👤 A Sundin

A novel mutation, causing a phenotype we named frogleg because its most obvious characteristic is a severe splaying of the hind limbs, arose spontaneously in a colony of Sprague-Dawley rats. Frogleg is a complex phenotype that includes abnormalities in hind limb function, reduced brain weight with dilated ventricles and infertility. Using micro-satellite markers spanning the entire rat genome, the mutation was mapped to a region of rat chromosome 1 between D1Rat131 and D1Rat287. Analysis of whole genome sequencing data within the linkage interval, identified a missense mutation in the branched-chain alpha-keto dehydrogenase kinase (Bckdk) gene. The protein encoded by Bckdk is an integral part of an enzyme complex located in the mitochondrial matrix of many tissues which regulates the levels of the branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), leucine, isoleucine and valine. BCAAs are essential amino acids (not synthesized by the body), and circulating levels must be tightly regulated; levels that are too high or too low are both deleterious. BCKDK phosphorylates Ser293 of the E1α subunit of the BCKDH protein, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the catabolism of the BCAAs, inhibiting BCKDH and thereby, limiting breakdown of the BCAAs. In contrast, when Ser293 is not phosphorylated, BCKDH activity is unchecked and the levels of the BCAAs will decrease dramatically. The mutation is located within the kinase domain of Bckdk and is predicted to be damaging. Consistent with this, we show that in rats homozygous for the mutation, phosphorylation of BCKDH in the brain is markedly decreased relative to wild type or heterozygous littermates. Further, circulating levels of the BCAAs are reduced by 70-80% in animals homozygous for the mutation. The frogleg phenotype shares important characteristics with a previously described Bckdk knockout mouse and with human subjects with Bckdk mutations. In addition, we report novel data regarding peripheral neuropathy of the hind limbs. Show less

This paper summarizes the current understanding of the biology of somatostatin receptor (sst), role of immunotherapy in neuroendocrine tumor (NET), new agents for PPRT, and methods to assess response and clinical benefit in NET. One of the most interesting aspects of sst biology is the recent discovery of truncated variants of the sst5 receptor subtype with unique tissue distribution and response to somatostatin (SST). These truncated receptors are associated with bad patient prognosis, decreased response to SST analogs, and may be new targets for diagnoses and treatment. IFN remains a cost-effective agent, particularly in classic mid gut carcinoids, and there is interest to continue examining immunotherapy's in this disease. PRRT remains a key strategy for treatment and imaging. In addition to the classic agents, there are a series of new agents targeting other receptors such as the incretin receptors (GLP-1R; GIPR) and other G-protein coupled receptors with great potential. With regards to therapy monitoring, the most commonly used criteria are Response Criteria Evaluation in Solid Tumors (RECIST). However, for different reasons, these criteria are not very useful in NET. Incorporation of other criteria such as Choi as well as functional imaging assessment with PET would be of great interest in this area. Show less