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Mezzi N, Messaoud O, Mkaouar R, Zitouna N, Romdhane S, Abdessalem G, Charfeddine C, Maazoul F, Ouerteni I, Hamdi Y, Zaouak A, Mrad R, Abdelhak S, Romdhane L. Spectrum of Genetic Diseases in Tunisia: Current Situation and Main Milestones Achieved. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1820. [PMID: 34828426 PMCID: PMC8617973 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic diseases in Tunisia are a real public health problem given their chronicity and the lack of knowledge concerning their prevalence and etiology, and the high rates of consanguinity. Hence, we performed systematic reviews of the literature in order to provide a more recent spectrum of these disorders and to expose the challenges that still exist to tackle these kinds of diseases. A manual textual data mining was conducted using MeSH and PubMed databases. Collected data were classified according to the CIM-10 classification and the transmission mode. The spectrum of these diseases is estimated to be 589 entities. This suggests remarkable progress through the development of biomedical health research activities and building capacities. Sixty percent of the reported disorders are autosomal recessive, which could be explained by the high prevalence of endogamous mating. Congenital malformations (29.54%) are the major disease group, followed by metabolic diseases (22%). Sixty percent of the genetic diseases have a known molecular etiology. We also reported additional cases of comorbidity that seem to be a common phenomenon in our population. We also noticed that epidemiological data are scarce. Newborn and carrier screening was only limited to pilot projects for a few genetic diseases. Collected data are being integrated into a database under construction that will be a valuable decision-making tool. This study provides the current situation of genetic diseases in Tunisia and highlights their particularities. Early detection of the disease is important to initiate critical intervention and to reduce morbidity and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nessrine Mezzi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Université Tunis Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Tunisia
| | - Olfa Messaoud
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Rahma Mkaouar
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Nadia Zitouna
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Safa Romdhane
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ghaith Abdessalem
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Cherine Charfeddine
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- High Institute of Biotechnology of Sidi Thabet, Biotechpole of Sidi Thabet, University of Manouba, Ariana 2080, Tunisia
| | - Faouzi Maazoul
- Department of Congenital and Hereditary Diseases, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ines Ouerteni
- Department of Congenital and Hereditary Diseases, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Yosr Hamdi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Laboratory of Human and Experimental Pathology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Anissa Zaouak
- Department of Dermatology, Research Unit Genodermatosis and Cancer LR12SP03, Habib Thameur Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Ridha Mrad
- Department of Congenital and Hereditary Diseases, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Sonia Abdelhak
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Lilia Romdhane
- Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, Université Tunis Carthage, Jarzouna 7021, Tunisia
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Di Blasi C, Bellafiore E, Salih MAM, Manzini MC, Moore SA, Seidahmed MZ, Mukhtar MM, Karrar ZA, Walsh CA, Campbell KP, Mantegazza R, Morandi L, Mora M. Variable disease severity in Saudi Arabian and Sudanese families with c.3924 + 2 T > C mutation of LAMA2. BMC Res Notes 2011; 4:534. [PMID: 22166137 PMCID: PMC3278494 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-4-534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2011] [Accepted: 12/13/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A is caused by mutations in the LAMA2 gene that encodes the laminin α2 chain, a component of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix protein laminin-211. The clinical spectrum of the disease is more heterogeneous than previously thought, particularly in terms of motor achievement and disease progression. We investigated clinical findings and performed molecular genetic analysis in 3 families from Saudi Arabia and 1 from Sudan in whom congenital muscular dystrophy 1A was suspected based on homozygosity mapping and laminin α2 chain deficiency. METHODS We investigated 9 affected individuals from 1 Sudanese and 3 Saudi families in whom MDC1A was suggested by clinical, neuroimaging and/or pathological findings and by homozygosity mapping at the LAMA2 locus. Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed in 3 patients from the 3 Saudi families. SSCP analysis, DNA sequencing and microsatellite analysis were carried out in the 4 index cases. RESULTS A previously described mutation in the LAMA2 gene, a homozygous T > C substitution at position +2 of the consensus donor splice site of exon 26, was found in the 4 index patients. Clinical evaluation of 9 patients from the 4 families revealed variable disease severity particularly as regards motor achievement and disease progression. Microsatellite analysis showed an identical mutation-associated haplotype in the 4 index cases indicating a founder effect of the mutation in all 4 families. CONCLUSIONS Our data provide further evidence that the clinical spectrum of MDC1A due to a single mutation is heterogeneous, particularly in terms of motor achievement and disease progression, making it difficult to give a reliable prognosis even in patients with identical LAMA2-associated haplotype. The c.3924 + 2 T > C mutation to date has been found only in patients originating from the Middle East or Sudan; therefore laminin 2 chain deficiency in patients from those regions should initially prompt a search for this mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Di Blasi
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroimmunology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Bellafiore
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroimmunology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Mustafa AM Salih
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - M Chiara Manzini
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Genetics and Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Steven A Moore
- Department of Pathology, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Maowia M Mukhtar
- Institute of Endemic Diseases, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Zein A Karrar
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Division of Genetics and Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kevin P Campbell
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Renato Mantegazza
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroimmunology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Morandi
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroimmunology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Mora
- Division of Neuromuscular Diseases and Neuroimmunology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico C. Besta, Milan, Italy
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In dystrophic hamsters losartan affects control of ventilation and dopamine D1 receptor density. Respir Physiol Neurobiol 2010; 173:71-8. [PMID: 20601215 DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2010.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Revised: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 06/16/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The BIO 14.6 hamster (DV), an animal model of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, has elevated angiotensin AT1 receptors that may affect ventilation. Moreover, AT1 receptors may modulate expression of dopamine D1 receptors. We investigated if chronic treatment of BIO 14.6 hamsters (DL) with losartan, an AT1 receptor blocker, affects D1 receptor density in the striatum and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and normalizes ventilation during exposure to air, hypoxia, following hypoxia, and hypercapnia, Ventilation was evaluated using plethysmography. Compared to the golden Syrian hamsters (GS), DV hamsters exhibited lower hypercapnic and hypoxic responsiveness and ventilation during hypercapnic exposure. Relative to GS, DL hamsters increased breathing frequency in air and maintained ventilation during hypercapnia. Post-hypoxic minute ventilation decline occurred in DV but not in DL or GS hamsters. DL hamsters exhibited higher D1 receptor density in the striatum and NTS relative to DV hamsters. Thus, in dystrophic hamsters chronic losartan treatment stimulated frequency of breathing and increased the density of D1 receptors.
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