NF-κB signalling requirement for brain myelin formation is shown by genotype/MRI phenotype correlations in patients with Xq28 duplications

Eur J Hum Genet. 2013 Feb;21(2):195-9. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2012.140. Epub 2012 Jul 18.

Abstract

One of the key signals regulating peripheral myelin formation by Schwann cell is the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Yet, whether NF-κB exerts similar functions in central myelin formation by oligodendrocytes remains largely unknown. We previously reported white matter abnormalities with unusual discordance between T2 and FLAIR sequences in a patient with intellectual disability and defective NF-κB signalling. These observations prompted us to hypothesise that NF-κB signalling may have a role in the axon myelination process of central neurons. We report here on five male patients with Xq28 duplications encompassing MECP2, three of which presented white matter anomalies on brain MRI. Array-CGH and FISH analyses demonstrated that brain abnormalities correlate with additional copies of the IKBKG, a gene encoding a key regulator of NF-κB activation. Quantitative RT-PCR experiments and κB-responsive reporter gene assays provide evidence that IKBKG overexpression causes impaired NF-κB signalling in skin fibroblasts derived from patients with white matter anomalies. These data further support the role of NF-κB signalling in astroglial cells for normal myelin formation of the central nervous system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Axons / metabolism
  • Brain* / abnormalities
  • Brain* / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Central Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Chromosome Duplication* / genetics
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities* / genetics
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities* / metabolism
  • Craniofacial Abnormalities* / physiopathology
  • Facies*
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked* / genetics
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked* / metabolism
  • Genetic Diseases, X-Linked* / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase* / genetics
  • I-kappa B Kinase* / metabolism
  • Intellectual Disability* / genetics
  • Intellectual Disability* / metabolism
  • Intellectual Disability* / physiopathology
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Myelin Sheath* / genetics
  • Myelin Sheath* / metabolism
  • Myelin Sheath* / pathology
  • NF-kappa B* / genetics
  • NF-kappa B* / metabolism
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism
  • Radiography
  • Schwann Cells / cytology
  • Schwann Cells / metabolism
  • Sex Chromosome Disorders* / genetics
  • Sex Chromosome Disorders* / metabolism
  • Sex Chromosome Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • IKBKG protein, human
  • NF-kappa B
  • I-kappa B Kinase

Supplementary concepts

  • Chromosome Xq28 Duplication Syndrome