Molecular Medicine

It has been hypothesized that human clinical neocentromeres and evolutionary novel centromeres (ENC) represent two faces of the same phenomenon. However, there are only two reports of loci harboring both a novel centromere and a clinical neocentromere. We suggest that only the tip of the iceberg has been scratched because most neocentromerization events have a very low chance of being observed. In support of this view, we report here on a neocentromere at 9q33.1 that emerged in a ring chromosome of about 12 Mb. The ring was produced by a balanced rearrangement that was fortuitously discovered because of its malsegregation in the propositus. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation-on-chip experiments using anti-centromere protein (CENP)-A and anti-CENP-C antibodies strongly indicated that a novel centromeric domain was present in the ring, in a chromosomal domain where an ENC emerged in the ancestor to Old World monkeys.

Xq28 duplications encompassing MECP2 have been described in male patients with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder associated with hypotonia and spasticity, severe learning disability and recurrent pneumonia. We identified an Xq28 duplication in three families where several male patients had presented with intestinal pseudo-obstruction or bladder distension. The affected boys had similar dysmorphic facial appearances. Subsequently, we ascertained seven further families where the proband presented with similar features. We demonstrated duplications of the Xq28 region in five of these additional families. In addition to MECP2, these duplications encompassed several other genes already known to be associated with diseases including SLC6A8, L1CAM and Filamin A (FLNA). The two remaining families were shown to have intragenic duplications of FLNA only. We discuss which elements of the Xq28 duplication phenotype may be associated with the various genes in the duplication. We propose that duplication of FLNA may contribute to the bowel and bladder phenotype seen in these seven families.

I n this study, we wanted to examine whether it was thinkable, that architectural space could influence healing processes. Part of the field of Evidence Based Design, which has gained increasing influence within hospital design, has been to promote patient healing by the manipulation of environmental factors. Perhaps the most well-known study is still the study by Ulrich (1984) in which it is shown, that views to nature versus a view to another hospital block can reduce the length of hospitalization. However, these studies all have some environmental factor as the variable, and the space e.g. identical wards as the constant. As a consequence, the results offer no or very little information for hospital designers about the design of the space itself. Our aim was therefor to make space the variable and furthermore, we wanted to have physiological measures to help understanding the underlying physiological mechanisms. Our focus was on stress because of the long established connection between stress and the immune system. As a stressor, we used a virtual version of the so called Trier Social Stress Test, a much used laboratory test for research in psychosocial stress. Because a virtual version was used, the architecture of the space could be systematically varied. Our result shows, that the design of the space influenced the release of cortisol, and thereby potentially has an immune regulatory effect.

Significant improvement in the understanding of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) biology has opened the way to their clinical use. However, concerns regarding the possibility that MSCs undergo malignant transformation have been raised. We investigated the susceptibility to transformation of human bone marrow (BM)-derived MSCs at different in vitro culture time points. MSCs were isolated from BM of 10 healthy donors and propagated in vitro until reaching either senescence or passage (P) 25. MSCs in the senescence phase were closely monitored for 8 to 12 weeks before interrupting the cultures. The genetic characterization of MSCs was investigated through array-comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH), conventional karyotyping, and subtelomeric fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis both before and after prolonged culture. MSCs were tested for the expression of telomerase activity, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) transcripts, and alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) mechanism at different passages. A huge variability in terms of proliferative capacity and MSCs life span was noted between donors. In eight of 10 donors, MSCs displayed a progressive decrease in proliferative capacity until reaching senescence. In the remaining two MSC samples, the cultures were interrupted at P25 to pursue data analysis. Array-CGH and cytogenetic analyses showed that MSCs expanded in vitro did not show chromosomal abnormalities. Telomerase activity and hTERT transcripts were not expressed in any of the examined cultures and telomeres shortened during the culture period. ALT was not evidenced in the MSCs tested. BM-derived MSCs can be safely expanded in vitro and are not susceptible to malignant transformation, thus rendering these cells suitable for cell therapy approaches.

The COL5A1 gene, which encodes the pro (xl(V) chain, was recently mapped to 9q34.3 in the same region as the nail-patella locus. This was taken as an indication that the nail-patella syndrome may be an inherited connective tissue disorder. We demonstrate COL5A1 heterozygous deletion and fibroblast under-expression of ~I(V) chains in a girl with an unbalanced translocation resulting in 9q32---~qter monosomy. The patient presents dysplastic nails, a sign typical of nail-patella syndrome, but normal patella. Moreover, she has skin and bone disorders similar to those found in the Goltz syndrome. We suggest that monosomy for the COL5A1 gene is responsible for these connective tissue disorders. Accordingly, the nail-patella syndrome could be attributable to mutations inside the COL5A1 gene rather than to a deletion of it. a chromosome rearrangement resulting in 9q32---~qter monosomy. Her skin and bone alterations appear to be directly related to the heterozygous deletion of COL5A1 gene.

Agenesis of the corpus callosum (ACC) is a relatively common brain abnormality resulting from developmental defects either limited to the structures leading to the proper formation of the corpus cabosum or involving the embryo forebrain more generally. ACC is genetically heterogeneous with autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X linked inheritance and has also been reported in subjects with aneuploidies involving several chromosomes. Among them, distal 6q deletions have been consistently reported in association with ACC, suggesting that there is a gene in the deleted region whose haploinsufficiency impairs normal corpus callosum development. We have studied a child with ACC with Probst bundles and a deletion at 6q25 of about 8 cM, from D6S1496 to D6S437. Probst bundles are the axons that should have formed the corpus callosum but, unable to cross the midline owing to absence of the massa commissuralis, they run longitudinally along the medial walls of the lateral ventricles from the frontal to the occipital lobes. Thus, their presence suggests that a gene located in the 6q deleted region is specifically involved in the formation of the massa commissuralis and that its haploinsufficiency leads to primary ACC.

We have isolated a human and murine homologue of the Drosophila prune gene through dbEST searches. The gene is ubiquitously expressed in human adult tissues, while in mouse developing embryos a high level of expression is con®ned to the nervous system particularly in the dorsal root ganglia, cranial nerves, and neural retina. The gene is composed of eight exons and is located in the 1q21.3 chromosomal region. A pseudogene has been sequenced and mapped to chromosomal region 13q12. PRUNE protein retains the four characteristic domains of DHH phosphoesterases. The synergism between prune and awd K-pn in Drosophila has led various authors to propose an interaction between these genes. However, such an interaction has never been supported by biochemical data. By using interaction-mating and in vitro co-immunoprecipitation experiments, we show for the ®rst time the ability of human PRUNE to interact with the human homologue of awd protein (nm23-H1). In contrast, PRUNE is impaired in its interaction with nm-23-H1-S120G mutant, a gain-of-function mutation associated with advanced neuroblastoma stages. Consistently, PRUNE and nm23-H1 proteins partially colocalize in the cytoplasm. The data presented are consistent with the view that PRUNE acts as a negative regulator of the nm23-H1 protein. We discuss how PRUNE regulates nm23-H1 protein and postulate possible implications of PRUNE in neuroblastoma progression.