Pathogenic variants in the FKBP10 gene lead to a spectrum of rare autosomal recessive phenotypes, including osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) Type XI, Bruck syndrome Type I (BS I), and the congenital arthrogryposis-like phenotype (AG), each with variable clinical manifestations that are crucial for diagnosis. This study analyzed the clinical-genetic characteristics of patients with these conditions, focusing on both known and newly identified FKBP10 variants. We examined data from 15 patients, presenting symptoms of OI and joint contractures. Diagnostic methods included genealogical analysis, clinical assessments, radiography, whole exome sequencing, and direct automated Sanger sequencing. We diagnosed 15 patients with phenotypes due to biallelic FKBP10 variants-4 with OI Type XI, 10 with BS I, and 1 with the AG-like phenotype-demonstrating polymorphism in disease severity. Ten pathogenic FKBP10 variants were identified, including three novel ones, c.1373C>T (p.Pro458Leu), c.21del (p.Pro7fs), and c.831_832insCG (p.Gly278Argfs), and a recurrent variant, c.831dup (p.Gly278Argfs). Variant c.1490G>A (p.Trp497Ter) was found in two unrelated patients, causing OI XI in one and BS I in the other. Additionally, two unrelated patients with BS I and epidermolysis bullosa shared identical homozygous FKBP10 and KRT14 variants. This observation illustrates the diversity of FKBP10-related pathology and the importance of considering the full spectrum of phenotypes in clinical diagnostics.

OBJECTIVE: Aicardi Goutières syndrome (AGS) is type I interferonopathy characterized by severe neurologic impairment. Although many children with AGS demonstrate motor and expressive language deficits, the magnitude of receptive language impairment is uncharacterized. We sought to characterize cognitive function in AGS-affected children using assessment tools with reduced dependence on motor abilities and compare cognitive testing outcomes with overall severity and parental assessment of adaptive behavior.
METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study. Children were recruited as part of the Myelin Disorders Biorepository Project at the Children\'s Hospital of Philadelphia. We included individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of AGS. We administered the Leiter International Performance Scale, third edition (Leiter-3), and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, third edition (VABS-3), in the context of research encounters. Motor skills were categorized by AGS Severity Scale mobility levels. Descriptive statistics and Spearman\'s rank correlation were used to compare assessments. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests with correction with Dunn\'s multiple comparison test were used to compare test performance between mobility groups.
RESULTS: Cognitive and adaptive behavior performance was captured in 57 children. The mean age at encounters was 8.51 (SD 5.15) years. The median (IQR) Leiter-3 score was 51 (interquartile range [IQR] 60), with administration failure in 20 of 57 (35%) individuals. On the VABS-3, the Motor Domain (median 29, IQR 36.25) was more impacted than the Communication (median 50, IQR 52), Daily Living Skills (median 52, IQR 31), and Socialization (median 54, IQR 40) Domains (p < 0.0001). The AGS Scale correlated with VABS-3 (r = 0.86, p < 0.0001) and Leiter-3 (r = 0.87, p < 0.0001). There was correlation between VABS-3 Domains and Leiter-3 (r-range 0.83-0.97). Gross motor and fine motor categories, respectively, correlated with VABS-3 (H = 39.37, p < 0.0001; U = 63, p < 0.0001) and Leiter-3 (H = 40.43, p < 0.0001; U = 66, p < 0.0001). Within each gross motor and fine motor category of the AGS Scale, a subset of children scored within normal IQ range.
CONCLUSIONS: Parental assessment of function by the VABS-3 correlated with directly assessed performance measures. Our data underscore the potential value of VABS-3 and Leiter-3 as tools to assess psychometric function in AGS. With a deeper understanding of our patients\' abilities, we can better guide clinicians and families to provide appropriate support and personalized interventions to empower children with leukodystrophies to maximize their communication and educational potential.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in infants infected in utero can lead to a variety of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, mechanisms underlying altered neurodevelopment in infected infants remain poorly understood. We have previously described a murine model of congenital HCMV infection in which murine CMV (MCMV) spreads hematogenously and establishes a focal infection in all regions of the brain of newborn mice, including the cerebellum. Infection resulted in disruption of cerebellar cortical development characterized by reduced cerebellar size and foliation. This disruption was associated with altered cell cycle progression of the granule cell precursors (GCPs), which are the progenitors that give rise to granule cells (GCs), the most abundant neurons in the cerebellum. In the current study, we have demonstrated that MCMV infection leads to prolonged GCP cell cycle, premature exit from the cell cycle, and reduced numbers of GCs resulting in cerebellar hypoplasia. Treatment with TNF-α neutralizing antibody partially normalized the cell cycle alterations of GCPs and altered cerebellar morphogenesis induced by MCMV infection. Collectively, our results argue that virus-induced inflammation altered the cell cycle of GCPs resulting in a reduced numbers of GCs and cerebellar cortical hypoplasia, thus providing a potential mechanism for altered neurodevelopment in fetuses infected with HCMV.

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of connective tissue disorders with 14 subtypes, involving joint hyperlaxity, tissue fragility, hypertensive skin and other systemic organs with an incidence of 1 in 1 000 000 worldwide. We report a middle childhood female born of second degree consanguineous marriage with limping gait with muscle weakness, with normal development and IQ. Examination revealed microcornea, distal joint laxity of fingers and wrist, hypotonia and broad-based limping gait. Fracture dislocation right hip was managed by fixation. With the atypical neuroimaging finding of cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, exome sequencing was ordered and confirmed as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (musculocontractural type-1). Hence, genetic counselling was done and prognosis of the child was explained.

暂无摘要。

Objective: To investigate the role of RNA m6A methylation in mediating cerebellar dysplasia through analyzing the phenotypes of the mouse cerebella and the expression of several key m6A regulators upon hypobaric hypoxia treatment. Methods: Five-day old C57/BL6 mice were exposed to hypobaric hypoxia for 9 days. The status of mouse cerebellar development was analyzed by comparing the body weights, brain weights and histological features. Immunostaining of cell-type-specific markers was performed to analyze the cerebellar morphology. Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were performed to detect the expression of key m6A regulators in the mouse cerebella. Results: Compared with the control, the body weights, brain weights and cerebellar volumes of hypobaric hypoxic mice were significantly reduced (P<0.01). The expression of specific markers in different cells, including NeuN (mature neuron), Calbindin-D28K (Purkinje cell) and GFAP (astrocyte), was decreased in hypobaric hypoxic mouse cerebella (P<0.01), accompanied with disorganized cellular structure. The expression of methyltransferase METTL3 was significantly down-regulated in the cerebella of hypobaric hypoxic mice (P<0.05). Conclusions: Hypobaric hypoxia stimulation causes mouse cerebellar dysplasia, with structural abnormalities in mature granular neurons, Purkinje cells and astrocytes. Expression of METTL3 is decreased in hypobaric hypoxic mice cerebellum compared with that of normobaric normoxic mice, suggesting that its mediated RNA m6A methylation may play an important role in hypobaric hypoxia-induced mouse cerebellar dysplasia.
目的： 探讨RNA m6A甲基化在低压低氧引起的小脑发育障碍中可能发挥的作用。 方法： 将出生后5 d的C57/BL6小鼠放置于低压低氧饲养舱中连续处理9 d后，首先通过体重、脑重以及HE染色的方式来初步分析小鼠小脑发育情况；其次，利用免疫组织化学和免疫荧光染色法检测小脑中不同类型细胞特异性标志物的表达以解析其细胞结构的紊乱程度；然后利用即时荧光定量聚合酶链反应、Western blot和免疫组织化学染色方法检测小鼠小脑中RNA m6A主要调控因子的表达变化。 结果： 相比于对照组小鼠，低压低氧小鼠体重、脑重以及小脑体积显著减小（P<0.01）；不同类型细胞特异性标志物的免疫染色结果显示，NeuN（成熟神经元）表达下降，Calbindin-D28K（浦肯野细胞）和胶质纤维酸性蛋白（星形胶质细胞）的表达下降（P<0.01），且细胞分布紊乱；RNA m6A主要调控因子的表达分析结果显示，甲基转移酶METTL3在低压低氧小鼠小脑中的表达显著下调（P<0.05）。 结论： 低压低氧刺激会造成小鼠小脑发育障碍，成熟神经元、浦肯野细胞和星形胶质细胞结构异常；与常压常氧小鼠相比，低压低氧刺激后小鼠小脑METTL3表达下降，提示其介导的RNA m6A甲基化可能在低压低氧引起的小脑发育障碍过程中发挥重要的作用。.

While the kinesin-2 motors KIF3A and KIF3B have essential roles in ciliogenesis and Hedgehog (HH) signal transduction, potential role(s) for another kinesin-2 motor, KIF17, in HH signaling have yet to be explored. Here, we investigated the contribution of KIF17 to HH-dependent cerebellar development, where Kif17 is expressed in both HH-producing Purkinje cells and HH-responding cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs). Germline Kif17 deletion in mice results in cerebellar hypoplasia due to reduced CGNP proliferation, a consequence of decreased HH pathway activity mediated through decreased Sonic HH (SHH) protein. Notably, Purkinje cell-specific Kif17 deletion partially phenocopies Kif17 germline mutants. Unexpectedly, CGNP-specific Kif17 deletion results in the opposite phenotype-increased CGNP proliferation and HH target gene expression due to altered GLI transcription factor processing. Together, these data identify KIF17 as a key regulator of HH-dependent cerebellar development, with dual and opposing roles in HH-producing Purkinje cells and HH-responding CGNPs.

NSUN2-intellectual disability syndrome, also known as intellectual disability type 5 (MRT5), is an autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by intellectual disability (ID), postnatal growth retardation, dysmorphic facies, microcephaly, short stature, developmental delay, language impairment and other congenital abnormalities. The disease is caused by mutations in the NSUN2 gene, which encodes a tRNA cytosine methyltransferase that has an important role in spindle assembly during mitosis and chromosome segregation. In this study, we recruited a family that had two individuals with ID. Whole exome sequencing was performed to identify a homozygous frameshift variant (c.1171_1175delACCAT(p.Thr391fs*18*)) in NSUN2 (NM_017755.5) in the proband. The varint was confirmed as segregating in his affected brother and his parents by Sanger sequencing. The individuals that we described showed a similar dysmorphology profile to that associated with MRT5. To analyze the correlations between genotypes of NSUN2 and phenotypes of individuals with ID, we examined 17 variants and the associated phenotypes from 32 ID individuals in current and previous studies. We concluded that mutations in NSUN2 cause a wide range of phenotypic defects. Although some clinical manifestations were highly variable, the core phenotypes associated with NSUN2 mutations were dysmorphic facies, microcephaly, short stature, ID, growth restriction, language impairment, hypotonia and delayed puberty. Our study expands the genetic spectrum of NSUN2 mutations and helps to further define the genotype-phenotype correlations in MRT5.

OBJECTIVE: Malformations of the central nervous system belong to the most common developmental disorders in humans. The clinical presentation of brain malformations is nonspecific including developmental delay, hypotonia, and/or epilepsy. The great heterogeneity concerning etiology, mechanisms of development and morphology is challenging for diagnosis and classification of brain malformations. Thereby recognizing specific malformations is essential for optimal patient management and prognostic evaluation. The aim of this article is to give an overview of several clinically relevant brain malformations occurring from different disrupted developmental processes in brain formation.
METHODS: Several brain malformations are already diagnosed during routine ultrasound in pregnancy. However pre- and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging remains the gold standard in detecting the partially subtle changes and to classify the malformations.
METHODS: Advances in pre- and postnatal neuroimaging techniques and increasing investigation of genetic mechanisms underlying brain formation and its abnormalities have led to a better understanding of embryologic development and pathogeneses of brain malformations.
CONCLUSIONS: Besides patient\'s history and clinical phenotype, neuroimaging plays a key role in diagnosis. Not always a specific diagnosis can be made, but neuroimaging patterns often enable a focused genetic testing and therefore are revolutionary for etiologic and prognostic assignment. Basic knowledge of brain development facilitates understanding and classifying of structural brain abnormalities.
UNASSIGNED: KLINISCHES PROBLEM: Fehlbildungen des zentralen Nervensystems gehören zu den häufigsten Entwicklungsstörungen des Menschen. Das klinische Erscheinungsbild der Hirnfehlbildungen ist mit Entwicklungsverzögerungen, muskulärer Hypotonie und/oder Epilepsie unspezifisch. Die ausgeprägte Heterogenität bezüglich Ursache, Entwicklungsmechanismen und Morphologie stellt eine Herausforderung für die Diagnostik und Klassifikation der Hirnfehlbildungen dar. Dabei ist die akkurate Bestimmung der Hirnfehlbildungen für ein optimales Patientenmanagement und die Prognoseeinschätzung entscheidend. Ziel des Artikels ist es, einen Überblick über einige klinisch relevante Fehlbildungen in unterschiedlichen Phasen der Hirnentwicklung zu geben.
UNASSIGNED: Bereits in der Schwangerschaft werden einige Hirnfehlbildungen bei der routinemäßigen Ultraschalluntersuchung entdeckt. Die prä- und postnatale Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) stellt allerdings den Goldstandard in der Detektion der teils subtilen Veränderungen sowie der Einordnung der Fehlbildungen dar.
UNASSIGNED: In den letzten Jahren haben Fortschritte in der prä- und postnatalen Bildgebung sowie in der genetischen Forschung zu einem besseren Verständnis der Embryologie und Störungen der Hirnentwicklung geführt. EMPFEHLUNG FüR DIE PRAXIS: Die Bildgebung spielt neben Anamnese und Klinik eine entscheidende Rolle in der Diagnostik der Hirnfehlbildungen. Nicht immer kann eine spezifische Diagnose gestellt werden, allerdings sind bildmorphologische Muster häufig für die genetische Untersuchung und Planung der weiteren Diagnostik wegweisend. Grundlagenkenntnisse der Hirnentwicklung erleichtern die Beurteilung der Fehlbildungen.

暂无摘要。