GNA14 and GNAQ somatic mutations cause spinal and intracranial extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas.

Extra-axial cavernous hemangiomas (ECHs) are complex vascular lesions mainly found in the spine and cavernous sinus. Their removal poses significant risk due to their vascularity and diffuse nature, and their genetic underpinnings remain incompletely understood. Our approach involved genetic analyses on 31 tissue samples of ECHs employing whole-exome sequencing and targeted deep sequencing. We explored downstream signaling pathways, gene expression changes, and resultant phenotypic shifts induced by these mutations, both in vitro and in vivo. In our cohort, 77.4% of samples had somatic missense variants in GNA14, GNAQ, or GJA4. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted significant pathway upregulation, with the GNAQ c.626A>G (p.Gln209Arg) mutation elevating PI3K-AKT-mTOR and angiogenesis-related pathways, while GNA14 c.614A>T (p.Gln205Leu) mutation led to MAPK and angiogenesis-related pathway upregulation. Using a mouse xenograft model, we observed enlarged vessels from these mutations. Additionally, we initiated rapamycin treatment in a 14-year-old individual harboring the GNAQ c.626A>G (p.Gln209Arg) variant, resulting in gradual regression of cutaneous cavernous hemangiomas and improved motor strength, with minimal side effects. Understanding these mutations and their pathways provides a foundation for developing therapies for ECHs resistant to current therapies. Indeed, the administration of rapamycin in an individual within this study highlights the promise of targeted treatments in treating these complex lesions.

The FcεRI signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of lacrimal gland benign lymphoepithelial lesions as shown by transcriptomic analysis.

This study aimed to analyze the role of the FcepsilonRI (FcεRI) signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of benign lymphoepithelial lesion of lacrimal gland (LGBLEL). Transcriptomic analysis was performed on LGBLEL and orbital cavernous hemangioma (CH) patients diagnosed via histopathology in Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, between July 2010 and October 2013. Four LGBLEL and three orbital CH patients, diagnosed between October 2018 and August 2019, were randomly selected as experimental and control groups, respectively. RT-PCR, immunohistochemical staining, and western blotting were used to verify genes and proteins related to the FcεRI signaling pathway. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the FcεRI signaling pathway was upregulated in the LGBLEL compared with the CH group. The mRNA expression levels of important genes including SYK, p38, JNK, PI3K, and ERK were significantly increased in the LGBLEL group (P = 0.0066, P = 0.0002, P = 0.0003, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, respectively). Immunohistochemical staining results showed that SYK, p38, and ERK were positively expressed in LGBLEL, while JNK and PI3K were not. The protein contents of P-SYK, P-p38, P-JNK, P-PI3K, and P-ERK were significantly higher in the LGBLEL than in the CH group (P = 0.0169, P = 0.0074, P = 0.0046, P = 0.0157, P = 0.0156, respectively). The FcεRI signaling pathway participates in the pathogenesis of LGBLEL.

C-KIT Expression in Orbital Cavernous Venous Hemangiomas.

Orbital (slow flow) cavernous venous hemangiomas (OCVH) are the most common benign orbital tumors in adults. The c-KIT is a tyrosine kinase receptor, which is expressed on several types of cells, is thought to play a key role in tumor pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of the receptor c-KIT in OCVH. Our retrospective study examined 16 orbital cavernous venous hemangiomas from 16 cases operated on between 2006-2016 at Emek Medical Center. The mean tumor size was 18.4 mm. Symptoms appeared between 6 months and 22 years before operation. All specimens were analyzed for the c-KIT receptor through immunohistochemistry. The c-KIT was expressed by the endothelium in all 16 preparates. Staining was strong in two cases, moderate in six, and weak in eight cases, with no statistically significant correlation between staining and tumor size (p = 0.69) or the symptom duration (p = 0.15). We conclude that c-KIT may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OCVH. This pilot study is significant in that tumor-targeted therapy such as Imatinib Mesylate and Sunitinib may have a role in treating surgically complicated cases located in the orbital apex. A large multicenter collaborative study is necessary to examine the role of c-KIT in OCVH.

Cavernomatosis familiar secundaria a una nueva mutación genética / Familial cavernous malformation secondary to a novel genetic mutation

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Familial cerebral cavernous malformation presenting with epilepsy caused by mutation in the CCM2 gene: A case report.

RATIONALE: Cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) of the familial type is caused by abnormalities in the CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3 genes. These 3 proteins forming a complex associate with the maintenance of vascular endothelial cell-cell junctions. Dysfunction of these proteins results in the development of hemangiomas and abnormal intercellular junctions. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report a 68-year-old man with familial cerebral cavernous malformation with initial presentation as convulsions at an advanced age. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple cavernous hemangiomas in the right occipital lobe. The convulsions were considered to be induced by hemorrhage from cavernous hemangioma in the right occipital lobe. DIAGNOSES: Genetic screening of the CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3 genes revealed a novel mutation in the CCM2 gene (exon4 c: 359 T>A, p: V120D). No abnormalities were found in CCM1 or CCM3. Therefore, we diagnosed the patient with familial CCM caused by a CCM2 mutation. INTERVENTIONS: This patient was treated with the administration of levetiracetam at a dosage of 1000 mg/day. OUTCOMES: No seizures have been observed since the antiepileptic drug was administered. We performed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) regularly to follow-up on appearance of new cerebral hemorrhages and cavernous hemangiomas. LESSONS: This report reviews cases of familial cerebral cavernous malformations caused by abnormalities in the CCM2 gene. This mutation site mediates interactions with CCM1 and CCM3. The mutation occurs in the phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) site, which is considered functionally important to CCM2.

Diagnóstico molecular de cavernomatosis cerebral / Molecular diagnosis in cerebral cavernous malformations

Introducción: Las malformaciones cavernosas cerebrales (CCM; OMIM 116860) son engrosamientos cavernosos vasculares sin intervención del parénquima cerebral con una prevalencia estimada en la población general del 0,1-0,5%. La cavernomatosis cerebral presenta un patrón de herencia autosómico dominante con penetrancia clínica y radiológica incompleta. Tres genes se han asociado al desarrollo de lesiones: CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/MGC4607 y CCM3/PDCD10. Desarrollo: La mutación responsable no es detectada en un alto porcentaje de casos, por lo que nuevos enfoques son necesarios para su detección. En esta revisión se analizan las técnicas actualmente utilizadas y las posibles mutaciones o variantes que pueden ser detectadas en un laboratorio de genética molecular o biología molecular. Asimismo, se analizan alternativas que pueden ser abarcadas para la detección de mutaciones en aquellos pacientes en los que los estudios hayan resultado negativos. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico molecular de la cavernomatosis cerebral debe incluir al menos la detección del número de copias y la secuenciación de los genes CCM. Finalmente, ofrecer un adecuado consejo genético es crucial para proporcionar información y apoyo a los pacientes y familias que padecen la enfermedad (AU)

Introduction: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs; OMIM 116860) are enlarged vascular cavities without intervening brain parenchyma whose estimated prevalence in the general population is between 0.1% and 0.5%. Familial CCM is an autosomal dominant disease with incomplete clinical and radiological penetrance. Three genes have been linked to development of the lesions: CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/MGC4607, and CCM3/PDCD10. Development: : The aetiological mutation is not detected in a large percentage of cases and new approaches are therefore needed. The aim of this review is to analyse current molecular techniques and the possible mutations or variations which can be detected in a molecular genetics or molecular biology laboratory. Likewise, we will analyse other alternatives that may help detect mutations in those patients showing negative results. Conclusions: A molecular diagnosis of cerebral cavernous malformations should provide at least the copy number variation and sequencing of CCM genes. In addition, appropriate genetic counselling is a crucial source of information and support for patients and their relatives (AU)

Neuro-oculo-cutaneous cavernous hemangiomas: a CCM1 mutation-associated phakomatosis.

Evaluation for intracranial lesions in a patient with retinal cavernous hemangiomas is vital for early recognition of this heritable and potentially life-threatening disease. We report a case of a highly penetrant but variably expressed form of cerebral cavernous malformation syndrome with cerebral, cutaneous, and retinal cavernomas in a family found to harbor a nonsense mutation of the CCM1 gene.

Classification and Tie2 mutations in spinal and soft tissue vascular anomalies.

Vascular anomalies included hemangiomas and vascular malformations (VMs). VMs are mediated by mutations in the endothelial cell-specific receptor tyrosine kinase Tie2 (TEK),which is essential for angiogenesis and vascular stabilization. We identified five types of Tie2 mutations in 80 patients with soft tissue or spinal VMs by PCR including the previously detected missense mutations 2690A>G (Y897C), 2740C>T (L914F), 2743C>T (R915C), and two nonsense mutations 2763G>A, 2688C>T, we identified Tie2 mutation in primary spinal VMs for the first time. Tie2 mutations were found to be absent in 33 patients with hemangiomas and DNA samples of VMs. In addition, we showed that Tie2 mRNA expression in spinal VMs was similar to soft tissue VMs, but obviously lower than infant hemangiomas (P<0.01). This study provides new insights into spinal VMs, the association of Tie2 and vascular anomalies needs to be further discussed.

Familial cerebral cavernous angiomas: clinical and genetic features in a Chinese family with a frame-shift mutation in the CCM1 gene (krit1).

A few cases of cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) have been reported in Chinese families with different mutations during the past decade. Herein, we report a case of CCM in a proband in a Chinese family, for whom the mutation type of the CCM remains to be identified. The proband of the family presented a range of clinical symptoms and features that included paralysis, aphasia, multiple lesions in the brain, and cutaneous capillary-venous malformations. PCR was performed to amplify all of the coding exons of the three CCM genes (CCM1, CCM2, and CCM3) in the proband and revealed a heterozygous T deletion in exon 15 (c.1542delT) of CCM1 gene. Targeted mutation analysis in family members demonstrated that this mutation segregated with the disease in the family. This is the first report of a heterozygous CCM1 deletion mutation. Our findings provide a new CCM gene mutation profile in a Chinese family which will be of significance in genetic counseling for CCM.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome with multiple liver cavernous hemangiomas: report of a familial case.

Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS) is a rare autosomal recessive inheritance disorder of bilirubin metabolism. Herein we reported a complicated but interesting case which is readily resulted in misdiagnosis or an indefinite diagnosis, and this is the first reported familial case of DJS with multiple liver cavernous hemangiomas. A 49-year-old man was referred to our hospital for jaundice and multiple low-density liver masses. Extensive laboratory investigations showed conjugated hyperbilirubinaemia and positive urine bilirubin. Microscopically, lesions were composed of blood-filled vascular channels of various sizes lined by a single layer of flat endothelial cells supported by fibrous tissue. Coarse brown granules presented in the hepatocytes of the liver lobules locating beside the tumor, particularly in the centrilobular hepatocytes, and the granules showed blue-green with Schmorl's reaction lipofuscin staining. Interestingly, one of the patient's six siblings (female) shared the same condition with him. The relationship between DJS and hemangiomas remains unclear, and it might be contributed to some hereditary factors, or probably occurred simultaneously by chance. It was certified that the true reason for the long-term unclear jaundice was DJS, which was presumed clinically to be caused by bile excretion obstacles associated with the hemangiomas. Liver biopsy and histochemical stain may be helpful to identify the reason of jaundice and avoid misdiagnosis or an indefinite diagnosis.

Small deletion at the 7q21.2 locus in a CCM family detected by real-time quantitative PCR.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) represent a common autosomal dominant disorder that predisposes patients to haemorrhagic strokes and focal neurological signs. About 56% of the hereditary forms of CCMs have been so far associated with mutations in the KRIT1 (Krev Interaction Trapped 1) gene, located at 7q21.2 (CCM1 locus). We described the complete loss of 7q21.2 locus encompassing the KRIT1 gene and 4 flanking genes in a CCM family by using a dense set of 12 microsatellite markers. The complete loss of the maternal copy of KRIT1 gene region was confirmed by Real-Time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-QPCR) and the same approach was used for expression analysis. Additional RT-QPCR analysis showed the extension of the deletion, for a total of 700 kb, to the adjacent downstream and upstream-located genes, MTERF, AKAP9, CYP51A1, as well as a partial loss of the ANKIB1 gene. Here we report the molecular characterization of an interstitial small genomic deletion of the 7q21.2 region in a CCMs affected family, encompassing the KRIT1 gene. Our findings confirm the loss of function mechanism for the already known CCM1 locus, without any evident involvement of the other deleted genes. Moreover, our investigations highlight the usefulness of the RT-QPCR to the molecular characterization of the breakpoints genomic deletions and to the identification of internal deleted genes involved in the human genetic diseases.

Novel KRIT1/CCM1 mutation in a patient with retinal cavernous hemangioma and cerebral cavernous malformation.

BACKGROUND: Retinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare vascular anomalies, and can be associated with cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM). Distinct mutations have been reported in patients who have both CCMs and retinal cavernous hemangiomas. METHODS: Fluorescein angiography, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, and genetic testing were performed on a patient with a retinal cavernous hemangioma and a CCM. RESULTS: Our patient was heterozygous in the KRIT1/CCM1 gene for a frameshift mutation, c.1088delC. This would be predicted to result in premature protein termination. DISCUSSION: We have identified a novel mutation in the KRIT1/CCM1 gene in a patient with both CCM and retinal cavernous hemangioma. We hypothesize that the occurrence of retinal cavernous hemangiomas and CCMs is underlaid by a common mechanism present in the KRIT1/CCM1 gene.

Molecular screening test in familial forms of cerebral cavernous malformation: the impact of the Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification approach.

Object The purpose of this study was to underline the effectiveness of molecular analysis in cerebral cavernous angioma, with special attention to the familial forms. Methods Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification analysis integrates the consecutive sequence analysis of the 3 genes (Krit1/CCM1, MGC4607/CCM2, and PDCD10/CCM3) known to be responsible for cerebral cavernous malformation lesions. Results The Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification analysis revealed a new mutation, a heterozygous exon 9/10 deletion of Krit1, in the proband and in all affected family members. Conclusions The identification of the molecular defect allows physicians to screen family members at risk and to identify affected individuals before the onset of clinical symptoms caused by the presence of lesions.

aP2-Cre-mediated expression activation of an oncogenic PLAG1 transgene results in cavernous angiomatosis in mice.

The developmentally regulated PLAG1 proto-oncogene has been implicated in the development of various human tumor types, such as pleomorphic salivary gland adenomas, lipoblastomas, hepatoblastomas and AML. In previous studies, we generated two independent PLAG1 transgenic founder strains, PTMS1 and PTMS2, in which PLAG1 could be activated via Cre-mediated excision of a stop cassette. With these founders, PLAG1-induced tumor formation in salivary and mammary glands of mice was studied. To further delineate the oncogenic spectrum of PLAG1 in mice, we induced aP2-Cre-mediated overexpression of PLAG1 in offspring from crossbreeding PTMS1 mice with aP2-Cre transgenic mice. More than 80% of aP2-Cre(+/-)/PLAG1(+/-) (P1-ACre) mice developed a vascular tumor type within one year, which could be classified histopathologically as cavernous angiomatosis. The lesions occurred in various regions of the mouse body but almost exclusively in the immediate surrounding of fat cells. Validation of available PLAG1-induced gene expression profiling data, using targeted tissues, revealed that expression activation of PLAG1 is functional because it leads to elevated levels of PLAG1 target gene transcripts in those tissues, such as for instance those of H19, Dlk1, and Igf-2, similarly as observed in PLAG1-induced salivary and mammary gland tumors. In conclusion, we present the first evidence that links PLAG1 to the molecular pathogenesis of vascular tumorigenesis, known as cavernous angiomatosis, with the possible involvement of Igf signaling and, moreover, further delineate the oncogenic spectrum of PLAG1 in mice, increasing the potential of this transgenic mouse tumor model system for research and therapeutic drug testing.

Genetics of cavernous angiomas.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are vascular malformations that can occur as a sporadic or a familial autosomal dominant disorder. Clinical and cerebral MRI data on large series of patients with a genetic form of the disease are now available. In addition, three CCM genes have been identified: CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/MGC4607, and CCM3/PDCD10. These recent developments in clinical and molecular genetics have given us useful information about clinical care and genetic counselling and have broadened our understanding of the mechanisms of this disorder.

Karyotypic changes detected by comparative genomic hybridization in a stillborn infant with chorioangioma and liver hemangioma.

BACKGROUND: Placental hemangioma (chorioangioma) and congenital hemangioma are relatively common tumors, which on rare occasions may occur together. Very little is known about the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these lesions. CASE: Herein we describe a rare case of a stillborn infant with chorioangioma, placental mesenchymal dysplasia, and liver cavernous hemangioma. In addition, we present the findings of the karyotype analysis of these lesions, which was done with the bacterial artificial chromosome arrays using the comparative genomic hybridization method. The chromosomal abnormalities that we found were deletions at 2q13 and 7p21.1 and were common to both placental and liver lesions. CONCLUSIONS: None of the identified chromosomal aberrations have been previously associated with chorioangiomas or hemangiomas. Important genes that lie in these DNA regions may be implicated in the pathogenesis of congenital hemangiomas and mesenchymal dysplasia.