MECP2 Duplication Syndrome: Evidence of Enhanced Oxidative Stress. A Comparison with Rett Syndrome

PLoS One. 2016 Mar 1;11(3):e0150101. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150101. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Rett syndrome (RTT) and MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) are neurodevelopmental disorders caused by alterations in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene expression. A relationship between MECP2 loss-of-function mutations and oxidative stress has been previously documented in RTT patients and murine models. To date, no data on oxidative stress have been reported for the MECP2 gain-of-function mutations in patients with MDS. In the present work, the pro-oxidant status and oxidative fatty acid damage in MDS was investigated (subjects n = 6) and compared to RTT (subjects n = 24) and healthy condition (subjects n = 12). Patients with MECP2 gain-of-function mutations showed increased oxidative stress marker levels (plasma non-protein bound iron, intraerythrocyte non-protein bound iron, F2-isoprostanes, and F4-neuroprostanes), as compared to healthy controls (P ≤ 0.05). Such increases were similar to those observed in RTT patients except for higher plasma F2-isoprostanes levels (P < 0.0196). Moreover, plasma levels of F2-isoprostanes were significantly correlated (P = 0.0098) with the size of the amplified region. The present work shows unique data in patients affected by MDS. For the first time MECP2 gain-of-function mutations are indicated to be linked to an oxidative damage and related clinical symptoms overlapping with those of MECP2 loss-of-function mutations. A finely tuned balance of MECP2 expression appears to be critical to oxidative stress homeostasis, thus shedding light on the relevance of the redox balance in the central nervous system integrity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • F2-Isoprostanes / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Retardation, X-Linked / genetics
  • Mental Retardation, X-Linked / metabolism*
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / genetics
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / metabolism
  • Mutation
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Rett Syndrome / genetics
  • Rett Syndrome / metabolism*

Substances

  • F2-Isoprostanes
  • Fatty Acids
  • Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2
  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Supplementary concepts

  • Lubs X-linked mental retardation syndrome

Grants and funding

The present work was funded by the Tuscan Region (Bando Salute 2009; “Antioxidants—omega-3 polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, lipoic acid—supplementation in Rett syndrome: A novel approach to therapy,” RT no. 142). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.