Redox imbalance and morphological changes in skin fibroblasts in typical Rett syndrome

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2014:2014:195935. doi: 10.1155/2014/195935. Epub 2014 May 29.

Abstract

Evidence of oxidative stress has been reported in the blood of patients with Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Little is known regarding the redox status in RTT cellular systems and its relationship with the morphological phenotype. In RTT patients (n = 16) we investigated four different oxidative stress markers, F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs), F4-Neuroprostanes (F4-NeuroPs), nonprotein bound iron (NPBI), and (4-HNE PAs), and glutathione in one of the most accessible cells, that is, skin fibroblasts, and searched for possible changes in cellular/intracellular structure and qualitative modifications of synthesized collagen. Significantly increased F4-NeuroPs (12-folds), F2-IsoPs (7.5-folds) NPBI (2.3-folds), 4-HNE PAs (1.48-folds), and GSSG (1.44-folds) were detected, with significantly decreased GSH (-43.6%) and GSH/GSSG ratio (-3.05 folds). A marked dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, associated with several cytoplasmic multilamellar bodies, was detectable in RTT fibroblasts. Colocalization of collagen I and collagen III, as well as the percentage of type I collagen as derived by semiquantitative immunofluorescence staining analyses, appears to be significantly reduced in RTT cells. Our findings indicate the presence of a redox imbalance and previously unrecognized morphological skin fibroblast abnormalities in RTT patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Cell Shape*
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Fibroblasts / ultrastructure
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Oxidants / metabolism
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Rett Syndrome / pathology*
  • Skin / pathology*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Oxidants
  • Collagen
  • Glutathione