Growth in ataxia telangiectasia.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a DNA repair disorder that affects multiple body systems. Neurological problems and immunodeficiency are two important features of this disease. At this time, two main severity groups are defined in A-T: classic (the more severe form) and mild. Poor growth is a common problem in classic A-T. An objective of this study was to develop growth references for classic A-T. Another objective was to compare growth patterns in classic A-T and mild A-T with each other and with the general population, using the CDC growth references. A final objective was to examine the effects of chronic infection on height.Results
We found that classic A-T patients were smaller overall, and suffered from height and weight faltering that continued throughout childhood and adolescence. When compared to the CDC growth references, the median heights and weights for both male and female patients eventually fell to or below the 3rd centile on the CDC charts. Height faltering was more pronounced in females. Birthweight was lower in the classic A-T group compared to mild A-T and the general population, whereas birth length was not. Finally, we investigated height and BMI faltering in relation to number of infections and found no association.Conclusions
Classic A-T appears to affect growth in utero. Although children appear to grow well in very early life, faltering begins early, and is unrelenting.
SUBMITTER: Natale VAI
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7945359 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Similar Datasets
Project description:BackgroundAtaxia telangiectasia is one of the most common causes of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias. However, absence of telangiectasia, normal levels of alpha-fetoprotein and negative genetic test may direct to alternative diagnosis with similar phenotypes such as ataxia telangiectasia-like disorders (ATLD).CasesWe report two instructive cases of ATLD: the first case with ataxia telangiectasia-like disorder type 1 related to MRE11A gene, and the second case with ataxia telangiectasia-like disorder type 2 related to PCNA gene.Literature reviewATLD is an unusual group of autosomal recessive diseases that share some clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms with ataxia telangiectasia (AT). ATLD may be associated with mutations in the MRE11A (ATLD type 1) and PCNA (ATLD type 2) genes. ATLD belongs to the group of chromosomal instability syndromes. The reason for the term ATLD is related to the similar pathophysiological mechanisms observed in AT, which is characterized by chromosomal instability and radiosensitivity.ConclusionsIn this review, the main clinical features, biomarkers, brain imaging and genetics of ATLD are discussed. Mutations in the MRE11A and PCNA genes should be included in the differential diagnosis for early onset cerebellar ataxia with absence of telangiectasia and normal levels of alpha-fetoprotein.
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Project description:https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/23301619/homepage/mdc312564-sup-v001_1.htm.
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Project description:Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disorder primarily characterized by cerebellar degeneration, telangiectasia, immunodeficiency, cancer susceptibility and radiation sensitivity. A-T is often referred to as a genome instability or DNA damage response syndrome.The world-wide prevalence of A-T is estimated to be between 1 in 40,000 and 1 in 100,000 live births.A-T is a complex disorder with substantial variability in the severity of features between affected individuals, and at different ages. Neurological symptoms most often first appear in early childhood when children begin to sit or walk. They have immunological abnormalities including immunoglobulin and antibody deficiencies and lymphopenia. People with A-T have an increased predisposition for cancers, particularly of lymphoid origin. Pulmonary disease and problems with feeding, swallowing and nutrition are common, and there also may be dermatological and endocrine manifestations.A-T is caused by mutations in the ATM (Ataxia Telangiectasia, Mutated) gene which encodes a protein of the same name. The primary role of the ATM protein is coordination of cellular signaling pathways in response to DNA double strand breaks, oxidative stress and other genotoxic stress.The diagnosis of A-T is usually suspected by the combination of neurologic clinical features (ataxia, abnormal control of eye movement, and postural instability) with one or more of the following which may vary in their appearance: telangiectasia, frequent sinopulmonary infections and specific laboratory abnormalities (e.g. IgA deficiency, lymphopenia especially affecting T lymphocytes and increased alpha-fetoprotein levels). Because certain neurological features may arise later, a diagnosis of A-T should be carefully considered for any ataxic child with an otherwise elusive diagnosis. A diagnosis of A-T can be confirmed by the finding of an absence or deficiency of the ATM protein or its kinase activity in cultured cell lines, and/or identification of the pathological mutations in the ATM gene.There are several other neurologic and rare disorders that physicians must consider when diagnosing A-T and that can be confused with A-T. Differentiation of these various disorders is often possible with clinical features and selected laboratory tests, including gene sequencing.Antenatal diagnosis can be performed if the pathological ATM mutations in that family have been identified in an affected child. In the absence of identifying mutations, antenatal diagnosis can be made by haplotype analysis if an unambiguous diagnosis of the affected child has been made through clinical and laboratory findings and/or ATM protein analysis.Genetic counseling can help family members of a patient with A-T understand when genetic testing for A-T is feasible, and how the test results should be interpreted.Treatment of the neurologic problems associated with A-T is symptomatic and supportive, as there are no treatments known to slow or stop the neurodegeneration. However, other manifestations of A-T, e.g. immunodeficiency, pulmonary disease, failure to thrive and diabetes can be treated effectively.
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Project description:Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive multi-system disorder caused by mutation in the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM). ATM is a large serine/threonine protein kinase, a member of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase-related protein kinase (PIKK) family whose best-studied function is as master controller of signal transduction for the DNA damage response (DDR) in the event of double strand breaks (DSBs). The DDR rapidly recognizes DNA lesions and initiates the appropriate cellular programs to maintain genome integrity. This includes the coordination of cell-cycle checkpoints, transcription, translation, DNA repair, metabolism, and cell fate decisions, such as apoptosis or senescence. DSBs can be generated by exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) or various chemical compounds, such as topoisomerase inhibitors, or can be part of programmed generation and repair of DSBs via cellular enzymes needed for the generation of the antibody repertoire as well as the maturation of germ cells. AT patients have immunodeficiency, and are sterile with gonadal dysgenesis as a result of defect in meiotic recombination. In the cells of nervous system ATM has additional role in vesicle dynamics as well as in the maintenance of the epigenetic code of histone modifications. Moderate levels of ATM are associated with prolonged lifespan through resistance to oxidative stress. ATM inhibitors are being viewed as potential radiosensitizers as part of cancer radiotherapy. Though there is no cure for the disease at present, glucocorticoids have been shown to induce alternate splicing site in the gene for ATM partly restoring its activity, but their most effective timing in the disease natural history is not yet known. Gene therapy is promising but large size of the gene makes it technically difficult to be delivered across the blood-brain barrier at present. As of now, apart from glucocorticoids, use of histone deacetylase inhibitors/EZH2 to minimize effect of the absence of ATM, looks more promising.
| S-EPMC4173637 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Cerebellar cortex expression in ataxia-telangiectasia patients and normal controls. The neurodegenerative disease known as ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is caused by the absence of the ATM (A-T mutated) protein. A long-standing mystery surrounding A-T is why cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) appear uniquely vulnerable to ATM-deficiency. Here, we present that 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), a newly recognized epigenetic marker found at high levels in neurons, is substantially reduced in human A-T and Atm-/- mouse cerebellar PCs. TET1, an enzyme that converts 5mC to 5hmC, responds to DNA damage. Manipulation of TET1 activity directly affects neuronal cell cycle reentry and cell death after the induction of DNA damage. Quantitative, genome-wide analysis of 5hmC of samples from human cerebellum showed that in ATM-deficiency there is a remarkable genome-wide reduction of 5hmC enrichment at both proximal and distal regulatory elements. These results reveal a role of TET1-mediated 5hmC in DNA damage response, and provide insights into the basis of a PC-specific DNA demethylation alteration in ATM-deficiency.
2015-10-30 | GSE61019 | GEO
Project description:Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) is a rare disorder characterized by neurodegeneration, combined immunodeficiency, predisposition to malignancies and high clinical variability. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) profiling may provide information on the pathophysiology of complex rare human diseases as they are involved in numerous biological functions including proliferation, differentiation, and DNA repair. To investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in AT patient samples with the aim of identifying miRNA signatures and correlate these patterns with disease pathogenesis. Twenty AT patients (mean age 17.7 + 9.6 years) were enrolled in the study. Clinical and genetic data were collected. We performed a small RNA-seq analysis in PBMCs and fibroblasts to compare miRNA expression profiles in AT patients and controls, and to identify specific expression signatures for AT. We found 42 differentially expressed (DE)-miRNAs in blood samples and 26 in fibroblasts samples. Three DE-miRNAs, miR-342-3p, miR-30a-5p, and miR-195-5p were validated in further AT samples and their dysregulation was confirmed.We identified for the first time, an AT-associated miRNA signature in blood cells and fibroblast samples obtained from a cohort of AT patients. Several pathways were predicted commonly deregulated, mainly involved in cancer. miRNAs may provide information on AT pathophysiology and tumorigenesis.
2024-10-01 | GSE266440 | GEO
Project description:Control (CRL2429 C11) and A-T (MC3/AT30) iPSC were differentiated according to Erceg et al to generate cerebellar precursors
2017-10-02 | GSE75852 | GEO
Project description:Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is one of a group of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias. Presentation is usually by the age of 2 years and ataxia of both upper and lower limbs develops, such that by early teenage most patients require a wheelchair for mobility. Speech and eye movement are also affected. Other important features are t(7;14) translocations, immunodeficiency, a high serum alpha fetoprotein concentration, growth retardation, telangiectasia-most noticeably on the bulbar conjunctiva-and a very high risk of developing a lymphoid tumour. Patients also show an increased sensitivity to ionising radiation. The classic form of A-T results from the presence of two truncating ATM mutations, leading to total loss of the ATM protein, a protein kinase. Importantly, A-T shows clinical heterogeneity, including milder forms where neurological progression may be slower or of later onset. In these cases there is a correlation between the preservation of neurological function, decreased radiosensitivity, and the degree of retained ATM protein kinase activity. Considerable scope remains for understanding the progress of the disorder in relation to the types of ATM mutation present.
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Project description:Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) plays a central role in DNA damage responses, and its loss leads to development of T-cell malignancies. Here, we show that ATM loss also leads to intrinsic mitochondrial abnormalities in thymocytes, including elevated reactive oxygen species, increased aberrant mitochondria, high cellular respiratory capacity, and decreased mitophagy. A fraction of ATM protein is localized in mitochondria, and it is rapidly activated by mitochondrial dysfunction. Unexpectedly, allelic loss of the autophagy regulator Beclin-1 significantly delayed tumor development in ATM-null mice. This effect was not associated with rescue of DNA damage signaling but rather with a significant reversal of the mitochondrial abnormalities. These data support a model in which ATM plays direct roles in modulating mitochondrial homeostasis and suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and associated increases in mitochondrial reactive oxygen species contribute to the cancer-prone phenotype observed in organisms lacking ATM. Thus, ataxia-telangiectasia should be considered, at least in part, as a mitochondrial disease.
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Project description:IntroductionAtaxia telangiectasia (AT) is a rare disorder characterized by neurodegeneration, combined immunodeficiency, a predisposition to malignancies, and high clinical variability. Profiling of microRNAs (miRNAs) may offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of complex rare human diseases, as miRNAs play a role in various biological functions including proliferation, differentiation, and DNA repair. In this study, we investigate the differential expression of miRNAs in samples from AT patients to identify miRNA patterns and analyze how these patterns are related to the disease.MethodsWe enrolled 20 AT patients (mean age 17.7 ± 9.6 years old) and collected clinical and genetic data. We performed short non-coding RNA-seq analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and fibroblasts to compare the miRNA expression profile between AT patients and controls.ResultsWe observed 42 differentially expressed (DE)-miRNAs in blood samples and 26 in fibroblast samples. Among these, three DE-miRNAs, miR-342-3p, miR-30a-5p, and miR-195-5p, were further validated in additional AT samples, confirming their dysregulation.DiscussionWe identified an AT-related miRNA signature in blood cells and fibroblast samples collected from a group of AT patients. We also predicted several dysregulated pathways, primarily related to cancer, immune system control, or inflammatory processes. The findings suggest that miRNAs may provide insights into the pathophysiology and tumorigenesis of AT and have the potential to serve as useful biomarkers in cancer research.
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