Inhibition of histone deacetylation rescues phenotype in a mouse model of Birk-Barel intellectual disability syndrome
Mutations in the actively expressed, maternal allele of the imprinted KCNK9 gene cause Birk-Barel intellectual disability syndrome (BBIDS). Using a BBIDS mouse model, we identify here a partial rescue of the BBIDS-like behavioral and neuronal phenotypes mediated via residual expression from the paternal Kcnk9 (Kcnk9pat) allele. We further demonstrate that the second-generation HDAC inhibitor CI-994 induces enhanced expression from the paternally silenced Kcnk9 allele and leads to a full rescue of the behavioral phenotype suggesting CI-994 as a promising molecule for BBIDS therapy. Thus, these findings suggest a potential approach to improve cognitive dysfunction in a mouse model of an impri…
Morphology and Progression in Primary Varicose Vein Disorder Due to 677C>T and 1298A>C Variants of MTHFR
Background: Clinical assessment and prognostic stratification of primary varicose veins have remained controversial and the molecular pathogenesis is unknown. Previous data have suggested a contribution of the MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) polymorphism c.677C>T. Methods: We collected blood and vein specimens from 159 consecutive patients undergoing varicose vein surgery, or autologous vein reconstruction for arterial occlusive disease as controls. We compared the frequencies of c.677C>T and another polymorphism of MTHFR, c.1298A>C, with morphology and types of complicated disease. Morphology was recorded as a trunk or perforator type and peripheral congestive complication was …
Abnormal Hypermethylation at Imprinting Control Regions in Patients with S-Adenosylhomocysteine Hydrolase (AHCY) Deficiency
S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase (AHCY) deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder in methionine metabolism caused by mutations in the AHCY gene. Main characteristics are psychomotor delay including delayed myelination and myopathy (hypotonia, absent tendon reflexes etc.) from birth, mostly associated with hypermethioninaemia, elevated serum creatine kinase levels and increased genome wide DNA methylation. The prime function of AHCY is to hydrolyse and efficiently remove S-adenosylhomocysteine, the by-product of transmethylation reactions and one of the most potent methyltransferase inhibitors. In this study, we set out to more specifically characterize DNA methylation changes in blo…