Stress in Parents of Children With Genetically Determined Leukoencephalopathies: A Pilot Study

Genetically determined leukoencephalopathies comprise a group of rare inherited white matter disorders. The majority are progressive diseases resulting in early death. We performed a cross-sectional pilot study including 55 parents from 36 families to assess the level of stress experienced by parents of patients with genetically determined leukoencephalopathies, aged 1 month to 12 years. Thirty-four mothers and 21 fathers completed the Parenting Stress Index-4th Edition. One demographic questionnaire was completed per family. Detailed clinical data was gathered on all patients. Statistical analysis was performed with total stress percentile score as the primary outcome. Mothers and fathers had significantly higher stress levels compared with the normative sample; 20% of parents had high levels of stress whereas 11% had clinically significant levels of stress. Mothers and fathers had comparable total stress percentile scores. We identified pediatric behavioral difficulties and gross motor function to be factors influencing stress in mothers. Our study is the first to examine parental stress in this population and highlights the need for parental support early in the disease course. In this pilot study, we demonstrated that using the Parenting Stress Index-4th Edition to assess stress levels in parents of patients with genetically determined leukoencephalopathies is feasible, leads to valuable and actionable results, and should be used in larger, prospective studies.

Update on transcobalamin deficiency: clinical presentation, treatment and outcome

Transcobalamin (TC) transports cobalamin from blood into cells. TC deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder usually presenting in early infancy with failure to thrive, weakness, diarrhoea, pallor, anemia, and pancytopenia or agammaglobulinemia. It can sometimes resemble neonatal leukemia or severe combined immunodeficiency disease. Diagnosis of TC deficiency is suspected based on megaloblastic anemia, elevation of total plasma homocysteine, and blood or urine methylmalonic acid. It is confirmed by studying the synthesis of TC in cultured fibroblasts, or by molecular analysis of the TCN2 gene. TC deficiency is treatable with supplemental cobalamin, but the optimal type, route and frequency of cobalamin administration and long term patient outcomes are unknown. Here we present a series of 30 patients with TC deficiency, including an update on multiple previously published patients, in order to evaluate the different treatment strategies and provide information about long term outcome. Based on the data presented, current practice appears to favour treatment of individuals with TC deficiency by intramuscular injections of hydroxy- or cyanocobalamin. In most cases presented, at least weekly injections (1 mg IM) were necessary to ensure optimal treatment. Most centres adjusted the treatment regimen based on monitoring CBC, total plasma homocysteine, plasma and urine methylmalonic acid, as well as, clinical status. Finally, continuing IM treatment into adulthood appears to be beneficial.

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata type 1: report of mutations in 3 children from India

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by stippled epiphyses and rhizomelic shortening of the long bones. We report 3 subjects of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata from India and the PEX7 mutations identified in them. The common PEX7-L292X allele, whose high frequency is due to a founder effect in the northern European Caucasian population, was not identified in these patients. Instead, 2 novel alleles are described, including 64_65delGC, which was present on a single PEX7 haplotype and could represent a common allele in the Indian population.

The peroxin Pex6p gene is impaired in peroxisomal biogenesis disorders of complementation group 6

Human genetic peroxisomal biogenesis disorders (PBDs), such as Zellweger syndrome, comprise 13 different complementation groups (CGs). Eleven peroxin genes, termed PEXs, responsible for PBDs have been identified, whereas pathogenic genes for PBDs of 2CGs, CG-A (the same CG as CG8 in the United States and Europe) and CG6, remained unidentified. We herein provide several lines of novel evidence indicating that PEX6, the pathogenic gene for CG4, is impaired in PBD of CG6. Expression of PEX6 restored peroxisome assembly in fibroblasts from a CG6 PBD patient. This patient was a compound heterozygote for PEX6 gene alleles. Accordingly, by merging CG6 with CG4, human PBDs are now classified into 12CGs.

PEX7 gene structure, alternative transcripts, and evidence for a founder haplotype for the frequent RCDP allele, L292ter

We recently reported cloning a cDNA encoding Pex7p, the peroxisomal PTS2 receptor. PEX7 mutations cause the peroxisome biogenesis disorder (PBD) rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP). In a survey of 44 RCDP probands, we found that one PEX7 allele, L292ter, accounted for 50% of mutant PEX7 genes. Here we report the characterization of the PEX7 structural gene, which spans 102 kb on chromosome 6q21-q22.2 and contains at least 10 exons. In addition to the predominant full-length transcript, we identified eight smaller PEX7 transcripts generated by alternative exon splicing in several tissues. However, none of these splice forms was able to restore PTS2 protein import into peroxisomes when expressed in RCDP fibroblasts nor did they inhibit PTS2 protein import when expressed in normal fibroblasts. To determine whether the high frequency of the L292ter allele is due to a founder effect, we identified five polymorphic markers (four diallelic markers and one CA repeat) spanning the PEX7 gene. We show that all 12 L292ter homozygotes in our patient sample have an identical haplotype at these five sites, consistent with the hypothesis that the L292ter mutation arose once on an ancestral chromosome in the Caucasian population.

Mutations in the gene encoding 3 beta-hydroxysteroid-delta 8, delta 7-isomerase cause X-linked dominant Conradi-Hünermann syndrome

X-linked dominant Conradi-Hünermann syndrome (CDPX2; MIM 302960) is one of a group of disorders with aberrant punctate calcification in cartilage, or chondrodysplasia punctata (CDP). This is most prominent around the vertebral column, pelvis and long bones in CPDX2. Additionally, CDPX2 patients may have asymmetric rhizomesomelia, sectorial cataracts, patchy alopecia, ichthyosis and atrophoderma. The phenotype in CDPX2 females ranges from stillborn to mildly affected individuals identified in adulthood. CDPX2 is presumed lethal in males, although a few affected males have been reported. We found increased 8(9)-cholestenol and 8-dehydrocholesterol in tissue samples from seven female probands with CDPX2 (ref. 4). This pattern of accumulated cholesterol intermediates suggested a deficiency of 3beta-hydroxysteroid-delta8,delta7-isomerase (sterol-delta8-isomerase), which catalyses an intermediate step in the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol. A candidate gene encoding a sterol-delta8-isomerase (EBP) has been identified and mapped to Xp11.22-p11.23 (refs 5,6). Using SSCP analysis and sequencing of genomic DNA, we found EBP mutations in all probands. We confirmed the functional significance of two missense alleles by expressing them in a sterol-delta8-isomerase-deficient yeast strain. Our results indicate that defects in sterol-delta8-isomerase cause CDPX2 and suggest a role for sterols in bone development.

An isoform of pex5p, the human PTS1 receptor, is required for the import of PTS2 proteins into peroxisomes

Mutations in the peroxisome targeting signal (PTS) 1 receptor gene, PEX5 , are responsible for complementation group (CG) 2 of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD). Of the two reported patients in this CG, cells from PBD018 (homozygous for the missense mutation N489K) are defective in the import of PTS1 proteins into peroxisomes, as expected. However, cells from PBD005 (homozygous for the nonsense mutation R390ter) are defective in the import of both PTS1 and PTS2 proteins, suggesting that the PTS1 receptor also mediates PTS2-targeted protein import. To investigate this possibility, we characterized PEX5 expression and found that it undergoes alternative splicing, producing two transcripts, one containing (PEX5L) and one lacking (PEX5S) a 111 bp internal exon. Fibroblasts from PBD005 have greatly reduced levels of PEX5 transcript and protein as compared with PBD018. Transfection of PBD005 cells with PEX5S cDNA restores PTS1 but not PTS2 import; transfection with PXR5L cDNA restores both PTS1 and PTS2 protein import. Furthermore, transfection of PBD005 cells with PEX5L cDNAs containing the patient mutations (which are located downstream of the additional exon) restores PTS2 but not PTS1 import. Taken together, these data provide an explanation for the different protein import defects in CG2 patients and show that the long isoform of the Pex5 protein is required for peroxisomal import of PTS2 proteins.

Human PEX7 encodes the peroxisomal PTS2 receptor and is responsible for rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata

Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) is a rare autosomal recessive phenotype that comprises complementation group 11 of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD). PEX7, a candidate gene for RCDP identified in yeast, encodes the receptor for peroxisomal matrix proteins with the type-2 peroxisome targeting signal (PTS2). By homology probing we identified human and murine PEX7 genes and found that expression of either corrects the PTS2-import defect characteristic of RCDP cells. In a collection of 36 RCDP probands, we found two inactivating PEX7 mutations: one, L292ter, was present in 26 of the probands, all with a severe phenotype; the second, A218V, was present in three probands, including two with a milder phenotype. A third mutation, G217R, whose functional significance is yet to be determined, was present in five probands, all compound heterozygotes with L292ter. We conclude that PEX7 is responsible for RCDP (PBD CG11) and suggest a founder effect may explain the high frequency of L292ter.

From expressed sequence tags to peroxisome biogenesis disorder genes

Isolation of human disease genes is a challenging process and can often only be achieved by labor-intensive positional cloning techniques. Fortunately, there are alternative strategies for isolation of peroxisome biogenesis disorder genes. The first, functional complementation, was established as a viable approach by Fujiki and colleagues, who identified PAF-1, the first known peroxisome biogenesis disorder gene. The second strategy, computer-based homology probing, relies on (1) the fact that peroxisome assembly has been conserved throughout the evolution of eukaryotes, (2) knowledge of the amino acid sequences of an increasing number of yeast peroxisome assembly (PAS) genes, and (3) the existence of sequence data from large numbers of human genes. The recent development of the expressed sequence tag (EST) database (dbEST) is fulfilling the last of these requirements. We have applied the homology probing strategy in the search for candidate genes for the peroxisome biogenesis disorders by routinely screening the database of ESTs for genes with significant sequence similarity to yeast PAS genes. The validity of this approach is demonstrated by its use in identifying PXR1 as the human orthologue of the Pichia pastoris PAS8 gene and PXAAA1 as a human homologue of the Pichia pastoris PAS5 gene. Furthermore, detailed analysis of PXR1 has revealed that mutations in this gene are responsible for complementation group 2 of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders. The demonstration that human homologues of yeast PAS genes exist and that mutations in these genes cause peroxisome biogenesis disorders demonstrates that yeast pas mutants are accurate and useful models for the analysis of these diseases.

A point mutation associated with a severe phenotype of neurofibromatosis 2

Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by bilateral vestibular schwannomas and other nonmalignant tumors of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. Although the average age of onset of NF2 is 20 years, some individuals may become symptomatic in childhood. We studied 5 unrelated NF2 patients who became symptomatic before age 13. All 5 had multiple tumors in addition to vestibular schwannoma, and none had a positive family history. Sequence analysis of the NF2 gene revealed identical nonsense mutation of exon 6 in 3 patients. Because this mutation destroys a restriction enzyme recognition site, genomic DNA from the 2 other children was directly tested for this change and identical alterations were detected. Although the work of our laboratory and others has not, in general, detected identical mutations in unrelated patients, this mutation seems to occur particularly frequently in the pediatric population and thus may be associated with an especially severe phenotype. Restriction analysis in children with NF2 may be a cost effective way of identifying their mutation. Further work is needed to characterize the effects of this change on the NF2 protein product and its relationship to this severe phenotype.

The peroxisome biogenesis disorder group 4 gene, PXAAA1, encodes a cytoplasmic ATPase required for stability of the PTS1 receptor

In humans, defects in peroxisome assembly result in the peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs), a group of genetically heterogeneous, lethal recessive diseases. We have identified the human gene PXAAA1 based upon its similarity to PpPAS5, a gene required for peroxisome assembly in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Expression of PXAAA1 restored peroxisomal protein import in fibroblasts from 16 unrelated members of complementation group 4 (CG4) of the PBD. Consistent with this observation, CG4 patients carry mutations in PXAAA1. The product of this gene, Pxaaa1p, belongs to the AAA family of ATPases and appears to be a predominantly cytoplasmic protein. Substitution of an arginine for the conserved lysine residue in the ATPase domain of Pxaaa1p abolished its biological activity, suggesting that Pxaaa1p is an ATPase. Furthermore, Pxaaa1p is required for stability of the predominantly cytoplasmic PTS1 receptor, Pxr1p. We conclude that Pxaaa1p plays a direct role in peroxisomal protein import and is required for PTS1 receptor activity.

Interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 6 associated with unusual limb anomalies: report of two new patients and review of the literature

We report on unusual manifestations in 2 unrelated children with interstitial deletion of 6q, with nearly identical breakpoints of 6q16.2q23.1 and 6q16.3q22.3. Major findings include growth retardation, profound developmental delay, microcephaly, facial anomalies, sparse hair, congenital heart defects, and striking hand malformations. Discordant anomalies were duodenal atresia and hypoplastic genitalia in 1 child. Split-hand defect, polydactyly, gastrointestinal anomalies, and ectodermal dysplasia have not been described previously in children with 6q deletion. The presence of hand malformations in 2 children with similar deletion breakpoints strongly suggests that this is a candidate region for one or more genes involved in limb development. Comparison of the clinical findings of other patients with 6q2 deletion suggests a recognizable phenotype.

Disorders of peroxisome biogenesis

The peroxisome is a ubiquitous, subcellular organelle containing more than 50 matrix enzymes that participate in a diverse array of metabolic pathways. Failure to assemble normal peroxisomes is the cellular hallmark of Zellweger syndrome and other human disorders of peroxisome biogenesis. Identification of the genes required for peroxisome biogenesis is proceeding at a rapid pace helped immeasurably by work in other species, particularly various yeasts. The ultimate goals of this effort are to identify all of these genes and to understand how their protein products interact to produce normal appearing and functioning peroxisomes. Attainment of these goals will lead to a better understanding of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders, their pathophysiology and treatment.

Mutations in the PTS1 receptor gene, PXR1, define complementation group 2 of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders

The peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are lethal recessive diseases caused by defects in peroxisome assembly. We have isolated PXR1, a human homologue of the yeast P. pastoris PAS8 (peroxisome assembly) gene. PXR1, like PAS8, encodes a receptor for proteins with the type-1 peroxisomal targeting signal (PTS1). Mutations in PXR1 define complementation group 2 of PBDs and expression of PXR1 rescues the PTS1 import defect of fibroblasts from these patients. Based on the observation that PXR1 exists both in the cytosol and in association with peroxisomes, we propose that PXR1 protein recognizes PTS1-containing proteins in the cytosol and directs them to the peroxisome.

Would provision of child care for nurses with young children ensure response to call-up during a wartime disaster? An Israeli hospital nursing survey

We suspected that the nurse/mother role conflict would be exacerbated during wartime, and our survey confirmed that this problem was real. A solution, in the form of shelters for children, was found and nurses were able to function during the Gulf War with the knowledge that their children were safe and near.