An update on Fanconi anemia: Clinical, cytogenetic and molecular approaches (Review).

Fanconi anemia is a genetic syndrome clinically characterized by congenital malformations that affect several human systems, leads to progressive bone marrow failure and predisposes an individual to cancer, particularly in the urogenital area as well as the head and neck. It is commonly caused by the biallelic compromise of one of 22 genes involved in the FA/BRCA repair pathway in most cases. The diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and confirmation using genetic analysis, where the chromosomal breakage test is considered the gold standard. Other diagnostic methods used include western blotting, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and next-generation sequencing. This genetic condition has variable expressiveness, which makes early diagnosis difficult in certain cases. Although early diagnosis does not currently allow for improved cure rates for this condition, it does enable healthcare professionals to perform a specific systematic follow-up and, if indicated, a bone marrow transplantation that improves the mobility and mortality of affected individuals. The present review article is a theoretical revision of the pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and diagnosis methods intended for different specialists and general practitioners to improve the diagnosis of this condition.

RUNX1 gene expression changes in the placentas of women smokers.

The placenta can be affected by environmental factors, such as exposure to cigarette smoke. This exposure in the fetal context is considered a risk factor for the development of short-term postnatal diseases, such as asthma. Asthma is an inflammatory disease characterized by predominant acquisition of CD4 T lymphocytes (TLs) of the Th2 type. Transcription factors such as GATA binding protein 3 (GATA3) and STAT6 actively participate in the differentiation of virgin TLs towards the Th2 profile, while transcription factors such as STAT1, T-Box transcription factor 21 (T-BET), RUNX1 and RUNX3 participate in their differentiation towards the Th1 profile. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the impact of exposure to cigarette smoke on the gene expression of STAT1, T-BET, GATA3, IL-4, RUNX1 and RUNX3 during the gestation period, and to determine whether the expression levels of these genes are associated with changes in global methylation. STAT1, GATA3, RUNX1 and RUNX3 protein and mRNA expression levels in the placental tissue of women smokers and non-smoking women were determined via immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR (qPCR) respectively. Additionally, T-BET and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were determined by qPCR. On the other hand, global methylation was determined via ELISA. In the present study, significant increases were observed in RUNX1 transcription factor expression in placentas from women smokers when compared with placentas of non-smoking women. Similarly, significant increases in the expression of GATA3, IL-4 and RUNX3 mRNA were observed. The changes in gene expression were not associated with changes in the global methylation levels. Finally, a higher frequency of low-birth-weight infants were identified in cases of exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy when compared with infants not exposed to cigarette smoke during pregnancy. Thus, the data of the present study contributed to the understanding of the genetic and clinical impacts of exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy and its importance in maternal and fetal health.

Role of RUNX2 transcription factor in epithelial mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer: Epigenetic control of the RUNX2 P1 promoter.

Lung cancer has a high mortality rate in men and women worldwide. Approximately 15% of diagnosed patients with this type of cancer do not exceed the 5-year survival rate. Unfortunately, diagnosis is established in advanced stages, where other tissues or organs can be affected. In recent years, lineage-specific transcription factors have been associated with a variety of cancers. One such transcription factor possibly regulating cancer is RUNX2, the master gene of early and late osteogenesis. In thyroid and prostate cancer, it has been reported that RUNX2 regulates expression of genes important in tumor cell migration and invasion. In this study, we report on RUNX2/ p57 overexpression in 16 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer and/or metastatic lung cancer associated with H3K27Ac at P1 gene promoter region. In some patients, H3K4Me3 enrichment was also detected, in addition to WDR5, MLL2, MLL4, and UTX enzyme recruitment, members of the COMPASS-LIKE complex. Moreover, transforming growth factor-ß induced RUNX2/ p57 overexpression and specific RUNX2 knockdown supported a role for RUNX2 in epithelial mesenchymal transition, which was demonstrated through loss of function assays in adenocarcinoma A549 lung cancer cell line. Furthermore, RUNX2 increased expression of epithelial mesenchymal transition genes VIMENTIN, TWIST1, and SNAIL1, which reflected increased migratory capacity in lung adenocarcinoma cells.

[Polymorphisms of IL-10 gene promoter and rheumatoid arthritis in a Colombian population]. / Polimorfismos de la región promotora del gen de la IL-10 y artritis reumatoide en una población colombiana.

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease driven by TH1 CD4+ cells. Interleukin-10 is present in higher concentrations in serum and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and has a marked anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, it is capable of stimulating B cells and increasing autoantibody production. Interleukin-10 synthesis is under genetic control. OBJECTIVE: Three polymorphisms of the promoter region were analyzed for interleukin-10 genes -1082, -819 and -592. Subjects were patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with a control population for these genes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 102 matched healthy controls were studied. The following data were taken from the rheumatoid arthritis patients: age of disease onset, presence and titers of rheumatoid factor, and history of replacement joint surgery. Genotypes were obtained by polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific primer method. The three polymorphisms are in strong linkage-disequilibrium and form three haplotypes -1082A/-819C/-592C, -1082A/-819T/-592A y -1082G/-819C/-592C. RESULTS: No association was detected between Interleukin-10 alleles, haplotypes/genotypes and rheumatoid arthritis. No significant differences occurred between interleukin-10 polymorphisms and age of disease onset, presence and titer of rheumatoid factor and history of major joint replacement. CONCLUSIONS: Interleukin-10 is an important regulator of the immune response and likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The current results suggested that Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms were not important for development or severity of rheumatoid arthritis.

Polimorfismos de la región promotora del gen de la IL-10 y artritis reumatoide en una población colombiana / Polymorphisms of IL-10 gene promoter and rheumatoid arthritis in a Colombian population

Introducción. La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad inflamatoria con un predominio de la actividad de las células TH1 CD4+. La interleucina-10, presente en altas concentraciones en suero y líquido sinovial de pacientes con artritis reumatoide, tiene una marcada actividad antinflamatoria, al mismo tiempo que estimula las células B y la generación de autoanticuerpos. La producción de la interleucina-10 está bajo control genético. Objetivo. En este estudio analizamos los polimorfismos de la región promotora de la interleucina-10 -1082, -819 y -592 en pacientes con artritis reumatoide y en una población control, y su asociación con edad de inicio de la enfermedad, presencia y títulos de factor reumatoideo e historia de reemplazo articular. Materiales y métodos. Se estudiaron 102 pacientes con artritis reumatoide y 102 controles. La genotipificación se realizó por reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, iniciador específico de secuencia. Los tres polimorfismos están en marcado desequilibrio de unión y forman tres haplotipos –1082A/-819C/-592C, –1082A/-819T/-592A y –1082G/-819C/-592C. Resultados. No se encontró asociación de la artritis reumatoide con las diferentes variaciones alélicas, haplotípicas ni genotípicas del promotor de la interleucina-10. Tampoco se encontraron diferencias significativas con inicio de la enfermedad, presencia y títulos de factor reumatoideo e historia de reemplazo articular. Conclusiones. La interleucina-10 es uno de los principales reguladores de la respuesta inmune y por lo tanto podría jugar un papel importante en la patogénesis de la artritis reumatoide; sin embargo, nuestros resultados no dan evidencia de una asociación genética entre los polimorfismos estudiados y el desarrollo o gravedad de la artritis reumatoide.

Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disease driven by TH1 CD4+ cells. Interleukin-10 is present in higher concentrations in serum and synovial fluid from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and has a marked anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, it is capable of stimulating B cells and increasing autoantibody production. Interleukin-10 synthesis is under genetic control. Objective. Three polymorphisms of the promoter region were analyzed for interleukin-10 genes -1082, -819 and -592. Subjects were patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared with a control population for these genes. Material and methods. One hundred two patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 102 matched healthy controls were studied. The following data were taken from the rheumatoid arthritis patients: age of disease onset, presence and titers of rheumatoid factor, and history of replacement joint surgery. Genotypes were obtained by polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific primer method. The three polymorphisms are in strong linkage-disequilibrium and form three haplotypes –1082A/-819C/-592C, –1082A/-819T/-592A y –1082G/-819C/-592C. Results. No association was detected between Interleukin-10 alleles, haplotypes/genotypes and rheumatoid arthritis. No significant differences occurred between interleukin-10 polymorphisms and age of disease onset, presence and titer of rheumatoid factor and history of major joint replacement. Conclusions. Interleukin-10 is an important regulator of the immune response and likely plays a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. The current results suggested that Interleukin- 10 promoter polymorphisms were not important for development or severity of rheumatoid arthritis.