Interaction of estrogen receptor‐α ligand binding domain with nuclear proteins of aging mouse brain

After the interaction of estrogen with the ligand binding domain (LBD) of mouse estrogen receptor‐α (mERα) and hormone‐responsive elements of target genes, many nuclear proteins are recruited to regulate the expression of specific genes. Because it is not known which brain proteins interact with LBD or whether these proteins vary with age and sex, we used pull‐down assay and far Western blotting to detect five nuclear proteins of 160, 140, 87, 60, and 46 kD in the mouse brain. These interacting proteins were identified as PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, BAF60, and ADA3, respectively. The level of PELP1, RIP140, PGC1α, and BAF60 decreased drastically in old compared with adult male mice, whereas the ADA3 level showed no significant change. PELP1, PGC1α, and BAF60 levels were lower in old male compared with female mice. Thus we report the identification and interaction of five nuclear proteins with mERα‐LBD, indicating their role in estrogen signaling and brain functions during aging. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A cytogenetic deletion, del(17)(q11.22q21.1), in a patient with sporadic neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) associated with dysmorphism and developmental delay.

We report the first visible cytogenetic deletion involving the NF1 gene in a patient with sporadic neurofibromatosis, dysmorphic features, and marked developmental delay. The combined evidence of molecular and cytogenetic techniques based on dosage reduction, hemizygosity for microsatellite markers, high resolution G banding, and FISH analysis, predicts this deletion to be approximately 7 Mb in size. Our findings highlight the importance of conducting a detailed cytogenetic and FISH analysis in patients with NF1 who have additional dysmorphic features or particularly severe learning difficulties.     

Is Irregular Regression of Corpora Lutea in Climacteric Women Caused by Age-Induced Alterations in the “Tissue Control System”?

PROBLEM: We have recently observed that the regression of corpora lutea (CL) in women during the reproductive period of life is accompanied by a diminution of Thy-1 differentiation protein release from vascular pericytes and an accumulation of T lymphocytes and activated macrophages among both degenerating granulosa lutein cells (GLC) and theca lutein cells. These data suggest that the immune system and other stromal factors, representing components of the “tissue control system,” may play a role in regression of the CL. We investigated degenerating CL from climacteric women to address the possibility that the decline of immune functions with advancing age may result in incomplete regression of luteal tissue. This could contribute to the altered hormonal profiles and abnormal uterine bleeding that frequently occur during the climacteric. METHOD: Immunoperoxidase staining and image analysis were used to localize Thy-1 differentiation protein of vascular pericytes, cytokeratin staining of GLC, neural cell adhesion molecule expression by theca lutein cells, CD15 of neutrophils, CD4, CD14, CD68, and leukocyte common antigens of macrophages, and CD3 and CD8 determinants of T lymphocytes. We also investigated the expression of luteinizing hormone receptor (LH receptor) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) in luteal cells. Samples of regressing luteal tissue were obtained during the follicular phase from perimenopausal women (age 45–50) who exhibited prolonged or irregular cycles. For comparison, luteal tissues from women with regular cycles (age 29–45) and CL of pregnancy were also investigated. RESULTS: Corpora lutea of the climacteric women exhibited irregular regression of luteal tissue characterized by a lack of cytoplasmic vacuolization and nuclear pyknosis in GLC, and by a persistence of theca lutein cells exhibiting hyperplasia and adjacent theca externa layers. This was accompanied by a continuing release of Thy-1 differentiation protein from vascular pericytes. Persisting GLC lacked surface expression of macrophage markers (CD4, CD14, CD68 and leukocyte common antigen) as well as nuclear granules exhibiting CD15 of neutrophils, detected in regularly regressing GLC. In addition, such persisting GLC showed weak or no LH receptor expression, and retained the expression of cytokeratin. They also exhibited enhanced staining for MAP kinases. Strong cytoplasmic MAP kinase expression with occasional nuclear translocation was also detected in persisting theca lutein cells, indicating high metabolic activity of these cells. T lymphocytes, although occasionally present in luteal stroma within luteal convolutions, did not invade among persisting GLC and were virtually absent from layers of theca externa and theca lutein cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the regressing CL in climacteric women may exhibit persistence of luteal cells, perhaps because of age-induced alterations of the immune system and other local stromal homeostatic mechanisms involved in the elimination of luteal cells. Persisting GLC and/or theca lutein cells may exhibit abnormal hormonal secretion that contributes to the alteration of target tissues, such as the endometrium, resulting in abnormal uterine bleeding, hyperplasia, and neoplasia.     

A closely linked DNA marker for facioscapulohumeral disease on chromosome 4q.

Close linkage of a hypervariable DNA probe on chromosome 4q (pH30, locus D4S139) has been found with the locus for facioscapulohumeral disease. Three recombinants were identified in a total of 140 meioses, giving a maximum lod score of 36.77 at a recombination fraction of 0.02. All but two of the families studied proved informative with this probe; all informative families showed evidence of linkage (except one family with a single scorable meiosis), making genetic heterogeneity unlikely from our data. The close linkage and highly informative nature of the probe will make it suitable for clinical application in presymptomatic and prenatal diagnosis. We have also confirmed loose linkage with the marker (Mfd22, locus D4S171) used to establish the initial assignment of the disorder to chromosome 4.     

Altered chromatin landscape in circulating T follicular helper and regulatory cells following grass pollen subcutaneous and sublingual immunotherapy

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Neurofibromatous neuropathy in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)

Background: Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a common, autosomal dominant, neurocutaneous disease that is clinically and genetically distinct from the rare condition neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2). Neurofibromatous neuropathy has been regarded as a common feature of NF2, but is an unusual and unexplained complication of NF1. The clinical and histological features of the NF1 neuropathy are distinct from those encountered in NF2. We describe eight patients with a symmetrical polyneuropathy, which has been called neurofibromatous neuropathy

Methods: Clinical assessments, laboratory investigations, neuroimaging, and neurophysiology were undertaken in eight individuals with neurofibromatous neuropathy. None were referred because of neuropathic symptoms. Two subjects underwent sural nerve biopsy and three agreed to mutational analysis.

Results: The patients had an indolent symmetrical predominantly sensory axonal neuropathy and unusually early development of large numbers of neurofibromas. The biopsied nerves showed diffuse neurofibromatous change and disruption of the perineurium. Two patients developed a high grade malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour. Disease causing mutations were detected in two individuals and molecular studies did not reveal any whole gene deletions.

Conclusions: Neurofibromatous neuropathy occurred in 1.3% of 600 patients with NF1. Its cause may be a diffuse neuropathic process arising from inappropriate signalling between Schwann cells, fibroblasts, and perineurial cells.

     

Hepatitis B virus genotypes and serotypes in western India: lack of clinical significance

To determine hepatitis B virus genotype and subtype distribution among HBV infected individuals with different clinical manifestations in western India, serum samples from 19 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, 30 chronic hepatitis B patients, 8 acute hepatitis B patients, 5 fulminant hepatitis B patients, and with circulating HBV DNA were genotyped and subtyped on the basis of the nucleotide sequence analysis of S region of the HBV genome. Genotype D was the predominant genotype circulating in western India (57/62; 91.93%). All 19 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers, 8 acute hepatitis B patients, 5 fulminant hepatic failure patients and 25/30 chronic hepatitis B patients were circulating genotype D and ayw3/ayw2 subtypes. HBV genotype A was prevalent in 8% (5/62) of the total number of patients and all belonged to chronic hepatitis B category. Subtyping analysis showed that all genotype A isolates were of subtype adw2. As most of the patients from different clinical categories were infected with HBV genotype D, it is concluded that this genotype did not influence the outcome of HBV infection.     

Selected conditions associated with an increased incidence of incisional hernia: A review of molecular biology

BackgroundIncisional hernias (IH) following a laparotomy, on average, occur in 10–20% of patients, however, little is known about its molecular basis. Thus, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms could lead to the identification of key target(s) to intervene pre-and post-operatively.MethodsWe examined the current literature describing the molecular mechanisms of IH and overlap these factors with smoking, abdominal aortic aneurysm, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and diverticulitis.ResultsThe expression levels of collagen I and III, matrix metalloproteinases, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteases are abnormal in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of IH patients and ECM disorganization has an overlap with these comorbid conditions.ConclusionUnderstanding the pathophysiology of IH development and associated risk factors will allow physicians to identify patients that may be at increased risk for IH and to possibly act preemptively to decrease the incidence of IH.