Background Disruption of 11p15 imprinting results in two fetal growth disorders with opposite phenotypes: the Beckwith–Wiedemann (BWS; MIM 130650) and the Silver–Russell (SRS; MIM 180860) syndromes. DNA methylation defects account for 60% of BWS and SRS cases and, in most cases, occur without any identified mutation in a cis-acting regulatory sequence or a trans-acting factor. Methods We investigated whether 11p15 cis-acting sequence variants account for primary DNA methylation defects in patients with SRS and BWS with loss of DNA methylation at ICR1 and ICR2, respectively. Results We identified a 4.5 kb haplotype that, upon maternal transmission, is associated with a risk of ICR2 loss of DNA methylation in patients with BWS. This novel region is located within the second intron of the KCNQ1 gene, 170 kb upstream of the ICR2 imprinting centre and encompasses two CTCF binding sites. We showed that, within the 4.5 kb region, two SNPs (rs11823023 and rs179436) affect CTCF occupancy at DNA motifs flanking the CTCF 20 bp core motif. Conclusions This study shows that genetic variants confer a risk of DNA methylation defect with a parent-of-origin effect and highlights the crucial role of CTCF for the regulation of genomic imprinting of the CDKN1C/KCNQ1 domain. arabic 26 English 132
Julie Demars, Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, Abdul Waheed Khan , Kai Syin Lee, Salah Azzi, Patrice Dehais, Irène Netchine, Sylvie Rossignol, Yves Le Bouc, Assam El-Osta, Christine Gicquel(7-2014)

As little is known about the blood profile of camels in Libya, this article is the first of a 4-part series describing the biochemical and haematological blood profile in Libyan camels. Part 1 of these manuscripts determines the values of enzymes, metabolites, electrolytes and haematological indices in the blood of Libyan camels, parts 2-4 evaluates the effects of breed, gender and age respectively on these values. In this study, blood samples were collected from sixty six camels of three different breeds, different ages and with both sex. The blood of the studied camels showed (i) average values of Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Phosphorus (Ph), Haemoglobin (Hb), Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and White Blood Cell (WBC) counts (ii) low values of Sodium (Na), Iron (Fe), total proteins, albumin, globulin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), and low serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and amylase (AMS) enzymes and (iii) high values of glucose, urea, Red Blood Cell (RBC) counts, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC). The finding of this study was documented and compared with the findings of similar studies performed elsewhere. arabic 25 English 134
Anwar Mustafa Abdalhadi Abdalmula, Amal Omar Elarif Buker, Fathia mahmoud Mohammad Ashour, Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, , Ismail M Abograra, , Fahima A Alnagar(8-2018)

The imprinted expression of the IGF2 and H19 genes is controlled by the imprinting control region 1 (ICR1) located at chromosome 11p15.5. DNA methylation defects involving ICR1 result in two growth disorders with opposite phenotypes: an overgrowth disorder, the Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome (maternal ICR1 hypermethylation in 10% of BWS cases) and a growth retardation disorder, the Silver-Russell syndrome (paternal ICR1 loss of methylation in 60% of SRS cases). In familial BWS, hypermethylation of ICR1 has been found in association with microdeletion of repetitive DNA motifs within ICR1 that bind the zinc finger protein CTCF; but more recently, ICR1 point mutations were described in BWS pedigrees. We present a case report of two brothers with BWS and prolonged post-pubertal growth resulting in very large stature. A maternally inherited point mutation was identified in ICR1 in both brothers, which altered binding of OCT transcription factors. The same mutation was present on the paternally inherited allele of their unaffected mother. This is a second report of a point mutation causing ICR1 hypermethylation by altering an OCT-binding motif. The atypical growth phenotype of the brothers may be connected to the unusual underlying cause of their BWS. arabic 24 English 118
Rebecca L Poole, Donald J Leith, Louise E Docherty, Mansur Ennuri Moftah Shmela, Christine Gicquel,, Miranda Splitt, I Karen Temple, Deborah J G Mackay(2-2012)