Alterations of the RRAS and ERCC1 genes at 19q13 in gemistocytic astrocytomas.

Gemistocytic astrocytoma (World Health Organization grade II) is a rare variant of diffuse astrocytoma that is characterized by the presence of neoplastic gemistocytes and has a significantly less favorable prognosis. Other than frequent TP53 mutations (>80%), little is known about its molecular profile. Here, we show that gemistocytic astrocytomas carry a lower frequency of IDH mutations than fibrillary astrocytomas (74% vs 92%; p = 0.

Detection and genetic characterization of Seoul virus from commensal brown rats in France.

Background: Hantaviruses are single-stranded RNA viruses, which are transmitted to humans primarily via inhalation of aerosolised virus in contaminated rodent urine and faeces. Whilst infected reservoir hosts are asymptomatic, human infections can lead to two clinical manifestations, haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), with varying degrees of clinical severity. The incidence of rodent and human cases of Seoul virus (SEOV) in Europe has been considered to be low, and speculated to be driven by the sporadic introduction of infected brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) via ports.

Molecular characterization of the AMPA-receptor potentiator S70340 in rat primary cortical culture: whole-genome expression profiling.

To improve our understanding of the molecular events underlying the effects of positive allosteric modulators of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid (S)-AMPA-type glutamate receptors, gene expression profiles of primary cortical culture were measured by Agilent-Microarray technique under (S)-AMPA (1μM) stimulation for 0.5, 6, 24 and 48h in the presence or absence of S70340 (30μM), an allosteric potentiator of AMPA receptors. (S)-AMPA and S70340 treatment alone have little effect on gene expression whereas as early as 6h, their combination induced a large number of genes known to decrease apoptosis and mediate cell survival.

A novel mutation in the GUCY2D gene responsible for an early onset severe RP different from the usual GUCY2D-LCA phenotype.

Patients carrying mutations in the retinal guanylate cyclase (GUCY2D) gene were reported to be constantly affected with a particular form of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) defined as a "congenital stationary cone-rod dystrophy with high hypermetropia, panretinal degeneration and highly reduced visual acuity". We report here, the study of two patients affected with different retinal disorder: a typical GUCY2D-LCA phenotype and early-onset severe retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Unexpectedly, they gave birth to an infant suffering from LCA.

Retinal dehydrogenase 12 (RDH12) mutations in leber congenital amaurosis.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), the most early-onset and severe form of all inherited retinal dystrophies, is responsible for congenital blindness. Ten LCA genes have been mapped, and seven of these have been identified. Because some of these genes are involved in the visual cycle, we regarded the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor-specific retinal dehydrogenase (RDH) genes as candidate genes in LCA.

Leber congenital amaurosis: comprehensive survey of the genetic heterogeneity, refinement of the clinical definition, and genotype-phenotype correlations as a strategy for molecular diagnosis.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the earliest and most severe form of all inherited retinal dystrophies, responsible for congenital blindness. Disease-associated mutations have been hitherto reported in seven genes. These genes are all expressed preferentially in the photoreceptor cells or the retinal pigment epithelium but they are involved in strikingly different physiologic pathways resulting in an unforeseeable physiopathologic variety.

A first locus for isolated autosomal recessive optic atrophy (ROA1) maps to chromosome 8q.

In contrast to the frequent dominant optic atrophies (DOAs) in which the neuropathy is usually an isolated event, isolated recessive optic atrophies (ROAs) are very uncommon and have been described as severe congenital or early infantile conditions. To date, two loci for isolated DOA have been mapped, of which one was ascribed to mutations in the OPA1 gene. Conversely, no isolated autosomal ROA locus had previously been localised.

A novel mutation disrupting the cytoplasmic domain of CRB1 in a large consanguineous family of Palestinian origin affected with Leber congenital amaurosis.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a genetically heterogeneous autosomal recessive condition responsible for congenital blindness or greatly impaired vision since birth. Eight LCA loci have been mapped, but only six out of eight genes have been hitherto identified. A genome-wide screen for homozygosity was conducted in a large consanguineous family originating from Palestine, for which no mutation was found in any of the six known LCA genes and that excluded the LCA3 and LCA5 loci.

Evidence of a founder effect for the RETGC1 (GUCY2D) 2943DelG mutation in Leber congenital amaurosis pedigrees of Finnish origin.

Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is the earliest and most severe form of all inherited retinal dystrophies. It is a genetically heterogeneous condition as six disease-causing genes have been hitherto identified. Among them, RETGC1 (GUCY2D), is more frequently implicated in our series of LCA patients.