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Papers by Amir Hossein Johari

Research paper thumbnail of The construction of salinity gradient solar pond for heat storage / Amir Harith Johari

Research paper thumbnail of Novel Mutations in TACSTD2 Gene in Families with Gelatinous Drop-like Corneal Dystrophy (GDLD)

International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, 2017

In the current study, we conducted a mutation screening of tumor-associated calcium signal transd... more In the current study, we conducted a mutation screening of tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2) gene in six consanguineous Iranian families with gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD), in order to find the causative mutations. Detailed eye examination was performed by ophthalmologist to confirm GDLD in patients. To detect the possible mutations, direct Sanger sequencing was performed for the only exon of TACSTD2 gene, and its boundary regions in all patients. In the patients with GDLD, the corneal surface showed lesions with different shapes from mild to severe forms depending on the progress of the disease. The patients showed grayish corneal deposits as a typical mulberry form, corneal dystrophy along with corneal lipid deposition, and vascularization. Targeted Sanger sequencing in TACSTD2 gene revealed the causative mutations in this gene in all studied families. Our study expanded the mutational spectrum of TACSTD2 which along with the related symptoms c...

Research paper thumbnail of Expression analysis and genotyping of DGKZ: a GWAS-derived risk gene for schizophrenia

Molecular Biology Reports, 2019

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disabling and severe mental illness characterized by abnormal social beh... more Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disabling and severe mental illness characterized by abnormal social behavior and disrupted emotions. Similar to other neuropsychological disorders, both genetics and environmental factors interplay so as to develop SCZ. It is acknowledged that genes such as DGKZ are involved in lipid signaling pathways that are the basis of neural activities, memory, and learning and are considered as candidate loci for SCZ. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression level and genotypes of DGKZ in patients with SCZ and controls. We used q-PCR to measure the relative expression of DGKZ in blood. To determine DGKZ-rs7951870 genotypes, tetra-ARMS PCR was used. Our results showed a significant difference in DGKZ mRNA ratio between SCZ patients and healthy controls (P = 2 × 10 −4). Also, we showed that rs7951870-TT genotype was strongly associated with increased DGKZ expression level (P = 0.038). In conclusion, our findings revealed dysregulation of DGKZ in SCZ patients and a significant correction between the gene expression and DGKZ variant rs7951870.

Research paper thumbnail of The rs1986112 Variant is Associated with Increased RAB8B Gene Expression in Schizophrenic Patients

Clinical Laboratory, 2019

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder that interferes with a person's c... more BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder that interferes with a person's cognitive processes and leads to social disability. A wide range of factors may play important roles in increased risk of SCZ development. Genetic contributors are among the most influential actors involved in different molecular mechanisms leading to the development of the nervous system, thus they play pivotal roles in psychotic disorders and SCZ de-velopment. RAB8B is characterized for its key roles in several cellular and molecular mechanisms which are linked with different psychotic disorders, such as SCZ. METHODS In this study, we assessed the expression level of RAB8B gene in blood samples of schizophrenic patients and normal healthy controls by means of quantitative real time PCR. We also investigated the correlation between RAB8B-rs1986112 genotypes and RAB8B expression levels through SNP genotyping by means of the PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS Our results indicated a significant difference of RAB8B mRNA ratio between SCZ patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we showed significant upregulation of RAB8B in patients with rs1986112 GG and AG genotype compared to AA genotype. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a role for RAB8B and its regulatory variation, rs1986112 in SCZ development.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular characterization of PRKN structural variations identified through whole-genome sequencing

Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, 2018

Background: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common inherited form of parkinsonis... more Background: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common inherited form of parkinsonism, with the PRKN gene being the most frequently identified mutated. Exon rearrangements, identified in about 43.2% of the reported PD patients and with higher frequency in specific ethnicities, are the most prevalent PRKN mutations reported to date in PD patients. Methods: In this study, three consanguineous families with early-onset PD were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses that were followed by Sanger sequencing and droplet digital PCR to validate and confirm the disease segregation of the identified genomic variations and to determine their parental origin. Results: Five different PRKN structural variations (SVs) were identified. Because the genomic sequences surrounding the break points of the identified SVs might hold important information about their genesis, these were also characterized for the presence of homology and repeated sequences. Conclusion: We concluded that all identified PRKN SVs might originate through retrotransposition events.

Research paper thumbnail of Identification of a large homozygous VPS13C deletion in a patient with early-onset Parkinsonism

Research paper thumbnail of A novel mutation in SMOC1 and variable phenotypic expression in two patients with Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome

European Journal of Medical Genetics, 2017

Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome (WAS) is a rare disorder that mostly affects the eyes and dista... more Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome (WAS) is a rare disorder that mostly affects the eyes and distal limbs. In the current study we reported two Iranian patients with WAS. The first case was a 26-year-old girl with unilateral anophthalmia, bilateral camptodactyly and clinodactyly in her hands, oligodactly in her left foot and syndactyly of the second to fifth toes in her right foot. She also had severe hearing loss in both ears. The second case was a 12-year-old boy with bilateral anophthalmia, camptodactyly in his right hand, oligodactyly in his foot, clubfoot, and cryptorchidism. Both patients were mentally normal. To detect the causative mutation all exons and exon-intron boundaries of SMOC1 gene were sequenced in patients and other normal family members. We found a homozygous missense mutation (NM_001034852.2(SMOC1):c.367T>C) in exon 3 of SMOC1 gene in both patients. As the mutation segregated with the disease in the family, it should be the causative mutation. Our study extended the mutation spectrum of SMOC1 gene related to WAS.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioinformatic tools to determine the pathogenicity of a missense mutation in PKHD1 in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease

Research paper thumbnail of The construction of salinity gradient solar pond for heat storage / Amir Harith Johari

Research paper thumbnail of Novel Mutations in TACSTD2 Gene in Families with Gelatinous Drop-like Corneal Dystrophy (GDLD)

International Journal of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, 2017

In the current study, we conducted a mutation screening of tumor-associated calcium signal transd... more In the current study, we conducted a mutation screening of tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TACSTD2) gene in six consanguineous Iranian families with gelatinous drop-like corneal dystrophy (GDLD), in order to find the causative mutations. Detailed eye examination was performed by ophthalmologist to confirm GDLD in patients. To detect the possible mutations, direct Sanger sequencing was performed for the only exon of TACSTD2 gene, and its boundary regions in all patients. In the patients with GDLD, the corneal surface showed lesions with different shapes from mild to severe forms depending on the progress of the disease. The patients showed grayish corneal deposits as a typical mulberry form, corneal dystrophy along with corneal lipid deposition, and vascularization. Targeted Sanger sequencing in TACSTD2 gene revealed the causative mutations in this gene in all studied families. Our study expanded the mutational spectrum of TACSTD2 which along with the related symptoms c...

Research paper thumbnail of Expression analysis and genotyping of DGKZ: a GWAS-derived risk gene for schizophrenia

Molecular Biology Reports, 2019

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disabling and severe mental illness characterized by abnormal social beh... more Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a disabling and severe mental illness characterized by abnormal social behavior and disrupted emotions. Similar to other neuropsychological disorders, both genetics and environmental factors interplay so as to develop SCZ. It is acknowledged that genes such as DGKZ are involved in lipid signaling pathways that are the basis of neural activities, memory, and learning and are considered as candidate loci for SCZ. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression level and genotypes of DGKZ in patients with SCZ and controls. We used q-PCR to measure the relative expression of DGKZ in blood. To determine DGKZ-rs7951870 genotypes, tetra-ARMS PCR was used. Our results showed a significant difference in DGKZ mRNA ratio between SCZ patients and healthy controls (P = 2 × 10 −4). Also, we showed that rs7951870-TT genotype was strongly associated with increased DGKZ expression level (P = 0.038). In conclusion, our findings revealed dysregulation of DGKZ in SCZ patients and a significant correction between the gene expression and DGKZ variant rs7951870.

Research paper thumbnail of The rs1986112 Variant is Associated with Increased RAB8B Gene Expression in Schizophrenic Patients

Clinical Laboratory, 2019

BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder that interferes with a person's c... more BACKGROUND Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a serious mental disorder that interferes with a person's cognitive processes and leads to social disability. A wide range of factors may play important roles in increased risk of SCZ development. Genetic contributors are among the most influential actors involved in different molecular mechanisms leading to the development of the nervous system, thus they play pivotal roles in psychotic disorders and SCZ de-velopment. RAB8B is characterized for its key roles in several cellular and molecular mechanisms which are linked with different psychotic disorders, such as SCZ. METHODS In this study, we assessed the expression level of RAB8B gene in blood samples of schizophrenic patients and normal healthy controls by means of quantitative real time PCR. We also investigated the correlation between RAB8B-rs1986112 genotypes and RAB8B expression levels through SNP genotyping by means of the PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS Our results indicated a significant difference of RAB8B mRNA ratio between SCZ patients and healthy controls. Moreover, we showed significant upregulation of RAB8B in patients with rs1986112 GG and AG genotype compared to AA genotype. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest a role for RAB8B and its regulatory variation, rs1986112 in SCZ development.

Research paper thumbnail of Molecular characterization of PRKN structural variations identified through whole-genome sequencing

Molecular Genetics & Genomic Medicine, 2018

Background: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common inherited form of parkinsonis... more Background: Early-onset Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common inherited form of parkinsonism, with the PRKN gene being the most frequently identified mutated. Exon rearrangements, identified in about 43.2% of the reported PD patients and with higher frequency in specific ethnicities, are the most prevalent PRKN mutations reported to date in PD patients. Methods: In this study, three consanguineous families with early-onset PD were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analyses that were followed by Sanger sequencing and droplet digital PCR to validate and confirm the disease segregation of the identified genomic variations and to determine their parental origin. Results: Five different PRKN structural variations (SVs) were identified. Because the genomic sequences surrounding the break points of the identified SVs might hold important information about their genesis, these were also characterized for the presence of homology and repeated sequences. Conclusion: We concluded that all identified PRKN SVs might originate through retrotransposition events.

Research paper thumbnail of Identification of a large homozygous VPS13C deletion in a patient with early-onset Parkinsonism

Research paper thumbnail of A novel mutation in SMOC1 and variable phenotypic expression in two patients with Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome

European Journal of Medical Genetics, 2017

Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome (WAS) is a rare disorder that mostly affects the eyes and dista... more Waardenburg anophthalmia syndrome (WAS) is a rare disorder that mostly affects the eyes and distal limbs. In the current study we reported two Iranian patients with WAS. The first case was a 26-year-old girl with unilateral anophthalmia, bilateral camptodactyly and clinodactyly in her hands, oligodactly in her left foot and syndactyly of the second to fifth toes in her right foot. She also had severe hearing loss in both ears. The second case was a 12-year-old boy with bilateral anophthalmia, camptodactyly in his right hand, oligodactyly in his foot, clubfoot, and cryptorchidism. Both patients were mentally normal. To detect the causative mutation all exons and exon-intron boundaries of SMOC1 gene were sequenced in patients and other normal family members. We found a homozygous missense mutation (NM_001034852.2(SMOC1):c.367T>C) in exon 3 of SMOC1 gene in both patients. As the mutation segregated with the disease in the family, it should be the causative mutation. Our study extended the mutation spectrum of SMOC1 gene related to WAS.

Research paper thumbnail of Bioinformatic tools to determine the pathogenicity of a missense mutation in PKHD1 in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease