The clinical presentation caused by truncating CHD8 variants

Variants in the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) have been associated with intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and overgrowth and CHD8 is one of the causative genes for OGID (overgrowth and ID). We investigated 25 individuals with CHD8 protein truncating variants (PTVs), including 10 previously unreported patients and found a male to female ratio of 2.7:1 (19:7) and a pattern of common features: macrocephaly (62.5%), tall stature (47%), developmental delay and/or intellectual disability (81%), ASDs (84%), sleep difficulties (50%), gastrointestinal problems (40%), and distinct facial features. Most of the individuals in this cohort had moderate-to-severe ID, some had regression of speech (37%), seizures (27%) and hypotonia (27%) and two individuals were non-ambulant. Our study shows that haploinsufficiency of CHD8 is associated with a distinctive OGID syndrome with pronounced autistic traits and supports a sex-dependent penetrance of CHD8 PTVs in humans.     

Null variants and deletions in BRWD3 cause an X‐linked syndrome of mild–moderate intellectual disability,macrocephaly, and obesity: A series of 17 patients

BRWD3 has been described as a cause of X‐linked intellectual disability, but relatively little is known about the specific phenotype. We report the largest BRWD3 patient series to date, comprising 17 males with 12 distinct null variants and 2 partial gene deletions. All patients presented with intellectual disability, which was classified as moderate (65%) or mild (35%). Behavioral issues were present in 75% of patients, including aggressive behavior, attention deficit/hyperactivity and/or autistic spectrum disorders. Mean head circumference was +2.8 SD (2.8 standard deviations above the mean), and mean BMI was +2.0 SD (in the context of a mean height of +1.3 SD), indicating a predominant macrocephaly/obesity phenotype. Shared facial features included a tall chin, prognathism, broad forehead, and prominent supraorbital ridge. Additional features, reported in a minority (<30%) of patients included cryptorchidism, neonatal hypotonia, and small joint hypermobility. This study delineates the clinical features associated with BRWD3 null variants and partial gene deletions, and suggests that BRWD3 should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients with an overgrowth‐intellectual disability (OGID) phenotype, particularly in male patients with a mild or moderate intellectual disability associated with macrocephaly and/or obesity.     

A New Overgrowth Syndrome is due to Mutations in RNF125

Overgrowth syndromes (OGS) are a group of disorders in which all parameters of growth and physical development are above the mean for age and sex. We evaluated a series of 270 families from the Spanish Overgrowth Syndrome Registry with no known OGS. We identified one de novo deletion and three missense mutations in RNF125 in six patients from four families with overgrowth, macrocephaly, intellectual disability, mild hydrocephaly, hypoglycemia, and inflammatory diseases resembling Sjögren syndrome. RNF125 encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase and is a novel gene of OGS. Our studies of the RNF125 pathway point to upregulation of RIG‐I‐IPS1‐MDA5 and/or disruption of the PI3K‐AKT and interferon signaling pathways as the putative final effectors.     

KPTN gene homozygous variant‐related syndrome in the northeast of Brazil: A case report

Alteration of the KPTN gene, responsible for the coding of kaptin (a protein involved in actin cytoskeletal dynamics), causes a syndrome characterized by macrocephaly, neurodevelopmental delay and epileptic seizures. We report the first Brazilian case of KPTN gene variation, previously described in nine subjects from four interlinked families from an Amish community in Ohio, two Estonian siblings and a 9‐year‐old boy from Kansas City. We report a case of KPTN‐related syndrome in a 5‐year‐old child which presented macrocephaly, muscular hypotonia, and global development delay. The neurological examination revealed below‐expected performance in coordination and balance tests, dyspraxia, and hand‐mouth synkinesia. Expressive language was characterized by phono‐articulatory imprecision, abundance of phonological processes and morphosyntactic immaturity. Neuropsychological assessment revealed intellectual disability with impairment of verbal and executive functions. Exome sequencing was performed. Analysis revealed a homozygous 2‐nucleotide duplication c.597_598dup p.(Ser200Ilefs*55) in the KPTN gene, which is predicted to lead to a translational frameshift and formation of a premature stop codon. The phenotypic profile is similar to the cases described in the other families. Presence of macrocephaly and delayed development indicate the possibility of KPTN gene variation. Genetic testing should be carried out at an early stage in order to reach a timely diagnosis.     

Additional features of unique Primrose syndrome phenotype

Primrose syndrome is a unique condition of intellectual disability, dysmorphic facial features, and specific minor abnormalities including large calcified ear auricles. Only six patients have been previously reported. We describe a Brazilian boy with the striking similar facies and the main clinical findings that reinforced the singular phenotype of this rare disorder. The key features of all patients already published were compared. Our young patient has abnormalities that were not observed in preceding reports: nail dysplasia and hyperuricemia.     

MRX93 syndrome (BRWD3 gene): five new patients with novel mutations

Overgrowth syndromes (OGS) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders whose main characteristic is that either the weight, height, or head circumference are above the 97th centile or 2 to 3 SD above the mean for age and sex. Additional features, such as facial dysmorphism, developmental delay or intellectual disability (ID), congenital anomalies, neurological problems and an increased risk of neoplasia are usually associated with OGS. Genetic analysis in patients with overlapping clinical features is essential, to distinguish between two or more similar conditions, and to provide appropriate genetic counseling and recommendations for follow up. In the present paper, we report five new patients (from four unrelated families) with an X-linked mental retardation syndrome with overgrowth (XMR93 syndrome), also known as XLID-BRWD3-related syndrome. The main features of these patients include ID, macrocephaly and dysmorphic facial features. XMR93 syndrome is a recently described disorder caused by mutations in the Bromodomain and WD-repeat domain-containing protein 3 (BRWD3) gene. This article underscores the importance of genetic screening by exome sequencing for patients with OGS and ID with unclear clinical diagnosis, and expands the number of reported individuals with XMR93 syndrome, highlighting the clinical features of this unusual disease.     

Duplication 8q12: confirmation of a novel recognizable phenotype with duane retraction syndrome and developmental delay

Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) is a rare congenital strabismus condition with genetic heterogeneity. DRS associated with intellectual disability or developmental delay is observed in several genetic diseases: syndromes such as Goldenhar or Wildervanck syndrome and chromosomal anomalies such as 12q12 deletion. We report on the case of a patient with DRS, developmental delay and particular facial features (horizontal and flared eyebrows, long and smooth philtrum, thin upper lip, full lower lip and full cheeks). We identified a duplication of the long arm of chromosome 8 (8q12) with SNP-array. This is the third case of a patient with common clinical features and 8q12 duplication described in the literature. The minimal critical region is 1.2 Mb and encompasses four genes: CA8, RAB2, RLBP1L1 and CHD7. To our knowledge, no information is available in the literature regarding pathological effects caused by to overexpression of these genes. However, loss of function of the CHD7 gene leads to CHARGE syndrome, suggesting a possible role of the overexpression of this gene in the phenotype observed in 8q12 duplication patients. We have observed that patients with 8q12 duplication share a common recognizable phenotype characterized by DRS, developmental delay and facial features. Such data combined to the literature strongly suggest that this entity may define a novel syndrome. We hypothesize that CHD7 duplication is responsible for a part of the features observed in 8q12.2 duplication.     

19p13.2 microduplication causes a Sotos syndrome-like phenotype and alters gene expression

Mutations in the TMPRSS3 gene are known to cause autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI). After undergoing a genome scan, 10 consanguineous Pakistani families with ARNSHI were found to have significant or suggestive evidence of linkage to the TMPRSS3 region. In order to elucidate if the TMPRSS3 gene is responsible for ARNSHI in these families, the gene was sequenced using DNA samples from these families. Six TMPRSS3 variants were found to cosegregate in 10 families. None of these variants were detected in 500 control chromosomes. Four novel variants, three of which are missense [c.310G>A (p.Glu104Lys), c.767C>T (p.Ala256Val) and c.1273T>C (p.Cys425Arg)] and one nonsense [c.310G>T (p.Glu104Stop)], were identified. The pathogenicity of novel missense variants was investigated through bioinformatics analyses. Additionally, the previously reported deletion c.208delC (p.His70ThrfsX19) was identified in one family and the known mutation c.1219T>C (p.Cys407Arg) was found in five families, which makes c.1219T>C (p.Cys407Arg) as the most common TMPRSS3 mutation within the Pakistani population. Identification of these novel variants lends support to the importance of elements within the low-density lipoprotein receptor A (LDLRA) and serine protease domains in structural stability, ligand binding and proteolytic activity for proper TMPRSS3 function within the inner ear.     

An investigation of the etiology and follow-up findings in 35 children with overgrowth syndromes,including biallelic SUZ12 variant

Overgrowth-intellectual disability (OGID) syndromes are clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the molecular etiology and long-term follow-up findings of Turkish OGID cohort. Thirty-five children with OGID were included in the study. Single gene sequencing, clinical exome analysis, chromosomal microarray analysis and whole exome sequencing were performed. Five pathogenic copy number variants were detected in the patients; three of them located on chromosome 5q35.2 (encompassing NSD1), others on 9q22.3 and 22q13.31. In 19 of 35 patients; we identified pathogenic variants in OGID genes associated with epigenetic regulation, NSD1 (n = 15), HIST1H1E (n = 1), SETD1B (n = 1), and SUZ12 (n = 2). The pathogenic variants in PIK3CA (n = 2), ABCC9 (n = 1), GPC4 (n = 2), FIBP (n = 1), and TMEM94 (n = 1) which had a role in other growth pathways were detected in seven patients. The diagnostic yield was 31/35(88%). Twelve pathogenic variants were novel. The common facial feature of the patients was prominent forehead. The patients with Sotos syndrome were observed to have milder intellectual disability than patients with other OGID syndromes. In conclusion, this study showed, for the first time, that biallelic variants of SUZ12 caused Imagawa-Matsumoto syndrome, monoallelic variants in SETDIB resulted in OGID. Besides expanded the phenotypes of very rare OGID syndromes caused by FIBP and TMEM94.     

Biallelic HERC1 mutations in a syndromic form of overgrowth and intellectual disability

We report two Colombian siblings affected by overgrowth, intellectual disability and facial dysmorphism. Exome (via NGS) and Sanger sequencing revealed that biallelic sequence variants in a novel gene (HERC1) might be related to the disease pathogenesis. These results provide useful data for future genotype–phenotype correlations and for a molecular diagnosis of overgrowth.     

三例CHARGE综合征患儿的临床表型和CHD7基因变异分析

目的对3例CHARGE综合征患者进行基因变异检测,明确其可能的遗传学病因。方法先证者及父母进行全外显子测序检测相关致病基因,对检出致病变异进行Sanger测序验证。结果3例患儿均有程度不同的眼部病变,包括小眼球、小角膜、虹膜缺损、晶状体混浊、视神经视网膜脉络膜缺损等。测序结果示例1的CHD7基因第2外显子存在c.1447delG(p.Val483Leufs*12)杂合移码变异;例2的CHD7基因第36外显子存在c.7957C>T(p.Arg2653*)杂合无义变异;例3的CHD7基因第2外显子存在c.1021_1048delAATCAGTCCGTACCAAGATACCCCAATG(p.Asn341Leufs*2)杂合移码变异,其中c.1447delG(p.Val483Leufs*12)和c.1021_1048delAATCAGTCCGTACCAAGATACCCCAATG(p.Asn341Leufs*2)变异未见报道,根据美国医学遗传学与基因组学学会遗传变异分类标准与指南,这两个均判定为致病性变异(PVS1+PM2+PM6);c.7957C>T(p.Arg2653*)变异为已报道的可能致病性变异(PVS1+PM2+PP4)。Sanger测序结果验证例1和例3的变异为新发变异(de novo),例2的变异为可疑新发变异。结论CHD7基因变异可能为3例CHARGE综合征患者的致病原因。     

Kosaki overgrowth syndrome: A novel pathogenic variant in PDGFRB and expansion of the phenotype including cerebrovascular complications

Heterozygous activating variants in platelet-derived growth factor, beta (PDGFRB) are associated with phenotypes including Kosaki overgrowth syndrome (KOGS), Penttinen syndrome and infantile myofibromatosis (IM). Here, we present three new cases of KOGS, including a patient with a novel de novo variant c.1477A > T p.(Ser493Cys), and the oldest known individual age 53 years. The KOGS phenotype includes characteristic facial features, tall stature, scoliosis, hyperelastic thin skin, lipodystrophy, variable intellectual and neurological deterioration, and abnormalities on brain imaging. Long-term outcome is unknown. Our cases confirm the phenotypic spectrum includes progressive flexion contractures, camptodactyly, widely spaced teeth, and constriction rings. We also propose novel occasional features including craniosynostosis, ocular pterygia, anterior chamber cleavage syndrome, early osteoporosis, increased pigmentation, recurrent haematomas, predisposition to cellulitis, nail dystrophy, carpal tunnel syndrome, recurrent hypoglycaemia in infancy, joint dislocation, and splenomegaly. Importantly, we report fusiform aneurysm of the basilar artery in two patients. Complications include thrombosis and stroke in the oldest reported patient and fatal rupture at the age of 21 in the patient with the novel variant. We conclude that cerebrovascular complications are part of the phenotypic spectrum of KOGS and KOGS-like disorders and suggest vascular imaging is indicated in these patients.     

Revisiting recombinant 8 syndrome

Recombinant 8 syndrome, also known as San Luis Valley syndrome, is a rare but important cause for developmental delay and chronic illness noted among individuals of Hispanic ancestry that occurs with greater reported frequency in the Southwest United States. The recombinant chromosome is rec(8)dup(8q)inv(8)(p23.1q22.1) and in all known cases is derived by a parental pericentric inversion, inv(8)(p23.1q22.1). To test our hypothesis that modern medical management strategies may alter the outcome of patients with recombinant 8 syndrome in regard to mortality, morbidity, and neurodevelopmental outcomes, we sought to update the natural history of recombinant 8 syndrome by completing a thorough medical and psychological assessment of affected individuals. Twelve affected individuals, ranging from 2 to 21 years of age, were recruited with IRB approval. Our patients scored on in the mild to severe cognitive functioning level (range 30-70), with surprising preservation in the social/adaptive arenas. Most patients responded well to heart surgery and developmental outcomes were in proportion to cardiac status. Orthopedic surgery to ameliorate effects of spasticity can be complicated by long recovery times and decreased ability to ambulate. Our findings do not support additional morbidly during cardiac repair. Taken together, our findings support a consistent phenotype with improved survival in comparison to previously published studies. Efforts to encourage learning and developmental progress should not be withheld as quality of life for many of these individuals is considered good by their families and medical providers.     

EED and EZH2 constitutive variants: A study to expand the Cohen‐Gibson syndrome phenotype and contrast it with Weaver syndrome

Overgrowth‐intellectual disability (OGID) syndromes are characterized by increased growth (height and/or head circumference ≥+2 SD) in association with an intellectual disability. Constitutive EED variants have previously been reported in five individuals with an OGID syndrome, eponymously designated Cohen‐Gibson syndrome and resembling Weaver syndrome. Here, we report three additional individuals with constitutive EED variants, identified through exome sequencing of an OGID patient series. We compare the EED phenotype with that of Weaver syndrome (56 individuals), caused by constitutive EZH2 variants. We conclude that while there is considerable overlap between the EED and EZH2 phenotypes with both characteristically associated with increased growth and an intellectual disability, individuals with EED variants more frequently have cardiac problems and cervical spine abnormalities, boys have cryptorchidism and the facial gestalts can usually be distinguished.