Variable loss of functional activities of androgen receptor mutants in patients with androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Androgen receptor (AR) mutations in androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) are associated with a variety of clinical phenotypes. The aim of the present study was to compare the molecular properties and potential pathogenic nature of 8 novel and 3 recurrent AR variants with a broad variety of functional assays. Eleven AR variants (p.Cys177Gly, p.Arg609Met, p.Asp691del, p.Leu701Phe, p.Leu723Phe, p.Ser741Tyr, p.Ala766Ser, p.Arg775Leu, p.Phe814Cys, p.Lys913X, p.Ile915Thr) were analyzed for hormone binding, transcriptional activation, cofactor binding, translocation to the nucleus, nuclear dynamics, and structural conformation. Ligand-binding domain variants with low to intermediate transcriptional activation displayed aberrant Kd values for hormone binding and decreased nuclear translocation. Transcriptional activation data, FxxFF-like peptide binding and DNA binding correlated well for all variants, except for p.Arg609Met, p.Leu723Phe and p.Arg775Leu, which displayed a relatively higher peptide binding activity. Variants p.Cys177Gly, p.Asp691del, p.Ala766Ser, p.Phe814Cys, and p.Ile915Thr had intermediate or wild type values in all assays and showed a predominantly nuclear localization in living cells. All transcriptionally inactive variants (p.Arg609Met, p.Leu701Phe, p.Ser741Tyr, p.Arg775Leu, p.Lys913X) were unable to bind to DNA and were associated with complete AIS. Three variants (p.Asp691del, p.Arg775Leu, p.Ile915Thr) still displayed significant functional activities in in vitro assays, although the clinical phenotype was associated with complete AIS. The data show that molecular phenotyping based on 5 different functional assays matched in most (70%) but not all cases.

Fragile X syndrome: clinical, cytogenetic and molecular screening among autism spectrum disorder children in Indonesia.

Fragile X testing is a priority in the evaluation of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) cases because identification of the FMR1 mutation leads to new treatment options. This study is focused on determining the prevalence of the FMR1 gene mutation among ASD cases in Indonesia. DSM-IV-TR criteria were administered to diagnose ASD; symptom severity was classified using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Cytogenetic analysis, polymerase chain reaction, and Southern blot for FMR1 gene analysis were carried out to confirm the diagnosis of fragile X syndrome. The fragile X site and FMR1 full mutation allele were identified in 3 out of 65 (4.6%) and 4 out of 65 (6.15%) children aged 3-17 years (57 boys and 8 girls), respectively. The Fragile X laboratory workup is essential in the evaluation of patients with ASD. Molecular analysis is most accurate, while cytogenetic documentation of the fragile X site can also be useful if molecular testing is not available.

The fragile X-associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) in Indonesia.

Fragile X-associated disorders caused by the premutation of the FMR1 gene, includes the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). FXTAS affects more than 40% of premutation males over the age of 50 and 75% over the age of 80. FMR1 molecular analysis was done using PCR and confirmed by Southern Blot. Three premutation males were diagnosed FXTAS using quantification based on the standard neurological examination. Cognitive impairment was assessed using Raven and WAIS-R test. MRI was done to identify the middle cerebellar peduncle (MCP) sign, white matter disease and/or cerebral atrophy. Three cases of FXTAS are identified, of five individuals older than 50 years in one family tree two met criteria for definite FXTAS and the third with sub-clinical symptoms, although cognitive and radiological criteria are met. These cases are the first identified FXTAS cases in rural Indonesia. In addition with lack of routine medical follow-up, complications of FXTAS, such as hypertension may go unrecognized and untreated, which may further exacerbate the central nervous system (CNS) findings of FXTAS.

A novel homozygous 5 bp deletion in FKBP10 causes clinically Bruck syndrome in an Indonesian patient.

We report an Indonesian patient with bone fragility and congenital joint contractures. The initial diagnosis was Osteogenesis Imperfecta type III (OI type III) based on clinical and radiological findings. Because of (i) absence of COL1A1/2 mutations, (ii) a consanguineous pedigree with a similarly affected sibling and (iii) the existence of congenital joint contractures with absence of recessive variants in PLOD2, mutation analysis was performed of the FKBP10 gene, recently associated with Bruck syndrome and/or recessive OI. A novel homozygous deletion in FKBP10 was discovered. Our report of the first Indonesian patient with clinically Bruck syndrome, confirms the role of causative recessive FKBP10 mutations in this syndrome.

Correlation between androstenedione and 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels in the saliva and plasma of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) or adrenogenital syndrome is the most common cause of female ambiguous genitalia. Management of such patients involves medical treatment using glucocorticoids such as hydrocortisone, prednisone or dexamethasone. Monitoring is done by measurement of 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) or androstenedione in serum, plasma or saliva. The aim of this study was to develop a system of monitoring steroid treatment in CAH patients using only saliva. METHODS: We studied the saliva of 24 CAH patients who received glucocorticoid replacement therapy. The patients were asked to collect saliva upon awakening, and in the afternoon and evening. The levels of 17-OHP and androstenedione in the saliva as well as in serum were then measured by immunoassay. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between 17-OHP in serum and in saliva (R equals 0.929, p-value less than 0.01). A significant positive correlation between androstenedione level in saliva and serum was also found (R equals 0.611, p-value less than 0.01). This study also revealed a significant positive correlation between androstenedione and 17-OHP in serum (R equals 0.647, p-value less than 0.01) and saliva (R equals 0.799, p-value less than 0.01). All patients showed increased level of 17-OHP and androstenedione in the sample collected upon awakening. CONCLUSION: Determination of salivary androstenedione and 17-OHP in CAH patients could be a useful alternative to the measurement of these hormones in serum.

A small (sSMC) chromosome 22 due to a maternal translocation between chromosomes 8 and 22: a case report.

We report on a boy with partial trisomies for chromosomes 8 and 22 caused by the presence of a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC), a der(22)t(8;22)(p22;q11.21), inherited from a t(8;22)(p22;q11.21) translocation carrier mother. He has mild mental retardation, unability to speak distinct words and several minor anomalies i.e. high forehead and hairline, telecanthus, upslanting palpebral fissures, depressed nasal bridge, nail hypoplasia, toe position anomaly and 5th finger clinodactyly. He has two maternal uncles and one maternal aunt with mental retardation. G-banding technique showed 47,XY,+mar whilst his mother's karyotype showed a balanced reciprocal translocation between the chromosomes 8 and 22. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) technique with probes for centromere 22 and 8pter were used to detect the origin of marker chromosome and confirmed the marker chromosome in the proband showing to be extra chromosomal material originated from chromosome 8 and 22. Additional genome wide microarray analysis, using the Affymetrix Nspl 250K SNP array platform was performed to further characterize the marker chromosome and resulted in a der(22)t(8;22)(p22;q11.21). Furthermore, cytogenetic analysis of three affected family members showed the same unbalanced translocation, due to 3:1 meiotic segregation. This indicated the viability of this unbalanced pattern and combined with the recurrent miscarriages by the proband's mother, the mechanism of transmitting extrachromosomal material is probably not a random process. Since, there is no similar translocation (8p;22q) reported and the chromosomal translocation largely exists of additional 8p22-8pter we compare the clinical outcomes with reported cases of 8p22-8pter triplication, although there is a part of genetic material derived from chromosome 22 present. This unique familial chromosome translocation case from Indonesia will give insight in the underlying mechanism of this recurrent chromosomal abnormality and clinical features of the patients will be compared to previously published cases.

Functional analysis of novel androgen receptor mutations in a unique cohort of Indonesian patients with a disorder of sex development.

Mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, rendering the AR protein partially or completely inactive, cause androgen insensitivity syndrome, which is a form of a 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD). We present 3 novel AR variants found in a cohort of Indonesian DSD patients: p.I603N, p.P671S, and p.Q738R. The aim of this study was to determine the possible pathogenic nature of these newly found unclassified variants. To investigate the effect of these variants on AR function, we studied their impact on transcription activation, AR ligand-binding domain interaction with an FxxLF motif containing peptide, AR subcellular localization, and AR nuclear dynamics and DNA-binding. AR-I603N had completely lost its transcriptional activity due to disturbed DNA-binding capacity and did not show the 114-kDa hyperphosphorylated AR protein band normally detectable after hormone binding. The patient with AR-I603N displays a partial androgen insensitivity syndrome phenotype, which is explained by somatic mosaicism. A strongly reduced transcriptional activity was observed for AR-Q738R, together with diminished interaction with an FxxLF motif containing peptide. AR-P671S also showed reduced transactivation ability, but no change in DNA- or FxxLF-binding capacity and interferes with transcriptional activity for as yet unclear reasons.

Increased PAI-1 plasma levels and risk of death from dengue: no association with the 4G/5G promoter polymorphism.

BACKGROUND: Dengue virus infected patients have high plasminogen activator inhibitor type I (PAI-1) plasma concentrations. Whether the insertion/deletion (4G/5G) polymorphism in the promotor region of the PAI-1 gene is associated with increased PAI-1 plasma concentrations and with death from dengue is unknown. We, therefore, investigated the relationship between the 4G/5G polymorphism and PAI-1 plasma concentrations in dengue patients and risk of death from dengue. METHODS: A total of 194 patients admitted to the Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang, Indonesia, with clinical suspected severe dengue virus infection were enrolled. Blood samples were obtained on day of admission, days 1, 2 and 7 after admission and at a 1-month follow-up visit. Plasma concentrations of PAI-1 were measured using a sandwich ELISA kit. The PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was typed by allele-specific PCR analysis. RESULTS: Concentrations of PAI-1 on admission and peak values of PAI-1 during admission were higher than the values measured in healthy controls. Survival was significantly worse in patients with PAI-1 concentrations in the highest tertile (at admission: OR 4.7 [95% CI 0.9-23.8], peak value during admission: OR 6.3 [95%CI 1.3-30.8]). No association was found between the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism, and PAI-1 plasma concentrations, dengue disease severity and mortality from dengue. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the 4G/5G polymorphism has no significant influence on PAI-1 concentrations in dengue virus infected patients and is not associated with the risk of death from dengue. Other factors contributing to the variability of PAI-1 plasma concentrations in patients with dengue need to be explored.