T and B lymphocyte depletion has a marked effect on the fibrosis of dystrophic skeletal muscles in the scid/mdx mouse

Abnormal connective tissue proliferation following muscle degeneration is a major pathological feature of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a genetic myopathy due to lack of the sarcolemmal dystrophin protein. Since this fibrotic proliferation is likely to be a major obstacle to the efficacy of future therapies, research is needed to understand and prevent the fibrotic process in order to develop an effective treatment. Murine muscular dystrophy (mdx) is genetically homologous to DMD, and histopatological alterations are comparable to those of the muscles of patients with DMD. To investigate the development of fibrosis, we bred the mdx mouse with the scid immunodepressed mouse and analysed fibrosis histologically; we used ELISA analysis to determine TGF-beta1 expression. Significant reduction of fibrosis and TGF-beta1 expression was found in the muscles of the scid/mdx mice. However, we observed similar centrally located nuclei, necrosis, muscle degeneration and muscle force compared to the mdx animals. These data demonstrate a correlation between the absence of B and T lymphocytes and loss of fibrosis accompanied by reduction of TGF-beta1, suggesting the importance of modulation of the immune system in DMD.     

D uchenne 型肌营养不良家系的临床及分子遗传学研究

目的：探讨Duchenne型肌营养不良（DMD）家系的临床及分子遗传学特征。方法收集并分析我院收治的2个DMD家系临床资料和基因检测结果,并结合既往相关文献,回顾该病在临床表现、分子遗传学等方面的特点。结果DMD儿童期隐匿起病,进行性加重,以肌无力、肌萎缩为特点,可伴肌肉假性肥大,血清肌酶水平异常增高,肌电图呈肌源性损害,肌肉活检呈肌病特征。本文报道的2个家系经基因检测家系1先证者为DMD基因的第3～21号外显子缺失,家系2先证者则为第8、9外显子重复突变,2个家系中的先证者基因均为纯合突变,且其母亲均为致病基因的携带者,符合X染色体隐性遗传的规律。结论早期识别DMD的临床特征有助于提高该病的诊断水平,基因检测是一种确诊DMD快速、有效的方法。     

Genetic counseling of isolated carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

It has recently become possible to detect female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with no affected male relative in the family. These “isolated carriers” represent about 10% of women with high serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels and clinical evidence of a muscle disease. Most isolated carriers ascertained by clinical and/or CPK levels and diagnosed by dystrophin immunostaining of muscle biopsy show symptoms of a muscular dystrophy, and often carry the diagnosis of recessive “limb-girdle muscular dystrophy” prior to dystrophin analysis. It has been difficult to offer genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the families of these isolated carriers, largely due to the difficulty in determining which of the dystrophin alleles segregating in the family harbors the mutation in the heterozygote. Here we report genetic counseling of three isolated carriers and their families. In two cases, prenatal diagnosis of at-risk pregnancies was conducted. We determined X inactivation patterns and inheritance of X chromosomes in each family, and used this information to define the at-risk dystrophin gene. In all three families, the mutation was a de novo event, two in the paternal germ-line, and one in the maternal germ-line. In each case we show that sibs of the heterozygous woman are at population risk, while pregnancies of each propositus are at high risk. Our results show that accurate genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis can be offered to these families. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

三维摄影对蒙古族正常(牙合)成人面部软组织的侧貌分析

目的 应用三维测量的方法对面部软组织进行测量,研究正常(牙合)面部软组织的立体结果,建立正常(牙合)面部软组织的正常值,为错(牙合)畸形的诊断提供依据.方法 对144例受试者(蒙古族女性77例,男性70例)拍摄三维立体影像,并在软件上进行20个标志点的确定,23个角度、13个线距的测量,所得数据用SPSS 22.O统计...     

Exon skipping in Duchenne Muscle dystrophy due to a silent p.Ser443= mutation in the DMD gene

Duchenne Muscle dystrophy (DMD) is a X-linked inherited disease predominantly caused by severe mutations in DMD gene leading to absence of dystrophin protein. Here we report a 14-year-old Mongolian boy suffering from proximal muscle weakness, pseudohypertrophic deltoid and gastrocnemius muscles since early childhood. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) levels were elevated. Mutation analysis including MLPA and sequencing of the DMD gene revealed a hemizygous silent variant, c.1329C>T (p.Ser443=) in exon 11. This silent mutation, listed in the SNP database (rs1060502631), was described as a variant of unknown significance (VUS) in ClinVar database. cDNA analysis demonstrated partial skipping of exon 11 due to this mutation. Although silent mutations are usually considered non-pathogenic, our case emphasizes that silent mutations can be potentially pathogenic. Hence, if silent variants are not annotated in database or not known to be benign, they should be analysed further at cDNA level.     

DMD基因内含子的重复序列与内含子不稳定性和基因缺失的关联

[目的]为了研究DMD基因内含子的重复序列与内含子不稳定性和基因缺失的关联,我们分析了缺失型DMD病人的连接片段的断裂点并研究了DMD基因内含子结构与内含子不稳定性之间是否存在相关.[方法]多重引物PCR法鉴定缺失型DMD患者,分别克隆46和51号外显子缺失后形成的连接片段,测定连接片段的序列;并用计算机分析DMD基因可以获得的全部内含子的结构特点.[结果]对46号和51号外显子缺失后形成的连接片段的序列分析表明,5'和3'端的断裂点均位于重复顺序,断裂点附近无小插入、小缺失或点突变.对连接片段的二级结构分析表明,所有的断裂点均位于单链发夹结构的非匹配区.对DMD基因可以获得的全部内含子的结构分析表明,在DMD基因全长内含子中重复序列占大约34.8%.大量重复序列的存在是许多内含子的重要结构特征.[结论]重复序列是DMD基因多数内含子的关键结构,与内含子的不稳定性相关.在原有DNA序列的基础上,单链发夹结构的形成增加了DMD基因的不稳定性,形成了基因断裂的基础,单链发夹结构的形成导致两个断裂点的靠近,最终导致了基因缺失.     

Iron as the malignant spirit in successful ageing

Iron enhances the production of the highly reactive and toxic hydroxyl radical, thus stimulating oxidative damage. Iron has been associated with a number of oxidative injury-dependent, age-related conditions and diseases. Indeed, oxidative injury is a major factor of (accelerated) ageing. This commentary reviews part of the existing literature on iron's deleterious effects, particularly in the context of ischemia-reperfusion injury and cardiovascular, brain and muscle diseases as well as skin ageing. Furthermore, the advantages of iron chelation are presented. Indeed, iron chelation or deprivation has been shown to act as a potent anti-oxidant in a variety of animal models of human diseases, preventing oxidative stress to tissues and organs. Iron chelators favor successful ageing in general, and when applied topically, successful skin ageing. It has also been proposed that gender-related differences in iron status are responsible for the increased longevity of women as compared to men. Despite this evidence, the role of iron in ageing and the possibilities of pharmacologically targeting iron have remained essentially unexplored. Iron thus appears as the "malignant spirit" in successful ageing.