Hereditary angioedema in a single family with specific mutations in both plasminogen and SERPING1 genes

BACKGROUND Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a group of genetic diseases characterized by recurrent, painful and potentially lethal tissue swelling. The most common form results from mutations in the SERPING1 gene, leading to reduced function of complement 1 inhibitor (C1-INH). Rarer forms with normal C1-INH may arise from mutations in the coagulation factor F12 gene, but mostly the genetic background is unknown. Recently, a novel HAE mutation in the plasminogen (PLG) gene was shown. PATIENTS AND METHODS We analyzed the various clinical manifestations of HAE in 14 related patients using clinical data, biochemical analysis for C1-INH and C4 as well as gene sequencing. RESULTS Patients' symptoms…

Hereditäres Angioödem in einer Familie mit spezifischen Mutationen sowohl im Plasminogen‐ als auch im SERPING1‐Gen

Time-point and dosage of gene inactivation determine the tumor spectrum in conditional Ptch knockouts

Mutations in Patched (PTCH) have been associated with tumors characteristic both for children [medulloblastoma (MB) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)] and for elderly [basal cell carcinoma (BCC)]. The determinants of the variability in tumor onset and histology are unknown. We investigated the effects of the time-point and dosage of Ptch inactivation on tumor spectrum using conditional Ptch-knockout mice. Ptch heterozygosity induced prenatally resulted in the formation of RMS, which was accompanied by the silencing of the remaining wild-type Ptch allele. In contrast, RMS was observed neither after mono- nor biallelic postnatal deletion of Ptch. Postnatal biallelic deletion of Ptch led to BCC preca…