A Novel PAX6 Mutation in Chinese Patients with Severe Congenital Aniridia

Purpose: We identified a novel mutation in Paired Box gene 6 (PAX6) and characterized its associated clinical features of severe ocular malformation in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia. Methods: We studied two patients with aniridia from a Chinese family. All patients and noncarriers in this family underwent full ophthalmologic, general and urinary examinations. Total genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood of two aniridia patients. PAX6 levels were determined by PCR and its mutational status was determined by sequencing. Direct sequencing detected variations in PAX6. Results: Patients had bilateral congenital nystagmus, anterior polar cataract, absence of iris tissue, and foveal hypoplasia with severely reduced visual acuity. A novel heterozygous PAX6 mutation in exon 6 c.662G>A (p.W100X) was identified which created a premature termination codon. This observed sequence alteration was not found in 100 normal controls and has not been previously reported. Conclusions: We identified a novel PAX6 mutation in a family with severe ocular malformation. Our study expands the mutational spectrum of PAX6 and enriches our knowledge of the relationship between genotype and phenotype due to these mutations.     

Microphthalmia,late onset keratitis,and iris coloboma/aniridia in a family with a novel PAX6 mutation

Autosomal dominant microphthalmia with late-onset keratitis and iris coloboma/aniridia has not been reported before. Here we report a Chinese family with these phenotypes and a novel PAX6 mutation. Microphthalmia, late-onset keratitis, iris coloboma, and nystagmus were present in the proband. His son had microphthalmia, aniridia, foveal hypoplasia, and nystagmus. A novel c.649C>T (p.Arg217X) mutation in PAX6 was detected in the proband and his affected son. This study expands the phenotypic spectrum of PAX6 mutation and enriched our knowledge of the genetic cause for microphthalmia and late-onset keratitis.     

Microphthalmia, late onset keratitis, and iris coloboma/aniridia in a family with a novel PAX6 mutation

Autosomal dominant microphthalmia with late-onset keratitis and iris coloboma/aniridia has not been reported before. Here we report a Chinese family with these phenotypes and a novel PAX6 mutation. Microphthalmia, late-onset keratitis, iris coloboma, and nystagmus were present in the proband. His son had microphthalmia, aniridia, foveal hypoplasia, and nystagmus. A novel c.649C>T (p.Arg217X) mutation in PAX6 was detected in the proband and his affected son. This study expands the phenotypic spectrum of PAX6 mutation and enriched our knowledge of the genetic cause for microphthalmia and late-onset keratitis.     

土家族中一个先天性无虹膜家系的临床特点和PAX6基因突变位点分析

目的：确认土家族中一个先天性无虹膜家系的PAX6基因致病突变并分析其临床特点。方法：实验研究。详细询问家族病史并对该家系中所有7 例成员（4 例患者,3 例正常人）进行详细的眼部检查,采集家系成员及100例（50例土家族人和50例汉族人）正常对照者的外周静脉血,提取DNA;对先证者PAX6基因的全部外显子进行PCR扩增及测序;对家系中所有成员和正常对照者进行PAX6基因突变位点的验证检测。结果：该家系中患者主要以虹膜缺损、白内障、眼球震颤、黄斑中心凹发育不良和角膜病变为主要临床表现,虹膜缺损轻重不一,角膜病变和白内障情况随年龄增加而加重。该家系的4 例患者均在第3 外显子与内含子3 交界处出现一个杂合突变（c.357+1G > A）,正常家系成员及正常对照者均无此突变。结论：该先天性无虹膜家系患者虹膜缺损程度不一。PAX6是该家系的致病基因,该家系患者PAX6基因的突变位点是杂合突变(c.357+1G > A）。     

一先天性无虹膜家系PAX6基因遗传筛查及临床表型

目的探讨我国常染色体显性遗传先天性无虹膜一家系患者的致病基因突变位点及其临床表型。方法实验研究。于南京医科大学第一附属医院眼科收集一先天性无虹膜家系,共8名家庭成员,其中3名患者,2名正常同胞,3名配偶。完善该家系内所有参与者的眼科检查,采集该家系成员的外周静脉血,提取基因组DNA,扩增PAX6基因的全部编码区及外显子-内含子交界区剪切位点附近的序列,直接测序法确定该家系的致病突变。结果遗传学筛查结果证实该家系的致病突变为位于PAX6基因第7号外显子与第7号内含子交接处的杂合突变（c.357+5G>A）。生物信息学分析结果表明该突变可导致正常剪切位点的缺失,产生移码突变,形成截短蛋白p.Ser121Asnfs*30。该家系中3例患者均表现出典型的先天性无虹膜症的临床表型,表现为虹膜发育不全,与此同时,该家系内患者还具有上睑下垂、白内障、眼球震颤、青光眼及玻璃体混浊等眼部异常。结论PAX6 c.357+5G>A杂合突变为该家系的致病突变,是该家系发生先天性无虹膜及上睑下垂、白内障、眼球震颤、青光眼及玻璃体混浊等一系列临床表型的主要致病原因。     

PAX6 Analysis of Two Unrelated Families from the Arabian Peninsula with Classic Hereditary Aniridia

Introduction: Reports from around the world confirm that heterozygous PAX6 mutation is the major cause of hereditary aniridia (with a classic phenotype of iris hypoplasia, keratopathy, lens opacity, and foveal hypoplasia). However, genotype/phenotype reports are lacking from the Arabian Peninsula, a historically isolated region with a relatively high incidence of recessive disease and thus a potential for phenocopy and pseudodominance. The purpose of this study to assess for PAX6 mutation in two unrelated families with classic hereditary aniridia from the Arabian Peninsula. Methods: Interventional cases series of two unrelated affected Saudi Arabian families. Available family members underwent ophthalmic examination and venous blood sampling for PAX6 sequencing. Results: The pedigrees of both families suggested dominant (or pseudodominant) inheritance of the classic aniridia phenotype. Affected individuals in Family #1 were heterozygous for a novel frameshift PAX6 mutation (c.delA1294). Affected individuals in Family #2 had heterozygosity for a commonly-reported PAX6 nonsense mutation (p.Arg240X). Conclusions: PAX6 haploinsufficiency, the major cause of classic hereditary aniridia worldwide, is also associated with the phenotype in two different families from the Arabian Peninsula. Homozygosity by descent is not expected to affect genotype/phenotype correlation for the classic phenotype.     

A novel PAX6 gene mutation (P118R) in a family with congenital nystagmus associated with a variant form of aniridia

Background: A variety of PAX6 gene mutations were identified in patients with aniridia and/or allied ocular dysgenesis such as keratopathy, Peters’ anomaly, foveal hypoplasia, and nystagmus. To scrutinize the etiology of a four-generation Japanese family with autosomal dominant nystagmus associated with anterior and posterior segment anomalies, the PAX6 gene was examined. Patients and methods: A Japanese family showed a variant aniridia phenotype in four successive generations. Affected individuals had congenital nystagmus, microcornea with shortened axial length, superficial peripheral corneal opacification with pannus formation, dislocated pupil, and foveal hypoplasia. Analysis of the PAX6 gene mutation was performed in affected and unaffected individuals. Results: A novel missense mutation in the PAX6 gene was found in all affected individuals examined, but neither in unaffected individuals nor in unrelated healthy individuals. This mutation predicted a proline to arginine change at codon 118 (P118R) in the paired domain of PAX6 protein. Conclusion: The reported family illustrates that mutations in the PAX6 gene, in particular missense mutations, may manifest atypical clinical expression or forme fruste of aniridia. Received: 24 June 1999 Revised: 22 November 1999 Accepted: 23 November 1999     

先天性无虹膜合并先天性白内障家系致病基因突变分析

目的：对先天性无虹膜合并先天性白内障家系进行PAX6基因突变位点筛查,丰富该致病基因的突变谱。

方法：选取就诊于北京同仁医院眼科门诊的1个先天性无虹膜合并先天性白内障家系和100名健康志愿者,采集外周静脉血,提取基因组DNA,采用直接测序法进行PAX6基因突变位点的筛查。

结果：该家系中先证者和其他患者均表现为无虹膜合并白内障,PAX6基因测序结果显示,该致病基因第11外显子无义突变c.991 C>T,造成PAX6基因编码的蛋白截短(R331X),从而使该蛋白失去功能,且该突变在家系内与疾病表型共分离,不存在于家系内及家系外健康样本的基因中。

结论：PAX6 R331X突变与先天性无虹膜合并先天性白内障的发生有关。     

Variable phenotype related to a novel PAX 6 mutation (IVS4+5G>C) in a family presenting congenital nystagmus and foveal hypoplasia

PURPOSE: Several ocular defects have been identified as a consequence of the PAX6 gene mutations. With regard to the implication of this gene in unusual phenotypes, we report a family presenting with congenital nystagmus, foveal hypoplasia, and iris hypoplasia or atypical coloboma. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: The entire transcribed region of the PAX6 gene was submitted to mutation search at the DNA and mRNA levels in five affected members of a French family in test with 82 normal subjects. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous PAX6 gene splice mutation (IVS4 + 5G>C) was identified. The mutation is located in IVS4 within the consensus donor splice site. A mutant mRNA lacking exon 4 as the sole defect was evidenced. The resultant protein was predicted to contain a cryptic ATG initiation codon in exon 3 and a slightly altered paired-domain in an open reading frame extended by 13 amino acids. CONCLUSIONS: The association of anterior segment anomalies and foveal hypoplasia with one of the slightest alterations of the PAX6 protein described to date confirms the association of variant phenotypes with hypomorphic alleles. Mutation screening of the PAX6 gene could be useful in elucidating the origin of complex ocular malformations.     

中国一先天性无虹膜家系PAX6基因新致病突变位点的筛查及验证

背景 先天性无虹膜是临床上罕见的先天性遗传性眼病.研究显示,配对盒转录因子6基因(PAX6)与先天性无虹膜症密切相关,但不同患者中PAX6基因的突变位点不同. 目的 对中国一常染色体显性遗传先天性无虹膜家系进行PAX6基因突变位点分析. 方法 于2014年8月在郑州大学第一附属医院收集一汉族先天性无虹膜家系,采集该家系9名成员及同期100名健康体检者的外周静脉血10 ml,采用标准酚-氯仿提取法提取基因组DNA,对PCR扩增产物进行测序、对比及突变分析.采用实时荧光定量PCR法验证和比较该家系中患病者与该家系表型正常者和健康对照者淋巴细胞中PAX6 mRNA的相对含量. 结果 该家系共3代9名成员,遗传方式符合常染色体显性遗传.家系中共5例患病者,成年患病者均表现为虹膜缺失和白内障,儿童患病者表现为无虹膜;其他4名家系成员表型正常.测序结果显示,家系患病者均存在11号染色体PAX6基因10号外显子的移码突变,第796位核糖核苷酸G缺失(c.796 del G),产生提前终止密码子,而家系正常成员及100名对照者均无此突变.实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,家系中患病者淋巴细胞中PAX6 mRNA表达水平比家系中正常成员约低50％,差异有统计学意义(Z=-2.449,P=0.016). 结论 PAX6基因c.796 del G为此先天性无虹膜家系的致病突变位点,扩增了PAX6基因突变谱.     

PAX6基因突变的鉴定与中国家系无虹膜症合并妊娠期糖尿病的产前诊断

目的：探讨1个中国无虹膜症合并妊娠期糖尿病家系的基因缺陷及产前诊断。

方法：收集1个患有无虹膜症合并妊娠期糖尿病的中国家系,从外周血中提取整个家系成员的基因组DNA,通过聚合酶链式反应结合直接测序法,分析人类配对盒基因(PAX6)的编码序列。妊娠18wk时对孕妇进行羊膜穿刺术,并根据突变筛查结果进行遗传学分析。

结果：无虹膜患者在PAX6的第5外显子中存在杂合缺失突变(c.113_129del GGCCGTGCGACATTTCC, p.Arg38ProfsTer12),该患者同时合并妊娠期糖尿病,产前诊断结果提示胎儿具有相同的突变,易患先天性无虹膜症,经产后随访证实。

结论：在中国先天性无虹膜患者中发现了PAX6基因缺失突变,为人类PAX6等位基因变异数据库提供了更多的文献资料,为产前诊断提供了分析依据。     

Isolated foveal hypoplasia: report of a new case and detailed genetic investigation

To carry out an ophthalmological and detailed genetic investigation on a 7-year-old boy with isolated foveal hypoplasia. A full ophthalmological examination and optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed. We also performed a full genome screen for chromosomal abnormalities, and searched for mutations in two genes (GPR143 and OCA2) known to be associated with ocular albinism and PAX6 gene known to be associated with aniridia. His eye examination was normal with no iris transillumination. A fundus examination, however, showed classic signs of foveal hypoplasia. A molecular genetic investigation showed no mutation(s) in all genes screened and no chromosomal deletion(s) and/or duplication(s) were detected. We report a case of isolated foveal hypoplasia where the underlying genetic cause could not be established. We could not rule out other genetic or epigenetic factors contributing to the pathogenesis of isolated foveal hypoplasia.     

中国一先天性无虹膜家系的遗传分析及PAX6基因突变位点的检测

背景 先天性无虹膜是双眼发病的遗传性疾病,目前的研究表明先天性无虹膜患者配对盒转录因子6(PAX6)基因突变位点具有多样性. 目的 通过目标序列捕获测序结合一代测序验证技术对1个中国先天性无虹膜家系进行基因突变位点的筛查和遗传分析.方法 采用横断面研究方法,本研究组于2016年3月纳入在郑州大学第一附属医院确诊的1个中国汉族先天性无虹膜家系,并对该家系成员进行致病突变基因检测.该家系全体成员均接受神经系统、口服葡萄糖耐量试验等全身体格检查以及眼科相关检查.采集现存家系所有成员前臂静脉血10 ml以提取基因组DNA,以先证者基因组DNA为模板行前房角发育异常致病基因的目标基因定点捕获测序分析,经与各基因库比对筛选出候选致病基因位点,采用PCR法对该家系成员行致病基因位点DNA片段扩增,采用Sanger测序技术在该家系除先证者以外的2例患病者和表型正常成员中进行候选致病基因验证. 结果 该家系共3代9名成员,Ⅰ1去世,现存8位成员,包括患病者3例(Ⅱ2及其子代Ⅲ1、Ⅲ2)和表型正常者5人,符合常染色体显性遗传模式.所有家系成员未发现神经系统异常,口服葡萄糖耐量试验结果均呈阴性.3例患病者视力均明显下降且不能矫正,眼压平均值为21 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa),患者均存在虹膜完全缺如、角膜基质层混浊、眼球水平震颤、黄斑中心凹发育不良症状.此外,Ⅱ2患者存在左眼上睑下垂、右眼先天性白内障表现,Ⅲ2同时存在双眼先天性白内障、双侧晶状体不全脱位.先证者目标序列捕获测序分析及数据库比对显示,所有患病者PAX6基因第6号外显子上碱基替换c.183C＞A,经Sanger测序验证后证实突变基因与表型共分离. 结论 PAX6基因c.183C＞A突变是该先天性无虹膜家系的致病突变位点.     

Macular abnormalities and optic disk anomaly associated with a new PAX2 missense mutation

PURPOSE: To report a family with macular abnormalities accompanied by anomalies of the optic disk and kidney associated with a new PAX2 missense mutation. DESIGN: Observational case report. METHODS: A 34-year-old female presented with horizontal nystagmus, poor visual acuity, and chronic renal failure. She had bilateral colobomatous disk anomaly and foveal hypoplasia. Her mother also had renal dysfunction and bilaterally impaired vision. Besides the optic disk dysplasia, the fovea was hypoplastic in the right eye, whereas pigmented macular atrophy was observed in the left eye. The entire coding regions of PAX2 and PAX6 were screened for mutations. RESULTS: A heterozygous mutation G755C in exon 2 of PAX2 that results in a missense mutation, R71T, was identified in the proband and her mother. No mutations were detected in PAX6. CONCLUSIONS: A new PAX2 missense mutation, R71T, may cause macular abnormalities in addition to anomalies of the optic disk and the kidney.     

A novel PAX6 mutation causes congenital aniridia with or without retinal detachment

Background: Aniridia is a rare developmental eye disorder characterized by complete or partial iris hypoplasia often accompanied with other ocular changes that affect the cornea, anterior chamber, lens, retina, and optic nerve. Most cases of aniridia are inherited with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance caused by PAX6 mutations or deletions. To reveal the underlying genetic defect in a four-generation Iranian family with aniridia, we carried out a genetic screening of PAX6.

Methods: Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed for available affected family members. All PAX6 exons and their flanking regions were sequenced for affected individuals. Candidate variation was screened for segregation in the pedigree by Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatics prediction was done to evaluate the deleterious effects of the mutation on protein product. Real-time PCR was used to investigate the impact of the variant on PAX6 mRNA expression.

Results: All patients were diagnosed with isolated aniridia associated with variable phenotypic features including retinal detachment. A novel heterozygous deletion c.320_348delTGTCCGAGGGGGTCTGTACCAACGATAAC (p.Leu107HisfsX16) on PAX6 gene was detected. Decreased mRNA level of PAX6 in the affected individuals indicated that the mutation caused nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD).

Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report on the genetics of aniridia in Iran. Segregation analysis, bioinformatics prediction and confirmation of NMD, all support the proposition that the novel observed PAX6 mutation is the cause of aniridia in the pedigree. Retinal detachment in some of the affected members, which is a rare reported phenotypic feature of aniridia patients, may be associated with this mutation.     

PAX6 3′ deletion in a family with aniridia

Background: Aniridia is a congenital panocular malformation defined as iris aplasia or hypoplasia. It can be either isolated or be a part of multiple ocular anomalies such as cataracts, glaucoma, corneal pannus, optic nerve hypoplasia, absence of macular reflex or ectopia lentis. In the majority of cases the disease is caused by mutation in the PAX6 gene.

Material and Methods: A Polish family with aniridia was screened for the presence of genomic rearrangements in PAX6, WT1 and the flanking genes by means of multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA). MLPA reaction was performed using the P219-B1 PAX6 commercial kit from MRC-Holland. Additionally, the coding sequence of PAX6 gene was sequenced in the proband. Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis was performed using the NimbleGen CGX-12 format.

Results: MLPA examination revealed a heterozygous deletion of approximately 0.6?Mb, downstream of PAX6 gene on chromosome 11. Four genes lie in the deleted region. Bi-directional sequencing of 14 exons of the PAX6 gene did not reveal any causative alteration. Microarray analysis confirmed the deletion and determined its size which ranged from 598.87–651.76 kb.

Conclusions: A small subset of aniridia cases is caused by rearrangements of PAX6 neighboring regions, and the so-called “position effect” is considered to be the underlying pathogenic mechanism. Molecular testing of aniridia patients should include sequencing of the PAX6 gene, followed by screening for larger structural abnormalities located on chromosome 11p13. MLPA can be a useful method in molecular testing of aniridia patients.     

PAX6 mutations may be associated with high myopia

PAX6 is a key regulator of eye development and there are many well recognized ophthalmic sequelae of mutations at this locus. The 14 exon PAX6 gene is well conserved across species and phyla. Coding region mutations manifest in a variety of phenotypes. Predicted premature protein truncations are generally associated with classical aniridia. Missense mutations are often found in cases with variant phenotypes such as ectopia pupillae; isolated foveal hypoplasia; nystagmus and hyaloid vessel proliferation. The locus has also been implicated, through a genome-wide sib-pair scan, to be important in the normal variation of myopia. We investigated the association between identified PAX6 mutations and refractive error in Australian patients from four pedigrees. Two of eight subjects with a 1410delC PAX6 mutation had a mean spherical equivalence < -9D, whilst a mean spherical equivalence < or = -5D was recorded in two from four subjects with an Arg240Stop PAX6 mutation and one of two subjects with a Glu93Stop mutation. One individual identified with a Pro346Ala PAX6 mutation had a mean spherical equivalence of +2.8 D. Thus, our observations generally support other incidental findings, that PAX6 mutation, particularly predicted haploinsufficiency, may be associated with extreme refractive error, although the mechanism by which this occurs is not clear.