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Cuffaro G, Fionda B, Piccinni F, Pagliara MM, Sammarco MG, Blasi MA, Molinario C, Castri F, Tagliaferri L, Massi D, Savino G. Post-operative interventional radiotherapy (brachytherapy) in advanced ocular surface and eyelid tumors as an alternative to surgical retreatment. Eur J Ophthalmol 2023:11206721231215105. [PMID: 38105586 DOI: 10.1177/11206721231215105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The main purpose of treatment of advanced ocular surface and periocular malignant tumors is to eradicate the tumor while trying to preserve visual function and aesthetics. Our purpose is to describe the outcome of a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced ocular surface and periocular tumors treated surgically in first instance and then with postoperative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachiterapy). MATERIALS AND METHODS We describe the clinicopathological features, treatments and outcome, in a retrospective case series of 10 patients with advanced tumors involving ocular surface (staging ≥ T2) and eyelids (staging ≥ T3), with involvement of periocular and/or orbit tissues. Patients were first surgically treated, most of them with incomplete excision, and then underwent a post-operative interventional radiotherapy (IRT/Brachytherapy) as an alternative to more invasive and disfiguring surgical retreatment. Tumor location, risk factors, staging, histological features, and follow-up timing were analyzed. RESULTS Three patients had advanced eyelid basal cell carcinomas, 2 patients were diagnosed with eyelid and conjunctival squamous cell carcinomas, 3 as sebaceous carcinomas, and 2 as primary conjunctival melanomas. The mean follow-up time from IRT to last clinical follow-up was 58.6 weeks, range 28.4-168 (median 43.65, IQR 28.9-72.9). Two patients - one with ocular surface SCC, the other with conjunctival melanoma - had a local recurrence 23.4 and 40,9 weeks after IRT, respectively. An overview of the current knowledge on adjuvant or post-operative IRT is also provided. CONCLUSIONS IRT can be considered an effective therapeutic option to avoid more invasive surgical retreatment in advanced tumors involving eyelids and ocular surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cuffaro
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Fionda
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Piccinni
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Maria Pagliara
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Sammarco
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Antonietta Blasi
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Castri
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Tagliaferri
- Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Massi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gustavo Savino
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Sangiorgi E, Giannuzzi F, Molinario C, Rapari G, Riccio M, Cuffaro G, Castri F, Benvenuto R, Genuardi M, Massi D, Savino G. Base-Excision Repair Mutational Signature in Two Sebaceous Carcinomas of the Eyelid. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2055. [PMID: 38002998 PMCID: PMC10671510 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Personalized medicine aims to develop tailored treatments for individual patients based on specific mutations present in the affected organ. This approach has proven paramount in cancer treatment, as each tumor carries distinct driver mutations that respond to targeted drugs and, in some cases, may confer resistance to other therapies. Particularly for rare conditions, personalized medicine has the potential to revolutionize treatment strategies. Rare cancers often lack extensive datasets of molecular and pathological information, large-scale trials for novel therapies, and established treatment guidelines. Consequently, surgery is frequently the only viable option for many rare tumors, when feasible, as traditional multimodal approaches employed for more common cancers often play a limited role. Sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid is an exceptionally rare cancer affecting the eye's adnexal tissues, most frequently reported in Asia, but whose prevalence is significantly increasing even in Europe and the US. The sole established curative treatment is surgical excision, which can lead to significant disfigurement. In cases of metastatic sebaceous carcinoma, validated drug options are currently lacking. In this project, we set out to characterize the mutational landscape of two sebaceous carcinomas of the eyelid following surgical excision. Utilizing available bioinformatics tools, we demonstrated our ability to identify common features promptly and accurately in both tumors. These features included a Base-Excision Repair mutational signature, a notably high tumor mutational burden, and key driver mutations in somatic tissues. These findings had not been previously reported in similar studies. This report underscores how, in the case of rare tumors, it is possible to comprehensively characterize the mutational landscape of each individual case, potentially opening doors to targeted therapeutic options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Sangiorgi
- Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.R.); (M.R.); (M.G.)
| | - Federico Giannuzzi
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (C.M.); (F.C.); (R.B.)
| | - Giulia Rapari
- Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.R.); (M.R.); (M.G.)
| | - Melania Riccio
- Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.R.); (M.R.); (M.G.)
| | - Giovanni Cuffaro
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (G.S.)
| | - Federica Castri
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (C.M.); (F.C.); (R.B.)
| | - Roberta Benvenuto
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (C.M.); (F.C.); (R.B.)
| | - Maurizio Genuardi
- Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (G.R.); (M.R.); (M.G.)
- UOC Genetica Medica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, 00168 Roma, Italy
| | - Daniela Massi
- Section of Pathology, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy;
| | - Gustavo Savino
- Ocular Oncology Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli-IRCCS, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Roma, Italy; (F.G.); (G.C.); (G.S.)
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Tabolacci E, Molinario C, Marangi G, Nobile V, Arena V, Mendes MI, Smith DEC, Salomons GS, Tana M, Costa S, Vento G, Genuardi M. Infantile Liver Failure Syndrome 1 associated with a novel variant of the LARS1 gene: Clinical, genetic, and functional characterization. Clin Genet 2020; 99:601-603. [PMID: 33314043 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Tabolacci
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Marangi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Nobile
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Arena
- Department of Woman, Child Health and Public Health, Area of Pathology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Marisa I Mendes
- Metabolic Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Desiree E C Smith
- Metabolic Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gajja S Salomons
- Metabolic Unit, Department of Clinical Chemistry, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Milena Tana
- Department of Woman, Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Costa
- Department of Woman, Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Vento
- Department of Woman, Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.,Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Maurizio Genuardi
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Dipartimento Universitario Scienze della Vita e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, UOC Genetica Medica, Rome, Italy
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Cafiero C, Re A, Pisconti S, Trombetti M, Perri M, Colosimo M, D’Amato G, Gallelli L, Cannataro R, Molinario C, Fazio A, Caroleo MC, Cione E. Dysbiosis in intestinal microbiome linked to fecal blood determined by direct hybridization. 3 Biotech 2020; 10:358. [PMID: 32821643 PMCID: PMC7387388 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-020-02351-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The important physiological and pathophysiological roles of intestinal human microbiome (HMB) in human health have been emerging, owing to the access to molecular biology techniques. Herein we evaluated, for the first time, the intestinal HMB through direct hybridization approach using n-counter flex DX technology which bypasses the amplification procedure currently applied by other technologies to study the human microbiome. To this purpose, a clinical study was carried out on fecal samples, recruiting both healthy volunteers (N-FOB) and subjects positive for occult blood (P-FOB). A relevant custom panel of 79 16S rRNA target gene was engineered and 32 of them displayed a variation between the two clusters of subjects. Our findings revealed that bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria have higher distribution in P-FOB describing dysbiosis. Similarly, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phylum display high distribution in P-FOB. Of interest, the presence of Clostridium difficile that belongs to Firmicutes phylum displayed about 70% of low presence in N-FOB compared to P-FOB subjects. Only one bacterium belonging to the Actinobacteria phylum, the Bifidobacterium bifidum, was present.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Cafiero
- Oncology Unit, SG Moscati Hospital of Taranto, Taranto, Italy
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Alessandria Artemisia, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Re
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Alessandria Artemisia, Rome, Italy
- CNR-Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Marina Trombetti
- Dietetics and Aesthetic Medicine Section, Alessandria Artemisia, Rome, Italy
| | - Mariarita Perri
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
| | - Manuela Colosimo
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Pugliese Ciaccio Hospital, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gerardo D’Amato
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Policlinico Universitario A Gemelli-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
- Department of Endocrine and Metabolic Surgery, Mater Olbia Hospital, Olbia, Italy
| | - Luca Gallelli
- Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Mater Domini Hospital, University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Roberto Cannataro
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
- Nutrics, Nutritional Center, Luzzi, CS Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Alessandria Artemisia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessia Fazio
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Caroleo
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
| | - Erika Cione
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences-Department of Excellence 2018-2022, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, CS Italy
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Milillo A, Molinario C, Costanzi S, Vischini G, La Carpia F, La Greca F, Rigante D, Gambaro G, Gurrieri F, Sangiorgi E. Defective activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, leading to PARP1 and DNMT1 dysregulation, is a common defect in IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. J Nephrol 2018; 31:731-741. [PMID: 29497996 DOI: 10.1007/s40620-018-0482-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Studies on IgA nephropathy (IgAN) have identified, through GWAS, linkage analysis, and pathway scanning, molecular defects in familial and sporadic IgAN patients. In our previous study, we identified a novel variant in the SPRY2 gene that segregates with the disease in one large family. The functional characterization of this variant led us to discover that the MAPK/ERK pathway was defective not only in this family, but also in two sporadic IgAN patients wild type for SPRY2. In the present study, we have deepened the molecular analysis of the MAPK/ERK pathway and extended our evaluation to a larger cohort of sporadic patients and to one additional family. We found that the ERK pathway is defective in IgAN patients and in patients affected by another IgA-mediated disorder, Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). Furthermore, we found that two other proteins, PARP1 and DNMT1, respectively involved in DNA repair and in antibody class switching and methylation maintenance duties, were critically downregulated in IgAN and HSP patients. This study opens up the possibility that defective ERK activation, in some patients, leads to PARP1 and DNMT1 downregulation suggesting that IgAN could be the consequence of a dysregulated epigenetic maintenance leading to the upregulation of several genes. In particular, PARP1 could be used as a potential biomarker for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Milillo
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Stefano Costanzi
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Gisella Vischini
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesca La Carpia
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center New York, New York, USA
| | - Francesco La Greca
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Donato Rigante
- Division of Pediatrics, Gemelli University Hospital, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Gambaro
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy
- Division of Nephrology and Dialysis Columbus Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli, 00168, Roma, Italy
| | - Fiorella Gurrieri
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy.
| | - Eugenio Sangiorgi
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Roma, Italy.
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La Carpia F, Rendeli C, Molinario C, Milillo A, Farroni C, Cannelli N, Ausili E, Paolucci V, Neri G, Romagnoli C, Sangiorgi E, Gurrieri F. Erratum to: Variants in TNIP1, a regulator of the NF-kB pathway, found in two patients with neural tube defects. Childs Nerv Syst 2016; 32:1343. [PMID: 27193010 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-016-3121-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca La Carpia
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia, NY, USA
| | - Claudia Rendeli
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Annamaria Milillo
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Farroni
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Natalia Cannelli
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuele Ausili
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Paolucci
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Neri
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Costantino Romagnoli
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenio Sangiorgi
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Gurrieri
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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Francesca LC, Claudia R, Molinario C, Annamaria M, Chiara F, Natalia C, Emanuele A, Valentina P, Giovanni N, Costantino R, Eugenio S, Fiorella G. Variants in TNIP1, a regulator of the NF-kB pathway, found in two patients with neural tube defects. Childs Nerv Syst 2016; 32:1061-7. [PMID: 27125519 DOI: 10.1007/s00381-016-3087-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Neural tube defects (NTDs) occur in 1:1000 births. The etiology is complex, with the influence of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors, such as folate deficiency, diabetes, or hypoxia strongly contribute to the occurrence of NTD. Also, there is a strong genetic contribution to NTD, as highlighted by the number of genes so far identified in several different developmental pathways usually altered in NTD. Each gene identified so far accounts for a small percentage of all NTD cases, indicating a very high heterogeneity. METHODS Exome sequencing was performed in seven sporadic patients with severe mielomeningocele. Novel coding variants shared by two or more patients were selected for further analysis. RESULTS We identified in two unrelated patients two different variants in TNIP1, a gene not previously involved in NTD whose main role is downregulation of the NF-kB pathway. One variant, c.1089T>G (p.Phe363Leu), is de novo, whereas the c.1781C>T (p.Pro594Leu) is absent in the mother, but could not be tested in the father, as he was unavailable. The latter variant is a very rare variant in the ExAC database. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that TNIP1 is a new potential predisposing gene to spina bifida (SB) and its pathway needs to be investigated in human NTD in order to confirm its role and to plan appropriate counseling to families.
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Affiliation(s)
- La Carpia Francesca
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, Columbia, NY, USA
| | - Rendeli Claudia
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Clelia Molinario
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Milillo Annamaria
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Farroni Chiara
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Cannelli Natalia
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Ausili Emanuele
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Paolucci Valentina
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Neri Giovanni
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Romagnoli Costantino
- Istituto di Pediatria, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", Rome, Italy
| | - Sangiorgi Eugenio
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gurrieri Fiorella
- Istituto di Medicina Genomica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore "A. Gemelli", L.go Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
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