Ophthalmic Genet 2018 May 21:1-7. Epub 2018 May 21.

a Department of Ophthalmology , Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center , Jerusalem , Israel.

Background: In developed countries, genetically inherited eye diseases are responsible for a high percentage of childhood visual impairment. We aim to report our experience using preimplantation genetic diagnostics (PGD) in order to avoid transmitting a genetic form of eye disease associated with childhood visual impairment and ocular cancer.

Material And Methods: Retrospective case series of women who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and PGD due to a familial history of inherited eye disease and/or ocular cancer, in order to avoid having a child affected with the known familial disease. Read More

Exp Oncol 2018 Mar;40(1):73-78

State Institution "Institute of Hereditary Pathology of National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine", Lviv 79008, Ukraine.

Aim: To study the relationship between the genotype and the phenotype in the patients with Hermansky - Pudlak syndrome (HPS) associated with granulomatous colitis; to monitor clinical course of the disease for adequate treatment, cancer surveillance and genetic counseling.

Materials And Methods: The diagnosis of HPS is established by physical examination, chest X-ray, computed tomography, endoscopic examination with biopsy, and laboratory tests, including histology, baseline laboratory blood, urine and feces tests, determination of ASCA-C and ANCA antibodies using an ELISA. Molecular genetic testing for HPS gene mutations, R702W, G908R, L1007fs and P268S mutations in NOD2 gene, and TaqI variant of the VDR gene were carried out. Read More

Orphanet J Rare Dis 2018 Mar 27;13(1):42. Epub 2018 Mar 27.

Ludwig-Maximilians University, Dr von Haunersches Kinderspital, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Lindwurmstr. 4, 80337, Munich, Germany.

Background: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), a hereditary multisystem disorder with oculocutaneous albinism, may be caused by mutations in one of at least 10 separate genes. The HPS-2 subtype is distinguished by the presence of neutropenia and knowledge of its pulmonary phenotype in children is scarce.

Methods: Six children with genetically proven HPS-2 presented to the chILD-EU register between 2009 and 2017; the data were collected systematically and imaging studies were scored blinded. Read More

PLoS One 2018 16;13(3):e0194193. Epub 2018 Mar 16.

Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive, fatal manifestation of Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). Some patients with advanced HPS pulmonary fibrosis undergo lung transplantation despite their disease-associated bleeding tendency; others die while awaiting donor organs. The objective of this study is to determine the clinical management and outcomes of a cohort with advanced HPS pulmonary fibrosis who were evaluated for lung transplantation. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 31;9:76. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.

The immunome (immune cell phenotype, gene expression, and serum cytokines profiling) in pulmonary fibrosis is incompletely defined. Studies focusing on inherited forms of pulmonary fibrosis provide insights into mechanisms of fibrotic lung disease in general. To define the cellular and molecular immunologic phenotype in peripheral blood, high-dimensional flow cytometry and large-scale gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum proteomic multiplex analyses were performed and compared in a cohort with familial pulmonary fibrosis (FPF), an autosomal dominant disorder with incomplete penetrance; Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome pulmonary fibrosis (HPSPF), a rare autosomal recessive disorder; and their unaffected relatives. Read More

J Immunol 2018 Mar 2;200(6):2140-2153. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912;

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) comprises a group of inherited disorders caused by mutations that alter the function of lysosome-related organelles. Pulmonary fibrosis is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in HPS-1 and HPS-4 patients. However, the mechanisms that underlie the exaggerated injury and fibroproliferative repair responses in HPS have not been adequately defined. Read More

J Exp Biol 2018 Mar 19;221(Pt 6). Epub 2018 Mar 19.

Departamento de Fisiología, Biofísica y Neurociencias, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, C.P. 07360, México

Membrane transporters and sequestration mechanisms concentrate metal ions differentially into discrete subcellular microenvironments for use in protein cofactors, signalling, storage or excretion. Here we identify zinc storage granules as the insect's major zinc reservoir in principal Malpighian tubule epithelial cells of The concerted action of Adaptor Protein-3, Rab32, HOPS and BLOC complexes as well as of the white-scarlet (ABCG2-like) and ZnT35C (ZnT2/ZnT3/ZnT8-like) transporters is required for zinc storage granule biogenesis. Due to lysosome-related organelle defects caused by mutations in the homologous human genes, patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome may lack zinc granules in beta pancreatic cells, intestinal paneth cells and presynaptic vesicles of hippocampal mossy fibers. Read More

Genetics 2018 Mar 16;208(3):1131-1146. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a human autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a deficiency of the platelet storage pool resulting from defective biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles (LROs). To date, 10 HPS genes have been identified, three of which belong to the octamer complex BLOC-1 (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex 1). One subunit of the BLOC-1 complex, BLOS1, also participates in the BLOC-1-related complex (BORC). Read More

Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2018 May;58(5):566-574

1 Division of Neonatology and.

Defining the mechanisms of cellular pathogenesis in rare lung diseases such as Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is often complicated by loss of the differentiated phenotype of cultured primary alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells, as well as by a lack of durable cell lines that are faithful to both AT2-cell and rare disease phenotypes. We used CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to generate a series of HPS-specific mutations in the MLE-15 cell line. The resulting MLE-15/HPS cell lines exhibit preservation of AT2 cellular functions, including formation of lamellar body-like organelles, complete processing of surfactant protein B, and known features of HPS specific to each trafficking complex, including loss of protein targeting to lamellar bodies. Read More

Blood Cells Mol Dis 2018 Mar 31;69:113-116. Epub 2017 Oct 31.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Platelets 2018 Jan 1;29(1):91-94. Epub 2017 Nov 1.

a Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) - characterized by the distinct clinical phenotypes of both oculocutaneous albinism and mild bleeding diathesis-is caused by mutations in genes that have crucial roles in the assembly of cellular organelles (skin melanosomes, platelet delta [dense] granules, lung lamellar bodies, and cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte granules). Immunodeficiency, pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous colitis are associated with some, but not all subtypes of HPS, with varying degrees of clinical severity. We describe a patient diagnosed with platelet dense granule storage pool deficiency (DG-SPD) at age 38 years after he presented with spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2018 Mar 2;31(2):267-276. Epub 2017 Nov 2.

Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism (OCA), a bleeding tendency, and ceroid deposition. Most of the causative genes for HPS encode subunits of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex (BLOC). In this study, we identified one patient each with HPS4, HPS6, and HPS9 by whole-exome sequencing. Read More

Pediatr Dermatol 2017 Nov 16;34(6):638-646. Epub 2017 Oct 16.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in one of nine genes involved in the packaging and formation of specialized lysosomes, including melanosomes and platelet-dense granules. The cardinal features are pigmentary dilution, bleeding diathesis, and accumulation of ceroid-like material in reticuloendothelial cells. Pulmonary fibrosis induced by tissue damage is seen in the most severe forms, and one subtype is characterized by immunodeficiency. Read More

G3 (Bethesda) 2017 Sep 7;7(9):3123-3131. Epub 2017 Sep 7.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California-Berkeley, California 94720

Here, we present and characterize the spontaneous X-linked recessive mutation , which causes oculocutaneous albinism in threespine sticklebacks (). In humans, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome results in pigmentation defects due to disrupted formation of the melanin-containing lysosomal-related organelle (LRO), the melanosome. mutants display not only reduced pigmentation of melanosomes in melanophores, but also reductions in the iridescent silver color from iridophores, while the yellow pigmentation from xanthophores appears unaffected. Read More

Presse Med 2017 Jul - Aug;46(7-8 Pt 1):648-654. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

CHU de Bordeaux, service de dermatologie, 33076 Bordeaux, France.

Albinism is a genetic disease affecting 1/17,000 person worldwide. It constitutes the second cause of congenital loss of visual acuity after optic atrophy. Albinism is heterogeneous both at the clinical and genetic levels. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2017 Jan 20;30(6):563-570. Epub 2017 Oct 20.

Service Génétique Médicale, CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS), first described in 1959, is a rare form of syndromic oculocutaneous albinism associated with bleeding diathesis and in some cases pulmonary fibrosis and granulomatous colitis. All 10 HPS types are caused by defects in vesicle trafficking of lysosome-related organelles (LRO) proteins. The HPS5 protein associates with HPS3 and HPS6 to form the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-2 (BLOC-2). Read More

Hum Mutat 2017 Oct 15;38(10):1402-1411. Epub 2017 Jun 15.

Sanquin Research, and Landsteiner Laboratory, Academic Medical Center (AMC), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2 (HPS2) is a syndrome caused by mutations in the beta-3A subunit of the adaptor protein (AP)-3 complex (AP3B1 gene). We describe five unreported cases with four novel mutations, one of which caused aberrant pre-mRNA splicing. A point mutation c. Read More

Am J Hum Genet 2017 05;100(5):837

Respir Res 2017 04 24;18(1):70. Epub 2017 Apr 24.

Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Uchinada-Daigaku, Kahokugun, Ishikawa, 920-0293, Japan.

Background: Rab8 small GTPase regulates intracellular transport in melanocytes and alveolar type II epithelial cells. Ruby rats carrying Rab8 and other gene mutations exhibit oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and hence, are a rat model of human Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). We previously showed that Long Evans Cinnamon (LEC) rats, one strain of the Ruby rats, developed aberrant lung surfactant homeostasis with remarkably enlarged lamellar bodies in alveolar type II cells. Read More

Expert Rev Hematol 2017 05 13;10(5):375-381. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

c MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology , University College London , London , UK.

Introduction: Platelet granule deficiencies lead to bleeding disorders, but their specific diagnosis typically requires whole mount transmission electron microscopy, which is often not available and has a number of important limitations. We recently proposed the use of advanced forms of fluorescence microscopy - the so-called 'super-resolution' microscopies - as a possible solution. Areas covered: In this special report, we review the diagnosis of platelet granule deficiencies, and discuss how recent developments in fluorescence microscopy may be useful in improving diagnostic approaches to these and related disorders. Read More

PLoS One 2017 15;12(3):e0173682. Epub 2017 Mar 15.

NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders typically manifesting with tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diathesis, and pulmonary fibrosis, in some subtypes. Most HPS subtypes are associated with defects in Biogenesis of Lysosome-related Organelle Complexes (BLOCs), which are groups of proteins that function together in the formation and/or trafficking of lysosomal-related endosomal compartments. BLOC-2, for example, consists of the proteins HPS3, HPS5, and HPS6. Read More

Mol Genet Genomics 2017 Jun 13;292(3):663-670. Epub 2017 Mar 13.

Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.

Albinism is caused by a series of genetic abnormalities leading to reduction of melanin production. Albinism is quite frequent in catfish, but the causative gene and the molecular basis were unknown. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the 250 K SNP array. Read More

Blood Cells Mol Dis 2017 Sep 6;67:75-80. Epub 2017 Mar 6.

Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. Electronic address:

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder causing oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding disorder and ceroid lipofuscinosis. Platelets from HPS patients are characterized by impaired secretion of dense (δ)-bodies (CD63). Meanwhile, there are ten known human HPS genes, each leading to a particular clinical HPS subtype (HPS1-HPS10). Read More

Mol Genet Metab 2017 04 27;120(4):378-383. Epub 2017 Feb 27.

Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Purpose: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare inherited disorder with ten reported genetic types; each type has defects in subunits of either Adaptor Protein-3 complex or Biogenesis of Lysosome-related Organelles Complex (BLOC)-1, -2, or -3. Very few patients with BLOC-1 deficiency (HPS-7, -8, and -9 types) have been diagnosed. We report results of comprehensive clinical testing and molecular analyses of primary fibroblasts from a new case of HPS-7. Read More

ACG Case Rep J 2017 18;4:e14. Epub 2017 Jan 18.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a lack of dense granules in platelets. HPS types 1 and 4 are associated with a granulomatous enterocolitis that is phenotypically indistinguishable from Crohn's disease. We present two cases of HPS-associated Crohn's disease phenotype in which the patients were refractory to standard medical management. Read More

J Thromb Haemost 2017 04 23;15(4):792-801. Epub 2017 Feb 23.

Sol Sherry Thrombosis Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Essentials Platelet dense granule (DG) deficiency is a major abnormality in RUNX1 haplodeficiency patients. The molecular mechanisms leading to the platelet DG deficiency are unknown. Platelet expression of PLDN (BLOC1S6, pallidin), involved in DG biogenesis, is regulated by RUNX1. Read More

Ann Am Thorac Soc 2017 Jan;14(1):152

Am J Clin Pathol 2016 Dec 27;146(6):681-693. Epub 2016 Dec 27.

From the Departments of Medicine

Objectives: The clinical diagnosis of qualitative platelet disorders (QPDs) based on light transmission aggregometry (LTA) requires significant blood volume, time, and expertise, all of which can be barriers to utilization in some populations and settings. Our objective was to develop a more rapid assay of platelet function by measuring platelet-mediated clot contraction in small volumes (35 µL) of whole blood using T2 magnetic resonance (T2MR).

Methods: We established normal ranges for platelet-mediated clot contraction using T2MR, used these ranges to study patients with known platelet dysfunction, and then evaluated agreement between T2MR and LTA with arachidonic acid, adenosine diphosphate, epinephrine, and thrombin receptor activator peptide. Read More

Int J Mol Cell Med 2016 3;5(3):192-195. Epub 2016 Jul 3.

Genomic Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Pediatr Blood Cancer 2017 May 4;64(5). Epub 2016 Dec 4.

Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Germany.

Background: Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and platelet dysfunction. We report on a novel HPS6 homozygous frameshift variant (c.1919_1920delTC; p. Read More

J Genet Genomics 2016 Dec 21;43(12):686-693. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Center for Medical Genetics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Pediatric Disease Research, Beijing 100045, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing 100069, China. Electronic address:

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a recessive disorder with bleeding diathesis, which has been linked to platelet granule defects. Both platelet granules and endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are members of lysosome-related organelles (LROs) whose formation is regulated by HPS protein associated complexes such as BLOC (biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex) -1, -2, -3, AP-3 (adaptor protein complex-3) and HOPS (homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex). Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is critical to hemostasis, which is stored in a highly-multimerized form as tubules in the WPBs. Read More

Am J Hum Genet 2016 Dec 23;99(6):1368-1376. Epub 2016 Nov 23.

Equipe d'Accueil 4271, Génétique des Anomalies du Développement, Université de Bourgogne, 21079 Dijon, France; INSERM 1141, Service de Neurologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Robert Debré, 75019 Paris, France; Centre de Génétique et Centre de Référence Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs de l'Interrégion Est, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon, 21079 Dijon, France. Electronic address:

Early-onset epileptic encephalopathy (EOEE) represents a heterogeneous group of severe disorders characterized by seizures, interictal epileptiform activity with a disorganized electroencephalography background, developmental regression or retardation, and onset before 1 year of age. Among a cohort of 57 individuals with epileptic encephalopathy, we ascertained two unrelated affected individuals with EOEE associated with developmental impairment and autosomal-recessive variants in AP3B2 by means of whole-exome sequencing. The targeted sequencing of AP3B2 in 86 unrelated individuals with EOEE led to the identification of an additional family. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2016 Nov 17;2016. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Department of Obstetrics, UZA, Edegem, Belgium.

We report on the obstetric outcome of a woman aged 27 years with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS). She underwent a caesarean section after failed induction of labour. Platelet transfusion was administered in a set schedule for 36 hours, starting 2 hours before delivery. Read More

Platelets 2017 Mar 16;28(2):138-146. Epub 2016 Nov 16.

a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Colorado State University , Fort Collins , Colorado , USA.

Platelet dense granules (DGs) are membrane bound compartments that store polyphosphate and small molecules such as ADP, ATP, Ca, and serotonin. The release of DG contents plays a central role in platelet aggregation to form a hemostatic plug. Accordingly, congenital deficiencies in the biogenesis of platelet DGs underlie human genetic disorders that cause storage pool disease and manifest with prolonged bleeding. Read More

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017 Aug 9;65(8):478-480. Epub 2016 Nov 9.

Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Mibu, Japan.

As the Japanese organ donor allocation system does not permit the allocation of lungs at a priority level to patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), many of these patients die before suitable donor lungs become available. We report our first experience with ECMO as a bridge to lung transplantation (LTx) from a brain-dead donor. A 40-year-old man with interstitial lung disease who was listed for LTx 3 years previously, experienced progressive deterioration of respiratory function. Read More

Obstet Med 2016 Dec 5;9(4):171-173. Epub 2016 Aug 5.

Division of Women's and Children's Health, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, NHS Trust, Leeds, UK.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder estimated to affect 1 in 500,000 to 1,000,000 individuals worldwide. Clinically, it presents as oculocutaneous albinism combined with bleeding diathesis. This is due to the absence of dense bodies in platelets causing a delayed secondary response resulting in prolonged bleeding time despite normal platelet count and coagulation factors. Read More

J AAPOS 2016 Oct 16;20(5):419-424. Epub 2016 Sep 16.

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Department of Pediatrics, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Electronic address:

Purpose: Reports of best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in albinism are often based on overlapping clinical phenotypes. BCVA in albinism has been shown to improve with age. This study reports a large cross-sectional investigation to determine whether BCVA differs by specific type of albinism when age-corrected. Read More

Mol Genet Metab 2016 11 3;119(3):284-287. Epub 2016 Sep 3.

Medical Genetics Branch, NHGRI, NIH, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-1851, USA. Electronic address:

Purpose: Hemophilia B, an X-linked disease, manifests with recurrent soft tissue bleeding episodes. Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, a rare autosomal recessive disorder, is characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and an increased tendency to bleed due to a platelet storage pool defect. We report a novel mutation in HPS6 in a Caucasian man with hemophilia B and oculocutaneous albinism. Read More

JCI Insight 2016 Oct 20;1(17):e88947. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.; Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.

Alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) dysfunction underlies the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) and other genetic syndromes associated with interstitial lung disease; however, mechanisms linking AEC dysfunction and fibrotic remodeling are incompletely understood. Since increased macrophage recruitment precedes pulmonary fibrosis in HPS, we investigated whether crosstalk between AECs and macrophages determines fibrotic susceptibility. We found that AECs from HPS mice produce excessive MCP-1, which was associated with increased macrophages in the lungs of unchallenged HPS mice. Read More

Br J Haematol 2017 Jan 21;176(1):118-123. Epub 2016 Oct 21.

Receptor Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) encompasses disorders with abnormal function of lysosomes and lysosome-related organelles, and some patients who develop immunodeficiency. The basic mechanisms contributing to immune dysfunction in HPS are ill-defined. We analysed natural killer (NK) cells from patients diagnosed with HPS-1, HPS-2, HPS-4, and an unreported HPS subtype. Read More

Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2016 Nov 19;29(6):702-706. Epub 2016 Oct 19.

Center for Medical Genetics, Beijing Childrens Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing, China.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare recessive disorder characterized by hypopigmentation, bleeding diathesis, and other symptoms due to multiple defects in lysosome-related organelles. Ten HPS subtypes have been identified with mutations in HPS1 to HPS10. Only four patients with HPS-1 have been reported in Chinese population. Read More

Small GTPases 2018 May 20;9(3):216-223. Epub 2016 Sep 20.

a Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen , Foresterhill , Aberdeen , UK.

Our immune system is engaged in a continuous battle against invading pathogens, many of which have evolved to survive in intracellular niches of mammalian hosts. A variety of cellular processes are involved in preventing bacterial invasion or in killing bacteria that successfully invade host cells. Recently, the Rab GTPase Rab32 emerged as critical regulator of a host defense pathway that can eliminate bacterial pathogens. Read More

Arch Pathol Lab Med 2017 Jul 15;141(7):901-915. Epub 2016 Sep 15.

From the Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology (Drs Larsen, Smith, and Leslie), Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona; the Department of Radiology (Dr Elicker), University of California, San Francisco; Juan Max Boettner Hospital (Drs Fernandez and Arbo-Oze de Morvil), Asunción, Paraguay; and the Department of Medicine (Dr Pereira), Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Context: - Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a distinctive clinicopathologic entity and the most common form of progressive diffuse lung scarring in older adults. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis manifests histopathologically as the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern. The usual interstitial pneumonia pattern is distinguished by geographically and temporally heterogeneous fibrosis that is peripherally accentuated, often with honeycombing and traction bronchiectasis. Read More

Dev Biol 2017 06 3;426(2):472-486. Epub 2016 Sep 3.

Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. Electronic address:

We describe a novel recessive and nonlethal pigmentation mutant in Xenopus tropicalis. The mutant phenotype can be initially observed in tadpoles after stage 39/40, when mutant embryos display markedly reduced pigmentation in the retina and the trunk. By tadpole stage 50 almost all pigmented melanophores have disappeared. Read More

Yi Chuan 2016 08;38(8):718-23

Large dense-core vesicles (LDCVs) are characterized as a class of lysosome-related organelles (LROs), which undergo regulated release and play important roles in development, metabolism and homeostasis. The Muted protein is a subunit of the biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-1 (BLOC-1), which functions in the biogenesis of lysosomes and LROs. CD63 is a membrane component of lysosomes and LROs. Read More

Ann Am Thorac Soc 2016 Oct;13(10):1839-1846

1 Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Disorders Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky.

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterized by oculocutaneous albinism and a bleeding diathesis due to platelet dysfunction. More than 50% of cases worldwide are diagnosed on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico. Genetic testing plays a growing role in diagnosis; however, not all patients with HPS have identified genetic mutations. Read More

Clin Chest Med 2016 09 30;37(3):505-11. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 2200 Children's Way, Doctor's Office Tower 11215, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 1161 21st Avenue South, B-1220 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. Electronic address:

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder that is associated with oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding diatheses, granulomatous colitis, and highly penetrant pulmonary fibrosis in some subtypes, including HPS-1, HPS-2, and HPS-4. HPS pulmonary fibrosis shows many of the clinical, radiologic, and histologic features found in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but occurs at a younger age. Despite knowledge of the underlying genetic defects, there are currently no definitive therapeutic or preventive approaches for HPS pulmonary fibrosis other than lung transplant. Read More

J Cell Biol 2016 08;214(3):293-308

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104

Endomembrane organelle maturation requires cargo delivery via fusion with membrane transport intermediates and recycling of fusion factors to their sites of origin. Melanosomes and other lysosome-related organelles obtain cargoes from early endosomes, but the fusion machinery involved and its recycling pathway are unknown. Here, we show that the v-SNARE VAMP7 mediates fusion of melanosomes with tubular transport carriers that also carry the cargo protein TYRP1 and that require BLOC-1 for their formation. Read More

PLoS One 2016 26;11(7):e0159177. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.

Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type-1 (HPS-1) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in HPS1 which result in reduced expression of the HPS-1 protein, defective lysosome-related organelle (LRO) transport and absence of platelet delta granules. Patients with HPS-1 exhibit oculocutaneous albinism, colitis, bleeding and pulmonary fibrosis postulated to result from a dysregulated immune response. The effect of the HPS1 mutation on human mast cells (HuMCs) is unknown. Read More