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Biomedical subjects

Jean-Pierre Fryns

Publications and source records attributed to Jean-Pierre Fryns.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy (FJHN): linkage analysis in 15 families, physical and transcriptional characterisation of the FJHN critical region on chromosome 16p11.2 and the analysis of seven candidate genes.

Familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy (FJHN) is an autosomal dominant renal disease characterised by juvenile onset of hyperuricaemia, gouty arthritis, and progressive renal failure at an early age. Recent studies in four kindreds showed linkage of a gene for FJHN to the same genomic interval on chromosome 16p11.2, where the gene for the phenotypically similar medullary cystic disease type 2 (MCKD2) has been localised. In this study we performed linkage analysis in additional 15 FJHN families. Linkage of FJHN to 16p11.2 was confirmed in six families, which suggests that, in a large proportion of FJHN kindreds, the disease is likely to be caused by a gene or genes located outside of 16p11.2. Haplotype analysis of the new and previously analysed families provided two non-overlapping critical regions on 16p11.2-FJHN1, delimited by markers D16S499-D16S3036 and FJHN2, delimited by markers D16S412-D16S3116. Considering MCKD2 to be a distinct molecular entity, the analysis suggests that as many as three kidney disease genes may be located in close proximity on 16p11.2. From genomic databases we compiled integrated physical and transcription maps of whole critical genomic region in which 45 known genes and 129 predicted loci have been localised. We selected, analysed and found no pathogenic mutations in seven candidate genes. The linkage and haplotype analysis reported here demonstrates the genetic heterogeneity of FJHN. The report of integrated physical and mostly in-silico predicted transcription maps of the FJHN critical region provides a basis for precise experimental annotation of the current transcript map, which is essential for final identification of the FJHN gene(s).

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed2003

Familial cryptic translocation with deletion 4q33-->4qter and duplication 7q34-->7qter in brothers with mental retardation, macrocephaly and iris coloboma.

The association of moderate mental retardation, behavioural problems, macrocephaly, dysmorphic features with iris coloboma, and supernumerary nipples was observed in two brothers with a terminal deletion 4q33-->4qter and a terminal duplication 7q34-->7qter. The aberration was detected by subtelomere FISH screening and (probably) resulted from a cryptic familial translocation (4;7)(q33;q34).

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2003

Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity in patients with mandibuloacral dysplasia-associated lipodystrophy.

Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is a phenotypically heterogeneous, rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by mandibular and clavicular hypoplasia, acroosteolysis, delayed closure of cranial sutures, joint contractures, and mottled cutaneous pigmentation. Patients with MAD develop two patterns of lipodystrophy: type A pattern, with loss of sc fat from the extremities and normal or slight excess in the neck and truncal regions; and type B pattern, with a more generalized loss of sc fat involving the face, trunk, and extremities. Recently, affected patients from five consanguineous Italian pedigrees with partial lipodystrophy (type A) were reported to have a homozygous R527H mutation in LMNA (lamin A/C) gene. We carried out mutational analysis of LMNA in affected patients from six pedigrees. Affected patients from two pedigrees with type A lipodystrophy had the homozygous R527H mutation in LMNA. The other four affected subjects who had type B lipodystrophy did not have any mutation in the exons and splice site junctions of LMNA; RNA extracted from lymphoblasts of two of these patients also revealed normal sequence. In these four subjects, sequencing of other known genes implicated in lipodystrophies, i.e. AGPAT2, Seipin, and PPARG also revealed no substantial alterations. We conclude that MAD is a genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorder. Besides LMNA gene, other as yet unmapped loci could be linked to MAD.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Fetal akinesia deformation sequence: a study of 30 consecutive in utero diagnoses.

The etiology of the fetal akinesia deformation sequence (FADS) is heterogeneous and can be the result of neurogenic and myopathic disorders, restrictive dermopathy, teratogen exposure, and intrauterine constraint. We present the prenatal and fetopathological findings in a consecutive series of 30 affected fetuses with normal chromosomal results. According to the in utero time of onset of the fetal akinesia, the severity of the phenotype varied from a severe, generalized FADS in the early-onset group to milder defects, as isolated distal arthrogryposis in the late-onset group. No more than 10% (3/30) were diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy and all presented a severe phenotype. Twenty-seven of the thirty (90%) were diagnosed after the first trimester, with a severe FADS in 15/27 and a milder phenotype of distal arthrogryposis in 12/27. In all 30 patients, extensive neuropathological studies (brain, spinal cord, and muscles) were performed. In 16 patients (53%) a specific diagnosis could be made (central nervous system abnormalities 9/16; spinal cord 1/16; primary myopathy 3/16; syndromic 3/16). In 10 others (33%), pathological neuromuscular findings were present but no definitive diagnosis was established. In 4 patients (13%), neuromuscular findings were normal, and the etiology of the FADS remained unexplained.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed2002

Transcription factor SOX3 is involved in X-linked mental retardation with growth hormone deficiency.

Physical mapping of the breakpoints of a pericentric inversion of the X chromosome (46,X,inv[X][p21q27]) in a female patient with mild mental retardation revealed localization of the Xp breakpoint in the IL1RAPL gene at Xp21.3 and the Xq breakpoint near the SOX3 gene (SRY [sex determining region Y]-box 3) (GenBank accession number NM_005634) at Xq26.3. Because carrier females with microdeletion in the IL1RAPL gene do not present any abnormal phenotype, we focused on the Xq breakpoint. However, we were unable to confirm the involvement of SOX3 in the mental retardation in this female patient. To validate SOX3 as an X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) gene, we performed mutation analyses in families with XLMR whose causative gene mapped to Xq26-q27. We show here that the SOX3 gene is involved in a large family in which affected individuals have mental retardation and growth hormone deficiency. The mutation results in an in-frame duplication of 33 bp encoding for 11 alanines in a polyalanine tract of the SOX3 gene. The expression pattern during neural and pituitary development suggests that dysfunction of the SOX3 protein caused by the polyalanine expansion might disturb transcription pathways and the regulation of genes involved in cellular processes and functions required for cognitive and pituitary development.

Chromosome Breakage↗
PubMed2002

Clinical study and haplotype analysis in two brothers with Partington syndrome.

Partington et al. [1988] described a three-generation family (MRXS1, MIM *309510, PRTS) with a syndromic form of X-linked mental retardation (XLMR). The clinical features in 10 affected males included mild to moderate MR, dystonic movements of the hands, and dysarthria. After refinement, the PRTS locus was mapped to marker DXS989 (with maximum LOD score of 3.1) with flanking markers DXS365 and DXS28. Since then, no other patients with a similar phenotype have been described. We present a detailed description of the neurological symptoms and the disease history of two brothers with the clinical features of PRTS. Psychomotor development was delayed in both, and neurological features included mild to moderate mental retardation, dysarthria, facial muscle weakness, severe dysdiadochokinesis, slow dystonic movements, and mild spasticity of the hands, without ataxia or spasticity of the legs. The symptoms were nonprogressive and extrapyramidal, and without cerebellar involvement. In general, behavior of the two brothers was friendly and quiet, although the elder brother had periods of depressed mood and outbursts of anger. Karyotypes and subsequent investigation of the subtelomeres as well as DNA analysis of the FMR1 gene, the androgen receptor gene, and the DM locus did not reveal a genetic abnormality. Haplotype analysis showed that the affected brothers share the PRTS region at Xp22.1. Mutation screening of the PDH-E1alpha gene did not reveal a pathogenic mutation.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Supernumerary digital flexion creases: an additional clinical manifestation of Alagille syndrome.

Alagille syndrome (AGS; OMIM 118450) is a complex dominantly inherited multisystem disorder involving the liver, heart, eyes, facies, skeleton, and other systems. Criteria for the clinical diagnosis have been established as the presence of bile duct paucity on liver biopsy in association with three of five major clinical findings (cholestasis, butterfly vertebrae, posterior embryotoxon, congenital heart disease, and facial features). Jagged1 has been identified as the AGS disease gene. Jagged1 is a large gene, with no mutational hot spots, making molecular testing difficult at this time. Other clinical features would prove helpful in establishing the diagnosis in the absence of molecular confirmation. Supernumerary digital flexion creases have been identified in 16/46 (35%) of AGS probands examined through the Alagille Syndrome Diagnostic Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Although digital abnormalities have been noted in AGS in the past, including short distal phalanges and fifth finger clinodactyly, digital crease abnormalities have never before been reported. Supernumerary digital creases have been reported in less than 1% of the general population. The presence of extra and missing digital creases in individuals with normal joint anatomy, their occurrence in several syndromes, and mouse in situ expression studies indicate that genetic factors contribute to digital crease formation. However, these factors are poorly understood. Hypotheses regarding the origin of flexion creases are discussed. The identification of supernumerary digital creases in one-third of AGS probands provides another diagnostic aid and allows for speculation of the role of Jagged1 in the molecular development of digital crease patterns.

Alagille Syndrome↗
PubMed2002

Cobalamin disorder Cbl-C presenting with late-onset thrombotic microangiopathy.

Two siblings, a boy age 12 and his sister age 4 years, presented with proteinuria and hematuria, hypertension, and chronic hemolytic anemia. At age 13 years, the boy developed an episode of severe hypertensive encephalopathy and transient renal failure. Both children are attending normal school, have no neurologic symptoms, and only minimal pigmentary retinal abnormalities. Renal biopsy showed a chronic thrombotic microangiopathic nephropathy. Both patients had hyperhomocysteinemia and mild methylmalonic aciduria. Fibroblasts showed decreased cobalamin uptake, reduced methyl- and adenosyl-cobalamin formation, and deficient incorporation of formate and propionate, compatible with the Cbl-C complementation group, but milder than that found in cells from most patients. Both patients and their father carry a balanced reciprocal translocation. Parenteral hydroxycobalamin treatment reduced the homocysteine levels, and methylmalonic acid disappeared. Increasing the dosage of hydroxycobalamin from 1 to 2.5, then 5 mg daily together with betaine, further reduced homocysteine levels (boy from 118 to 23 microM and girl from 59 to 14 microM). With this treatment, hemolysis has stopped, hematuria has disappeared, proteinuria has almost normalized, and creatinine clearance has been stable. Investigations for chronic thrombotic microangiopathy should include testing for this unusual but treatable disorder, regardless of age of presentation.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2002

Unusual splice-site mutations in the RSK2 gene and suggestion of genetic heterogeneity in Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a syndromic form of X-linked mental retardation that is characterized, in male patients, by psychomotor and growth retardation and various skeletal anomalies. Typical facial changes and specific clinical and radiological hand aspects exhibited by patients are essential clues for the diagnosis. CLS is caused by mutations in a gene that is located in Xp22.2 and that encodes RSK2, a growth-factor-regulated protein kinase. RSK2 mutations are extremely heterogeneous and lead to premature termination of translation and/or loss of phosphotransferase activity. Surprisingly, among a series of 250 patients screened by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, in whom a clinical diagnosis of CLS was made, no mutations were detected in 66% (165) of the patients. To determine what proportion of these latter patients have a RSK2 mutation that has not been detected and what proportion have different disorders that are phenotypically similar to CLS, we have, in the present article, investigated, by western blot analysis and in vitro kinase assay, cell lines from 26 patients in whom no mutation was previously identified by SSCP analysis. This approach allowed us to identify seven novel RSK2 mutations: two changes in the coding sequence of RSK2, one intragenic deletion, and four unusual intronic nucleotide substitutions that do not affect the consensus GT or AG splice sites. We have also determined the nucleotide sequence of the promoter region of the RSK2 gene, and we have screened it for mutations. No disease-causing nucleotide change was identified, suggesting that mutations affecting the promoter region are unlikely to account for a large number of patients with CLS. Finally, our results provide evidence that some patients have a disease that is phenotypically very similar to CLS, which is not caused by RSK2 defects. This suggests that there are defects in either additional genes or combinations of genes that may result in a CLS-like phenotype.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2002

ARX, a novel Prd-class-homeobox gene highly expressed in the telencephalon, is mutated in X-linked mental retardation.

Investigation of a critical region for an X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) locus led us to identify a novel Aristaless related homeobox gene (ARX ). Inherited and de novo ARX mutations, including missense mutations and in frame duplications/insertions leading to expansions of polyalanine tracts in ARX, were found in nine familial and one sporadic case of MR. In contrast to other genes involved in XLMR, ARX expression is specific to the telencephalon and ventral thalamus. Notably there is an absence of expression in the cerebellum throughout development and also in adult. The absence of detectable brain malformations in patients suggests that ARX may have an essential role, in mature neurons, required for the development of cognitive abilities.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Glypican 1 gene: good candidate for brachydactyly type E.

In this report, we describe two siblings, a brother and a sister, with mental retardation and limb abnormalities (brachymetacarpy and brachymetatarsy in the brother and clinodactyly in his sister). Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis (FISH) using subtelomeric probes proved that the patients carried an unbalanced subtelomeric rearrangement with 2qter deletion involving the Glypican 1 gene. Given the expression pattern in the developing limb bud, Glypican 1 gene represents a good candidate for brachydactyly E.

Chromosome Deletion↗
PubMed2002

FACL4, encoding fatty acid-CoA ligase 4, is mutated in nonspecific X-linked mental retardation.

X-linked mental retardation (XLMR) is an inherited condition that causes failure to develop cognitive abilities, owing to mutations in a gene on the X chromosome. The latest XLMR update lists up to 136 conditions leading to 'syndromic', or 'specific', mental retardation (MRXS) and 66 entries leading to 'nonspecific' mental retardation (MRX). For 9 of the 66 MRX entries, the causative gene has been identified. Our recent discovery of the contiguous gene deletion syndrome ATS-MR (previously known as Alport syndrome, mental retardation, midface hypoplasia, elliptocytosis, OMIM #300194), characterized by Alport syndrome (ATS) and mental retardation (MR), indicated Xq22.3 as a region containing one mental retardation gene. Comparing the extent of deletion between individuals with ATS-MR and individuals with ATS alone allowed us to define a critical region for mental retardation of approximately 380 kb, containing four genes. Here we report the identification of two point mutations, one missense and one splice-site change, in the gene FACL4 in two families with nonspecific mental retardation. Analysis of enzymatic activity in lymphoblastoid cell lines from affected individuals of both families revealed low levels compared with normal cells, indicating that both mutations are null mutations. All carrier females with either point mutations or genomic deletions in FACL4 showed a completely skewed X-inactivation, suggesting that the gene influences survival advantage. FACL4 is the first gene shown to be involved in nonspecific mental retardation and fatty-acid metabolism.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Mutations in the human ortholog of Aristaless cause X-linked mental retardation and epilepsy.

Mental retardation and epilepsy often occur together. They are both heterogeneous conditions with acquired and genetic causes. Where causes are primarily genetic, major advances have been made in unraveling their molecular basis. The human X chromosome alone is estimated to harbor more than 100 genes that, when mutated, cause mental retardation. At least eight autosomal genes involved in idiopathic epilepsy have been identified, and many more have been implicated in conditions where epilepsy is a feature. We have identified mutations in an X chromosome-linked, Aristaless-related, homeobox gene (ARX), in nine families with mental retardation (syndromic and nonspecific), various forms of epilepsy, including infantile spasms and myoclonic seizures, and dystonia. Two recurrent mutations, present in seven families, result in expansion of polyalanine tracts of the ARX protein. These probably cause protein aggregation, similar to other polyalanine and polyglutamine disorders. In addition, we have identified a missense mutation within the ARX homeodomain and a truncation mutation. Thus, it would seem that mutation of ARX is a major contributor to X-linked mental retardation and epilepsy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Rapid prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21 in 5049 consecutive uncultured amniotic fluid samples by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH).

OBJECTIVES: This was a retrospective study on the results of interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), performed routinely for chromosome 21 and on ultrasonographic indications for chromosomes 13, 18, X and Y in a series of 5049 amniotic fluid samples. METHODS: Interphase FISH for chromosome 21 was performed in 5049 consecutive amniotic fluid samples for the rapid prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Aneuploidy for four other chromosomes (13, 18, X and Y) was tested following ultrasonographic indications. Karyotypes from standard cytogenetic analysis were compared to the FISH results. RESULTS: Using conventional cytogenetics 3.6% (183/5049) chromosomal anomalies were detected. After exclusion of familial chromosome rearrangements, i.e. balanced autosomal reciprocal or Robertsonian translocations (30/5049) and inversions (19/5049), 2.65% chromosomal anomalies (134/5049) were diagnosed. Of this group 0.18% (9/5049) were chromosomal rearrangements not detectable by FISH and 2.47% (125/5049) were numerical chromosomal anomalies detectable by interphase FISH for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. With routine interphase FISH for chromosome 21 and FISH on echographic indication for the other four chromosomes we detected 107/125 of these numerical chromosomal anomalies, i.e. 85.6%. All 70 cases of trisomy 21 were detected by FISH and confirmed with conventional cytogenetics (sensitivity=100%) and there were no false-positive results (specificity=100%). Maternal cell contamination of amniotic fluid samples occurred in 1.27% (64/5049) of samples; 0.26% (13/5049) of these samples were uninformative by FISH due to maternal cell contamination (12/5049) or absence of nuclei in one sample (1/5049). CONCLUSION: In this group of 5049 samples we found that FISH is a reliable technique for the rapid prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 21. The number of uninformative cases due to maternal cell contamination was low. The strategy to perform FISH for chromosome 21 in all samples and only on ultrasonographic indication for the four other chromosomes (13, 18, X and Y) followed by standard cytogenetics is effective.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMed2002

Psychiatric genetics: the case of single gene disorders.

Quantitative and molecular genetics have made important developments in the last three decades. There is increasing evidence of the role of heredity in the field of neuropsychiatric disorders in children. So far, only a few pathways between genes and behaviour have been unravelled. Quantitative genetics puts polygenic inheritance models forward. Molecular genetic research based on these models seems promising, but until now has provided only a limited explanation for the variance in the studied neuropsychiatric disorders. In these models the complexity of the expression of a single gene grows exponentially with the number of genes involved. Consequently, research on the gene-phenotype relationships and phenotypical variability in such models is extremely complex.The candidate gene approach, in which the gene-phenotype pathway of a single gene is studied, is more manageable, and in our opinion essential in understanding multiple gene models. We discuss recent findings in the field and their relevance for neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Single gene defects will only explain a part of the range of neuropsychiatric disorders in children, but the evidence that this approach can generate may help to clarify neuropsychiatric phenotypes. The discovery of single gene disorders in subgroups of subjects with a neuropsychiatric phenotype may result in new perspectives for their treatment.

Autistic Disorder↗