High-Throughput Analysis of Promoter Occupancy Reveals New Targets for Arx, a Gene Mutated in Mental Retardation and Interneuronopathies

Genetic investigations of X-linked intellectual disabilities have implicated the ARX (Aristaless-related homeobox) gene in a wide spectrum of disorders extending from phenotypes characterised by severe neuronal migration defects such as lissencephaly, to mild or moderate forms of mental retardation without apparent brain abnormalities but with associated features of dystonia and epilepsy. Analysis of Arx spatio-temporal localisation profile in mouse revealed expression in telencephalic structures, mainly restricted to populations of GABAergic neurons at all stages of development. Furthermore, studies of the effects of ARX loss of function in humans and animal models revealed varying defects, suggesting multiple roles of this gene during brain development. However, to date, little is known about how ARX functions as a transcription factor and the nature of its targets. To better understand its role, we combined chromatin immunoprecipitation and mRNA expression with microarray analysis and identified a total of 1006 gene promoters bound by Arx in transfected neuroblastoma (N2a) cells and in mouse embryonic brain. Approximately 24% of Arx-bound genes were found to show expression changes following Arx overexpression or knock-down. Several of the Arx target genes we identified are known to be important for a variety of functions in brain development and some of them suggest new functions for Arx. Overall, these results identified multiple new candidate targets for Arx and should help to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of intellectual disability and epilepsy associated with ARX mutations

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit

Human genome variations ans disorders : identification of new genetic susceptibility loci in young ischemic strokes

Ce travail de thèse a permis, dans un premier temps, de mettre en évidence de nouveaux grandsréarrangements dans trois pathologies étudiées au laboratoire : la mucoviscidose, la pancréatitechronique et l’hémochromatose. En particulier, ces travaux ont permis de trouver de nouveaux CNVs(Copy Number Variations) pathologiques dans le gène CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembraneconductance Regulator), de mieux comprendre les mécanismes d’un remaniement complexe dansPRSS1 (Protease Serine 1) et d’aider à caractériser finement un réarrangement dans HFE(Hemochromatosis). Ces études ont donc servi de preuve de concept pour l’utilisation de puces à ADN àl’échelle d’un gène et dans des zones difficiles car riches en séquences répétées.Dans un second temps, la recherche de facteurs de susceptibilité génétiques aux infarctus cérébraux(AICs) du sujet jeune a été réalisée chez 168 cas et 200 témoins âgés de moins de 40 ans. Dans notrepopulation, l’hypertension, les migraines, le tabac, et la prise de stupéfiants sont des facteurs de risqueimportants, multipliant respectivement par 35, 3,8, 4 et 2,8 le risque d’AIC. Notre étude pangénomiquepar CGH-array (Comparative Genomic Hybridization-array) a mis en évidence 98 régionspolymorphiques dans le génome humain. Parmi elles, la délétion d’une partie du gène NOTCH2, pourraitjouer un rôle protecteur dans la survenue des AICs (OR=0,11 [0,01-0,87] ; p=0,013) mais qui ne dépassepas le seuil fixé par la correction de Bonferroni). Ce travail a également mis en évidence environ 400CNVs rares, dont deux récurrents chez les cas, l'un portant les gènes CRELD2 (cysteine-rich with EGFlikedomains 2) et AGL12 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 12, alpha-1, 6-mannosyltransferase) (p=0,02)et le deuxième situé en 5’ du gène VBP1 (von Hippel-Lindau binding protein 1) (p=0,04). Enfin, uneapproche gènes candidats a été effectuée sur les gènes NOTCH2 et ALOX5AP (5-lipoxygenaseactivating protein) sans donner de résultats significatifs. Ceci a également été réalisé sur les mutationsprincipales de trois gènes de la coagulation (Facteur II, Facteur V Leiden et MTHFR). Une associationsignificative a été mise en évidence entre la C677T du gène MTHFR (5,10-methyltetrahydrofolate) et lesinfarctus cérébraux du sujet jeune (OR=2,39, p=0,02 pour le génotype TT). Ce travail de thèse a permisde confirmer l’existence de facteurs de risque environnementaux et génétiques déjà connus mais surtoutd’émettre de nouvelles hypothèses génétiques dans la survenue des AICs du sujet jeune.The use of locus-specific array-CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) has allowed us to detect largerearrangements in three pathologies of our laboratory: cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis andhemochromatosis. We successfully observed new pathological CNV (Copy Number Variations) in theCFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator) gene and characterized complex eventsin PRSS1 (Protease Serine 1) and HFE (Hemochromatosis) genes, showing that the use of thistechnique is possible even in regions with high sequence homologies.We also confirmed that hypertension, migraine, tobacco and drugs are high significant risk factors forischemic strokes (IS) in young population (under 40 years) (OR=35, 3.8, 4 and 2.8, respectively). Then,we tried to identify new genetic susceptibility loci using a pangenomic approach. Among the 98 copynumber polymorphisms (CNP) observed, an interstitial NOTCH2 deletion is candidate for a protective rolein IS (OR=0.11 [0.01-0.87] ; p=0.013 before Bonferonni correction). We also observed approximately 400uncommon CNV, two of them being particularly reccurent in patients: a 22q13.31 duplication containingCRELD2 (cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2) and AGL12 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 12, alpha-1, 6-mannosyltransferase) genes (p=0.02) and a Xq28 deletion localised in the 5’ region of the VBP1 (vonHippel-Lindau binding protein 1) gene (p=0.04). We also applied a candidate-gene approach onNOTCH2, ALOX5AP (5-lipoxygenase activating protein) and coagulation genes (Factor II, Factor VLeiden and MTHFR). A significant association was found for the C677T in the MTHFR gene (5,10-methyltetrahydrofolate) and young ischemic strokes (OR=2.39, p=0.02 for TT genotype). In conclusion,this study confirmed the implication of environmental and genetic factors in ischemic strokes before 40years and suggests new genetic risk factors for IS

Human genome variations ans disorders : identification of new genetic susceptibility loci in young ischemic strokes

Ce travail de thèse a permis, dans un premier temps, de mettre en évidence de nouveaux grandsréarrangements dans trois pathologies étudiées au laboratoire : la mucoviscidose, la pancréatitechronique et l’hémochromatose. En particulier, ces travaux ont permis de trouver de nouveaux CNVs(Copy Number Variations) pathologiques dans le gène CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembraneconductance Regulator), de mieux comprendre les mécanismes d’un remaniement complexe dansPRSS1 (Protease Serine 1) et d’aider à caractériser finement un réarrangement dans HFE(Hemochromatosis). Ces études ont donc servi de preuve de concept pour l’utilisation de puces à ADN àl’échelle d’un gène et dans des zones difficiles car riches en séquences répétées.Dans un second temps, la recherche de facteurs de susceptibilité génétiques aux infarctus cérébraux(AICs) du sujet jeune a été réalisée chez 168 cas et 200 témoins âgés de moins de 40 ans. Dans notrepopulation, l’hypertension, les migraines, le tabac, et la prise de stupéfiants sont des facteurs de risqueimportants, multipliant respectivement par 35, 3,8, 4 et 2,8 le risque d’AIC. Notre étude pangénomiquepar CGH-array (Comparative Genomic Hybridization-array) a mis en évidence 98 régionspolymorphiques dans le génome humain. Parmi elles, la délétion d’une partie du gène NOTCH2, pourraitjouer un rôle protecteur dans la survenue des AICs (OR=0,11 [0,01-0,87] ; p=0,013) mais qui ne dépassepas le seuil fixé par la correction de Bonferroni). Ce travail a également mis en évidence environ 400CNVs rares, dont deux récurrents chez les cas, l'un portant les gènes CRELD2 (cysteine-rich with EGFlikedomains 2) et AGL12 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 12, alpha-1, 6-mannosyltransferase) (p=0,02)et le deuxième situé en 5’ du gène VBP1 (von Hippel-Lindau binding protein 1) (p=0,04). Enfin, uneapproche gènes candidats a été effectuée sur les gènes NOTCH2 et ALOX5AP (5-lipoxygenaseactivating protein) sans donner de résultats significatifs. Ceci a également été réalisé sur les mutationsprincipales de trois gènes de la coagulation (Facteur II, Facteur V Leiden et MTHFR). Une associationsignificative a été mise en évidence entre la C677T du gène MTHFR (5,10-methyltetrahydrofolate) et lesinfarctus cérébraux du sujet jeune (OR=2,39, p=0,02 pour le génotype TT). Ce travail de thèse a permisde confirmer l’existence de facteurs de risque environnementaux et génétiques déjà connus mais surtoutd’émettre de nouvelles hypothèses génétiques dans la survenue des AICs du sujet jeune.The use of locus-specific array-CGH (Comparative Genomic Hybridization) has allowed us to detect largerearrangements in three pathologies of our laboratory: cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis andhemochromatosis. We successfully observed new pathological CNV (Copy Number Variations) in theCFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator) gene and characterized complex eventsin PRSS1 (Protease Serine 1) and HFE (Hemochromatosis) genes, showing that the use of thistechnique is possible even in regions with high sequence homologies.We also confirmed that hypertension, migraine, tobacco and drugs are high significant risk factors forischemic strokes (IS) in young population (under 40 years) (OR=35, 3.8, 4 and 2.8, respectively). Then,we tried to identify new genetic susceptibility loci using a pangenomic approach. Among the 98 copynumber polymorphisms (CNP) observed, an interstitial NOTCH2 deletion is candidate for a protective rolein IS (OR=0.11 [0.01-0.87] ; p=0.013 before Bonferonni correction). We also observed approximately 400uncommon CNV, two of them being particularly reccurent in patients: a 22q13.31 duplication containingCRELD2 (cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2) and AGL12 (asparagine-linked glycosylation 12, alpha-1, 6-mannosyltransferase) genes (p=0.02) and a Xq28 deletion localised in the 5’ region of the VBP1 (vonHippel-Lindau binding protein 1) gene (p=0.04). We also applied a candidate-gene approach onNOTCH2, ALOX5AP (5-lipoxygenase activating protein) and coagulation genes (Factor II, Factor VLeiden and MTHFR). A significant association was found for the C677T in the MTHFR gene (5,10-methyltetrahydrofolate) and young ischemic strokes (OR=2.39, p=0.02 for TT genotype). In conclusion,this study confirmed the implication of environmental and genetic factors in ischemic strokes before 40years and suggests new genetic risk factors for IS

A small de novo 16q24.1 duplication in a woman with severe clinical features.

International audienceWe report here a de novo 16q24.1 interstitial duplication in a woman with a severe phenotype consistent with mental retardation, spastic paraplegia, severe epilepsy, a narrow and arched palate, malar hypoplasia, little subcutaneous fat and arachnodactyly. Although conventional karyotyping was found to be normal, array-CGH detected a small duplication on chromosome 16. Using QFM-PCR, we characterised its proximal and distal breakpoints. The duplication, which is approximately 250 kb, encompasses seven genes (KIAA0182, GINS2, c16orf74, COX4NB, COX4I1, MIR1910 and IRF8). Several reports have previously described large 16q duplications, and some of these overlap with our region in 16q24.1. Due to the variability of the described phenotypes, the characterisation of small 16q duplications may help to determine critical regions and the genes they contain that are associated with the components of complex phenotypes

Transformation d’un mélanocytome méningé en mélanome : étude clinique, histopathologique et cytogénétique

International audienceMeningeal melanocytic tumors are rare. We report an exceptional case of transformation of a meningeal melanocytoma in a malignant melanoma. The course of the disease extents from 61-years to 85-years and ends with the death of the patient. Besides histopathological and immunohistochemical data, we also report the array CGH study of the melanocytoma and melanoma components suggesting the malignant transformation from whole chromosome gains in the melanocytoma to additional segmental aberrations in the malignant melanoma. Beyond the rarity of this tumor subtype, this case report highlights the potential interest of molecular analyses for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in the field of meningeal melanocytic tumors

Revisiting the molecular epidemiology of factor XI deficiency: Nine new mutations and an original large 4qTer deletion in western Brittany (France).

International audienceConstitutional deficiency in factor XI (FXI) is a rare bleeding disorder in the general population, with the exception of Ashkenazi Jews. During the last decade, the detection of FXI-deficient patients has shifted from clinical screening identifying mostly severe bleeders to biological screening combining findings of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and FXI coagulation activity (FXI:C) below 50 U/dl. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular basis of FXI deficiency in western Brittany, France. Over the course of four years, we detected 98 FXI-deficient patients through biological screening, and 44 patients agreed to participate in this study corresponding to 25 index cases. We developed an efficient mutation detection strategy (combining direct sequencing and QFM-PCR to search for heterozygous rearrangements in a routine setting) that detected F11 mutations in 24 out of the 25 index cases. An unexpected allelic heterogeneity was found, with 14 different single point mutations being detected, among which nine are new. Moreover, a large heterozygous deletion of the entire F11 gene was detected, and was then further defined using a CGH array as a 4q34.2 telomeric deletion of 7 Mb containing 77 genes. We propose that the observed recurrent mutations may be considered as genetic tags of a population. This study highlights the importance of screening for large deletions in molecular studies of F11

An unusual diagnosis of alpha‐mannosidosis with ocular anomalies: Behind the scenes of a hidden copy number variation

International audienceAlpha‐mannosidosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by biallelic mutations in the MAN2B1 gene and characterized by a wide clinical heterogeneity. Diagnosis for this multisystemic disorder is confirmed by the presence of either a deficiency in the lysosomal enzyme acid alpha‐mannosidase or biallelic mutations in the MAN2B1 gene. This diagnosis confirmation is crucial for both clinical management and genetic counseling purposes. Here we describe a late diagnosis of alpha‐mannosidosis in a patient presenting with syndromic intellectual disability, and a rare retinopathy, where reverse phenotyping played a pivotal role in interpreting the exome sequencing result. While a first missense variant was classified as a variant of uncertain significance, the phenotype‐guided analysis helped us detect and interpret an in‐trans apparent alu‐element insertion, which appeared to be a copy number variant (CNV) not identified by the CNV caller. A biochemical analysis showing abnormal excretion of urinary mannosyloligosaccharide and an enzyme assay permitted the re‐classification of the missense variant to likely pathogenic, establishing the diagnosis of alpha‐mannosidosis. This work emphasizes the importance of reverse phenotyping in the context of exome sequencing