The crucial role of HFM1 in regulating FUS ubiquitination and localization for oocyte meiosis prophase I progression in mice.

BACKGROUND: Helicase for meiosis 1 (HFM1), a putative DNA helicase expressed in germ-line cells, has been reported to be closely associated with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). However, the underlying molecular mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the function of HFM1 in the first meiotic prophase of mouse oocytes. RESULTS: The results suggested that the deficiency of HFM1 resulting in increased apoptosis and depletion of oocytes in mice, while the oocytes were arrested in the pachytene stage of the first meiotic prophase. In addition, impaired DNA double-strand break repair and disrupted synapsis were observed in the absence of HFM1. Further investigation revealed that knockout of HFM1 promoted ubiquitination and degradation of FUS protein mediated by FBXW11. Additionally, the depletion of HFM1 altered the intranuclear localization of FUS and regulated meiotic- and oocyte development-related genes in oocytes by modulating the expression of BRCA1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings elaborated that the critical role of HFM1 in orchestrating the regulation of DNA double-strand break repair and synapsis to ensure meiosis procession and primordial follicle formation. This study provided insights into the pathogenesis of POI and highlighted the importance of HFM1 in maintaining proper meiotic function in mouse oocytes.

LncRNA XIST facilitates the odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp stem cells via the FUS/ZBTB16

Abstract Objective This study aims to explore the regulatory mechanism of long noncoding RNA X inactive specific transcript (lncRNA XIST) in the odontogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). hDPSCs were obtained from freshly extracted third molars and identified by flow cytometry. Methodology Odontogenic differentiation was induced in mineralized culture medium, and hDPSCs were infected with shRNA lentivirus targeting XIST or fused in sarcoma (FUS), followed by detection of alkaline phoshpatase (ALP) activity, alizarin red staining of mineralized nodules, Real-Time Quantitative Reverse Transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) quantification of XIST expression, and Western blot analysis of FUS, ZBTB16, and odontogenic differentiation markers (DSPP and DMP1). IF-FISH was performed to detect the cellular localization of XIST and FUS. RIP assay validated the XIST and FUS binding. ZBTB16 mRNA stability was tested after actinomycin D treatment. hDPSCs were infected with oe-ZBTB16 lentivirus and further treated with sh-XIST for a combined experiment. Results LncRNA XIST was highly expressed in hDPSCs with odontogenic differentiation. Downregulation of XIST or FUS weakened the ALP activity of hDPSCs, reduced mineralized nodules, diminished DSPP and DMP1 expressions. XIST binds to FUS to stabilize ZBTB16 mRNA and promote ZBTB16 expression. ZBTB16 overexpression partially reversed the inhibitory effect of XIST silencing on odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs. Conclusion In conclusion, XIST stabilizes ZBTB16 mRNA and promotes ZBTB16 expression by binding to FUS, thereby facilitating the odontogenic differentiation of hDPSCs.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, FUS and Protein Synthesis Defects.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects the motor system. It is a very heterogeneous disorder, so far more than 40 genes have been described as responsible for ALS. The cause of motor neuron degeneration is not yet fully understood, but there is consensus in the literature that it is the result of a complex interplay of several pathogenic processes, which include alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, defects in transcription and splicing, altered formation and/or disassembly of stress granules and impaired proteostasis. These defects result in protein aggregation, impaired DNA repair, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, impaired axonal transport, impaired vesicular transport, excitotoxicity, as well as impaired calcium influx. We argue here that all the above functions ultimately lead to defects in protein synthesis. Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) is one of the genes associated with ALS. It causes ALS type 6 when mutated and is found mislocalized to the cytoplasm in the motor neurons of sporadic ALS patients (without FUS mutations). In addition, FUS plays a role in all cellular functions that are impaired in degenerating motor neurons. Moreover, ALS patients with FUS mutations present the first symptoms significantly earlier than in other forms of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this review is to further discuss ALS6, detail the cellular functions of FUS, and suggest that the localization of FUS, as well as protein synthesis rates, could be hallmarks of the ALS phenotype and thus good therapeutic targets.

Intraosseous Spindle Cell/Epithelioid Rhabdomyosarcoma with TFCP2 Rearrangement: A Recent Recognized Subtype with Partial Response to Alectinib.

Rhabdomyosarcoma affects mainly pediatric patients and is currently classified into four categories: embryonal, alveolar, pleomorphic, and spindle cell/sclerosing. Recently, a molecular group of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma demonstrated new fusion transcripts involving FET-family genes with TFCP2. In this report, we describe a rare case of spindle cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcoma in a 19-year-old woman, presenting as a destructive lesion involving the condyle of mandible. Next generation sequencing was performed, revealing a FUS::TFCP2 fusion and deletion of ALK gene. Alectinib therapy was initiated, which resulted in a favorable response for 4 months. However, the patient died due progression of the tumor. To make an accurate diagnosis and ensure appropriate patient management, it is necessary to be aware of this variant and use proper immunohistochemical stains when facing malignant mesenchymal bone lesions, expanding its differential diagnosis.

FUS as a cause of familial Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a case report in a pregnant patient.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease. In 10% the disease is familial and rarely occurs in childbearing age women. A 28-year-old female pregnancy patient presented a two-month history of dropped head syndrome, dysphagia, muscle weakness, atrophy, and lingual wasting. Electromyography supported the diagnosis of ALS. Due to family history and background, we carried out molecular genetic testing. We identified a novel variant of uncertain significance: c. 1566 G > C (p.Arg522Ser) in exon 15 in FUS gene. Our findings provide the first case of ALS onset during pregnancy with a novel mutation in FUS gene reported in Mexico.

Acute myeloid leukemia associated with t(16:21)(p11;q22) in a pediatric patient / Leucemia mieloide aguda asociada con t(16:21)(p11;q22) en un paciente pediátrico

Abstract Background: Rare subgroups of pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), such as t(16:21) (p11;q22), require international cooperation to establish a proper stratification system to assign clinical risk. Case report: Here, we report a 13-year-old female who was admitted for asthenia, fatigue, and intermittent fever. The hematological data showed thrombocytopenia and anemia, and the bone marrow test showed 82.5% blast cells, which were positive for CD13, CD33, CD38, and CD117. Blast cells showed negative myeloperoxidase staining and positive periodic acid-Schiff staining. A diagnosis of AML M6 was made. Cells were positive for the fusion transcript FUS-ERG t(16;21)(p11;q22). The patient achieved morphological remission. However, molecular remission was not achieved, and she died 11 months after diagnosis. Conclusions: It is essential to report this sporadic case of AML to provide clinicians with data for clinical decision-making, such as for risk-group stratification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first association between this translocation and this morphological subtype.

Resumen Introducción: La leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA) infantil es una enfermedad heterogénea, por lo que existen subgrupos de rara presentación, como aquellos con t(16;21)(p11;q22). Para establecer el riesgo clínico y la estratificación pronóstica adecuada es necesaria la cooperación internacional. Caso clínico: Se reporta el caso de una adolescente de 13 años, admitida por astenia, adinamia y fiebre intermitente. Los datos hematológicos mostraron trombocitopenia y anemia, con un 82.5% de blastos en médula ósea, los cuales fueron positivos para CD13, CD33, CD38 y CD 117. Los blastos fueron negativos para mieloperoxidasa y positivos para ácido peryódico de Schiff. Se realizó el diagnóstico morfológico de LMA M6. Las células fueron positivas para el transcrito FUS-ERG t(16;21)(p11;q22). La paciente alcanzó la remisión morfológica; sin embargo, no fue posible la remisión molecular y falleció 11 meses después del diagnóstico. Conclusiones: Es importante reportar casos en los que se identifique un subtipo muy raro de LMA infantil para incrementar la evidencia clínica y contribuir con elementos que ayuden a tomar decisiones clínicas y lograr la estratificación en grupos de riesgo. Hasta la fecha, este el primer caso reportado en que se asocia el transcrito t(16;21)(p11;q22) con el subtipo morfológico LMA M6.

Acute myeloid leukemia associated with t(16:21)(p11;q22) in a pediatric patient.

Background: Background">Rare subgroups of pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), such as t(16:21) (p11;q22), require international cooperation to establish a proper stratification system to assign clinical risk. Case report: Here, we report a 13-year-old female who was admitted for asthenia, fatigue, and intermittent fever. The hematological data showed thrombocytopenia and anemia, and the bone marrow test showed 82.5% blast cells, which were positive for CD13, CD33, CD38, and CD117. Blast cells showed negative myeloperoxidase staining and positive periodic acid-Schiff staining. A diagnosis of AML M6 was made. Cells were positive for the fusion transcript FUS-ERG t(16;21)(p11;q22). The patient achieved morphological remission. However, molecular remission was not achieved, and she died 11 months after diagnosis. Conclusions: It is essential to report this sporadic case of AML to provide clinicians with data for clinical decision-making, such as for risk-group stratification. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first association between this translocation and this morphological subtype.

Introducción: La leucemia mieloide aguda (LMA) infantil es una enfermedad heterogénea, por lo que existen subgrupos de rara presentación, como aquellos con t(16;21)(p11;q22). Para establecer el riesgo clínico y la estratificación pronóstica adecuada es necesaria la cooperación internacional. Caso clínico: Se reporta el caso de una adolescente de 13 años, admitida por astenia, adinamia y fiebre intermitente. Los datos hematológicos mostraron trombocitopenia y anemia, con un 82.5% de blastos en médula ósea, los cuales fueron positivos para CD13, CD33, CD38 y CD 117. Los blastos fueron negativos para mieloperoxidasa y positivos para ácido peryódico de Schiff. Se realizó el diagnóstico morfológico de LMA M6. Las células fueron positivas para el transcrito FUS-ERG t(16;21)(p11;q22). La paciente alcanzó la remisión morfológica; sin embargo, no fue posible la remisión molecular y falleció 11 meses después del diagnóstico. Conclusiones: Es importante reportar casos en los que se identifique un subtipo muy raro de LMA infantil para incrementar la evidencia clínica y contribuir con elementos que ayuden a tomar decisiones clínicas y lograr la estratificación en grupos de riesgo. Hasta la fecha, este el primer caso reportado en que se asocia el transcrito t(16;21)(p11;q22) con el subtipo morfológico LMA M6.

Severe anemia in cats with urethral obstruction: 17 cases (2002-2011).

OBJECTIVE: To characterize clinical parameters of cats with severe anemia due to suspected urinary bladder hemorrhage associated with urethral obstruction. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Seventeen cats with urethral obstruction and severe anemia (group "UO-A") that required transfusion were identified via medical record database search. Thirty cats with urethral obstruction and mild or no anemia (group "UO") were included as controls. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median PCV of all cases at presentation was 28% (range, 9%-47%). Seven cats had PCV ≤20% at presentation, and all transfused cats had PCV ≤20% at the time of transfusion. Three cats did not receive a transfusion despite PCV ≤18%. Cats in the UO-A group had a significantly longer duration of clinical signs (P = 0.001), and were more likely to have a history of previous urethral obstruction (P = 0.011), have a heart murmur (P = 0.002), have a gallop rhythm (P = 0.005), and have lower blood pressure (P = 0.007) compared to those in the UO group. Additionally, UO-A cats had significantly lower pH, more negative base excess, higher BUN, and higher creatinine compared to UO cats. Duration of urinary catheterization was significantly (P = 0.016) longer in UO-A cats. All UO cats survived to discharge, whereas 4/17 (23.5%) UO-A cats were euthanized (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: A history of previous urethral obstruction and longer duration of clinical signs may be important risk factors for severe anemia in UO cats. Additionally, UO-A cats appeared to be more severely affected, as evidenced by lower blood pressure, more severe metabolic acidosis, higher BUN and creatinine, and worse outcome.

Neuropathology of frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a review / Neuropatologia da degeneração lobar frontotemporal: uma revisão

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the second most common cause of presenile dementia. Three main clinical variants are widely recognized within the FTLD spectrum: the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA). FTLD represents a highly heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders which are best classified according to the main protein component of pathological neuronal and glial inclusions. The most common pathological class of FTLD is associated with the TDP-43 protein (FTLD-TDP), while FTLD-Tau is considered slightly less common while the FTLD-FUS (Fused in sarcoma protein) pathology is rare. In this review, these three major pathological types of FTLD are discussed.

A degeneração lobar frontotemporal (DLFT) é a segunda principal causa de demência pré-senil. Sob o diagnóstido de DLFT, há três principais diagnósticos clínicos: demência frontotemporal variante comportamental (DFTvc), demência semântica (DS) e a afasia progressiva não Fluente (APNF). A DLFT representa um grupo heterogêneo de desordens degenerativas que são classificadas de acordo com o componente proteico patológico das inclusões neuronais e gliais. A classe patológica mais comum das DLFT é associada com a proteína TDP-43 (DLFT-TDP), seguida pela DLFT-Tau, enquanto a DLFT-FUS é rara. Nesta revisão, nós iremos discutir os três principais subtipos patológicos da DLFT.

Neuropathology of frontotemporal lobar degeneration: a review.

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the second most common cause of presenile dementia. Three main clinical variants are widely recognized within the FTLD spectrum: the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD) and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA). FTLD represents a highly heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders which are best classified according to the main protein component of pathological neuronal and glial inclusions. The most common pathological class of FTLD is associated with the TDP-43 protein (FTLD-TDP), while FTLD-Tau is considered slightly less common while the FTLD-FUS (Fused in sarcoma protein) pathology is rare. In this review, these three major pathological types of FTLD are discussed.

A degeneração lobar frontotemporal (DLFT) é a segunda principal causa de demência pré-senil. Sob o diagnóstido de DLFT, há três principais diagnósticos clínicos: demência frontotemporal variante comportamental (DFTvc), demência semântica (DS) e a afasia progressiva não Fluente (APNF). A DLFT representa um grupo heterogêneo de desordens degenerativas que são classificadas de acordo com o componente proteico patológico das inclusões neuronais e gliais. A classe patológica mais comum das DLFT é associada com a proteína TDP-43 (DLFT-TDP), seguida pela DLFT-Tau, enquanto a DLFT-FUS é rara. Nesta revisão, nós iremos discutir os três principais subtipos patológicos da DLFT.

Synaptic activity regulated mRNA-silencing foci for the fine tuning of local protein synthesis at the synapse.

The regulated synthesis of specific proteins at the synapse is important for neuron plasticity, and several localized mRNAs are translated upon specific stimulus. Repression of mRNA translation is linked to the formation of mRNA-silencing foci, including Processing Bodies (PBs) and Stress Granules (SGs), which are macromolecular aggregates that harbor silenced messengers and associated proteins. In a recent work, we identified a kind of mRNA-silencing foci unique to neurons, termed S-foci, that contain the post-transcriptional regulator Smaug1/SAMD4. Upon specific synaptic stimulation, the S-foci dissolve and release mRNAs to allow their translation, paralleling the cycling of mRNAs between PBs and polysomes in other cellular contexts. Smaug 1 and other proteins involved in mRNA regulation in neurons contain aggregation domains distinct from their RNA binding motifs, and we speculate that self-aggregation helps silencing and transport. In addition to S-foci and PBs, other foci formed by distinct RNA binding proteins, such as TDP-43 and FMRP among others, respond dynamically to specific synaptic stimuli. We propose the collective name of synaptic activity-regulated mRNA silencing (SyAS) foci for these RNP aggregates that selectively respond to distinct stimulation patterns and contribute to the fine-tuning of local protein synthesis at the synapse.

Imprevisibilidade familiar e suas implicações no desenvolvimento individual e familiar / Family unpredictability and its implications in the familiar and individual development

Definida como uma falta de consistência dos padrões de comportamento familiar e dos sistemas de regulação familiar, a imprevisibilidade familiar surge como um constructo interessante para apreender a forma como a família, e muito particularmente o sub-sistema parental, exerce o seu papel e o seu poder executivo. Pesquisas diversas têm associado maior imprevisibilidade familiar a perturbações do desenvolvimento familiar e do próprio desenvolvimento individual. Este artigo visa apresentar um estudo de validação da Family Unpredictability Scale (FUS), de Lisa Ross e Elizabeth Hill, para Portugal, ao mesmo tempo que discutir o seu valor na discriminação de famílias que técnicos com funções psicossociais diversas identificaram como estando perturbadas no exercício das suas funções familiares. Busca-se também realçar o papel que o nível educacional parece ter na variação do grau de imprevisibilidade familiar; os resultados mostram que são os pais com menor nível educacional que apresentam os mais elevados níveis de imprevisibilidade.

The family unpredictability is defined as a lack of consistency in standards of familiar behaviour and the familiar regulation systems. It is interesting for the understanding of how the family, and particularly the parental subsystem exerts its roles and executive power. Higher family unpredictability has been associated with higher disturbances of the familiar and individual development. This paper presents the validation of a Family Unpredictability Scale (FUS) described by Lisa Ross and Elizabeth Hill, for Portugal. It also evaluates the scale abilities to discriminate families with diverse perturbation levels in psychosocial functions. The lower educational level of parents was associated with higher levels of unpredictability.

La imprevisibilidad familiar es definida como una falta de consistencia en los patrones del comportamiento familiar y de los sistemas de regulación familiar, permitiendo aprender la forma como la familia y el sub-sistema familiar, ejerce su función y su poder ejecutivo. Es asociada una mayor imprevisibilidad familiar con perturbaciones del desarrollo familiar e individual. Presentamos la validación de la Family Unpredietability Seale (FUS), de Lisa Ross e Elizabeth Hill, para Portugal, discutiéndose su valor para discriminar familias, previamente identificadas como estando perturbadas en el ejercicio de sus funciones familiares. También destacamos la relación entre nivel educativo y variación del grado de imprevisibilidad familiar, siendo que padres con menor nivel educativo presentan niveles más elevados de imprevisibilidad.