсинг которого определяет синтез 9 изоформ белка плектина (1, 1а, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1е, 1f,1g, 3), выполняющих цитолинкерную функцию в нейрональной, эпителиальной и мышечной тканях.В статье представлено описание семейного наблюдения 3 больных сибсов с поясно-конечностной мышечной дистрофией 2Q, обусловленного наличием новой гомозиготной мутации (NM_201378.3:c.58G>T, NP_958780.1:p.Glu20Ter) в изоформе 1f гена PLEC, выявленной с помощью полноэкзомного секвенирования. Детально проанализированы клинические, электронейромиографические, визуализационные и патогистологические особенности поясно-конечностной мышечной дистрофии 2Q. Дебют клинических проявлений у всех описанных членов семьи наблюдался в раннем детском возрасте в виде умеренной слабости преимущественно мышц тазового пояса и проксимальных отделов ног с минимальным вовлечением мышц плечевого пояса. Отличительным аспектом является стагнация миодистрофического процесса до 20—21 года с последующим прогрессированием и развитием эпизодов дыхательной недостаточности, а также формированием ригидности шейного, грудного отдела позвоночника и умеренной контрактуры ахилловых сухожилий. Характерными являются выраженная атрофия mm. paravertebralis с формированием крыловидных лопаток и наличие гипертрофии m. gastrocnemius, m. quadriceps femoris, m. deltoideus и m. triceps brachii. Патогистологическое исследование m. vastus lateralis отражает наличие миодистрофического процесса без воспалительной инфильтрации, дезорганизацию цитоскелета мышечных волокон и утрату плектина. Описаны электрокардиографические признаки синдрома ранней реполяризации, очагового кардиосклероза и синусовой тахикардии. Впервые в литературе представлено сочетание пояс-но-конечностной мышечной дистрофии 2Q с поражением легких в виде неинфекционного бронхиолита, ателектазов и развитием миастенического синдрома, обусловливающими эпизоды дыхательной недостаточности и повлекшие смерть 2 описываемых сибсов в возрасте 29 и 31 года. Обсуждаемое патогенетическое значение 1f-изоформы плектина в развитии описанных синдромов позволяет расширить представление о редкой нозологии — поясно-конечностной мышечной дистрофии 2Q

Магнитно-резонансный паттерн изменений мышц тазового пояса и нижних конечностей у пациентов с дисферлинопатиями

Introduction. Dysferlinopathy is a phenotypically heterogeneous group of hereditary muscular dystrophies caused by mutations in the dysferlin gene (DYSF). Debut in adolescence, predominantly in physically developed patients, combined with the often subacute development of hypercreatine phosphatemia and edematous muscle changes in MRI often leads to diagnostic errors. Purpose of the study: to determine the most typical MRI pattern of muscle damage of the pelvic girdle and lower limb in patients with dysferlinopathy. Materials and methods. 40 people were examined, among which 20 patients with a clinical picture of dysferlinopathy with an equal ratio of Miyoshi phenotypes and LGMD and an average age of 35 (24; 44) years. Comprehensive clinical and instrumental examination included neurological, electroneuromyographic and molecular genetic studies (NGS). Magnetic resonance imaging of the muscles of the pelvic girdle and lower limb was performed in 20 patients and a control group equivalent in sex and age. Results. The use of semi-quantitative MRI indicators — relative signal intensity — D (D=T1 muscle (STIR) / T1 (STIR) subcutaneous fat layer) made it possible to formulate the characteristics of a common typical MRI pattern of muscle involvement in dysferlinopathy. An increase in the intensity of the relative signal D, T1 in the rear muscle group of the thighs and lower legs, indicating fatty infiltration was observed most frequently, while a decrease in D, STIR values was observed in the anterior and medial muscles of the thighs, reflecting the presence of edema of the previous fatty degeneration of these muscles. Conclusion. In addition to the general idea of muscle involvement in dysferlinopathy, it is advisable to consider the «early», «typical / completed» and «late» MRI patterns of dysferlinopathy that increase the effectiveness of the diagnosis of this disease. In the differential diagnosis of the Miyoshi phenotype from LGMD, one should focus on maintaining normal values of D, T1 from m. gluteus maximus and m. popliteus at all stages of the disease.Введение. Дисферлинопатии — это фенотипически гетерогенная группа наследственных мышечных дистрофий, обусловленных мутациями в гене дисферлина (DYSF). Дебют в подростковом возрасте преимущественно у физически развитых пациентов в сочетании с часто подострым повышением сывороточной креатинфосфокиназы и отечными изменениями мышц при магнитно-резонансной томографии (МРТ) часто приводит к диагностическим ошибкам. Цель исследования: определить наиболее типичный магнитно-резонансный (МР) паттерн поражения мышц тазового пояса и нижних конечностей у пациентов с дисферлинопатиями. Материалы и методы. Обследовано 40 человек, среди которых 20 пациентов с клинической картиной дисферлинопатий с равным соотношением фенотипов Миоши и поясно-конечностной мышечной дистрофией (ПКМД) и средним возрастом — 35 (24; 44) лет. Комплексное клинико-инструментальное обследование включало неврологическое, электронейромиографическое и молекулярно-генетическое исследование (NGS). Магнитно-резонансная томография мышц тазового пояса и нижних конечностей проведена 20 пациентам и эквивалентной по полу и возрасту контрольной группе. Результаты исследований. Использование полуколичественных МР-показателей — относительной интенсивности сигнала — D (D=Т1 мышцы (STIR) /Т1(STIR) подкожно-жирового слоя) позволило сформулировать характеристики общего типичного МР-паттерна вовлечения мышц при дисферлинопатиях. Наиболее часто отмечалось повышение интенсивности относительного сигнала D, Т1-ВИ в задней группе мышц бедер и голеней, свидетельствующее о жировой инфильтрации, тогда как снижение величин D, STIR наблюдалось в передних и медиальных мышцах бедер, что отражало наличие отека, предшествующего замещению жировой тканью данных мышц. Заключение. Кроме общего представления о вовлечении мышц при дисферлинопатиях, целесообразно рассматривать «ранний», «типичный/завершенный» и «поздний» МР-паттерны дисферлинопатий, повышающие эффективность диагностики данного заболевания. В дифференциальной диагностике фенотипа Миоши от ПКМД следует ориентироваться на сохранение нормальных величин D, Т1-ВИ от m. gluteus maximus и m. popliteus на всех стадиях заболевания

Non-photochemical quenching capacity in arabidopsis thaliana affects herbivore behaviour

Under natural conditions, plants have to cope with numerous stresses, including light-stress and herbivory. This raises intriguing questions regarding possible trade-offs between stress defences and growth. As part of a program designed to address these questions we have compared herbivory defences and damage in wild type Arabidopsis thaliana and two "photoprotection genotypes", npq4 and oePsbS, which respectively lack and overexpress PsbS (a protein that plays a key role in qE-type non-photochemical quenching). In dual-choice feeding experiments both a specialist (Plutella xylostella) and a generalist (Spodoptera littoralis) insect herbivore preferred plants that expressed PsbS most strongly. In contrast, although both herbivores survived equally well on each of the genotypes, for oviposition female P. xylostella adults preferred plants that expressed PsbS least strongly. However, there were no significant differences between the genotypes in levels of the 10 most prominent glucosinolates; key substances in the Arabidopsis anti-herbivore chemical defence arsenal. After transfer from a growth chamber to the field we detected significant differences in the genotypes' metabolomic profiles at all tested time points, using GC-MS, but no consistent "metabolic signature'' for the lack of PsbS. These findings suggest that the observed differences in herbivore preferences were due to differences in the primary metabolism of the plants rather than their contents of typical "defence compounds". A potentially significant factor is that superoxide accumulated most rapidly and to the highest levels under high light conditions in npq4 mutants. This could trigger changes in planta that are sensed by herbivores either directly or indirectly, following its dismutation to H2O2