Splicing mutations in DMD/BMD detected by RT-PCR/PTT: detection of a 19AA insertion in the cysteine rich domain of dystrophin compatible with BMD.

We have used an RNA based mutation detection method to screen the total coding region of the dystrophin gene of a Duchenne and a Becker muscular dystrophy patient in whom DNA based mutation detection methods have so far failed to detect mutations. By RT-PCR and the protein truncation test (PTT) we could identify point mutations in both cases. DMD patient DL184.3 has a T-->A mutation in intron 59 at position -9, creating a novel splice acceptor site for exon 60. As a result seven intronic bases are spliced into the mRNA, causing a frameshift and premature translation termination 20 codons downstream. Since this patient had died and only fibroblasts were available, we applied MyoD induced myodifferentiation of stored fibroblasts to enhance muscle specific gene expression. With the results of this mutation analysis, prenatal diagnosis could subsequently be performed in this family. BMD patient BL207.1 carries a G-->C mutation at position +5 of intron 64, disrupting the splice donor consensus sequence and activating a cryptic splice donor site 57bp downstream. The inclusion of these 57 intronic bases in the mRNA leaves the reading frame open and results in the insertion of 19 amino acids into the cysteine rich domain of dystrophin. Interestingly, this insertion in a part of the dystrophin considered to interact with the dystrophin binding complex of the sarcolemma is apparently compatible with mild BMD-like clinical features. Both mutations reported are missed by analysis of multiplex PCR products designed for deletion screening of the coding region. Extrapolation from existing point mutation detection efficiencies by DNA and RNA based methods emphasises that RNA based methods are more sensitive and that most of the remaining undetected mutations may affect splice or branch sites or create cryptic splice sites.     

X-连锁肾上腺脑白质营养不良产前诊断探讨

目的探讨X-连锁肾上腺脑白质营养不良(adrenoleukodystrophy,ALD)产前诊断的方法。方法应用气相色谱-质谱联用法对17例ALD高危孕妇进行了18次羊水细胞中极长链脂肪酸(very long chain fatty acids,VLCFAs)水平测定,其中8例胎儿出生后或引产后进行了血浆VLCFAs水平检测。应用PCR和测序方法对8例胎儿羊水细胞或生后外周血细胞DNA进行了基因突变分析(其中4例羊水细胞VLCFAs水平增高,4例VLCFAs正常)。应用Western杂交对同一家系的两例胎儿羊水细胞进行了ALD蛋白(ALD protein,ALDP)的检测(两例胎儿VLCFAs均增高,1例女性,1例男性)。结果18例胎儿中,11例羊水细胞VLCFAs水平正常,7例增高(3例男性,4例女性)。8例胎儿出生后或引产后血浆VLCFAs水平检测,3例增高,5例正常,与产前诊断结果相一致。其中4例羊水细胞VLCFAs水平增高的胎儿,均有ABCD1基因突变,4例羊水细胞VLCFAs水平正常者,均未发现突变。VLCFAs增高的男性胎儿,未检测到ALDP,VLCFAs增高的女性胎儿,可检测到ALDP。结论羊水细胞中VLCFAs水平检测可以准确地进行X-ALD产前诊断,结合基因突变分析及ALDP的测定,可进一步保证产前诊断的准确性。     

Alternative splicing of dystrophin mRNA complicates carrier determination: report of a DMD family.

Carrier determination is important for genetic counselling in DMD/BMD families. The detection of altered PCR amplified dystrophin mRNA fragments owing to deletions, insertions, or point mutations has increased the possibilities of carrier determination. However, problems may occur because of alternative splicing events. Here we present a family with a DMD patient characterised by a deletion of exons 45 to 54. At the mRNA level we detected a corresponding altered fragment which served for carrier determination. The mother and the sister of the patient showed the same altered dystrophin mRNA fragment as the patient and are therefore carriers. In the mother two additional altered dystrophin mRNA fragments were detectable, obviously resulting from alternative splicing in the normal allele. The grandmother and two other related females of the patient possess only the normal mRNA fragment. In a further female we detected an altered fragment owing to an mRNA deletion of exon 44. This fragment is created either by alternative splicing or a new mutation. Therefore, the carrier status of this female is still ambiguous indicating problems in carrier determination by the method of dystrophin mRNA analysis.     

ERG phenotype of a dystrophin mutation in heterozygous female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

PURPOSE: Mutations in the dystrophin gene result in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). DMD is associated with an abnormal electroretinogram (ERG) if the mutation disrupts the translation of retinal dystrophin (Dp260). Our aim was to determine if incomplete ERG abnormalities would be associated with heterozygous carriers of dystrophin gene mutations. METHODS: Ganzfeld ERGs were obtained under scotopic and photopic testing conditions from a family which includes the heterozygous maternal grandmother, the heterozygous mother, and her children, two affected boys and dizygotic twin sibs, an unaffected male and heterozygous female. Southern blot analyses were done to characterise the dystrophin mutation. RESULTS: The dystrophin gene was found to contain a deletion encompassing exon 50. The ERGs in the two affected boys were abnormal, consistent with the DMD ERG phenotype. Serial ERGs of the heterozygous females were abnormal; however, they were less severely affected than the DMD boys. The ERG of the female sib showed a greater abnormality than her mother and maternal grandmother. The unaffected twin had a normal ERG. CONCLUSIONS: The ERG shows abnormalities associated with carrier status in this family with a single exon deletion. A large study of confirmed obligate carriers is planned to clarify further the value of the ERG in detecting female heterozygous carriers of dystrophin gene mutations.     

A point mutation in the 5' splice site of the dystrophin gene first intron responsible for X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy

X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDC) is a familial heart disease presenting in young males as a rapidly progressive congestive heart failure, without clinical signs of skeletal myopathy. This condition has recently been linked to the dystrophin gene in some families and deletions encompassing the genomic region coding for the first muscle exon have been detected. In order to identify the defect responsible for this disease at the molecular level and to understand the reasons for the selective heart involvement, a family with a severe form of XLDC was studied. In the affected members, no deletions of the dystrophin gene were observed. Analysis of the muscle promoter, first exon and intron regions revealed the presence of a single point mutation at the first exon-intron boundary, inactivating the universally conserved 5' splice site consensus sequence of the first intron. This mutation introduced a new restriction site for MseI, which cosegregates with the disease in the analyzed family. Expression of the major dystrophin mRNA isoforms (from the muscle-, brain- and Purkinje cell-promoters) was completely abolished in the myocardium, while the brain- and Purkinje cell- (but not the muscle-) isoforms were detectable in the skeletal muscle. Immunocytochemical studies with anti- dystrophin antibodies showed that the protein was reduced in quantity but normally distributed in the skeletal muscle, while it was undetectable in the cardiac muscle. These findings indicate that expression of the muscle dystrophin isoform is critical for myocardial function and suggest that selective heart involvement in dystrophin- linked dilated cardiomyopathy is related to the absence, in the heart, of a compensatory expression of dystrophin from alternative promoters.      

克隆缺失连接片段——一种基于PCR技术的缺失型假肥大型肌营养不良症的携带者检测

目的 依据dystrophin基因缺失后断端重接可形成一段变异的DNA序列,提出一种利用缺失连接片段进行缺失型假肥大型肌营养不良症携带者检测的新方法.方法 实验以来自广东省肇庆地区的一个Becker型肌营养不良(Becket muscular dystrophy,BMD)家系为研究对象,其中2例确诊的男性BMD患者,3例待诊的女性携带者,1例待诊的人工流产绒毛.先证者经外显子PCR检测确定第3～5外显子缺失,随后采用PCR步移法在相应内含子设计引物定位断裂点的位点,最后利用靠近断裂点设计的引物直接对家系的6例基因组DNA进行缺失连接片段的PCR扩增和测序.结果 6例基因组DNA均扩增出阳性的产物片段且连接片段的测序序列完全一致,绒毛的性别诊断结果为女性,可以确诊本家系中的3个女性和流产绒毛均为缺失型BMD携带者.结论 作者成功地将整个家系患者和携带者的缺失连接片段进行克隆和测序分析,实现了利用缺失连接片段对缺失型假肥大型肌营养不良症携带者进行准确基因诊断的设想,同时对在产前诊断上的应用前景进行了探讨.     

Dystrophin muscle enhancer 1 is implicated in the activation of non-muscle isoforms in the skeletal muscle of patients with X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy.

X-linked dilated cardiomyopathy (XLDC) is a dystrophinopathy characterized by severe cardiomyopathy with no skeletal muscle involvement. Several XLDC patients have been described with mutations that abolish dystrophin muscle (M) isoform expression. The absence of skeletal muscle degeneration normally associated with loss of dystrophin function was shown to be due to increased expression of brain (B) and cerebellar Purkinje (CP) isoforms of the gene exclusively in the skeletal muscle of these patients. This suggested that the B and CP promoters have an inherent capacity to function in skeletal muscle or that they are up-regulated by a skeletal muscle-specific enhancer unaffected by the mutations in these patients. In this work we have analyzed the deletion breakpoints of two XLDC patients with deletions removing the M promoter and exon 1, but not affecting the B and CP promoters. Despite the presence of several muscle-specific regulatory motifs, the B and CP promoters were found to be essentially inactive in muscle cell lines and primary cultures. As dystrophin muscle enhancer 1 (DME1), the only known muscle-specific enhancer within the dystrophin gene, is preserved in these patients, we tested its ability to up-regulate the B and CP promoters in muscle cells. B and CP promoter activity was significantly increased in the presence of DME1, and more importantly, activation was observed exclusively in cells presenting a skeletal muscle phenotype. These results point to a role for DME1 in the induction of B and CP isoform expression in the skeletal muscle of XLDC patients defective for M isoform expression.     

Simultaneous identification of chromosomes 18, X and Y in uncultured amniocytes by using multi-primed in situ labelling technique

The aim of this study is to validate the multi-PRINS (primed in situ labelling) technique for simultaneous detection of chromosomes 18, X and Y in uncultured amniocytes for prenatal diagnosis of aneuploidy. The sites of the newly synthesized DNA sequences were showed as fluorescent signals by using immunochemistry. A multi-PRINS technique was specifically performed for simultaneous detection in the same cells of three chromosome targets, e.g. chromosomes 18, X and Y. Fluorescent signals corresponding to chromosomes 18, X and Y were showed as yellow, red and green colour spots, respectively. A multi-FISH technique using chromosome 18, X and Y probes was performed for comparison. Sixty cases were analysed using both multi-PRINS and multi-FISH. Fifty to two hundred nuclei were scored for each case for each technique. In all cases, there was no significant difference in the detection of chromosomes 18, X and Y regarding the sensitivity, the specificity and the efficiency; multi-PRINS and multi-FISH yield a similar distribution of the number of spots per nucleus. Both techniques were able to identify aneuploid cases without any ambiguity. Both multi-PRINS and multi-FISH can accurately and reliably detect aneuploidies involving chromosomes 18, X and Y in uncultured amniocytes. Finally, multi-PRINS represents a faster and more cost-effective alternative to FISH for prenatal testing of aneuploidy in uncultured amniocytes.     

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital myotonic dystrophy and counseling of the pregnant mother: Case report and literature review

The molecular basis of the myotonic dystrophy (MD) kinase gene is expansion of the CTG repeat at the 3′-untranslated region of the MD gene. Variability of the CTG repeat size in different tissues of affected individuals has been demonstrated. The objective of this report was to examine and review the feasibility of prenatal diagnosis of congenital myotonic dystrophy (CMD) in pregnant women with MD using CTG repeat sizes in amniocytes or villi. We present a case of a pregnant woman with MD who underwent prenatal diagnosis of MD using amniocytes. The repeat size in the amniocytes was smaller than the repeat size in the maternal leukocytes and smaller than the repeat size in the infant blood. The infant had CMD. We also reviewed the literature for reports on MD cases that were prenatally tested for CTG repeat size using amniocytes or chorionic villi. Data were tabulated based on the number of maternal CTG repeats, prenatal procedure [amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS)], CTG repeat size in fetal tissue, fetal/infant blood, and pregnancy outcome. Twenty-seven pregnancies at risk for MD that underwent prenatal diagnosis were reported. Eleven (40.7%) of the 27 pregnancies underwent amniocentesis, and 16 (59.3%) underwent CVS. Fourteen patients (61%) demonstrated an increase in CTG repeat size in the amniocytes or villi compared with the maternal repeat size. Nine (33%) of the 27 pregnancies were terminated because of CMD risk. The outcomes of 11 (40.7%) pregnancies were consistent with diagnosis of CMD. CMD was diagnosed in fetuses demonstrating expansion or contraction of the CTG mutation in the amniocytes. Prenatal diagnosis of MD is possible by using mutation analysis on maternal and fetal DNA and detection of the CTG repeat expansion. Prenatal diagnosis of CMD is more complex. The possible lack of correlation between CTG repeat size in amniocytes, villi, and other fetal tissues is a potential limitation in prenatal diagnosis and counseling of CMD using CTG repeat size. Thus, prenatal diagnosis of CMD should be based on a combination of factors, including maternal pregnancy history, clinical findings, and cautious interpretation of maternal and fetal DNA analysis. Am. J. Med. Genet. 78:250–253, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Genetic counseling of isolated carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

It has recently become possible to detect female carriers of Duchenne muscular dystrophy with no affected male relative in the family. These “isolated carriers” represent about 10% of women with high serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels and clinical evidence of a muscle disease. Most isolated carriers ascertained by clinical and/or CPK levels and diagnosed by dystrophin immunostaining of muscle biopsy show symptoms of a muscular dystrophy, and often carry the diagnosis of recessive “limb-girdle muscular dystrophy” prior to dystrophin analysis. It has been difficult to offer genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis for Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the families of these isolated carriers, largely due to the difficulty in determining which of the dystrophin alleles segregating in the family harbors the mutation in the heterozygote. Here we report genetic counseling of three isolated carriers and their families. In two cases, prenatal diagnosis of at-risk pregnancies was conducted. We determined X inactivation patterns and inheritance of X chromosomes in each family, and used this information to define the at-risk dystrophin gene. In all three families, the mutation was a de novo event, two in the paternal germ-line, and one in the maternal germ-line. In each case we show that sibs of the heterozygous woman are at population risk, while pregnancies of each propositus are at high risk. Our results show that accurate genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis can be offered to these families. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Hemophilia A. Detection of molecular defects and of carriers by DNA analysis

To understand the molecular basis of hemophilia A and to provide heterozygote detection and prenatal diagnosis by DNA analysis, we used cloned factor VIII:C DNA fragments to study 10 affected families. In four of these families, inhibitors of factor VIII:C had developed in affected persons. In one such family a deletion of approximately 80 kb within the factor VIII:C gene was identified. Carriers of the deletion were identified through detection of an abnormal DNA fragment located at the deletion end points. In another family a single nucleotide change in the coding region of the factor VIII:C gene produced a nonsense codon leading to premature termination of factor VIII:C synthesis. Carrier detection was performed in eight female members of this four-generation family. In a third family a small change in the size of a restriction-endonuclease fragment correlated with the presence of the mutant gene, and in the other seven families the molecular defect has not yet been identified. In addition, we used two common polymorphic sites in the factor VIII:C gene to differentiate the normal from the defective gene in four of six obligate female carriers from families with patients in whom inhibitors did not develop. Carrier detection was possible in other members of these families. These data suggest that DNA analysis of the factor VIII:C gene provides an accurate method of carrier detection and, potentially, of prenatal diagnosis in at least 50 per cent of the pedigrees affected by hemophilia A.