Herlyn–Werner–Wünderlich syndrome: A case series / Síndrome de Herlyn-Werner-Wünderlich: una serie de casos

Introduction: Herlyn–Werner–Wünderlich syndrome is a uterine malformation characterized by uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal agenesis. Clinical findings: The manifestation of the disease is widely diverse; it is usually diagnosed after menarche, with dysmenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding; it is also associated with infertility. Main diagnosis: Four clinical cases, their diagnosis are reported here. Therapeutic interventions and results: The treatment and results of these four patients are described here. Conclusion: When studying uterine malformation it is important to consider this rare disease to avoid possible complications and giving the patient a correct diagnose and treatment. The hysteroscopy resection of the longitudinal vaginal septum in those symptomatic patients with hematocolpos should be considered as a good option for treatment.(AU)

Introducción: El síndrome de Herlyn-Werner-Wünderlich es una malformación uterina que asocia útero didelfo, hemivagina obstruida total o parcialmente y agenesia renal ipsilateral. Hallazgos clínicos: La clínica que presenta este síndrome es muy diversa; se suele diagnosticar después de la menarquia cursando con dismenorrea y sangrado uterino anómalo; así mismo se asocia a infertilidad. Diagnósticos principales: Se presentan a continuación 4 casos clínicos, su diagnóstico y tratamiento mediante diversas técnicas. Intervenciones terapéuticas y resultados: Se describen en este manuscrito los tratamientos aplicados a estas pacientes y sus resultados. Conclusión: Ante el hallazgo de una malformación uterina es importante tener en cuenta esta entidad infrecuente, para evitar posibles complicaciones y proporcionar a la paciente un diagnóstico y tratamiento correctos. La resección histeroscópica del tabique vaginal longitudinal en aquellas pacientes sintomáticas con hematocolpos debe ser considerada como una buena opción de tratamiento.(AU)

Histone modifications underlie monocyte dysregulation in patients with systemic sclerosis, underlining the treatment potential of epigenetic targeting.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a severe autoimmune disease, in which the pathogenesis is dependent on both genetic and epigenetic factors. Altered gene expression in SSc monocytes, particularly of interferon (IFN)-responsive genes, suggests their involvement in SSc development. We investigated the correlation between epigenetic histone marks and gene expression in SSc monocytes. METHODS: Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIPseq) for histone marks H3K4me3 and H3K27ac was performed on monocytes of nine healthy controls and 14 patients with SSc. RNA sequencing was performed in parallel to identify aberrantly expressed genes and their correlation with the levels of H3K4me3 and H3K27ac located nearby their transcription start sites. ChIP-qPCR assays were used to verify the role of bromodomain proteins, H3K27ac and STATs on IFN-responsive gene expression. RESULTS: 1046 and 534 genomic loci showed aberrant H3K4me3 and H3K27ac marks, respectively, in SSc monocytes. The expression of 381 genes was directly and significantly proportional to the levels of such chromatin marks present near their transcription start site. Genes correlated to altered histone marks were enriched for immune, IFN and antiviral pathways and presented with recurrent binding sites for IRF and STAT transcription factors at their promoters. IFNα induced the binding of STAT1 and STAT2 at the promoter of two of these genes, while blocking acetylation readers using the bromodomain BET family inhibitor JQ1 suppressed their expression. CONCLUSION: SSc monocytes have altered chromatin marks correlating with their IFN signature. Enzymes modulating these reversible marks may provide interesting therapeutic targets to restore monocyte homeostasis to treat or even prevent SSc.