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Christiaens AB, Deprez PML, Amyere M, Mendola A, Bernard P, Gillerot Y, Clapuyt P, Godfraind C, Lengelé BG, Vikkula M, Nyssen-Behets C. Isolated bilateral transverse agenesis of the distal segments of the lower limbs at the level of the knee joint in a human fetus. Am J Med Genet A 2015; 170A:523-530. [PMID: 26544544 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.37462] [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] [Received: 10/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Congenital limb anomalies occur in Europe with a prevalence of 3.81/1,000 births and can have a major impact on patients and their families. The present study concerned a female fetus aborted at 23 weeks of gestation because she was affected by non-syndromic bilateral absence of the zeugopod (leg) and autopod (foot). Autopsy of the aborted fetus, X-ray imaging, MRI, and histochemical analysis showed that the distal extremity of both femurs was continued by a cartilage-like mass, without joint cavitation. Karyotype was normal. Moreover, no damaging variant was detected by exome sequencing. The limb characteristics of the fetus, which to our knowledge have not yet been reported in humans, suggest a developmental arrest similar to anomalies described in chicks following surgical experiments on the apical ectodermal ridge of the lower limbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine B Christiaens
- Pôle de Morphologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.,Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre M L Deprez
- Ecole de Kinésiologie et Récréologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé et Services Communautaires, Université de Moncton, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada.,Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Mustapha Amyere
- Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antonella Mendola
- Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pierre Bernard
- Department of Obstetrics, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yves Gillerot
- Centre for Human Genetics, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Philippe Clapuyt
- Department of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine Godfraind
- Laboratory of Pathology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Benoît G Lengelé
- Pôle de Morphologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miikka Vikkula
- Human Molecular Genetics, de Duve Institute, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catherine Nyssen-Behets
- Pôle de Morphologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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Deprez PML, Nichane MG, Lengelé BG, Rezsöhazy R, Nyssen-Behets C. Molecular study of a Hoxa2 gain-of-function in chondrogenesis: a model of idiopathic proportionate short stature. Int J Mol Sci 2013; 14:20386-98. [PMID: 24129174 PMCID: PMC3821620 DOI: 10.3390/ijms141020386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In a previous study using transgenic mice ectopically expressing Hoxa2 during chondrogenesis, we associated the animal phenotype to human idiopathic proportionate short stature. Our analysis showed that this overall size reduction was correlated with a negative influence of Hoxa2 at the first step of endochondral ossification. However, the molecular pathways leading to such phenotype are still unknown. Using protein immunodetection and histological techniques comparing transgenic mice to controls, we show here that the persistent expression of Hoxa2 in chondrogenic territories provokes a general down-regulation of the main factors controlling the differentiation cascade, such as Bapx1, Bmp7, Bmpr1a, Ihh, Msx1, Pax9, Sox6, Sox9 and Wnt5a. These data confirm the impairment of chondrogenic differentiation by Hoxa2 overexpression. They also show a selective effect of Hoxa2 on endochondral ossification processes since Gdf5 and Gdf10, and Bmp4 or PthrP were up-regulated and unmodified, respectively. Since Hoxa2 deregulation in mice induces a proportionate short stature phenotype mimicking human idiopathic conditions, our results give an insight into understanding proportionate short stature pathogenesis by highlighting molecular factors whose combined deregulation may be involved in such a disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre M. L. Deprez
- Ecole de Kinésiologie et Récréologie, Faculté des Sciences de la Santé et Services Communautaires, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada; E-Mail:
| | - Miloud G. Nichane
- Embryologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium; E-Mails: (M.G.N.); (R.R.)
| | - Benoît G. Lengelé
- Pôle de Morphologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels 1200, Belgium; E-Mail:
| | - René Rezsöhazy
- Embryologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire Animale, Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium; E-Mails: (M.G.N.); (R.R.)
| | - Catherine Nyssen-Behets
- Pôle de Morphologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels 1200, Belgium; E-Mail:
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