Objective To study whether emodin,a natural product,can affect the level of histone acetylation in HpG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells(HCC),and then accelerate the occurrence of pyroptosis and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells,so as to provide a new target for the treatment of liver cancer.Methods CCK-8 method was used to detect the effect of different concentrations of emodin on the viability of HpG2 cells.Bioinformatics was used to analyze histone acetylation-related genes in patients with liver cancer in TCGA database.The correlation between the candidate gene lysine acetyltransferase 2A(KAT2A)and the apoptosis pathway was verified.qPCR method was used to detect the mRNA level of KAT2A in HepG2 cells and L02 cells.The effects of emodin on histone acetyltransferase(HAT)and histone deacetyltransferase(HDAC),interleukin 1β(IL-1β)and interleukin 18(IL-18)in HpG2 cells were detected by ELISA.The effect of emodin on the apoptosis of liver cancer cells was detected by flow cytometry.The expression level of cell apoptosis,pyroptosis-associated protein B lymphocytoma-2(Bcl-2),Bcl-2-related X protein(Bax),NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain-related protein 3(NLRP3),Caspase-1,Gasdermin family member DN terminal(GSDMD-N)and KAT2A were detected by Western blot assay.Results Emodin could reduce the activity of HpG2 cells,and the confidence interval of IC5095%was 58.12-66.52μmol/L.Compared with normal liver tissue,the expression of histone acetylation related gene mRNA was increased in HCC tissue,and the change of KAT2A was the highest[log2(Fold Change)=2.010,P＜0.01].In HCC tissue,the expression of KAT2A mRNA was negatively correlated with apoptosis pathway(rs=-0.230,P＜0.01).Compared with L02 cells,the expression of KAT2A mRNA in HepG2 was higher(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,expression levels of HAT and HDAC decreased in the 60μmol/L emodin intervention group,expression levels of IL-18 and IL-1β increased,the apoptosis rate increased,expression levels of KAT2A and BAX decreased,and expression levels of Bcl-2,NLRP3,GSDMD-N and Caspase-1 increased(P＜0.05).Conclusion Emodin could inhibit the viability of hepatoma cells,accelerate apoptosis and pyroptosis,and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of KAT2A expression.

Objective:To explore the genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree affected with co-morbid Ornithine carbamoyl transferase deficiency (OTCD) and MECP2 duplication syndrome.Methods:A proband who was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital on December 19, 2017 was selected as the study subject. High-throughput sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were carried out for her pedigree, and short tandem repeat-based linkage analysis and chromosome copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) were used for the prenatal diagnosis.Results:The proband, a 3-day-old female, was found to harbor heterozygous deletion of exons 7-9 of the OTC gene. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was classified as likely pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2_Supporting+ PP4). The proband was diagnosed with OTCD, which was in keeping with her acute encephalopathy and metabolic abnormalities (manifesting as hyperammonemia, decreased blood citrulline, and increased urine orotic acid). Prenatal diagnosis was carried out for the subsequent pregnancy. The fetus did not harbor the exons 7-9 deletion of the OTC gene, but was found to carry a duplication in Xq28 region (which encompassed the whole region of MECP2 duplication syndrome) and was positive for the SRY sequence. The same duplication was also found in the proband and her mother. Considering the possible existence of X-chromosome inactivation, the proband was diagnosed with two X-linked recessive disorders including OTCD and MECP2 duplication syndrome, and the fetus was determined as a male affected with the MECP2 duplication syndrome. Conclusion:Discoveries of the pathogenic variants underlying the OTCD and MECP2 duplication syndrome have enabled clinical intervention, treatment, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for this pedigree.

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotype and genotypes of two children with Carnitine-acylcarnitine translocase deficiency (CACTD).Methods:Two children diagnosed with CACTD at the Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital respectively on January 3 and November 19, 2018 were selected as the study subjects. Trio-whole exome sequencing (trio-WES) was carried out, and candidate variants were validated through Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity analysis.Results:Both children were males and had manifested mainly with hypoglycemia. Trio-WES and Sanger sequencing showed that child 1 had harbored compound heterozygous variants of the SLC25A20 gene, namely c. 49G>C (p.Gly17Arg) and c. 106-2A>G, which were inherited from his father and mother, respectively. Child 2 had harbored homozygous c. 199-10T>G variants of the SLC25A20 gene, which were inherited from both of his parents. Among these, the c. 106-2A>G and c. 49G>C variants were unreported previously. Based on the guidelines from the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the c. 49G>C (p.Gly17Arg), c. 106-2A>G, and c. 199-10T>G variants were classified as likely pathogenic (PM2_supporting+ PP3+ PM3_strong+ PP4), pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2_supporting+ PM5+ PP3), and pathogenic (PVS1+ PM2_supporting+ PP3+ PP5), respectively. Conclusion:Combined with their clinical phenotype and genetic analysis, both children were diagnosed with CACTD. Above finding has provided a basis for their treatment as well as genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for their families.

Objective To perform genetic analysis in a family line of a pregnant couple with autosomal reces-sive non-syndromic deafness in order to identify its possible genetic etiology and provide prenatal diagnosis.Methods Whole-exome sequencing(WES)was used to analyze the genes of the proband,and Sanger sequencing was used to verify the suspected pathogenic loci.Prenatal genetic diagnosis was performed after amniotic fluid collection at 18 weeks of pregnancy.Results Autosomal recessive deafness type 3 related gene MYO15A c.10419_10423delCAGCT/c.10294_10308delCCTTGCATCCTTGCC compound heterozygous variant was found in the wife.A compound heterozygous variant of autosomal recessive deafness type 77-related gene LOXHD1:c.6388C＞T/ex-on 33-38 del.Maternal MYO15A c.10294_10308del CCTTGCATCCTTGCC heterozygous variant were detected in the husband and paternal LOXHD1 exon 33-38 del heterozygous variant were detected in the fetus.At the same time,the paternal CDH23 c.6693delT heterozygous mutation and the maternal PCDH15 c.5048_5051dupAGAA heterozygous mutation were detected in the fetus.These two heterozygous mutations lead to the possibility of the fe-tus suffering from ID/F Usher syndrome.Conclusion The deafness of the couple is caused by two different deaf gene mutations,and the probability of the fetus having the same deafness as the couple is very low.However,the fetus has a high possibility of having deafness caused by two gene mutations.Therefore,deafness caused by two gene mutations should be paid attention to in the prenatal diagnosis of families with both deaf parents.

We retrospectively analyzed a child with early-onset globoid cell leukodystrophy(Krabbe's disease)caused by complex heterozygous variations in the GALC gene.The girl was admitted to the hospital at the age of 4 month with main complaints of"No obvious cause of milk refusal,poor mental state,drowsiness,convulsions,fever."Brain MRI showed abnormal symmetric signals changes in bilateral cerebellar hemispheres,bilateral internal capsule hind limbs and bilateral ventricles,thin corpus callosum,myelination process lags behind the level of children of the same age.High-throughput sequencing analysis identified compound heterozygous mutations in GALC gene(NM 000153.4):c.[908+1G>A];[194G>A and the two heterozygous mutations were correspondingly inherited from his father and mother,respectively.The application of high-throughput sequencing technology can diagnose Krabbe disease efficiently and accurately,which assists in clinical identification and diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out genetic analysis for 21 patients with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) and provide genetic counseling for their families. METHODS: Next generation sequencing (panel) was used to detect the pathogenic variants underlying the disease. RESULTS: In total 29 variant sites of MMUT, MMAA, MMUT were identified in the 21 patients, with common variants including c.323G>A (10%), c.917C>T (10%), c.984delC (10%) of MMUT gene, and c.609G>A (45%), c.80A>G (10%) , c.567dupT (10%) of MMACHC gene. Among these, c.2000A>G of MMUT, c.298G>T of MMACHC and c.734-7A>G of MMAA gene were unreported previously. CONCLUSION Genetic testing for MMA patients can clarify the cause of the disease and provide a basis for the clinical diagnosis. Discovery of novel variants has enriched the mutational spectrum of MMA.
Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors/genetics* ; Genetic Testing ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Mutation ; Oxidoreductases/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with concomitant spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and Citrin protein deficiency. METHODS: The child was subjected to whole exome sequencing by using target sequence capture high-throughput sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. The SMN genes of the patient were also analyzed through multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). RESULTS: The patient was found to carry homozygous deletion of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN1 gene, for which his parents were both carriers. The patient also carried compound heterozygous variants c.1737G>A and IVS16ins3kbof the SLA25A13 gene, in addition with compound heterozygous variants c.948G>A and c.2693T>C of the POLG gene, for which his parents were carriers, too. CONCLUSION Variants of the SLC25A13 gene probably underlay the deficiency of Citrin protein, which may lead to neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis (NICCD). The patient also had SMA. The compound heterozygous variants c.948G>A and c.2693T>C of the POLG gene are likely to cause mitochondrial DNA deletion syndrome type 4A, though other types of mitochondrial disease cannot be excluded.

Objective To explore the clinical features, cytogenetic and molecular genetics characteristics of trisomy 12 p in neonates. Method The clinical data were reviewed in a neonate with trisomy 12 p confirmed by routine G-banding chromosome karyotype analysis, high throughput sequencing chromosome copy number variation analysis (CNV) and lymphocyte interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) . Results The chromosome karyotype in peripheral blood of the neonate was 47, XX, +mar, and the karyotypes of her parents were normal. CNV detected a regional duplication of 12 p13.33-p11.1 (160001-34860000) with a fragment size of 34.7 Mb. Peripheral blood lymphocyte interphase FISH showed that there were 3 signals in the short arm of chromosome 12 in all interphase nuclei of the neonate, and no chimera existed. It was finally confirmed to be trisomy 12 p. Conclusion The combination of clinical features, peripheral blood karyotype analysis, CNV and FISH techniques can effectively confirm the diaganosis of trisomy 12 p.

OBJECTIVE: To identify mutation of the PAX6 gene in a patient with congenital aniridia. METHODS: DNA was extracted from peripheral blood sample of the patient and analyzed by direct PCR-Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband was found to harbor a heterozygous c.239T>A (p.Ile80Asn) mutation of the PAX6 gene. The same mutation was not found in his parents and 150 healthy controls. CONCLUSION A novel mutation of the PAX6 gene has been identified in a sporadic case with congenital aniridia.
Aniridia ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Humans ; Mutation ; PAX6 Transcription Factor ; genetics ; Pedigree

Objective To investigate phenylalanine hydroxylase ( PA H ) gene mutations and to perform prenatal diagnosis in 55 pedigrees with classical phenylketonuria (PKU). Methods Subjects of this study were 55 probands diagnosed with PKU in the Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital from 2013 to 2017 and their pedigrees. Sanger sequencing/Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to investigate PA H gene mutations in these probands and their parents. Sanger sequencing/MLPA, linkage analysis of three common short tandem repeats (STR) including PAH-26, PAH-STR and PAH-32 in the PA H gene and paternity testing were used in combination for prenatal diagnosis of 60 fetuses in the 55 pedigrees. Results Among the 110 alleles in the 55 probands, 108 mutant alleles (98.2%) were found by Sanger sequencing. The 108 mutant alleles located in 38 regions resulting in 22 missense mutations, nine splice site mutations, five nonsense mutations and two microdeletion. The most common mutations were c.728G>A (22.2%, 24/108), c.442-1G>A (5.6%, 6/108), c.611A>G (5.6%, 6/108), c.764T>C (5.6%, 6/108), c.1068C>A (5.6%, 6/108) and c.331C>T (4.6%, 5/108). Loss of heterozygosity in 4-5 and 4-7 exons were detected by MLPA in two probands, in which only one mutation was unidentified. Prenatal diagnosis for the 60 fetuses were successfully performed. Among them, 17 fetuses (28.3%) were affected, 29 fetuses (48.3%) were heterozygous carriers and fetuses 14(23.4%) were unaffected ones. Conclusions Combination of Sanger sequencing/MLPA, linkage analysis and paternity testing could provide accurate prenatal diagnosis in pedigrees with PKU.