多巴胺代谢系统基因多态性与帕金森病

帕金森病(PD)是人类常见的神经系统退行性疾病之一,其病因和发病机制尚不清楚,可能是遗传和环境等多种因素共同作用的结果。PD以运动减少、肌强直、静止性震颤及姿势障碍为主要症状,其病理特征主要是黑质多巴胺能神经元选择性死亡,多巴胺是纹状体的抑制性神经递质,而乙酰胆碱是兴奋性神经递质,两种神经递质在正常情况下是处于一种动态平衡状态,当多巴胺减少时,乙酰胆碱的作用相对增强,继而进入一种失衡状态,引起临床症状。因此,人们越来越重视多巴胺代谢酶基因研究。多巴胺代谢系统基因包括单胺氧化酶基因、儿茶酚氧位甲基转移酶、多巴胺突触前膜转运体、多巴胺受体基因、多巴胺β羟化酶、酪氨酸羟化酶。近年来,多巴胺代谢系统基因多态性与PD遗传易感性的相关性成为研究的热点,为明确PD的病因带来了希望。     

多巴胺受体的cDNA克隆

通过多巴胺受体的5个cDNA克隆,综述和分析了5个多巴胺受体(D₁R-D₅R)的基因结构,在染色体上的定位及其mRNA在中枢脑区的分布;比较了这5个受体cDNA克隆的结构特征和药理学性质.     

多巴胺能系统与炎症性肠病

多巴胺(dopamine,DA)是一种儿茶酚胺类的神经递质.多项研究表明多巴胺能信号通路是促进中枢神经系统和免疫系统之间平衡的关键因素,某些免疫细胞自身可以产生和释放DA.DA受体广泛表达于多种免疫细胞,DA能系统受损可能影响免疫稳态,从而影响自身免疫性疾病的发生和进展.这使得DA和炎症性肠病(inflammatory...     

多巴胺D4受体基因与注意缺损多动障碍

为探讨注意缺损多动障碍（ADHD）与多巴胺D4受体基因（dopamine D4 receptor gene,DRD4)间的关系,采用Amp-FLP的方法检测了上海地区汉族人群中68例ADHD患及其父母DRD4的多态性,数据采用基于单体型的单体型相对风险（HHRR）及传递不平衡检验（TDT）进行遗传关联分析。结果表明HHRR分析和复等位基因的TDT检验,均未显示出与ADHD的遗传关联性（P＞0．05）。提示上海地区人群中DRD4基因与ADHD无显性关联。     

基因印刻与天使综合征

天使综合征与Ube3a基因 天使综合征,又称安格曼综合征（Angelman syndrome）,是一种从儿童时期发病的严重发育性疾病。天使综合征的发病率约为1／15000,患者有癫痫、发育迟缓、语言发育障碍及运动障碍等严重的症状,但是常常面露笑容,显示出天使般的神态,因此被称为天使综合征。     

酒精依赖综合征患者DRD2、DRD4和DAT基因多态性的研究

目的:探讨云南地区人群中DRD2(TaqIA、-141C)、DRD4和DAT基因多态性与酒精依赖的相关性.方法:采用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片断长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)分析技术以及聚合酶链式反应-可变数目串联重复序列多态性(PCR-VNTR)分析技术检测酒依赖组(80例)和对照组(70例)在3个候选基因中的基因型和等位基因频率.结果:上述三个基因多态性的基因型和等位基因频率在酒依赖组和对照组中差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05),对DRD2基因中的TaqIA和-141C进行单倍型分析时发现,Del/Al是一种保护单倍型,能抑制酒依赖综合征的发生.结论:在云南地区人群中,携带有Del/Al单倍型基因的人不易形成酒依赖.     

多巴胺受体拮抗剂对缢蛏多巴胺D2类受体的影响

为探究多巴胺受体拮抗剂对缢蛏多巴胺D2类受体的影响,实验以一龄缢蛏作为研究对象,以3种多巴胺受体拮抗剂多潘立酮(domperidone, Domp)、舒必利(sulpiride, Sulp)、盐酸氯丙臻(chlorprothixene hydrochloride, Chlo)为受试物,设置2 h和6 h两个时间点,探究在三种作用浓度(10~(-2)mol/L, 10~(-3)mol/L和10~(-5)mol/L)下每种受试物对缢蛏两个多巴胺D2类受体(ScDopR2-1和ScDopR2-2)表达量的抑制效果。荧光定量检测多巴胺D2类受体的表达量,并检测c AMP的含量变化。检测结果表明,10-2mol/L浓度下,Chlo组别两个多巴胺受体基因相比对照组在2 h表达量均下降,而cAMP相比对照组含量上升,因此选取Chlo作为缢蛏多巴胺D2类受体拮抗剂,浓度选为10~(-2)mol/L,本实验为进一步研究缢蛏多巴胺D2类受体的功能提供了药理学基础。     

多巴胺D4受体基因与注意缺损多动障碍

为探讨注意缺损多动障碍(ADHD)与多巴胺D4受体基因(dopamineD4receptorgene,DRD4)间的关系,采用Amp-FLP的方法检测了上海地区汉族人群中68例ADHD患者及其父母DRD4的多态性,数据采用基于单体型的单体型相对风险(HHRR)及传递不平衡检验(TDT)进行遗传关联分析.结果表明HHRR分析和复等位基因的TDT检验,均未显示出与ADHD的遗传关联性(P＞0.05).提示上海地区人群中DRD4基因与ADHD无显著性关联。 Abstract:The present study was designed to investigate the association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and the dopamine D4 receptor gene (DRD4).Amp-FLP was used to test the polymorphisms of DRD4 in 68 ADHD children and their parents from Shanghai.The haplotype-based haplotype relative risk (HHRR) and transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) methods were used to analyze the association between DRD4 and ADHD.In our samples we found no significant association between DRD4 and ADHD (P>0.05).Our results do not support that ADHD is associated with DRD4 in population in Shanghai.     

Nurr1基因与干细胞多巴胺能表型分化的研究进展

中枢神经移植治疗帕金森病未能得到广泛开展的主要原因是伦理道德问题和不能获取足量的供体组织等。因此,尝试基因工程化干细胞使之成为多巴胺能神经元以释放多巴胺递质来达到治疗的目的是目前研究的热点。核受体相关因子-1（nuclear receptor related factor 1,Nurr1）基因与多巴胺能表型的产生有密切关系,本文对Nurr1基因使干细胞向多巴胺能表型神经完样细胞分化的研究进展进行了综述,并提出了今后的研究方向。     

多巴胺D1和D2受体激动剂和拮抗剂对脑缺血/再灌注损伤的影响

实验应用开阔法、组织病理学方法、原位末端标记(in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-metliated de-oxy-UTP mick end labeling,TUNEL)法及免疫组织化学等方法,探讨多巴胺D1、D2受体激动剂和拮抗剂对沙土鼠前脑缺血／再灌注损伤海马CA1区神经元凋亡及凋亡相关基因bcl-2、bax表达的影响。结果显示：前脑缺血5min可引起沙土鼠探索活动增加;再灌注3d,海马CA1区约95％的锥体细胞凋亡;再灌注7d,海马CA1区仅残存约2％—7％的存活锥体细胞;前脑缺血5min可抑制bcl-2的表达并诱导bax表达增高;预先应用D2受体激动剂培高利特可减轻缺血后沙土鼠行为学异常、抑制海马CA1区锥体细胞凋亡、提高锥体细胞存活数、显著诱导bcl-2的表达并抑制bax的表达。预先应用SKF38393、SCH23390及螺哌隆对以上结果无明显影响。实验结果提示,培高利特具有确切的脑保护作用,诱导bcl-2并抑制bax的表达可能是其脑保护作用机制之一。     

MeCP2在Rett综合征中的调控机制

Rett综合征(Rett syndrome, RTT)是一种X连锁的神经发育障碍性遗传病, 是导致女性严重智力障碍的主要原因之一。编码甲基化CpG结合蛋白2(Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2, MeCP2)基因突变是RTT主要的遗传病理学改变, MeCP2作为转录抑制因子调控基因表达。在RTT发病机制中, 由于缺乏MeCP2与甲基化DNA的正确结合, 阻碍了它对下游靶基因表达的正常调控, 最终导致脑功能障碍。目前, 对MeCP2在脑发育过程中的作用以及如何导致RTT的发生, 其机制尚不清楚。文章从MECP2基因和MeCP2蛋白两个方面, 对基因结构、蛋白质功能以及在分子水平上的调控机制进行了综述, 以期为RTT的发病机制研究提供新思路。     

OxInflammation in Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an orphan progressive neurodevelopmental disease affecting almost exclusively females (frequency 1:10,000). RTT clinical expression is typically characterized by loss of purposeful hand movements, severe mental retardation and motor impairment, breathing disorders, ataxia and increased risk of sudden death. Although the main genetic cause, i.e. mutation in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene (MECP2), has been already identified, the molecular and pathogenic mechanisms by which MECP2 deficiency drives pathology in RTT remains not fully understood. A wealth of evidence from our and other laboratories suggests a potential causal relationship between MECP2 dysfunction and systemic redox imbalance, a condition that has been widely found in association with RTT. In turn, a “short-circuit” of redox pathways may contribute to the systemic immune dysfunction expressed as cytokines/chemokines dysregulation, a feature clearly emerged from two recent studies on RTT patients. In this light, the purpose of this review is to describe and to stimulate a new discussion on the idea that systemic subclinical inflammation and oxidative stress are crucial players of a detrimental vicious circle, driving the pathogenesis and clinical course of RTT.     

Rett syndrome molecular diagnosis and implications in genetic counseling

Rett syndrome is a rare genetic X-linked dominant disorder. This syndrome is the most frequent cause of mental retardation in girls. In the classical form of the disease, the presenting signs and the course of development are characteristic. However clinical diagnosis can be very difficult when the expression is not in the classical form. Mutations in MeCP2 are responsible for 80% of cases. When MeCP2 mutation is found in an index case, genetic counseling is similar to that in other X-linked dominant genetic diseases. However, mutations in this gene can cause a spectrum of atypical forms. On the other hand, other genetic conditions like translocations, sex chromosome numerical anomalies, and mutations in other genes can complicate genetic counseling in this syndrome. We present the first case of molecular diagnosis of Rett syndrome in Iran and discuss the recent developments in its genetic counseling.     

Profiling beneficial and potential adverse effects of MeCP2 overexpression in a hypomorphic Rett syndrome mouse model

De novo loss-of-function mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) lead to the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Despite promising results from strategies aimed at increasing MeCP2 levels, additional studies exploring how hypomorphic MeCP2 mutations impact the therapeutic window are needed. Here, we investigated the consequences of genetically introducing a wild-type MECP2 transgene in the Mecp2 R133C mouse model of RTT. The MECP2 transgene reversed the majority of RTT-like phenotypes exhibited by male and female Mecp2 R133C mice. However, three core symptom domains were adversely affected in female Mecp2^R133C/+ animals; these phenotypes resemble those observed in disease contexts of excess MeCP2. Parallel control experiments in Mecp2^Null/+ mice linked these adverse effects to the hypomorphic R133C mutation. Collectively, these data provide evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of genetically overexpressing functional MeCP2 in Mecp2 R133C mice and suggest that personalized approaches may warrant consideration for the clinical assessment of MeCP2-targeted therapies.     

Oxidative stress in Rett syndrome: Natural history,genotype, and variants

Abstract

Objectives

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked autism spectrum disorder caused by mutations in the MeCP2 gene in the great majority of cases. Evidence suggests a potential role of oxidative stress (OS) in its pathogenesis. Here, we investigated the potential value of OS markers (non-protein-bound iron (NPBI) and F₂-isoprostanes (F₂-IsoPs)) in explaining natural history, genotype-phenotype correlation, and clinical heterogeneity of RTT, and gauging the response to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs).

Methods

RTT patients (n = 113) and healthy controls were assayed for plasma NPBI and F₂-IsoPs, and intraerythrocyte NPBI. Forty-two patients with typical RTT were randomly assigned to ω-3 PUFAs supplementation for 12 months. NPBI was measured by HPLC and F₂-IsoPs using a gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry (GC/NICI-MS/MS) technique.

Results

F₂-IsoPs were significantly higher in the early stages as compared with the late natural progression of classic RTT. MeCP2 mutations related to more severe phenotypes exhibited higher OS marker levels than those of milder phenotypes. Higher OS markers were observed in typical RTT and early seizure variant as compared with the preserved speech and congenital variants. Significant reduction in OS markers levels and improvement of severity scores were observed after ω-3 PUFAs supplementation.

Discussion

OS is a key modulator of disease expression in RTT.