Genetic association of DNMT variants can play a critical role in defining the methylation patterns in autism.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with impairments in social communication, restricted, repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Both genetic and environmental factors are known to contribute toward pathophysiology of Autism. Environmental influences on gene expression can be mediated by methylation patterns which are established and maintained by DNA methyltransferases. Several studies in the past have investigated the role of global methylations in Autism. The present study is aimed to investigate the role of genetic variations in the DNA methyltransferase which might be critical in defining the threshold for environmental factors toward susceptibility to autism. Polymorphisms in DNA methyltransferases, DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, and DNMT3L were screened for association with ASD in 180 autistic patients and 260 healthy controls from a south Indian population. DNMT1 rs10418707 and rs10423341, and DNMT3A rs2289195 were found to be significantly associated at genotypic and allelic level with ASD. Functional prediction indicates that these SNPs have a role in transcriptional regulation and increased expression, indicating that hypermethylation might be induced by its genotype status. The study might reflect the role of genetics variants in DNMTs in defining the threshold of environmental impact in influencing the disease or phenotype variations in ASD. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 2019.

Congenital suprabulbar palsy: a distinct clinical syndrome of heterogeneous aetiology.

Congenital suprabulbar palsy is clinically characterized by problems of feeding, swallowing, drooling, and dysarthria. Epilepsy, delayed motor, cognitive, and language development, as well as learning disabilities may co-exist. Aetiology of the syndrome is diverse, yet studies often attribute it to specific entities. We report on nine patients (seven males, two females; age range 2 to 20 years), highlighting the heterogeneous causes of suprabulbar palsy using neuroimaging and emphasizing the need for systematic investigation for early detection and management. We identified patients with symmetrical infarcts involving the perisylvian region, apart from already-recognized conditions, such as congenital bilateral perisylvian syndrome (CBPS; a neuronal migration disorder) and Worster-Drought syndrome. CBPS simulates Foix-Chavany-Marie syndrome in adults because of staged stroke but differs in many respects. Anoxia or ischemia to the developing brain could be a common plausible aetiology. Studies with large groups of patients are required to differentiate the various subgroups and identify essential criteria for diagnosis.