OBJECTIVEGlycogen storage disease type III (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by glycogen debranching enzyme (GDE) gene (AGL gene) mutation resulting in hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, short stature and hyperlipidemia. GSD IIIA, involves both liver and muscle, and accounts for up to 80% of GSD III. The definitive diagnosis depends on either mutation analysis or liver and muscle glycogen debranching enzyme activity tests. This study aimed to establish enzymologic diagnostic method for GSD IIIA firstly in China by detecting muscular GDE activity, glycogen content and structure and to determine the normal range of muscular GDE activity, glycogen content and structure in Chinese children.

METHODMuscle samples were collected from normal controls (male 15, female 20; 12-78 years old), molecularly confirmed GSD III A patients (male 8, female 4, 2-27 years old) and other myopathy patients (male 9, 2-19 years old). Glycogen in the muscle homogenate was degraded into glucose by amyloglucosidase and phosphorylase respectively. The glycogen content and structure were identified by glucose yield determination. The debranching enzyme activity was determined using limit dextrin as substrate. Independent samples Kruskal-Wallis H test, Nemenyi-Wilcoxson-Wilcox test, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses by SPSS 11.5.

RESULT(1) GSD III A patients' glycogen content were higher, but G1P/G ratio and GDE activity were lower than those of the other two groups (P < 0.01). In all of the three parameters, there were no significant difference between normal controls and other myopathy patients. (2) The range of normal values: glycogen content 0.31%-0.43%, G1P/G ratio 22.37%- 26.43%, GDE activity 0.234-0.284 micromol/(g. min). (3) Enzymologic diagnostic method had a power similar to that of gene analysis in diagnosis of GSD-IIIA patients. The sensitivity and specificity of enzymologic diagnostic method and mutation detection were 91.7% and 100% respectively.

CONCLUSIONEnzymologic diagnostic method of GSD IIIA was firstly established in China. The range of normal values was determined. This method could be used in diagnosing suspected GSD IIIA patients in the clinic.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Glycogen ; analysis ; Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System ; analysis ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type III ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscles ; chemistry ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEGlycogen debranching enzyme (AGL) plays an important role in complete degradation of the glycogen, and has two independent catalytic activities, i.e., those of alpha-1, 4-glucanotransferase (EC 2.4. 1.25) and amylo-1,6-glucosidase (EC 3.2. 1.33). A deficiency in activities of AGL causes excessive accumulation of glycogen with short branched outer chains and results in glycogen storage disease type III (GSD III; MIM #232 400), an autosomal recessive inborn disorder of glycogen metabolism. The present study aimed to investigate the mutation of AGL in 10 Chinese patients with GSD III.

METHODClinical and laboratory data of 10 patients with typical clinical manifestations of GSD III suggesting hypoglycemia, hyperlipidemia, increased creatine-phosphokinase and its isozyme were collected. The coding regions and their flanking introns of AGL gene of the 10 patients were amplified by PCR and analyzed by direct DNA sequencing. All the mutated alleles were confirmed by bidirectional DNA sequencing. The 3 novel splicing mutations were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 50 healthy children (control). The 2 small deletions (c.408-411delTTTG, c.2717-2721delAGATC) were analyzed by fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and gene scan analysis to confirm the number of deleted bases.

RESULTThirteen different mutations were identified, including 4 splicing mutations (IVS6 + 1G > A, IVS6-1G > A, IVS14 + 1G > T, IVS26-2A > C), 5 nonsense mutations (R469X, R864X, S929X, R977X, Y1428X), 3 small deletions (c.408-411delTTTG, c.2717-2721delAGATC, c.2823delT) and 1 insert mutation (c.4234insT). Except for IVS14 + 1G > T, R864X, and R977X, the other 10 mutations are novel; 18 mutated alleles were identified in the 20 alleles (90%). IVS14 + 1G > T was the most frequently seen mutation, accounting for 5 of 20 (25%) alleles examined. None of homozygote and heterozygote of the 3 novel splicing mutations was found in the 50 healthy controls by RFLP analysis. With the fluorescent polymerase chain reaction and gene scan analysis, c.408411deTTTG mutation and c.2717-2721delAGATC mutation were confirmed to have 4 and 5 bases deletion respectively.

CONCLUSIONThirteen mutations were identified in the 10 cases with GSD III, with 10 novel mutations. IVS14 + 1G > T was a relatively common mutation. This study revealed the heterozygosity of AGL gene in Chinese patients with GSD III.

Adolescent ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Glycogen Debranching Enzyme System ; genetics ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type III ; genetics ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutation of glucose-6-phosphatase gene (G6PC gene) in a patient with glycogen storage disease Ⅰa.

METHODSPCR was used to amplify all five exons of G6PC gene. The PCR products were directly sequenced to detect the mutations.

RESULTSA heterozygous 743G>A mutation was found in the patient and his mother, resulting in the substitution of glycine (G) by arginine (R) in codon 222(G222R) in the putative membrane-spanning domain in human G6Pase, but not in his father and his sister.

CONCLUSIONSG222R mutation in G6PC gene was first identified in a patient with glycogen storage disease Ⅰa in mainland China.

Child, Preschool ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; genetics ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type I ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Glycogen storage disease type V (GSD-V) is the most common disorder of muscle glycogenosis with characteristic clinical and laboratory findings. A 32-yr-old woman complained of exercise intolerance and myoglobulinuria since early adolescence. She reported several episodes of second-wind phenomenon. Physical examination did not show any neurological abnormality, including fixed muscle weakness or atrophy. Serum creatine kinase level was 1,161 IU/L at rest. The result of the non-ischemic forearm exercise test was compatible with GSD-V. Mutation analysis identified the compound heterozygous mutations of the PYGM, p.D510fs and p.F710del, which has not yet been reported in Korea. The present case recognizes that detail clinical and laboratory analysis is the first step in the diagnosis of GSD-V.
Adult ; Base Sequence ; Creatine Kinase/blood ; Exons ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Gene Deletion ; Genotype ; Glycogen Phosphorylase, Muscle Form/genetics ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type V/*diagnosis/genetics/pathology ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

PURPOSE: Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia) is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by hepatosplenomegaly, short stature, hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia and lactic academia. It is caused by mutations of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) gene located on chromosome 17q21. The study were undertaken to investigate clinical manifestations and genotype as well as to evaluate the effects of uncooked corn starch (UCCS) on height growth of pubertal and prepubertal subjects with GSD Ia. METHODS: We analyzed clinical data from 24 GSD Ia patients retrospectively by medical record review. Height standard deviation score (Ht-SDS) was calculated from 13 GSD Ia patients under age 15 treated with UCCS and followed-up over 1 year. DNA isolation, PCR reaction and DNA sequencing analysis were performed in all studied patients. RESULTS: Hypertriglyceridemia (100%), elevated liver enzyme (85%), hyperuricemia (48%), hypercholesterolemia (45%), anemia (45%) were major laboratory findings in studied population. Four different mutations of G6Pase gene in 48 alleles were identified. C.648G>T mutation was the predominant mutation, allele frequency of which was 78.6% (33 alleles). The other mutations were p.Phe51Ser, p.Gly222Arg, p.Gly122Asp. The p.Phe51Ser was a novel mutation. Mean Ht-SDS at diagnosis and two years after UCCS treatment were -2.04+/-1.69 and -0.72+/-1.12 respectively, which were statistically significant (P=0.036). CONCLUSION: The genotype of the G6Pase gene was nearly homogeneous in Korean patients with GSD Ia. Molecular analysis of the G6Pase gene will be the diagnosis of choice since the c.648G>T mutation accounts for 78.6% of mutations in Korean patients with GSD Ia. UCCS treatment has a beneficial effect on height growth of children and adolescents with GSD Ia.
Adolescent ; Alleles ; Anemia ; Child ; Diagnosis ; DNA ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; Glycogen Storage Disease* ; Glycogen* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Hyperuricemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Liver ; Medical Records ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retrospective Studies ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Starch* ; Zea mays*

PURPOSE: Glycogen storage disease type Ia (GSD Ia) is an autosomal recessive disorder of glycogen metabolism caused by glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) deficiency. The clinical manifestations of G6Pase deficiency include growth retardation, hepatomegaly, hypoglycemia, lactic acidemia, hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia. Many mutations of this gene have been found worldwide in various ethnic groups, establishing the molecular basis of GSD Ia. To elucidate a spectrum of the G6Pase gene mutations in Korean, we analyzed mutations in Korean patients with GSD Ia. METHODS: Both alleles of 9 unrelated GSD 1a patients were studied by PCR and direct DNA sequencing methods. In all patients, GSD 1a was diagnosed by the enzyme assay for the liver biopsy specimen. RESULTS: In Korean, the most prevalent mutation was g727t substitution in exon 5, which has been reported to cause abnormal mRNA splicing: Sixteen out of 18 alleles were found to have this mutation. In addition, we identified one novel mutation, a c611g, converting a proline to an alanine at codon 178. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that a screening for the g727t mutation by noninvasive molecular method can detect most cases of GSD Ia in Korean patients.
Alanine ; Alleles ; Biopsy ; Codon ; Enzyme Assays ; Ethnic Groups ; Exons ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; Glycogen Storage Disease* ; Glycogen* ; Hepatomegaly ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hyperuricemia ; Hypoglycemia ; Liver ; Mass Screening ; Metabolism ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proline ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo determine the molecular mechanisms linking intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to adult type 2 diabetes mellitus, the effect of IUGR on the hepatic post-receptor insulin-signaling pathway was investigated in the adult offspring.

METHODSThe IUGR model was prepared by maternal protein-malnutrition. Western blotting analysis was undertaken to assess hepatic expression of insulin receptor substrate (IRS-2), phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K), protein kinase B (PKB), phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3 in 8-week-old male IUGR rats.

RESULTSThe basal levels of PI-3K protein decreased in IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01), whereas GSK-3beta protein level significantly increased in IUGR rats (p<0.01). Both PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 protein levels significantly decreased in the liver of IUGR rats compared with normal controls (p<0.01)). After insulin administration, phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 significantly increased to 182% of basal level in control rats(p<0.01); However, phosphorylation of PKB which responded to insulin was markedly blunted in IUGR rats compared with controls and only increased to 123% of basal level (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe level of PI-3K and PKB and phosphorylated PKB-Ser473 expression decreased in the liver of IUGR rats, whereas the levels of GSK-3beta protein increased. It may contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in the IUGR rats.

Animals ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; metabolism ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; analysis ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta ; Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins ; analysis ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; analysis ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

BACKGROUND: This study investigated whether human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype is related to koilocytic changes in cervical cytology and histology, and what factors cause discrepancies among cytology, HPV DNA chip tests, and biopsies. METHODS: We examined 174 of 949 cases histologically confirmed by both cytology and HPV DNA chip testing. We analyzed koilocytic changes in cytology and biopsies according to HPV genotype. RESULTS: HPV-16 significantly coincided with nuclear size variation and hyperchromasia, although the cytomorphologic features correlated with other HPV genotypes were not statistically significant. By analyzing 68 cases in which there were discrepancies between the HPV DNA chip test and histological results, we confirmed that artifacts or glycogen acanthosis resulted in the over-diagnoses of four HPV-negative cases with normal cytology. Four diagnostic errors and four sampling errors were present in eight HPV-positive cases. The degree of nuclear size variation significantly influenced the cytologically under-diagnosed cases (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Other than HPV-16, HPV genotype exhibited no cytological or histological differences. The discrepancy between the results of HPV DNA chip test and histology was created by glycogen acanthosis, immature squamous metaplasia, artifacts, and sampling errors.
Artifacts ; Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnostic Errors ; DNA ; Female ; Genotype ; Glycogen ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans ; Metaplasia ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Selection Bias

Chorionic Villi ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Diabetes, Gestational ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glycogen ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipids ; analysis ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Placenta ; metabolism ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVEGlycogen storage disease type Ib (GSDIb) is caused by a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate translocase (G6PT) activity due to SLC37A4 gene mutations. Most GSDIb patients have recurrent infections and inflammatory bowel disease, with poor prognosis. Detection of SLC37A4 gene mutations is of great significance for the diagnosis, subtyping and outcome prediction of GSD patients. This study aims to analyze SLC37A4 gene mutations in Chinese GSDIb patients and to investigate the relationship between its genotypes and clinical manifestations.

METHODSAll exons and their flanking introns of SLC37A4 gene in 28 Chinese children with a primary diagnosis of GSDIb were screened by PCR combined with direct DNA sequencing to detect SLC37A4 gene mutations.

RESULTSFive SLC37A4 gene mutations were detected in 7 (25%) of the 28 children, i.e., p.Gly149Glu (9/13, 69%), p.Gly115Arg (1/13, 8%), p.Pro191Leu (1/13, 8%), c.959-960 insT (1/13, 8%) and c.870+5G>A (1/13, 8%).

CONCLUSIONSIn this study, c.959-960 insT is a novel mutation and p.Gly149Glu is the most common mutation. p.Gly149Glu may be associated with severe infections in children with GSDIb.

Antiporters ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glycogen Storage Disease Type I ; complications ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Monosaccharide Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, DNA