Whole exome analysis of primary immunodeficiency

The human primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) refer to a rare heterogeneous group of single-gene inherited disorders causing malfunctions in the immune system, and thus the affected patients have a predisposition to severe life-threatening infections. The heterogeneous nature of PIDs, which involves at list 300 different genes, makes diagnosis of the disease a complex issue. Although studies revealed that six million people have a kind of PID, but due to a complex diagnosis procedure many affected individuals have not gotten a correct diagnosis. However, thanks to advancing in the DNA sequencing method and availability of sophisticated sequencers molecular characterization of genetic disorders have been revolutionized. The whole exome sequencing (WES) method can help clinicians detect Mendelian disease and other complex genetic disorders. The presented study used WES to investigate two infants with symptoms of primary immunodeficiency including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). It has been shown that the HLH patient had a mutation in the UNC13D gene (NM199242.2:c.627delT), and the SCID patient had a mutation in the RAG1 gene (NM000448.2:c.322C>G). It has been demonstrated that WES is a fast and cost-effective method facilitating genetic diagnosis in PID sufferers. © AUTHORS, 2018

Angiogenesis biomarkers and their targeting ligands as potential targets for tumor angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is known as one of the hallmarks in cancer which could play a key role in providing oxygen and nutrients for tumor cells. It has been shown that tumor cannot grow without sufficient development of new blood vessels. Accordingly, targeting angiogenesis, especially endothelial cells, could be considered as a common therapeutic target in tumors and more investigation on already existing biomarkers and potentially new biomarkers of endothelial cells seems to be necessary in cancer therapy. Moreover, the use of effective targeting approaches such as proteins and peptides, aptamers, and small molecules is an important step for targeting biomarkers associated with endothelial cells and angiogenesis in cancer therapy. These agents are FDA approved, or are currently under investigation in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Among various biomarkers for angiogenesis microRNAs are suitable candidates for target therapy. These molecules play key roles in tumor angiogenesis which exert their effect via targeting a variety of cellular and molecular pathways involved in tumor angiogenesis. Here, we summarize a variety of biomarkers which their expressions or their functions could change the function of endothelial cells in tumor microenvironments. Moreover, we highlighted various therapeutic agents which could target these biomarkers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Novel Mutation C.7348C>T in NF1 Gene Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing in Patient with Overlapping Clinical Symptoms of Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Bannayan�Riley�Ruvalcaba Syndrome

Abstract: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant disorder provoking benign cutaneous and nerve sheath tumors. The cutaneous tumors termed as plexiform neurofibromas, which some of them are extremely visible, and can influence the quality of life. They can also develop into invasive forms of carcinomas and infiltrate into multiple tissues, thus endangering the patient�s life. The loss-of-function mutations in NF1 gene are responsible for NF-1 type. Due to the large size of NF1 gene (~350 kb and 60 exons), exist some pseudogenes on another locus, and lack mutation hotspot the molecular characterizing of patients is complex. In this study, we reported a patient showed symptoms of both NF-1 and Bannayan�Riley�Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), then performed a whole-exome sequencing (WES) and a data analysis for molecular characterization. These results showed a single heterozygous nucleotide variant (c.7348C>T) in NF1 gene, which results in a premature stop codon (p.Arg2450Ter) and a truncated protein, causing clinical symptoms of the patient. According to the results, WES is a quick and cost-effective approach for molecular diagnosis of the mixed phenotype of NF-1. © 2020, Allerton Press, Inc