1.
Genetic analysis of benign familial epilepsies in the first year of life in a Chinese cohort.
Zeng, Q, Yang, X, Zhang, J, Liu, A, Yang, Z, Liu, X, Wu, Y, Wu, X, Wei, L, Zhang, Y
Journal of human genetics. 2018;(1):9-18
Abstract
Benign familial epilepsies that present themselves in the first year of life include benign familial neonatal epilepsy (BFNE), benign familial neonatal-infantile epilepsy (BFNIE) and benign familial infantile epilepsy (BFIE). We used Sanger sequencing and targeted next-generation sequencing to detect gene mutations in a Chinese cohort of patients with these three disorders. A total of 79 families were collected, including 4 BFNE, 7 BFNIE, and 68 BFIE. Genetic testing led to the identification of gene mutations in 60 families (60 out of 79, 75.9%). A total of 42 families had PRRT2 mutations, 9 had KCNQ2 mutations, 8 had SCN2A mutations, and 1 had a GABRA6 mutation. In total three of four BFNE families were detected with KCNQ2 mutations. Mutations were detected in all BFNIE families, including 3 KCNQ2 mutations, 3 SCN2A mutations, and 1 PRRT2 mutation. Gene mutations were identified in 50 out of 68 BFIE families (73.5%), including 41 PRRT2 mutations (41 out of 68, 60.3%), 5 SCN2A mutations, 3 KCNQ2 mutations, and 1 GABRA6 mutation. Our results confirmed that mutations in KCNQ2, SCN2A, and PRRT2 are major genetic causes of benign familial epilepsy in the first year of life in the Chinese population. KCNQ2 is the major gene related to BFNE. PRRT2 is the main gene responsible for BFIE.
2.
Hailey-Hailey disease: investigation of a possible compensatory SERCA2 up-regulation and analysis of SPCA1, p63, and IRF6 expression.
Zhang, D, Li, X, Wang, Z, Zhang, Y, Guo, K, Wang, S, Tu, C, Huo, J, Xiao, S
Archives of dermatological research. 2015;(2):143-9
Abstract
Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) is caused by heterozygous mutations in the ATP2C1 gene, encoding the secretory pathway Ca(2+) ATPase1 (SPCA1). SPCA1 and sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase2 (SERCA2) encoded by ATP2A2 are two essential calcium pumps needed for Ca(2+) homeostasis maintenance in keratinocytes. ATP2A2 mutations cause another hereditary skin disorder, Darier's disease (DD). Previously, the compensatory expression of SPCA1 for SERCA2 insufficiency in DD was demonstrated, but it is not known whether a similar compensatory mechanism exists in HHD. Additionally, little is known about the role of p63 and interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6), two important regulatory factors involved in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, in HHD. Here, we used the skin biopsy samples from patients with HHD and human primary keratinocytes transfected with ATP2C1 siRNA to search for potential pathogenic mechanisms in HHD. We observed normal SERCA2 levels, but reduced p63, and increased IRF6 levels in HHD epidermal tissues and SPCA1-deficient keratinocytes. This suggests that there is no compensatory mechanism by SERCA2 for the SPCA1 deficiency in HHD. Moreover, the abnormal expression of p63 and IRF6 appears to be related to SPCA1 haploinsufficiency, with down-regulation of p63 probably resulting from IRF6 overexpression in HHD. We speculate that a novel pathogenic mechanism involving SPCA1, p63, and IRF6 may play a role in the skin lesions occurring in HHD.
3.
HFE genotype and iron metabolism in Chinese patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and aplastic anemia.
Nie, L, Li, L, Yang, L, Zhang, Y, Xiao, Z
Annals of hematology. 2010;(12):1249-53
Abstract
The incidence of HFE gene mutations in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) cases remains controversial. In this study, we examined the HFE C282Y and H63D mutations in 271 Chinese patients with MDS, 402 with aplastic anemia (AA) and 1,615 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in combination with DNA sequencing. No C282Y mutations were observed in the entire cohort. The distribution of H63D heterozygous and homozygous genotypes was not significantly different between the AA cases and the controls (9.7% versus 10.2%, 0.25% versus 0.24%, respectively). While the H63D heterozygous genotype in MDS patients was significantly lower than that in the controls (4.1% versus 10.2%, pā=ā0.002), the H63D homozygous genotype was not detected in the MDS patients. The results suggest that HFE gene mutations are not common genetic factors in Chinese patients with MDS and AA. We also compared iron metabolic parameters, including serum ferritin, serum iron, and transferrin saturation values, between HFE mutant and HFE wild-type groups in the absence of transfusion iron overload, but no significant difference was found in either MDS or AA patients except that the level of serum iron in AA patients was significantly higher in mutant carriers than in those with wild-type HFE (pā=ā0.011). Similarly, there was no significant difference between HFE mutant and HFE wild-type MDS and AA patients in clinical indices such as alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, fasting blood sugar values, and electrocardiogram. The results suggest that H63D mutations may not have clinical significance in Chinese patients with MDS and AA.