Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are both relentlessly progressive and ultimately fatal neurological disorders. ALS is familial in ～10%of cases and FTD in ～30%. Inheritance is us...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are both relentlessly progressive and ultimately fatal neurological disorders. ALS is familial in ～10%of cases and FTD in ～30%. Inheritance is usually autosomal dominant with variable penetrance. Phenotypic overlap between ALS and FTD can occur within the same kindred. Mutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are found in ～20%of familial and ～3%of sporadic ALS cases but are not associated with dementia. Mutations in microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) are detected in ～30%of familial FTD kindreds. Dominant ALS with FTD has previously been linked to 9q21 and pure ALS to loci on 16q21, 18q21, 20p13. Here we report the results of a genome-wide linkage study in a large ALS and FTD kindred using Affymetrix 10K GeneChip microarrays. Linkage analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data identified consistently positive log of the odds (LOD) scores across chromosome 9p (maximal LOD score of 2.4). Fine mapping the region with microsatellite markers generated a maximal multipoint LOD score of 3.02 (θ= 0) at D9S1878. Recombination narrowed the conserved haplotype to 12 cM (11 Mb) at 9p13.2-21.3 (flanking markers D9S2154 and D9S1874). Bioinformatic analysis of the region has identified 103 known genes.展开更多
Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy up to now has been considered a channelopathy caused by mutations in the α 4 and β 2 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, these mutations account for on...Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy up to now has been considered a channelopathy caused by mutations in the α 4 and β 2 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, these mutations account for only a minority of patients, and the existence of at least a new locus for the disease has been demonstrated. In one Italian nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy family, we identified two new putative loci on chromosomes 3 and 8, where several candidate genes are mapped. In particular, on chromosome 8, corticotropin-releasing hormone gene (CRH) appears to be a good candidate. We therefore searched for CRH mutations in the proband. The study allowed the identification of a nucle-otide variation in the promoter that was subsequently detected in all affected and obligate carrier members of the same family, in two sporadic cases, in all affected members of an additional compliant family, and in the proband of a noncompliant family. Moreover, a different mutation in the promoter was detected in a familial case. In vitro experiments showed altered levels of gene expression. CRH alterations could explain several autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy clinical features.展开更多
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are both relentlessly progressive and ultimately fatal neurological disorders. ALS is familial in ～10%of cases and FTD in ～30%. Inheritance is usually autosomal dominant with variable penetrance. Phenotypic overlap between ALS and FTD can occur within the same kindred. Mutations in copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are found in ～20%of familial and ～3%of sporadic ALS cases but are not associated with dementia. Mutations in microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT) are detected in ～30%of familial FTD kindreds. Dominant ALS with FTD has previously been linked to 9q21 and pure ALS to loci on 16q21, 18q21, 20p13. Here we report the results of a genome-wide linkage study in a large ALS and FTD kindred using Affymetrix 10K GeneChip microarrays. Linkage analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data identified consistently positive log of the odds (LOD) scores across chromosome 9p (maximal LOD score of 2.4). Fine mapping the region with microsatellite markers generated a maximal multipoint LOD score of 3.02 (θ= 0) at D9S1878. Recombination narrowed the conserved haplotype to 12 cM (11 Mb) at 9p13.2-21.3 (flanking markers D9S2154 and D9S1874). Bioinformatic analysis of the region has identified 103 known genes.
文摘Nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy up to now has been considered a channelopathy caused by mutations in the α 4 and β 2 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. However, these mutations account for only a minority of patients, and the existence of at least a new locus for the disease has been demonstrated. In one Italian nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy family, we identified two new putative loci on chromosomes 3 and 8, where several candidate genes are mapped. In particular, on chromosome 8, corticotropin-releasing hormone gene (CRH) appears to be a good candidate. We therefore searched for CRH mutations in the proband. The study allowed the identification of a nucle-otide variation in the promoter that was subsequently detected in all affected and obligate carrier members of the same family, in two sporadic cases, in all affected members of an additional compliant family, and in the proband of a noncompliant family. Moreover, a different mutation in the promoter was detected in a familial case. In vitro experiments showed altered levels of gene expression. CRH alterations could explain several autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy clinical features.
