A gene responsible for cavernous malformations of the brain maps to chromosome 7q

1995 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Dubovsky ◽  
Joseph M. Zabramski ◽  
Janice Kurth ◽  
Robert F. Spetzier ◽  
Steven S. Rich ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Lingfeng Qin ◽  
Haifeng Zhang ◽  
Busu Li ◽  
Quan Jiang ◽  
Francesc Lopez ◽  
...  

Objective: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) can happen anywhere in the body, although they most commonly produce symptoms in the brain. The role of CCM genes in other vascular beds outside the brain and retina is not well-examined, although the 3 CCM-associated genes ( CCM1 , CCM2 , and CCM3 ) are ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. We aimed to determine the role of CCM gene in lymphatics. Approach and Results: Mice with an inducible pan–endothelial cell (EC) or lymphatic EC deletion of Ccm3 ( Pdcd10 ECKO or Pdcd10 LECKO ) exhibit dilated lymphatic capillaries and collecting vessels with abnormal valve structure. Morphological alterations were correlated with lymphatic dysfunction in Pdcd10 LECKO mice as determined by Evans blue dye and fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC)-dextran transport assays. Pdcd10 LECKO lymphatics had increased VEGFR3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3)-ERK1/2 signaling with lymphatic hyperplasia. Mechanistic studies suggested that VEGFR3 is primarily regulated at a transcriptional level in Ccm3-deficient lymphatic ECs, in an NF-κB (nuclear factor κB)–dependent manner. CCM3 binds to importin alpha 2/KPNA2 (karyopherin subunit alpha 2), and a CCM3 deletion releases KPNA2 to activate NF-κB P65 by facilitating its nuclear translocation and P65-dependent VEGFR3 transcription. Moreover, increased VEGFR3 in lymphatic EC preferentially activates ERK1/2 signaling, which is critical for lymphatic EC proliferation. Importantly, inhibition of VEGFR3 or ERK1/2 rescued the lymphatic defects in structure and function. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that CCM3 deletion augments the VEGFR3-ERK1/2 signaling in lymphatic EC that drives lymphatic hyperplasia and malformation and warrant further investigation on the potential clinical relevance of lymphatic dysfunction in patients with CCM.


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-123
Author(s):  
Tania Jagathesan ◽  
Michael OBrien

BACKGROUND: Cavernomas, cavernous angiomas, or cerebral cavernous malformations are clusters of endothelium-lined blood vessels usually found in the brain. With the increasing use of radiological imaging, these are being detected incidentally in asymptomatic aircrew. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) experience of cavernomas is described and the aeromedical concerns, that is, the risk of epilepsy, hemorrhage, and the development of a neurological deficit, are considered.METHODS: A search of the CAA database between 1990 and 2020 was performed for the term cavernoma. The gender, age at diagnosis, class of certification held, clinical presentation, location, and size of the lesion were noted. A PubMed literature review for papers with complications of cavernoma was performed.RESULTS: Six cases of cavernoma have been declared to the CAA: five professional pilots and one private pilot. Five were men and one was a woman. The age range was between 38 and 60 yr, with a mean of 48 yr. Two cases presented with clinical symptoms and four were asymptomatic. Complication rates for seizure and hemorrhage were extracted from the published literature together with the significance of other factors such as cavernoma size, family history, multiplicity, and the development of new lesions.DISCUSSION: A policy for the medical certification of aircrew with cavernomas that have presented with clinical symptoms and those that are detected incidentally is proposed.Jagathesan T, OBrien M. Aeromedical implications of cerebral cavernomas. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(2):120123.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 2171-2186
Author(s):  
Kang Wang ◽  
Haifeng Zhang ◽  
Yun He ◽  
Quan Jiang ◽  
Yoshiaki Tanaka ◽  
...  

Objective: Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM), consisting of dilated capillary channels formed by a single layer of endothelial cells lacking surrounding mural cells. It is unclear why CCM lesions are primarily confined to brain vasculature, although the 3 CCM-associated genes ( CCM1 , CCM2 , and CCM3 ) are ubiquitously expressed in all tissues. We aimed to determine the role of CCM gene in brain mural cell in CCM pathogenesis. Approach and Results: SM22α -Cre was used to drive a specific deletion of Ccm3 in mural cells, including pericytes and smooth muscle cells (Ccm3smKO). Ccm3smKO mice developed CCM lesions in the brain with onset at neonatal stages. One-third of Ccm3smKO mice survived upto 6 weeks of age, exhibiting seizures, and severe brain hemorrhage. The early CCM lesions in Ccm3smKO neonates were loosely wrapped by mural cells, and adult Ccm3smKO mice had clustered and enlarged capillary channels (caverns) formed by a single layer of endothelium lacking mural cell coverage. Importantly, CCM lesions throughout the entire brain in Ccm3smKO mice, which more accurately mimicked human disease than the current endothelial cell-specific CCM3 deletion models. Mechanistically, CCM3 loss in brain pericytes dramatically increased paxillin stability and focal adhesion formation, enhancing ITG-β1 (integrin β1) activity and extracellular matrix adhesion but reducing cell migration and endothelial cell-pericyte associations. Moreover, CCM3-wild type, but not a paxillin-binding defective mutant, rescued the phenotypes in CCM3-deficient pericytes. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate for the first time that deletion of a CCM gene in the brain mural cell induces CCM pathogenesis.


1997 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher H. Comey ◽  
Douglas Kondziolka ◽  
Howard Yonas

✓ With improvements in imaging technology, the detection of both cavernous malformations and venous malformations has increased markedly in recent years. Although much has been learned about the association of cavernous and venous malformations, important questions regarding the true nature of such a relationship remain unanswered. It has been proposed that certain venous malformations produce local venous hypertension with resultant microhemorrhage, growth factor release, and creation of cavernous malformations. The authors report on two patients with cerebellopontine venous malformations associated with cavernous malformations. Both patients demonstrated persistent regional parenchymal enhancement associated with the vascular malformations. In addition, both patients had significant clinical symptoms referable to the region of affected brain. This previously undescribed finding may represent an imaging correlate to the complex interaction among venous malformations, venous hypertension, and cavernous malformations.


1997 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Notelet ◽  
F Chapon ◽  
S Khoury ◽  
K Vahedi ◽  
J P Chodkiewicz ◽  
...  

2002 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iman Feiz-Erfan ◽  
Joseph M. Zabramski ◽  
Giuseppe Lanzino ◽  
Randall W. Porter

Perception ◽  
10.1068/p5338 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (11) ◽  
pp. 1339-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Greene ◽  
William Frawley

In previous studies, we have found that the accuracy in judging collinearity of lines or dots varies considerably from one subject to another as a function of the relative angle of the stimulus elements. A model of errors generally shows large excursions across several subranges of angular position. These do not appear to be motor errors, at least not ones that are well separated from perceptual mechanisms. The errors are most likely generated at primary visual cortex, or beyond. We examined and modeled accuracy in judging collinearity of dot pairs, varying the angular position of the dots through 360°, the distance between the dots (stimulus span), and the distance at which the subject was required to respond (response span). Subjects manifested idiosyncratic profiles of error across angular positions, as reported previously. But across the tested range of spans, from 4 to 8 deg, the errors tended to be the same, irrespective of stimulus or response span. This suggests that the judgments are based on a radial (angular) measure of spatial position. We discuss these results in the context of proposals that the brain maps spatial position using rotation coordinates. These new data are consistent with the hypothesis that subjects use the z-axis coordinates as a mental protractor for judging angular position and collinearity.


2014 ◽  
Vol 33 (01) ◽  
pp. 82-84
Author(s):  
Leonardo Conrado Silva Lima ◽  
Marcelo Paglioli Ferreira ◽  
Davidson Alba ◽  
Alisson Roberto Teles ◽  
Frederico Kliemann

AbstractCavernous malformations (CM) are formed by dilated thin-walled vascular channels without intervening parenchyma and intraventricular lesions are rare. We report a case of an intraventricular cavernoma in a 54-year old female patient. She presented with speech arrests daily for 10 months. Neurological examination revealed no deficits. The brain MRI study revealed an intraventricular lesion at the level of the left atrium, heterogeneously hyperintense on both T1 and T2-weighted images. It was performed an interhemispheric transcallosal approach with gross-total resection of the lesion. The histological examination was compatible with the diagnosis of cavernous haemangioma. In the postoperative period the patient presented with transient right hemiparesis with recovery in two weeks. We briefly review the literature concerning intraventricular cavernomas.


2000 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall W. Porter ◽  
Paul W. Detwiler ◽  
Robert F. Spetzler

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