A Síndrome de Marfan (SMF) é uma doença de tecido conjuntivo, com caráter autossômico dominante, que acomete cerca de 1 em 5.000 indivíduos. As principais manifestações clínicas incluem aneurismas e rompimento da aorta, crescimento excessivo dos ossos, escoliose e deformidades torácicas. Mutações no gene FBN1, que codifica a proteína de matriz extracelular fibrilina-1, foram relacionadas à doença, fazendo com que essa fosse classificada no grupo das fibrilinopatias. Mais de 500 mutações já foram identificadas e, com exceção de um pequeno grupo de mutações recorrentes, as mutações são únicas, sendo encontradas em famílias isoladas. A doença caracteriza-se pela grande variabilidade tanto intra quanto interfamilial, não sendo possível fazer uma correlação precisa entre genótipo e fenótipo. Este trabalho visa discutir os mecanismos responsáveis pela variabilidade clínica inter e intra familiar da SMF através da caracterização qualitativa e quantitativa da variabilidade fenotípica observada no modelo murino para SMF MGΔloxPneo . Neste sentido, caracterizamos o modelo mgΔloxPneo em duas linhagens de camundongos diferentes, C57BL/6 e 129/Sv. Os animais mutantes de ambas as linhagens apresentaram deficiência na deposição de microfibrilas, cifose de coluna, enfisema pulmonar e degeneração da parede aórtica. Contudo, a idade de início dos sinais fenotípicos mostrou-se mais tardia em animais da linhagem C57BL/6 em comparação com os animais 129/Sv, indicando a presença de genes modificadores entre as duas linhagens. Além disso, caracterizamos uma grande variabilidade fenotípica entre os animais 129/Sv mutantes, o que é sugestivo do envolvimento de fatores epigenéticos na gravidade da doença. Finalmente, demonstramos uma forte correlação negativa entre os níveis globais de transcrição do gene Fbn1 e a gravidade do fenótipo. Esses resultados corroboram a hipótese de que o nível de expressão da proteína normal está relacionado com a gravidade do quadro clínico da SMF em humanos. Com base nisso, o trabalho também visa o estudo de novas estratégias terapêuticas para a SMF nesse mesmo modelo. / The Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disease of connective tissue, which affects 1 in 5,000 individuals. The main clinical manifestations include aneurysms and aortic disruption, excessive growth of bones, scoliosis and thoracic deformities. Mutations in the FBN1 gene, which encodes the fibrillin-1 protein, were genetically linked to the MFS, classifying this disease in the fibrilinopathies group. Over 500 mutations have been identified and, except for a small group of recurrent mutations, the mutations are unique, being found in unrelated families. The disease is characterized by a wide clinical variability both within and between families, and it is not possible to make a precise genotypephenotype correlation. This work concerns the analysis of the mechanisms associated with the clinical variability present within and between MFS families, by qualitative and quantitative characterization of the phenotypic variability observed in the mgΔloxPneo model for MFS. We characterize the model mgΔloxPneo, in two different mouse strains, the C57BL/6 and the 129/Sv strain. Mutant animals from both strains present defective microfibrillar deposition, emphysema, deterioration of aortic wall and kyphosis. However, the onset of a clinical phenotypes is earlier in the 129/Sv than in C57BL/6 background, indicating the existence of genetic modifiers of MFS between these two mouse strains. In addition, we characterized a wide clinical variability within the 129/Sv heterozygotes, suggesting involvement of epigenetic factors in disease severity. Finally, we show a strong negative correlation between overall levels of Fbn1 expression and the severity of the phenotypes. These results corroborated with studies, using animal models, as well with MFS patients, where the levels of normal fibrillin-1 seem to have the potential to modulate the clinical severity of the disease. In addition, the study also aims to evaluate new treatment possibilities for MFS in this same model.

A Síndrome de Marfan (SMF) (OMIM# 154700) é a mais comum das doenças genéticas do tecido conjuntivo Herdada de forma autossômica dominante, ela apresenta incidência de 1 em cada 5.000 indivíduos. Apesar de apresentar grande variabilidade clínica inter e intrafamiliar, o fenótipo da SMF possui penetrância completa, e suas manifestações clínicas afetam primariamente os sistemas esquelético, ocular e cardiovascular. Afim de estudar os mecanismos patogênicos da SMF foi desenvolvido um modelo murino, mgΔneoLoxP, que reproduz as manifestações ósseas, cardiovasculares e pulmonares da síndrome. O modelo foi estabelecido nas linhagens isogênicas 129/Sv e C57BL/6, que apresentam diferenças tanto quanto a idade de acometimento quanto a gravidade das alterações, é possível que as diferenças alélicas existentes entre essas linhagens alterem a manifestação fenotípica, ou seja, que existam genes modificadores para a SMF. Assim, objetivo deste projeto é utilizar este modelo experimental para identificar genes modificadores do fenótipo da SMF e tentar entender melhor a arquitetura genética da síndrome. Ao todo foram gerados 82 animais 129xB6 F2 heterozigotos para o alelo mgΔneoLoxP, a analise de ligação utilizando microssatélites e SNPs nos animais com fenótipos mais extremos mostraram ligação sugestiva do fenótipo ósseo com as regiões compreendidas entre as posições 56 cM e 68 cM do cromossomo 3; e 2 cM e 20 cM do cromossomo X; ligação significativa entre as posições 41cM e 49 cM do cromossomo 6; além de mostrar ligação sugestiva do fenótipo cardiovascular do 66 cM ao 70 cM do cromossomo 4; e do 44 cM ao 52 cM do cromossomo 13. Além da variabilidade entre linhagens, os animais 129 apresentam uma grande variabilidade fenotípica interna, o que por se tratar de animais isogênicos causada por fatores aleatórios ou devido a modificações epigenéticas que alterem o nível de expressão de alguns genes e assim o fenótipo. A comparação entre animais 129 leves e graves levou a identificação de 25 genes diferencialmente expressos dos quais 11 apresentavam funções relevantes para a SMF, entretanto foram aferidos os níveis de expressão de 2 destes que não validaram os resultados obtidos devido a uma grande variação observada entre os animais de todos as classes fenotípicas. Também foram identificadas 46 vias que se apresentavam mais frequentes nos conjuntos de genes obtidos entre as duas classes fenotípica de animais heterozigotos contra os animais selvagens. Tanto as vias, quanto os genes identificados através de ligação quanto diferença de expressão mostram uma convergência para as funções dos genes de interesse, sendo que entre eles existem genes já associados com a SMF, controle de ativação de TGF-B e da biogênese das microfibras da matriz extracelular, quanto genes que ainda não foram associados mas são possíveis modificadores do fenótipo, tais como genes envolvidos nos processos de enovelamento e degradação protéico e nos processos de endocitose e exocitose de vesículas, que podem alterar a quantidade de fibrilina-1 truncada disponível e assim o fenótipo / The Marfan syndrome (MFS) (OMIM # 154700) is the most common genetic disorder of the connective tissue and is inherited in a autosomal dominant fashion, it has an incidence of 1 in 5,000 individuals. Despite a great clinical variability being one of the \"trademarks\" of the syndrome, the phenotype of the MFS has complete penetrance and its clinical manifestations primarily affect the skeletal, ocular and cardiovascular systems. In order to study the pathogenic mechanisms of MFS was developed a mouse model, named mgΔneoLoxP, which reproduces the skeletal, cardiovascular and pulmonary manifestations of the syndrome. The model was established in inbred mouse strains 129/Sv and C57BL / 6, which phenotypes differ as to age of onset and severity of manifestation. It is possible that allelic differences between these inbred strains alter the phenotyic manifestation of disease, leading to the conclusion that may exist modifier genes involved in the for MFS. This study inteds to use this experimental model to identify phenotype modifier genes of MFS so a better understand the genetic architecture of the syndrome. Altogether, 82 129xB6 F2 heterozygous animals were generated so that a linkage analysis using microsatellite and SNP could be conducted. The linkage analysis using a selective genotyping procedure showed a suggestive linkage of the skeletal phenotype with regions included between positions 56 cM and 68 cM on chromosome 3, and 2 cM and 20 cM on chromosome X; and a significant linkage between positions 41cM and 49 cM on chromosome 6; also showing suggestive linkage of the cardiovascular phenotype from 66 cM to 70 cM on chromosome 4, and 44 cM to 52 cM on chromosome 13. Besides the variability between strains, 129 animals have a wide inner strain phenotypic variability, which in the case of isogenic animals should be caused by random factors or due to epigenetic modifications that may alter the expression level some genes and thus the phenotype. The comparison between animals of the 129 strain with mild and severe alterations led to the identification of 25 differentially expressed genes of which 11 showed relevant functions to the MFS, however it was only possible to measure the expression levels of two genes using real-time PCR, although those did not validate the results obtained from the expression microarray due to a large expression variation in all phenotypic classes. It was also identified 46 pathways that were more frequent in the gene lists obtained from the comparison between the two phenotypic classes of heterozygous animals against 129 wildtype animals. There is a similarity in the function of genes or pathways of interest found in pathways analysis and genes identified, either by differential expression or linkage analisys, and among them there genes already associated with the MFS, such as in the control activity of TGF-B and biogenesis of microfibers in the extracellular matrix, as also genes that were not associated with MFS but are possible phenotype modifier genes, such as genes involved in protein folding and degradation processes and of endocytosis and exocytosis processes of vesicle, which can change the amount of truncated fibrillin-1 available and thus the phenotype

Orientador: Claudio Chrysostomo Werneck / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T14:55:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Braga_GuilhermeGambogi_M.pdf: 40426167 bytes, checksum: 2843f77911936a8afd4b180bb9db3b50 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Fibrilina-1 é um importante componente da rede de microfibrilas da matriz extracelular. As microfibrilas estão presentes nas fibras elásticas que são responsáveis pela elasticidade e resistência de tecidos dos pulmões, pele e grandes vasos. Mutações no gene da Fibrilina-1 estão associadas com a síndrome de Marfan. Pacientes com esta síndrome apresentam muitas manifestações clínicas nos pulmões, sistema cardiovascular e olhos. Modelos de síndrome de Marfan tem sido criados no sentido de obter informações sobre o desenvolvimento desta doença. Estudos recentes em modelos de camundongos tem sugerido a importância da atividade exacerbada do TGF ? promovendo a quase totalidade das alterações fenotípicas encontradas nestes camundongos, o que pode ser revertido pelo tratamento com o Losartan. O principal objetivo deste projeto foi avaliar a formação de fibras elásticas em cultura de células obtidas de animais deficientes em fibrilina-1, bem como o possível efeito do tratamento destas células com losartan. Os fibroblastos derivados de animais deficientes em fibrilina- 1 foram estudados usando imunofluorescência, western blotting, microscopia eletrônica de varredura e transmissão e real-time PCR. Assim, a deficiência em fibrilina-1 ocasionou uma redução conjunta da deposição de fibrilina-2, MAGP-1 e tropoelastina na matriz extracelular em cultura de fibroblastos de derme. Foi possível verificar aumento no níveis de expressão das metaloproteinases MMP-2 e MMP-9. O tratamento dos fibroblastos derivados de animais deficientes em fibrilina-1 com o fármaco losartan levou a recuperação parcial da deposição das proteínas Fibrilina-2, MAGP-1 e tropoelastina na matriz extracelular de cultura in vitro. Porém, o tratamento dos fibroblastos derivados de animais deficientes em fibrilina-1 com fármaco Captopril e os peptídeos de Angiotensina I e II não influenciaram na deposição das mesmas na matriz extracelular de cultura in vitro / Abstract: Fibrillin-1 is an important microfibril network component. Microfibrils are present in elastic fiber responsible for resilience and elastic properties from structures like lungs, skin and large vessels. Mutations in Fibrillin-1 gene are associated with Marfan's Syndrome. Marfan's Syndrome patients shown many different clinical manifestations in lungs, cardiovascular system and eyes tissues. Marfan's models have been created to get better insights about this disease development. Recent studies from mice models have suggested an important role to unbalanced TGF ? activity promoting almost whole alterations found in those mice which might be rescued by losartan treatment. Our main goal were evaluate elastic fiber formation in cell culture obtained from fibrillin-1 defficient mice as well as losartan's treatment effect on those cells. The fibroblasts derived from deficient animals in fibrillin-1 were studied using immunofluorescence, western blotting, scanning electron microscopy and transmission and real-time PCR. Thus, the deficiency in fibrillin-1 led to a joint reduction of the deposition of fibrillin-2, MAGP-1 and tropoelastin in the extracellular matrix in culture of fibroblasts in the dermis. It was possible to observe an increase in levels of expression of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 were found. The treatment of the fibroblasts derived from deficient animals in fibrillin-1 with the drug losartan has led to the partial recovery of the deposition of protein fibrillin-2, MAGP-1 and tropoelastin in the extracellular matrix of culture in vitro. However, the treatment of fibroblasts derived from deficient animals in fibrillin-1 with drug Captopril and the peptides of Angiotensin I and II not influenced in the deposition of the same in the extracellular matrix of culture in vitro / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Orientador: Claudio Chrysostomo Werneck / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-27T06:06:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Pereira_CatherineNatalia_M.pdf: 4403950 bytes, checksum: 7142bd3654bd7f9d99e12cda4d33aeeb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Fibrilina-1 (FBN-1) é um importante componente da rede de microfibrilas da matriz extracelular (MEC). As microfibrilas estão presentes nas fibras elásticas que são responsáveis pela resiliência de tecidos como pulmões, pele e grandes vasos. Mutações no gene da fibrilina-1 estão associadas à Síndrome de Marfan, doença autossômica dominante, caracterizada por uma desordem do tecido conjuntivo. Pacientes com esta Síndrome apresentam anomalias no sistema esquelético e trato cardiovascular. Dados da literatura relacionam a menor quantidade de FBN-1 na MEC com a atividade exacerbada do TGF-? promovendo a quase totalidade das alterações fenotípicas encontradas. Estudos preliminares em nosso laboratório com camundongos que possuem menor quantidade de FBN-1 de um camundongo normal tem demonstrado que necessitam do dobro do tempo para a formação de trombo em um modelo de trombose arterial. As plaquetas tem fundamental importância neste processo, quando são ativadas secretam várias moléculas que determinam a formação dos trombos. Realizamos um estudo comparativo do proteoma de plaquetas e da artéria aorta de camundongos selvagens e deficientes em FBN-1, através da técnica de eletroforese bidimensional (2DE) juntamente com a espectrometria de massas a fim de encontrar diferenças no perfil proteico que justificassem tais sintomas. Diversas proteínas plaquetárias foram encontradas apenas no grupo controle, como endoplasmina, fator de von Willebrand, calpaína, dentre outras; assim como a proteína vinculina foi encontrada apenas no grupo deficiente em FBN-1. Todas as proteínas encontradas podem ser de grande interesse para o esclarecimento a respeito do maior tempo de formação de trombo e os sintomas relacionados à Síndrome de Marfan / Abstract: Fibrillin-1 (FBN-1) is an important microfibril network component of extracellular matrix (ECM). Microfibrils are present in elastic fibers responsible for tissues resiliency, such as lungs, skin and great vessels. Mutations in fibrillin-1 gene are associated with Marfan Syndrome, a dominant autosomal disease characterized by connective tissue disorder. Patients with this syndrome show abnormalities in skeletal system and cardiovascular tract, aorta dilatation and aneurysms. Literature data relate less FBN-1 in the ECM with TGF-? heightened activity, promoting almost all the phenotypic alterations. Preliminary studies in our laboratory demonstrated that mice containing half amount of FBN-1 presented prolonged thrombosis time when compared to wild-type mice submitted to an arterial thrombosis model. Platelets are important in this process, when activated they release several molecules and factors which determine thrombi formation. We conducted a comparative proteome study of platelet and aorta from wild-type against FBN-1 deficient mice by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) coupled with mass spectrometry in order to find some differences in protein profile that could justify such symptoms. Several platelet proteins were found only into control group, as endoplasmin, von Willebrand factor, calpain; as well as vinculin was found only in the FBN-1 deficient group. All proteins found may have great interest for understanding the prolonged thrombus formation time, and symptoms related to Marfan Syndrome / Mestrado / Bioquimica / Mestra em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

A Síndrome de Marfan (SMF) é uma doença de caráter autossômico dominante que acomete o tecido conjuntivo. As principais manifestações clínicas afetam o sistema cardiovascular, ótico e ósseo. A SMF é causada por mutações no gene FBN1, que codifica a proteína extracelular fibrilina-1, componente principal das microfibrilas, que formam as fibras elásticas. Estudos mostraram que mutações no gene da fibrilina-1 levam a um aumento indiscriminado do TGF-Β ativo na matriz, que resulta nos principais fenótipos da doença. O Sistema Renina Angiotensina (RAS) tem como produto principal a Angiotensina II (Ang-II), envolvida na regulação da massa óssea e da atividade do TGF-Β. Estratégias terapêuticas para a SMF utilizando fármacos que agem no RAS têm sido alvos de estudos em modelos animais. Em camundongos, Ramipril, inibidor da ACE (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ACEi), aumenta a transcrição do gene Fbn1 em 35% e melhora a cifose, característica do fenótipo ósseo no modelo animal mgΔloxPneo. O mecanismo de ação do Ramipril no sistema ósseo ainda não está totalmente elucidado, sendo que pode agir por diminuição na produção de Ang-II e consequente diminuição nos níveis de TGF-Β, ou pela inibição de degradação da bradicinina (BK) pela Ang-II. A bradicinina ativa diretamente seu receptor B2R, que induz ações fisiológicas opostas às da Ang-II. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar e compreender os mecanismos gerais da patogênese óssea do modelo murino mgΔloxPneo para a SMF. Para tanto, foi analisado o fenótipo ósseo dos animais mgΔloxPneo e selvagens controle e tratados com Ramipril. Foi verificado que, além da cifose, os animais mutantes apresentaram pior estrutura óssea. O tratamento melhorou a cifose, porém não alterou a qualidade óssea dos animais mutantes. Portanto, o efeito benéfico do Ramipril na cifose dos animais mgΔloxPneo não se deve a uma melhora da estrutura óssea, e pode estar relacionado à integridade do ligamento que sustenta a coluna vertebral. Com o intuito de testar a hipótese de que a sinalização pelo receptor B2R da BK possa estar envolvida no desenvolvimento do fenótipo ósseo dos animais mgΔloxPneo, foram gerados animais mgΔloxPneo e knockout para o receptor B2R. Os resultados mostram que o receptor B2R não interfere no desenvolvimento da cifose, sendo apenas o genótipo para Fbn1 o fator determinante para a manifestação desse fenótipo. Foi realizada a análise de RNA-seq para verificar genes e vias diferencialmente expressas que possam explicar o mecanismo de desenvolvimento do fenótipo ósseo dos animais mgΔloxPneo. Foram encontradas vias como da adesão focal, interação receptor-meio extracelular (MEC), junção ocludente, reparação por excisão de nucleotídeo e de reparação missmatch, que podem explicar alterações no metabolismo de células ósseas. Além disso, foram encontradas diferenças de expressão de genes relacionados ao metabolismo muscular esquelético, o que está de acordo com a hipótese de regulação parácrina entre o tecido muscular e ósseo, levando a uma pior estrutura óssea / Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disease that affects the connective tissue. The main clinical manifestations affect the cardiovascular, optical and bone systems. MFS is caused by mutations in the FBN1 gene, that encodes the extracellular protein fibrillin-1, a major component of microfibrils, which form elastic fibers. Studies have shown that mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene lead to an indiscriminate increase in active TGF-Β in the matrix, which results in the major phenotypes of the disease. The Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) has as its main product Angiotensin II (Ang-II), involved in bone mass regulation and TGF-Β activity. Therapeutic strategies using drugs targeting the RAS have been studied in animal models. Ramipril, an ACE inhibitor (Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ACEi), increase Fbn1 gene expression in 35% and improve kyphosis index in the mgΔloxPneo mouse model for SMF. Its mechanism of action in bone tissue is not completely elucidated, and it may act by decreasing Ang-II production and consequent reduction in TGF-Β levels, or by inhibiting degradation of bradykinin (BK) by Ang II. BK directly activates its B2R receptor, which induces opposite physiological actions to Ang-II. This study aims to evaluate and understand the general mechanisms of bone pathogenesis in the mgΔloxPneo mouse model. We analyzed the bone phenotype of mgΔloxPneo and wildtype animals treated, or not, with Ramipril by measuring the kyphosis index (KI), micro computed tomography (μCT) and Real-time PCR (RT-PCR). We found that mutant animals showed a greater degree of kyphosis and an altered bone structure. Ramipril improved kyphosis but did not alter bone quality of mutant animals, while in wild type animals Ramipril decreased bone structure without altering KI. Therefore, the beneficial effect of Ramipril on mgΔloxPneo animals\' kyphosis is not due to an improvement in bone structure. In order to test the hypothesis where signaling through BK B2R receptor may be involved in the development of bone phenotype of mgΔloxPneo animals, a mouse model with the mgΔloxPneo mutation and knockout for B2R receptor was generated. The analysis of these animals show that the B2R receptor does not interfere with the development of kyphosis, with Fbn1 genotype as sole determinant for this phenotype manifestation. RNA-seq analysis was performed to verify differential expression of genes and altered cellular pathways, which could reveal mechanisms of bone phenotype development in mgΔloxPneo animals. Altered pathways found included focal adhesion, receptor- extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction, tight junction, nucleotide excision repair and missmatch repair, which may explain changes in bone cells metabolism. In addition, there were differences in gene expression related to skeletal muscle metabolism, which is in agreement with the paracrine regulation of bone and muscle tissue, leading to worst bone structure

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is the commonest inherited disorder of connective tissue and is associated with a high risk of potentially life-threatening complications, including aortic aneurysm, dissection and rupture, and, perhaps, ventricular disease. This work describes the prospective application of advanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance techniques to the aorta and heart of consecutive, unselected subjects with MFS, and to appropriately matched control populations. Comprehensive 3D visualisation of blood flow in the entire thoracic aorta of subjects with MFS was achieved using a time-resolved phase-contrast magnetic resonance technique with 3-directional velocity encoding (4D flow), demonstrating a high prevalence of major flow disturbance (87 ± 12%), compared to controls (28 ±18%), localising to those regions of the aorta known to be most prone to aortic dissection (sinuses of Valsalva and proximal descending aorta). Wall shear stress, recently identified as a potentially important determinant of aneurysm progression and rupture, was interrogated in these datasets at the sinuses of Valsalva (SOV), ascending aorta (AA), arch, and proximal (PDA) and distal descending aorta (DDA), using the 4D flow datasets, and was shown to be significantly reduced at each location (SOV -15%; AA -12%; Arch -17%; PDA -18%; and DDA -14%, p<0.05 for each), in subjects with MFS compared to healthy subjects. 4D flow datasets were used to generate relative pressure maps in healthy subjects and in subjects with several aortic diseases. A novel method for the separate evaluation of the components of relative pressure was applied, revealing marked differences in the relative contribution of the components of pressure (unsteady > convective >> viscous), and characteristic differences between subjects in overall relative pressure, and its components. Left ventricular volumes and function were evaluated in subjects with MFS, and did not differ significantly from healthy subjects in the absence of significant valvular regurgitation and / or shunt. Left ventricular end-diastolic volume varied markedly with degree of regurgitation (r=0.75, p=0.0001). The mechanistic implications of these findings, and the potential role of these techniques in the evaluation of cardiovascular disease, are discussed.

No description available.

Congenital Contractural Arachnodactyly (CCA), also known as Beal's syndrome, is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple congenital joint contractures, arachnodactyly, dolichostenomelia, and scoliosis with only rare ocular or cardiovascular involvement. CCA has been linked to the fibrillin-2 (FBN2) gene located on chromosome 5q23-31. The phenotype ofCCA is similar to Marfan syndrome (MFS) which is caused by defects in the fibrillin-1 (FBNl) gene located on chromosome 15. Fibrillin-1 and fibrillin-2 are components of extracellular matrix (ECM) elastic microfibrils. The linkage studies performed on families affected with CCA suggest that another gene in the area ofFBN2 could also be responsible for CCA. Microfibril associated protein-3 (MF AP-3), another microfibril protein gene, has been localized to chromosome 5q32-33.2, the region of FBN2. This study involves mutation analysis of five patients affected with CCA, three of whom are representative of families affected with CCA. Mutation analysis was performed by chemical mismatch cleavage (CMC) analysis and nonisotopic RNase cleavage assay (NIRCA) analysis on both FBN2 and MF AP-3 cDNA. Prior to this study only two mutations in FBN2 have been reported in two isolated patients with CCA and none have been reported for MFAP-3. The two mutations reported in FBN2 have not been confirmed in other affected family members. Mutation analysis by CMC completed in this study did not reveal any mutations in either FBN2 or MF AP-3. Reanalysis by NIRCA revealed two mutations in FBN2. One mutation which results in the skipping of exon 31 occurs in an intron and its location is presently unknown. The other mutation, a G to C transversion at nucleotide 3340, predicting a histidine substitution for an asparagine, is a mutation at the -1 position of the 5' splice site of an intron which results in partial exon skipping although it is unknown whether exon 25 or 26 is skipped. The missense mutation and partial exon skipping result in two different forms of mutant fibrillin-2 molecules. Both of the mutations are present in patients with additional affected family members. Characterization of these mutations will confirm the cosegregation of FBN2 mutations with the CCA phenotype.

Abstract not available

Ultraviolet radiation causes an alteration in DNA by modifying neighboring thymine bases resulting in the formation of a dimer. These dimers block the processes of transcription and translation and ultimately no protein is synthesized and the cell dies. However, DNA repair mechanisms correct this damage by excising the dimer from the DNA strand and inserting replacement bases which are joined to the original strand by DNA ligase. This allows transcription to resume and ultimately protein synthesis to take place.This research focused on determining the DNA damage and subsequent repair levels in a connective tissue disorder, namely Marfan syndrome. This information is important in understanding the clinical expression and management of life threatening conditions in Marfan syndrome individuals.Preliminary results indicate that at 20-25J/m2 UV dose (254nm) Marfan syndrome skin cells show a mean reduced survival value of 12% compared to normal human skin cells. Gel electrophoresis indicates a reduced DNA repair level 24h post UV irradiation for Marfan syndrome skin cells compared to normal human skin cells. These results suggest Marfan syndrome skin cells have reduced survival and DNA repair levels compared to normal human skin cells. / Department of Biology