Deleterious mutations in LRBA are associated with a syndrome of immune deficiency and autoimmunity.

in American Journal of Human Genetics (2012), 90(6), 986-1001

Most autosomal genetic causes of childhood-onset hypogammaglobulinemia are currently not well understood. Most affected individuals are simplex cases, but both autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive ... [more ▼]

Most autosomal genetic causes of childhood-onset hypogammaglobulinemia are currently not well understood. Most affected individuals are simplex cases, but both autosomal-dominant and autosomal-recessive inheritance have been described. We performed genetic linkage analysis in consanguineous families affected by hypogammaglobulinemia. Four consanguineous families with childhood-onset humoral immune deficiency and features of autoimmunity shared genotype evidence for a linkage interval on chromosome 4q. Sequencing of positional candidate genes revealed that in each family, affected individuals had a distinct homozygous mutation in LRBA (lipopolysaccharide responsive beige-like anchor protein). All LRBA mutations segregated with the disease because homozygous individuals showed hypogammaglobulinemia and autoimmunity, whereas heterozygous individuals were healthy. These mutations were absent in healthy controls. Individuals with homozygous LRBA mutations had no LRBA, had disturbed B cell development, defective in vitro B cell activation, plasmablast formation, and immunoglobulin secretion, and had low proliferative responses. We conclude that mutations in LRBA cause an immune deficiency characterized by defects in B cell activation and autophagy and by susceptibility to apoptosis, all of which are associated with a clinical phenotype of hypogammaglobulinemia and autoimmunity. [less ▲]

Influence of brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met human polymorphism on declarative memory consolidation

Poster (2010, November 15)

The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin which in the adult brain regulates long-term potentiation. In humans, valine (val) to methionine (met) substitution in the 5’ pro-region of ... [more ▼]

The Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin which in the adult brain regulates long-term potentiation. In humans, valine (val) to methionine (met) substitution in the 5’ pro-region of the BDNF protein is associated with poorer episodic memory. Neurons transfected with met-BDNF-Green Fluorescence Protein showed lower depolarization-induced secretion, while constitutive secretion is unchanged. Here, we hypothesized that the differences in BDNF release determined by this polymorphism would influence memory consolidation and that in comparison with the val/met (=val/met or met/met), val/val individuals would show higher memory performance and different brain responses during a 16h-delayed rather than immediate retrieval session. Participants encoded a series of neutral faces in the afternoon. Retrieval sessions took place one hour after the encoding session, and in the following morning, during the acquisition of functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) time series with a 3 Tesla Allegra scanner. During retrieval, studied faces and new ones were presented in random order. For each stimulus, the subjects indicated whether they could retrieve the encoding episode with (“Remember”), or without details (“Know”), or if they thought the item had not been presented during encoding (“New”). A repeated-measure ANOVA on discrimination index (d’) showed significant effects of group (F(1, 27)=8.65, p=0.007, n(val/val)=14, n(val/met)=15) and session (F(1, 27)=24.64, p=0.000), although the group by session interaction was not significant (F(1, 27)=1.29, p=0.267). fMRI results showed a significant genotype (val/val > val/met) by session (delayed > immediate retrieval) by memory type (Remember > Know) interaction in the right inferior occipital gyrus (x=42, y=-78, z=0, p=0.004, Z=3.77), the left inferior parietal lobule (x=-56, y=-40, z=48, p=0.013, Z=3.43), the posterior cingulate cortex (x=14, y=-42, z=42, p=0.019, Z=3.29) and the right hippocampus (x=28, y=-22, z=-22, p=0.03, Z=3.11). Val/val individuals demonstrate higher memory performance than met-carriers but the change in memory performance between immediate and delayed retests is similar in both allelic groups. In contrast, neural correlates of recollection change between sessions differently according to genotype: responses increase significantly more in val/val than in val/met individuals in brain areas involved in the retrieval, accumulation and binding of perceptual memory details during delayed, relative to immediate retest. These data suggest that activity-dependent BDNF release promotes memory consolidation during the first post-training hours. [less ▲]

An insertion-deletion polymorphism in the Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF5) gene confers risk of inflammatory bowel diseases

in Human Molecular Genetics (2007), 16(24), 3008-3016

The interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene encodes a transcription factor that plays an important role in the innate as well as in the cell-mediated immune responses. The IRF5 gene has been shown to ... [more ▼]

The interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) gene encodes a transcription factor that plays an important role in the innate as well as in the cell-mediated immune responses. The IRF5 gene has been shown to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. We studied whether the IRF5 gene is also associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), Crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Twelve polymorphisms in the IRF5 gene were genotyped in a cohort of 1007 IBD patients (748 CD and 254 UC) and 241 controls from Wallonia, Belgium. The same polymorphisms were genotyped in a confirmatory cohort of 311 controls and 687 IBD patients (488 CD and 192 UC) from Leuven, Belgium. A strong signal of association [P=1.9x10(-5), odds ratio (OR) 1.81 (1.37-2.39)] with IBD was observed for a 5 bp indel (CGGGG) polymorphism in the promoter region of the IRF5 gene. The association was detectable also in CD patients (P=6.8x10(-4)) and was particularly strong among the UC patients [P=5.3x10(-8), OR=2.42 (1.76-3.34)]. The association of the CGGGG indel was confirmed in the second cohort [P=3.2x10(-5), OR=1.59 (1.28-1.98)]. The insertion of one CGGGG unit is predicted to create an additional binding site for the transcription factor SP1. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we show allele-specific differences in protein binding to this repetitive DNA-stretch, which suggest a potential function role for the CGGGG indel. [less ▲]

Pharmacogenetics of infliximab in Crohn's disease

in Acta Endoscopica (2007), 37(4), 521-530

Pharmacogenetic studies will certainly contribute to a better management of medication in inflammatory bowel diseases. Infliximab is the most efficient drug in refractory and fistulising Crohn's disease ... [more ▼]

Pharmacogenetic studies will certainly contribute to a better management of medication in inflammatory bowel diseases. Infliximab is the most efficient drug in refractory and fistulising Crohn's disease. However, about one third of the patients do not respond to this treatment. Several studies have been performed to identify predictive factors of the response to infliximab in CD. We attempt to summarize the current knowledge on the use of infliximab in CD and focus on the result of these studies and more particularly on pharmacogenetic aspects. [less ▲]

The Tnf/Adam 17 System: Implication of an Adam 17 Haplotype in the Clinical Response to Infliximab in Crohn's Disease

in Pharmacogenetics and Genomics (2006), 16(10), 727-734

Infliximab, a chimeric anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antibody induces a clinical response in 70% of Crohn's disease patients and the response to infliximab therapy could be partially determined ... [more ▼]

Infliximab, a chimeric anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antibody induces a clinical response in 70% of Crohn's disease patients and the response to infliximab therapy could be partially determined by genetic factors. The implication of both transmembrane and soluble forms of the TNF-alpha in the mechanism of action of infliximab has been demonstrated. The aim of our work was first to perform a complete study of TNF variants role in the response to infliximab in Crohn's disease. Secondly, considering the role of ADAM 17 in TNF-alpha shedding, the ADAM 17 locus was also studied. The response to infliximab was evaluated in 222 Caucasian Crohn's disease patients with a luminal (n=160) or fistulizing (n=62) form of the disease. Clinical and biological response evaluation was based on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index score and C-reactive protein level evolutions, respectively. The entire TNF gene was sequenced on the complete cohort. Twelve single nucleotide polymorphisms spanning the ADAM 17 locus were studied and haplotypes rebuilt. A clinical response was observed in 64% of the patients and biological response in 77.1% of patients. No association was found between the TNF gene and the response to infliximab. One haplotype in the ADAM 17 region was associated with a clinical response to infliximab in CD patients (adjusted P=0.045). In conclusion, our results exclude, with a reasonable power, an implication of the TNF gene in the response to infliximab in Crohn's disease, but reveal a potential role of the ADAM 17 gene in this response. [less ▲]

Integration de la pharmacogenetique dans la pratique medicale

in Revue Médicale de Liège (2005), 60(12), 918-22

Today, the initiation of any medical treatment still raises questions about its efficacy and safety. Indeed, therapeutic responses vary over time and between individuals and are influenced by age, sex ... [more ▼]

Today, the initiation of any medical treatment still raises questions about its efficacy and safety. Indeed, therapeutic responses vary over time and between individuals and are influenced by age, sex, other treatments and the pathology itself. Genetic factors are thought to be responsible for 20 to 95% of these individual variations. Recent advances in biotechnology, molecular genetics and genomics allow a better understanding of drug metabolism and action. Pharmacogenetics, compiling phenotypic and genotypic data, may lead to a more personalized treatment. To allow a better approach of pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics, we will define these two terms and describe their actual and future clinical application. [less ▲]

Episphalosomic Syndrome : A Mca Syndrome Ressembling Fanconi Anemia, with Increased Baseline Level of Chromosome Breaks but No Hypersensivity to Clastogens

in Annales de Génétique (2001), 44(2, Apr-Jun), 59-62

We describe a child with facial dysmorphism (trigonocephaly, epicanthus, upturned nose, small ears), thumb hypoplasia, micropenis, jejunal atresia and moderate mental retardation with dysphasia ... [more ▼]

We describe a child with facial dysmorphism (trigonocephaly, epicanthus, upturned nose, small ears), thumb hypoplasia, micropenis, jejunal atresia and moderate mental retardation with dysphasia. Cytogenetic workup revealed high spontaneous level of chromosomal aberrations (without specific pattern and no quadriradial figures) and borderline to absent hypersensitivity to mitomycin C, making a diagnosis of Fanconi anemia unlikely. The child described here shares similarities with a small number of previous reports. We suggest to refer to this entity as episphalosomic syndrome. Episphalosomic syndrome shows some clinical overlap with Fanconi anemia, but lacks its cytogenetic hallmark. The hematological complications of Fanconi anemia have not been reported in this entity. [less ▲]