Maladaptative Autophagy Impairs Adipose Function in Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy due to Cavin-1 Deficiency

CONTEXT

Mutations in PTRF encoding cavin-1 are responsible for congenital generalized lipodystrophy type 4 (CGL4) characterized by lipoatrophy, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and muscular dystrophy. Cavin-1 cooperates with caveolins to form the plasma membrane caveolae, which are involved in cellular trafficking and signalling and in lipid turnover.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify PTRF mutations in patients with CGL and to determine their impact on insulin sensitivity, adipose differentiation, and cellular autophagy.

DESIGN AND PATIENTS

We performed phenotyping studies and molecular screening of PTRF in two unrelated families with CGL. Cellular studies were conducted in cultured skin fibroblasts from the two probands and from control subjects, and in murine 3T3-F442A preadipocytes. Knockdown of cavin-1 or ATG5 was obtained by small interfering RNA-mediated silencing.

RESULTS

We identified two new PTRF homozygous mutations (p.Asp59Val or p.Gln157Hisfs*52) in four patients with CGL4 presenting with generalized lipoatrophy and associated metabolic abnormalities. In probands' fibroblasts, cavin-1 expression was undetectable and caveolin-1 and -2 barely expressed. Ultrastructural analysis revealed a loss of membrane caveolae and the presence of numerous cytoplasmic autophagosomes. Patients' cells also showed increased autophagic flux and blunted insulin signaling. These results were reproduced by PTRF knockdown in control fibroblasts and in 3T3-F442A preadipocytes. Cavin-1 deficiency also impaired 3T3-F442A adipocyte differentiation. Suppression of autophagy by small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of ATG5 improved insulin sensitivity and adipocyte differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that cavin-1 deficiency resulted in maladaptative autophagy that contributed to insulin resistance and altered adipocyte differentiation. These new pathophysiological mechanisms could open new therapeutic perspectives for adipose tissue diseases including CGL4.

Complete exon sequencing of all known Usher syndrome genes greatly improves molecular diagnosis

BACKGROUND

Usher syndrome (USH) combines sensorineural deafness with blindness. It is inherited in an autosomal recessive mode. Early diagnosis is critical for adapted educational and patient management choices, and for genetic counseling. To date, nine causative genes have been identified for the three clinical subtypes (USH1, USH2 and USH3). Current diagnostic strategies make use of a genotyping microarray that is based on the previously reported mutations. The purpose of this study was to design a more accurate molecular diagnosis tool.

METHODS

We sequenced the 366 coding exons and flanking regions of the nine known USH genes, in 54 USH patients (27 USH1, 21 USH2 and 6 USH3).

RESULTS

Biallelic mutations were detected in 39 patients (72%) and monoallelic mutations in an additional 10 patients (18.5%). In addition to biallelic mutations in one of the USH genes, presumably pathogenic mutations in another USH gene were detected in seven patients (13%), and another patient carried monoallelic mutations in three different USH genes. Notably, none of the USH3 patients carried detectable mutations in the only known USH3 gene, whereas they all carried mutations in USH2 genes. Most importantly, the currently used microarray would have detected only 30 of the 81 different mutations that we found, of which 39 (48%) were novel.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these results, complete exon sequencing of the currently known USH genes stands as a definite improvement for molecular diagnosis of this disease, which is of utmost importance in the perspective of gene therapy.

Molecular analysis of Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy in Oman: evidence for multiple loci

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) is a rare disorder characterized by the absence of body fat and insulin resistance and accompanied by other features, including acanthosis nigricans, organomegaly, hyperandrogenism, and diabetes. We have examined case subjects from 11 families in Oman with CGL. All subjects were the progeny of consanguineous marriages; therefore, a homozygosity mapping strategy was used to investigate the reported loci, 11q13 and 9q34. Three subjects could be linked to 11q13, and mutations were found within the seipin gene. An additional eight subjects were linked to 9q34, but the locus was in a 9-cM interval with no known microsatellites, so further fine mapping was not possible. However, two sibships (four subjects) did not map to either locus, raising the possibility of more than two lipodystrophy loci within the Oman population.