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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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。     

Molecular Characterization of Newborn Glaucoma Including a Distinct Aniridic Phenotype

Purpose: To characterize the underlying genetic defect in otherwise healthy Saudi newborns with buphthalmos, including those with iris abnormalities.

Methods: Prospective case series of affected Saudi Arabian probands who were referred for genetic counseling over a 4 year period. All had CYP1B1 sequencing. Selected patients with visible iris abnormalities had PAX6, FOXC1, and PITX2 sequencing. CYP1B1-negative patients had LTBP2 sequencing.

Results: All 67 probands had corneal enlargement with variable haze/scarring evident to caregivers at birth; 46 had a family history of infantile or early childhood glaucoma. All families were consanguineous except for 6, 2 of which were endogamous. Eight probands had mild ectropion uveae with partial aniridia; 2 probands had thick scarred corneas that precluded careful iris examination. Homozygous or compound heterozygous CYP1B1 mutations were identified in 91% (61/67), including all 8 probands with ectopion uveae and partial aniridia. The common Saudi mutation p.G61E occurred in most cases (38 homozygous, 8 compound heterozygous). Four novel mutations were identified (p.N252K, p.V460E, p.S485F, p.N519D). No mutations were identified in the other screened genes.

Conclusions: Newborn glaucoma on the Arabian Peninsula is typically CYP1B1-related even in the setting of developmental iris abnormality. Mild iris ectropion with partial aniridia in a newborn with glaucoma suggests mutations in CYP1B1 rather than in other genes associated with anterior segment dysgenesis. On the Arabian Peninsula p.G61E mutations are the major cause of newborn glaucoma but novel CYP1B1 mutations continue to be documented. The fact that the 9% of cases that were CYP1B1-negative did not have mutations in LTBP2 suggests that there exists at least 1 additional locus for this condition.     

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.     

A novel deletion downstream of the PAX6 gene identified in a Chinese family with congenital aniridia

Purpose: Congenital aniridia, a severe bilateral panocular visual disorder, is an autosomal dominantly inherited eye anomaly. Mutations in the paired box 6 gene (PAX6) have been shown to be responsible for congenital aniridia in most patients. The purpose of the present study was to report clinical features of a Chinese family with congenital aniridia and to screen novel genetic mutations for congenital aniridia.

Methods: All members of a three-generation family underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examination, and 8 of its 25 members were diagnosed with congenital aniridia. The proband was analyzed by exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing, and linkage analysis was performed for the family. The mutation was confirmed by direct DNA sequencing.

Results: Using Illumina’s Human Linkage-12 beadchip microarray (including 6090 SNPs) whole genome scan, the LOD score value showed that the interval on chromosome 11 between rs1389423 to rs910090 exhibited a strong linkage. A novel heterozygous 469 kb deletion mutation within the downstream region of PAX6 (chr11:31189937–31659379) was identified in all affected family members, but not in unaffected family members or 2000 ethnically matched controls.

Conclusion: A novel deletion mutation was identified within the PAX6 downstream region that results in congenital aniridia.     

Non-invasive anterior segment and posterior segment optical coherence tomography and phenotypic characterization of aniridia

Objective

To determine the value of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a diagnostic tool in the critical evaluation of phenotypic variability seen in an aniridia family with a novel PAX6 mutation.

Design

Genetic and observational family study.

Participants

Three-generation family segregating autosomal dominant aniridia.

Methods

Ophthalmic examination included best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy, tonometry, and OCT. PAX6 gene mutation analysis was carried out by direct sequencing of gene-specific PCR products and protein analysis by Western blot.

Results

Intrafamilial variable expressivity was seen between 4 affected family members. Phenotype differences between twin children suggested that this was due to modifier gene effects rather than environment. Anterior segment OCT demonstrated a range of iridocorneal angle abnormalities and corneal thickening in only 3, but ciliary body hypoplasia in all 4 affected patients. Posterior segment OCT demonstrated dome-shaped, hypoplastic macular profiles in the 2 affected children. Novel outer retinal changes were also seen, suggestive of a phototoxic retinopathy not previously recognized in aniridia. Ocular disease segregated with a novel PAX6 Q178X nonsense mutation with Western blot analysis suggesting that this led to haploinsufficiency of PAX6 protein.

Conclusions

Non-contact OCT imaging allowed for a more detailed assessment of anterior and posterior segment disease in children and adults with aniridia plus nystagmus. This led to the identification of novel features and highlights a practical, non-contact strategy well suited to genotype/phenotype studies and the longitudinal management of aniridic glaucoma in children.     

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）。     

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.     

Combined Occurrence of Autosomal Dominant Aniridia and Autosomal Recessive Albinism in Several Members of a Family

Purpose: To characterize clinical and genetic aspects of a family with a unique combination of two hereditary blinding eye diseases.

Methods: Comprehensive eye examination of proband and family members. Molecular analyses of the TYR and PAX6 genes.

Results: A young couple, both legally blind, requested genetic counselling regarding their ocular condition. The female was previously diagnosed with oculocutaneous albinism (OCA1A) and her spouse was diagnosed with Peters anomaly. A comprehensive clinical examination revealed that the female had OCA1A combined with signs of another ocular disease, showing some similarity to aniridia. A complete ocular examination of her family members revealed that her brother also suffered from the same combined phenotype, her father had typical OCA1A signs, and her mother and sister had aniridia-like phenotype, without clinical diagnosis until the time of presentation. Molecular analysis identified two compound heterozygous TYR mutations known to cause OCAIA and cosegregate with oculocutaneous albinism. In addition, we identified a novel heterozygous PAX6 mutation confirming the atypical aniridia phenotype.

Conclusions: We report here a unique and rare clinical phenotype that is explained by the segregation of two severe inherited eye diseases. The clinical and genetic analysis in this family allowed them to receive accurate genetic counseling.     

Identification of novel mutant PAX6 alleles in Indian cases of familial aniridia

Background  

Haploinsufficiency at the PAX6 locus causes aniridia, a panocular eye condition characterized by iris hypoplasia and a variety of other anterior and posterior eye defects leading to poor vision. This study was performed to identify novel PAX6 mutations that lead to familial aniridia in Indian patients.     

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。     

三个先天性无虹膜症家系中PAX6基因的突变分析

背景 人类配对盒基因(PAX6)编码一个转录调节子,对眼和大脑形态的形成起关键作用.PAX6突变可导致许多先天性眼部发育异常,如先天性无虹膜症,通常为常染色体显性遗传方式. 目的 对三个先天性无虹膜症家系成员进行PAX6基因分析,探索这些家系发病的遗传基础. 方法 收集三个先天性无虹膜症家系的5例患病者和正常成员13名的外周血标本提取DNA,根据PAX6基因的序列设计4～ 13外显子序列,通过聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增引物并测序,将目标序列与已发表的PAX6基因序列进行对比分析.结果 三个家系中共有5例患病者,在家系A中2例患者发现一个杂合突变(c.718 C＞T),导致第240位氨基酸由精氨酸突变为终止密码子(p.A rg240X),而其他正常表型者未发现此突变.家系B中的患病者和正常成员均未检测到PAX6基因的突变.家系C中1例患病者发现c.331 delG(p.Val111SerfsX13)的缺失突变,此单个碱基的缺失造成了移码突变,使PAX6蛋白羧基端的299个氨基酸缺失,而此家系的其他正常表型成员未发现此突变. 结论 家系A和家系C先天性无虹膜症的致病与PAX6基因的突变有关.     

A Review of the Clinical and Genetic Aspects of Aniridia

Abstract

Aniridia classically presents with a bilateral congenital absence or malformation of the irides, foveal hypoplasia, and nystagmus, and patients tend to develop visually significant pre-senile cataracts and keratopathy. Additionally, they are at high risk for developing glaucoma. Classic aniridia can be genetically defined as the presence of a PAX6 gene deletion or loss-of-function mutation that results in haploinsufficiency. Variants of aniridia, which include a condition previously referred to as autosomal dominant keratitis, are likely due to PAX6 mutations that lead to partial loss of PAX6 function. Aniridia-associated keratopathy (AAK) is a progressive and potentially debilitating problem affecting aniridic patients. The current treatments for AAK are to replace the limbal stem cells through keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) with or without subsequent keratoplasty for visual rehabilitation, or to implant a Boston type 1 keratoprosthesis. Future therapies for AAK may be aimed at the genetic modification of corneal limbal stem cells.     

先天性无虹膜家系中发现PAX6基因新的致病突变

目的对中国一先天性无虹膜家系进行PAX6基因突变检测,以确定其突变位点。方法实验研究。收集一先天性无虹膜家系,采集该家系患者及健康成员的外周静脉血,收集100名健康人外周血作为正常对照,采用Sanger测序的方法对PAX6基因的11个外显子（外显子4-14）以及外显子-内含子连接区域进行测序,随后进行家系共分离分析以及正常样本的对照分析。结果该家系8名成员经全面眼科检查,3名确诊为先天性无虹膜,且合并有复杂的眼部表型,包括不同程度的角膜病变、不同类型的白内障、黄斑发育不良、轻度上睑下垂和轻度眼球水平震颤等。在该家系患者中发现一个新杂合突变[c.569_570delinsACGG（p.Ile190Asnfs*18）],该突变可致PAX6基因编码的蛋白截短,该突变符合共分离且在100名正常对照者中未检测到。结论PAX6基因第8外显子上一个新的杂合突变[c.569_570delinsACGG（p.Ile190Asnfs*18）]为本研究中先天性无虹膜家系的致病突变,该突变与先天性无虹膜有关,本研究扩大了PAX6基因的突变频谱。     

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.