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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23871674
1. Am J Cardiol. 2013 Oct 15;112(8):1197-206. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.06.017. Epub 2013 Jul 19. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy according to revised 2010 task force criteria with inclusion of non-desmosomal phospholamban mutation carriers. Groeneweg JA(1), van der Zwaag PA, Olde Nordkamp LR, Bikker H, Jongbloed JD, Jongbloed R, Wiesfeld AC, Cox MG, van der Heijden JF, Atsma DE, de Boer K, Doevendans PA, Vink A, van Veen TA, Dooijes D, van den Berg MP, Wilde AA, van Tintelen JP, Hauer RN. Author information: (1)Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.groeneweg-4@umcutrecht.nl. Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is frequently associated with desmosomal mutations. However, nondesmosomal mutations may be involved. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of a phospholamban (PLN) gene mutation to ARVD/C diagnosis according to the revised 2010 task force criteria (TFC). In 142 Dutch patients (106 men, mean age 51 ± 13 years) with proven ARVD/C (fulfillment of 2010 TFC for diagnosis), 5 known desmosomal genes (PKP2, DSP, DSC2, DSG2, and JUP) and the nondesmosomal PLN gene were screened. After genetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics of desmosomal versus PLN mutation carriers were compared. In 59 of 142 patients with ARVD/C (42%), no desmosomal mutation was found. In 19 of 142 patients (13%), the PLN founder mutation c.40_42delAGA (p.Arg14del) was identified. PLN mutation carriers more often had low-voltage electrocardiograms (p = 0.004), inverted T waves in leads V4 to V6 (p <0.001), and additional structural (p = 0.007) or functional (p = 0.017) left ventricular impairment, whereas desmosomal mutation carriers had more solitary right ventricular abnormalities. The revised TFC included 21 of 142 patients with proven ARVD/C who did not meet the 1994 TFC, including 7 PLN mutation carriers. In conclusion, there is a substantial contribution of PLN mutation to ARVD/C diagnosis by the 2010 TFC. In 32% of patients (19 of 59) with genetically unexplained proven ARVD/C, this nondesmosomal mutation was found. PLN mutation carriers have ARVD/C characteristics, including important right ventricular involvement, and additionally more often low-voltage electrocardiograms, inverted T waves in the left precordial leads, and left ventricular involvement. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2013.06.017 PMID: 23871674 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23568436
1. Neth Heart J. 2013 Jun;21(6):286-93. doi: 10.1007/s12471-013-0401-3. Recurrent and founder mutations in the Netherlands-Phospholamban p.Arg14del mutation causes arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. van der Zwaag PA(1), van Rijsingen IA, de Ruiter R, Nannenberg EA, Groeneweg JA, Post JG, Hauer RN, van Gelder IC, van den Berg MP, van der Harst P, Wilde AA, van Tintelen JP. Author information: (1)Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, P.O. Box: 30.001, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands, p.a.van.der.zwaag@umcg.nl. BACKGROUND: Recently, we showed that the c.40_42delAGA (p.Arg14del) mutation in the phospholamban (PLN) gene can be identified in 10-15 % of Dutch patients with dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. The arrhythmogenic burden of the p.Arg14del mutation was illustrated by the high rate of appropriate ICD discharges and a positive family history for sudden cardiac death. METHODS: Our goal was to evaluate the geographical distribution and the origin of this specific mutation in the Netherlands and to get an estimation of the prevalence in a Dutch population cohort. Therefore, we investigated the postal codes of the places of residence of PLN p.Arg14del mutation carriers and places of birth of their ancestors. In addition, a large population-based cohort (PREVEND) was screened for the presence of this mutation. RESULTS: By April 2012, we had identified 101 probands carrying the PLN p.Arg14del mutation. A total of 358 family members were also found to carry this mutation, resulting in a total of 459 mutation carriers. The majority of mutation carriers live in the northern part of the Netherlands and analysing their grandparents' places of birth indicated that the mutation likely originated in the eastern part of the province of Friesland. In the PREVEND cohort we identified six heterozygous PLN p.Arg14del mutation carriers out of 8,267 subjects (0.07 %). CONCLUSION: The p.Arg14del mutation in the PLN gene is the most frequently identified mutation in Dutch cardiomyopathy patients. The mutation that arose 575-825 years ago is likely to have originated from the eastern part of the province of Friesland and is highly prevalent in the general population in the northern part of the Netherlands. DOI: 10.1007/s12471-013-0401-3 PMCID: PMC3661879 PMID: 23568436
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26052092
1. Cancer Lett. 2015 Sep 1;365(2):141-8. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.06.003. Epub 2015 Jun 5. Circular RNA: A new star of noncoding RNAs. Qu S(1), Yang X(1), Li X(1), Wang J(1), Gao Y(1), Shang R(1), Sun W(1), Dou K(1), Li H(2). Author information: (1)Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. (2)Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China. Electronic address: lihaim@fmmu.edu.cn. Comment in BJOG. 2016 Dec;123(13):2119. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.13965. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel type of RNA that, unlike linear RNAs, form a covalently closed continuous loop and are highly represented in the eukaryotic transcriptome. Recent studies have discovered thousands of endogenous circRNAs in mammalian cells. CircRNAs are largely generated from exonic or intronic sequences, and reverse complementary sequences or RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are necessary for circRNA biogenesis. The majority of circRNAs are conserved across species, are stable and resistant to RNase R, and often exhibit tissue/developmental-stage-specific expression. Recent research has revealed that circRNAs can function as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, regulators of splicing and transcription, and modifiers of parental gene expression. Emerging evidence indicates that circRNAs might play important roles in atherosclerotic vascular disease risk, neurological disorders, prion diseases and cancer; exhibit aberrant expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); and serve as diagnostic or predictive biomarkers of some diseases. Similar to miRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circRNAs are becoming a new research hotspot in the field of RNA and could be widely involved in the processes of life. Herein, we review the formation and properties of circRNAs, their functions, and their potential significance in disease. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2015.06.003 PMID: 26052092 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12639993
1. J Clin Invest. 2003 Mar;111(6):869-76. doi: 10.1172/JCI17892. Human phospholamban null results in lethal dilated cardiomyopathy revealing a critical difference between mouse and human. Haghighi K(1), Kolokathis F, Pater L, Lynch RA, Asahi M, Gramolini AO, Fan GC, Tsiapras D, Hahn HS, Adamopoulos S, Liggett SB, Dorn GW 2nd, MacLennan DH, Kremastinos DT, Kranias EG. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA. Comment in J Clin Invest. 2003 Mar;111(6):801-3. doi: 10.1172/JCI18153. In human disease and experimental animal models, depressed Ca(2+) handling in failing cardiomyocytes is widely attributed to impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) function. In mice, disruption of the PLN gene encoding phospholamban (PLN) or expression of dominant-negative PLN mutants enhances SR and cardiac function, but effects of PLN mutations in humans are unknown. Here, a T116G point mutation, substituting a termination codon for Leu-39 (L39stop), was identified in two families with hereditary heart failure. The heterozygous individuals exhibited hypertrophy without diminished contractile performance. Strikingly, both individuals homozygous for L39stop developed dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure, requiring cardiac transplantation at ages 16 and 27. An over 50% reduction in PLN mRNA and no detectable PLN protein were noted in one explanted heart. The expression of recombinant PLN-L39stop in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and adult rat cardiomyocytes showed no PLN inhibition of SR Ca(2+)-ATPase and the virtual absence of stable PLN expression; where PLN was expressed, it was misrouted to the cytosol or plasma membrane. These findings describe a naturally-occurring loss-of-function human PLN mutation (PLN null). In contrast to reported benefits of PLN ablation in mouse heart failure, humans lacking PLN develop lethal dilated cardiomyopathy. DOI: 10.1172/JCI17892 PMCID: PMC153772 PMID: 12639993 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22820313
1. Eur J Heart Fail. 2012 Nov;14(11):1199-207. doi: 10.1093/eurjhf/hfs119. Epub 2012 Jul 20. Phospholamban R14del mutation in patients diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: evidence supporting the concept of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. van der Zwaag PA(1), van Rijsingen IA, Asimaki A, Jongbloed JD, van Veldhuisen DJ, Wiesfeld AC, Cox MG, van Lochem LT, de Boer RA, Hofstra RM, Christiaans I, van Spaendonck-Zwarts KY, Lekanne dit Deprez RH, Judge DP, Calkins H, Suurmeijer AJ, Hauer RN, Saffitz JE, Wilde AA, van den Berg MP, van Tintelen JP. Author information: (1)Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. AIMS: To investigate whether phospholamban gene (PLN) mutations underlie patients diagnosed with either arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). METHODS AND RESULTS: We screened a cohort of 97 ARVC and 257 DCM unrelated index patients for PLN mutations and evaluated their clinical characteristics. PLN mutation R14del was identified in 12 (12 %) ARVC patients and in 39 (15 %) DCM patients. Haplotype analysis revealed a common founder, estimated to be between 575 and 825 years old. A low voltage electrocardiogram was present in 46 % of R14del carriers. Compared with R14del- DCM patients, R14del+ DCM patients more often demonstrated appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator discharge (47 % vs. 10 % , P < 0.001), cardiac transplantation (18 % vs. 2 % , P < 0.001), and a family history for sudden cardiac death (SCD) at < 50 years (36 % vs. 16 % , P = 0.007). We observed a similar pattern in the ARVC patients although this was not statistically significant. The average age of 26 family members who died of SCD was 37.7 years. Immunohistochemistry in available myocardial samples revealed absent/depressed plakoglobin levels at intercalated disks in five of seven (71 %) R14del+ ARVC samples, but in only one of nine (11 %) R14del+ DCM samples (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The PLN R14del founder mutation is present in a substantial number of patients clinically diagnosed with DCM or ARVC. R14del+ patients diagnosed with DCM showed an arrhythmogenic phenotype, and SCD at young age can be the presenting symptom. These findings support the concept of 'arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy'. DOI: 10.1093/eurjhf/hfs119 PMCID: PMC3475434 PMID: 22820313 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21282613
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Feb 15;108(7):2735-40. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1013987108. Epub 2011 Jan 31. Lethal Arg9Cys phospholamban mutation hinders Ca2+-ATPase regulation and phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Ha KN(1), Masterson LR, Hou Z, Verardi R, Walsh N, Veglia G, Robia SL. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. The regulatory interaction of phospholamban (PLN) with Ca(2+)-ATPase controls the uptake of calcium into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, modulating heart muscle contractility. A missense mutation in PLN cytoplasmic domain (R9C) triggers dilated cardiomyopathy in humans, leading to premature death. Using a combination of biochemical and biophysical techniques both in vitro and in live cells, we show that the R9C mutation increases the stability of the PLN pentameric assembly via disulfide bridge formation, preventing its binding to Ca(2+)-ATPase as well as phosphorylation by protein kinase A. These effects are enhanced under oxidizing conditions, suggesting that oxidative stress may exacerbate the cardiotoxic effects of the PLN(R9C) mutant. These results reveal a regulatory role of the PLN pentamer in calcium homeostasis, going beyond the previously hypothesized role of passive storage for active monomers. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1013987108 PMCID: PMC3041113 PMID: 21282613 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20638444
1. Neurosci Lett. 2010 Oct 4;482(3):188-92. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.07.020. Epub 2010 Jul 16. Screening for inhibitors of the SOD1 gene promoter: pyrimethamine does not reduce SOD1 levels in cell and animal models. Wright PD(1), Huang M, Weiss A, Matthews J, Wightman N, Glicksman M, Brown RH Jr. Author information: (1)University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Neurology, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. paul.wright@umassmed.edu Mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene are detected in 20% of familial and 3% of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Although mutant SOD1 is known to induce motor neuron death via multiple adverse acquired functions, its exact pathogenic mechanism is not well defined. SOD1 toxicity is dose dependent; levels of mutant SOD1 protein in transgenic mice determine disease susceptibility, onset and rate of progression. We therefore sought to identify small molecules that reduce SOD1 levels by inhibiting the SOD1 promoter. We tested pyrimethamine (previously reported to suppress SOD1 expression), several compounds currently in trials in human and murine ALS, and a set of 1040 FDA-approved compounds. In a PC12 cell-based assay, no compounds reduced SOD1 promoter activity without concomitant cytotoxicity. Additionally, pyrimethamine failed to repress levels of SOD1 protein in HeLa cells or homogenates of liver, spinal cord and brain of wild-type mice. Thirty-four compounds (including riluzole, ceftriaxone, minocyclin, PBA, lithium, acetylcysteine) in human and mouse ALS trials and an additional set of 1040 FDA-approved compounds also showed no effect on SOD1 promoter activity. This present study thus failed to identify small molecule inhibitors of SOD1 gene expression. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2010.07.020 PMCID: PMC2962987 PMID: 20638444 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25240289
1. Eur J Cancer. 2014 Nov;50(16):2763-70. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.08.002. Epub 2014 Sep 15. The impact of Oncotype DX testing on breast cancer management and chemotherapy prescribing patterns in a tertiary referral centre. McVeigh TP(1), Hughes LM(2), Miller N(2), Sheehan M(3), Keane M(4), Sweeney KJ(3), Kerin MJ(2). Author information: (1)Discipline of Surgery, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: terri.mcveigh@gmail.com. (2)Discipline of Surgery, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland. (3)BreastCheck, Western Unit, Ireland. (4)Department of Oncology, Galway University Hospital, Ireland. INTRODUCTION: The use of chemotherapy in node-negative, (O)Estrogen Receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer has changed significantly since the introduction of Oncotype DX to determine systemic recurrence risk based on tumour genomic signature. AIMS: This study aims to METHODS: A cohort study was undertaken, including consecutive patients with early node-negative, ER-positive breast cancer diagnosed between 2006 and May 2013, including a period of prospective clinical trial (Trial Assigning Individualised Options for Treatment (TAILORx)) recruitment. Data were collected regarding patient demographics, tumour clinico-pathological features, Oncotype DX use and recurrence score and chemotherapy use. All therapeutic decisions were made following multidisciplinary discussion, with adherence to guidelines and consideration of trial protocol and Oncotype DX recurrence scores. RESULTS: 479 consecutive patients were included in the study, of whom 241 (50%) underwent Oncotype DX testing, 97 as part of the TAILORx clinical trial. Oncotype DX testing began on a trial basis in 2007 and until October 2011, only patients enrolled on TAILORx availed of genomic profiling. From October 2011, Oncotype DX was used in all eligible patients as per National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) guidelines. A total of 216 (45%) patients received chemotherapy. The use of chemotherapy changed in inverse proportion to the availability of the genomic assay. Of those patients in whom Oncotype DX was utilised, 138 (57%) were spared chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: This study validates the use of molecular testing in the rationalisation of systemic therapy. Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.08.002 PMCID: PMC4204201 PMID: 25240289 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19597720
1. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2010 Apr;134(1):55-63. doi: 10.1007/s12011-009-8457-z. Epub 2009 Jul 14. Effect of zinc supplementation on antioxidant activity in young wrestlers. Kara E(1), Gunay M, Cicioglu I, Ozal M, Kilic M, Mogulkoc R, Baltaci AK. Author information: (1)Faculty of Education, Department of Physical Fitness and Sport, Karabuk University, Karabuk, Turkey. This study aims to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on free-radical formation and antioxidant system in individuals who are actively engaged in wrestling as a sport. The study registered a total of 40 male subjects, of whom 20 were wrestlers and 20 were sedentary individuals. The subjects were equally allocated to four groups: group 1, zinc-supplemented sportsmen group; group 2, sportsmen group without supplementation; group 3, zinc-supplemented sedentary group; group 4, sedentary group without supplementation. Blood samples were collected from all subjects twice, once at the beginning of the study and once again at the end of 8-week procedures. The blood samples collected were analyzed to determine the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), serum glutathione (GSH), serum glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (ELISA colorimetric method) and zinc (colorimetric method). No difference was found between MDA levels of the study groups in the beginning of the study. The highest MDA value at the end of the study was obtained in group 4 (p < 0.01). MDA levels in group 2 were established to be significantly higher than those in groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.01). GSH level, GPx, and SOD activities and zinc level measured in the beginning of the study were not different between groups. Measurements performed at the end of the study showed that groups 1 and 3 (zinc-supplemented groups) had the highest GSH level, GPx, and SOD activities and zinc level (p < 0.01). These parameters were not different in the groups without supplementation (groups 2 and 4). Results obtained at the end of the study indicate that zinc supplementation prevents production of free radicals by activating the antioxidant system. In conclusion, physiologic doses of zinc supplementation to athletes may beneficially contribute to their health and performance. DOI: 10.1007/s12011-009-8457-z PMID: 19597720 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23436649
1. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2013 Sep;8(5):565-72. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.8.5.565. Epub 2013 Feb 20. Effect of dietary antioxidants, training, and performance correlates on antioxidant status in competitive rowers. Braakhuis AJ(1), Hopkins WG, Lowe TE. Author information: (1)Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. The beneficial effects of exercise and a healthy diet are well documented in the general population but poorly understood in elite athletes. Previous research in subelite athletes suggests that regular training and an antioxidant-rich diet enhance antioxidant defenses but not performance. PURPOSE: To investigate whether habitual diet and/or exercise (training status or performance) affect antioxidant status in elite athletes. METHODS: Antioxidant blood biomarkers were assessed before and after a 30-min ergometer time trial in 28 male and 34 female rowers. The antioxidant blood biomarkers included ascorbic acid, uric acid, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), erythrocyte- superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase. Rowers completed a 7-d food diary and an antioxidant-intake questionnaire. Effects of diet, training, and performance on resting biomarkers were assessed with Pearson correlations, and their effect on exercise-induced changes in blood biomarkers was assessed by a method of standardization. RESULTS: With the exception of GPx, there were small to moderate increases with exercise for all markers. Blood resting TAC had a small correlation with total antioxidant intake (correlation .29; 90% confidence limits, ±.27), and the exercise-induced change in TAC had a trivial to small association with dietary antioxidant intake from vitamin C (standardized effect .19; ±.22), vegetables (.20; ±.23), and vitamin A (.25; ±.27). Most other dietary intakes had trivial associations with antioxidant biomarkers. Years of training had a small inverse correlation with TAC (-.32; ±.19) and a small association with the exercise-induced change in TAC (.27; ±.24). CONCLUSION: Training status correlates more strongly with antioxidant status than diet does. DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.8.5.565 PMID: 23436649 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22080314
1. J Strength Cond Res. 2011 Dec;25(12):3448-55. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182162f2b. Creatine supplementation decreases oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by a single bout of resistance exercise. Rahimi R(1). Author information: (1)Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran. rahman.rahimi@yahoo.com Rahimi, R. Creatine supplementation decreases oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by a single bout of resistance exercise. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3448-3455, 2011-Creatine (Cr), or methyl guanidine-acetic acid, can be either ingested from exogenous sources, such as fish or meat, or produced endogenously by the body, primarily in the liver. It is used as an ergogenic aid to improve muscle mass, strength, and endurance. Heretofore, Cr's positive therapeutic benefits in various oxidative stress-associated diseases have been reported in the literature and, recently, Cr has also been shown to exert direct antioxidant effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an acute bout of resistance exercise (RE) on oxidative stress response and oxidative DNA damage in male athletes and whether supplementation with Cr could negate any observed differences. Twenty-seven resistance-trained men were randomly divided into a Cr supplementation group (the Cr group [21.6 ± 3.6 years], taking 4 × 5 g Cr monohydrate per day) or a placebo (PL) supplementation group (the PL group [21.2 ± 3.2 years], taking 4 × 5 g maltodextrin per day). A double-blind research design was employed for a 7-day supplementation period. Before and after the seventh day of supplementation, the subjects performed an RE protocol (7 sets of 4 exercises using 60-90 1 repetition maximum) in the flat pyramid loading pattern. Blood and urine samples taken before, immediately, and 24-hour postexercise were analyzed for plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and urinary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) excretion. Before the supplementation period, a significant increase in the urinary 8-OHdG excretion and plasma MDA levels was observed after RE. The Cr supplementation induces a significant increase in athletics performance, and it attenuated the changes observed in the urinary 8-OHdG excretion and plasma MDA. These results indicate that Cr supplementation reduced oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation induced by a single bout of RE. DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182162f2b PMID: 22080314 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16575496
1. Eur J Nutr. 2006 Aug;45(5):259-66. doi: 10.1007/s00394-006-0593-z. Epub 2006 Mar 30. Effect of soy- and whey protein-isolate supplemented diet on the redox parameters of trained mice. Elia D(1), Stadler K, Horváth V, Jakus J. Author information: (1)Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry Chemical Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. BACKGROUND: A number of clinical trials have successfully been performed using whey and/or soy proteins in the treatment of many diseases. They both have antioxidant properties, which appears to be a factor in aerobic physical performance as well. In addition, these are the most often used supplements that sportsmen take to increase their performance. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of whey and soy protein supplementation on redox parameters in the muscle, on body weight, and body composition in swimming-trained and non-trained animals. METHODS: The effect of whey and soy protein-isolate supplementation on muscle redox parameters, body weight, and body composition in trained and non-trained mice was investigated after a single exhaustive bout of exercise. Steady state free radical concentration measured using electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy, reduced and oxidized glutathione ratio, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and protein carbonyl levels of the red leg muscle were measured. RESULTS: Free radical concentrations and glutathione composition of the tissue indicated that whey protein supplementation of the regular diet was able to prevent oxidative stress regardless of training. Soy protein supplementation decreased TBARS only in the muscle of untrained animals, while training per se lowered protein damage in all investigated groups. A mixture of soy and whey protein supplementation resulted in leaner animals after training, but had no synergistic effect on either of the measured redox parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes consuming these supplements could train with higher exercise intensity. The antioxidant effect of the two proteins is based on different mechanisms of action. DOI: 10.1007/s00394-006-0593-z PMID: 16575496 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23717765
1. Int J Prev Med. 2013 Apr;4(Suppl 1):S24-30. The effect of vitamins C and e supplementation on muscle damage, performance, and body composition in athlete women: a clinical trial. Taghiyar M(1), Ghiasvand R, Askari G, Feizi A, Hariri M, Mashhadi NS, Darvishi L. Author information: (1)Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran ; Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. BACKGROUND: Due to the special training conditions and lifestyle athletes require an antioxidant system that is more efficient than others. To keep this system optimal, many of them use antioxidant supplements. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamins C and E supplementation on muscle damage, performance, and body composition in athlete women. METHODS: The study was a 4-week randomized, double-blind clinical trial conducted on 64 trained female athletes recruited in Isfahan sports club. They were randomly assigned to one of the following four groups; A: vitamin C (250 mg/day), B: vitamin E (400 IU), C: vitamin C + vitamin E and control (placebo). Harvard Step Test was used to measure maximal oxygen consumption for performance, body composition, and damage marker (myoglobin) were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Comparing the result of the test in performance of sport, there was no significant difference between groups in VO2 max. Also, vitamin supplements had no significant effect on subcutaneous fat between the groups, however, in the intergroup comparison, were significantly increased in group control (P = 0.03). But, there were no significant differences, change in myoglobin between the groups. There was a significant increase in group A (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Vitamins C and E supplementation had no significant effect on any of the studied parameters. PMCID: PMC3665021 PMID: 23717765 Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of Interest: None declared
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23800565
1. Nutrition. 2013 Sep;29(9):1127-32. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.03.003. Epub 2013 Jun 22. Effects of creatine supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammatory markers after repeated-sprint exercise in humans. Deminice R(1), Rosa FT, Franco GS, Jordao AA, de Freitas EC. Author information: (1)Department of Physical Education, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport-State University of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. deminice@ig.com.br OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of creatine (Cr) supplementation on oxidative stress and inflammation markers after acute repeated-sprint exercise in humans. METHODS: Twenty-five players under age 20 y were randomly assigned to two groups: Cr supplemented and placebo. Double-blind controlled supplementation was performed using Cr (0.3 g/kg) or placebo tablets for 7 d. Before and after 7 d of supplementation, the athletes performed two consecutive Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Tests (RAST). RAST consisted of six 35-m sprint runs at maximum speed with 10 sec rest between them. Blood samples were collected just prior to start of test (pre), just after the completion (0 h), and 1 h after completion. RESULTS: Average, maximum, and minimum power values were greater in the Cr-supplemented group compared with placebo (P < 0.05). There were significant increases (P < 0.05) in plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) up to 1 h after acute sprint exercise in the placebo-supplemented group. Malondialdehyde, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes also were increased after exercise in both groups. Red blood cell glutathione was lower after exercise in both groups. Cr supplementation reversed the increase in TNF-α and CRP as well as LDH induced by acute exercise. Controversially, Cr supplementation did not inhibit the rise in oxidative stress markers. Also, antioxidant enzyme activity was not different between placebo and Cr-supplemented groups. CONCLUSION: Cr supplementation inhibited the increase of inflammation markers TNF-α and CRP, but not oxidative stress markers, due to acute exercise. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2013.03.003 PMID: 23800565 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17010801
1. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2006 Oct 3;48(7):1396-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.07.016. Epub 2006 Sep 12. Phospholamban R14 deletion results in late-onset, mild, hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy. DeWitt MM(1), MacLeod HM, Soliven B, McNally EM. Author information: (1)Department to Medicine, Section of Cardiology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to determine the phenotypic spectrum associated with phospholamban gene (PLN) mutations. BACKGROUND: Inheritance contributes to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy. Mutations in the gene encoding PLN have been associated with dilated cardiomyopathy characterized by early onset and the presence of lethal ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: We screened a cohort of 260 unrelated dilated cardiomyopathy patients from a tertiary care referral center for mutations in the PLN gene. RESULTS: Family history of cardiomyopathy was present in approximately one-half the individuals in this cohort. We identified 1 family with a deletion of arginine 14 in the PLN. Interestingly, unlike other individuals reported with the identical PLN mutation, these individuals were not diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy until their seventh decade when they were only mildly symptomatic with congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS: The identical PLN mutation can be associated with both mild and severe forms of dilated cardiomyopathy. Additionally, PLN mutations should be considered in late onset cardiomyopathy. (Genetics of Cardiovascular and Neuromuscular Disease; http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00138931?order=1; NCT00138931) DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2006.07.016 PMID: 17010801 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16432188
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 Jan 31;103(5):1388-93. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0510519103. Epub 2006 Jan 23. A mutation in the human phospholamban gene, deleting arginine 14, results in lethal, hereditary cardiomyopathy. Haghighi K(1), Kolokathis F, Gramolini AO, Waggoner JR, Pater L, Lynch RA, Fan GC, Tsiapras D, Parekh RR, Dorn GW 2nd, MacLennan DH, Kremastinos DT, Kranias EG. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA. The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-cycling proteins are key regulators of cardiac contractility, and alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-cycling properties have been shown to be causal of familial cardiomyopathies. Through genetic screening of dilated cardiomyopathy patients, we identified a previously uncharacterized deletion of arginine 14 (PLN-R14Del) in the coding region of the phospholamban (PLN) gene in a large family with hereditary heart failure. No homozygous individuals were identified. By middle age, heterozygous individuals developed left ventricular dilation, contractile dysfunction, and episodic ventricular arrhythmias, with overt heart failure in some cases. Transgenic mice overexpressing the mutant PLN-R14Del recapitulated human cardiomyopathy exhibiting similar histopathologic abnormalities and premature death. Coexpression of the normal and mutant-PLN in HEK-293 cells resulted in sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase superinhibition. The dominant effect of the PLN-R14Del mutation could not be fully removed, even upon phosphorylation by protein kinase A. Thus, by chronic suppression of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase activity, the nonreversible superinhibitory function of mutant PLN-R14Del may lead to inherited dilated cardiomyopathy and premature death in both humans and mice. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0510519103 PMCID: PMC1360586 PMID: 16432188 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21830999
1. J Sports Sci. 2011;29 Suppl 1:S47-55. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2011.602098. Epub 2011 Aug 11. Antioxidant and Vitamin D supplements for athletes: sense or nonsense? Powers S(1), Nelson WB, Larson-Meyer E. Author information: (1)Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8208, USA. spowers@hhp.ufl.edu The idea that dietary supplements can improve athletic performance is popular among athletes. The use of antioxidant supplements is widespread among endurance athletes because of evidence that free radicals contribute to muscle fatigue during prolonged exercise. Furthermore, interest in vitamin D supplementation is increasing in response to studies indicating that vitamin D deficiency exists in athletic populations. This review explores the rationale for supplementation with both antioxidants and vitamin D and discusses the evidence to support and deny the benefits of these dietary supplements. The issue of whether athletes should use antioxidant supplements remains highly controversial. Nonetheless, at present there is limited scientific evidence to recommend antioxidant supplements to athletes or other physically active individuals. Therefore, athletes should consult with their health care professional and/or nutritionist when considering antioxidant supplementation. The issue of whether athletes should supplement with vitamin D is also controversial. While arguments for and against vitamin D supplementation exist, additional research is required to determine whether vitamin D supplementation is beneficial to athletes. Nevertheless, based upon the growing evidence that many athletic populations are vitamin D deficient or insufficient, it is recommended that athletes monitor their serum vitamin D concentration and consult with their health care professional and/or nutritionist to determine if they would derive health benefits from vitamin D supplementation. DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2011.602098 PMID: 21830999 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25580223
1. F1000Res. 2014 Apr 11;3:90. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.3872.2. eCollection 2014. Does the linear Sry transcript function as a ceRNA for miR-138? The sense of antisense. Granados-Riveron JT(1), Aquino-Jarquin G(1). Author information: (1)Laboratorio de Investigación en Genómica, Genética y Bioinformática, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, 06720, Mexico. Recently, the sex determining region Y ( Sry) and the cerebellar degeneration-related protein 1 ( CDR1as) RNA transcripts have been described to function as a new class of post-transcriptional regulatory RNAs that behave as circular endogenous RNA sponges for the micro RNAs (miRNAs) miR-138 and miR-7, respectively. A special feature of the Sry gene is its ability to generate linear and circular transcripts, both transcribed in the sense orientation. Here we remark that both sense (e.g. Sry RNA) and antisense (e.g. CDR1as) transcripts could circularize and behave as miRNAs sponges, and importantly, that also protein-coding segments of mRNAs could also assume this role. Thus, it is reasonable to think that the linear Sry sense transcript could additionally act as a miRNA sponge, or as an endogenous competing RNA for miR-138. DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.3872.2 PMCID: PMC4288412 PMID: 25580223 Conflict of interest statement: Competing interests: No competing interests were disclosed.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19777560
1. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2010 Mar 5;153B(2):619-628. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.b.31031. The effect of smoking on MAOA promoter methylation in DNA prepared from lymphoblasts and whole blood. Philibert RA(1)(2), Beach SRH(3), Gunter TD(1), Brody GH(3), Madan A(4), Gerrard M(5). Author information: (1)Department of Psychiatry, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. (2)Neuroscience and Genetics Programs, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. (3)Institute for Behavioral Research, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia. (4)The Swedish Hospital Institute for Neuroscience, Seattle, Washington. (5)Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire. Prior work using lymphoblast DNA prepared from 192 subjects from the Iowa Adoption Studies (IAS) demonstrated that decreased MAOA promoter methylation was associated with lifetime symptom count for nicotine dependence (ND) and provided suggestive evidence that the amount of methylation is genotype dependent. In the current investigation, we replicate and extend these prior findings in three ways using another 289 IAS subjects and the same methodologies. First, we show that methylation is dependent on current smoking status. Second, we introduce a factor analytic approach to DNA methylation, highlighting three distinct regions of the promoter that may function in somewhat different ways for males and females. Third, we directly compare the methylation signatures in DNA prepared from whole blood and lymphoblasts from a subset of these subjects and provide suggestive evidence favoring the use of lymphoblast DNA. We conclude that smoking reliably decreases MAOA methylation, but exact characterization of effects on level of methylation depend on genotype, smoking history, current smoking status, gender, and region of the promoter-associated CpG Island examined. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.31031 PMCID: PMC3694401 PMID: 19777560 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22906985
1. Lab Invest. 2012 Oct;92(10):1451-60. doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2012.110. Epub 2012 Aug 20. Monoamine oxidase A expression is suppressed in human cholangiocarcinoma via coordinated epigenetic and IL-6-driven events. Huang L(1), Frampton G, Rao A, Zhang KS, Chen W, Lai JM, Yin XY, Walker K, Culbreath B, Leyva-Illades D, Quinn M, McMillin M, Bradley M, Liang LJ, DeMorrow S. Author information: (1)Department of Internal Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Scott and White Hospital, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, Temple, TX 76504, USA. The secretion of dopamine and serotonin is increased in cholangiocarcinoma, which has growth-promoting effects. Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), the degradation enzyme of serotonin and dopamine, is suppressed in cholangiocarcinoma via an unknown mechanism. The aims of this study were to (i) correlate MAOA immunoreactivity with pathophysiological parameters of cholangiocarcinoma, (ii) determine the mechanism by which MAOA expression is suppressed and (iii) evaluate the consequences of restored MAOA expression in cholangiocarcinoma. MAOA expression was assessed in cholangiocarcinoma and nonmalignant controls. The control of MAOA expression by promoter hypermethylation was evaluated and the contribution of interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling to the suppression of MAOA expression was determined. The effects of MAOA overexpression on cholangiocarcinoma growth and invasion were also assessed. MAOA expression is correlated with differentiation, invasion and survival in cholangiocarcinoma. The MAOA promoter was hypermethylated immediately upstream of the start codon in cholangiocarcinoma samples and cell lines but not in nonmalignant counterparts. IL-6 signaling also decreased MAOA expression via a mechanism independent of hypermethylation, involving the regulation of the balance between SP-1 transcriptional activity and its inhibitor, R1 repressor. Inhibition of both IL-6 signaling and DNA methylation restored MAOA levels to those observed in cholangiocytes. Forced MAOA overexpression inhibited cholangiocarcinoma growth and invasion. MAOA expression is suppressed by the coordinated control of promoter hypermethylation and IL-6 signaling. MAOA may be a useful prognostic marker in the management of cholangiocarcinoma, and therapies designed to increase MAOA expression might prove beneficial in the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2012.110 PMCID: PMC3959781 PMID: 22906985 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20026581
1. Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 Apr;38(6):1796-804. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkp1152. Epub 2009 Dec 21. The multi-domain protein Np95 connects DNA methylation and histone modification. Rottach A(1), Frauer C, Pichler G, Bonapace IM, Spada F, Leonhardt H. Author information: (1)Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Department of Biology II and Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich, Grosshaderner Str. 2, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany. DNA methylation and histone modifications play a central role in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression and cell differentiation. Recently, Np95 (also known as UHRF1 or ICBP90) has been found to interact with Dnmt1 and to bind hemimethylated DNA, indicating together with genetic studies a central role in the maintenance of DNA methylation. Using in vitro binding assays we observed a weak preference of Np95 and its SRA (SET- and Ring-associated) domain for hemimethylated CpG sites. However, the binding kinetics of Np95 in living cells was not affected by the complete loss of genomic methylation. Investigating further links with heterochromatin, we could show that Np95 preferentially binds histone H3 N-terminal tails with trimethylated (H3K9me3) but not acetylated lysine 9 via a tandem Tudor domain. This domain contains three highly conserved aromatic amino acids that form an aromatic cage similar to the one binding H3K9me3 in the chromodomain of HP1ss. Mutations targeting the aromatic cage of the Np95 tandem Tudor domain (Y188A and Y191A) abolished specific H3 histone tail binding. These multiple interactions of the multi-domain protein Np95 with hemimethylated DNA and repressive histone marks as well as with DNA and histone methyltransferases integrate the two major epigenetic silencing pathways. DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkp1152 PMCID: PMC2847221 PMID: 20026581 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17468742
1. Nature. 2007 May 31;447(7144):601-5. doi: 10.1038/nature05823. Epub 2007 Apr 29. The histone H3K4 demethylase SMCX links REST target genes to X-linked mental retardation. Tahiliani M(1), Mei P, Fang R, Leonor T, Rutenberg M, Shimizu F, Li J, Rao A, Shi Y. Author information: (1)Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Department of Medicine and BCMP, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 221 Longwood Avenue Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. Gene transcription is critically influenced by chromatin structure and the modification status of histone tails. Methylation of lysine residues in histone tails is dynamically regulated by the opposing activities of histone methyltransferases and histone demethylases. Here we show that JARID1C/SMCX, a JmjC-domain-containing protein implicated in X-linked mental retardation and epilepsy, possesses H3K4 tri-demethylase activity and functions as a transcriptional repressor. An SMCX complex isolated from HeLa cells contains additional chromatin modifiers (the histone deacetylases HDAC1 and HDAC2, and the histone H3K9 methyltransferase G9a) and the transcriptional repressor REST, suggesting a direct role for SMCX in chromatin dynamics and REST-mediated repression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation reveals that SMCX and REST co-occupy the neuron-restrictive silencing elements in the promoters of a subset of REST target genes. RNA-interference-mediated depletion of SMCX derepresses several of these targets and simultaneously increases H3K4 trimethylation at the sodium channel type 2A (SCN2A) and synapsin I (SYN1) promoters. We propose that loss of SMCX activity impairs REST-mediated neuronal gene regulation, thereby contributing to SMCX-associated X-linked mental retardation. DOI: 10.1038/nature05823 PMID: 17468742 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18058811
1. Mol Reprod Dev. 2008 May;75(5):731-43. doi: 10.1002/mrd.20816. Messenger RNA expression patterns of histone-associated genes in bovine preimplantation embryos derived from different origins. Nowak-Imialek M(1), Wrenzycki C, Herrmann D, Lucas-Hahn A, Lagutina I, Lemme E, Lazzari G, Galli C, Niemann H. Author information: (1)Department of Biotechnology, Institute for Animal Breeding (FAL), Mariensee, Neustadt, Germany. Histone modification genes in bovine embryos: The mRNA expression pattern of histone-related genes was determined in bovine oocytes and embryos. We compared immature and in vitro-matured oocytes, either before or after enucleation and activation, in vitro produced embryos (zygotes, 8-16 cell stages, blastocysts), embryos cloned with female or male donor cells; parthenogenetic embryos, and in vivo-derived blastocysts to detect deviations from the normal expression pattern. A sensitive semi-quantitative endpoint RT-PCR assay was used to reveal differences in histone deacetylation [histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2)]; histone acetylation [histone acetyltransferase 1 (HAT1)]; histone methylation [histone methyltransferases (SUV39H1, G9A)]; heterochromatin formation [heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1)]; and chromatin-mediated transcription regulation [zygote arrest 1 (ZAR1)]. With the exception of ZAR1, these mRNAs were present throughout preimplantation development. The relative abundance of mRNAs for histone methyltransferases (SUV39H1 and G9A) and for heterochromatin-associated protein (HP1) differed significantly before and after activation of the bovine embryonic genome. The similarity of HAT1 gene expression in 8-16 cell embryos and blastocysts suggests that histone acetylation is primarily affected by in vitro culture only prior to embryonic genome activation. HDAC2 gene mRNA expression was not affected by in vitro culture and/or cloning before and after activation of the embryonic genome. The donor cell line affected mRNA expression patterns of genes involved in reprogramming cloned embryos suggesting epigenetic dysregulation. Results show that both in vitro production and somatic cloning alter the mRNA expression of histone modifying genes in bovine embryos. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20816 PMID: 18058811 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19838998
1. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 Jan;79(1):5-13. doi: 10.1024/0300-9831.79.1.5. Antioxidant effect on urinary excretion of malondialdehyde in non-athletes during aerobic training. Hadley M(1), Visser MF, Vander Steen T. Author information: (1)Department of Chemistry and Geology, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Mankato, MN 56001, USA. mary.hadley@mnsu.edu Conditions in the body during aerobic exercise increase the level of lipid peroxidation (LP). LP is associated with elevated concentration of modified low-density lipoproteins that are implicated in development of cardiovascular disease. Supplementation with antioxidant vitamin E to athletes at 267 mg (400 IUs) or greater has been reported to reduce levels of LP associated with exercise. Little is currently known about the effects of modest supplementation of vitamin E on previously sedentary adults who initiate an aerobic fitness program. In the present study, sedentary subjects (n = 14) kept 24-hour diet records to establish antioxidant intake of vitamins E and C and collected 24-hour urine samples that were used to determine baseline urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, one measure of in vivo LP. No significant differences were noted in the parameters between groups. Seven subjects were randomly selected and supplemented daily with 133 mg (200 IUs) of vitamin E. All subjects participated in moderate-intensity aerobic training for 8 weeks. Post-training, non-supplemented subjects excreted significantly more MDA (p<0.05) and consumed significantly fewer antioxidants than the supplemented group. Vitamin E supplementation appears to suppress elevated LP associated with beginning an aerobic exercise regimen in previously sedentary subjects. DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831.79.1.5 PMID: 19838998 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16829191
1. Eur J Heart Fail. 2007 Jan;9(1):37-43. doi: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.04.007. Epub 2006 Jul 7. Mutational screening of phospholamban gene in hypertrophic and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and functional study of the PLN -42 C>G mutation. Medin M(1), Hermida-Prieto M, Monserrat L, Laredo R, Rodriguez-Rey JC, Fernandez X, Castro-Beiras A. Author information: (1)Hospital Universitario Juan Canalejo, Spain. BACKGROUND: Phospholamban is an endogenous sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase inhibitor with a regulatory effect on cardiac contraction/relaxation coupling. Mutations in the phospholamban gene (PLN) have been associated with primary cardiomyopathies. AIMS: To screen for PLN mutations in our population of patients with primary cardiomyopathies and to perform functional analysis of the mutations identified. METHODS: We performed SSCP mutational screening and DNA sequencing of the PLN gene in 186 patients with either hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. To study promoter strength we constructed reporter plasmids containing the luciferase gene and performed transient transfection analysis in C6 and C2C12 cell lines. RESULTS: The PLN -42 C>G mutation was found in one patient with late onset familial apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This mutation decreased phospholamban promoter activity by 43% and 47%, in C6 and C2C12 cell lines respectively. One son had mild apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and carried the mutation, another son with normal ECG and echocardiogram also had the mutation. CONCLUSION: The PLN -42 C>G mutation is associated with a benign form of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in this family, though the presence of a healthy adult carrier suggests that other genetic and environmental factors could be involved. Otherwise, mutations in the PLN gene are not a frequent cause of cardiomyopathies in our population. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2006.04.007 PMID: 16829191 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21332051
1. Kardiol Pol. 2011;69(2):134-7. Phospholamban gene mutations are not associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in patients from southern Poland. Petkow-Dimitrow P(1), Kieć-Wilk B, Kwaśniak M, Mikołajczyk M, Dembińska-Kieć A. Author information: (1)2nd Department of Cardiology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. dimitrow@mp.pl Comment in Kardiol Pol. 2011;69(2):138. BACKGROUND: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disease. The role of phospholamban (PLN) gene mutations is the development of HCM has not been established. AIM: To screen for PLN gene mutations in a group of HCM patients from the southern Poland. METHODS: We included 50 consecutive patients (31 males, mean age 42 ± 14 years) diagnosed with HCM on the basis of typical clinical, echocardiographic, and haemodynamic features. The control group consisted of 50 (sex-, age-matched) healthy subjects with normal echocardiograms. RESULTS: The genetic analysis was focused on R9C mutation with the ability to block PLN phosphorylation leading to chronic inhibition of SERCA2a activity. Another analysed mutation causing the alteration of PLN level in cells was related to the substitution of a leucine residue at position 39 with a premature stop codon (L39X). The sequence analysis of selected coding regions of the PLN gene did not show the presence of mutations in either the patients or the control subpopulations. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic mutation screening did not reveal any mutation in the selected regions of the PLN gene. Additionally, no polymorphisms were detected in any patients. Therefore, PLN gene mutations were not found to be associated with HCM in the study group. PMID: 21332051 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17035524
1. J Neurosci. 2006 Oct 11;26(41):10397-406. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1671-06.2006. Functional analyses of glycyl-tRNA synthetase mutations suggest a key role for tRNA-charging enzymes in peripheral axons. Antonellis A(1), Lee-Lin SQ, Wasterlain A, Leo P, Quezado M, Goldfarb LG, Myung K, Burgess S, Fischbeck KH, Green ED. Author information: (1)Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V) are axonal neuropathies characterized by a phenotype that is more severe in the upper extremities. We previously implicated mutations in the gene encoding glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) as the cause of CMT2D and dSMA-V. GARS is a member of the family of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases responsible for charging tRNA with cognate amino acids; GARS ligates glycine to tRNA(Gly). Here, we present functional analyses of disease-associated GARS mutations and show that there are not any significant mutation-associated changes in GARS expression levels; that the majority of identified GARS mutations modeled in yeast severely impair viability; and that, in most cases, mutant GARS protein mislocalizes in neuronal cells. Indeed, four of the five mutations studied show loss-of-function features in at least one assay, suggesting that tRNA-charging deficits play a role in disease pathogenesis. Finally, we detected endogenous GARS-associated granules in the neurite projections of cultured neurons and in the peripheral nerve axons of normal human tissue. These data are particularly important in light of the recent identification of CMT-associated mutations in another tRNA synthetase gene [YARS (tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase gene)]. Together, these findings suggest that tRNA-charging enzymes play a key role in maintaining peripheral axons. DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1671-06.2006 PMCID: PMC6674701 PMID: 17035524 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25168514
1. Hum Mutat. 2014 Nov;35(11):1363-71. doi: 10.1002/humu.22681. Impaired function is a common feature of neuropathy-associated glycyl-tRNA synthetase mutations. Griffin LB(1), Sakaguchi R, McGuigan D, Gonzalez MA, Searby C, Züchner S, Hou YM, Antonellis A. Author information: (1)Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) is an autosomal-dominant axonal peripheral neuropathy characterized by impaired motor and sensory function in the distal extremities. Mutations in the glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS) gene cause CMT2D. GARS is a member of the ubiquitously expressed aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) family and is responsible for charging tRNA with glycine. To date, 13 GARS mutations have been identified in patients with CMT disease. While functional studies have revealed loss-of-function characteristics, only four GARS mutations have been rigorously studied. Here, we report the functional evaluation of nine CMT-associated GARS mutations in tRNA charging, yeast complementation, and subcellular localization assays. Our results demonstrate that impaired function is a common characteristic of CMT-associated GARS mutations. Additionally, one mutation previously associated with CMT disease (p.Ser581Leu) does not demonstrate impaired function, was identified in the general population, and failed to segregate with disease in two newly identified families with CMT disease. Thus, we propose that this variant is not a disease-causing mutation. Together, our data indicate that impaired function is a key component of GARS-mediated CMT disease and emphasize the need for careful genetic and functional evaluation before implicating a variant in disease onset. © 2014 WILEY PERIODICALS, INC. DOI: 10.1002/humu.22681 PMCID: PMC4213347 PMID: 25168514 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21310746
1. Bioinformatics. 2011 Apr 1;27(7):933-8. doi: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btr053. Epub 2011 Feb 9. FISH Finder: a high-throughput tool for analyzing FISH images. Shirley JW(1), Ty S, Takebayashi S, Liu X, Gilbert DM. Author information: (1)Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. MOTIVATION: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is used to study the organization and the positioning of specific DNA sequences within the cell nucleus. Analyzing the data from FISH images is a tedious process that invokes an element of subjectivity. Automated FISH image analysis offers savings in time as well as gaining the benefit of objective data analysis. While several FISH image analysis software tools have been developed, they often use a threshold-based segmentation algorithm for nucleus segmentation. As fluorescence signal intensities can vary significantly from experiment to experiment, from cell to cell, and within a cell, threshold-based segmentation is inflexible and often insufficient for automatic image analysis, leading to additional manual segmentation and potential subjective bias. To overcome these problems, we developed a graphical software tool called FISH Finder to automatically analyze FISH images that vary significantly. By posing the nucleus segmentation as a classification problem, compound Bayesian classifier is employed so that contextual information is utilized, resulting in reliable classification and boundary extraction. This makes it possible to analyze FISH images efficiently and objectively without adjustment of input parameters. Additionally, FISH Finder was designed to analyze the distances between differentially stained FISH probes. AVAILABILITY: FISH Finder is a standalone MATLAB application and platform independent software. The program is freely available from: http://code.google.com/p/fishfinder/downloads/list. DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btr053 PMCID: PMC3065689 PMID: 21310746 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22665392
1. IEEE Trans Nanobioscience. 2012 Jun;11(2):111-8. doi: 10.1109/TNB.2012.2189414. Classification of multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) images with sparse representation. Cao H(1), Deng HW, Li M, Wang YP. Author information: (1)Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. hcao3@tulane.edu There has been a considerable interest in sparse representation and compressive sensing in applied mathematics and signal processing in recent years but with limited success to medical image processing. In this paper we developed a sparse representation-based classification (SRC) algorithm based on L1-norm minimization for classifying chromosomes from multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH) images. The algorithm has been tested on a comprehensive M-FISH database that we established, demonstrating improved performance in classification. When compared with other pixel-wise M-FISH image classifiers such as fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithms and adaptive fuzzy c-means (AFCM) clustering algorithms that we proposed earlier the current method gave the lowest classification error. In order to evaluate the performance of different SRC for M-FISH imaging analysis, three different sparse representation methods, namely, Homotopy method, Orthogonal Matching Pursuit (OMP), and Least Angle Regression (LARS), were tested and compared. Results from our statistical analysis have shown that Homotopy based method is significantly better than the other two methods. Our work indicates that sparse representations based classifiers with proper models can outperform many existing classifiers for M-FISH classification including those that we proposed before, which can significantly improve the multicolor imaging system for chromosome analysis in cancer and genetic disease diagnosis. DOI: 10.1109/TNB.2012.2189414 PMCID: PMC4165853 PMID: 22665392 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20925138
1. J Pathol. 2010 Dec;222(4):345-9. doi: 10.1002/path.2777. Dyskerin and cancer: more than telomerase. The defect in mRNA translation helps in explaining how a proliferative defect leads to cancer. Montanaro L(1). Author information: (1)Department of Experimental Pathology, Alma Mater Studiorum--Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy. lorenzo.montanaro@unibo.it Point mutations in the DKC1 gene that encodes dyskerin cause the rare inherited syndrome called X-linked dyskeratosis congenita, characterized by a failure of proliferating tissues and increased susceptibility to cancer. Dyskerin is a nucleolar protein with different functions, all fundamental to basic cellular events such as protein expression, growth, and proliferation. The two best-characterized dyskerin activities are the stabilization of the telomerase RNA component, allowing the proper function telomerase enzymatic complex, and the modification of specific uridine residues of ribosomal RNA by converting them to pseudouridine, thus allowing proper ribosome processing and function. In light of the recent findings, this review focuses on the molecular pathogenesis of dyskeratosis congenita, discussing how a defect in ribosomal function might impact on the translation of a subset of mRNAs encoding for tumour suppressors, thus providing an explanation for the apparent paradox of dyskeratosis congenita in which reduced cell proliferation is associated with cancer susceptibility. In addition, the current evidence pointing to a role played by dyskerin in tumours in the general population is also discussed. Copyright © 2010 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. DOI: 10.1002/path.2777 PMID: 20925138 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18054794
1. Mech Ageing Dev. 2008 Jan-Feb;129(1-2):48-59. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2007.10.006. Epub 2007 Oct 30. Dyskeratosis Congenita: a historical perspective. Walne AJ(1), Dokal I. Author information: (1)Academic Unit of Paediatrics, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, The Blizard Building, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. a.walne@qmul.ac.uk "Dyskeratosis Congenita (DC) also known as Zinsser-Engman-Cole syndrome is a rare multi-system bone marrow failure syndrome characterised by mucocutaneous abnormalities and an increased predisposition to cancer". This is a common definition of DC but how did this definition arise? The aim of this review is to follow the development of DC and associated diseases from its first reported description in the early 20th century to the current understanding of the genes involved and its pathophysiology in 2007 in a chronological order. Although this review is not intended to be an exhaustive citation of the literature available it does provide a summary of the key developments, citing particularly the earlier reports of each development. DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2007.10.006 PMID: 18054794 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12690580
1. Am J Hum Genet. 2003 May;72(5):1293-9. doi: 10.1086/375039. Epub 2003 Apr 10. Glycyl tRNA synthetase mutations in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V. Antonellis A(1), Ellsworth RE, Sambuughin N, Puls I, Abel A, Lee-Lin SQ, Jordanova A, Kremensky I, Christodoulou K, Middleton LT, Sivakumar K, Ionasescu V, Funalot B, Vance JM, Goldfarb LG, Fischbeck KH, Green ED. Author information: (1)Genome Technology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V) are axonal peripheral neuropathies inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. Our previous genetic and physical mapping efforts localized the responsible gene(s) to a well-defined region on human chromosome 7p. Here, we report the identification of four disease-associated missense mutations in the glycyl tRNA synthetase gene in families with CMT2D and dSMA-V. This is the first example of an aminoacyl tRNA synthetase being implicated in a human genetic disease, which makes genes that encode these enzymes relevant candidates for other inherited neuropathies and motor neuron diseases. DOI: 10.1086/375039 PMCID: PMC1180282 PMID: 12690580 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20507306
1. Br J Haematol. 2010 Jul;150(2):179-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2010.08212.x. Epub 2010 Apr 30. Malignancies and survival patterns in the National Cancer Institute inherited bone marrow failure syndromes cohort study. Alter BP(1), Giri N, Savage SA, Peters JA, Loud JT, Leathwood L, Carr AG, Greene MH, Rosenberg PS. Author information: (1)Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20852-7231, USA. alterb@mail.nih.gov Fanconi anaemia (FA), dyskeratosis congenita (DC), Diamond-Blackfan anaemia (DBA), and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS) comprise major inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). Adverse events include severe bone marrow failure (BMF), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), and solid tumours (ST). The natural history of FA is well characterised; hazard rates in the other syndromes have not yet been quantified. An open cohort was established at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in 2002. Patients enrolled prior to December, 2007 were followed up to December, 2008. Diagnoses were confirmed with standard tests. Age-associated risks of adverse events were calculated. Most patients in each syndrome survived to young adulthood. Patients with FA had earlier onset of cancers, need for stem cell transplant, and death; followed by DC; DBA and SDS were mildest. While FA and DC patients had markedly increased risks of cancer, AML and MDS, there were no cases of leukaemia in DBA or SDS patients. The NCI cohort provides the first direct quantitative comparison of timing and magnitude of cancer risk in the IBMFS. The findings demonstrate that both FA and DC are major cancer susceptibility syndromes. The IBMFS, historically considered paediatric disorders, have important management implications for physicians treating adult patients. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2010.08212.x PMCID: PMC3125983 PMID: 20507306 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Conflict-of-interest All authors declare no competing financial interests.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17548343
1. J Biol Chem. 2007 Jul 20;282(29):21024-31. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M703883200. Epub 2007 Jun 4. Purification and characterization of cellular proteins associated with histone H4 tails. Choi J(1), Kim B, Heo K, Kim K, Kim H, Zhan Y, Ranish JA, An W. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern California (USC)/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. The histone H4 N-terminal tail has long been regarded as a major regulator in chromatin structure and function. Although the underlying mechanism has not been unraveled, an emerging body of evidence supports that H4 tail and its post-translational modification function as a recruitment motif for key factors required for proper regulation of chromatin transcription. To investigate these aspects, we have generated HeLa cell lines that constitutively express ectopic H4 tail domain for biochemical purification of proteins associated with H4 tail. We found that expressed H4 tails stably associate with sets of transcription regulatory factors and histone methyltransferases distinct from those that associate with histone H3 tails. Importantly, point mutations of four major lysine substrates to block cellular acetylation of ectopic H4 tail significantly inhibited the association of histone methyltransferases and sets of transcription-activating factors, supporting a major role of acetylation on recruitmentbased action of H4 tail during transcription. Further, our transcription analysis revealed that the proteins associated with wild-type/acetylated H4 tail, but not with mutant/unacetylated H4 tail, can enhance p300-dependent chromatin transcription. Taken together, these findings demonstrate novel roles for H4 tail and its acetylation in mediating recruitment of multiple regulatory factors that can change chromatin states for transcription regulation. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M703883200 PMID: 17548343 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25420567
1. Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2014;54(11):911-5. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.54.911. [A novel mutation in glycyl-tRNA synthetase caused Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2D with facial and respiratory muscle involvement]. [Article in Japanese] Kawakami N(1), Komatsu K, Yamashita H, Uemura K, Oka N, Takashima H, Takahashi R. Author information: (1)Department of Neurology, Shizuoka General Hospital. BACKGROUND: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary peripheral neuropathy; symptoms include distal wasting and weakness, usually with some sensory impairment. The clinical course is typically benign and the disease is not life threatening; however, in some cases, severe phenotypes include serious respiratory distress. CASE REPORT: Here we describe a 45-year-old woman with a long course of motor-dominant neuropathy. Distal weakness appeared in childhood and became worse with age. After a diagnosis of CMT type 2, the symptoms progressed, and in her fourth decade, facial and respiratory muscle weakness appeared, ultimately requiring non-invasive mechanical ventilation. There was no family history of CMT. Comprehensive analysis of known CMT-related genes revealed a novel heterozygous c.815T>A, p.L218Q mutation in glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GARS), a causative gene for both CMT type 2D (CMT2D) and distal spinal muscular atrophy type V (dSMA-V). This mutation was considered pathogenic based on molecular evidence; notably, it was unique in that all other reported GARS mutations associated with severe phenotypes are located in an anticodon-binding domain, while in this case in an apparently non-functional region of the GARS gene. Not a simple loss-of-function mechanism, but rather gain-of-function mechanisms have also been reported in GARS mutations. This case provided useful information for understanding the mechanism of CMT2D/dSMA-V. DOI: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.54.911 PMID: 25420567 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16982418
1. Neuron. 2006 Sep 21;51(6):715-26. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.08.027. An active dominant mutation of glycyl-tRNA synthetase causes neuropathy in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth 2D mouse model. Seburn KL(1), Nangle LA, Cox GA, Schimmel P, Burgess RW. Author information: (1)The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609, USA. Comment in Neuron. 2006 Sep 21;51(6):672-4. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.09.008. Of the many inherited Charcot-Marie-Tooth peripheral neuropathies, type 2D (CMT2D) is caused by dominant point mutations in the gene GARS, encoding glycyl tRNA synthetase (GlyRS). Here we report a dominant mutation in Gars that causes neuropathy in the mouse. Importantly, both sensory and motor axons are affected, and the dominant phenotype is not caused by a loss of the GlyRS aminoacylation function. Mutant mice have abnormal neuromuscular junction morphology and impaired transmission, reduced nerve conduction velocities, and a loss of large-diameter peripheral axons, without defects in myelination. The mutant GlyRS enzyme retains aminoacylation activity, and a loss-of-function allele, generated by a gene-trap insertion, shows no dominant phenotype in mice. These results indicate that the CMT2D phenotype is caused not by reduction of the canonical GlyRS activity and insufficiencies in protein synthesis, but instead by novel pathogenic roles for the mutant GlyRS that specifically affect peripheral neurons. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2006.08.027 PMID: 16982418 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23352883
1. Arch Pediatr. 2013 Mar;20(3):299-306. doi: 10.1016/j.arcped.2012.12.003. Epub 2013 Jan 23. [Dyskeratosis congenita: an update]. [Article in French] Mialou V(1), Leblanc T, Peffault de Latour R, Dalle JH, Socié G. Author information: (1)Institut d'hématologie et oncologie pédiatrique (IHOP), 1, place Professeur-J.-Renaut, 69008 Lyon, France. valerie.mialou@chu-lyon.fr Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare inherited bone marrow failure characterized by excessively short telomeres in highly proliferative tissues. These abnormalities are due to disturbance of the telomere maintenance machinery. The clinical presentation is characterized by skin pigmentation, nail dystrophy, and mucosal leukoplakia. All these mucocutaneous features are rare in childhood: they usually appear between 5 and 10 years of age. In young children, the initial presentation can associate bone marrow failure and neurological or ocular problems: Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson and Revesz syndromes, respectively. Clinical progression of the disease can lead to aplastic anemia (86% of all patients) and to pulmonary or hepatic complications. These patients also have an increased risk of cancer. Diagnosis is often suspected on bone marrow failure with no clinical or biological abnormalities compatible with Fanconi anemia diagnosis. The telomere length study can be helpful for diagnosis in case of aplastic anemia in children before studying gene mutations. Until now, 6 genes (DKC1, TERT, TERC, NOLA2, NOLA3, TINF2) have been identified in dyskeratosis congenita. Transmission of the disease can be autosomal recessive, autosomal dominant, or X-linked. In half of the cases, the genetic abnormality is unknown. Treatment of DC has to be adapted to each patient, from symptomatic or androgenic treatment to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcped.2012.12.003 PMID: 23352883 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18562771
1. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2008 Jun;18(3):301-12. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.18.3.301. High-protein-PUFA supplementation, red blood cell membranes, and plasma antioxidant activity in volleyball athletes. Malaguti M(1), Baldini M, Angeloni C, Biagi P, Hrelia S. Author information: (1)Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Bologna, Italy. The authors evaluated the role of a high-protein, low-calorie, polyunsaturated fatty-acid (PUFA) -supplemented diet on anthropometric parameters, erythrocyte-membrane fatty-acid composition, and plasma antioxidant defenses of nonprofessional volleyball athletes. The athletes were divided in two groups: One (n = 5) followed the Mediterranean diet, and the other (n = 6) followed a high-protein, low-calorie diet with a 3-g/day fish-oil supplementation. All the athletes had anthropometric measurements taken, both at the beginning and at the end of the study, which lasted for 2 months. Body-mass index and total body fat were significantly diminished in the second group, while they remained unchanged in the first. Plasma total antioxidant activity (TAA) was significantly increased in the plasma of both groups, with no differences between the groups, suggesting that physical activity, not the different diets, is the main contributor to the increase of plasma TAA. The second group showed a significant increase in erythrocyte-membrane PUFA content and in the unsaturation index value (UI) because of the fish-oil supplementation.A high-protein, low-carbohydrate, fish-oil-supplemented diet seems to be useful only when the aim of the diet is to obtain weight loss in a short-term period. The significant increase in the UI of erythrocyte membranes indicates the potential for harm, because a high intake of PUFA might increase susceptibility to lipid peroxidation not counterbalanced by a higher increase in TAA. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet seems to be the better choice. DOI: 10.1123/ijsnem.18.3.301 PMID: 18562771 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17545306
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jun 12;104(24):9976-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0703908104. Epub 2007 Jun 1. Long-range structural effects of a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease-causing mutation in human glycyl-tRNA synthetase. Xie W(1), Nangle LA, Zhang W, Schimmel P, Yang XL. Author information: (1)The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology and Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, BCC-379, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Functional expansion of specific tRNA synthetases in higher organisms is well documented. These additional functions may explain why dominant mutations in glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) and tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, the most common heritable disease of the peripheral nervous system. At least 10 disease-causing mutant alleles of GlyRS have been annotated. These mutations scatter broadly across the primary sequence and have no apparent unifying connection. Here we report the structure of wild type and a CMT-causing mutant (G526R) of homodimeric human GlyRS. The mutation is at the site for synthesis of glycyl-adenylate, but the rest of the two structures are closely similar. Significantly, the mutant form diffracts to a higher resolution and has a greater dimer interface. The extra dimer interactions are located approximately 30 A away from the G526R mutation. Direct experiments confirm the tighter dimer interaction of the G526R protein. The results suggest the possible importance of subtle, long-range structural effects of CMT-causing mutations at the dimer interface. From analysis of a third crystal, an appended motif, found in higher eukaryote GlyRSs, seems not to have a role in these long-range effects. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0703908104 PMCID: PMC1891255 PMID: 17545306 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21712654
1. RNA Biol. 2011 Sep-Oct;8(5):706-13. doi: 10.4161/rna.8.5.16154. Epub 2011 Jul 7. Regulation and function of miRNA-21 in health and disease. Kumarswamy R(1), Volkmann I, Thum T. Author information: (1)Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. The small regulatory RNA microRNA-21 (miR-21) plays a crucial role in a plethora of biological functions and diseases including development, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and inflammation. The gene coding for pri-miR-21 (primary transcript containing miR-21) is located within the intronic region of the TMEM49 gene. Despite pri-miR-21 and TMEM49 are overlapping genes in the same direction of transcription, pri-miR-21 is independently transcribed by its own promoter regions and terminated with its own poly(A) tail. After transcription, primiR- 21 is finally processed into mature miR-21. Expression of miR-21 has been found to be deregulated in almost all types of cancers and therefore was classified as an oncomiR. During recent years, additional roles of miR-21 in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, including cardiac and pulmonary fibrosis as well as myocardial infarction have been described. MiR-21 additionally regulates various immunological and developmental processes. Due to the critical functions of its target proteins in various signaling pathways, miR-21 has become an attractive target for genetic and pharmacological modulation in various disease conditions. DOI: 10.4161/rna.8.5.16154 PMCID: PMC3256347 PMID: 21712654 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22859901
1. Int J Med Sci. 2012;9(6):413-23. doi: 10.7150/ijms.4514. Epub 2012 Jul 21. MicroRNA 21 inhibits left ventricular remodeling in the early phase of rat model with ischemia-reperfusion injury by suppressing cell apoptosis. Qin Y(1), Yu Y, Dong H, Bian X, Guo X, Dong S. Author information: (1)Department of Emergency, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050051, China. OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of microRNA 21(miR-21) on left ventricular remodeling of rat heart with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and to investigate the underlying mechanism of miR-21 mediated myocardium protection. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: an I/R model group with Ad-GFP (Ad-GFP group), an I/R model group with Ad-miR-21 (Ad-miR-21 group) and a sham-surgery group. Changes in hemodynamic parameters were recorded at 1 week after I/R. Histological diagnosis was achieved by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Left ventricular (LV) dimensions, myocardial infarct size, LV/BW, collagen type Ⅰ, type Ⅲ and PCNA positive cells were measured. Primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiac ventricular myocytes were performed and cell ischemic injury was induced by hypoxia in a serum- and glucose-free medium, and reoxygenation (H/R). MiR-21 inhibitor and pre-miR-21 were respectively added to the culture medium for the miR-21 knockdown and for the miR-21 up-regulation. qRT-PCR was used to determine the miR-21 levels in cultured cells. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the cell apoptosis. RESULTS: In the Ad-miR-21 group, LV dimensions, myocardial infarct size, LV/BW, collagen type Ⅰ, type Ⅲ and PCNA positive cells all significantly decreased compared with the Ad-GFP group. At 1 week after I/R, the Ad-miR-21 significantly improved LVSP, LV +dp/dt(max), LV - dp/dt(min), and decreased heart rate (HR) and LVEDP compared with the Ad-GFP group. Compared with the Ad-GFP, the cell apoptotic rate significantly decreased in the Ad-miR-21 group. The miR-21 inhibitor exacerbated cardiac myocyte apoptosis and the pre-miR-21 decreased hypoxia/reoxygenation- induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Ad-miR-21 improves LV remodeling and decreases the apoptosis of myocardial cells, suggesting the possible mechanism by which Ad-miR-21 functions in protecting against I/R injury. DOI: 10.7150/ijms.4514 PMCID: PMC3410360 PMID: 22859901 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12154089
1. J Biol Chem. 2002 Oct 18;277(42):39195-201. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M205166200. Epub 2002 Aug 1. Postsynthetic trimethylation of histone H4 at lysine 20 in mammalian tissues is associated with aging. Sarg B(1), Koutzamani E, Helliger W, Rundquist I, Lindner HH. Author information: (1)Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Innsbruck, Fritz-Pregl-Strasse 3, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Methylation of the N-terminal region of histones was first described more than 35 years ago, but its biological significance has remained unclear. Proposed functions range from transcriptional regulation to the higher order packing of chromatin in progress of mitotic condensation. Primarily because of the recent discovery of the SET domain-depending H3-specific histone methyltransferases SUV39H1 and Suv39h1, which selectively methylate lysine 9 of the H3 N terminus, this posttranslational modification has regained scientific interest. In the past, investigations concerning the biological significance of histone methylation were largely limited because of a lack of simple and sensitive analytical procedures for detecting this modification. The present work investigated the methylation pattern of histone H4 both in different mammalian organs of various ages and in cell lines by applying mass spectrometric analysis and a newly developed hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatographic method enabling the simultaneous separation of methylated and acetylated forms, which obviates the need to work with radioactive materials. In rat kidney and liver the dimethylated lysine 20 was found to be the main methylation product, whereas the monomethyl derivative was present in much smaller amounts. In addition, for the first time a trimethylated form of lysine 20 of H4 was found in mammalian tissue. A significant increase in this trimethylated histone H4 was detected in organs of animals older than 30 days, whereas the amounts of mono- and dimethylated forms did not essentially change in organs from young (10 days old) or old animals (30 and 450 days old). Trimethylated H4 was also detected in transformed cells; although it was present in only trace amounts in logarithmically growing cells, we found an increase in trimethylated lysine 20 in cells in the stationary phase. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M205166200 PMID: 12154089 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12893173
1. Methods. 2003 Sep;31(1):49-58. doi: 10.1016/s1046-2023(03)00087-2. Methods and tips for the purification of human histone methyltransferases. Nishioka K(1), Reinberg D. Author information: (1)Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Nucleic Acids Enzymology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA. knishiok@lab.nig.ac.jp Recently developed biochemical techniques have enabled researchers to study histone modifications more easily and accurately. One of these modifications, histone lysine methylation, has been shown to be highly stable and to represent an epigenetic alteration. Extensive biochemical analyses have led to discoveries about the nature and functions of this modification, thus accelerating our understanding of this crucial epigenetic event. Here we describe basic methods for purification and biochemical analysis of lysine-directed, histone methyltransferases from HeLa cell-derived extracts. In the section on substrate preparation, we describe a simple method for the preparation of recombinant substrates, although we recommend using native substrates for initial detection of the activities. The purification protocols for several histone methyltransferases have been streamlined so that those researchers with a basic understanding of biochemistry can perform them. We also describe many tips and provide suggestions to avoid common pitfalls in the biochemical analysis of histone methyltransferases. DOI: 10.1016/s1046-2023(03)00087-2 PMID: 12893173 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22882958
1. Int J Cardiol. 2013 Sep 10;167(6):2875-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.07.021. Epub 2012 Aug 9. Myocardial and circulating levels of microRNA-21 reflect left ventricular fibrosis in aortic stenosis patients. Villar AV(1), García R, Merino D, Llano M, Cobo M, Montalvo C, Martín-Durán R, Hurlé MA, Nistal JF. Author information: (1)Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Spain. BACKGROUND: Various human cardiovascular pathophysiological conditions associate aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and circulating miRNAs are emerging as promising biomarkers. In mice, myocardial miR-21 overexpression is related to cardiac fibrosis elicited by pressure overload. This study was designed to determine the role of myocardial and plasmatic miR-21 in the maladaptive remodeling of the extracellular matrix induced by pressure overload in aortic stenosis (AS) patients and the clinical value of miR-21 as a biomarker for pathological myocardial fibrosis. METHODS: In left ventricular biopsies from 75 AS patients and 32 surgical controls, we quantified the myocardial transcript levels of miR-21, miR-21-targets and ECM- and TGF-β-signaling-related elements. miR-21 plasma levels were determined in 25 healthy volunteers and in AS patients. In situ hybridization of miR-21 was performed in myocardial sections. RESULTS: The myocardial and plasma levels of miR-21 were significantly higher in the AS patients compared with the controls and correlated directly with the echocardiographic mean transvalvular gradients. miR-21 overexpression was confined to interstitial cells and absent in cardiomyocytes. Using bootstrap validated multiple linear regression, the variance in myocardial collagen expression was predicted by myocardial miR-21 (70% of collagen variance) or plasma miR-21 (52% of collagen variance), together with the miR-21 targets RECK and PDCD4, and effectors of TGF-ß signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the role of miR-21 as a regulator of the fibrotic process that occurs in response to pressure overload in AS patients and underscore the value of circulating miR-21 as a biomarker for myocardial fibrosis. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2012.07.021 PMID: 22882958 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17846168
1. J Cell Biol. 2007 Sep 10;178(6):925-36. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200703081. Suv4-20h deficiency results in telomere elongation and derepression of telomere recombination. Benetti R(1), Gonzalo S, Jaco I, Schotta G, Klatt P, Jenuwein T, Blasco MA. Author information: (1)Telomeres and Telomerase Group, Molecular Oncology Program, Spanish National Cancer Centre, Madrid, Spain. Mammalian telomeres have heterochromatic features, including trimethylated histone H3 at lysine 9 (H3K9me3) and trimethylated histone H4 at lysine 20 (H4K20me3). In addition, subtelomeric DNA is hypermethylated. The enzymatic activities responsible for these modifications at telomeres are beginning to be characterized. In particular, H4K20me3 at telomeres could be catalyzed by the novel Suv4-20h1 and Suv4-20h2 histone methyltransferases (HMTases). In this study, we demonstrate that the Suv4-20h enzymes are responsible for this histone modification at telomeres. Cells deficient for Suv4-20h2 or for both Suv4-20h1 and Suv4-20h2 show decreased levels of H4K20me3 at telomeres and subtelomeres in the absence of changes in H3K9me3. These epigenetic alterations are accompanied by telomere elongation, indicating a role for Suv4-20h HMTases in telomere length control. Finally, cells lacking either the Suv4-20h or Suv39h HMTases show increased frequencies of telomere recombination in the absence of changes in subtelomeric DNA methylation. These results demonstrate the importance of chromatin architecture in the maintenance of telomere length homeostasis and reveal a novel role for histone lysine methylation in controlling telomere recombination. DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200703081 PMCID: PMC2064618 PMID: 17846168 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11316813
1. J Biol Chem. 2001 Jul 6;276(27):25309-17. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M101914200. Epub 2001 Apr 20. Set domain-containing protein, G9a, is a novel lysine-preferring mammalian histone methyltransferase with hyperactivity and specific selectivity to lysines 9 and 27 of histone H3. Tachibana M(1), Sugimoto K, Fukushima T, Shinkai Y. Author information: (1)Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Shogoin Kawara-cho, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. The covalent modification of histone tails has regulatory roles in various nuclear processes, such as control of transcription and mitotic chromosome condensation. Among the different groups of enzymes known to catalyze the covalent modification, the most recent additions are the histone methyltransferases (HMTases), whose functions are now being characterized. Here we show that a SET domain-containing protein, G9a, is a novel mammalian lysine-preferring HMTase. Like Suv39 h1, the first identified lysine-preferring mammalian HMTase, G9a transfers methyl groups to the lysine residues of histone H3, but with a 10-20-fold higher activity. It was reported that lysines 4, 9, and 27 in H3 are methylated in mammalian cells. G9a was able to add methyl groups to lysine 27 as well as 9 in H3, compared with Suv39 h1, which was only able to methylate lysine 9. Our data clearly demonstrated that G9a has an enzymatic nature distinct from Suv39 h1 and its homologue h2. Finally, fluorescent protein-labeled G9a was shown to be localized in the nucleus but not in the repressive chromatin domains of centromeric loci, in which Suv39 h1 family proteins were localized. This finding indicates that G9a may contribute to the organization of the higher order chromatin structure of non-centromeric loci. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M101914200 PMID: 11316813 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19706597
1. J Biol Chem. 2009 Oct 23;284(43):29514-25. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M109.027896. Epub 2009 Aug 25. MicroRNA expression signature and the role of microRNA-21 in the early phase of acute myocardial infarction. Dong S(1), Cheng Y, Yang J, Li J, Liu X, Wang X, Wang D, Krall TJ, Delphin ES, Zhang C. Author information: (1)Department of Anesthesiology, RNA and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey 07101, USA. Several recent reports have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) might play critical roles in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the miRNA expression signature in the early phase of AMI has not been identified. In this study, the miRNA expression signature was investigated in rat hearts 6 h after AMI. Compared with the expression signature in the noninfarcted areas, 38 miRNAs were differentially expressed in infarcted areas and 33 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed in the border areas. Remarkably, miR-21 expression was significantly down-regulated in infarcted areas, but was up-regulated in border areas. The down-regulation of miR-21 in the infarcted areas was inhibited by ischemic preconditioning, a known cardiac protective method. Overexpression of miR-21 via adenovirus expressing miR-21 (Ad-miR-21) decreased myocardial infarct size by 29% at 24 h and decreased the dimension of left ventricles at 2 weeks after AMI. Using both gain-of-function and loss-of-function approaches in cultured cardiac myocytes, we identified that miR-21 had a protective effect on ischemia-induced cell apoptosis that was associated with its target gene programmed cell death 4 and activator protein 1 pathway. The protective effect of miR-21 against ischemia-induced cardiac myocyte damage was further confirmed in vivo by decreased cell apoptosis in the border and infarcted areas of the infarcted rat hearts after treatment with Ad-miR-21. The results suggest that miRNAs such as miR-21 may play critical roles in the early phase of AMI. DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M109.027896 PMCID: PMC2785585 PMID: 19706597 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17584191
1. Hepatol Res. 2007 Nov;37(11):974-83. doi: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00141.x. Epub 2007 Jun 20. Alterations of DNA methylation and histone modifications contribute to gene silencing in hepatocellular carcinomas. Kondo Y(1), Shen L, Suzuki S, Kurokawa T, Masuko K, Tanaka Y, Kato H, Mizuno Y, Yokoe M, Sugauchi F, Hirashima N, Orito E, Osada H, Ueda R, Guo Y, Chen X, Issa JP, Sekido Y. Author information: (1)Division of Molecular Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Aichi, Japan. AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine DNA methylation and histone modification changes in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). METHODS: DNA methylation in the P16, RASSF1a, progesterone receptor (PGR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) promoters was determined by quantitative bisulfite-pyrosequencing technique in HCC patients. Histone H3-lysine (K) 4, H3-K9 and H3-K27 modifications in all these four genes were examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay in HCC cell lines. Expression of two DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1 and DNMT3b) and three histone methyltransferases (SUV39H1, G9a and EZH2) in HCC patients was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Aberrant DNA methylation was detected in all the HCC. Patients with DNA methylation in the RASSF1a, PGR andERalpha promoters in cancers also had substantial DNA methylation in their non-cancerous liver tissues, whereas DNA methylation in the P16 promoter was cancer specific. Epigenetic states in HCC cell lines showed that silencing of P16 and RASSF1a depended on DNA methylation and histone H3-K9 methylation. However, silencing of the PGR and ERalpha genes was more closely related to H3-K27 methylation rather than DNA methylation. Consistent with the alteration of histone status, higher expression of G9a and EZH2 was found in HCC than in non-cancerous liver tissues (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that multiple epigenetic silencing mechanisms are inappropriately active in HCC cells. DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2007.00141.x PMID: 17584191
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15254397
1. Cancer Biol Ther. 2004 Jun;3(6):528-33. doi: 10.4161/cbt.3.6.843. Epub 2004 Jun 24. BRCA1 and transcription. Lane TF(1). Author information: (1)David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angele, CA 90095-1740, USA. tlane@mednet.ucla.edu The BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene is expressed in all mammalian cells. Within these cells, the BRCA1 protein product interacts with several seemingly distinct nuclear complexes. Proteins within these complexes are potential targets for the E3-ubiquitin ligase activity associated with BRCA1:BARD1 complexes. Recent breakthroughs have centered on elucidating critical DNA repair and chromatin-remodeling functions associated with BRCA1 activity. During both DNA replication and DNA repair, BRCA1 appears to serve both adaptor and enzymatic functions. Roles include transient physical recruitment of NBS1, gammaH2AX, FANCD2 and other proteins in specific repair associated complexes, and enzymatic activity as an E3-ubiquitin ligase against a subset of these proteins. BRCA1 has also been implicated as a regulator of transcription. It is in this second capacity that progress has been much more difficult to assess. In particular, unambiguous adaptor and enzymatic functions have yet to be demonstrated in transcriptional machinery. Addressing the critical gap in our understanding of enzymatic targets of BRCA1 will be required for significant future progress in this field. The following review puts forward a model for BRCA1 interactions with the transcriptional complex in undamaged cells, and a potential mechanism for substrate switching between transcription and DNA-repair complexes following exposure of cells to proliferative or genotoxic stress. This model incorporates recent evidence that BRCA1 interacts predominantly with hyper-phosphorylated, enzymatically active, RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) in undamaged cells. The model proposes that BRCA1 binds processive RNA polymerase as part of a genome surveillance function, upstream of critical roles in DNA repair. DOI: 10.4161/cbt.3.6.843 PMID: 15254397 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22870189
1. PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e39573. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039573. Epub 2012 Aug 3. ChIPnorm: a statistical method for normalizing and identifying differential regions in histone modification ChIP-seq libraries. Nair NU(1), Sahu AD, Bucher P, Moret BM. Author information: (1)Laboratory for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, School of Computer and Communication Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland. The advent of high-throughput technologies such as ChIP-seq has made possible the study of histone modifications. A problem of particular interest is the identification of regions of the genome where different cell types from the same organism exhibit different patterns of histone enrichment. This problem turns out to be surprisingly difficult, even in simple pairwise comparisons, because of the significant level of noise in ChIP-seq data. In this paper we propose a two-stage statistical method, called ChIPnorm, to normalize ChIP-seq data, and to find differential regions in the genome, given two libraries of histone modifications of different cell types. We show that the ChIPnorm method removes most of the noise and bias in the data and outperforms other normalization methods. We correlate the histone marks with gene expression data and confirm that histone modifications H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 act as respectively a repressor and an activator of genes. Compared to what was previously reported in the literature, we find that a substantially higher fraction of bivalent marks in ES cells for H3K27me3 and H3K4me3 move into a K27-only state. We find that most of the promoter regions in protein-coding genes have differential histone-modification sites. The software for this work can be downloaded from http://lcbb.epfl.ch/software.html. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039573 PMCID: PMC3411705 PMID: 22870189 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21094032
1. Curr Opin Immunol. 2010 Dec;22(6):706-14. doi: 10.1016/j.coi.2010.10.014. Epub 2010 Nov 18. The role of SLAM/CD2 polymorphisms in systemic autoimmunity. Wang A(1), Batteux F, Wakeland EK. Author information: (1)Department of Immunology and the Walter M. and Helen D. Bader Center for Research on Arthritis and Autoimmune Disease, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. The SLAM/CD2 gene family encodes receptors that play important roles in regulating multiple cellular interactions in the adaptive and innate immune systems. Three members of this gene family, Ly108, Ly9, and CD84, exhibit polymorphisms that strongly influence susceptibility to systemic autoimmunity, notably in mice, but also in some human populations. Polymorphisms of Ly108 in mice strongly impact central tolerance in both B and T cell development, predominantly by modulating apoptosis, anergy, and cell-cycle progression. In addition, Ly108 and CD84, together with their downstream signaling adaptor SLAM-associated protein (SAP), have emerged as key players in B-T interactions during the formation of germinal centers. Interestingly, several independent lines of research have now associated variations in B-T interactions during germinal center formation with systemic autoimmunity, suggesting that susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may involve in part the impairment of this peripheral tolerance checkpoint. These new insights into the multiplicity of roles played by the SLAM/CD2 family and its potential importance in human autoimmunity positions the SLAM/CD2 family as an excellent target for immunotherapy. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2010.10.014 PMID: 21094032 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17420471
1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Apr 17;104(16):6614-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0610481104. Epub 2007 Apr 9. A mechanism for transcriptional repression dependent on the BRCA1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Horwitz AA(1), Affar el B, Heine GF, Shi Y, Parvin JD. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Loss of function of the tumor suppressor protein BRCA1 is responsible for a high percentage of familial and also sporadic breast cancers. Early work identified a stimulatory transcriptional coactivator function for the BRCA1 protein, and more recently, BRCA1 has been implicated in transcriptional repression, although few examples of repressed genes have been characterized. We recently used an in vitro transcription assay to identify a biochemical mechanism that explained the BRCA1 stimulatory activity. In this study, we identified an ubiquitin-dependent mechanism by which BRCA1 inhibits transcription. BRCA1 ubiquitinates the transcriptional preinitiation complex, preventing stable association of TFIIE and TFIIH, and thus blocks the initiation of mRNA synthesis. What is striking about this mechanism of regulation by BRCA1 is that the ubiquitination of the preinitiation complex is not targeting proteins for degradation by the proteasome, nor are ubiquitin receptors modifying the activity, but rather the ubiquitin moiety itself interferes with the assembly of basal transcription factors at the promoter. Using RNAi to knockdown expression of the endogenous BRCA1 protein, we assessed the level of repression dependent on BRCA1 in the cell, and we found that BRCA1 is at least as significant a transcriptional repressor as it is an activator. These results define a biochemical mechanism by which the BRCA1 enzymatic activity regulates a key cellular process. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0610481104 PMCID: PMC1871834 PMID: 17420471 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17825470
1. Biochimie. 2008 Jan;90(1):122-30. doi: 10.1016/j.biochi.2007.07.017. Epub 2007 Jul 31. Dyskeratosis congenita: the diverse clinical presentation of mutations in the telomerase complex. Vulliamy TJ(1), Dokal I. Author information: (1)Academic Unit of Paediatrics, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Barts and the London, Queen Mary School of Medicine and Dentistry, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK. t.vulliamy@qmul.ac.uk <t.vulliamy@qmul.ac.uk> Dyskeratosis congenita is an inherited syndrome characterised by mucocutaneous features, bone marrow failure, an increased risk of malignancy and other somatic abnormalities. There is a considerable range of clinical severity and in its occult form the disease may present as idiopathic aplastic anaemia. Genes responsible for X-linked, autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive forms of the disease have been identified and been found to encode products involved in telomere maintenance. Premature shortening of telomeres could account for the pathology, affecting the tissues that turn over most rapidly. However, the protein that is mutated in the X-linked disease, dyskerin, also plays a fundamental role in ribosome biogenesis, directing the pseudouridylation of ribosomal RNA using H/ACA small nucleolar RNAs as guides. Heterozygous mutations in the RNA component of telomerase (TERC) cause the autosomal dominant form of the disease through haploinsufficiency. Disease anticipation described in these families is associated with progressive telomere shortening through the generations. Heterozygous mutations in the reverse transcriptase component of telomerase (TERT) have a more variable role, often displaying incomplete penetrance and diverse clinical presentation. The autosomal recessive form of the disease is genetically heterogeneous, although one sub-type has been described in which NOP10 is mutated. This small protein is also associated with the maturation of ribosomal RNA and the telomerase complex. DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2007.07.017 PMID: 17825470 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25124893
1. Immunogenetics. 2014 Nov;66(11):671-4. doi: 10.1007/s00251-014-0795-0. Epub 2014 Aug 16. Parallel evolution of a self-signal: humans and new world monkeys independently lost the cell surface sugar Neu5Gc. Springer SA(1), Diaz SL, Gagneux P. Author information: (1)Glycobiology Research and Training Center, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA. Human sialic acid biology is unusual and thought to be unique among mammals. Humans lack a functional cytidine monophosphate-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) protein and cannot synthesize the sugar Neu5Gc, an innate mammalian signal of self. Losing this sugar changed how humans interact with some of our deadliest pathogens: malaria, influenza, and streptococcus among others. We show that the New World monkeys, comprising the third of all primate species, have human-like sialic acid biology. They have lost Neu5Gc because of an independent CMAH inactivation ~30 million years ago (mya) (compared to ~3 mya in hominids). This parallel loss of Neu5Gc opens sialic acid biology to comparative phylogenetic analysis and reveals an unexpected conservation priority. New World monkeys risk infection by human pathogens that can recognize cells in the absence of Neu5Gc. This striking molecular convergence provides a mechanism that could explain the long-standing observation that New World monkeys are susceptible to some human diseases that cannot be transmitted to other primates. DOI: 10.1007/s00251-014-0795-0 PMCID: PMC4198446 PMID: 25124893 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24278741
1. Scientifica (Cairo). 2012;2012:796808. doi: 10.6064/2012/796808. Epub 2012 Oct 18. The BRCA1 Breast Cancer Suppressor: Regulation of Transport, Dynamics, and Function at Multiple Subcellular Locations. Henderson BR(1). Author information: (1)Westmead Institute for Cancer Research, Westmead Millennium Institute at Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Darcy Road, P.O. Box 412, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. Inherited mutations in the BRCA1 gene predispose to a higher risk of breast/ovarian cancer. The BRCA1 tumor suppressor is a 1863 amino acid protein with multiple protein interaction domains that facilitate its roles in regulating DNA repair and maintenance, cell cycle progression, transcription, and cell survival/apoptosis. BRCA1 was first identified as a nuclear phosphoprotein, but has since been shown to contain different transport sequences including nuclear export and nuclear localization signals that enable it to shuttle between specific sites within the nucleus and cytoplasm, including DNA repair foci, centrosomes, and mitochondria. BRCA1 nuclear transport and ubiquitin E3 ligase enzymatic activity are tightly regulated by the BRCA1 dimeric binding partner BARD1 and further modulated by cancer mutations and diverse signaling pathways. This paper will focus on the transport, dynamics, and multiple intracellular destinations of BRCA1 with emphasis on how regulation of these events has impact on, and determines, a broad range of important cellular functions. DOI: 10.6064/2012/796808 PMCID: PMC3820561 PMID: 24278741
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23520510
1. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58443. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058443. Epub 2013 Mar 8. A simple method for assessment of human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies applied to Kawasaki disease. Padler-Karavani V(1), Tremoulet AH, Yu H, Chen X, Burns JC, Varki A. Author information: (1)Glycobiology Research and Training Center, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America. N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is an immunogenic sugar of dietary origin that metabolically incorporates into diverse native glycoconjugates in humans. Anti-Neu5Gc antibodies are detected in all human sera, though with variable levels and epitope-recognition profiles. These antibodies likely play a role in several inflammation-mediated pathologies including cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In cancer, they have dualistic and opposing roles, either stimulating or repressing disease, as a function of their dose, and some of these antibodies serve as carcinoma biomarkers. Thus, anti-Neu5Gc antibodies may signify risk of inflammation-mediated diseases, and changes in their levels could potentially be used to monitor disease progression and/or response to therapy. Currently, it is difficult to determine levels of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in individual human samples because these antibodies recognize multiple Neu5Gc-epitopes. Here we describe a simple and specific method for detection and overall estimation of human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies. We exploit the difference between two mouse models that differ only by Neu5Gc-presence (wild-type) or Neu5Gc-absence (Cmah(-/-) knockout). We characterize mouse serum from both strains by HPLC, lectin and mass-spectrometry analysis and show the target Neu5Gc-epitopes. We then use Cmah(-/-) knockout sera to inhibit all non-Neu5Gc-reactivity followed by binding to wild-type sera to detect overall anti-Neu5Gc response in a single assay. We applied this methodology to characterize and quantify anti-Neu5Gc IgG and IgA in sera of patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) at various stages compared to controls. KD is an acute childhood febrile disease characterized by inflammation of coronary arteries that untreated may lead to coronary artery aneurysms with risk of thrombosis and myocardial infarction. This estimated response is comparable to the average of detailed anti-Neu5Gc IgG profile analyzed by a sialoglycan microarray. Both assays revealed an elevated response in acute KD patients with normal coronaries compared to patients with aneurysm or dilated coronaries. Implications of these findings are discussed. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058443 PMCID: PMC3592828 PMID: 23520510 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal’s policy and have the following conflicts: A.V. is co-founder of and Scientific Advisor to Sialix Inc, a startup biotech company interested in the practical relevance of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies to human disease. The submission is related to US Patent No: 7,682,794 entitled “Methods for detecting and analyzing N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) in biological materials”. Additional patent applications may be made in relation to the content of the current paper. There are no further patents, products in development or marketed products to declare. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials, as detailed online in the guide for authors.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22058220
1. Haematologica. 2012 Mar;97(3):353-9. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2011.055269. Epub 2011 Nov 4. Telomere length is associated with disease severity and declines with age in dyskeratosis congenita. Alter BP(1), Rosenberg PS, Giri N, Baerlocher GM, Lansdorp PM, Savage SA. Author information: (1)Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, MD 20852-7231, USA. alterb@mail.nih.gov BACKGROUND: Dyskeratosis congenita is a cancer-prone bone marrow failure syndrome caused by aberrations in telomere biology. DESIGN AND METHODS: We studied 65 patients with dyskeratosis congenita and 127 unaffected relatives. Telomere length was measured by automated multicolor flow fluorescence in situ hybridization in peripheral blood leukocyte subsets. We age-adjusted telomere length using Z-scores (standard deviations from the mean for age). RESULTS: We confirmed that telomere lengths below the first percentile for age are very sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of dyskeratosis congenita. We provide evidence that lymphocytes alone and not granulocytes may suffice for clinical screening, while lymphocyte subsets may be required for challenging cases, including identification of silent carriers. We show for the first time using flow fluorescence in situ hybridization that the shortest telomeres are associated with severe variants (Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson and Revesz syndromes), mutations in DKC1, TINF2, or unknown genes, and moderate or severe aplastic anemia. In the first longitudinal follow up of dyskeratosis congenita patients, we demonstrate that telomere lengths decline with age, in contrast to the apparent stable telomere length observed in cross-sectional data. CONCLUSIONS: Telomere length by flow fluorescence in situ hybridization is an important diagnostic test for dyskeratosis congenita; age-adjusted values provide a quantitative measure of disease severity (clinical subset, mutated gene, and degree of bone marrow failure). Patients with dyskeratosis congenita have accelerated telomere shortening. This study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT00027274). DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2011.055269 PMCID: PMC3291588 PMID: 22058220 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16710298
1. EMBO J. 2006 Jun 7;25(11):2465-74. doi: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601144. Epub 2006 May 18. Structure and E3-ligase activity of the Ring-Ring complex of polycomb proteins Bmi1 and Ring1b. Buchwald G(1), van der Stoop P, Weichenrieder O, Perrakis A, van Lohuizen M, Sixma TK. Author information: (1)Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Center for Biomedical Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Polycomb group proteins Ring1b and Bmi1 (B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukaemia virus integration site 1) are critical components of the chromatin modulating PRC1 complex. Histone H2A ubiquitination by the PRC1 complex strongly depends on the Ring1b protein. Here we show that the E3-ligase activity of Ring1b on histone H2A is enhanced by Bmi1 in vitro. The N-terminal Ring-domains are sufficient for this activity and Ring1a can replace Ring1b. E2 enzymes UbcH5a, b, c or UbcH6 support this activity with varying processivity and selectivity. All four E2s promote autoubiquitination of Ring1b without affecting E3-ligase activity. We solved the crystal structure of the Ring-Ring heterodimeric complex of Ring1b and Bmi1. In the structure the arrangement of the Ring-domains is similar to another H2A E3 ligase, the BRCA1/BARD1 complex, but complex formation depends on an N-terminal arm of Ring1b that embraces the Bmi1 Ring-domain. Mutation of a critical residue in the E2/E3 interface shows that catalytic activity resides in Ring1b and not in Bmi1. These data provide a foundation for understanding the critical enzymatic activity at the core of the PRC1 polycomb complex, which is implicated in stem cell maintenance and cancer. DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601144 PMCID: PMC1478191 PMID: 16710298 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18669916
1. Glycobiology. 2008 Oct;18(10):818-30. doi: 10.1093/glycob/cwn072. Epub 2008 Jul 31. Diversity in specificity, abundance, and composition of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in normal humans: potential implications for disease. Padler-Karavani V(1), Yu H, Cao H, Chokhawala H, Karp F, Varki N, Chen X, Varki A. Author information: (1)Glycobiology Research and Training Center and Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Human heterophile antibodies that agglutinate animal erythrocytes are known to detect the nonhuman sialic acid N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc). This monosaccharide cannot by itself fill the binding site (paratope) of an antibody and can also be modified and presented in various linkages, on diverse underlying glycans. Thus, we hypothesized that the human anti-Neu5Gc antibody response is diverse and polyclonal. Here, we use a novel set of natural and chemoenzymatically synthesized glycans to show that normal humans have an abundant and diverse spectrum of such anti-Neu5Gc antibodies, directed against a variety of Neu5Gc-containing epitopes. High sensitivity and specificity assays were achieved by using N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac)-containing probes (differing from Neu5Gc by one less oxygen atom) as optimal background controls. The commonest anti-Neu5Gc antibodies are of the IgG class. Moreover, the range of reactivity and Ig classes of antibodies vary greatly amongst normal humans, with some individuals having remarkably large amounts, even surpassing levels of some well-known natural blood group and xenoreactive antibodies. We purified these anti-Neu5Gc antibodies from individual human sera using a newly developed affinity method and showed that they bind to wild-type but not Neu5Gc-deficient mouse tissues. Moreover, they bind back to human carcinomas that have accumulated Neu5Gc in vivo. As dietary Neu5Gc is primarily found in red meat and milk products, we suggest that this ongoing antigen-antibody reaction may generate chronic inflammation, possibly contributing to the high frequency of diet-related carcinomas and other diseases in humans. DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwn072 PMCID: PMC2586336 PMID: 18669916 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21255096
1. Exp Dermatol. 2011 Feb;20(2):154-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2010.01193.x. New targets of pemphigus vulgaris antibodies identified by protein array technology. Kalantari-Dehaghi M, Molina DM, Farhadieh M, Morrow WJ, Liang X, Felgner PL, Grando SA. We performed partial evaluation of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) autoantibody profile using the protein array technology. The sera from seven patients with acute PV and five healthy donors were probed for the presence of autoantibodies characteristic of the organ-non-specific autoimmune disorders rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, diabetes and some other autoimmune disorders, but not to desmosomal proteins. The array targeted 785 human genes amplified using Mammalian Gene Clone Collection with gene-specific primers containing 20-bp nucleotide extension complementary to ends of linear pXT7 vector. The array identified PV antibodies significantly (P<0.05) differentially reactive with 16 antigens, most of which were cell-surface proteins, such as CD2, CD31, CD33, CD36, CD37, CD40, CD54, CD66c and CD84 molecules, nicotinamide/nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenylyltransferase, immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region gamma 2 and others. Reactivity with Fc-IgG helps explain an ability of the chimeric desmoglein constructs to absorb out all disease-causing PV antibodies. Anti-M(1) muscarinic receptor antibody was also identified, consistent with the facts that while blockade of this receptor causes keratinocyte detachment, its activation is therapeutic in PV. Further proteomics analysis of PV antibodies should help elucidate the immunopathogenic mechanisms underlying keratinocyte detachment and blistering. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2010.01193.x PMID: 21255096 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23790307
1. J Mal Vasc. 2013 Jul;38(4):259-70. doi: 10.1016/j.jmv.2013.05.005. Epub 2013 Jun 20. [Hemorrhagic accidents of the new oral anticoagulants and coagulation assays]. [Article in French] Samama MM(1), Conard J, Lillo-Le Louët A. Author information: (1)Service d'hématologie biologique, groupe hospitalier Broca-Cochin-Hôtel-Dieu, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75679 Paris cedex 14, France. meyermichel.samama@biomnis.com New oral anticoagulants which specifically inhibit factor Xa (FXa) or thrombin (FIIa) do not require routine laboratory monitoring. However, they induce a state of hypocoagulation and increase the risk of bleeding. In some clinical situations, such as emergency surgery, hemorrhagic episodes, or recurrent stroke, coagulation monitoring may be useful. A significant number of publications have reported uncontrollable hemorrhagic complications and deaths in patients treated with these new anticoagulants. The selection of the most appropriate clotting assay is based on the drug used and the availability of the test. The new anticoagulants influence all global clot-based tests. Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time measured before and after treatment are considered as qualitative tests since they are not specific. Specific anti-Xa and anti-IIa assays are available and results can be expressed in nanogram per milliliter of plasma using calibrated plasmas containing well-established amounts of drug. The fact that there is no specific antidote to reverse the anticoagulant action of the new anticoagulants can impair management of hemorrhagic complications; clinical experience is still limited. Pro-hemostatic treatment with non-activated or activated prothrombin complexes (FEIBA(®)), or as a last recourse with FVIIa concentrates (NovoSeven(®)), has been used with variable results. Some suggestions for the management of patients with bleeding have been published but there is still little clinical evidence for these interventions. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmv.2013.05.005 PMID: 23790307 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25003133
1. Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:963230. doi: 10.1155/2014/963230. Epub 2014 Jun 9. Prevalence of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in patients with hypothyroidism. Eleftheriou P(1), Kynigopoulos S(1), Giovou A(1), Mazmanidi A(1), Yovos J(2), Skepastianos P(1), Vagdatli E(1), Petrou C(1), Papara D(1), Efterpiou M(1). Author information: (1)Department of Medical Laboratory Studies, School of Health and Medical Care, Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki, TEI Campus Sindos, 57400 Thessaloniki, Greece. (2)1st Internal Medicine Department, AHEPA University General Hospital of Thessaloniki, St. Kyriakidi 1, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece ; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Kyriakidi 1, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece. BACKGROUND: N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is a sialic acid synthesized by animals, but not by humans or birds. However, it can be incorporated in human cells and can trigger immune response. In the present study, we detected anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in samples of the general population and of patients suffering from hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's disease, which is known to have autoimmune origin. METHODS: Antibodies were measured using enzyme-immunosorbent techniques. RESULTS: Serum anti-Neu5Gc IgG antibodies were higher in patients with hypothyroidism (mean: 14.8 ± 15.9 μg/mL, median: 10.0 μg/mL, P = 0.0003, Mann-Whitney) and even higher in the group with Hashimoto's thyroiditis (mean: 31.1 ± 16.3 μg/mL, median: 27.2 μg/mL, P = 0.0000, Mann-Whitney) compared to the general population (mean: 5.3 ± 4.7 μg/mL, median : 4 μg/mL). All anti-TPO positive samples had anti-Neu5Gc antibody concentration higher than the mean value of the general population while anti-TPO concentration was increased as anti-Neu5Gc concentration increased. Low concentrations of IgA and IgM antibodies were measured in both general population and patient groups. CONCLUSION: The increased values of anti-Neu5Gc antibodies in patients with hypothyroidism/Hashimoto's disease and the correlation of anti-TPO incidence with increased anti-Neu5Gc concentration raise the possibility of an association between anti-Neu5Gc antibody development and autoimmune hypothyroidism. DOI: 10.1155/2014/963230 PMCID: PMC4070528 PMID: 25003133 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23634925
1. Neurosurg Focus. 2013 May;34(5):E6. doi: 10.3171/2013.2.FOCUS1328. The role of anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and their reversal strategies in the management of intracerebral hemorrhage. James RF(1), Palys V, Lomboy JR, Lamm JR Jr, Simon SD. Author information: (1)Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, North Carolina, USA. jamesro@ecu.edu New anticoagulant and antiplatelet medications have been approved and are prescribed with increased frequency. Intracranial hemorrhage is associated with the use of these medications. Therefore, neurosurgeons need to be aware of these new medications, how they are different from their predecessors, and the strategies for the urgent reversal of their effects. Utilization of intraluminal stents by endovascular neurosurgeons has resulted in the need to have a thorough understanding of antiplatelet agents. Increased use of dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apixaban as oral anticoagulants for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and acute deep venous thrombosis has increased despite the lack of known antidotes to these medications. DOI: 10.3171/2013.2.FOCUS1328 PMID: 23634925 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22308807
1. Rev Prat. 2011 Nov;61(9):1239-43. [New anticoagulants]. [Article in French] Godier A(1), Martin AC, Lakhdari M, Samama CM. Author information: (1)Service d'anesthésie-réanimation, université Paris-Descartes, Hôtel-Dieu, AP-HP 75181 PARIS Cedex 4. anne.godier@htd.aphp.fr The range of anticoagulants has been very active recently with the development of new compounds including injectable anti-Xa such as fondaparinux, and new oral drugs which can be divided into anti-IIa with dabigatran, and anti-Xa, such as rivaroxaban and apixaban still in the development stage. Others are coming forward. They are more convenient to use and do not require routine coagulation monitoring. However, several points need to be clarified and the place for each drug remains to be determined. In case of massive bleeding, management is unclear and none of these newer agents has a specific antidote that completely reverses its anticoagulant effect. PMID: 22308807 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23737395
1. Int J Cancer. 2013 Dec 15;133(12):2781-90. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28301. Epub 2013 Jul 16. Ursolic acid promotes cancer cell death by inducing Atg5-dependent autophagy. Leng S(1), Hao Y, Du D, Xie S, Hong L, Gu H, Zhu X, Zhang J, Fan D, Kung HF. Author information: (1)Department of Human Anatomy, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China. Ursolic acid (UA) has been reported to possess anticancer activities. Although some of the anticancer activities of UA have been explained by its apoptosis-inducing properties, the mechanisms underlying its anticancer actions are largely unknown. We have found that UA-activated autophagy induced cytotoxicity and reduced tumor growth of cervical cancer cells TC-1 in a concentration-dependent manner. UA did not induce apoptosis of TC-1 cells in vitro as determined by annexin V/propidium iodide staining, DNA fragmentation, and Western blot analysis of the apoptosis-related proteins. We found that UA increased punctate staining of light chain 3 (LC3), which is an autophagy marker. LC3II, the processed form of LC3I which is formed during the formation of double membranes, was induced by UA treatment. These results were further confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of autophagy, and a small interfering RNA (siRNA) for autophagy-related genes (Atg5) reduced LC3II and simultaneously increased the survival of TC-1 cells treated with UA. We also found that LC3II was significantly reduced and that survival was increased in Atg5-/- mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells compared to Atg5+/+ MEF cells under UA treatment. However, silencing BECN1 by siRNA affected neither the expression of LC3II nor the survival of TC-1 cells under UA treatment. These results suggest that autophagy is a major mechanism by which UA kills TC-1 cells. It is Atg5 rather than BECN1 that plays a crucial role in UA-induced autophagic cell death in TC-1 cells. The activation of autophagy by UA may become a potential cancer therapeutic strategy complementing the apoptosis-based therapies. Furthermore, regulation of Atg5 may improve the efficacy of UA in cancer treatment. Copyright © 2013 UICC. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.28301 PMID: 23737395 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23555300
1. PLoS Genet. 2013 Mar;9(3):e1003394. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003394. Epub 2013 Mar 28. Genome-wide association study and gene expression analysis identifies CD84 as a predictor of response to etanercept therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Cui J(1), Stahl EA, Saevarsdottir S, Miceli C, Diogo D, Trynka G, Raj T, Mirkov MU, Canhao H, Ikari K, Terao C, Okada Y, Wedrén S, Askling J, Yamanaka H, Momohara S, Taniguchi A, Ohmura K, Matsuda F, Mimori T, Gupta N, Kuchroo M, Morgan AW, Isaacs JD, Wilson AG, Hyrich KL, Herenius M, Doorenspleet ME, Tak PP, Crusius JB, van der Horst-Bruinsma IE, Wolbink GJ, van Riel PL, van de Laar M, Guchelaar HJ, Shadick NA, Allaart CF, Huizinga TW, Toes RE, Kimberly RP, Bridges SL Jr, Criswell LA, Moreland LW, Fonseca JE, de Vries N, Stranger BE, De Jager PL, Raychaudhuri S, Weinblatt ME, Gregersen PK, Mariette X, Barton A, Padyukov L, Coenen MJ, Karlson EW, Plenge RM. Author information: (1)Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF) biologic therapy is a widely used treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is unknown why some RA patients fail to respond adequately to anti-TNF therapy, which limits the development of clinical biomarkers to predict response or new drugs to target refractory cases. To understand the biological basis of response to anti-TNF therapy, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis of more than 2 million common variants in 2,706 RA patients from 13 different collections. Patients were treated with one of three anti-TNF medications: etanercept (n = 733), infliximab (n = 894), or adalimumab (n = 1,071). We identified a SNP (rs6427528) at the 1q23 locus that was associated with change in disease activity score (ΔDAS) in the etanercept subset of patients (P = 8 × 10(-8)), but not in the infliximab or adalimumab subsets (P>0.05). The SNP is predicted to disrupt transcription factor binding site motifs in the 3' UTR of an immune-related gene, CD84, and the allele associated with better response to etanercept was associated with higher CD84 gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P = 1 × 10(-11) in 228 non-RA patients and P = 0.004 in 132 RA patients). Consistent with the genetic findings, higher CD84 gene expression correlated with lower cross-sectional DAS (P = 0.02, n = 210) and showed a non-significant trend for better ΔDAS in a subset of RA patients with gene expression data (n = 31, etanercept-treated). A small, multi-ethnic replication showed a non-significant trend towards an association among etanercept-treated RA patients of Portuguese ancestry (n = 139, P = 0.4), but no association among patients of Japanese ancestry (n = 151, P = 0.8). Our study demonstrates that an allele associated with response to etanercept therapy is also associated with CD84 gene expression, and further that CD84 expression correlates with disease activity. These findings support a model in which CD84 genotypes and/or expression may serve as a useful biomarker for response to etanercept treatment in RA patients of European ancestry. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003394 PMCID: PMC3610685 PMID: 23555300 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16479151
1. Cancer Biol Ther. 2006 Feb;5(2):137-41. doi: 10.4161/cbt.5.2.2479. Epub 2006 Feb 4. Substrates of the BRCA1-dependent ubiquitin ligase. Starita LM(1), Parvin JD. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. Discovering the precise function of the breast and ovarian specific tumor suppressor, BRCA1, has proven to be quite complicated. It has been determined that BRCA1, together with BARD1, comprise an E3 ubiquitin ligase. Since it is now known that BRCA1 is an enzyme, the challenge for BRCA1 research is to learn how this enzymatic activity functions in normal breast and ovarian cells in order to suppress cancerous transformation. This review will survey the known ubiquitination substrates of BRCA1 and suggest how these reactions may influence the genomic stability and proliferation of breast cells. DOI: 10.4161/cbt.5.2.2479 PMID: 16479151 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23945141
1. J Immunol. 2013 Sep 15;191(6):2907-15. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301195. Epub 2013 Aug 14. Long-term IgG response to porcine Neu5Gc antigens without transmission of PERV in burn patients treated with porcine skin xenografts. Scobie L(1), Padler-Karavani V, Le Bas-Bernardet S, Crossan C, Blaha J, Matouskova M, Hector RD, Cozzi E, Vanhove B, Charreau B, Blancho G, Bourdais L, Tallacchini M, Ribes JM, Yu H, Chen X, Kracikova J, Broz L, Hejnar J, Vesely P, Takeuchi Y, Varki A, Soulillou JP. Author information: (1)Department of Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow G4 0BA, United Kingdom. Acellular materials of xenogenic origin are used worldwide as xenografts, and phase I trials of viable pig pancreatic islets are currently being performed. However, limited information is available on transmission of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) after xenotransplantation and on the long-term immune response of recipients to xenoantigens. We analyzed the blood of burn patients who had received living pig-skin dressings for up to 8 wk for the presence of PERV as well as for the level and nature of their long term (maximum, 34 y) immune response against pig Ags. Although no evidence of PERV genomic material or anti-PERV Ab response was found, we observed a moderate increase in anti-αGal Abs and a high and sustained anti-non-αGal IgG response in those patients. Abs against the nonhuman sialic acid Neu5Gc constituted the anti-non-αGal response with the recognition pattern on a sialoglycan array differing from that of burn patients treated without pig skin. These data suggest that anti-Neu5Gc Abs represent a barrier for long-term acceptance of porcine xenografts. Because anti-Neu5Gc Abs can promote chronic inflammation, the long-term safety of living and acellular pig tissue implants in recipients warrants further evaluation. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1301195 PMCID: PMC3782708 PMID: 23945141 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20681793
1. Radiat Res. 2010 Jul;174(1):1-13. doi: 10.1667/RR1290.1. Impact of RING and BRCT domain mutations on BRCA1 protein stability, localization and recruitment to DNA damage. Nelson AC(1), Holt JT. Author information: (1)Department of Pathology and Program in Cancer Biology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA. Mutations within the tumor suppressor BRCA1 cause the majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers. The BRCA1 protein is an important regulator of DNA double-strand break repair, and BRCA1-deficient cells are highly sensitive to ionizing radiation. Furthermore, BRCA1 function may contribute to enforcement of the G(2) cell cycle checkpoint. E3-ubiquitin ligase activity is the only known enzymatic activity of BRCA1, which is mediated by the N-terminal RING finger domain. The C-terminal BRCT repeat domain, which mediates protein-protein interactions, is the only other identified structural domain. By investigating cancer-linked mutations within each domain, we demonstrate that truncation of the BRCT domain greatly impairs the stability and nuclear localization of BRCA1 protein. A missense mutation within the RING domain does not affect these biochemical properties. However, both mutant forms of BRCA1 fail to colocalize in nuclear foci with the known BRCA1-interacting proteins BARD1 and BACH1, which are important for DNA repair. This failure occurs despite the continued ability of the RING mutant protein to interact with BACH1 and the ability of the BRCT mutant to interact with BARD1. Furthermore, neither mutant form of BRCA1 is recruited into DNA damage-associated foci marked by gamma-H2AX. Therefore, our data suggest that both the RING and BRCT domains of BRCA1 are required for an early step in the function of BRCA1 during DNA repair: recruitment to the sites of DNA damage. DOI: 10.1667/RR1290.1 PMCID: PMC4550207 PMID: 20681793 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21464712
1. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2011 May;26(3):181-9. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e328345983d. MicroRNAs in the cardiovascular system. Han M(1), Toli J, Abdellatif M. Author information: (1)Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Reprogramming of gene expression underlies the mechanisms involved in cardiac pathogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are unique posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression whose function in cardiac development and disease has recently begun to unravel. In addition, they are potentially highly effective therapeutic tools. In this review, we will summarize the recent advancements in the field. RECENT FINDINGS: The cardiac-enriched miRNAs, including miR-1, miR-133, and miR-208, as well as the ubiquitous miR-23a and miR-199b, play major roles in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. On the other hand, miR-21, miR-199a, miR-210, and miR-494 have been proven critical for the myocytes' adaptation and survival during hypoxia/ischemia. Using depletion or replacement strategies against some of these miRNAs has proven very effective in preventing or even reversing some disorders. These findings and more will be detailed in this review. SUMMARY: In general, the discovery of miRNAs has uncovered a new dimension of gene regulation that provides us with unique mechanistic insights into cardiac diseases, in addition to which they can be utilized for new diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. DOI: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e328345983d PMID: 21464712 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11786991
1. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2001;Suppl 33(Suppl ):54-69. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.10018.abs. Loss of N-glycolylneuraminic acid in humans: Mechanisms, consequences, and implications for hominid evolution. Varki A(1). Author information: (1)Glycobiology Research and Training Center and Department of Medicine and University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA. The surface of all mammalian cells is covered with a dense and complex array of sugar chains, which are frequently terminated by members of a family of molecules called sialic acids. One particular sialic acid called N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) is widely expressed on most mammalian tissues, but is not easily detectable on human cells. In fact, it provokes an immune response in adult humans. The human deficiency of Neu5Gc is explained by an inactivating mutation in the gene encoding CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in generating Neu5Gc in cells of other mammals. This deficiency also results in an excess of the precursor sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) in humans. This mutation appears universal to modern humans, occurred sometime after our last common ancestor with the great apes, and happens to be one of the first known human-great ape genetic differences with an obvious biochemical readout. While the original selection mechanisms and major biological consequences of this human-specific mutation remain uncertain, several interesting clues are currently being pursued. First, there is evidence that the human condition can explain differences in susceptibility or resistance to certain microbial pathogens. Second, the functions of some endogenous receptors for sialic acids in the immune system may be altered by this difference. Third, despite the lack of any obvious alternate pathway for synthesis, Neu5Gc has been reported in human tumors and possibly in human fetal tissues, and traces have even been detected in normal human tissues. One possible explanation is that this represents accumulation of Neu5Gc from dietary sources of animal origin. Finally, a markedly reduced expression of hydroxylase in the brains of other mammals raises the possibility that the human-specific mutation of this enzyme could have played a role in human brain evolution. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/ajpa.10018.abs PMCID: PMC7159735 PMID: 11786991 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23626658
1. Transl Stroke Res. 2012 Jun;3(2):296-304. doi: 10.1007/s12975-012-0158-9. Hyperglycemia alters mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins in mice subjected to cerebral ischemia and reperfusion. Kumari S(1), Anderson L, Farmer S, Mehta SL, Li PA. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biomanufacturing, Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE), North Carolina Central University, BRITE Building 2025, 302 East Lawson Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA. Preischemic hyperglycemia exacerbates brain damage caused by cerebral ischemia. In the present experiment, we studied the effects of preischemic hyperglycemia on protein markers that are related to mitochondrial fission and fusion, mitochondrial biogenesis, and autophagy in mice subjected to 30-min transient focal ischemia. The fission proteins dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) and fission 1 (Fis1), fusion proteins optic atrophy 1 (Opa1) and mitofusin 2 (Mfn2), mitochondrial biogenesis regulators nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and autophagy marker beclin 1 and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) were analyzed in control, 30 min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) plus 6-, 24-, and 72 h of reperfusion in normo- and hyperglycemic conditions. Cerebral ischemia increased the levels of Drp1 and decreased Fis1 after reperfusion. Preischemic hyperglycemia further augmented the increase of Drp1 and induced elevation in Fis1. Ischemia inhibited the levels of Opa1 and Mfn2 and hyperglycemia further decreased the level of Opa1. Further, NRF1 increased after reperfusion in both normo- and hyperglycemic animals. However, such increase was caused by reperfusion rather than glucose level. Finally, ischemia increased beclin 1 level at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion and hyperglycemia further increased the beclin 1 level and caused LC3-II increase as well. Hyperglycemia enhances the ischemia-induced mitochondrial dynamic imbalance towards fission that may favor mitochondrial fragmentation and subsequent damage. Hyperglycemia elevated autophagy markers may represent an adapting reaction to the severe damage incurred in hyperglycemic animals or a third pathway of cell death. DOI: 10.1007/s12975-012-0158-9 PMCID: PMC3636536 PMID: 23626658 Conflict of interest statement: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20040957
1. Indian J Pharmacol. 2008 Oct;40(5):191-6. doi: 10.4103/0253-7613.44150. Partial nicotinic acetylcholine (alpha4beta2) agonists as promising new medications for smoking cessation. Singh J(1), Budhiraja S. Author information: (1)Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Haryana, India. OBJECTIVE: To review the pharmacology, clinical efficacy and safety of partial agonists of alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. DATA SOURCES: Primary literature and review articles were obtained via a PUBMED search (1988-August 2006) using the key terms smoking cessation, partial agonist alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, varenicline, cytisine and SSR591813. Additional studies and abstracts were identified from the bibliographies of reviewed literature. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Studies and review articles related to varenicline, cytisine and the partial agonist alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS: Smoking is widely recognized as a serious health problem. Smoking cessation has major health benefits. According to the US Public Health Services, all patients attempting to quit smoking should be encouraged to use one or more effective pharmacotherapy. Currently, along with nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, nortriptyline and clonidine, are the mainstay of pharmacotherapy. More than (3/4) of patients receiving treatment for smoking cessation return to smoking within the first year. Nicotine, through stimulating alpha4beta2 nAChR, releases dopamine in the reward pathway. Partial agonist of alpha4beta2 nAChR elicits moderate and sustained release of dopamine, which is countered during the cessation attempts; it simultaneously blocks the effects of nicotine by binding with alpha4beta2 receptors during smoking. Recently, varenicline, a partial agonist at alpha4beta2 nAChR, has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: Partial agonist alpha4beta2 nAChR appears to be a promising target in smoking cessation. Varenicline of this group is approved for treatment of smoking cessation by the FDA in May 2006. DOI: 10.4103/0253-7613.44150 PMCID: PMC2792622 PMID: 20040957
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17220536
1. Pharmacol Rep. 2006 Nov-Dec;58(6):777-98. Cytisine for the treatment of nicotine addiction: from a molecule to therapeutic efficacy. Tutka P(1), Zatoński W. Author information: (1)Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, PL 20-090 Lublin, Poland. tutka@am.lublin.pl Cytisine, a natural plant alkaloid, has been marketed in Central and Eastern Europe for over 40 years for the clinical management of smoking cessation. Despite the fact that cytisine has been used by millions of smokers, its characteristics have not been reviewed in scientific literature in English, and presently existing clinical studies on its effectiveness and safety are insufficient to warrant licensing by modern standards. Understanding of the mechanism of cytisine action as a smoking cessation aid provides a necessary basis for conducting clinical trials to confirm its efficacy as an optimal antismoking therapy. Hereafter, we present a review of current knowledge about the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, toxicity, therapeutic efficacy and safety of cytisine, and about its derivatives that are under development. Recent pharmacological research has elucidated that the drug is a low efficacy partial agonist of alpha4beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, which are believed to be central to the effect of nicotine (NIC) on the reward pathway. The drug reduces the effects of NIC on dopamine release in the mesolimbic system when given alone, while simultaneously attenuating NIC withdrawal symptoms that accompany cessation attempts. Clinical studies on cytisine as a smoking cessation aid have demonstrated that the drug is effective and safe. Our recent uncontrolled trial has shown that a 12-month carbon monoxide-verified continuous abstinence rate following a standard course of treatment with cytisine with minimal behavioral support is similar (13.8%; N = 436) to that observed following treatment with NIC replacement therapy. Since cytisine exhibits a desirable pharmacological profile which makes it an attractive smoking cessation drug, it should be advanced to randomized clinical trials. However, more detailed preclinical studies on its pharmacokinetics and safety profile are required. PMID: 17220536 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24831822
1. Health Technol Assess. 2014 May;18(33):1-120. doi: 10.3310/hta18330. What is the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of cytisine compared with varenicline for smoking cessation? A systematic review and economic evaluation. Leaviss J(1), Sullivan W(1), Ren S(1), Everson-Hock E(1), Stevenson M(1), Stevens JW(1), Strong M(1), Cantrell A(1). Author information: (1)School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. BACKGROUND: Tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide. Nearly one-fifth of adults in the UK regularly smoke cigarettes. The ill-health associated with smoking costs the NHS over £3B every year. A number of pharmacological interventions are available that can help people to quit smoking. These include nicotinic receptor partial agonists such as varenicline or cytisine. Varenicline is a synthetic product licensed for use in the UK, while cytisine is derived naturally from the seeds of the plant Cytisus laborinum L. (golden rain acacia). OBJECTIVES: To review the evidence on the clinical effectiveness and safety of cytisine from smoking cessation compared with varenicline; to develop an economic model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of cytisine and varenicline; and to provide recommendations based on value of information analyses as to whether or not a head-to-head trial of cytisine and varenicline would represent effective use of resources. DATA SOURCES: Efficacy and adverse events data were sourced from a recent Cochrane review. These data were supplemented with an updated search of twelve electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature and The Cochrane Library, for the period from December 2011 to January 2013. The review included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of adult smokers attempting to quit using varenicline or cytisine. Further interventions were considered (placebo, nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion) to allow an indirect comparison between varenicline and cytisine. The primary outcome was abstinence at a minimum of 6 months' follow-up. Secondary outcomes were common adverse events such as abnormal dreams, headache, nausea, insomnia and serious adverse events. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of the clinical evidence was undertaken. A random-effects model was used to allow for heterogeneity between studies. The economic model structure was based on a published model. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were undertaken to estimate the treatment expected to be most cost-effective given current information. Formal expected value of perfect information, perfect partial information and of sample information were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-three (RCTs) were included in the systematic review, comprising a total of 10,610 participants. Twenty-one trials of varenicline of differing dosing schedules and two trials of cytisine at standard dose met the inclusion criteria. No head-to-head trials comparing varenicline with cytisine were identified. The methodological quality of the studies was judged to be moderate to good. Cytisine was more efficacious than placebo [hazard ratio (HR) 4.27, 95% credible interval (CrI) 2.05 to 10.05], as was standard-dose varenicline (HR 2.58, 95% Crl 2.16 to 3.15). Standard-dose varenicline treatment was associated with significantly higher rates of headache, insomnia and nausea than placebo; there was no significant difference in the rates of abnormal dreams. There were no significant differences in the rates of headache or nausea between cytisine and placebo; data were identified for neither abnormal dreams nor insomnia. Using expected values, cytisine is anticipated to dominate varenicline, in that it produces more quality-adjusted life-years at a lower associated cost. This occurred in approximately 90% of the scenarios performed. However, owing to the large number of people who wish to quit smoking (estimated to be 3 million over a 10-year period), the implications of making an incorrect decision is large. The expected value of sample information indicated that conducting a head-to-head trial of cytisine and varenicline was worthwhile, and that 1000 smokers per arm was an appropriate number to recruit. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of the evidence included in this review, varenicline and cytisine are both effective interventions to aid smoking cessation when compared with placebo. Cytisine is estimated to be both more clinically effective and cost-effective than varenicline. However, there is uncertainty in the decision, and a head-to-head trial of cytisine and varenicline would appear to be an effective use of resources. STUDY REGISTRATION: The study was registered as PROSPERO CRD42012003455. FUNDING DETAILS: The National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment programme. DOI: 10.3310/hta18330 PMCID: PMC4780997 PMID: 24831822 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17253581
1. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan 24;(1):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub2. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cahill K(1), Stead LF, Lancaster T. Author information: (1)Department of Primary Health Care, Old Road Campus, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK, OX3 7LF. kate.cahill@dphpc.ox.ac.uk Update in Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jul 16;(3):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub3. BACKGROUND: Nicotine receptor partial agonists may help smokers to quit by a combination of maintaining moderate levels of dopamine to counteract withdrawal symptoms (acting as an agonist) and reducing smoking satisfaction (acting as an antagonist). Varenicline was developed as a nicotine receptor partial agonist from cytisine, a drug widely used in central and eastern Europe for smoking cessation. The first trial reports of varenicline were released in 2006, and further trials are underway. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this review is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nicotine receptor partial agonists, including varenicline and cytisine, for smoking cessation. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group's specialised register for trials, using the terms ('varenicline' or 'cytisine' or 'Tabex' or 'nicotine receptor partial agonist') and 'smoking' in the title or abstract, or as keywords. We also searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL using MeSH terms and free text, and we contacted authors of trial reports for additional information where necessary. The last search was in October 2006. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials which compared the treatment drug with placebo. We also included comparisons with bupropion where available. We excluded trials which did not report a minimum follow-up period of six months from start of treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data in duplicate on the type of participants, the dose and duration of treatment, the outcome measures, the randomization procedure, concealment of allocation, and completeness of follow up. The main outcome measured was abstinence from smoking after at least six months from the beginning of treatment. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence, and preferred biochemically validated rates where they were reported. Where appropriate we performed meta-analysis using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effect model. MAIN RESULTS: We found five trials of varenicline compared with placebo for smoking cessation; three of these also included a bupropion experimental arm. We also found one relapse prevention trial, comparing varenicline with placebo. The six trials covered 4924 participants, 2451 of whom used varenicline. We identified one trial of cytisine (Tabex) for inclusion. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for continuous abstinence at 12 months for varenicline versus placebo was 3.22 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.43 to 4.27). The pooled OR for varenicline versus bupropion was 1.66 (95% CI 1.28 to 2.16). The main adverse effect of varenicline was nausea, which was mostly at mild to moderate levels and usually subsided over time. The two trials which tested the use of varenicline beyond the 12-week standard regimen found the drug to be well-tolerated and effective during long-term use. The one cytisine trial included in this review found that more participants taking cytisine stopped smoking compared with placebo at two-year follow up, with an OR of 1.77 (95% CI 1.30 to 2.40). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Varenicline increased the odds of successful long-term smoking cessation approximately threefold compared with pharmacologically unassisted quit attempts. In trials reported so far, more participants quit successfully with varenicline than with bupropion. The effectiveness of varenicline as an aid to relapse prevention has not been clearly established. The main adverse effect of varenciline is nausea, but this is mostly at mild to moderate levels and tends to reduce with habituation. There is a need for independent trials of varenicline versus placebo, to test the early findings. There is also a need for direct comparisons with nicotine replacement therapy, and for further trials with bupropion, to establish the relative efficacy of the treatments.Cytisine may also increase the chances of quitting, but the evidence at present is inconclusive. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub2 PMID: 17253581 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23728690
1. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 May 31;2013(5):CD009329. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009329.pub2. Pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: an overview and network meta-analysis. Cahill K(1), Stevens S, Perera R, Lancaster T. Author information: (1)Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. kate.cahill@phc.ox.ac.uk. Comment in Evid Based Med. 2013 Dec;18(6):212-3. doi: 10.1136/eb-2013-101462. JAMA. 2014 Jan 8;311(2):193-4. doi: 10.1001/jama.2013.283787. BACKGROUND: Smoking is the leading preventable cause of illness and premature death worldwide. Some medications have been proven to help people to quit, with three licensed for this purpose in Europe and the USA: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion, and varenicline. Cytisine (a treatment pharmacologically similar to varenicline) is also licensed for use in Russia and some of the former socialist economy countries. Other therapies, including nortriptyline, have also been tested for effectiveness. OBJECTIVES: How do NRT, bupropion and varenicline compare with placebo and with each other in achieving long-term abstinence (six months or longer)? How do the remaining treatments compare with placebo in achieving long-term abstinence? How do the risks of adverse and serious adverse events (SAEs) compare between the treatments, and are there instances where the harms may outweigh the benefits? METHODS: The overview is restricted to Cochrane reviews, all of which include randomised trials. Participants are usually adult smokers, but we exclude reviews of smoking cessation for pregnant women and in particular disease groups or specific settings. We cover nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), antidepressants (bupropion and nortriptyline), nicotine receptor partial agonists (varenicline and cytisine), anxiolytics, selective type 1 cannabinoid receptor antagonists (rimonabant), clonidine, lobeline, dianicline, mecamylamine, Nicobrevin, opioid antagonists, nicotine vaccines, and silver acetate. Our outcome for benefit is continuous or prolonged abstinence at least six months from the start of treatment. Our outcome for harms is the incidence of serious adverse events associated with each of the treatments. We searched the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) in The Cochrane Library, for any reviews with 'smoking' in the title, abstract or keyword fields. The last search was conducted in November 2012. We assessed methodological quality using a revised version of the AMSTAR scale. For NRT, bupropion and varenicline we conducted network meta-analyses, comparing each with the others and with placebo for benefit, and varenicline and bupropion for risks of serious adverse events. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 12 treatment-specific reviews. The analyses covered 267 studies, involving 101,804 participants. Both NRT and bupropion were superior to placebo (odds ratios (OR) 1.84; 95% credible interval (CredI) 1.71 to 1.99, and 1.82; 95% CredI 1.60 to 2.06 respectively). Varenicline increased the odds of quitting compared with placebo (OR 2.88; 95% CredI 2.40 to 3.47). Head-to-head comparisons between bupropion and NRT showed equal efficacy (OR 0.99; 95% CredI 0.86 to 1.13). Varenicline was superior to single forms of NRT (OR 1.57; 95% CredI 1.29 to 1.91), and to bupropion (OR 1.59; 95% CredI 1.29 to 1.96). Varenicline was more effective than nicotine patch (OR 1.51; 95% CredI 1.22 to 1.87), than nicotine gum (OR 1.72; 95% CredI 1.38 to 2.13), and than 'other' NRT (inhaler, spray, tablets, lozenges; OR 1.42; 95% CredI 1.12 to 1.79), but was not more effective than combination NRT (OR 1.06; 95% CredI 0.75 to 1.48). Combination NRT also outperformed single formulations. The four categories of NRT performed similarly against each other, apart from 'other' NRT, which was marginally more effective than NRT gum (OR 1.21; 95% CredI 1.01 to 1.46). Cytisine (a nicotine receptor partial agonist) returned positive findings (risk ratio (RR) 3.98; 95% CI 2.01 to 7.87), without significant adverse events or SAEs. Across the 82 included and excluded bupropion trials, our estimate of six seizures in the bupropion arms versus none in the placebo arms was lower than the expected rate (1:1000), at about 1:1500. SAE meta-analysis of the bupropion studies demonstrated no excess of neuropsychiatric (RR 0.88; 95% CI 0.31 to 2.50) or cardiovascular events (RR 0.77; 95% CI 0.37 to 1.59). SAE meta-analysis of 14 varenicline trials found no difference between the varenicline and placebo arms (RR 1.06; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.55), and subgroup analyses detected no significant excess of neuropsychiatric events (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.17 to 1.67), or of cardiac events (RR 1.26; 95% CI 0.62 to 2.56). Nortriptyline increased the chances of quitting (RR 2.03; 95% CI 1.48 to 2.78). Neither nortriptyline nor bupropion were shown to enhance the effect of NRT compared with NRT alone. Clonidine increased the chances of quitting (RR 1.63; 95% CI 1.22 to 2.18), but this was offset by a dose-dependent rise in adverse events. Mecamylamine in combination with NRT may increase the chances of quitting, but the current evidence is inconclusive. Other treatments failed to demonstrate a benefit compared with placebo. Nicotine vaccines are not yet licensed for use as an aid to smoking cessation or relapse prevention. Nicobrevin's UK license is now revoked, and the manufacturers of rimonabant, taranabant and dianicline are no longer supporting the development or testing of these treatments. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: NRT, bupropion, varenicline and cytisine have been shown to improve the chances of quitting. Combination NRT and varenicline are equally effective as quitting aids. Nortriptyline also improves the chances of quitting. On current evidence, none of the treatments appear to have an incidence of adverse events that would mitigate their use. Further research is warranted into the safety of varenicline and into cytisine's potential as an effective and affordable treatment, but not into the efficacy and safety of NRT. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009329.pub2 PMCID: PMC8406789 PMID: 23728690 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Three authors of this overview (KC, RP, TL) have contributed to many of the included reviews.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23978314
1. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2013 Oct;14(14):1959-67. doi: 10.1517/14656566.2013.818978. Epub 2013 Aug 26. Pharmacotherapies and harm-reduction options for the treatment of tobacco dependence. Le Houezec J(1), Aubin HJ. Author information: (1)Consultant in Public Health, Tobacco dependence, Amzer Glas , 176 rue de Brest, 35000 Rennes , France +332 99 33 72 67 ; jacques.lehouezec@amzer-glas.com. INTRODUCTION: Tobacco dependence, a chronic relapsing condition, requires repeated interventions and multiple attempts to quit. AREAS COVERED: Strategies for assisting smoking cessation include behavioural counselling and pharmacotherapy. Three drugs are currently used as first-line pharmacotherapy: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and varenicline. Compared to placebo, the drug effect varies from RR = 2.27 for varenicline, to 1.69 for bupropion, and 1.60 for any form of NRT. Cytisine (similar to varenicline) has a RR = 3.98 compared to placebo (two trials). Second-line pharmacotherapies include nortriptyline and clonidine. This review also offers an overview of pipeline developments. EXPERT OPINION: Effective medications exist, and clinicians should encourage and offer treatment to every smoker. However, most smokers try to quit by themselves, with only about 3% quitting successfully each year. Alternative interventions are needed. Harm reduction has not received much support to date. Safer alternative to tobacco smoking (smoke-free products, long-term use of cessation drugs, or electronic cigarettes) could save lives and reduce the burden of tobacco-related deaths and diseases. Despite some encouragement to develop a research agenda for e-cigarettes, particularly on the safety issues, too little attention has been brought to this area of research. DOI: 10.1517/14656566.2013.818978 PMID: 23978314 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24086431
1. PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e75035. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075035. eCollection 2013. NOTCH3 variants and risk of ischemic stroke. Ross OA(1), Soto-Ortolaza AI, Heckman MG, Verbeeck C, Serie DJ, Rayaprolu S, Rich SS, Nalls MA, Singleton A, Guerreiro R, Kinsella E, Wszolek ZK, Brott TG, Brown RD Jr, Worrall BB, Meschia JF. Author information: (1)Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, United States of America. BACKGROUND: Mutations within the NOTCH3 gene cause cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). CADASIL mutations appear to be restricted to the first twenty-four exons, resulting in the gain or loss of a cysteine amino acid. The role of other exonic NOTCH3 variation not involving cysteine residues and mutations in exons 25-33 in ischemic stroke remains unresolved. METHODS: All 33 exons of NOTCH3 were sequenced in 269 Caucasian probands from the Siblings With Ischemic Stroke Study (SWISS), a 70-center North American affected sibling pair study and 95 healthy Caucasian control subjects. Variants identified by sequencing in the SWISS probands were then tested for association with ischemic stroke using US Caucasian controls collected at the Mayo Clinic (n=654), and further assessed in a Caucasian (n=802) and African American (n=298) patient-control series collected through the Ischemic Stroke Genetics Study (ISGS). RESULTS: Sequencing of the 269 SWISS probands identified one (0.4%) with small vessel type stroke carrying a known CADASIL mutation (p.R558C; Exon 11). Of the 19 common NOTCH3 variants identified, the only variant significantly associated with ischemic stroke after multiple testing adjustment was p.R1560P (rs78501403; Exon 25) in the combined SWISS and ISGS Caucasian series (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.50, P=0.0022) where presence of the minor allele was protective against ischemic stroke. Although only significant prior to adjustment for multiple testing, p.T101T (rs3815188; Exon 3) was associated with an increased risk of small-vessel stroke (OR: 1.56, P=0.008) and p.P380P (rs61749020; Exon 7) was associated with decreased risk of large-vessel stroke (OR: 0.35, P=0.047) in Caucasians. No significant associations were observed in the small African American series. CONCLUSION: Cysteine-affecting NOTCH3 mutations are rare in patients with typical ischemic stroke, however our observation that common NOTCH3 variants may be associated with risk of ischemic stroke warrants further study. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075035 PMCID: PMC3781028 PMID: 24086431 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: Owen A. Ross is a PLOS ONE Editorial Board member. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22623959
1. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e36590. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036590. Epub 2012 May 18. Identification of a known mutation in Notch 3 in familiar CADASIL in China. Tan ZX(1), Li FF, Qu YY, Liu J, Liu GR, Zhou J, Zhu YL, Liu SL. Author information: (1)Genomics Research Center, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. BACKGROUND: Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited disease leading to recurrent ischemic stroke and vascular dementia. Numerous mutations in the 23 exons of the NOTCH3 gene have been reported to cause CADASIL in Caucasian populations, but the full spectrum of genetic changes leading to this disease is yet to be known and, especially, very few reports are available on CADASIL in Asian populations. METHODS AND RESULTS: We genotyped members of a 5-generational Han Chinese family with CADASIL patients and identified an R133C mutation in the NOTCH3 gene. Clinical analysis demonstrated that the penetrance of the mutation was not complete. Five of the mutation carriers, not exposed to the known vascular risk factors, did not show any clinical feature of CADASIL, suggesting the importance of environmental factors to the development of this disease. CONCLUSIONS: Members of a 5-generational Han Chinese family with CADASIL patients had an R133C mutation in the NOTCH3 gene but only individuals exposed to known vascular risk factors developed CADASIL. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036590 PMCID: PMC3356370 PMID: 22623959 [Indexed for MEDLINE] Conflict of interest statement: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21038489
1. Cephalalgia. 2010 Nov;30(11):1284-9. doi: 10.1177/0333102410370870. CADASIL and migraine: A narrative review. Liem MK(1), Oberstein SA, van der Grond J, Ferrari MD, Haan J. Author information: (1)Leiden University Medical Center, Netherlands. m.k.liem@lumc.nl Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene and is clinically characterized by recurrent stroke, cognitive decline, psychiatric disturbances and migraine. The prevalence of migraine in CADASIL is slightly higher than in the general population, and the proportion of migraine with aura is much higher. The pathophysiological mechanism that leads to increased aura prevalence in CADASIL is unknown. Possible mechanisms of the excess of migraine with aura are an increased susceptibility to cortical spreading depression (CSD) or a different expression of CSD. It is also possible that the brainstem migraine area is involved in CADASIL. Last, it is possible that the NOTCH3 mutation acts as a migraine aura susceptibility gene by itself. In this narrative review we summarize the literature about migraine in CADASIL, with a special focus on what CADASIL might teach us about the pathophysiology of migraine. DOI: 10.1177/0333102410370870 PMID: 21038489 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21772710
1. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2011 Apr;27(2):293-4. doi: 10.4103/0970-9185.81853. Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct and leukoencephalopathy: A rare syndrome raising anesthetic concerns! Singh GP(1), Mahajan C, Prabhakar H, Bindra A. Author information: (1)Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi - 110 029, India. DOI: 10.4103/0970-9185.81853 PMCID: PMC3127329 PMID: 21772710
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11706120
1. Neurology. 2001 Nov 13;57(9):1714-7. doi: 10.1212/wnl.57.9.1714. NOTCH3 mutation involving three cysteine residues in a family with typical CADASIL. Dichgans M(1), Herzog J, Gasser T. Author information: (1)Department of Neurology, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany. mdichgans@nefo.med.uni-muenchen.de Mutations in NOTCH3 are the cause of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), a hereditary angiopathy causing stroke and vascular dementia. All CADASIL mutations identified so far result in the loss or gain of one cysteine residue within epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeat domains. Here an in-frame deletion causing a loss of three cysteine residues within EGF repeat 6 is reported. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the change toward an odd number of cysteine residues within a given EGF repeat and therefore an unpaired, reactive cysteine residue is the common and critical molecular event in CADASIL. DOI: 10.1212/wnl.57.9.1714 PMID: 11706120 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21154363
1. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Dec 8;(12):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub4. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cahill K(1), Stead LF, Lancaster T. Author information: (1)Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford, Rosemary Rue Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford, UK, OX3 7LF. Update in Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Feb 16;(2):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub5. Comment in Evid Based Med. 2011 Aug;16(4):113-4. doi: 10.1136/ebm1200. Update of Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008 Jul 16;(3):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub3. BACKGROUND: Nicotine receptor partial agonists may help people to stop smoking by a combination of maintaining moderate levels of dopamine to counteract withdrawal symptoms (acting as an agonist) and reducing smoking satisfaction (acting as an antagonist). Varenicline was developed as a nicotine receptor partial agonist from cytisine, a drug widely used in central and eastern Europe for smoking cessation. The first trial reports of varenicline were released in 2006, and further trials have now been published or are currently underway. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this review is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nicotine receptor partial agonists, including varenicline and cytisine, for smoking cessation. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group's specialised register for trials, using the terms ('varenicline' or 'cytisine' or 'Tabex' or 'nicotine receptor partial agonist') and 'smoking' in the title or abstract, or as keywords. We also searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and CINAHL using MeSH terms and free text, and we contacted authors of trial reports for additional information where necessary. The latest search was in September 2010. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomized controlled trials which compared the treatment drug with placebo. We also included comparisons with bupropion and nicotine patches where available. We excluded trials which did not report a minimum follow-up period of six months from start of treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We extracted data on the type of participants, the dose and duration of treatment, the outcome measures, the randomization procedure, concealment of allocation, and completeness of follow up.The main outcome measured was abstinence from smoking after at least six months from the beginning of treatment. We used the most rigorous definition of abstinence, and preferred biochemically validated rates where they were reported. Where appropriate we performed meta-analysis to produce a risk ratio, using the Mantel-Haenszel fixed-effect model. MAIN RESULTS: We found 11 trials of varenicline compared with placebo for smoking cessation; three of these included a bupropion experimental arm. We also found one relapse prevention trial, comparing varenicline with placebo, and two open-label trials comparing varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT). We also include one trial in which all the participants were given varenicline, but received behavioural support either online or by phone calls, or by both methods. This trial is not included in the analyses, but contributes to the data on safety and tolerability. The included studies covered >10,300 participants, 6892 of whom used varenicline. We identified one trial of cytisine (Tabex) for inclusion.The pooled risk ratio (RR) (10 trials, 4443 people, excluding one trial evaluating long term safety) for continuous abstinence at six months or longer for varenicline at standard dosage versus placebo was 2.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.01 to 2.66). Varenicline at lower or variable doses was also shown to be effective, with an RR of 2.09 (95% CI 1.56 to 2.78; 4 trials, 1272 people). The pooled RR for varenicline versus bupropion at one year was 1.52 (95% CI 1.22 to 1.88; 3 trials, 1622 people). The RR for varenicline versus NRT for point prevalence abstinence at 24 weeks was 1.13 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.35; 2 trials, 778 people). The two trials which tested the use of varenicline beyond the 12-week standard regimen found the drug to be well-tolerated during long-term use. The main adverse effect of varenicline was nausea, which was mostly at mild to moderate levels and usually subsided over time. Post-marketing safety data raised questions about a possible association between varenicline and depressed mood, agitation, and suicidal behaviour or ideation. The labelling of varenicline was amended in 2008, and the manufacturers produced a Medication Guide. Thus far, surveillance reports and secondary analyses of trial data lend little support to a causal relationship.The one cytisine trial included in this review found that more participants taking cytisine stopped smoking compared with placebo at two-year follow up, with an RR of 1.61 (95% CI 1.24 to 2.08). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Varenicline at standard dose increased the chances of successful long-term smoking cessation between two- and threefold compared with pharmacologically unassisted quit attempts. Lower dose regimens also conferred benefits for cessation, while reducing the incidence of adverse events. More participants quit successfully with varenicline than with bupropion. Two open-label trials of varenicline versus NRT suggested a modest benefit of varenicline but confidence intervals did not rule out equivalence. Limited evidence suggests that varenicline may have a role to play in relapse prevention. The main adverse effect of varenicline is nausea, but mostly at mild to moderate levels and tending to subside over time. Possible links with serious adverse events, including depressed mood, agitation and suicidal thoughts, have been reported but are so far not substantiated.There is a need for further independent community-based trials of varenicline, to test its efficacy and safety in smokers with varying co-morbidities and risk patterns. There is a need for further trials of the efficacy of treatment extended beyond 12 weeks. Cytisine may also increase the chances of quitting, but the evidence at present is inconclusive. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub4 PMID: 21154363 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23592277
1. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet. 2013 May;163C(2):86-91. doi: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31359. Epub 2013 Apr 16. The NSD1 and EZH2 overgrowth genes, similarities and differences. Tatton-Brown K(1), Rahman N. Author information: (1)Institute of Cancer Research, St George's University of London and the Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. kate.tatton-brown@icr.ac.uk NSD1 and EZH2 are SET domain-containing histone methyltransferases that play key roles in the regulation of transcription through histone modification and chromatin modeling: NSD1 preferentially methylates lysine residue 36 of histone 3 (H3K36) and is primarily associated with active transcription, while EZH2 shows specificity for lysine residue 27 (H3K27) and is associated with transcriptional repression. Somatic dysregulation of NSD1 and EZH2 have been associated with tumorigenesis. NSD1, as a fusion transcript with NUP98, plays a key role in leukemogenesis, particularly childhood acute myeloid leukemia. EZH2 is a major proto-oncogene and mono- and biallelic activating and inactivating somatic mutations occur as early events in the development of tumors, particularly poor prognosis hematopoietic malignancies. Constitutional NSD1 and EZH2 mutations cause Sotos and Weaver syndromes respectively, overgrowth syndromes with considerable phenotypic overlap. NSD1 mutations that cause Sotos syndrome are loss-of-function, primarily truncating mutations or missense mutations at key residues in functional domains. EZH2 mutations that cause Weaver syndrome are primarily missense variants and the rare truncating mutations reported to date are in the last exon, suggesting that simple haploinsufficiency is unlikely to be generating the overgrowth phenotype although the exact mechanism has not yet been determined. Many additional questions about the molecular and clinical features of NSD1 and EZH2 remain unanswered. However, studies are underway to address these and, as more cases are ascertained and technology improves, it is hoped that these will, in time, be answered. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31359 PMCID: PMC4845886 PMID: 23592277 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24852293
1. J Med Genet. 2014 Aug;51(8):512-7. doi: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2014-102402. Epub 2014 May 22. Mutations in SETD2 cause a novel overgrowth condition. Luscan A(1), Laurendeau I(1), Malan V(2), Francannet C(3), Odent S(4), Giuliano F(5), Lacombe D(6), Touraine R(7), Vidaud M(1), Pasmant E(1), Cormier-Daire V(8). Author information: (1)EA7331, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté des Sciences Pharmaceutiques et Biologiques, Paris, France Service de Biochimie et de Génétique Moléculaire, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France. (2)Service d'Histo-Embryo-Cytogénétique, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France. (3)Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Estaing, Clermont-Ferrand, France. (4)Université de Rennes 1, CNRS UMR6290, Service de Génétique Clinique, CHU Hôpital Sud, Rennes, France. (5)Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU Hôpital l'Archet 2, Nice, France. (6)Service de Génétique Médicale, CHU de Bordeaux et EA4576, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France. (7)Service de Génétique, CHU de Saint-Etienne, hôpital Nord, Saint-Etienne, France. (8)INSERM UMR_1163, Département de génétique, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Institut Imagine, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France. BACKGROUND: Overgrowth conditions are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterised by increased growth and variable features, including macrocephaly, distinctive facial appearance and various degrees of learning difficulties and intellectual disability. Among them, Sotos and Weaver syndromes are clinically well defined and due to heterozygous mutations in NSD1 and EZH2, respectively. NSD1 and EZH2 are both histone-modifying enzymes. These two epigenetic writers catalyse two specific post-translational modifications of histones: methylation of histone 3 lysine 36 (H3K36) and lysine 27 (H3K27). We postulated that mutations in writers of these two chromatin marks could cause overgrowth conditions, resembling Sotos or Weaver syndromes, in patients with no NSD1 or EZH2 abnormalities. METHODS: We analysed the coding sequences of 14 H3K27 methylation-related genes and eight H3K36 methylation-related genes using a targeted next-generation sequencing approach in three Sotos, 11 'Sotos-like' and two Weaver syndrome patients. RESULTS: We identified two heterozygous mutations in the SETD2 gene in two patients with 'Sotos-like' syndrome: one missense p.Leu1815Trp de novo mutation in a boy and one nonsense p.Gln274* mutation in an adopted girl. SETD2 is non-redundantly responsible for H3K36 trimethylation. The two probands shared similar clinical features, including postnatal overgrowth, macrocephaly, obesity, speech delay and advanced carpal ossification. CONCLUSIONS: Our results illustrate the power of targeted next-generation sequencing to identify rare disease-causing variants. We provide a compelling argument for Sotos and Sotos-like syndromes as epigenetic diseases caused by loss-of-function mutations of epigenetic writers of the H3K36 histone mark. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions. DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2014-102402 PMID: 24852293 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22177091
1. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Jan 13;90(1):110-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.018. Epub 2011 Dec 15. Mutations in EZH2 cause Weaver syndrome. Gibson WT(1), Hood RL, Zhan SH, Bulman DE, Fejes AP, Moore R, Mungall AJ, Eydoux P, Babul-Hirji R, An J, Marra MA; FORGE Canada Consortium; Chitayat D, Boycott KM, Weaver DD, Jones SJ. Author information: (1)Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. wtgibson@cfri.ubc.ca We used trio-based whole-exome sequencing to analyze two families affected by Weaver syndrome, including one of the original families reported in 1974. Filtering of rare variants in the affected probands against the parental variants identified two different de novo mutations in the enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2). Sanger sequencing of EZH2 in a third classically-affected proband identified a third de novo mutation in this gene. These data show that mutations in EZH2 cause Weaver syndrome. Copyright © 2012 The American Society of Human Genetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2011.11.018 PMCID: PMC3257956 PMID: 22177091 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19006080
1. J Neurosci Res. 2009 Apr;87(5):1162-7. doi: 10.1002/jnr.21935. CADASIL: extended polymorphisms and mutational analysis of the NOTCH3 gene. Ungaro C(1), Mazzei R, Conforti FL, Sprovieri T, Servillo P, Liguori M, Citrigno L, Gabriele AL, Magariello A, Patitucci A, Muglia M, Quattrone A. Author information: (1)Institute of Neurological Sciences, National Research Council, Mangone, Italy. CADASIL is a cerebrovascular disease caused by mutations in the NOTCH3 gene. Most mutations result in a gain or loss of cysteine residue in one of the 34 epidermal growth factor-like repeats in the extracellular domain of the Notch3 protein, thus sparing the number of cysteine residues. To date, more than 130 different mutations in the NOTCH3 gene have been reported in CADASIL patients, of which 95% are missense point mutations. Many polymorphisms have also been identified in the NOTCH3 coding sequence, some of them leading to amino acid substitutions. The aim of the present study was to analyze the NOTCH3 gene in a large group of patients affected by leukoencephalopathy and to investigate the presence of genetic variants. The molecular analysis revealed several nucleotide alterations. In particular, we identified 20 different mutations, 22 polymorphisms, and 8 genetic variants of unknown pathological significance never reported previously. We hope that this NOTCH3 gene mutational analysis, performed in such a significant number of unrelated and related patients affected by leukoencephalopathy, will help in molecular screening for the NOTCH3 gene, thus contributing to enlargement of the NOTCH3 gene variation database. DOI: 10.1002/jnr.21935 PMID: 19006080 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23099237
1. Leuk Res. 2013 Mar;37(3):305-11. doi: 10.1016/j.leukres.2012.10.004. Epub 2012 Oct 23. TET2, ASXL1 and EZH2 mutations in Chinese with myelodysplastic syndromes. Wang J(1), Ai X, Gale RP, Xu Z, Qin T, Fang L, Zhang H, Pan L, Hu N, Zhang Y, Xiao Z. Author information: (1)MDS and MPN Centre, Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin, China. Somatic mutations of epigenetic gene regulators are common in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and correlate with some clinical and laboratory features. We studied mutations in TET2, ASXL1 and EZH2 in 153 Chinese patients with MDS. TET2 mutations were detected in 35 patients (23%), ASXL1 in 33 patients (22%) and EZH2 in 8 (5%). ASXL1 mutations were associated with increased colony formation of BFU-E, CFU-E and CFU-GM (P-values, 0.049, 0.011 and 0.006). EZH2 mutations were common in patients with poor IPSS cytogenetics (P=0.001) and in patients in the IPSS intermediate-2/high-risk cohorts (P=0.06). In uni- but not multi-variate analyses, mutated TET2 was associated with longer survival (P=0.044) whereas EZH2 mutations were associated with an increased risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia (AML; P=0.039). These data suggest ASXL1 mutations might results in dominance of the mutant clone in Chinese with MDS whereas EZH2 mutations might predict an increased risk of transformation to AML. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2012.10.004 PMID: 23099237 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21923765
1. Mol Microbiol. 2011 Nov;82(3):634-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07843.x. Epub 2011 Oct 10. Bacillus anthracis virulence regulator AtxA: oligomeric state, function and CO(2) -signalling. Hammerstrom TG(1), Roh JH, Nikonowicz EP, Koehler TM. Author information: (1)Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas - Houston Health Science Center, Medical School, Houston, TX, USA. AtxA, a unique regulatory protein of unknown molecular function, positively controls expression of the major virulence genes of Bacillus anthracis. The 475 amino acid sequence of AtxA reveals DNA binding motifs and regions similar to proteins associated with the phosphoenolpyruvate: carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS). We used strains producing native and functional epitope-tagged AtxA proteins to examine protein-protein interactions in cell lysates and in solutions of purified protein. Co-affinity purification, non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and bis(maleimido)hexane (BMH) cross-linking experiments revealed AtxA homo-multimers. Dimers were the most abundant species. BMH cross-links available cysteines within 13 Å. To localize interaction sites, six AtxA mutants containing distinct Cys→Ser substitutions were tested for multimerization and cross-linking. All mutants multimerized, but one mutation, C402S, prevented cross-linking. Thus, BMH uses C402 to make the inter-molecular bond between AtxA proteins, but C402 is not required for protein-protein interaction. C402 is in a region bearing amino acid similarity to Enzyme IIB proteins of the PTS. The AtxA EIIB motif may function in protein oligomerization. Finally, cultures grown with elevated CO(2) /bicarbonate exhibited increased AtxA dimer/monomer ratios and increased AtxA activity, relative to cultures grown without added CO(2) /bicarbonate, suggesting that this host-associated signal enhances AtxA function by shifting the dimer/monomer equilibrium towards the dimeric state. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07843.x PMCID: PMC3211139 PMID: 21923765 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2579060
1. J Bacteriol. 1985 Mar;161(3):1162-70. doi: 10.1128/jb.161.3.1162-1170.1985. Escherichia coli 6S RNA gene is part of a dual-function transcription unit. Hsu LM, Zagorski J, Wang Z, Fournier MJ. The gene coding for the metabolically stable 6S RNA of Escherichia coli has been cloned, sequenced, and partially characterized in expression analyses. The DNA sequence results confirm the accuracy of the previously established RNA sequence and, with genomic hybridization data, reveal that there is only one copy of the 6S DNA in the chromosome. Consistent with its relaxed mode of expression, the promoter region of the 6S RNA gene was found to lack the hypothetical GC-rich discriminator domain common to other stable RNA genes under stringent control. The sequence results also revealed the occurrence of a 540-base-pair open reading frame immediately downstream from the 6S RNA coding region. Results from the expression analyses show that the protein and RNA coding regions are cotranscribed in vitro and that the open reading frame is translated in vivo. DOI: 10.1128/jb.161.3.1162-1170.1985 PMCID: PMC215021 PMID: 2579060 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25177364
1. Mol Cytogenet. 2014 May 27;7:35. doi: 10.1186/1755-8166-7-35. eCollection 2014. Submicroscopic deletion of 5q involving tumor suppressor genes (CTNNA1, HSPA9) and copy neutral loss of heterozygosity associated with TET2 and EZH2 mutations in a case of MDS with normal chromosome and FISH results. Hemmat M(1), Chen W(2), Anguiano A(1), Naggar ME(1), Racke FK(1), Jones D(3), Wang Y(3), Strom CM(1), Chang K(1), Boyar FZ(1). Author information: (1)Cytogenetics Department, Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, 33608 Ortega Hwy, 92675 San Juan Capistrano, CA, USA. (2)University of Texas southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, 75235 Dallas, TX, USA. (3)Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, 14225 Newbrook Drive, 20151 Chantilly, VA, USA. Advances in genome-wide molecular cytogenetics allow identification of novel submicroscopic DNA copy number alterations (aCNAs) and copy-neutral loss of heterozygosity (cnLOH) resulting in homozygosity for known gene mutations in myeloid neoplasms. We describe the use of an oligo-SNP array for genomic profiling of aCNA and cnLOH, together with sequence analysis of recurrently mutated genes, in a patient with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) presenting with normal karyotype and FISH results. Oligo-SNP array analysis revealed a hemizygous deletion of 896 kb at chromosome 5q31.2, representing the smallest 5q deletion reported to date. The deletion involved multiple genes, including two tumor suppressor candidate genes (CTNNA1 and HSPA9) that are associated with MDS/AML. The SNP-array study also detected 3 segments of somatic cnLOH: one involved the entire long arm of chromosome 4; the second involved the distal half of the long arm of chromosome 7, and the third encompassed the entire chromosome 22 (UPD 22). Sequence analysis revealed mutations in TET2 (4q), EZH2 (7q), ASXL1 (20q11.21), and RUNX1 (21q22.3). Coincidently, TET2 and EZH2 were located at segments of cnLOH resulting in their homozygosity. Loss of heterozygosity affecting these two chromosomes and mutations in TET2 and EZH2 are indicative of a myelodysplastic syndrome with a poor prognosis. Deletion of the tumor suppressor genes CTNNA1 and HSPA9 is also likely to contribute to a poor prognosis. Furthermore, the original cnLOHs in multiple chromosomes and additional cnLOH 14q in the follow-up study suggest genetic evolution of the disease and poor prognosis. This study attests to the fact that some patients with a myelodysplastic syndrome who exhibit a normal karyotype may have underlying genetic abnormalities detectable by chromosomal microarray and/or targeted mutation analyses. DOI: 10.1186/1755-8166-7-35 PMCID: PMC4149311 PMID: 25177364
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16717210
1. Neurology. 2006 May 23;66(10):1511-6. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000216259.99811.50. Characteristics of CADASIL in Korea: a novel cysteine-sparing Notch3 mutation. Kim Y(1), Choi EJ, Choi CG, Kim G, Choi JH, Yoo HW, Kim JS. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Chonbuk, Korea. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the phenotype, genotype, and MRI findings of Korean patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and mutation carriers. METHODS: The authors studied 40 members of nine unrelated Korean CADASIL families. After genetic analysis of Notch3, clinical and MRI findings were correlated in 27 mutation carriers. RESULT: Notch3 mutation sites were C174R (one family, n = 3), R133C (one family, n = 3), R587C (one family, n = 1), R544C (two families, n = 5), and R75P (four families, n = 15). The clinical features were typical of CADASIL, but the frequency of migraine in the Korean population appears low. MRI abnormalities were found in 54% of the mutant carriers, the most common being white matter hyperintensities. The prevalence of lacunes and microbleeds increased with patient age. Anterior temporal areas were less often involved in subjects with R75P mutations than in those where mutations occurred in other sites (p = 0.02). Gradient echo imaging identified microbleedings in 33% of mutation carriers (64% of those with abnormal MRI), whereas diffusion-weighted MRI showed abnormal findings in only one patient. Neurologic disability was related to the number of lacunar infarcts and the lesion volume of white matter hyperintensities (p < 0.001) whereas MMSE score was related to the number of lacunar infarcts (p < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Although Korean cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) mutation carriers show similar clinical and MRI findings, these abnormalities appear less frequently than in other populations. Relatively frequent microbleedings on gradient echo imaging suggest that treatment should be individualized according to MRI findings. The novel mutation of R75P, not involving a cysteine residue, is related to less frequent involvement of the anterior temporal area, thus broadening the spectrum of CADASIL. DOI: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000216259.99811.50 PMID: 16717210 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15149039
1. Int J Med Microbiol. 2004 Apr;293(7-8):619-24. doi: 10.1078/1438-4221-00306. In vivo Bacillus anthracis gene expression requires PagR as an intermediate effector of the AtxA signalling cascade. Mignot T(1), Couture-Tosi E, Mesnage S, Mock M, Fouet A. Author information: (1)Unité Toxines et Pathogénie Bactérienne, CNRS URA 2172, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France. Transcription of the major Bacillus anthracis virulence genes is triggered by CO2, a signal mimicking the host environment. A 182-kb plasmid, pXO1, carries the anthrax toxin genes and the genes responsible for their regulation of transcription, namely atxA and, pagR, the second gene of the pag operon. AtxA has major effects on the physiology of B. anthracis. It coordinates the transcription activation of the toxin genes with that of the capsule biosynthetic enzyme operon, located on the second virulence plasmid, pXO2. In rich medium, B. anthracis synthesises alternatively two S-layer proteins (Sap and EA1). An exponential phase "Sap-layer" is subsequently replaced by a stationary phase "EA1-layer". S-layer gene transcription is controlled by alternative sigma factors and by Sap acting as a transcriptional repressor of eag. Furthermore, in vitro in presence of CO2 and in vivo, AtxA is part of the sap and eag regulatory network. Only eag is significantly expressed in these conditions and this is due to AtxA activating eag and repressing sap transcription. PagR, and not AtxA itself, is the direct effector of this regulation by binding to sap and eag promoter regions. Therefore, PagR mediates the effect of AtxA on eag and sap and is the most downstream element of a signalling cascade initiated by AtxA. Taken together, these results indicate that the B. anthracis transcriptional regulator AtxA is controlling the synthesis of the three toxin components and of the surface elements (capsule and S-layer). Thus, AtxA is a master regulator that coordinates the response to host signals by orchestrating positive and negative controls over genes located on all genetic elements. DOI: 10.1078/1438-4221-00306 PMID: 15149039 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23587639
1. Neurobiol Aging. 2013 Sep;34(9):2234.e9-12. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.03.005. Epub 2013 Apr 12. First deep intronic mutation in the NOTCH3 gene in a family with late-onset CADASIL. Bianchi S(1), Dotti MT, Gallus GN, D'Eramo C, Di Donato I, Bernardi L, Maletta R, Puccio G, Bruni AC, Federico A. Author information: (1)Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. CADASIL is the most prominent inherited form of vascular dementia. The main clinical features include migraine with aura, stroke, mood disturbances, and cognitive decline, with a mid-life (30s-60s) adult onset. Genetic testing is the gold standard for the diagnosis. CADASIL is caused mostly by missense mutations in the NOTCH3 gene, invariably involving a cysteine residue. Only a couple of splice site mutations have been reported. In a few pathologically defined patients, genetic mutations remain unidentified. We report a family with late-onset CADASIL phenotype carrying a novel intronic deletion in the NOTCH3 gene (c.341-26_24delAAC). Transcript analysis revealed a splicing alteration, with the complete intron 3 retention. The insertion was in-frame and encoded an extra 25 amino acids, including 1 cysteine. This is the first report of an aberrant splicing event of the NOTCH3 gene associated with a mutation far away from the canonical splice site. Our finding suggests that the assays used to evaluate splicing should be mandatory in the diagnostic setting of genetically undefined CADASIL cases. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.03.005 PMID: 23587639 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22475286
1. Expert Rev Hematol. 2012 Apr;5(2):177-85. doi: 10.1586/ehm.12.5. The role of histone methyltransferase EZH2 in myelodysplastic syndromes. Xu F(1), Li X. Author information: (1)Department of Hematology, the Sixth People's Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China. Previous epigenetics research in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) mainly focused on the DNA methylation of tumor suppressor genes. Recent studies reported that around 6% of MDS patients have several EZH2 mutations including missense, frameshift and truncated mutations. Histone methyltransferase EZH2 plays a critical role in epigenetic regulation as a bridge between histone methylation/deacetylation and DNA methylation. EZH2 is frequently overexpressed and considered to be an oncogene in cancers; nevertheless, EZH2 is considered as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in MDS due to EZH2 mutations associated with poor survival. Many questions still need further discussion. Moreover, 3-deazaneplanocin can reduce EZH2 levels and H3K27 trimethylation, and synergistic effects are seen in combination with DNA demethylation agents or histone deacetylation inhibitors. All of the above give us more chances to improve epigenetic therapy in MDS. Therefore, the molecular mechanisms of EZH2 in tumorigenesis and the role of EZH2 in MDS are studied. DOI: 10.1586/ehm.12.5 PMID: 22475286 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7116934
1. Cytogenet Cell Genet. 1982;33(1-2):133-8. doi: 10.1159/000131737. Cytogenetic and flow cytometric studies of cells from patients with Fanconi's anemia. Latt SA, Kaiser TN, Lojewski A, Dougherty C, Juergens L, Brefach S, Sahar E, Gustashaw K, Schreck RR, Powers M, Lalande M. Cells from patients wtih Fanconi's anemia are unusually sensitive to agents which are capable of crosslinking DNA. This increased sensitivity can be detected both by cytogenetic and flow cytometric methods. An elevated frequency of chromosome aberrations, which is further exaggerated by exposure of cells to DNA crosslinking agents, is a general feature of Fanconi's anemia. Information about the formation of sister chromatid exchanges in this disease is less consistent. Cytogenetic analysis of cells from patients with Fanconi's anemia can be compromised by a low mitotic index. This is reflected in an accumulation of cells In the G2 phase of the cycle, after exposure to the bifunctional alkylating agent, mitomycin C. New methods for differentiating individuals with Fanconi's anemia from unaffected individuals should be of empirical use and might also facilitate mechanistic studies of this disease. DOI: 10.1159/000131737 PMID: 7116934 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7011307
1. Basic Life Sci. 1980;15:245-65. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4684-3842-0_17. Relationship of DNA lesions and their repair to chromosomal aberration production. Bender MA. Though the roles of some specific DNA lesions in the production of chromosomal aberrations is clearly established, those of others remain unclear. While the study of aberration production in human genetic DNA repair deficiency diseases has been extremely rewarding already, eukaryotic repair systems are obviously complex, and one is tempted to feel that such studies may have raised as many questions as they have provided answers. For example, the "standard" sort of xeroderma pigmentosum is chromosomally sensitive to ultraviolet light and to those chemical agents inducing ultraviolet-type DNA repair. But both it and the variant form have been reported to also be sensitive to the crosslinking agent mitomycin C in one study [18], implying a common step or steps in the repair of pyrimidine cyclobutane dimers and DNA crosslinks. However, just to complicate matters, another study of chromosomal aberration production in xeroderma pigmentosum cells had found them no more sensitive to mitomycin C than normal cells [50]. Similarly, Fanconi's anemia cells, which are chromosomally sensitive to crosslinking agents, and appear to be defective in the "unhooking" of linked polynucleotide strands [15, 16, 49, 51], are reported to be chromosomally sensitive to ethyl methanesulfonate as well [29], and to be sensitive to ionizing radiation [7, 19, ]0], again implying overlapping repair systems. It seems certain that further study of chromosomal aberration production in repair deficient cells by agents inducing various DNA lesions will reveal even greater complexity in eukaryotic DNA repair systems and their role in chromosomal aberration production. Nevertheless, there seems hope, at least, that such studies may also ultimately lead to a complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4684-3842-0_17 PMID: 7011307 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21568838
1. Biochemistry (Mosc). 2011 Jan;76(1):36-48. doi: 10.1134/s0006297911010068. Fanconi anemia: at the crossroads of DNA repair. Deakyne JS(1), Mazin AV. Author information: (1)Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102, USA. Fanconi anemia (FA) is an autosomal disorder that causes genome instability. FA patients suffer developmental abnormalities, early-onset bone marrow failure, and a predisposition to cancer. The disease is manifested by defects in DNA repair, hypersensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents, and a high degree of chromosomal aberrations. The FA pathway comprises 13 disease-causing genes involved in maintaining genomic stability. The fast pace of study of the novel DNA damage network has led to the constant discovery of new FA-like genes involved in the pathway that when mutated lead to similar disorders. A majority of the FA proteins act as signal transducers and scaffolding proteins to employ other pathways to repair DNA. This review discusses what is known about the FA proteins and other recently linked FA-like proteins. The goal is to clarify how the proteins work together to carry out interstrand crosslink repair and homologous recombination-mediated repair of damaged DNA. DOI: 10.1134/s0006297911010068 PMID: 21568838 [Indexed for MEDLINE]