Project description:Periodontal Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (pEDS) is a rare, distinct hereditary disorder characterized by early onset periodontal destruction, tissue fragility and joint hypermobility. pEDS is caused by mutant variants of C1R (and C1S) genes, which encode the C1s (and C1s) subunits of the first component of the classical complement pathway. Abberant serine protease activation will result in C4 cleavage and local complement cascade activation, as well as other possible consequences. Although multiple studies have investigated the genetic variant analysis of pEDS, the transcriptome profiles of pEDS remain unknown. To better understand the pathomechanism underlying the clinical manifestation of pEDS and to identify novel molecular targets that may expand treatment strategies, our study performed transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing of patient-derived monocytes from 2 pEDS patients and 3 normal controls. Genes related to periodontal host defense, inflammatory response, skin disease and vascular development were significantly enriched. Furthermore, we identified genes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal destruction and pretibial pigmentation of pEDS. Overall, our study presents the first pEDS transcriptomics data, revealing distinct molecular features in monocytes of periodontal Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, and serves as a tool to better understand the disease.
Project description:Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a rare inherited disorder caused by genetic variants in type III collagen. Its prognosis is especially hampered by unpredictable arterial ruptures and there is no therapeutic consensus. We created a knock-in Col3a1+/G182R mouse model and performed a complete genetic, molecular and biochemical characterization. Several therapeutic strategies were also tested. Col3a1+/G182R mice showed a spontaneous mortality caused by thoracic aortic rupture that recapitulates the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with a lower survival rate in males, thin non-inflammatory arteries and an altered arterial collagen. Transcriptomic analysis of aortas showed upregulation of genes related to inflammation and cell stress response. Compared to water, survival rate of Col3a1+/G182R mice was not affected by beta-blockers (propranolol or celiprolol). Two other vasodilating anti-hypertensive agents (hydralazine, amlodipine) gave opposite results on aortic rupture and mortality rate. There was a spectacular beneficial effect of losartan, reversed by the cessation of its administration, and a marked deleterious effect of exogenous angiotensin II. These results suggest that blockade of the renin angiotensin system should be tested as a first-line medical therapy in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Project description:Gene expression profiling of cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients affected with classical Ehlers Danlos syndrome (cEDS) Transcriptome-wide expression profiling using the Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST platform comparing the gene expression pattern of cultured skin fibroblasts from 4 cEDS patients with those of 9 healthy individuals
Project description:Analysis of gene expression profiling of cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from patients affected with vascular Ehlers Danlos syndrome (vEDS) Transcriptome-wide expression profiling using the Affymetrix Gene 1.0 ST platform comparing the gene expression pattern of cultured skin fibroblasts derived from three patients with vEDS with those of nine healthy individuals
Project description:Classic Ehlers Danlos syndrome (cEDS) is one of the most common genetic disorders of the connective tissue and musculoskeletal system characterized by mutations in genes encoding for type V collagen. Defects in wound healing constitute one of the most common and debilitating symptoms in individuals with cEDS but currently, no therapeutic strategies exist to attenuate wound healing defects in cEDS. We create a new murine model of cEDS, that remarkably phenocopies wound healing defects in human cEDS. Using this model, we show that an abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) characterized by fibrillar disarray, altered mechanical properties and decreased collagen deposition contribute to the wound healing defect in cEDS. The cEDS animals exhibit decreased expression of epidermal genes and increased inflammation consistent with the human phenotype. We show that integrin expression is altered in wounds of cEDS animals and small molecule modulators of mechanosensitive integrin signaling attenuate wound healing defects. Finally, we demonstrate that rescuing extracellular matrix defects by injecting wild type fibroblasts into wounds of cEDS animals significantly enhances epidermal gene expression, decreases inflammation, augments wound closure and rescues defective wound repair. Taken together, these observations suggest that modulation of the extracellular matrix in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome either with small molecule inhibitors of mechanosensitive integrin signaling, or direct injection of wild type fibroblasts into the wound bed may have therapeutic potential for enhancing wound healing in cEDS.
Project description:Classical-like Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (clEDS) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by complete absence of tenascin-X resulting from biallelic variation in TNXB. Accurate detection of TNXB variants is challenging because of the presence of the pseudogene TNXA, which can undergo non-allelic homologous recombination. Therefore, we designed a genetic screening system that is performed using similar operations to other next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel analyses and can be applied to accurately detect TNXB variants and the recombination of TNXA-derived sequences into TNXB. We also analyzed the levels of serum form of TNX (sTNX) by Western bot and LC/MS/MS. Using this system, we identified biallelic TNXB variants in nine unrelated clEDS patients. This report is the first to apply an NGS-based screening for TNXB variants and represents the third largest cohort of clEDS.
Project description:The spondylodysplastic type of Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (spEDS) is caused by genetic defects in the B4GALT7 or B3GALT6 genes both deranging the biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycan linkage region of chondroitin/dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. In this study we have analyzed the linkage regions of urinary chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans of three siblings, diagnosed with spEDS and carrying biallelic pathogenic variants of the B3GALT6 gene. Proteoglycans were digested with trypsin, glycopeptides enriched on anion-exchange columns, depolymerized with chondroitinase ABC and analyzed by nLC-MS/MS. In urine of the unaffected mother, the dominating glycopeptide of bikunin/protein AMBP appeared as only one dominating (99.9%) peak with the canonical tetrasaccharide linkage region modification. In contrast, the samples of the three affected siblings contained two different glycopeptide peaks, corresponding to the canonical tetrasaccharide and to the non-canonical trisaccharide linkage region modifications in individual ratios of 61/38, 73/27, 59/41.We propose that the relative distribution of glycosaminoglycan linkage regions of urinary bikunin glycopeptides may serve as a phenotypic biomarker in a diagnostic test but also as a biomarker to follow the effect of future therapies in affected individuals.