Subclinical inflammatory status in Rett syndrome

Mediators Inflamm. 2014:2014:480980. doi: 10.1155/2014/480980. Epub 2014 Jan 6.

Abstract

Inflammation has been advocated as a possible common central mechanism for developmental cognitive impairment. Rett syndrome (RTT) is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder, mainly caused by de novo loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding MeCP2. Here, we investigated plasma acute phase response (APR) in stage II (i.e., "pseudo-autistic") RTT patients by routine haematology/clinical chemistry and proteomic 2-DE/MALDI-TOF analyses as a function of four major MECP2 gene mutation types (R306C, T158M, R168X, and large deletions). Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate values (median 33.0 mm/h versus 8.0 mm/h, P < 0.0001) were detectable in RTT, whereas C-reactive protein levels were unchanged (P = 0.63). The 2-DE analysis identified significant changes for a total of 17 proteins, the majority of which were categorized as APR proteins, either positive (n = 6 spots) or negative (n = 9 spots), and to a lesser extent as proteins involved in the immune system (n = 2 spots), with some proteins having overlapping functions on metabolism (n = 7 spots). The number of protein changes was proportional to the severity of the mutation. Our findings reveal for the first time the presence of a subclinical chronic inflammatory status related to the "pseudo-autistic" phase of RTT, which is related to the severity carried by the MECP2 gene mutation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute-Phase Reaction
  • Blood Sedimentation
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / physiopathology
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Phenotype
  • Protein Interaction Mapping
  • Rett Syndrome / genetics*
  • Rett Syndrome / immunology*

Substances

  • MECP2 protein, human
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • C-Reactive Protein