Identification of a novel mutation in the GLUT2 gene in a patient with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome presenting with neonatal diabetes mellitus and galactosaemia

We describe a patient with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome diagnosed by clinical manifestations and the identification of a novel mutation in the GLUT 2 gene. She was initially diagnosed with neonatal diabetes mellitus due to hyperglycaemia and glycosuria at 3 days of life. In addition, newborn screening for galactosaemia revealed hypergalactosaemia. Thereafter, she was managed with lactose-free milk and insulin therapy. However, she failed to grow and her liver became progressively enlarged. Her liver function deteriorated with increased prothrombin time. A liver biopsy done at age 9 months showed micronodular cirrhosis with marked fatty changes and she succumbed to hepatic failure with pneumonia at 10 months of age. DNA sequencing analysis of the GLUT 2 gene using her genomic DNA revealed a novel mutation in codon 5, lysine5 stop(K5X).     

Mutation analysis of the GLUT2 gene in patients with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder manifesting hepatorenal glycogen accumulation, Fanconi nephropathy, and impaired utilization of glucose and galactose. Several mutations in a gene encoding a glucose transporter, GLUT2, have recently been reported in patients with FBS. We performed molecular analysis on three Japanese patients and found four novel mutations: a splice-site mutation (IVS2-2A>G), a nonsense mutation (Q287X), and two missense mutations (L389P and V423E). Heterozygotes of L389P or V423E mutation from the patients' families showed renal glucosuria. These data suggested that GLUT2 gene defects may be a cause of renal glucosuria.     

A newly identified exonic mutation of the WT1 gene in a patient with Denys-Drash syndrome

An 11 month old boy with hypospadias and bilateral undescended testes developed renal failure. Denys-Drash syndrome was suspected and molecular analysis of the WT1 gene was performed, although no Wilms' tumor was identified. Direct sequencing analysis of genomic DNA from this patient revealed a G to A transition resulting in ³⁶⁶Arg to Leu substitution in exon 8 which has hitherto not been described. This newly identified mutation will help in the understanding of functional domains and in making a diagnosis of Denys-Drash syndrome.     

A missense mutation in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase gene in a pediatric patient with hyperuricemia

We have identified a mutation in the gene coding for the enzyme hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase in a pediatric patient with hyperuricemia and nephrolithiasis. The mutation is a nucleotide substitution causing an amino acid substitution in the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase protein. In this patient, fibroblasts but not lymphocytes showed resistance to 6-thioguanine, and reduced enzyme activity was detected in lymphocytes. These results are consistent with the intermediary phenotype associated with partial hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase enzyme deficiency. Altogether, six males in this family suffered from hyperuricemic symptoms, and small differences in phenotype were seen.     

3例Fanconi-Bickel综合征SLC2A2基因分析

Fanconi-Bickel 综合征(FBS, OMIM 227810)是一种常染色体隐性遗传的罕见糖代谢异常疾病,致病基因为SLC2A2。该文报道3 例经SLC2A2 基因分析确诊的FBS 病例。3 例患儿表现为典型的糖原累积症及近端肾小管功能障碍表现。基因测序显示1 例为纯合剪接突变IVS8+5G>C(c.1068+5 G>C);1 例为纯合无义突变c.1194T>A(p.Tyr398X);1 例为错义突变c.380C>A(p.Ala127Asp)和重复突变c.970dupT(p.324TyrfsX392),其中c.970dupT(p.324TyrfsX392)非经父母遗传,为新生突变。该4 种突变中,除IVS8+5G>C 外,其余3 种为中国人种FBS 新突变,而c.970dupT(p.324TyrfsX392)可能为世界首例FBS 新生突变报道。     

Novel missense mutation of the UGT1A1 gene in Thai siblings with Gilbert''s syndrome

BACKGROUND: Gilbert's syndrome is a common inherited disorder of bilirubin metabolism contributing to the development of neonatal jaundice and causing recurrent jaundice after the neonatal period. In the patients with Gilbert's syndrome, mutations have been reported in the promoter and exons of the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1 (UGT1A1) gene on chromsome 2q37, which encodes bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase. However, the genetic basis of Gilbert's syndrome, including its inheritance trait, remains to be clarified. METHODS: Patients 1 and 2 were Thai sisters with Gilbert's syndrome. They had a history of prolonged neonatal jaundice and showed recurrent jaundice after their infancy, while the parents showed no symptoms. To search for the mutation in the patients, all exons of the UGT1A1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced directly. The frequency of the mutation in controls was studied by PCR-restriction enzyme digestion method. RESULTS: The patients were homozygous for a novel single transition of T to C at nucleotide position 247 (exon 1), which would predict a substitution of leucine for phenylalanine at codon 83 of the enzyme protein. No other mutation was detected in any regions except exon 1. The parents with no symptoms showed heterozygosity for the mutation. Among the 110 Japanese controls, no homozygous individuals and three heterozygous individuals for the mutation were identified, giving a mutated allele frequency of 0.0136. CONCLUSIONS: A novel missense mutation in the UGT1A1 gene was identified in two Thai siblings with Gilbert's syndrome. The affected family showed that homozygosity for the mutation may lead to apparent symptoms and that the syndrome was inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. The mutation does not explain a high incidence of neonatal jaundice in Japan, because it is very rare in the Japanese population.     

A novel missense mutation in the EVC gene underlies Ellis‐van Creveld syndrome in a Pakistani family

Background: Ellis‐van Creveld (EVC) syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by skeletal, ectodermal and cardiac defects. This syndrome is caused by mutations in EVC and EVC2 genes, which are separated by 2.6 kb of genomic sequence on chromosome 4p16. Methods: In the present study we ascertained a four‐generation pedigree of Pakistani origin with features of EVC. Linkage was searched by genotyping microsatellite markers linked to chromosome 4p16. Affected individuals showed homozygosity to the microsatellite markers tightly linked to EVC and EVC2 genes on chromosome 4p16. It was then subjected to direct sequencing of the EVC and EVC2 genes. Results: Mutation analysis of the EVC and EVC2 genes identified a novel missense change (c.617G>A; p.S206N) in the EVC gene. Conclusions: We herein report on the first family from Pakistan with a large number of individuals affected by EVC. DNA sequence analysis led to the identification of the fifth missense mutation in the EVC gene.     

A missense mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in a revisited case with histiocytoid cardiomyopathy

We describe a pathogenic mutation in the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene in a patient with a multisystem disorder presenting as histiocytoid cardiomyopathy in whom a defect of ubiquinol cytochrome c oxidoreductase of the electron transport chain had been documented biochemically. The mutation, a G to A transition at nucleotide 15498, results in the substitution of glycine with aspartic acid at amino acid position 251. The mutation, which is heteroplasmic and fulfills all accepted criteria for pathogenicity, is likely to impair the function of the holoenzyme as deduced from its effects on the crystal structure of ubiquinol cytochrome c oxidoreductase. This is the first molecular defect associated with histiocytoid cardiomyopathy.     

叶酰多聚谷氨酸合成酶基因一个新的错义突变的发现

目的：研究叶酰多聚谷氨酸合成酶（FPGS）基因编码区突变及多态性在中国汉族急性白血病（AL）患儿与健康儿童中的频率分布特征,为探讨FPGS 基因多态性与肿瘤化疗个体化用药之间的关系提供理论依据。方法：采用PCR-DGGE结合DNA直接测序的方法对91例AL患儿和124例上呼吸道感染儿童（对照组）的FPGS基因第5号外显子的突变及多态性情况进行分析,计算等位基因频率和基因型频率并分析其差异性。结果：在对照组儿童FPGS编码区中发现了一个国内外未见报道的错义突变502/490 T>C（L151/101P）,分别在FPGS线粒体型和胞浆型中发现了新突变2例和3例,并鉴定了其等位基因频率为0.70%（胞浆型）和0.47%（线粒体型）。这个新的错义突变与儿童AL无明显的相关性。结论：首次在中国汉族儿童中发现FPGS外显子5的一个新的错义突变502/490 T>C（L151/101P）,其在中国汉族儿童中的等位基因频率为 0.70%（胞浆型）和0.47%（线粒体型）。     

Two cases of Fanconi-Bickel syndrome: first report from China with novel mutations of SLC2A2 gene

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare inherited disease caused by mutations in the glucose transporter 2 gene, SLC2A2. We reported the first two Chinese cases of FBS. Both cases presented typical clinical features of hepatomegaly, hypophosphatemic rickets, severely stunted growth, fasting hypoglycemia along with postprandial hyperglycemia, and proximal renal tubular dysfunction with disproportionately severe glucosuria. Genetic analysis of SLC2A2 gene revealed novel compound heterozygous mutations in both patients. The characteristics of being born as small for gestational age and apparent liver dysfunction in our cases have been seldom discussed in the literature. It seems FBS patients in general have lower birth weight than normal, but further data collection is still needed. Symptomatic treatments were effective, but the serum transaminase of patient 2 remained moderately increased, and he patient needed further follow-up. The present study will supplement the up-to-date clinical characteristic spectrum for FBS.     

A newly recognized point mutation in the cytochrome b558 heavy chain gene replacing alanine57 by glutamic acid,in a patient with cytochrome b positive X-linked chronic granulomatous disease

Molecular genetic analysis was performed in a patient with cytochrome b positive X-linked chronic granulomatous disease. A previous Southern blot study, using a cytochrome b heavy chain cDNA as probe, revealed a Pst I restriction fragment pattern for the cytochrome b heavy chain gene (CYBB) different to that of normal individuals. Since restriction length polymorphism with Pst I has never been observed in control individuals and no abnormal restriction fragment patterns in the patient's CYBB was detected with seven other enzymes used, we focussed on the single Pst I site in the CYBB cDNA as being the only mutation site responsible for his disease. A fragment of the patient's cDNA which included the Pst I site was amplified by reverse polymerase chain reaction, and loss of the Pst I site in the fragment was confirmed by incubation with Pst I. Subsequent sequence analysis of the fragment revealed a point mutation in the Pst I site (cytosine to adenine), substituting glutamic acid for alanine at position 57.     

Novel nonsense mutation of GPC3 gene in a patient with Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome

Simpson-Golabi-Behmel Syndrome (SGBS) is a rare recessive X-linked disorder characterized by pre- and postnatal overgrowth, distinctive dysmorphic facies and variable congenital malformations. Most cases have been attributed to mutations in the Glypican-3 (GPC3) gene located at Xq26. Glypican-3 plays essential roles in development by modulating cellular responses to growth factors and morphogens. We report here a novel nonsense mutation of the GPC3 gene in a five-year-old Moroccan patient of consanguineous parents who had SGBS phenotype associated with congenital hypothyroidism.     

A novel missense mutation in the DKC1 gene in a Japanese family with X-linked dyskeratosis congenita

The authors report 2 male patients with dyskeratosis congenita (DC) in a Japanese kindred. Sequencing of the complementary DNA of the dyskerin gene (DKC1) revealed a T-to-C transition at nucleotide 1285 in exon 12 that resulted in a novel missense mutation L398P. Despite harboring the same mutation in the DKC1 gene, one patient had significantly milder hematological symptoms than the other, indicating that there may be other factors that determine the severity of DC.     

FGFR2 mutation in a patient with Apert syndrome associated with humeroradial synostosis

Most cases of Apert syndrome are due to S252W or P253R mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene. Differences in the effects of S252W and P253R mutations on the clinical features of Apert syndrome have been studied, but little is known about the type of FGFR2 mutation in Apert syndrome with humeroradial synostosis. To study a correlation between the FGFR2 mutations and the clinical complications, we examined the FGFR2 gene in a patient with Apert syndrome associated with humeroradial synostosis, and found that the mutation was S252W. This report suggested that S252W mutation in FGFR2 may cause humeroradial synostosis in Apert syndrome.     

Hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in patients with Fanconi-Bickel syndrome

Fanconi-Bickel syndrome (FBS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the combination of hepatorenal glycogen accumulation and Fanconi-type nephropathy. Mutations in GLUT2, the gene for facilitative glucose transporter protein 2 (GLUT2), cause FBS. AIM: To evaluate glucose and insulin responses to oral glucose load in patients with FBS. METHODS: Ten children (7.3 +/- 4.8 years) diagnosed with FBS in early infancy underwent a standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); plasma glucose (PG) and serum insulin concentrations were measured at 30-min intervals for 2 hours. HbA1c, insulin-like growth factor-I, and fasting lipid profiles were also measured. RESULTS: Mean fasting and 2-h PG concentrations were 3.8 +/- 0.9 mmol/l and 8.6 +/- 3.0 mmol/1, respectively. 2-hour PG levels were above 11.1 mmol/l in two patients (20%) and between 7.75 and 11.1 mmol/ in four patients (40%). HbA1c was normal in all the patients with a mean of 5.4 +/- 0.3%. Mean fasting and peak serum insulin levels were 8.7 +/- 0.8 pmol/ and 98.6 +/- 43.0 pmol/l, respectively, and did not differ between the patients with normal and abnormal OGTT. Patients with abnormal OGTT were younger (4.8 +/- 3.2 vs 11.0 +/- 4.8 yr; p = 0.04). Fasting PG increased with age (r = 0.80, p < 0.01). Total and LDL cholesterol as well as triglyceride concentrations were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Most but not all patients with FBS have impaired glucose tolerance/diabetes range hyperglycemia after OGTT while maintaining normal HbA1c. Patients with FBS are relatively hypoinsulinemic. Both fasting hypoglycemia and post-OGTT hyperglycemia seem to improve with age.