VEGFR3 modulates brain microvessel branching in a mouse model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

The loss of a single copy of <i>TBX1</i> accounts for most of the clinical signs and symptoms of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, a common genetic disorder that is characterized by multiple congenital anomalies and brain-related clinical problems, some of which likely have vascular origins. <i>Tbx1</i> mutant mice have brain vascular anomalies, thus making them a useful model to gain insights into the human disease.

Pharmacological Rescue of the Brain Cortex Phenotype of Mouse Mutants: Significance for 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

Objectives: mutant mice are a widely used model of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) because they manifest a broad spectrum of physical and behavioral abnormalities that is similar to that found in 22q11.

Association between cardiac troponin I and mortality in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Severe pneumonia is pathological manifestation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), however complications have been reported in COVID-19 patients with a worst prognosis. Aim of this study was to evaluate the role of high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-TnI) in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: we retrospectively analysed hs-TnI values measured in 523 patients (median age 64 years, 68% men) admitted to a university hospital in Milan, Italy, and diagnosed COVID-19.

A dual role for Tbx1 in cardiac lymphangiogenesis through genetic interaction with Vegfr3.

The transcription factor TBX1 is the major gene implicated in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS).

Left pulmonary artery in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Echocardiographic evaluation in patients without cardiac defects and role of Tbx1 in mice.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Patients with 22q11 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) present, in about 75% of cases, typical patterns of cardiac defects, with a particular involvement on the ventricular outflow tract and great arteries. However, in this genetic condition the dimensions of the pulmonary arteries (PAs) never were specifically evaluated.

CSF β-amyloid predicts prognosis in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The importance of predicting disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) has increasingly been recognized, and hence reliable biomarkers are needed.

Objectives: To investigate the prognostic role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) amyloid beta (Aβ) levels by the determination of a cut-off value to classify patients in slow and fast progressors. To evaluate possible association with white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM) damage at early disease stages.

Profiling of Specific Gene Expression Pathways in Peripheral Cells from Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Patients.

Herein, we performed a gene expression profiling in a cohort of 10 mild cognitive impairment (MCI), subdivided, according to the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers, in prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD) and non-AD MCI, as compared with 27 AD patients and 24 controls, in order to detect early gene expression alterations. We observed a significant upregulation of insulin (INS) and INS Receptor (INSR) expression levels in AD both prodromal and fully symptomatic, as compared with controls, but not in MCI subjects. Our results suggest an early dysregulation of INS and INSR in AD pathogenesis and pave the way to a possible utility of these transcripts as peripheral biomarkers.

Ruta graveolens water extract inhibits cell-cell network formation in human umbilical endothelial cells via MEK-ERK1/2 pathway.

Angiogenesis is a process encompassing several steps such as endothelial cells proliferation, differentiation and migration to form a vascular network, involving different signal transduction pathways. Among these, ERK1/2 signaling mediates VEGF-dependent signaling pathway. Here we report that the water extract of Ruta graveolens (RGWE), widely known as a medicinal plant, is able to impair in a dose-dependent manner, cell network formation without affecting cell viability.

Progranulin plasma levels predict the presence of GRN mutations in asymptomatic subjects and do not correlate with brain atrophy: results from the GENFI study.

We investigated whether progranulin plasma levels are predictors of the presence of progranulin gene (GRN) null mutations or of the development of symptoms in asymptomatic at risk members participating in the Genetic Frontotemporal Dementia Initiative, including 19 patients, 64 asymptomatic carriers, and 77 noncarriers. In addition, we evaluated a possible role of TMEM106B rs1990622 as a genetic modifier and correlated progranulin plasma levels and gray-matter atrophy. Plasma progranulin mean ± SD plasma levels in patients and asymptomatic carriers were significantly decreased compared with noncarriers (30.

CSF β-amyloid as a putative biomarker of disease progression in multiple sclerosis.

Background: Neurodegeneration plays a major role in determining disability in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Hence, there is increasing need to identify reliable biomarkers, which could serve as prognostic measure of disease progression.

Objectives: To assess whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and β-amyloid (Aβ) levels were altered in newly diagnosed MS patients and correlated with disability.

Effect of fingolimod treatment on circulating miR-15b, miR23a and miR-223 levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently found to be dysregulated in serum from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Cell free circulating miR-15b, -23a and 223 levels were analyzed by Real Time PCR in a cohort consisting of 30 serum samples from Relapsing Remitting MS patients at baseline (T0) and after three, six, nine and twelve months (T1, T2, T3, T4) after starting the treatment. A down-regulation of miRNA levels in patients at T0 compared with controls was present (p<0.

Non Fluent Variant of Primary Progressive Aphasia Due to the Novel GRN g.9543delA(IVS3-2delA) Mutation.

Mutations in progranulin gene (GRN) are a common cause of autosomal dominant frontotemporal lobar degeneration syndromes and are associated with a wide phenotypic heterogeneity. The majority of genetic defects in GRN consists of loss-of-function mutations, causing haploinsufficiency, and is associated with extremely low plasma progranulin levels. Herein, we describe a patient who developed language dysfunctions and memory disturbances at 63 years of age.

Plasma Screening for Progranulin Mutations in Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy and Corticobasal Syndromes.

Progranulin gene (GRN) mutations are characterized by heterogeneous presentations. Corticobasal syndrome (CBS) is often associated with GRN mutations, whereas association with progressive supranuclear palsy syndrome (PSPS) is rare. Plasma progranulin levels were evaluated in 34 patients, including 19 with PSPS, 12 with CBS, and 3 with mixed signs, with the purpose to screen for the presence of causal mutations, associated with low levels.

Cortical Development Requires Mesodermal Expression of Tbx1, a Gene Haploinsufficient in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

In mammals, proper temporal control of neurogenesis and neural migration during embryonic development ensures correct formation of the cerebral cortex. Changes in the distribution of cortical projection neurons and interneurons are associated with behavioral disorders and psychiatric diseases, including schizophrenia and autism, suggesting that disrupted cortical connectivity contributes to the brain pathology. TBX1 is the major candidate gene for 22q11.

PRNP P39L Variant is a Rare Cause of Frontotemporal Dementia in Italian Population.

The missense P39L variant in the prion protein gene (PRNP) has recently been associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here, we analyzed the presence of the P39L variant in 761 patients with FTD and 719 controls and found a single carrier among patients. The patient was a 67-year-old male, with a positive family history for dementia, who developed apathy, short term memory deficit, and postural instability at 66.

Profiling of ubiquitination pathway genes in peripheral cells from patients with frontotemporal dementia due to C9ORF72 and GRN mutations.

We analysed the expression levels of 84 key genes involved in the regulated degradation of cellular protein by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in peripheral cells from patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) due to C9ORF72 and GRN mutations, as compared with sporadic FTD and age-matched controls. A SABiosciences PCR array was used to investigate the transcription profile in a discovery population consisting of six patients each in C9ORF72, GRN, sporadic FTD and age-matched control groups. A generalized down-regulation of gene expression compared with controls was observed in C9ORF72 expansion carriers and sporadic FTD patients.

The novel GRN g.1159_1160delTG mutation is associated with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia.

Mutations in progranulin gene (GRN) are a common cause of autosomal dominant frontotemporal lobar degeneration and are associated with a wide phenotypic heterogeneity. Here, we describe two probands with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia with a novel mutation in this gene (1159_1160delTG). Both had a positive family history for dementia and showed atypical features at imaging.

Transmembrane protein 106B gene (TMEM106B) variability and influence on progranulin plasma levels in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

We carried out an association study of transmembrane protein 106B gene (TMEM106B) rs1020004 A/G, rs6966915C/T, and rs1990622 A/G in a population of 656 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 619 controls, and tested whether the rs1990622 influences plasma progranulin levels. No differences in allele and genotype distribution were observed between cases and controls, even stratifying according to APOE status (p > 0.05).

Circulating miRNAs as potential biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.

Several micro(mi)RNA are deregulated in brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and serum/plasma from patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The aim of the study was to profile circulating miRNAs in serum as non-invasive biomarkers for AD, correlating them with those identified in CSF, the biological fluid which better reflects biochemical changes occurring during pathological processes in the brain and may provide a robust indicator of AD-related disease pathogenesis thanks to the evidence of low amyloid and high levels of tau and hyperphosphorylated tau. Using a two-step analysis (array and validation through real-time PCR), a down-regulation (mean fold change ± SEM) of miR-125b (0.

C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion is a rare cause of schizophrenia.

A hexanucleotide repeat expansions in the first intron of C9ORF72 has been shown to be responsible for a high number of familial cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and/or frontotemporal lobar degeneration. The same mutation has been described in a patient with bipolar disorder, but up to now, not in patients suffering from schizophrenia. We determined the frequency of the C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions in a population of 298 patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

C9ORF72 repeat expansion not detected in patients with multiple sclerosis.

A hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the chromosome 9 Open Reading Frame 72 gene (C9ORF72) has recently been reported to be cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nevertheless, in the last few years this mutation has been found to be associated with heterogeneous phenotypes, including multiple sclerosis (MS) in concurrence with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this study, we sought to evaluate the presence of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion in a cohort consisting of 314 patients with MS and 222 control subjects.

Incomplete penetrance of the C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions: frequency in a cohort of geriatric non-demented subjects.

We genotyped for the C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion a population of 156 non-demented elderly subjects, recruited in a geriatric unit as control group for association studies in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), and found two carriers (1.2%). The first was referred for subjective memory complaints, at age 81.

Tbx1 regulates brain vascularization.

The transcription factor TBX1 is the major gene involved in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS).

Expression of the transcription factor Sp1 and its regulatory hsa-miR-29b in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Altered gene expression occurs in central nervous system disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transcription factor Sp1 (specificity protein 1) can regulate the expression of several AD-related proteins, including amyloid-β protein precursor and tau. Sp1 is regulated by oxidative stress, and Sp1 mRNA was found to be upregulated in AD cortex and hippocampus.