OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic testing for an abortus suspected with Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). METHODS: History of gestation and the family was taken. Combined with prenatal ultrasonography and the phenotype of the abortus, a diagnosis was made for the proband. Fetal tissue and peripheral blood samples of its parents were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Whole exome sequencing was carried out to detect mutations related to the phenotype. Suspected mutations were verified in the parents through Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Prenatal ultrasound found that the forearms and hands of the fetus were anomalous, in addition with poorly formed vermis cerebellum, slight micrognathia, and increased echo of bilateral renal parenchyma. Examination of the abortus has noted upper limb and facial malformations. Whole exome sequencing revealed that the fetus carried a heterozygous c.2118delG (p.Lys706fs) frameshift mutation of the NIPBL gene. The same mutation was not found in either parent. CONCLUSION The heterozygous c.2118delG (p.Lys706fs) frameshift mutation of the NIPBL gene probably underlies the CdLS in the fetus. Above finding has provided a basis for the genetic counseling for the family.
Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; De Lange Syndrome/pathology* ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Whole Exome Sequencing

No abstract available.
Base Sequence ; Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/*genetics ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotype ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/*diagnosis/metabolism ; Male ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein/*genetics ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Septins/*genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Translocation, Genetic ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the profile and potential significance of PTEN and NBS1 mutations among patients with familial or at early onset breast cancer in Hunan province.
 METHODS: A total of 131 breast cancer patients with familial history or suffered from breast cancer at the age of less than 35 years old were included in this study. A comprehensive phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and nibrin (NBS1) mutation analysis was performed through denaturing high performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and subsequent DNA direct sequencing.
 RESULTS: Among 131 patients, a reported mutation IVS4+109insTCTTA in PTEN gene were identified in two patients. The mutation frequency of IVS4+109insTCTTA was 1.15%. Two mutations in PTEN gene, 225 A>C (Thr 160 Pro) and IVS5+13T>C, was firstly discovered. Another reported missense mutation was rs121909229 G>A (Arg 130 Gln). Three mutations were detected in NBS1 gene, of which IVS6+43A>G and IVS6+127A>G were firstly discovered and another reported synonymous mutations was rs1805794 G>C (Glu 185 Gln).
 CONCLUSION The novel mutations in PTEN and NBS1 might be specific to the familial and early-onset breast cancer of Chinese Hunan population.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; PTEN Phosphohydrolase ; genetics

Meiotic recombination is carried out through a specialized pathway for the formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) made by the Spo11 protein. The present study shed light on the functional role of cyclin, CYC2, in Tetrahymena thermophila which has transcriptionally high expression level during meiosis process. Knocking out the CYC2 gene results in arrest of meiotic conjugation process at 2.5-3.5 h after conjugation initiation, before the meiosis division starts, and in company with the absence of DSBs. To investigate the underlying mechanism of this phenomenon, a complete transcriptome profile was performed between wild-type strain and CYC2 knock-out strain. Functional analysis of RNA-Seq results identifies related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including SPO11 and these DEGs are enriched in DNA repair/mismatch repair (MMR) terms in homologous recombination (HR), which indicates that CYC2 could play a crucial role in meiosis by regulating SPO11 and participating in HR.
Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cyclins ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair ; Endodeoxyribonucleases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Homologous Recombination ; Meiosis ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Phenotype ; Protozoan Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, RNA ; Tetrahymena thermophila ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcriptome

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and genotype in a 8-year-old boy with dyskeratosis congenita (DC).

METHODSWe reviewed the clinical data of the case and amplified 7 DC-related genes (including DKC1,TERT,TERC,TINF2,NOP10, NHP2 and WRAP53) using polymerase chain reaction for DNA sequence analysis to identify the abnormal exons.

RESULTSDNA sequence analysis showed a c.85-15T>C mutation in DKC1 gene of the patient. His mother was a carrier of the mutated gene and presented with partial clinical features such as abnormal nails.

CONCLUSIONThe mutation of c.85-15T>C in DKC1 gene was reported for the first time in China. The diagnosis of DC should be considered if a young patient presents with mucocutaneous abnormalities, bone marrow failure, cancer susceptibility and a family history of cancer. Early genetic tests can improve the diagnosis rates and reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; China ; Dyskeratosis Congenita ; genetics ; pathology ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

Epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs) are highly lethal gynecological malignancies with a high recurrence rate. Therefore, developing prognostic markers for recurrence after chemotherapy is crucial for the treatment of ovarian cancers. As ovarian cancers frequently respond to DNA-damaging agents, we assessed the clinicopathological significance of key double-strand DNA break (DSB) repair genes, including BRCA1, BRCA2, BARD1, ATM, RAD51 and NBS1 in EOC cell lines and paraffin-embedded tissue sections from 140 EOC patients treated with cytoreductive surgery, followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. These samples were analyzed for the clinicopathological impact of DSB genes by western blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR. Of the DSB repair genes, BRCA1, ATM and NBS1, which are involved in the homologous recombination-mediated repair pathway, were related to aggressive parameters in EOC. When survival analysis was performed, NBS1 expression exhibited an association with EOC recurrence. Specifically, increased NBS1 expression was found in 107 out of 140 cases (76.0%) and correlated with advanced stage (P=0.001), high grade (P=0.001) and serous histology (P=0.008). The median recurrence-free survival in patients with positive and negative expression of NBS1 was 30 and 78 months, respectively (P=0.0068). In multivariate analysis, NBS1 was an independent prognostic factor for the recurrence of EOC. Together, these results suggest that NBS1 is a marker of poor prognosis for the recurrence of EOC and is associated with aggressive clinicopathological parameters.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor/analysis/genetics ; Cell Cycle Proteins/analysis/*genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded ; *DNA Repair ; Female ; *Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial/diagnosis/*genetics/*pathology ; Nuclear Proteins/analysis/*genetics ; Ovarian Neoplasms/diagnosis/*genetics/*pathology ; Ovary/metabolism/*pathology ; Prognosis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Young Adult

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous congenital anomaly. Mutations in the NIPBL gene account for a half of the affected individuals. We describe a family with CdLS carrying a novel pathogenic variant of the SMC1A gene identified by exome sequencing. The proband was a 3-yr-old boy presenting with a developmental delay. He had distinctive facial features without major structural anomalies and tested negative for the NIPBL gene. His younger sister, mother, and maternal grandmother presented with mild mental retardation. By exome sequencing of the proband, a novel SMC1A variant, c.3178G>A, was identified, which was expected to cause an amino acid substitution (p.Glu1060Lys) in the highly conserved coiled-coil domain of the SMC1A protein. Sanger sequencing confirmed that the three female relatives with mental retardation also carry this variant. Our results reveal that SMC1A gene defects are associated with milder phenotypes of CdLS. Furthermore, we showed that exome sequencing could be a useful tool to identify pathogenic variants in patients with CdLS.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group/genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Cycle Proteins/*genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone/*genetics ; DNA ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; De Lange Syndrome/diagnosis/*genetics ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Proteins/genetics ; Republic of Korea

OBJECTIVE: To screen differentially expressed genes and gene pathways in L02 cell line stably expressing hepatitis C virus (HCV) Ib type nonstructural protein 4B (NS4B) mediated by lentiviral system, and to provide a basis for further research of molecular biological mechanism of NS4B gene in chronic hepatitis C and hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS: NS4B stably overexpressed L02 cell line and negative control stable L02 cell line, designated as L02-NS4B and L02-mkate2 respectively, were resurrected and amplified in vitro. The differentially expressed genes between L02-NS4B and L02-mkate2 were determined by gene expression microarray from Human Gene 1.0ST. The significant pathways of the differential genes were selected by the Fisher's exact test and χ2 test according to kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) database. The differential expression levels of 5 selected genes including protein kinase C delta binding protein (PRKCDBP), tumor protein p53 (TP53), v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1), baculoviral IAP repeat containing 3 (BIRC3) and B-cell lymphoma 2-like1 (BCL2L1) from cDNA microarray data were further verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (real-time QPCR). RESULTS: Between L02-NS4B and L02-mkate2, the genes with flurescence intensity ratio >1.2 or <0.8 were considered as differentially expressed genes. A total of 2 682 differentially expressed genes in the known 28 869 human genes were detected in L02-NS4B, 1 446 genes were upregulated and 1 236 genes were downregulated. A total of 41 involved pathways of up-regulated differential genes were identified by KEGG database, mainly including apoptosis, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, cell cycle, pathways in cancer and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway; and 20 involved pathways of down-regulated differential genes were identified, mainly including pathways in cancer, Wnt signaling pathway and cell cycle pathway. Of the 5 upregulated genes selected from cDNA microarray data, 3 genes showed the same differential expression pattern by real-time QPCR as that shown in cDNA microarray data, namely AKT1, BIRC3 and BCL2L1. The confirmation rate of real-time QPCR was 60%. CONCLUSION HCVNS4B can up-regulate or down-regulate the expression of many genes in L02 cells, thus affecting multiple signaling pathways relevant to cell apoptosis, cell cycle and carcinogenesis.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Signal Transduction ; Transcriptional Activation ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

BACKGROUNDAndrographolide has been shown to have anticancer activity on diverse cancer cell lines representing different types of human cancers. The aim of this research was to investigate the anticancer and apoptotic effects of andrographolide on the BGC-823 human gastric cancer cell line.

METHODSCell proliferation and IC50 were evaluated using MTT assay, cell-cycle analysis with flow cytometry apoptotic effects with Annexin-V/propidium iodide double-staining assay, and morphologic structure with transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription PCR was used to analyze Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 expressions.

RESULTSAndrographolide showed a time- and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on BGC-823 cell growth. Compared to controls, the number of cells in the G0-G1-phase increased significantly, S and G2-M-phase cells decreased after 48 hours of treatment with andrographolide, and both early and late apoptotic rates increased significantly compared to the controls, all in a concentration-dependent manner. Bax and caspase-3 expressions were markedly increased, and Bcl-2 expression was decreased.

CONCLUSIONSAndrographolide inhibits BGC-823 cell growth and induces BGC-823 cell apoptosis by up-regulating Bax and caspase-3 expressions and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression. Andrographolide may be useful as a potent and selective agent in the treatment of human gastric cancers.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; analysis ; genetics ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; analysis ; genetics

BACKGROUNDCCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) is required for mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) during adipogenesis. It is still unclear how C/EBPbeta regulates MCE in the earlier differentiation programs of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The purpose of this paper was to understand why C/EBPbeta is required for preadipocyte proliferation, and identify new target genes of C/EBPbeta with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-on-chip.

METHODSPostconfluent growth-arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were induced to differentiation using a standard differentiation protocol. ChIP was performed at 20 hours after induction with specific anti-C/EBPbeta antibodies. The precipitated DNA was amplified, labeled and hybridized with a mouse promoter microarray. Compared with the control in which the ChIP experiment was performed with non-specific antibody, only the genes with a signal increasing more than 2 fold were considered as candidate genes.

RESULTSA total of 110 candidate genes were identified. BTG3 associated nuclear protein (SMAR1, Banp) and tripartite motif-containing 35 (Hls5, trim35) were two target genes among the 110 candidate genes which are involved in cell cycle regulation; the binding of C/EBPbeta to the promoter of banp and trim35 was verified by ChIP-PCR.

CONCLUSIONC/EBPbeta may regulate preadipocyte proliferation through activation of banp and trim35.

3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromatin Immunoprecipitation ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mice ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Protein Binding