Project description:RationaleTuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by facial angiofibromas, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and the development of hamartomas in several organs, including the heart, kidneys, brain, and lungs. Mutations in either TSC1 or TSC2 result in dysregulated mTOR activation, leading to the occurrence of TSC.Patient concernsA 44-year-old man was hospitalized for acute lumbago and hematuria.DiagnosisThe patient presented with facial angiofibromas, epilepsy, fibrous plaques, periungual fibroma, renal angiomyolipomas (AML), pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), liver hamartomas, and osteosclerosis. A diagnosis of TSC was made based on clinical manifestations.InterventionsNext-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed to screen for potential variants, which were verified using Sanger sequencing. The final variant was analyzed using a minigene assay.OutcomesA potentially pathogenic novel TSC2 variant (NM_000548.4, c.336_336 + 15delGGTAAGGCCCAGGGCG) was identified using NGS and confirmed using Sanger sequencing. The in vitro minigene assay showed that the variant c.336_336 + 15delGGTAAGGCCCAGGGCG caused erroneous integration of a 74 bp sequence into intron 4. This novel variant was not found in his unaffected parents or 100 unrelated healthy controls.LessonsWe identified a novel heterozygous TSC2 variant, c.336_336 + 15delGGTAAGGCCCAGGGCG, in a patient with classical TSC and demonstrated that this variant leads to aberrant splicing using a minigene assay. Our results extend the understanding of the mutational spectrum of TSC2.
Project description:NUS1 is responsible for encoding of the Nogo-B receptor (NgBR), which is a subunit of cis-prenyltransferase. Over 25 variants in NUS1 have been reported, and these variants have been found to be associated with various phenotypes, such as congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) and developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). We report on the case of a patient who presented with language and motor retardation, epilepsy, and electroencephalogram abnormalities. Upon conducting whole-exome sequencing, we discovered a novel pathogenic variant (chr6:118024873, NM_138459.5: c.791 + 6T>G) in NUS1, which was shown to cause Exon 4 to be skipped, resulting in a loss of 56 amino acids. Our findings strongly suggest that this novel variant of NUS1 is responsible for the development of neurological disorders, including epilepsy. It is believed that the truncation of Nogo-B receptor results in the loss of cis-prenyltransferase activity, which may be the underlying cause of the disease.
Project description:RationaleWe report a rare case of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) caused by a heterozygous variant in TTR gene.Patient concernsThe proband had been vomiting without obvious inducement since the age of 27, accompanied by the expulsion of stomach contents. At the age of 28, she began to suddenly syncope.DiagnosisCardiac magnetic resonance showed thickening of the right ventricular lateral wall and ventricular septum. The left ventricular diastolic function was limited. Targeted Sanger sequencing validates the presence of mutation p.Leu75Pro in TTR gene.Interventions and outcomesAfter admission to hospital for syncope, she was given metoprolol tablets 25 mg bid, spironolactone tablets 20 mg qd, and trimetazidine 20 mg tid. Her symptoms improved after taking the medicine.LessonsThe results of this case show that HCM caused by TTR mutation is not easy to be identified and treatment is easy to be delayed. Therefore, high-risk patients with amyloidosis should be evaluated as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis of HCM caused by TTR mutation before irreversible organ damage is essential for proper treatment and better outcomes.
Project description:BackgroundTrichothiodystrophy (TTD) is a rare, autosomal recessive, multisystem disorder most commonly caused by variants in ERCC2.Case presentationHere, we describe the first Chinese patient with a novel variant in ERCC2. A male infant, who was born to a healthy non-consanguineous couple, exhibited brittle hair, hair loss ichthyosis, eczema, retinal pigmentation and hypospadias. He carried a novel heterozygous ERCC2 variant. The maternal variant (c.2191-18_2213del) is a previous described genomic deletion that affects the splicing of intron 22. The paternal variant (c.1666-1G > A), that occurs in the splice site of intron 17 and likely alters ERCC2 gene function through aberrant splicing, has not been reported previously.ConclusionsOur case reported a novel pathogenic variant in ERCC2, which expanded the known genetic variants associated with TTD.
Project description:The WNT1 gene is crucial for bone development and homeostasis. Homozygous mutations in WNT1 cause severe bone fragility known as osteogenesis imperfecta type XV. Moreover, heterozygous WNT1 mutations have been found in adults with early-onset osteoporosis. We identified a 35 year-old Caucasian woman who experienced multiple vertebral fractures two months after her second pregnancy. There was no history of risk factors for secondary osteoporosis or family history of osteoporosis. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry confirmed a marked reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine (0.734 g/cm2, Z-score -2.8), femoral neck (0.48 g/cm2, Z-score -3.5), and total hip (0.589 g/cm2, Z-score -3.0). Blood tests excluded secondary causes of bone fragility. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous missense mutation (p.Leu370Val) in the WNT1 gene. Varsome classified it as a variant of uncertain significance. However, the fact that the Leucine residue at position 370 is highly conserved among vertebrate species and the variant has a very low allelic frequency in the general population would exclude the possibility of a polymorphism. The patient was treated for two years with teriparatide therapy associated with calcium and vitamin D supplements. During the follow-up period she did not report further clinical fractures. After 24 months of teriparatide, BMD increased at lumbar spine (+14.6%), femoral neck (+8.3%) and total hip (+4.9%) compared to baseline. We confirm that the heterozygous WNT1 mutation could cause a variable bone fragility and low turnover osteoporosis. We suggest that teriparatide is one of the most appropriate available therapies for this case.
Project description:BackgroundMalignant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) phenotypes have potential risks of severe heart failure, fatal arrhythmia, and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, it is critical to predict the clinical outcomes of these patients. It was reported recently that the alpha kinase 3 (ALPK3) gene was involved in the occurrence of HCM. Herein we reported a girl with HCM, while whole-exome sequencing found novel compound heterozygous variants in ALPK3 gene, which identified a potential association.Case presentationWe reported a 14-year-girl who suffered from clinical manifestations of cardiac failure, with sudden cardiac arrest before admission. The heartbeat recovered after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, though she remained unconscious without spontaneous breath. The patient stayed comatose when she was admitted. Physical examination indicated enlargement of the heart boundary. Laboratory results revealed a significant increment of myocardial markers, while imaging demonstrated hypertrophy of the left heart and interventricular septum. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a compound heterozygous variant in ALPK3 gene consisting of c.3907_3922del and c.2200A>T, which was inherited from her parents. Both variants (p.G1303Lfs*28 and p.R734*) were disease-causing evaluated by MutationTaster (probability 1.000). The crystal structure of the complete amino acid sequence is predicted and evaluated by AlphaFold and SWISS-MODEL software (July, 2022), which revealed three domains. Moreover, both variants resulted in a wide protein-truncating variant and damaged protein function. Thus, a novel compound heterozygous variant in ALPK3 associated with HCM was diagnosed.ConclusionWe described a young patient with ALPK3-associated HCM who experienced sudden cardiac arrest. Through WES, we identified a compound heterozygous variant in the ALPK3 gene, c.3907_3922del and c.2200A>T, which were inherited from the patient's parents and resulted in a truncated protein, indirectly causing the symptoms of HCM. In addition, WES provided clues in evaluating potential risks of gene variants on fatal clinical outcomes, and the nonsense and frameshift variants of ALPK3 were related to adverse clinical outcomes in HCM patients, which required implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) timely.
Project description:Primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the prevailing congenital anomaly of the kidneys and urinary tract, posing a significant risk for pyelonephritis scarring and chronic renal insufficiency in pediatric patients. Nevertheless, the precise genetic etiology of VUR remains enigmatic. In this current investigation, we conducted whole-exome sequencing on a child exhibiting single kidney, devoid of any familial VUR background, along with both biological parents. Two missense variants (NM_019105.8: exon11: c.4111G>A and NM_019105.8: exon2: c.31A>T) in the TNXB gene were identified through whole-exome sequencing of the child. These variants were found to be inherited from the child's parents, with each parent carrying one of the variants. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to assess the impact of these variants on the tenascin XB proteins encoded by them, revealing varying degrees of impairment. Based on our findings, it is suggested that the TNXB compound heterozygous variant, consisting of c.4111G>A and c.31A>T, may be the underlying cause of right renal agenesis and left hydronephrosis in afflicted child. This discovery broadens the genetic range of the TNXB gene and establishes a genetic foundation for disease-specific preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) in prospective pregnancies involving the parents of this afflicted child.
Project description:17α-Hydroxylase deficiency (17OHD) is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by mutations in the CYP17A1 gene. It is characterized by impaired adrenal and gonad steroid biosynthesis. Affected patients present with hypertension, hypokalemia, and disorders of sexual development. Here, we describe the genotypes and phenotypes of five patients from three families with this rare disease. Most patients had the hotspot variant, c.985_987delTACinsAA, in CYP17A1, which may be caused by a founder effect. However, the patients in our study were younger than the typical age of onset of 17OHD, and there was a pair of twins with the karyotypes 46, XX and 46, XY, but they both had a female phenotype. Meanwhile, we identified a novel compound heterozygous variant, c.1243+6T>G (p.Y329fs/splicing) in the CYP17A1 gene.
Project description:Background: Moebius Syndrome (MBS) is a rare congenital neurological disorder characterized by paralysis of facial nerves, impairment of ocular abduction and other variable abnormalities. MBS has been attributed to both environmental and genetic factors as potential causes. Until now only two genes, PLXND1 and REV3L have been identified to cause MBS. Results: We present a 9-year-old male clinically diagnosed with MBS, presenting facial palsy, altered ocular mobility, microglossia, dental anomalies and congenital torticollis. Radiologically, he lacks both abducens nerves and shows altered symmetry of both facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. Whole-exome sequence identified a de novo missense variant c.643G>A; p.Gly215Arg in CHN1, encoding the α2-chimaerin protein. The p.Gly215Arg variant is located in the C1 domain of CHN1 where other pathogenic gain of function variants have been reported. Bioinformatic analysis and molecular structural modelling predict a deleterious effect of the missense variant on the protein function. Conclusion: Our findings support that pathogenic variants in the CHN1 gene may be responsible for different cranial congenital dysinnervation syndromes, including Moebius and Duane retraction syndromes. We propose to include CHN1 in the genetic diagnoses of MBS.