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Biomedical subjects

A Oldfors

Publications and source records attributed to A Oldfors.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Muscle cell and motor protein function in patients with a IIa myosin missense mutation (Glu-706 to Lys).

The pathogenic events leading to the progressive muscle weakness in patients with a E706K mutation in the head of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) IIa were analyzed at the muscle cell and motor protein levels. Contractile properties were measured in single muscle fiber segments using the skinned fiber preparation and a single muscle fiber in vitro motility assay. A dramatic impairment in the function of the IIa MyHC isoform was observed at the motor protein level. At the single muscle fiber level, on the other hand, a general decrease was observed in the number of preparations where the specific criteria for acceptance were fulfilled irrespective of MyHC isoform expression. Our results provide evidence that the pathogenesis of the MyHC IIa E706K myopathy involves defective function of the mutated myosin as well as alterations in the structural integrity of all muscle cells irrespective of MyHC isoform expression.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Raised troponin T in inclusion body myositis is common and serum levels are persistent over time.

Cardiac Troponin T (cTnT), creatine kinase (CK) and creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CKMB) were measured in 42 consecutive patients with sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM). 26 patients (62%) had a cTnT level >0.05 microg/L, the cut off used in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. The cTnT levels correlated somewhat more closely to CKMB (rho=0.83, p<0.0001) than to CK (rho=0.60, p<0.0001). Patients on immunosuppressive treatment had lower cTnT levels than untreated, while there were no significant differences according to age, disease duration or gender. Repeated samples in 26 patients showed that the cTnT levels were essentially unchanged over time up to 17 months. None of the patients had signs of myocardial damage or renal failure at time of sampling. It may be of value to analyse cTnT at some occasion(s) in s-IBM patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

A mutation in the fast skeletal muscle troponin I gene causes myopathy and distal arthrogryposis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a three-generation family with distal arthrogryposis associated with myopathy and caused by a mutation in the gene encoding for sarcomeric thin filament protein troponin I, TNNI2. METHODS: The authors performed clinical investigations and reviewed medical records. Muscle biopsy specimens were obtained for morphologic analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood and analyzed for mutations in TNNI2. RESULTS: The five affected individuals had predominantly distal congenital joint contractures, mild facial involvement (mild micrognathia, narrow palpebral fissures), and no detectable muscle weakness. The four affected adults had slightly increased levels of creatine kinase in blood, and muscle biopsy specimens showed findings of myopathy with changes restricted to type 2 fibers. These included variability of muscle fiber size, internalized nuclei, and increased interstitial connective tissue. Analysis of TNNI2 encoding the troponin I isoform expressed in type 2 muscle fibers disclosed a heterozygous three-base in-frame deletion, 2,918-2,920del, skipping the highly conserved lysine at position 176. The mutation was present in all 5 affected individuals but was not identified in any of the 11 unaffected family members. CONCLUSION: Distal arthrogryposis type 1 is genetically heterogeneous, and myopathy due to sarcomeric protein dysfunction may be one underlying cause of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Mitochondrial myopathy with exercise intolerance and retinal dystrophy in a sporadic patient with a G583A mutation in the mt tRNA(phe) gene.

We describe a second patient with the 583G>A mutation in the tRNA(phe) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This 17-year-old girl had a mitochondrial myopathy with exercise intolerance and an asymptomatic retinopathy. Muscle investigations showed occasional ragged red fibers, 30% cytochrome c oxidase (COX)-negative fibers, and reduced activities of complex I+IV in the respiratory chain. The mutation was heteroplasmic (79%) in muscle but undetectable in other tissues. Analysis of single muscle fibers revealed a significantly higher level of mutated mtDNA in COX-negative fibers. Our study indicates that the 583G>A mutation is pathogenic and expands the clinical spectrum of this mutation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Mitochondrial abnormalities in inclusion-body myositis.

Mitochondrial changes are frequently encountered in sporadic inclusion-body myositis (s-IBM). Cytochrome c oxidase (COX)-deficient muscle fibers and large-scale mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) deletions are more frequent in s-IBM than in age-matched controls. COX deficient muscle fibers are due to clonal expansion of mtDNA deletions and point mutations in segments of muscle fibers. Such segments range from 75 microm to more than 1,000 microm in length. Clonal expansion of the 4977 bp "common deletion" is a frequent cause of COX deficient muscle fiber segments, but many other deletions also occur. The deletion breakpoints cluster in a few regions that are similar to what is found in human mtDNA deletions in general. Analysis in s-IBM patients of three nuclear genes associated with multiple mtDNA deletions, POLG1, ANT1 and C10orf2, failed to demonstrate any mutations. In s-IBM patients with high number of COX-deficient fibers, the impaired mitochondrial function probably contribute to muscle weakness and wasting. Treatment that has positive effects in mitochondrial myopathies may be tried also in s-IBM.

Aging↗
PubMed2005

Two new mutations in the MTATP6 gene associated with Leigh syndrome.

In this study we have analyzed the mtDNA encoded ATPase 6 and 8 genes ( MTATP6 and MTATP8) in two children with Leigh syndrome (LS) and reduced Mg (2+) ATPase activity in muscle mitochondria. In patient 1, with a mild and reversible phenotype, mutational analysis revealed a heteroplasmic T --> C mutation at nt position 9185 (T9185C) in the MTATP6. The mutation resulted in substitution of a highly conserved leucine to proline at codon 220. The proportion of the mutation was > 97 % in the patient's blood and muscle and 85 % in blood of his asymptomatic mother. Patient 2, with severe clinical phenotype and death at 2 years of age, exhibited a novel heteroplasmic T9191C missense mutation in the MTATP6, which converted a highly conserved leucine to a proline at position 222 of the polypeptide. The proportion of the mutation was 90 % in fibroblasts and 94 % muscle tissue. This mutation was absent in the patient's parents and sister suggesting that the mutation was de novo. Our findings expand the spectrum of mutations causing LS and emphasize the role of MTATP6 gene mutations in pathogenesis of LS.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Follow-up of nemaline myopathy in two patients with novel mutations in the skeletal muscle alpha-actin gene (ACTA1).

Nemaline myopathy has been associated with mutations in five different genes, which all encode protein components of the sarcomeric thin filaments. We report follow-up studies in two children with mutations not previously described in skeletal muscle alpha-actin (ACTA1). Case 1 was a male patient who after birth suffered from pronounced muscle weakness and hypotonia. Muscle biopsy showed small fibers with numerous rods. He failed to achieve any motor milestones. At the age of 17 he required 24 h ventilator support. He could not lift his arms against gravity, but he could use his hands to control his electric wheelchair. The muscle biopsy showed marked replacement of muscle tissue by fat and connective tissue. Only few fibers showed nemaline rods. He had a de novo, heterozygous mutation, G268D in ACTA1. Case 2 was a female patient with feeding difficulties and mild hypotonia in the neonatal period. Muscle biopsy showed hypoplastic muscle fibers and numerous rods. At 11 years of age she walked and moved unhindered and could run fairly well. She had a de novo, heterozygous mutation, K373E, in ACTA1. These two patients illustrate the marked variability in the clinical features of nemaline myopathy in spite of similar muscle pathology in early childhood. The severe muscle atrophy with replacement of fat and connective tissue in case 1 demonstrates the progressive nature of nemaline myopathy in some cases. The described two mutations add to the previously reported mutations in ACTA1 associated with nemaline myopathy.

Actins↗
PubMed2004

A novel mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Phe) gene associated with mitochondrial myopathy.

We report a novel heteroplasmic T-->C mutation at nt position 582 within the mitochondrial tRNA(Phe) gene of a 70-year-old woman with mitochondrial myopathy. No other family members were affected, suggesting that our patient was a sporadic case. The muscle showed frequent ragged red fibers and 43% cytochrome c oxidase deficient fibers. The mutation alters a conserved base pairing in the aminoacyl acceptor stem. The mutation load was 70% in muscle homogenate and varied from 0 to 95% in individual muscle fiber segments. Cytochrome c oxidase-negative fibers showed significantly higher levels of mutated mtDNA (>75%) than Cytochrome c oxidase-positive fibers (<55%). This mutation adds to the previously described four pathogenic mutations in the tRNA(Phe) gene.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

The effects of endurance training in persons with a hereditary myosin myopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate muscle performance and its consequences in eight individuals with a hereditary myopathy and the effects of an 8-week endurance training program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Handgrip, muscle strength and endurance and oxygen consumption by breath-by-breath analysis during a stepless bicycle ergonometer test were evaluated. Walking, balance test and activities of daily living (ADL) were assessed, and a questionnaire for activity level and perceived symptoms was used. The design was a before-after trial in comparison with data from a control population, bicycling at 70% of maximal workload, 30 min/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks. RESULTS: The subjects were weaker than age-matched controls. After training, the peak watt increased by almost 20% (P < 0.05). Muscle strength (flexion/extension) and isometric endurance (40% of maximum at 60 degrees ) did not change significantly. The average self-selected walking speed increased significantly (P < 0.05) from 1.25 to 1.45 m/s. Compliance was excellent and no serious adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: Endurance training seems to function for this myopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Myopathies associated with myosin heavy chain mutations.

Myosin, a molecular motor, converts chemical energy into mechanical force. The motor domain of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) includes an ATP binding region with ATPase activity and an actin-binding region. Motor function is achieved by conformational changes, at hydrolysis, of ATP causing a shift in the angle between the actin binding head and the rod region of the molecule. The elongated alpha-helical coiled-coil rod region of MyHC molecules constitutes the major part of the thick filaments of the sarcomere. Three major MyHC isoforms are expressed in human skeletal muscle (type I, MYH7, expressed in type 1 fibres; IIa, MYH2, expressed in 2A fibres; IIx, MYH1, expressed in 2B fibres). While mutations in slow/beta cardiac MyHC (MYH7) are a common cause of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, no skeletal myopathies have, until recently, been associated with mutations in MyHC. A heterozygous mutation, Glu706Lys, in the core of the head of MyHC IIa is associated with a familial congenital myopathy, which, in most instances, has shown mild phenotypic expression in children but progressive course in some adults. There is a relationship between the level of expression of mutated MyHC IIa and muscle pathology. Some adults with a progressive course show muscle fibres with rimmed vacuoles and filaments of the type seen in inclusion body myositis/myopathy (IBM). Endurance training in a group of affected patients caused a shift in the expression of myosin from fast (IIx) to slow (I) isoforms but no reduction in the expression of MyHC IIa. A heterozygous mutation, Arg1845Trp, in the distal rod region of slow myosin (type I, MYH7) is associated with familial congenital myopathy, with large deposits of MyHC I in the subsarcolemmal region of type 1 muscle fibres, "Myosin storage myopathy". These patients showed slowly progressive muscle weakness but no overt cardiomyopathy. These two muscle diseases, which are caused by mutations in MyHC, form the basis of a novel entity: "Myosin myopathies".

Animals↗
PubMed2003

SURF1 gene mutations in three cases with Leigh syndrome and cytochrome c oxidase deficiency.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is one of the most frequent forms of mitochondrial disease in infancy and childhood. Mutations in SURF1 have been shown to be an important cause of LS with cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency. The authors have identified four pathogenic mutations including a novel, in-frame, 15-bp tandem duplication (806-820) in exon 8 and a novel 751+1G>A splice site mutation in SURF1 in three cases of LS with COX deficiency.

Blotting, Western↗
PubMed2003

Anti-T-lymphocyte globulin treatment in inclusion body myositis: a randomized pilot study.

The authors performed an open, randomized trial in patients with inclusion body myositis comparing 1) 12-month treatment with oral methotrexate 7.5 mg/week alone (MTX group) with 2) 12-month MTX treatment preceded by 7 days of IV anti-T-lymphocyte immunoglobulin treatment (ATG group). Eleven patients were randomized; 10 patients completed 12 months follow-up. Myometry showed that patients in the ATG group (n = 6) increased in mean muscle strength by 1.4% compared with the MTX group (n = 5), whose muscle strength decreased by 11.1% (p = 0.021).

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Cardiomyopathy in children with mitochondrial disease; clinical course and cardiological findings.

AIMS: To determine the frequency of cardiomyopathy in children with mitochondrial disease and describe their clinical course, prognosis and cardiological manifestations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Of 301 children with CNS and neuromuscular disease referred to our institution in 1984 to 1999, 101 had mitochondrial disease. Seventeen patients had cardiomyopathy, diagnosed by echo-Doppler investigations, all of the hypertrophic, non-obstructive type. The onset of symptomatic mitochondrial disease ranged from birth to 10 years of age. Eight children had cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency, while the remaining nine had various defects. Cardiomyopathy was diagnosed from birth to 27 years. Left ventricular posterior wall and septal thickness were both increased: z-scores +4.6+/-2.6 and +4.3+/-1.6 (mean+/-SD), respectively. The left ventricular diastolic diameter z-score, +1.3+/-3.4, and fractional shortening, 24+/-13%, displayed marked variations. Nine patients developed heart failure. Eleven patients with cardiomyopathy died, including all eight with cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency, and one patient underwent a heart transplantation. Mortality in children with mitochondrial disease was higher in those with cardiomyopathy (71%) than those without (26%) (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In children with mitochondrial disease, cardiomyopathy was common (17%) and was associated with increased mortality. The prognosis for children with cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency and cardiomyopathy appeared to be particularly unfavorable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Inclusion body myositis: clonal expansions of muscle-infiltrating T cells persist over time.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a chronic inflammatory myopathy. The muscle histology is characterized by infiltration of T cells, which invade and apparently destroy muscle fibres. This study was performed to investigate whether predominant clones of muscle-infiltrating T cells are identical in different muscles and whether they persist over time in IBM. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, 25 T-cell receptor (TCR) variable beta (Vbeta) chain families and the complementarity-determining region 3 (CDR3) of the TCR were analysed in two different muscle biopsies of four patients with IBM. In two of the patients, the muscle biopsies were obtained from different muscles at one time point, whereas in two patients, the second biopsy was obtained 9 years after the first biopsy. T cells expressing predominant Vbeta families were analysed for clonality by fragment length analysis of the CDR3. Predominant Vbeta families were analysed by DNA sequencing to identify identical clones. Immunohistochemical staining of Vbeta families was performed to study the distribution of T cells expressing identified predominant Vbeta families. The muscle-infiltrating lymphocytes showed restricted expression of TCR Vbeta families. DNA sequencing proved that clonally expanded T cells were identical in different muscles and persisted 9 years after the first biopsy. Immunohistochemical analysis with Vbeta family-specific antibodies demonstrated the endomysial localization of these T cells in inflammatory cell infiltrates. Our results show that in IBM there is clonal restriction of TCR expression in muscle-infiltrating lymphocytes. Identical T-cell clones predominate in different muscles, and these clones persist for many years. These results indicate an important, continuous, antigen-driven inflammatory reaction in IBM.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Leigh syndrome with cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency and a single T insertion nt 5537 in the mitochondrial tRNATrp gene.

We report a nine-year-old boy with the features of Leigh syndrome (LS) and a severe cytochrome-c oxidase (COX) deficiency with a single thymidine insertion at nucleotide position 5537 (T 5537i) in the tRNA Trp gene of mitochondrial DNA. During infancy the boy was irritable and hypotonus was noticed. Early motor development was delayed, although mental development seemed normal until eight months of age. Early neurological signs were nystagmus, hypertonus and optic atrophy. Severe seizures and mental retardation developed subsequently. Major findings on neuroradiological investigation were from the brainstem, thalami and white matter compatible with LS. Spectrophotometric analysis of skeletal muscle mitochondria showed a profound COX deficiency and a marked complex I deficiency. Enzyme-histochemical analysis showed reduced COX activity in the majority of the muscle fibres. There were no ragged red fibres. The T 5537i mutation was found in a high proportion (> 95 %) in blood, liver and muscle tissue of the patient and in blood of the patient's mother (81 %). This mutation has previously been described in one family in which one child had a very high proportion of the T 5537i mutation and clinical features of LS. We conclude that, although mtDNA mutations are considered to be rare in LS with COX deficiency, the T 5537i mutation should be screened for in cases of LS with COX deficiency when SURF1 gene mutations have been excluded, especially when complex I activity is also decreased.

Child↗
PubMed2003

Genotypes and clinical phenotypes in children with cytochrome-c oxidase deficiency.

Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency has been associated with a wide spectrum of clinical features and may be caused by mutations in different genes of both the mitochondrial and the nuclear DNA. In an attempt to correlate the clinical phenotype with the genotype in 16 childhood cases, mtDNA was analysed for deletion, depletion, and mutations in the three genes encoding COX subunits and the 22 tRNA genes. Furthermore, nuclear DNA was analysed for mutations in the SURF1, SCO2, COX10, and COX17 genes and cases with mtDNA depletion were analysed for mutations in the TK2 gene. SURF1-mutations were identified in three out of four cases with Leigh syndrome while a mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA (trp) gene was identified in the fourth. One case with mtDNA depletion had mutations in the TK2 gene. In two cases with leukoencephalopathy, one case with encephalopathy, five cases with fatal infantile myopathy and cardiomyopathy, two cases with benign infantile myopathy, and one case with mtDNA depletion, no mutations were identified. We conclude that COX deficiency in childhood should be suspected in a wide range of clinical settings and although an increasing number of genetic defects have been identified, the underlying mutations remain unclear in the majority of the cases.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Myosin heavy chain IIa gene mutation E706K is pathogenic and its expression increases with age.

BACKGROUND: The authors recently described a new autosomal dominant myopathy (OMIM 605637 inclusion body myopathy 3) associated with a missense mutation in the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) IIa gene (MyHC IIa, Human Gene Map [HGM] locus MYH2). Young patients showed minor changes in their muscle biopsies, although dystrophic alterations and rimmed vacuoles with 15- to 20-nm tubulofilaments identical to those in sporadic inclusion body myositis (s-IBM) were observed in some of the adult (especially older) patients. The current study was undertaken to investigate the relation between expression of the mutant MyHC IIa and pathologic changes in muscle. METHODS: The expression of MyHC IIa in nine muscle specimens from six individuals carrying the mutation was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and a new reverse transcriptase--PCR method to measure the relative abundance of the various MyHC transcripts. RESULTS: Young patients with muscle weakness and minor pathologic changes in muscle expressed MyHC IIa at undetectable levels. MyHC IIa was expressed at high levels in adults with a progressive clinical course and dystrophic muscle changes. In these cases, a large number of muscle fibers were hybrids with expression of more than one MyHC isoform. Both MyHC IIa alleles were equally expressed. The relative level of MyHC IIa transcripts exceeded that of the corresponding protein, indicating an increased turnover of mutated protein. MyHC IIa expression was a consistent finding in muscle fibers with rimmed vacuoles. CONCLUSIONS: The clear correlation between pathologic changes and expression of MyHC IIa indicates that defects in MyHC may lead not only to muscle weakness but also to muscle degeneration. The consistent expression of MyHC IIa in muscle fibers with rimmed vacuoles indicates that the breakdown of sarcomeric proteins is a key element in the pathogenesis of rimmed vacuoles of s-IBM type.

Adult↗