Epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNA are reversible, heritable alterations which are induced by environmental stimuli. Major risk factors of diabetes and diabetic complications including hyperglycemia, oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products, can lead to abnormal epigenetic modifications in retinal vascular endothelial cells and retinal pigment epithelium cells. Epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis of macular edema and neovascularization of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as diabetic metabolic memory. The heritable nature of epigenetic marks also playsakey role in familial diabetes mellitus. Further elucidation of epigenetic mechanisms in DR can open the way for the discovery of novel therapeutic targets to prevent DR progression.
ObjectiveTo identify and observe disease-causing gene variants and clinical phenotypes in a Han Chinese family with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). MethodsA retrospective study. A patient with LCA10 and his parents who had presented at Department of Ophthalmology of Henan Provincial People's Hospital on May 2022 were selected as the study subject. Detailed medical and family histories were recorded, fundus photography and flash electroretinogram (F-ERG) were performed. Peripheral venous blood samples (3 ml) of the proband and his parents were collected to extract whole genomic DNA, then whole exome sequencing (WES) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequencing were carried out for the proband to determine the disease-causing gene and variants. All variants were annotated by bioinformatics analysis. According to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) guidelines, the pathogenicity of all detected variants were evaluated. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing, and in vitro minigene assay were performed to evaluate the impact of the missense variant with insufficient evidence on mRNA splicing. ResultsThe proband, male, 7-month-old, presented with an inability to follow light or objects, eye poking, photophobia, nystagmus, partial loss of retinal pigment epithelium around the fovea of the macula. At the age of 2 years old, F-ERG revealed severe reduction, elongation, or even no waveform of a-wave and b-wave in both eyes. No obvious abnormality was found in the clinical phenotype of his parents. The result of WES revealed that the proband carried two variants in exon 40 and exon 2 of CEP290, a frameshift variant c.5515_5518del (p.Glu1839Lysfs*11) (V1) and a novel missense variant c.74C>T (p.Ala25Val) (V2), respectively. The result of mitochondrial DNA sequencing was negative. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the heterozygous frameshift variant was inherited from his father and the heterozygous novel missense variant was inherited from his mother, which constituted compound heterozygous variants. In vitro minigene splicing assay confirmed that V2 created a new splicing donor at exon 2, leading to the in-frame deletion of 30bp fragment during transcription and loss of 10 amino acid residues in the protein. The two variants were pathogenic (V1) and likely pathogenic (V2) based on ACMG guidelines, respectively. ConclusionsThe c.5515_5518del and novel c.74C>T compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene probably are the cause of LCA10 in this family, which lead to the production of a truncated protein and aberrant splicing of pre-mRNA, respectively. LCA is characterized by early onset, severe impairment of visual function, and a wide range of disease-causing variations.
Objective lt;brgt;To evaluated the effect of transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) on age-related macular degeneration (AMD). lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Methods lt;brgt;Sixty-two cases (62 eyes) of exudative AMD were managed with TTT. Before treatment, 58 cases underwent fundus fluorescein angiography(FFA),42 cases underwent simultaneous indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), and 56 cases underwent optic coherence tomography (OCT).TTT was delivered using a 810 nm diode laser with variable spot sizes 0.5-3.0 mm and power range 60-40 mW,60 seconds duration. Sixty-two cases were followed up for 1-10 months with 4.8 months average. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Results lt;brgt;The visual acuities of last visit were compared with those before the treatment. The visual acuity was unchanged in 43 cases (69.3%), improved in 15 cases (24.2%), and declined in 4 cases (6.5%). OCT was re-done in 51 cases and compared with OCT images before TTT treatment. The height of macular edema was unchanged in 29 cases (56.9%), decreased in 18 cases (35.3%), and increased in 4 cases (7.8%). The amelioration of visual acuity was compatible with that of macular configuration in the majority of cases (74.5%). Only in 13 cases (25.5%) the amelioration of visual acuity lagged behind that of macular configuration. The re-treatment was performed in 18 cases (29.1%), probably due to insufficiency of laser power. No side-effect was found. lt;brgt; lt;brgt;Conclusion lt;brgt;TTT makes most of the cases of exudative AMD retaining or improving their visual acuity. The employment is secured. Further exploration is needed in order to obtain the parameters of the laser treatment. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2002, 18: 180-183)
Objective To explore the effects of Neurogenesin 1 (Ng1) gene on functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) and its mechanism. Methods Thirty-six rats (aging 4 months, weighing 230 g and being male or female), were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=18) and control group (n=18). After spinal cord contusive injury at T10 level was made in all these rats using modified Allen’s method, Ng1 recombinant plasmid and blank plasmid were transfectedinto the damaged areas of exprimental group and control group respectively by Alzet pumps. At 1 day, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks after SCI, Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) Rating Scale was used to observe the recovery of motor function. At 1 week after injury, the expressions of Ng1 mRNA and protein in injured spinal cord were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot techniques. And at 2 and 4 weeks, double immunofluorescence and histopathologic examinations were performed to study the prol iferation of the adult endogenous neural stem cells and pathological change after SCI. Results At 1-4 weeks after SCI, the BBB scores in the exprimental group was significantly higher than that in control group (P lt; 0.05), and at 4 weeks the BBB score of the experimental group (16.80 ± 1.79) was significantly higher than that of the control group (9.60 ± 1.67), (P lt; 0.01). RTPCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of Ng1 were observed in the exprimental group and no expression was seen in the control group. Histologic observation showed that the morphology of spinal cord and neurons in the exprimental group was better than that in the control group and was close to the normal tissue. The mean number of Nestin+/ BrdU+ newborn endogenous neural stem cells in the exprimental group was significantly more than that in control group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Ng1 gene could promote the prol iferation of endogenous neural stem cells and protect the injured neurons, which enhances the repair of the motor function after SCI.
Objective To investigate and compare the osteogenic potential of three kinds of calcium phosphate ceramic as carriers for recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2(rhBMP-2) in vivo.Methods BCPceramics (HA,TCP,HA/TCP) impregnated with rhBMP-2 (experimental groups) and without rhBMP-2(control groups) were implanted into 6 muscles pockets on the dorsum of 3month-old Wistar rabbits. The rabbits were sacrificed 2, 4 and 8 weeks after implantation and bone induction was estimated by alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity measurement. The implants were also examined histologically and histomorphometrically by HE staining and computerized graphical analysis. Results The ALPactivity of implants withrhBMP-2 was higher than that of control groups(P＜0.05), but there was no difference between 2 and 4 weeks in experimental groups. In all experimental groups,theimplants exhibited that new bone formation increased with the lapse of time. The amount of new bone formation is more in -HA/rhBMP-2 group than in the other two group in the 2nd and 4th weeks, but there was no difference between them (P＞0.05).In the 8th week, the amount of bone formation was most in HA/TCP with -rhBMP-2, and was more than that in the 2nd and 4th weeks. Whereas in control groups, there was only fibrous connective tissue. Conclusion HA/TCP- is a good carriers of rhBMP-2 and can be used as bone substitutes clinically.
Objective To study the vascularization of the compositeof bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) gene transfected marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and biodegradable scaffolds in repairing bone defect. Methods Adenovirus vector carrying BMP-2 (Ad-BMP-2) gene transfected MSCs and gene modified tissue engineered bone was constructed. The 1.5 cm radial defect models were made on 60 rabbits, which were evenly divided into 4 groups randomly(n=15, 30 sides). Different materials were used in 4 groups: Ad-BMP-2 transfected MSCs plus PLA/PCL (group A), AdLacz transfected MSCs plus PLA/PCL (group B), MSCs plus PLA/PCL (group C) and only PLA/PCL scaffolds (group D). The X-ray, capillary vessel ink infusion, histology, TEM, VEGF expression and microvacular density counting(MVD) were made 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. Results In group A after 4 weeks, foliated formed bones image was observed in the transplanted bones, new vessels grew into the bones, the pores of scaffolds were filled with cartilage callus, osteoblasts with active function grew around the microvessels, and VEGF expression and the number of microvessels were significantly superior to those of other groups, showing statistically significant difference (Plt;0.01); after 8 weeks, increasingly more new bones grew in the transplanted bones, microvessels distended and connected with each other, cartilage callus changed into trabecular bones; after 12 weeks, lamellar bone became successive, marrow cavity recanalized, microvessels showed orderly longitudinal arrangement. In groups B and C, the capability of bone formation was weak, the regeneration of blood vessels was slow, after 12 weeks, defects were mostly repaired, microvessels grew among the new trabecular bones. In group D, few new vessels were observed at each time, after 12 weeks, broken ends became hardened, the defectedarea was filled with fibrous tissue. Conclusion BMP-2 gene therapy, by -upregulating VEGF expression, indirectly induces vascularization ofgrafts,promotes the living of seed cells, and thus accelerates new bone formation.
Objective To evaluate associations betweenMTHFD1 gene G1958A polymorphism and the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Methods We electronically searched databases including PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, VIP, and WanFang Data from inception to June 2016 to collect case-control studies of the correlation between the G1958A polymorphism inMTHFD1 and the risk of NTDs. Two reviewers independently screened the studies, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and then, meta-analysis was performed using Stata 12.0 software. Results Thirteen case-control studies were included, involving 1 724 NTDs infants, 1 485 mothers and 774 fathers with NTDs offspring. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was significant association betweenMTHFD1 gene G1958A polymorphism and increased risk of NTDs in infants (AAvs. GG: OR=1.437, 95%CI 1.100 to 1.878,P=0.008; AA+AGvs. GG: OR=1.187, 95%CI 1.031 to 1.367,P=0.017; Avs. G: OR=1.210, 95%CI 1.050 to 1.394,P=0.008). However, there was no association between biparentalMTHFD1 gene G1958A polymorphism and NTDs in the offspring. Conclusion The current evidence shows thatMTHFD1 gene G1958A polymorphism may be a genetic risk factor for NTDs. Due to the limited quantity and quality of the included studies, more high quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.
Objective To study the adenovirus-mediated human bone morphogenetic protein-2 gene （Ad-hBMP-2）transferred to the intervertebral disc cells of the New Zealand rabbit in vitro. Methods The cells of New Zealand white rabbitswere isolated from their lumbar discs. The cells were grown in the monolayer and treated with an adenovirus encoding the LacZ gene (Ad-LacZ) and Ad-hBMP-2 (50,100, 150 MOI,multiplicity of infection) in the Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium and the Ham’s F-12 Medium in vitro. Three days after the Ad-hBMP-2 treatment,the expression of hBMP-2 in the cells that had been infected by different dosesof MOI was determined by immunofluorescence and the Western blot analysis, and the expression was determined in the cells with the Ad-LacZ treatment in a dose of 150 MOI. Six days after the Ad-hBMP-2 treatment, mRNA was extracted for the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and the difference was detected between the control group and the culture group that was treated withAd-hBMP-2 in doses of 50, 100 and 150 MOI so that the expressions of aggrecan and collagen ⅡmRNA could be observed. Results The expression of hBMP-2 in the cells was gradually increased after the transfection in an increasing dose, which was observed by immunofluorescence and the Western blot analysis. At 6 days the aggrecan and collagen type Ⅱ mRNA expressions were up-regulated by Ad-hBMP-2 after the transfection at an increasing viral concentration in the dosedependent manner. Conclusion The results show that Ad-hBMP-2 can transfect the rabbit intervertebral disc cells in vitro with a high efficiency rate and the expression of hBMP-2 after theinfection is dose-dependent in the manner. AdhBMP-2 after transfection can up-regulate the expression of aggrecan and collagen Ⅱ mRNA at an increasing viral concentration.
Objective To analyze the application of rigid intra-oral tooth borne distraction device in dento-alveolar distraction osteogenesis. Methods Six patients who underwent orthodontic treatment for maxillary and/or mandibular canine tooth from January to December 2016 in Hanzhong Central Hospital were collected. The bilateral canine tooth was retracted after the first premolar extraction by using the conventional method, and were distracted by the rigid intra-oral tooth borne distraction device, which was made of stainless steel. The tooth movement distance and time, pain and adverse reaction of patients in the process of orthodontics were investigated. Results The number of orthodontic tooth of each patient was 2–4, and the movement range of canine retraction was 6.5–8.0 mm. The time required for canine tooth moving to the second premolar was 13–17 days, and the canine tooth of all the patients were moved, inclined and buccal expanded after three weeks of enhanced fusion. Two patients felt pain and discomfort, one patient experienced buccal mucosa ulcer, and none of the six patients suffered from dysmasesia, dysphagia, periodontitis or tooth enamel loss. Conclusion As an effective tool for orthodontic treatment, the new rigid intra-oral tooth borne distraction device could accelerate the speed of canine movement, and shorten the orthodontic time with few adverse reactions.
X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is a rare X-linked inherited retinal disorder, caused by mutations in retinoschisin 1 (RS1) gene. Three XLRS mice were established, providing ideal systems to study the mechanism and treatment methods for XLRS. RS1 gene mutations can induce abnormal secretion or adhesion function of RS1 protein. In the past year, phase I clinical trials for XLRS has begun in USA, using adeno associated virus (AAV, AAV8 or AAV2)-mediated gene delivery. With the rapid development of new generation of AAV vector that can transduce more retinal cells through intravitreous delivery, gene therapy for XLRS will have a brighter future.