Myeloperoxidase Promoter Polymorphism −463G Is Associated With More Severe Clinical Expression of Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Disease

The severity of cystic fibrosis (CF) pulmonary disease is not directly related to CFTR genotype but depends upon several parameters, including neutrophil-dominated inflammation. Identification of agents modulating inflammation constitutes a relevant goal. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is involved in both microbicidal and proinflammatory neutrophil activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the −463GA MPO promoter polymorphism is linked to clinical severity of CF-associated pulmonary inflammation. This polymorphism significantly affects the level of MPO gene expression in leukocytes and the G allele is more expressing than the A allele. We show that MPO genotype significantly influences the severity of pulmonary disease in early stages, prior to the development of chronic lung infections, with GG genotype being associated with more severe CF disease. Our findings indicate that the level of MPO gene expression influences the CF pathogenesis, presumably reflecting cellular damage by MPO-generated oxidants or other activity of MPO in airway inflammation

Long-term neurological outcome of a cohort of 80 patients with classical organic acidurias.

International audienceBACKGROUND: Classical organic acidurias including methylmalonic aciduria (MMA), propionic aciduria (PA) and isovaleric aciduria (IVA) are severe inborn errors of the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids and odd-numbered chain fatty acids, presenting with severe complications. METHODS: This study investigated the long-term outcome of 80 patients with classical organic aciduria (38 with MMA, 24 with PA and 18 with IVA) by integrating clinical, radiological, biochemical and genetic data. RESULTS: Patients were followed-up for a mean of 14 years [age 3.3-46.3 years]. PA included a greater number of patients with abnormal neurological examination (37% in PA, 24% in MMA and 0% in IVA), lower psychometric scores (abnormal evaluation at age 3 years in 61% of patients with PA versus 26% in MMA and 18% in IVA) and more frequent basal ganglia lesions (56% of patients versus 36% in MMA and 17% in IVA). All patients with IVA presented a normal neurological examination and only 1/3 presented cognitive troubles. Prognosis for MMA was intermediate. Biochemical metabolite analysis excluding acute decompensations revealed significant progressive increases of glycine, alanine and glutamine particularly in PA and possibly in MMA but no correlation with neurological outcome. A significant increase of plasma methylmalonic acid was found in MMA patients with intellectual deficiency (mean level of 199 mumol/L versus 70 mumol/L, p < 0.05), with an estimated significant probability of severe outcome for average levels between birth and age 6 years above 167 mumol/L. Urinary 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP) levels were significantly higher in PA patients with intellectual deficiency (mean level of 68.9 mumol/mmol of creatinine versus 34.6 mumol/mmol of creatinine, p < 0.01), with an estimated significant probability of severe outcome for average levels between birth and age 6 years above 55 mumol/mmol. As for molecular analysis, prognosis of MMA patients with mutations involving the MMAA gene was better compared to patients with mutations involving the MUT gene. CONCLUSION: Propionic aciduria had the most severe neurological prognosis. Our radiological and biochemical data are consistent with a mitochondrial toxicity mechanism. Follow-up plasma MMA and urinary 3-HP levels may have prognostic significance calling for greater efforts to optimize long-term management in these patients

Segregation of mtDNA Throughout Human Embryofetal Development: m.3243A > G as a Model System

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations cause a wide range of serious diseases with high transmission risk and maternal inheritance. Tissue heterogeneity of the heteroplasmy rate (“mutant load”) accounts for the wide phenotypic spectrum observed in carriers. Owing to the absence of therapy, couples at risk to transmit such disorders commonly ask for prenatal (PND) or preimplantation diagnosis (PGD). The lack of data regarding heteroplasmy distribution throughout intrauterine development, however, hampers the implementation of such procedures. We tracked the segregation of the m.3243A > G mutation (MT-TL1 gene) responsible for the MELAS syndrome in the developing embryo/fetus, using tissues and cells from eight carrier females, their 38 embryos and 12 fetuses. Mutant mtDNA segregation was found to be governed by random genetic drift, during oogenesis and somatic tissue development. The size of the bottleneck operating for m.3243A > G during oogenesis was shown to be individual-dependent. Comparison with data we achieved for the m.8993T > G mutation (MT-ATP6 gene), responsible for the NARP/Leigh syndrome, indicates that these mutations differentially influence mtDNA segregation during oogenesis, while their impact is similar in developing somatic tissues. These data have major consequences for PND and PGD procedures in mtDNA inherited disorders. Hum Mutat 32:116–125, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Epilepsy with migrating focal seizures

To report new sporadic cases and 1 family with epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFSs) due to KCNT1 gain-of-function and to assess therapies' efficacy including quinidine. We reviewed the clinical, EEG, and molecular data of 17 new patients with EIMFS and KCNT1 mutations, in collaboration with the network of the French reference center for rare epilepsies. The mean seizure onset age was 1 month (range: 1 hour to 4 months), and all children had focal motor seizures with autonomic signs and migrating ictal pattern on EEG. Three children also had infantile spasms and hypsarrhythmia. The identified KCNT1 variants clustered as "hot spots" on the C-terminal domain, and all mutations occurred de novo except the p.R398Q mutation inherited from the father with nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, present in 2 paternal uncles, one being asymptomatic and the other with single tonic-clonic seizure. In 1 patient with EIMFS, we identified the p.R1106Q mutation associated with Brugada syndrome and saw no abnormality in cardiac rhythm. Quinidine was well tolerated when administered to 2 and 4-year-old patients but did not reduce seizure frequency. The majority of the KCNT1 mutations appear to cluster in hot spots essential for the channel activity. A same mutation can be linked to a spectrum of conditions ranging from EMFSI to asymptomatic carrier, even in the same family. None of the antiepileptic therapies displayed clinical efficacy, including quinidine in 2 patients

Case report: an unexpected link between partial deletion of the SHANK3 gene and Heller’s dementia infantilis, a rare subtype of autism spectrum disorder

International audienceAbstractBackgroundDeletions and mutations involving the SHANK3 gene lead to a nonspecific clinical presentation with moderate to profound intellectual disability, severely delayed or absent speech, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).Better knowledge of the clinical spectrum of SHANK3 haploinsufficiency is useful to facilitate clinical care monitoring and to guide molecular diagnosis, essential for genetic counselling.Case presentationHere, we report a detailed clinical description of a 10-year-old girl carrying a pathogenic interstitial 22q13.3 deletion encompassing only the first 17 exons of SHANK3.The clinical features displayed by the girl strongly suggested the diagnosis of dementia infantilis, described by Heller in 1908, also known as childhood disintegrative disorder.ConclusionOur present case confirms several observations according to which regression may be part of the clinical phenotype of SHANK3 haploinsufficiency. Therefore, we think it is crucial to look for mutations in the gene SHANK3 in patients diagnosed for childhood disintegrative disorder or any developmental disorder with a regressive pattern involving social and communicative skills as well as cognitive and instinctual functions, with onset around 3 years

Etude de ségrégation de l'ADNmt dans le placenta normal et porteur d'une mutation de l'ADN mitochondrial

PARIS-BIUP (751062107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Etude de ségrégation de l'ADNmt dans le placenta normal et porteur d'une mutation de l'ADN mitochondrial

PARIS-BIUP (751062107) / SudocSudocFranceF

Bezafibrate for an Inborn Mitochondrial Beta-Oxidation Defect

International audienc

Prévenir la transmission des mutations de l’ADN mitochondrial par don de cytoplasme : où en est-on ?

L’annonce récente de la naissance d’un enfant issu d’un transfert du fuseau méiotique d’un ovocyte d’une patiente porteuse d’une mutation de l’ADN mitochondrial vers un ovocyte d’une patiente non atteinte (« donneuse de cytoplasme »), a ravivé le débat sur l’innocuité de ces procédures. Les réserves émises concernent principalement la possibilité de réversion génétique, les incertitudes liées à la perturbation du dialogue entre le noyau et les mitochondries et aux effets secondaires d’un état hétéroplasmique induit par ces techniques. La possibilité d’étendre les indications de transfert de noyaux aux patientes en échec de fécondation in vitro, souligne la nécessité de répondre de façon urgente à ces questions

Should the beneficial impact of bezafibrate on fatty acid oxidation disorders be questioned?

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