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Syndrome Temple and Silver Russell understanding of epigenetic mechanisms regulating fetal growth

21 Feb 2019 | By INSERM (Newsroom) | Circulation, metabolism, nutrition

© Inserm/Alpha Pict/Caro, Daniel

A team Sorbonne / AP-HP / Inserm, led by Professor Irene Netchine, physiology professor at Sorbonne University and pediatrician at the Hospital Armand Trousseau AP-HP, studied the molecular mechanisms of the clinical similarity between syndrome Temple and Russell Silver syndrome. Their study, published in Science Advances , highlights the importance of gene network concept “imprinted” in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these rare syndromes.

In the human genome, genetic information is carried by two copies, each inherited from one parent. For most genes, both copies (maternal and paternal) are expressed equivalently. However, some genes are known as ”  subject to parental imprinting  ” when only one of the two copies is expressed; the other copy extinguishing. The expression of these genes corresponds to an epigenetic mechanism, that is to say biochemical modifications of the DNA molecule, which are different on each of the two copies. These imprinted genes are usually involved in growth, metabolism and development .

The genes expressed by the mother copy have a tendency to restrict fetal growth to preserve its own reserves, while the genes expressed by the paternal copy foster meanwhile fetal growth to ensure healthy offspring and pass on its genes to the next generation.

Syndrome Temple and the syndrome Silver Russell are associated with impaired fetal growth is reduced , and are caused by genetic or epigenetic abnormalities in two regions containing imprinted genes, specifically on chromosomes 11 and 14 , respectively.

These patients also have metabolism and food intake disorders, as well as a premature puberty or advanced.

In his study, the team of Prof. Netchine analyzes the molecular mechanisms of the clinical similarity between the two diseases. In Russell Silver syndrome, a decrease in the expression of a gene ( IGF2 ) usually expressed from the paternal chromosome 11, is the origin of stunting. As to Temple syndrome, changes in genes on chromosome 14 (particularly some RNAs normally expressed from the maternal copy of chromosome 14) also impact gene expression IGF2 , while epigenetic marks are unmodified on the chromosome 11.

These discoveries help advance understanding of epigenetic regulation of gene expression, and consider a new approach to the physiology of fetal growth.

Medias
Researcher Contact

Irène Netchine

01 71 73 88 10

rf.phpa@enihcten.eneri

Press Contact

Claire de Thoisy-Méchin

01 44 27 23 34 / 06 74 03 40 19

rf.etisrevinu-ennobros@nihcem-ysioht_ed.erialc

Marion Valzy 

01 44 27 37 12 

rf.etisrevinu-ennobros@yzlav.noiram

Sources

Transcriptional profiling at DLK1/MEG3 domain explains clinical overlap between imprinting disorders, Walid Abi Habib*, Frédéric Brioude, Salah Azzi, Sylvie Rossignol, Agnès Linglart, Marie-Laure Sobrier, Eloïse Giabicani, Virginie Steunou, Madeleine D. Harbison, Yves Le Bouc, Irène Netchine

*Premier auteur, Walid Abi Habib a soutenu une thèse en physiologie et physiopathologie, intitulée « Identification de nouveaux mécanismes moléculaires dans les pathologies de croissance fœtale et postnatale des syndromes de Beckwith-Wiedemann et de Silver-Russell : approche génétique et épigénétique » en 2016 dans le cadre de l’école doctorale de physiologie, physiopathologie et thérapeutique.

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