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Biomedical subjects

Melinda Erdos

Publications and source records attributed to Melinda Erdos.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Recurrent CXCR4 sequence variation in a girl with WHIM syndrome.

WHIM (warts-hypogammaglobulinemia-infections-myelokathexis) syndrome is a recently described primary immunodeficiency disorder caused by mutation of the CXCR4 chemokine receptor gene. We report here of a 6.5-yr-old girl with bacterial infections, severe chronic neutropenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. Sequencing the CXCR4 gene revealed a c.1013C > G sequence variant suggesting WHIM syndrome. Recurrent c.1013C > G sequence variant of the CXCR4 gene resulting in p.S338X truncation mutation of this chemokine receptor protein is first reported here.

Agammaglobulinemia↗

[Invasive pneumococcal infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders].

The authors review the immunopathology of invasive pneumococcal infections in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases, with particular emphasis on selective anti-polysaccharide antibody deficiency. They summarize current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms and clinical manifestations of host defense against Str. pneumoniae.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Severe Shwachman-Diamond syndrome phenotype caused by compound heterozygous missense mutations in the SBDS gene.

OBJECTIVE: A 5-month-old male infant presenting with recurrent respiratory tract infections, chronic diarrhea, and failure to thrive was found to be pancytopenic. Bone marrow and x-ray examinations were consistent with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS). Genomic DNA sequencing, restriction fragment analysis, and studies of the mutant proteins were performed to gain further knowledge on the molecular pathology of SDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exons 1 to 5 of the SBDS gene were amplified and sequenced. COS-7 cells were transfected with expression vectors containing wild-type cDNA or mutant cDNAs generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Protein expression of SBDS variants were examined by Western blotting. Pulse-chase assay and densitometry were used to study protein stability. RESULTS: Two novel missense mutations (c.362A > C in exon 3, and c.523C > T in exon 4) of the SBDS gene were identified in the patient. These mutations result in p.N121T and p.R175W amino acid replacements and correspond to amino acid residues that are highly conserved in SBDS proteins. In vitro expression studies revealed a markedly decreased half-life of the p.R175W protein, whereas stability of the p.N121T mutant was not significantly reduced compared to that of the wild type. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of compound heterozygous missense mutations occurring in patients with SDS. These mutations may not eliminate SBDS expression but may result in impaired protein stability and protein function leading to severe disease.

Animals↗

[Necrotising fasciitis in hyper-IgE syndrome].

Hyper-IgE syndrome is a rare primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by recurrent staphylococcal skin abscesses, chronic eczematoid dermatitis, pneumonia, pneumatoceles, and extreme elevation of serum IgE. The most common pathogens are S. aureus, and C. albicans. Abnormalities of dentition, bone manifestations, and connective tissue disorders are also common features of the disease. The authors report here a 19-year-old female with hyper-IgE syndrome who developed necrotising fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome. Methicillin resistant S. aureus and S. pyogenes cultured from the skin lesions. Association of hyper-IgE syndrome with necrotising fasciitis is a rarity in the medical literature. In addition to the case report, the authors describe here the major immunologic and clinical manifestations of hyper-IgE syndrome.

Adult↗

Glucocerebroside inhibits NADPH oxidase activation in cell-free system.

We reported earlier that monocytes and macrophages from patients with type I Gaucher disease have a decreased capacity to generate superoxide anion (O(2)(-)) on stimulation with opsonized S. aureus or formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine. In this study, various forms of the cell-free assay system were used to probe the hypothesis that glucocerebroside (GC) accumulating in Gaucher patients' phagocytes may interfere with the activation of NADPH oxidase. Xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay was applied to explore the possibility that GC may scavenge O(2)(-). We found that addition of GC to the crude, semirecombinant or fully purified cell-free systems inhibited activation of NADPH oxidase in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of GC could be overcome by increased concentrations of p47(phox) and p67(phox). In contrast, O(2)(-) generation was not decreased by GC added to the assembled, catalytically active enzyme complex. In the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system, GC had no effect on the generation of O(2)(-). These data indicate that assembly of the respiratory burst oxidase of phagocytic cells may be a possible target of the pathologic actions of GC.

Cell-Free System↗

Rebound hepatosplenomegaly in type 1 Gaucher disease.

A 19-year-old male patient with type 1 Gaucher disease was put on regular biweekly infusions of alglucerase. After 1 yr of treatment, hepatic and splenic volumes decreased from 38 and 45 mL/kg to 31 and 34 mL/kg, respectively. In addition, hemoglobin concentration, platelet count and white cell count increased, acid phosphatase level decreased, and the patient gained weight and energy. Despite improvement, the patient refused enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) because of muscle rigidity, chest pain, trembling and anxiety, which he attributed to enzyme substitution. Two and 4.5 year after cessation of therapy, hepatic and splenic volumes increased to 36 and 53 mL/kg and to 53 and 110 mL/kg, respectively. The patient developed non-tractable hematuria because of compression and dislocation of the left kidney by the enlarged spleen, which necessitated splenectomy. This report suggests that cessation of ERT in Gaucher disease may result in severe and complicated rebound visceromegaly.

Adult↗