The FSHD2 Gene SMCHD1 Is a Modifier of Disease Severity in Families Affected by FSHD1

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) is caused by contraction of the D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4 to a size of 1–10 units. The residual number of D4Z4 units inversely correlates with clinical severity, but significant clinical variability exists. Each unit contains a copy of the DUX4 retrogene. Repeat contractions are associated with changes in D4Z4 chromatin structure that increase the likelihood of DUX4 expression in skeletal muscle, but only when the repeat resides in a genetic background that contains a DUX4 polyadenylation signal. Mutations in the structural maintenance of chromosomes flexible hinge domain containing 1 (SMCHD1) gene, encoding a chromatin modifier of D4Z4, also result in the increased likelihood of DUX4 expression in individuals with a rare form of FSHD (FSHD2). Because SMCHD1 directly binds to D4Z4 and suppresses somatic expression of DUX4, we hypothesized that SMCHD1 may act as a genetic modifier in FSHD1. We describe three unrelated individuals with FSHD1 presenting an unusual high clinical severity based on their upper-sized FSHD1 repeat array of nine units. Each of these individuals also carries a mutation in the SMCHD1 gene. Familial carriers of the FSHD1 allele without the SMCHD1 mutation were only mildly affected, suggesting a modifier effect of the SMCHD1 mutation. Knocking down SMCHD1 in FSHD1 myotubes increased DUX4 expression, lending molecular support to a modifier role for SMCHD1 in FSHD1. We conclude that FSHD1 and FSHD2 share a common pathophysiological pathway in which the FSHD2 gene can act as modifier for disease severity in families affected by FSHD1.     

Identification of a new genotype of Torque Teno Mini virus

Background

Since we were able to isolate viable virus from brain and lung of H7N1 low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) infected chickens, we here examined the distribution of different LPAIV strains in chickens by measuring the viral AI RNA load in multiple organs. Subtypes of H5 (H5N1, H5N2), H7 (H7N1, H7N7) and H9 (H9N2), of chicken (H5N2, H7N1, H7N7, H9N2), or mallard (H5N1) origin were tested. The actual presence of viable virus was evaluated with virus isolation in organs of H7N7 inoculated chickens.

Findings

Viral RNA was found by PCR in lung, brain, intestine, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, heart, liver, kidney and spleen from chickens infected with chicken isolated LPAIV H5N2, H7N1, H7N7 or H9N2. H7N7 virus could be isolated from lung, ileum, heart, liver, kidney and spleen, but not from brain, which was in agreement with the data from the PCR. Infection with mallard isolated H5N1 LPAIV resulted in viral RNA detection in lung and peripheral blood mononuclear cells only.

Conclusion

We speculate that chicken isolated LPAI viruses are spreading systemically in chicken, independently of the strain.     

Impact of the papillary muscles on cardiac magnetic resonance image analysis of important left ventricular parameters in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Purpose

The use of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) analysis has increased in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Quantification of left ventricular (LV) measures will be affected by the inclusion or exclusion of the papillary muscles as part of the LV mass, but the magnitude of effect and potential consequences are unknown.

Methods

We performed Cine-CMR in (1) clinical HCM patients (n?=?55) and (2) subclinical HCM mutation carriers without hypertrophy (n?=?14). Absolute and relative differences in LV ejection fraction (EF) and mass were assessed between algorithms with and without inclusion of the papillary muscles.

Results

Papillary muscle mass in group 1 was 6.6?±?2.5 g/m² and inclusion of the papillary muscles resulted in significant relative increases in LVEF of 4.5?±?1.8?% and in LV mass of 8.7?±?2.6?%. For group 2 these figures were 4.0?±?0.9 g/m², 3.8?±?1.0?% and 9.5?±?1.8?%, respectively. With a coefficient of variation of 4?%, this 9?% difference in LV mass during CMR follow-up will be considered a change, while in fact the exact same mass may have been assessed according to two different algorithms.

Conclusions

In clinical HCM patients, CMR quantification of important LV measures is significantly affected by inclusion or exclusion of the papillary muscles. In relative terms, the difference was similar in subjects without hypertrophy. This underscores a general need for a uniform approach in CMR image analysis.

     

Antibody engineering & therapeutics,the annual meeting of the antibody society December 7–10, 2015, San Diego,CA, USA

The 26th Antibody Engineering & Therapeutics meeting, the annual meeting of The Antibody Society united over 800 participants from all over the world in San Diego from 6–10 December 2015. The latest innovations and advances in antibody research and development were discussed, covering a myriad of antibody-related topics by more than 100 speakers, who were carefully selected by The Antibody Society. As a prelude, attendees could join the pre-conference training course focusing, among others, on the engineering and enhancement of antibodies and antibody-like scaffolds, bispecific antibody engineering and adaptation to generate chimeric antigen receptor constructs. The main event covered 4 d of scientific sessions that included antibody effector functions, reproducibility of research and diagnostic antibodies, new developments in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), preclinical and clinical ADC data, new technologies and applications for bispecific antibodies, antibody therapeutics for non-cancer and orphan indications, antibodies to harness the cellular immune system, building comprehensive IgVH-gene repertoires through discovering, confirming and cataloging new germline IgVH genes, and overcoming resistance to clinical immunotherapy. The Antibody Society's special session focused on “Antibodies to watch” in 2016. Another special session put the spotlight on the limitations of the new definitions for the assignment of antibody international nonproprietary names introduced by the World Health Organization. The convention concluded with workshops on computational antibody design and on the promise and challenges of using next-generation sequencing for antibody discovery and engineering from synthetic and in vivo libraries.     

Monoclonal Antibody RYSK173 Recognizes the Dinuclear Zn Center of Serum Carnosinase 1 (CN-1): Possible Consequences of Zn Binding for CN-1 Recognition by RYSK173

Background and Aims

The proportion of serum carnosinase (CN-1) recognized by RYSK173 monoclonal antibody negatively correlates with CN-1 activity. We thus hypothesized that the epitope recognized by RYSK173 is accessible only in a catalytically incompetent conformation of the zinc dependent enzyme and we mapped its position in the CN-1 structure. Since patients with kidney failure are often deficient in zinc and other trace elements we also assessed the RYSK173 CN-1 proportion in serum of these patients and studied the influence of hemodialysis hereon in relation to Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ concentration during hemodialysis.

Methods and Results

Epitope mapping using myc-tagged CN-1 fragments and overlapping peptides revealed that the RYSK173 epitope directly contributes to the formation of the dinuclear Zn center in the catalytic domain of homodimeric CN-1. Binding of RYSK173 to CN-1 was however not influenced by addition of Zn²⁺ or Cu²⁺ to serum. In serum of healthy controls the proportion of CN-1 recognized by RYSK173 was significantly lower compared to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients (1.12 ± 0.17 vs. 1.56 ± 0.40% of total CN-1; p<0.001). During hemodialysis the relative proportion of RYSK173 CN-1 decreased in parallel with increased serum Zn²⁺ and Cu²⁺ concentrations after dialysis.

Conclusions

Our study clearly indicates that RYSK173 recognizes a sequence within the transition metal binding site of CN-1, thus supporting our hypothesis that metal binding to CN-1 masks the epitope. The CN-1 RYSK173 proportion appears overall increased in ESRD patients, yet it decreases during hemodialysis possibly as a consequence of a relative increase in transition metal bound enzyme.     

Cortical Morphology Differences in Subjects at Increased Vulnerability for Developing a Psychotic Disorder: A Comparison between Subjects with Ultra-High Risk and 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

IntroductionSubjects with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) and subjects with ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR) share a risk of approximately 30% to develop a psychotic disorder. Studying these groups helps identify biological markers of pathophysiological processes involved in the development of psychosis. Total cortical surface area (cSA), total cortical grey matter volume (cGMV), cortical thickness (CT), and local gyrification index (LGI) of the cortical structure have a distinct neurodevelopmental origin making them important target markers to study in relation to the development of psychosis.Results22q11DS subjects had lower total cSA and total cGMV compared to UHR and HC subjects. The 22q11DS subjects showed bilateral lower LGI in the i) prefrontal cortex, ii) precuneus, iii) precentral gyrus and iv) cuneus compared to UHR subjects. Additionally, lower LGI was found in the left i) fusiform gyrus and right i) pars opercularis, ii) superior, and iii) inferior temporal gyrus in 22q11DS subjects compared to HC. In comparison to 22q11DS subjects, the UHR subjects had lower CT of the insula. For both risk groups, positive symptom severity was negatively correlated to rostral middle frontal gyrus CT.ConclusionA shared negative correlation between positive symptom severity and rostral middle frontal gyrus CT in UHR and 22q11DS may be related to their increased vulnerability to develop a psychotic disorder. 22q11DS subjects were characterised by widespread lower degree of cortical gyrification linked to early and postnatal neurodevelopmental pathology. No implications for early neurodevelopmental pathology were found for the UHR subjects, although they did have distinctively lower insula CT which may have arisen from defective pruning processes during adolescence. Implications of these findings in relation to development of psychotic disorders are in need of further investigation in longitudinal studies.     

Elevated Fmr1 mRNA levels and reduced protein expression in a mouse model with an unmethylated Fragile X full mutation

The human FMR1 gene contains a CGG repeat in its 5' untranslated region. The repeat length in the normal population is polymorphic (5-55 CGG repeats). Lengths beyond 200 CGGs (full mutation) result in the absence of the FMR1 gene product, FMRP, through abnormal methylation and gene silencing. This causes Fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of mental retardation. Elderly carriers of the premutation, defined as a repeat length between 55 and 200 CGGs, can develop a progressive neurodegenerative syndrome: Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). In FXTAS, FMR1 mRNA levels are elevated and it has been hypothesised that FXTAS is caused by a pathogenic RNA gain-of-function mechanism. We have developed a knock in mouse model carrying an expanded CGG repeat (98 repeats), which shows repeat instability and displays biochemical, phenotypic and neuropathological characteristics of FXTAS. Here, we report further repeat instability, up to 230 CGGs. An expansion bias was observed, with the largest expansion being 43 CGG units and the largest contraction 80 CGG repeats. In humans, this length would be considered a full mutation and would be expected to result in gene silencing. Mice carrying long repeats ( approximately 230 CGGs) display elevated mRNA levels and decreased FMRP levels, but absence of abnormal methylation, suggesting that modelling the Fragile X full mutation in mice requires additional repeats or other genetic manipulation.