Pendred syndrome, DFNB4, and PDS/SLC26A4 identification of eight novel mutations and possible genotype-phenotype correlations

Mutations in PDS (SLC26A4) cause both Pendred syndrome and DFNB4, two autosomal recessive disorders that share hearing loss as a common feature. The hearing loss is associated with temporal bone abnormalities, ranging from isolated enlargement of the vestibular aqueduct (dilated vestibular aqueduct, DVA) to Mondini dysplasia, a complex malformation in which the normal cochlear spiral of 2(1/2) turns is replaced by a hypoplastic coil of 1(1/2) turns. In Pendred syndrome, thyromegaly also develops, although affected persons usually remain euthyroid. We identified PDS mutations in the proband of 14 of 47 simplex families (30%) and nine of 11 multiplex families (82%) (P=0.0023). In all cases, mutations segregated with the disease state in multiplex families. Included in the 15 different PDS allele variants we found were eight novel mutations. The two most common mutations, T416P and IVS8+1G>A, were present in 22% and 30% of families, respectively. The finding of PDS mutations in five of six multiplex families with DVA (83%) and four of five multiplex families with Mondini dysplasia (80%) implies that mutations in this gene are the major genetic cause of these temporal anomalies. Comparative analysis of phenotypic and genotypic data supports the hypothesis that the type of temporal bone anomaly may depend on the specific PDS allele variant present.     

Identification of five new mutations of PDS/SLC26A4 in Mediterranean families with hearing impairment

Pendred syndrome is an autosomal‐recessive disorder characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing loss combined with goiter. This disorder may account for up to 10% of cases of hereditary deafness. The disease gene (PDS/SLC26A4) has been mapped to chromosome 7q22‐q31 and encodes a chloride‐iodide transport protein. Mutations in this gene are also a cause of non‐syndromic autosomal recessive hearing impairment (DFNB4). We have analyzed the PDS/SLC26A4 gene in Spanish and Italian families and we have detected five new mutations (X871M, T132I, IVS1‐2A>G, Y556H and 406del5). © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Prevalence, age of onset, and natural history of thyroid disease in Pendred syndrome

BACKGROUND: We have sought to establish the prevalence of goitre within a Pendred syndrome (PS) cohort and to document the course of thyroid disease in this patient group. As part of a genetic study of PS we have assessed 57 subjects by perchlorate discharge test and in 52 (M 21, F 31, age range 9-54 years) a discharge of radioiodide of >10% was observed. RESULTS: Goitre was present in 43 (83%) of the cohort (28 F, 15 M), generally developing after the age of 10 years, 56% remained euthyroid (age range 9-37 years), and 19 patients (44%) had objective evidence of hypothyroidism, all of whom had goitre. CONCLUSIONS: In summary, thyroid dysfunction in PS is variable and inclusion of goitre as a diagnostic requirement will maintain significant underascertainment. The recent identification of the genetic defect underlying PS is likely to provide an important diagnostic aid in the identification of this disorder and this communication should assist clinicians in identifying deaf patients who ought to be considered for this investigation.     

Molecular analysis of the PDS gene in Pendred syndrome

Pendred syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the association between sensorineural hearing loss and thyroid swelling or goitre and is likely to be the most common form of syndromic deafness. Within the thyroid gland of affected individuals, iodide is incompletely organified with variable effects upon thyroid hormone biosynthesis, whilst the molecular basis of the hearing loss is unknown. The PDS gene has been identified by positional cloning of chromosome 7q31, within the Pendred syndrome critical linkage interval and encodes for a putative ion transporter called pendrin. We have investigated a cohort of 56 kindreds, all with features suggestive of a diagnosis of Pendred syndrome. Molecular analysis of the PDS gene identified 47 of the 60 (78%) mutant alleles in 31 families (includes three homozygous consanguineous kindreds and one extended family segregating three mutant alleles). Moreover, four recurrent mutations accounted for 35 (74%) of PDS disease chromosomes detected and haplotype analysis would favour common founders rather than mutational hotspots within the PDS gene. Whilst these findings demonstrate molecular heterogeneity for PDS mutations associated with Pendred syndrome, this study would support the use of molecular analysis of the PDS gene in the assessment of families with congenital hearing loss.      

Identification of two novel mutations in the OCRLI gene in Japanese families with Lowe syndrome

Kubota T, Sakurai A, Arakawa K, Shimazu M, Wakui K, Furihata K, Fukushima Y. Identification of two novel mutations in the OCRL1 gene in Japanese families with Lowe syndrome. Clin Genet 1998: 54: 199–202. 0 Munksgaard, 1998
The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL) is a rare X-linked disorder with features of congenital cataracts. Fanconi syndrome of the renal tubule, and mental retardation. The OCRLI gene has been positionally cloned and shown to encode a phosphatidylinositol 4.5–biphos-phate-5–phosphatase. OCRL is thus thought to be an inborn error of inositol polyphosphate metabolism. We analyzed the gene in two Japanese OCRL patients and their families by DNA sequencing and mismatch polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digestion. A novel nonsense mutation (C1399T) replacing the glutamine of codon 391 (Gln 391 Stop) was identified in exon 12 in 1 patient and also in his mother. A novel missense mutation (C1743G) was identified in exon 15 in the second patient, his mother and maternal grandmother. The missense mutation predicts a substitution of serine for arginine (Ser 505 Arg) in a domain highly conserved among the inosi-tol-5–phosphatase family. Our observations expand the range of OCRLI mutations that cause Lowe syndrome. and will be useful for genetic counseling in these two Fdmilies.     

Co-occurrence of three different mutations in the bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene in a Chinese family with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I and Gilbert's syndrome

Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I is a severe form of hereditary unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations of the bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene (UGT1A1). We analyzed the bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase gene in a female Chinese patient with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type I. Relatives of the patient were also analyzed. The patient was homozygous for a nonsense mutation of R341X. The patient's father, sister and brother, all diagnosed with Gilbert's syndrome, were compound heterozygotes of R341X, P229Q, and an insertion mutation of the TATA box [A(TA)7TAA]. Heterozygotes of nonsense mutations (Q331X and C280X) in our previous study had either Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II or Gilbert's syndrome, but heterozygotes of R341X (mother and grandmothers) were normal. An in vitro expression study of homozygous and heterozygous models of R341X showed 0 and 58%, respectively, of normal enzyme activity. Therefore, the present results indicate that carriers of the nonsense mutation could be normal for plasma bilirubin concentration, Gilbert's syndrome and Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II. The results also suggest the importance of the accumulation of prevalent or polymorphic mutation in the etiology of Gilbert's syndrome and Crigler-Najjar syndrome type II.     

Pendred syndrome: phenotypic variability in two families carrying the same PDS missense mutation

Pendred syndrome comprises congenital sensorineural hearing loss, thyroid goiter, and positive perchlorate discharge test. Recently, this autosomal recessive disorder was shown to be caused by mutations in the PDS gene, which encodes an anion transporter called pendrin. Molecular analysis of the PDS gene was performed in two consanguineous large families from Southern Tunisia comprising a total of 23 individuals affected with profound congenital deafness; the same missense mutation, L445W, was identified in all affected individuals. A widened vestibular aqueduct was found in all patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) scan exploration of the inner ear. In contrast, goiter was present in only 11 affected individuals, who interestingly had a normal result of the perchlorate discharge test whenever performed. The present results question the sensitivity of the perchlorate test for the diagnosis of Pendred syndrome and support the use of a molecular analysis of the PDS gene in the assessment of individuals with severe to profound congenital hearing loss associated with inner ear morphological anomaly even in the absence of a thyroid goiter.     

Estimation of the frequency of occult mutations for an autosomal recessive disease in the presence of genetic heterogeneity: application to genetic hearing loss disorders

The routine testing for pathologic mutation(s) in a patient's DNA has become the foundation of modern molecular genetic diagnosis. It is especially valuable when the phenotype shows genetic heterogeneity, and its importance will grow as treatments become genotype specific. However, the technology of mutation detection is imperfect and mutations are often missed. This can be especially troublesome when dealing with a recessive disorder where the combination of genetic heterogeneity and missed mutation creates an imprecision in the genotypic assessment of individuals who do not appear to have the expected complement of two pathologic mutations. This article describes a statistical approach to the estimation of the likelihood of a genetic diagnosis under these conditions. In addition to providing a means of testing for missed mutations, it also provides a method of estimating and testing for the presence of genetic heterogeneity in the absence of linkage data. Gene frequencies as well as estimates of sensitivity and specificity can be obtained as well. The test is applied to GJB2 recessive nonsyndromic deafness, Usher syndrome types Ib and IIa, and Pendred-enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome.     

Hallervorden-Spatz综合征 PANK2基因的突变

目的探讨泛酸激酶2(pantothenate kinase 2,PANK2)基因突变与中国人Hallervorden-Spatz综合征(Hallervorden-Spatz syndrome,HSS)的关系.方法应用聚合酶链反应、DNA直接测序、PCR产物限制性内切酶酶切和聚合酶链反应-单链构象多态性等技术检测5例HSS患者、3名家系成员及51名正常人 PANK2基因的碱基序列.结果检测出 PANK2基因一个新的复合杂合突变位于第3外显子的A803G和第5外显子的T1172A;同时检测出3个单核苷酸多态, 位于5'-UTR区的-38 t>a,第1内含子区的IVS1+42 c>a和第1外显子区的G77C,其中-38 t>a,IVS1+42 c>a为首次报道.结论中国人HSS患者存在 PANK2基因突变.     

两个斑驳病家系KIT基因突变研究

目的 对2个斑驳病家系进行致病基因突变分析,为患者及其家系成员提供遗传咨询和生育指导.方法 分别采集家系1两例患者(先证者及其父亲)、家系2先证者及3名表型正常家系成员的外周血,提取外周血DNA和RNA.应用PCR、逆转录PCR及测序等技术,从基因组水平和表达水平对此两家系先证者和患者进行KIT基因诊断,并初步探讨检测到的突变对KIT基因功能的影响.结果 家系l中两例患者KIT基因均存在IVS12+ 2_+7delinsACATCTTTA的杂合突变,该突变在cDNA水平导致KIT基因c.1765-1779del突变,在氨基酸水平导致p.Gly592Ala/del:E12突变,使得KIT基因剪切位点发生改变,即其中一条cDNA第12外显子被跨越、未转录.家系2中先证者KIT基因存在c.2401A＞C突变,3位表型正常的家系成员未见该突变.结论 确诊了两个斑驳病家系的致病原因.家系1患者KIT基因均存在IVS12+ 2_+ 7delinsACATCTTTA的杂合突变,该突变为人类基因突变数据库未记载的、新的剪切突变;家系2先证者KIT基因存在c.2401A＞C突变,结合3位表型正常的家系成员KIT基因未见c.2401A＞C突变,推测该突变为先证者患斑驳病的致病突变可能性大.为此两家系进行遗传咨询和产前诊断提供了理论依据.     

Marfan综合征两种原纤维蛋白1基因突变

目的对14例Marfan综合征（Marfan syndrome，MFS）患者的原纤维蛋白1（fibrillin 1，FBNI）基因和转化生长因子β受体2（transforming growth factor beta receptor typeⅡ，TGFBR2）基因进行突变筛查。方法应用变性高效液相色谱法对MFS患者FBNl的65个外显子和TGFBR2基因的7个外显子进行突变筛查，对变性高效液相色谱图形异常的PCR扩增片段用DNA测序鉴定突变位点及性质，并用限制性片段长度多态性方法进一步证实突变。结果在MFS患者FBNl基因中发现两种突变。两种基因突变是新的FBNl置换突变（Intron29＋4A〉T）和再发的FBNl无义突变（8080C〉T）。结论FBNl的Intrort29＋4A〉T和8080C〉T可能是MFS患者的发病原因。     

两种角膜营养不良的 BIGH3基因突变研究

目的　了解中国角膜营养不良患者所存在的 BIGH3基因突变类型。方法　应用聚合酶链反应并结合 DNA测序技术 ,分别对 3例颗粒状角膜营养不良和 12例 Avellino角膜营养不良患者以及 10名正常人 BIGH3基因第 4外显子和第 12外显子进行突变检测。结果　所检测的角膜营养不良患者均存在BIGH3基因突变 ,所有正常对照无 BIGH3基因突变。其中 12例为 R12 4 H突变杂合子 ,3例为 R5 5 5 W突变杂合子。结论　颗粒状、Avellino角膜营养不良分别存在 BIGH3基因 R5 5 5 W及 R12 4 H突变 ,而 R12 4 H突变相关的 Avellino角膜营养不良在 BIGH3基因突变所导致的角膜基质营养不良中最为常见。12 4和 5 5 5密码子亦是中国角膜营养不良患者 BIGH3基因的突变热点。     

Frequencies of GJB2 mutations in German control individuals and patients showing sporadic non-syndromic hearing impairment

Mutations in the GJB2 gene encoding the gap-junction protein connexin 26 have been identified in many patients with childhood hearing impairment (HI). One single mutation, 35delG (30delG), accounts for up to 70% of all analyzed European patients with autosomal recessive inherited HI and 10% of patients with HI of unknown origin, respectively. We screened 188 control individuals and 342 German patients with non-syndromic sporadic HI for the 35delG, compound heterozygosity and other GJB2 mutations by PCR, restriction enzyme based screening, SSCP and sequencing. In all patients, non-progressive hearing impairment varied from moderate to profound involving all frequencies. This study revealed one novel silent mutation (438C/T), three novel gene variants resulting in amino acid substitutions (K112E, T123S, K223R) and two novel HI-related mutations (I82M, 313del14).     

两例Mowat-Wilson综合征患者的 ZEB2基因变异分析

目的:分析两例疑似Mowat-Wilson综合征(Mowat-Wilson syndrome,MWS)患儿的遗传学病因,帮助确诊并为家系遗传咨询提供依据。方法:采集2例无亲缘关系患儿及其家系成员静脉全血提取基因组DNA,应用家系全外显子组测序及基因组拷贝数变异测序进行变异检测,可疑变异位点利用Sanger测序对先证者及...     

Identification of a novel deletion of the entire OCRL1 gene detected by FISH analysis in a family with Lowe syndrome

The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL) is a rare X-linked multisystem disorder affecting the lens, kidney and brain. The gene involved (OCRL1) has been identified and is known to encode a phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 5-phosphatase. Mutations in OCRL1 have been shown to be causative of OCRL. To date, most of the mutations identified have consisted of simple or point mutations and there is one report of a 1.4-kb deletion. We investigated the OCRL1 gene in a male patient with OCRL by the polymerase chain reaction and found that the entire OCRL1 gene was deleted. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation analysis (FISH), with cosmid probes that span the entire OCRL1 gene, was used to confirm this deletion and subsequently identify it in the proband's mother. This is the first report of a whole gene deletion of OCRL1 and thus expands the range of mutations that give rise to OCRL. The use of the FISH technique facilitated carrier and prenatal testing for the deletion in the family.     

Crouzon综合征基因突变检测

目的 研究1个Crouzon综合征家系及1例散发的Crouzon综合征患者的成纤维生长因子受体2(fibroblast growth factors receptor 2,FGFR2)基因突变情况.方法 在1个Crouzon综合征家系的10名成员,和另一例散发者的外周血提取基因组DNA,PCR扩增FGFR2基因的第8和10外显子(部分家族成员仅扩增第8外显子),产物纯化后直接进行DNA测序检测突变.结果 家系中3名成员及另1例散发者FGFR2基因第8外显子的833位核苷酸发生G→T的转换突变,该突变为错义突变,使该位点所编码的氨基酸由半胱氨酸变为苯丙氨酸(C278F).该突变为杂合子突变.结论 FGFR2基因突变是Crouzon综合征致病原因.     

No evidence of mutations in the P450 aromatase gene in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

BACKGROUND: Etiology and inheritance pattern in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remain uncertain. Granulosa cells from follicles of women with PCOS have little, if any, aromatase (encoded by the CYP19 gene) activity; follicles contain low levels of estradiol, P450arom mRNA and aromatase stimulating bioactivity. Mice with targeted disruption of the CYP19 gene present cystic follicles. It has been proposed that chronic exposure to high levels of LH, because of aromatase deficiency, determines the development of ovarian cysts. Herein, we investigated if mutations in the CYP19 gene and/or its ovary promoter are causal in patients with PCOS. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with PCOS and 50 control women were studied. PCR analysis of genomic DNA and complete sequence of all exons of the aromatase gene and its ovary promoter were performed. RESULTS: No heterozygous or homozygous mutant alleles were present in any of the patients studied. CONCLUSIONS: In the population studied, mutations of the P450arom gene or its promoter are not the cause of PCOS. However, these findings do not preclude the possible importance of an aromatase disorder in PCOS etiology. Variations in aromatase complex function could play a role in PCOS etiology, but the determinants of such variations might be located in other genes.     

Van der Woude综合征家系IRF6基因突变分析

目的研究Van der Woude综合征（Van der Woude syndrome，VWS）干扰素调节因子6（interferon regulatory factor 6，IRF6）基因突变。方法提取3个VWS家系成员基因组DNA，聚合酶链反应扩增IRF6基因9个外显子及其侧翼内含子序列，直接测序对患者IRF6基因进行突变的检测。结果在3个家系患者IRF6基因中共发现国际上尚未报道的3个突变：无义突变981（T→A）（Cys327X）和1234（C→T）（Arg412X）；错义突变1214（T→C）（Met405Thr）。结论IRF6基因突变可能是VWS发病原因。     

Multiple independent second-site mutations in two siblings with somatic mosaicism for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked primary immunodeficiency disorder associated with microthrombocytopenia, eczema, autoimmunity and predisposition to malignant lymphoma. Although rare, few cases of somatic mosaicism have been published in WAS patients to date. We here report on two Ukrainian siblings who were referred to us at the age of 3 and 4 years, respectively. Both patients suffered from severe WAS caused by a nonsense mutation in exon 1 of the WAS gene. In both siblings, flow cytometric analysis revealed the presence of Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp)-positive and WASp-negative cell populations among T and B lymphocytes as well as natural killer (NK) cells. In contrast to previously described cases of revertant mosaicism in WAS, molecular analyses in both children showed that the WASp-positive T cells, B cells, and NK cells carried multiple different second-site mutations, resulting in different missense mutations. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing somatic mosaicism in WAS patients caused by several independent second-site mutations in the WAS gene.