Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease （SCA3/MJD） is a progressive, currently untreatable and ultimately fatal ataxic disorder that belongs to the group of neurological disorders known as CAG-repeat or...Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease （SCA3/MJD） is a progressive, currently untreatable and ultimately fatal ataxic disorder that belongs to the group of neurological disorders known as CAG-repeat or polyglutamine diseases. Here, we present the first prenatal diagnosis of SCA3/MJD in China's Mainland in a woman who was known to carry an expanded CAG-trinucleotide repeat in the MJD1 gene. After evaluating motivation and psychological tolerance of the couple, amniocentesis was performed after 14 weeks of gestation. Polymerase chain reactions followed by T-vector cloning and direct sequencing were employed to evaluate the CAG-repeat number of the fetal MJD1 gene. We identified a truncated CAG expansion of 78 repeats in the MJD1 gene of the fetus compared with 81 repeats in his mother.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Overexpression of α-synuclein can induce cell apoptosis. RNA interference （RNAi） may block specific gene function and cause gene silencing. OBJECTIVE： To construct a specific and effective RNAi plasmi...BACKGROUND： Overexpression of α-synuclein can induce cell apoptosis. RNA interference （RNAi） may block specific gene function and cause gene silencing. OBJECTIVE： To construct a specific and effective RNAi plasmid for the α-synuclein gene and investigate if RNAi can block apoptosis in HEK293 cells, induced by overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A contrast experiment based on genetically engineered cytobiology was performed at the State Key Lab of Medical Genetics of China, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, between October 2004 and October 2008. MATERIALS： HEK293 cells and pBSHH1 plasmid were provided by the State Key Lab of Medical Genetics of China; OligDNA sequence by Sagon Bioengineering Company, Shanghai; Lipofectamine 2000 by Invitrogen, USA; α-synuclein monoclonal antibody, Hoechst 33258, and MTT by Sigma, USA; Horseradish peroxidase-coupled goat anti-rat IgG by KPL, USA; FACSan flow cytometry by BD, USA. METHODS： Four target sites were used to construct hairpin RNA pBSHH1 vectors - pSYNi-1, pSYNi-2, pSYNi-3 and pSYNi-4 - which were cloned in the pBSHH1 plasmid. HEK293 cells were transfected using Lipofectamine 2000. In addition, a non-transfect group and a negative plasmid transfect group were established. The cultured HEK293 cells were processed as follows： transfection of blank plasmid （blank control group）, transfection of α-synuclein-pEGFP and RNAi negative vector （negative control group）, and transfection of α-synuclein-pEGFP and pSYNi-1 （transfection group）. Cells in all groups were transfected with Lipofectamine 2000 for 48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Expression of α-synuclein mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell morphology was observed under an inverted fluorescence microscope; cell viability was measured using MTT method; and cell apoptosis was determined with Annexin V-PE flow cytometry. RESULTS： α-synuclein mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased in the pSYNi-1 group when compared with the non-transfect and negative plasmid transfect groups （P 〈 0.05）. The expressions were partially decreased in the pSYNi-2 group, but there was no significant difference in the pSYNi-3 and pSYNi-4 groups. Hoechst staining indicated that cell nuclei were enlarged in the negative control group, coloring was not uniform, and chromatin was accumulated and appeared spot-like. The nucleus coloring was uniform in the transfection group compared to negative control group. Cell viability in the negative control group was significantly lower than blank control group with cell apoptosis being significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）. In comparison with negative control group, cell viability was significantly increased in the transfection group and cell apoptosis was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： pSYNi-1 can inhibit α-synuclein gene expression and block apoptosis of HEK293 cells induced by overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein.展开更多
To the Editor:Essential tremor(ET)is a common movement disorder with significant clinical heterogeneity.[1]Following the proposal of“ET-plus”,the cross-sectional investigation of ET has increased.However,the charact...To the Editor:Essential tremor(ET)is a common movement disorder with significant clinical heterogeneity.[1]Following the proposal of“ET-plus”,the cross-sectional investigation of ET has increased.However,the characteristics of pure ET vs.ET-plus remain unclear.Herein,we present a longitudinal follow-up study of pure ET and ET-plus patients that aimed to clarify disease progression and outcome,to determine the annual incidence rates of pure ET to ET-plus,and ET to Parkinson’s disease(ETPD),and to investigate the clinical biomarkers influencing disease outcomes.展开更多
Background:Genetic variants of dopaminergic transcription factor-encoding genes are suggested to be Parkinson’s disease(PD)risk factors;however,no comprehensive analyses of these genes in patients with PD have been u...Background:Genetic variants of dopaminergic transcription factor-encoding genes are suggested to be Parkinson’s disease(PD)risk factors;however,no comprehensive analyses of these genes in patients with PD have been undertaken.Therefore,we aimed to genetically analyze 16 dopaminergic transcription factor genes in Chinese patients with PD.Methods:Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was performed using a Chinese cohort comprising 1917 unrelated patients with familial or sporadic early-onset PD and 1652 controls.Additionally,whole-genome sequencing(WGS)was performed using another Chinese cohort comprising 1962 unrelated patients with sporadic late-onset PD and 1279 controls.Results:We detected 308 rare and 208 rare protein-altering variants in the WES and WGS cohorts,respectively.Gene-based association analyses of rare variants suggested that MSX1 is enriched in sporadic late-onset PD.However,the significance did not pass the Bonferroni correction.Meanwhile,72 and 1730 common variants were found in the WES and WGS cohorts,respectively.Unfortunately,single-variant logistic association analyses did not identify significant associations between common variants and PD.Conclusions:Variants of 16 typical dopaminergic transcription factors might not be major genetic risk factors for PD in Chinese patients.However,we highlight the complexity of PD and the need for extensive research elucidating its etiology.展开更多
Background:The TANK-Binding Kinase 1(TBK1)gene has recently been identified as the third or fourth most frequent cause of frontotemporal dementia(FTD)and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).The aim of this study was to...Background:The TANK-Binding Kinase 1(TBK1)gene has recently been identified as the third or fourth most frequent cause of frontotemporal dementia(FTD)and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).The aim of this study was to assess the genetic contribution of TBK1 in a Chinese cohort.Methods:A total of 270 cases with ALS,FTD,or their combination were recruited into this study.All the coding exons of TBK1 and intron-exon boundaries were sequenced using Sanger sequencing.The frequency of TBK1 variants and the correlation with clinical phenotypes were analyzed.Results:A novel mutation(c.1959_1960insGT,p.E653fs)was identified in a sporadic case with semantic dementia,secondarily developing ALS.Another novel variant(c.2063_2064delTT,p.L688Rfs*14)was found in an ALS-FTD family.Totally,the TBK1 variants could only account for 0.7% of cases.Conclusions:This study enlarges the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of TBK1 mutation in a Chinese cohort.Our data indicates that TBK1 mutation is not a common cause for ALS and FTD in Chinese patients.展开更多
基金grants from the National Science and Technology Pillar Program in the Eleventh Five-year Plan Period, No. 2006BAI05A07the Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program), No. 2006cb500700+5 种基金the National Key Technologies Research and Development Program of China, No. 2004BA720A03the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30871354, 30710303061 and 30470619the Key Project in the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, No. 08JJ3048the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province, No. 11JJ5071the Science and Technology Planning Project of Hunan Province, No. 2009SK3172the Graduate Degree Thesis Innovation Foundation of Central South University, No. 2008yb030
文摘Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease （SCA3/MJD） is a progressive, currently untreatable and ultimately fatal ataxic disorder that belongs to the group of neurological disorders known as CAG-repeat or polyglutamine diseases. Here, we present the first prenatal diagnosis of SCA3/MJD in China's Mainland in a woman who was known to carry an expanded CAG-trinucleotide repeat in the MJD1 gene. After evaluating motivation and psychological tolerance of the couple, amniocentesis was performed after 14 weeks of gestation. Polymerase chain reactions followed by T-vector cloning and direct sequencing were employed to evaluate the CAG-repeat number of the fetal MJD1 gene. We identified a truncated CAG expansion of 78 repeats in the MJD1 gene of the fetus compared with 81 repeats in his mother.
基金the National "863" High-Technology Research and Development Program Grant,No. 2004AA2270402002BA711A07+3 种基金the National "Tenth-Five Year" Science and Technology Program,No. 2004BA720A03the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 30370515the Natural Science Foundation of Hainan Province,No. 806119807080
文摘BACKGROUND： Overexpression of α-synuclein can induce cell apoptosis. RNA interference （RNAi） may block specific gene function and cause gene silencing. OBJECTIVE： To construct a specific and effective RNAi plasmid for the α-synuclein gene and investigate if RNAi can block apoptosis in HEK293 cells, induced by overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A contrast experiment based on genetically engineered cytobiology was performed at the State Key Lab of Medical Genetics of China, Xiangya Medical College of Central South University, between October 2004 and October 2008. MATERIALS： HEK293 cells and pBSHH1 plasmid were provided by the State Key Lab of Medical Genetics of China; OligDNA sequence by Sagon Bioengineering Company, Shanghai; Lipofectamine 2000 by Invitrogen, USA; α-synuclein monoclonal antibody, Hoechst 33258, and MTT by Sigma, USA; Horseradish peroxidase-coupled goat anti-rat IgG by KPL, USA; FACSan flow cytometry by BD, USA. METHODS： Four target sites were used to construct hairpin RNA pBSHH1 vectors - pSYNi-1, pSYNi-2, pSYNi-3 and pSYNi-4 - which were cloned in the pBSHH1 plasmid. HEK293 cells were transfected using Lipofectamine 2000. In addition, a non-transfect group and a negative plasmid transfect group were established. The cultured HEK293 cells were processed as follows： transfection of blank plasmid （blank control group）, transfection of α-synuclein-pEGFP and RNAi negative vector （negative control group）, and transfection of α-synuclein-pEGFP and pSYNi-1 （transfection group）. Cells in all groups were transfected with Lipofectamine 2000 for 48 hours. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Expression of α-synuclein mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell morphology was observed under an inverted fluorescence microscope; cell viability was measured using MTT method; and cell apoptosis was determined with Annexin V-PE flow cytometry. RESULTS： α-synuclein mRNA and protein expressions were significantly decreased in the pSYNi-1 group when compared with the non-transfect and negative plasmid transfect groups （P 〈 0.05）. The expressions were partially decreased in the pSYNi-2 group, but there was no significant difference in the pSYNi-3 and pSYNi-4 groups. Hoechst staining indicated that cell nuclei were enlarged in the negative control group, coloring was not uniform, and chromatin was accumulated and appeared spot-like. The nucleus coloring was uniform in the transfection group compared to negative control group. Cell viability in the negative control group was significantly lower than blank control group with cell apoptosis being significantly increased （P 〈 0.05）. In comparison with negative control group, cell viability was significantly increased in the transfection group and cell apoptosis was significantly decreased （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： pSYNi-1 can inhibit α-synuclein gene expression and block apoptosis of HEK293 cells induced by overexpression of wild-type α-synuclein.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.U20A20355,82171256,and 82202051)the Hunan Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2021SK53501).
文摘To the Editor:Essential tremor(ET)is a common movement disorder with significant clinical heterogeneity.[1]Following the proposal of“ET-plus”,the cross-sectional investigation of ET has increased.However,the characteristics of pure ET vs.ET-plus remain unclear.Herein,we present a longitudinal follow-up study of pure ET and ET-plus patients that aimed to clarify disease progression and outcome,to determine the annual incidence rates of pure ET to ET-plus,and ET to Parkinson’s disease(ETPD),and to investigate the clinical biomarkers influencing disease outcomes.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82071437,U20A20355,and 82101342)the Hunan Innovative Province Construction Project(No.2019SK2335)+2 种基金the Natural Science Foundations of Hunan Province(No.2021JJ31115)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2016YFC1306000 and 2021YFC2502100)the Project Program of National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders(Xiangya Hospital)(No.2021KFJJ10)
文摘Background:Genetic variants of dopaminergic transcription factor-encoding genes are suggested to be Parkinson’s disease(PD)risk factors;however,no comprehensive analyses of these genes in patients with PD have been undertaken.Therefore,we aimed to genetically analyze 16 dopaminergic transcription factor genes in Chinese patients with PD.Methods:Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was performed using a Chinese cohort comprising 1917 unrelated patients with familial or sporadic early-onset PD and 1652 controls.Additionally,whole-genome sequencing(WGS)was performed using another Chinese cohort comprising 1962 unrelated patients with sporadic late-onset PD and 1279 controls.Results:We detected 308 rare and 208 rare protein-altering variants in the WES and WGS cohorts,respectively.Gene-based association analyses of rare variants suggested that MSX1 is enriched in sporadic late-onset PD.However,the significance did not pass the Bonferroni correction.Meanwhile,72 and 1730 common variants were found in the WES and WGS cohorts,respectively.Unfortunately,single-variant logistic association analyses did not identify significant associations between common variants and PD.Conclusions:Variants of 16 typical dopaminergic transcription factors might not be major genetic risk factors for PD in Chinese patients.However,we highlight the complexity of PD and the need for extensive research elucidating its etiology.
基金This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81471295 and No.81671075 to Lu Shen,No.81701134 to Bin Jiao)the National Key Plan for Scientific Research and Development of China(No.2016YFC1306000 to Beisha Tang)the Xiangya Hospital Youth Scientific Research Fund(No.2016Q01 to Bin Jiao).
文摘Background:The TANK-Binding Kinase 1(TBK1)gene has recently been identified as the third or fourth most frequent cause of frontotemporal dementia(FTD)and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).The aim of this study was to assess the genetic contribution of TBK1 in a Chinese cohort.Methods:A total of 270 cases with ALS,FTD,or their combination were recruited into this study.All the coding exons of TBK1 and intron-exon boundaries were sequenced using Sanger sequencing.The frequency of TBK1 variants and the correlation with clinical phenotypes were analyzed.Results:A novel mutation(c.1959_1960insGT,p.E653fs)was identified in a sporadic case with semantic dementia,secondarily developing ALS.Another novel variant(c.2063_2064delTT,p.L688Rfs*14)was found in an ALS-FTD family.Totally,the TBK1 variants could only account for 0.7% of cases.Conclusions:This study enlarges the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of TBK1 mutation in a Chinese cohort.Our data indicates that TBK1 mutation is not a common cause for ALS and FTD in Chinese patients.
