| 1. |
- Travaglini, Lorena, et al.
(författare)
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Phenotypic spectrum and prevalence of INPP5E mutations in Joubert syndrome and related disorders
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Journal of Human Genetics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-5438 .- 1018-4813. ; 21:10, s. 8-1074
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Joubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous ciliopathies sharing a peculiar midbrain-hindbrain malformation known as the 'molar tooth sign'. To date, 19 causative genes have been identified, all coding for proteins of the primary cilium. There is clinical and genetic overlap with other ciliopathies, in particular with Meckel syndrome (MKS), that is allelic to JSRD at nine distinct loci. We previously identified the INPP5E gene as causative of JSRD in seven families linked to the JBTS1 locus, yet the phenotypic spectrum and prevalence of INPP5E mutations in JSRD and MKS remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we performed INPP5E mutation analysis in 483 probands, including 408 JSRD patients representative of all clinical subgroups and 75 MKS fetuses. We identified 12 different mutations in 17 probands from 11 JSRD families, with an overall 2.7% mutation frequency among JSRD. The most common clinical presentation among mutated families (7/11, 64%) was Joubert syndrome with ocular involvement (either progressive retinopathy and/or colobomas), while the remaining cases had pure JS. Kidney, liver and skeletal involvement were not observed. None of the MKS fetuses carried INPP5E mutations, indicating that the two ciliopathies are not allelic at this locus.
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| 2. |
- Lynch, Kristian, et al.
(författare)
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Cord blood islet autoantibodies and seasonal association with the type 1 diabetes high-risk genotype.
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Perinatology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0743-8346 .- 1476-5543. ; 28:3, s. 211-217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective:Human leukocyte antigen DQ (HLA-DQ) genetic factors and islet autoantibodies are strongly associated with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and are currently used to predict T1D. This study examined whether islet autoantibodies in the cord blood of newborns to nondiabetic mothers were associated with the (T1D) high-risk genotype HLA-DQ2/8, gestational infections or both.Study Design:Cord blood samples were taken from 33 683 newborns and used for HLA typing and analyses of islet autoantibodies. Parents completed questionnaires when the child was 2 months of age.Result:The prevalence of newborn islet autoantibodies consistently varied with season over 4 years (P<0.0001); lowest in first quarter (1.2%) and highest in third (2.4%). Cord blood islet autoantibodies were associated with HLA-DQ2/8 in the second (OR, 2.30; P=0.02), third (OR, 2.12; P=0.008) and fourth quarters (OR, 2.49; P=0.007), but not in the first (OR, 1.13). Reported gastroenteritis was additionally associated with islet autoantibodies in the third quarter (OR, 1.80, P=0.04).Conclusion:An association between HLA and islet autoimmunity may depend on environmental exposure during pregnancy. Follow-up of mothers and children will determine risk of T1D.Journal of Perinatology (2008) 28, 211-217; doi:10.1038/sj.jp.7211912; published online 14 February 2008.
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| 3. |
- Rigolio, Roberta, et al.
(författare)
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A new device to study ex-vivo the effects of extracorporeal photochemotherapy on the immune system
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology, B: Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1011-1344. ; 88:1, s. 68-75
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP) is a medical procedure effective in the treatment of several different T-cell mediated diseases such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and Graft-versus-Host Disease. During ECP treatment the patient's blood is processed by means of a cell separator to collect leukocytes (leukapheresis), mostly lymphocytes and monocytes, which are then incubated with the photoactive drug 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), exposed to ultraviolet-A light (UV-A) and reinfused to the patient. It has been suggested that during ECP not only UV-A irradiation but also changes in the environmental condition may be relevant. Although ECP has been shown to have an in-vivo immunomodulatory effect, the mechanisms through which ECP exerts its effect remain elusive. One of the reasons for this incomplete knowledge is the absence of a reliable model for ECP. In order to investigate the effect of ECP on the peripheral immune system, we developed a new device which mimics the complete ECP cycle including blood transit through the cell separator. Peripheral blood samples (50 ml) were obtained from volunteers and processed using a peristaltic pump. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were then collected and treated with 8-MOP and UV-A under the same conditions used for the patients' therapy. Using this strategy we investigated 8-MOP, UV-A and their combined effect on the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukine-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-alpha) in PBMC with and without polyclonal stimulation. We firstly demonstrated that our device does not affect total red and white blood cell counts. After 8-MOP and UV-A irradiation a significant decrease was observed in both activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes producing IFN-gamma, IL-2 and TNF-alpha. Our findings are in line with those previously obtained in humans after complete ECP treatment, thus suggesting that our newly developed device is suitable for investigating the mechanism of action of ECP ex-vivo. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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