Novel variants in natriuretic peptide receptor 2 in unrelated patients with acromesomelic dysplasia type Maroteaux

Acromesomelic dysplasia are a heterogeneous group of disorders with variable spectrum and severity of skeletal anomalies in the affected individuals. Acromesomelic dysplasia type Maroteaux (AMDM) is characterized by extreme shortening of the forelimbs and disproportionate short stature. Several homozygous inactivating mutations in NPR2 have been identified in different AMDM patients. We report five novel variants in affected individuals in four different families. These include two nonsense and three missense variants. This study broadens the genotypic spectrum of NPR2 mutations in individuals with AMDM and also describes the intra- and inter-familial phenotypic variability due to NPR2 variants.     

Severe mandibuloacral dysplasia caused by novel compound heterozygous ZMPSTE24 mutations in two Japanese siblings

Mandibuloacral dysplasia (MAD) is a rare autosomal recessive progeroid syndrome, characterized by mandibular hypoplasia, acroosteolysis affecting distal phalanges and clavicles, delayed closure of the cranial sutures, atrophic skin, and lipodystrophy. Recently, mutations in lamin A/C ( LMNA ) and zinc metalloprotease ( ZMPSTE24 ), involved in post-translational processing of prelamin A to mature lamin A, have been identified in MAD kindreds. We now report novel compound heterozygous mutations in exon 1 (c.121C>T; p.Q41X) and exon 6 (c.743C>T; p.P248L) in ZMPSTE24 in two Japanese sisters, 7- and 3-year old, with severe MAD and characteristic facies and atrophic skin. The older sister had lipodystrophy affecting the chest and thighs but sparing abdomen. Their parents and a brother, who were healthy, had heterozygous mutations. The missense mutation, P248L, was not found in 100 normal subjects of Japanese origin. The mutant Q41X was inactive in a yeast halo assay; however, the mutant P248L retained near normal ZMPSTE24 activity. Immunoblots demonstrated accumulation of prelamin A in the patients' cell lysates from lymphoblasts. The lymphoblasts from the patients also revealed less intense staining for lamin A/C on immunofluorescence. We conclude that ZMPSTE24 deficiency results in accumulation of farnesylated prelamin A, which may be responsible for cellular toxicity and the MAD phenotype.     

一种新复合杂合突变导致21-羟化酶缺陷症

目的探讨1例单纯男性化型21-羟化酶缺陷症(21-OHD)基因突变的类型和特点及临床表型与基因突变类型之间的关系。方法收集患者的临床资料,提取外周血白细胞DNA,用PCR方法扩增CYP21A2基因的10个外显子及内含子边界,测序鉴定CYP21A2基因突变位点,进一步分析突变位点与临床表型的关系。结果患者的临床表现主要为外阴发育异常。基因测序结果显示为复合杂合突变,其一个等位基因为c.515 T>A,p.I172N,另一个等位基因为c.593 T>G,p.L198X,此种复合杂合突变主要引起单纯男性化表现。p.L198X是至今尚未见报道的一种新突变。结论发现了CYP21A2基因一种新的突变p.L198X,丰富了CYP21A2基因突变数据库。同时从分子遗传学方面证实了对患者的诊断,患者基因型能很好地解释其临床表现。     

Allelic variations of the D2 dopamine receptor gene in children with idiopathic short stature

The D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) plays a major role in growth hormone (GH) secretion. Recent reports indicate that Taq I A DRD2 gene alleles (A1 and A2) are related to the function of DRD2. Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is defined as short stature without accompanying malnutrition, chronic disease, and endocrinological disorders. However, some reports suggest that ISS is associated with a mild disturbance of GH secretion. In this study, we examined the notion that allelic variants of the DRD2 are associated with ISS. We studied 55 children with ISS aged 8.4 (SD 2.9) years; (group I) and 104 age-matched children of normal stature (group II). Informed consent was obtained from each child's parent or guardian. Genomic DNAs were extracted from peripheral mononuclear cells and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were digested by Taq1 and resolved by electrophoresis. The frequency of the A1 allele was significantly higher in group I (0.42) than in group II (0.26). The insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I ratio (the ratio of the individual level to the normal mean value according to age at our laboratory center) was significantly lower in group I than in group II. When group I was subdivided into group A (with the A1 allele) and group B (with only the A2 allele), group A had a significantly lower peak GH response to the l-dopa test, lower levels of IGF-I, and retarded bone maturation. These findings indicate that polymorphism of the DRD2 gene may be one genetic factor that affects body height in childhood, acting through the hypothalamus (GH-releasing hormone) — pituitary (GH) — IGF-I axis. Received: July 13, 1998 / Accepted: September 9, 1998     

Extended phenotypes of PIEZO1-related lymphatic dysplasia caused by two novel compound heterozygous variants

Defects in the PIEZO1 gene cause lymphatic dysplasia in an autosomal recessive manner, mostly by loss-of-function variants. Moreover, since 2019, the role of PIEZO1 in bone formation has been established, but there have been no PIEZO1-related cases presenting definite skeletal involvement to date. A 21-year-old male with primary lymphatic dysplasia had some other distinctive clinical features, including multiple fracture history during infancy, thoracolumbar scoliosis, short stature, and left-sided facial bone hypoplasia. We analyzed the whole exome of the patient and found two novel pathogenic variants of PIEZO1 in trans: a 93.7 kb heterozygous deletion (chr16:88,782,477-88,876,207; exon 1–50) and c.2858G>A (p.Arg953His). Sanger sequencing validated the deletion with breakpoints, and each variant was inherited from a different parent. This study presented an extremely rare case of a patient with lymphatic dysplasia caused by compound heterozygous variants of PIEZO1, along with additional clinical manifestations including several skeletal phenotypes.     

UFSP2-related spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia: A confirmatory report

Spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasias (SEMDs), which comprise a heterogeneous group of autosomal-dominant, autosomal-recessive and X-linked recessive disorders, are characterized by anomalies of the spine, the epiphyses and metaphyses of the long bones, resulting in short stature and osteoarthritic changes of the joints. UFSP2 gene encodes a highly conserved cysteine protease which cleaves two C-terminal residues from ubiquitin-fold modifier 1, an ubiquitin-like post-translational modifier protein. In 2018, Di Rocco, M reported for the first time that a novel heterozygous variant exon 11: c.1277A > C of the UFSP2 gene was the cause to spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia mainly manifested as: short stature, anterior vertebral dysplasia, hip dysplasia, flat vertebra, spinal metaphyseal dysplasia, irregular acetabular apex, distal femoral metaphyseal dysplasia, proximal tibial metaphyseal dysplasia, osteoarthritis and so on. In this report, we describe a boy with spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia due to a novel mutation exon 11: c.1283A > G (leading to p. H428R) of the UFSP2 gene. This is the second report to describe children with SEMDs associated with an UFSP2 variant. However, it is the first to describe a UFSP2 gene mutation exon 11: c.1283A > G (leading to p. H428R). Our findings of a novel heterozygous mutation of UFSP2 gene add to the list of 2 reported heterozygous mutations of UFSP2 which led to hereditary osteopathy.     

A novel homozygous missense variant in MATN3 causes spondylo-epimetaphyseal dysplasia Matrilin 3 type in a consanguineous family

Spondylo-epimetaphyseal dysplasia Matrilin 3 type (SEMD) is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia characterized by short stature, abnormalities in the vertebral bodies and long bones, especially the lower limbs. We enrolled a consanguineous family from Pakistan in which multiple siblings suffered from severe skeletal dysplasia. The six affected subjects ranged in heights from 100 to 136 cm (~-6 standard deviation). Lower limb abnormalities with variable varus and valgus deformities and joint dysplasia were predominant features of the clinical presentation. Whole exome sequencing (WES) followed by Sanger sequencing identified a missense variant, c.542G > A, p.(Arg181Gln) in MATN3 as the genetic cause of the disorder. The variant was homozygous in all affected individuals while the obligate carriers had normal heights with no skeletal symptoms, consistent with a recessive pattern of inheritance. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that MATN3 domain affected by the variant is highly conserved in orthologous proteins. The c.542G > A, p.(Arg181Gln) variant is only the fourth variant in MATN3 causing an autosomal recessive disorder and thus expands the genotypic spectrum.     

Natural history of clinical features in two brothers with acromesomelic dysplasia related to PRKG2

Acromesomelic dysplasias (AMD) are a group of skeletal dysplasia characterized by shortening of the middle and distal segments of the limbs. Recently, biallelic PRKG2 variants have been reported to cause a new type of AMD. We detected biallelic novel variant (c.1635-1G > C) in PRKG2 in two brothers with mild to severe short stature, short limbs, cubitus varus, and brachydactyly. Radiological examination showed platyspondyly with anterior beaking of the vertebral bodies, stubby long bones with metaphyseal flaring and moderate brachydactyly with cone-shaped epiphyses of the middle and proximal phalanges. Upper limb proportions of the older brother were clinically classified as rhizomelic, however radiologic findings supported acromesomelia, along with the elbow limitation. Annual follow-ups of the older brother from the age of 5 to 20 years revealed progression of short stature with age but platyspondyly and anterior beaking became less conspicuous. The younger brother showed milder short stature and less conspicuous disproportion of the limbs than those of the older brother; however, platyspondyly and anterior beaking were more prominent on the radiographs obtained at the same age. In conclusion, this report provides new insights into the natural history of AMD type PRKG2 confirming the intrafamilial heterogeneity.     

血清IGF-1和IGFBP-3在矮小症患儿中的诊断意义

探讨胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-1)和胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白-3(IGFBP-3)在矮小症患儿诊断中的价值.对青春发育前矮小症患儿92例,健康儿童(对照组)48名,用精氨酸激发试验和胰岛素低血糖激发试验检测血清生长激素(GH)水平,并根据患儿GH峰值分为完全性生长激素缺乏(CGHD组,20例)、部分性生长激素缺乏(PGHD组,38例)、特发性矮小(ISS组,34例).采用CLIA检测血清IGF-1和IGFBP-3.对CGHD组、PGHD组、ISS组和对照组血清IGF-1和IGFBP-3水平进行两两比较发现,除PGHD组和ISS组间无显著性差异外(P＞0.05),均有显著性差异(P＜0.01).本文结果显示血清IGF-1和IGFBP-3检测对矮小症患儿有重要意义,可以作为确诊CGHD有价值的指标,但对于PGHD和ISS患儿则需结合GH激发试验加以鉴别.     

Expansion of the clinical spectrum of frontometaphyseal dysplasia 2 caused by the recurrent mutation p.Pro485Leu in MAP3K7

Frontometaphyseal dysplasia 2 (FMD2) is a skeletal dysplasia with supraorbital hyperostosis combined with undermodeling of the bones, joint contractures and some extraskeletal features. It is caused by heterozygous mutations in MAP3K7, encoding the Mitogen-Activated Protein 3-Kinase 7. MAP3K7 is activated by TGF-β and plays an important role in osteogenesis. Less than 20 patients with FMD2 and MAP3K7 mutations have been described thus far. The majority of the patients harbor a recurrent missense mutation, NM_003188.3: c.1454C?>?T [NP_003179.1: p.(Pro485Leu)], which leads to a more severe phenotype than mutations in other domains. Here we describe an additional patient with FMD2 caused by the recurrent c.1454C?>?T MAP3K7 mutation, identified as a de novo variant by whole-genome sequencing. The 17-year-old boy has the characteristic skeletal and facial features of FMD2. However, some novel features were also observed, including growth retardation and spina bifida occulta. In line with other patients harboring the same mutation he also showed keloid scars and had no intellectual disability. This report expands the clinical spectrum of FMD2 caused by the recurrent c.1454C?>?T [p.(Pro485Leu)] mutation in MAP3K7.     

两个新RUNX2基因突变引起家族性锁骨颅骨发育不全

目的 探讨RUNX2基因突变在锁骨颅骨发育不全病因研究中的意义及两个中国家族性锁骨颅骨发育不全家系发病的分子机制.方法 提取收集到的2个锁骨颅骨发育不全家系中4例患者和4名家系健康成员、102名无关正常对照外周血基因组DNA,应用PCR扩增产物双向直接测序方法 检测RUNX2基因第1～7外显子及相邻侧翼区的DNA序列,测序结果 与RUNX2基因正常序列对比分析.对发现的突变位点用酶切方法 证实.结果 测序结果 发现一家系中两例父子患者的RUNX2基因第1外显子发生错义突变c.346T＞A(W116R),该错义突变通过Bsr Ⅰ限制性内切酶对PCR扩增产物行酶切分析得到进一步确认.另一家系中两例患者的RUNX2基因第3外显子发生无义突变c.610A＞T(K204X).在两个家系中的正常家系成员和无关正常对照RUNX2基因DNA序列中没有发现上述突变.结论 通过RUNX2基因,检测在中国人群中发现两个RUNX2基因新致病突变,扩展了遗传性锁骨颅骨发育不全的基因突变谱,对阐明该病发病机制及其基因诊断和遗传咨询有重要意义.     

A boy with Poland anomaly and facio-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia

Poland anomaly and facio-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia are considered to be separate entities. We describe a 3-year-old boy with features of both Poland anomaly and facio-auriculo-vertebral dysplasia. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of this combination of birth defects. Possible pathogenetic implications are discussed.     

Expanding the phenotype of anauxetic dysplasia caused by biallelic NEPRO mutations: A case report

The cartilage hair hypoplasia and anauxetic dysplasia (CHH-AD) spectrum encompasses a group of rare skeletal disorders, with anauxetic dysplasia (ANXD) at the most severe end of the spectrum. Biallelic variants in RMRP, POP1, and NEPRO (C3orf17) have previously been associated with the three currently recognized ANXD types. Generally, all types are characterized by severe short stature, brachydactyly, skin laxity, joint hypermobility and dislocations, and extensive skeletal abnormalities visible on radiological evaluation. Thus far, only five patients with type 3 anauxetic dysplasia (ANXD3) have been reported. Here, we describe one additional ANXD3 patient. We provide a detailed physical and radiological evaluation of this patient, in whom we identified a homozygous variant, c.280C > T, p.(Arg94Cys), in NEPRO. Our patient presented with clinically relevant features not previously described in ANXD3: atlantoaxial subluxation, extensive dental anomalies, and a sagittal suture craniosynostosis resulting in scaphocephaly. We provide an overview of the literature on ANXD3 and discuss our patient's characteristics in the context of previously described patients. This study expands the phenotypic spectrum of ANXD, particularly ANXD3. Greater awareness of the possibility of atlantoaxial subluxation, dental anomalies, and craniosynostosis may lead to more timely diagnosis and treatment.