ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of two brothers featuring X-linked alpha thalassemia mental retardation (ATR-X) syndrome.@*METHODS@#An infant who had presented at the Qilu Children's Hospital in 2020 for unstable upright head and inability to roll over and his family were selected as the study subjects. The clinical features of the child and one of his brothers were summarized, and their genomic DNA was subjected to targeted capture and next generation sequencing (NGS).@*RESULTS@#The brothers had presented with mental retardation and facial dysmorphisms. NGS revealed that they had both harbored a hemizygous c.5275C>A variant of the ATRX gene located on the X chromosome, which was inherited from their mother.@*CONCLUSION@#The siblings were diagnosed with ATR-X syndrome. The discovery of the c.5275C>A variant has enriched the mutational spectrum of the ATRX gene.
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Male , alpha-Thalassemia/diagnosis , Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics , East Asian People , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Mental Retardation, X-Linked/diagnosis , Pedigree , X-linked Nuclear Protein/geneticsABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the feasibility of buccal mucosa swab method to isolate genomic DNA for au-tism spectrum disorders (ASD)-related genetic screening. Methods Buccal mucosa swabs and blood were collected from 41 children with ASD. Genomic DNA was extracted from either blood by using a commercial genomic DNA kit or buccal mucosa swab by using phenol-chloroform-isoamyl alcohol method. The concentration, total quality and purity of genomic DNA were compared between these two methods. Genotyping of the ASD-related methylenetetra-hydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T locus was analyzed using PCR-restriction enzymatic digestion and sanger sequencing was per-formed for validation. Results The total quality [(5.87±2.58)μg vs. (2.00±0.92)μg] and concentration [(143.25±72.78) mg/L vs. (66.68±24.43) mg/L] of genomic DNA extracted from buccal mucosa swab were higher than that form blood (P0.05). Genotyping analysis of MTHFR was also consistent between these two methods. Conclusion Buccal mucosa swab is a simple, non-invasive and reliable meth-od to obtain genomic DNA, which can partially replace blood for analysis of ASD-related gene polymorphisms.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To prepare Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) crude protein to establish BALB/c bronchial asthma model , and to observe the morphology and degranulation of mast cells and detect related cytokines .Methods: Dermatophagoides farinae ( Der f) crude protein were prepared by trituration .30 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:PBS control group (A), asthma model group (B) and Der f crude protein treatment group (C).Group A were treated with PBS(100 μl) all the time, group B and group C were treated with 50 μg Der f crude protein mixed with 50μl alum adjuvant on day 0,day 7 and day 14.On day 28 group A and B were subcutaneous injected with PBS (100 μl) and group C were subcutaneous injected with Der f crude protein (350μg) in PBS(100 μl) at 1-day intervals.One week after the last treatment ,group A,B and C were intranasally challenged with 50 μg Der f crude protein daily for seven days .Twenty-four hours after the last challenge , airway hyper-responsiveness ( AHR) was assessed by using whole-body plethysmography .Two days post challenged , mice were sacrificed and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) was collected.Number of the total cells and eosinophil was determined .Level of IL-4,IL-10 and IFN-γcytokines in the BALF and the su-pernatant of splenocyte culture was assayed by ELISA .Level of Der f specific IgE and histamine in the sera was determined by ELISA . Airway inflammation was analyzed by HE staining .Observation of the morphology and degranulation of mast cells was analyzed by tolui -dine blue staining.Results:Compared with group B,AHR and the lung inflammation in group C were greatly reduced (P<0.01). Numbers of total cells and eosinophils in BALF of group C were significantly lower than that of group B ( P<0.01 ) .Compared with group B, the observation of degranulation of mast cells was insignificant in group C .Compared with group B(IgE:1.905), the level of specific IgE was significantly lower in groups C (IgE:1.278)(P<0.01).The level of IL-4 in BALF of group C was significantly lower than that of group B(P<0.01).Compared with group A and B, the level of IL-10 in BALF was significantly higher in group C (P<0.01) and the level of IFN-γin BALF of group C was significantly higher than that of group A and B (P<0.01).Compared with group B, the level of IL-4 in cultured splenocytes was significantly lower in group C (P<0.01), and the level of IL-10 and IFN-γin cultured splenocytes of group C was significantly higher than that of group B (P<0.01).Compared with group B, the level of histamine in BALF was slightly lower in groups C (P<0.05), and the level of histamine in sera was significantly lower in groups C (P<0.05). Conclusion:The degranulation of mast cells of murine bronchial asthma model was suppressed after the desensitization therapy .
ABSTRACT
To explore the effects of serum insulin on the expression of ChREBP, ACC and FAS in vivo, KKAy mice which were characterized with high levels of both serum insulin and glucose and DIO mice which were characterized with high serum insulin level alone were utilized, separately. The age-matched C57BL/6J mice fed with standard chow were used as normal control (Con). Expressions of hepatic ChREBP, ACC and FAS were detected by Western blotting. As the results, in KKAy mice, a positive correlation between the levels of serum insulin and glucose (r = 0.902, P < 0.000), as well as between the levels of serum insulin and TG (r = 0.732, P < 0.000), was observed. Meanwhile, the expressions of hepatic ChREBP, ACC and FAS increased significantly and accompanied with its hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, separately. In DIO mice, correlation between the levels of serum insulin and TG (r = 0.722, P < 0.001) also showed positive, and the expressions of hepatic ChREBP, ACC and FAS increased significantly and also accompanied with its hyperinsulinemia. However, their blood glucose values were almost normal. These demonstrated that hyperinsulinemia may cause glycolipid metabolic disorders by up-regulating the expression of ChREBP in vivo.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the changes of protein kinase C(PKC) activity in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of the children with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and the relationships between PKC activity and T lymphocytes activation and thrombocyte decrease.Methods Sterilized peripheral blood were collected from ITP children (n=35) and healthy children (n=30).T lymphocytes were isolated and purified by the T cell segregation enrichment column.The total PKC activity was detected by non-radioactive assay.FasL,the T cell activated marker,was determined by flow cytometer.Platelet count was performed by hematocytometer.Result Compared with healthy children,total PKC activity in ITP children was significantly enhanced (0.97?0.21 nmol/min.ml vs 0.60? 0.13 nmol/min.ml,?s,P