Adverse effects of trichothiodystrophy DNA repair and transcription gene disorder on human fetal development.

The effects of DNA repair and transcription gene abnormalities in human pre-natal life have never been studied. Trichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare (affected frequency of 10(-6)) recessive disorder caused by mutations in genes involved in nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway and in transcription. Based on our novel clinical observations, we conducted a genetic epidemiologic study to investigate gestational outcomes associated with TTD. We compared pregnancies resulting in TTD-affected offspring (n = 24) with respect to abnormalities during their antenatal and neonatal periods to pregnancies resulting in their unaffected siblings (n = 18), accounting for correlation, and to population reference values. Significantly higher incidence of several severe gestational complications was noted in TTD-affected pregnancies. Small for gestational age (SGA) <10th percentile [Relative risk (RR ) = 9.3, 95% CI = 1.4-60.5, p = 0.02], SGA <3rd percentile (RR = 7.2, 95% CI = 1.1-48.1, p = 0.04), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalization (RR = 6.4, 95% CI = 1.4-29.5, p = 0.02) occurred more frequently among TTD-affected neonates compared with their unaffected siblings. Compared with reference values from general obstetrical population, pregnancies that resulted in TTD-affected infants were significantly more likely to be complicated by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome (RR = 35.7, 95% CI = 7.6-92.5, p = 0.0002), elevated mid-trimester maternal serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels (RR = 14.3, 95% CI = 7.0-16.6, p < 0.0001), SGA <3rd percentile (RR = 13.9, 95% CI = 7.4-21.1, p < 0.0001), pre-term delivery (<32 weeks) (RR = 12.0, 95% CI = 4.9-21.6, p < 0.0001), pre-eclampsia (RR = 4.0, 95% CI = 1.6-7.4, p = 0.006), and decreased fetal movement (RR = 3.3, 95% CI = 1.6-5.2, p = 0.0018). Abnormal placental development is an underlying mechanism that may explain the constellation of observed complications in our study. Thus, we hypothesize that TTD DNA repair and transcription genes play an important role in normal human placental development.

Xeroderma pigmentosum group C splice mutation associated with autism and hypoglycinemia.

A 4 y old boy of Korean ancestry had xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) with sun sensitivity, multiple cutaneous neoplasms, and inability to speak. Neurologic examination revealed hyperactivity and autistic features without typical XP neurologic abnormalities. Cultured skin fibroblasts (XP22BE) showed decreased post-UV survival, reduced post-UV plasmid host cell reactivation and defective DNA repair (16% of normal unscheduled DNA synthesis in intact cells and undetectable excision repair in a cell free extract). In vitro and in vivo complementation assigned XP22BE to XP group C (XPC) and a markedly reduced level of XPC mRNA was found. Two XPC cDNA bands were identified. One band had a deletion of 161 bases comprising the entire exon 9, which resulted in premature termination of the mutant XPC mRNA. The larger band also had the same deletion of exon 9 but, in addition, had an insertion of 155 bases in its place (exon 9a), resulting in an in-frame XPC mRNA. Genomic DNA analysis revealed a T-->G mutation at the splice donor site of XPC exon 9, which markedly reduced its information content. The 155 base pair XPC exon 9a insertion was located in intron 9 and was flanked by strong splice donor and acceptor sequences. Analysis of the patient's blood showed persistently low levels of glycine (68 microM; NL, 125-318 microM). Normal glycine levels were maintained with oral glycine supplements and his hyperactivity diminished. These data provide evidence of an association of an XPC splice site mutation with autistic neurologic features and hypoglycinemia.

Protection against ultraviolet B radiation-induced effects in the skin of SKH-1 hairless mice by a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea.

In prior studies we and others have shown that oral feeding of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP) or water extract of green tea affords protection against ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation-induced carcinogenesis in SKH-1 hairless mice (Wang et al., Carcinogenesis 12, 1527-1530, 1991). It is known that exposure of murine skin to UVB radiation results in cutaneous edema, depletion of the antioxidant-defense system and induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and cyclooxygenase activities. In this study we assessed the protective effect of GTP on these UVB radiation-caused changes in murine skin. Oral feeding of 0.2% GTP (wt/vol) as the sole source of drinking water for 30 days to SKH-1 hairless mice followed by irradiation with UVB (900 mJ/cm2) resulted in significant protection against UVB radiation-caused cutaneous edema (P < 0.0005) and depletion of the antioxidant-defense system in epidermis (P < 0.01-0.02). The oral feeding of GTP also resulted in significant protection against UVB radiation-caused induction of epidermal ODC (P < 0.005-0.01) and cyclooxygenase activities (P < 0.0001) in a time-dependent manner. Our data indicate that the inhibition of UVB radiation-caused changes in these markers of tumor promotion in murine skin by GTP may be one of the possible mechanisms of chemopreventive effects associated with green tea against UVB-induced tumorigenesis. The results of this study suggest that green tea, specifically polyphenols present therein, may be useful against inflammatory responses associated with the exposure of skin to solar radiation.

Enhancement of antioxidant and phase II enzymes by oral feeding of green tea polyphenols in drinking water to SKH-1 hairless mice: possible role in cancer chemoprevention.

Following the oral feeding of a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP) in drinking water, an increase in the activities of antioxidant and phase II enzymes in skin, small bowel, liver, and lung of female SKH-1 hairless mice was observed. GTP feeding (0.2%, w/v) to mice for 30 days significantly increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and quinone reductase in small bowel, liver, and lungs, and glutathione S-transferase in small bowel and liver. GTP feeding to mice also resulted in considerable enhancement of glutathione reductase activity in liver. In general, the increase in antioxidant and phase II enzyme activities was more pronounced in lung and small bowel as compared to liver and skin. The significance of these results can be implicated in relation to the cancer chemopreventive effects of GTP against the induction of tumors in various target organs.