ABSTRACT
SUMMARY Regenerationofbonetissue,aswellasothertissues,requiresinvolvementandinteraction of cells,scaffolds and relevant growth factors,among which growth factors play a crucial role in maintai-ning the stability of microenvironment.Nel-like-type 1 molecule (NELL-1 ),a novel growth factor in tis-sue engineering,has been studied intensively in recent years.Researches mainly covered gene and pro-tein structure and their expression profiling,biological function,molecular mechanisms and disease rele-vance.NELL-1 expressed in embryonic tissue is essential for growth and development of bone tissue. NELL-1 presents excellent abilities of inducing bone and cartilage regeneration,especially with high spe-cificity to chondrocyte lineage.Compared with classic osteogenic growth factor bone morphogenetic pro-tein 2 (BMP-2),the process of osteogenesis interacted with NELL-1 exhibits stronger specificity,higher bone density and fewerside effects.Furthermore,a recent study shows synergistic effects of NELL-1 and BMP-2.NELL-1 enhances the osteogenic reaction induced by BMP-2 of cells and notably declines in-flammation response caused by BMP-2.This review evaluates the current research progress of the function and application of NELL-1 by the systematic method of evidence-based medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of two patients with 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency and to explore their molecular genetic defects.Methods The clinical features and laboratory data of two patients were collected.The exons of HSD3B2 gene were amplified by PCR and sequenced by Sanger sequencing.Results Patient 1, aged 5 yrs old, was raised as a girl with 46, XY karyotype, presented with hyperpigmentation, female infant vulva, clitoral hypertrophy, and bilateral cryptorchidism;Patient 2, aged 11 yrs old, was raised as a girl at birth but as a boy after 1 yr old for known 46, XY karyotype, presented with hyperpigmentation, micropenis and severe hypospadias.Both patients had markedly elevated adrenocorticotropin and decreased cortisol.Two homozygous missense mutations in HSD3B2 gene were identified:conversions of codon Pro155 toLeu(p.P155L)inpatient1,andcodonAla82toThr(p.A82T)inpatient2,bothofwhichwerereportedforthe first time in China.Conclusion The patients with 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency in 46,XY karyotype mainly present with male pseudohermaphroditism and adrenocortical deficiency, and the diagnosis should rely on the steroids detection and HSD3B2 gene screening.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and molecular pathological mechanism of McCune-Albright syndrome ( MAS) in order to provide a guidance for the precision medicine of MAS. Method The clinical data and genetic findings of 41 patients with MAS were analyzed retrospectively. Results (1) MAS girls had the phenotype of peripheral precocious puberty with premature sexual development and high estradiol, low LH and FSH, and the increased volume of uterus and ovary. ( 2 ) In 41 MAS cases, there were 17 cases with GNAS1 gene mutation, and the total positive rate was 41. 5%, of which the classic triad was 66. 7%, two signs 56. 3%, and 12. 5% in only one classic sign. GNAS1 gene mutation was found in 78. 6% of patients with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia of bone, while only 55. 0% in patients with cafe au lait skin spots. Children with precocious puberty and fibrous dysplasia of bone is an important basis for clinical diagnosis of MAS, but cafe au lait skin spots does not seem to be the specifical manifestation of MAS. Conclusion Clinically MAS was lack of typical clinical manifestations, and the most important clinical weight factor for the diagnosis of MAS was peripheral precocious puberty with fibrous dysplasia of bone. GNAS1 gene screening may be helpful to improve the clinical accurate diagnosis of MAS.