Molecular genetics research of a Chinese family carrying triple HLA-A alleles / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To determine molecular basis of a rare HLA-A typing results carrying triple A alleles in potential allo-HSCT donor and her family. 【Methods】 HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1, -E, -F, -G of 5 members in the family were genotyped at a high-resolution level using next-generation sequencing (NGS). HLA-A of probosita was re-checked using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT), and SNP oligonucleotide probes (SNP-array)were scanned with genomic DNA of probosita. 【Results】 There was 162.9Kb duplication in 6p22.1(29, 803, 377-29, 966, 301)of probosita who carried triple A alleles A*02∶01∶01, A*11∶01∶01, A*24∶02∶01. Other two family members were found to carry this haplotype: A*02∶01∶01, A*24∶02∶01, B*54∶01∶01, C*01∶02∶01, DRB1*04∶05∶01, DQB1*04∶01∶01, E*01∶01∶01∶03, F*01∶01∶01, G*01∶01∶01∶01, which as a Mendelian gene was segregated and stably transmitted through two generations. 【Conclusion】 Tiny gene duplication induces one haplotype carries two HLA-A alleles in a potential healthy donor for allo-transplantaion and stably transmits through two generations.Routine HLA typing laboratories should pay more attention to this situation and accurately report.

Clinical and molecular genetic study of a Chinese Han family with X-linked retinoschisis / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To study the clinical phenotype and molecular genetic characteristics of a Chinese Han family with X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), and to determine the associated gene variations.Methods:A pedigree investigation was performed.The clinical characteristics and pedigree analysis of a Han Chinese family line with XLRS was conducted in August 2021 at the Xiamen Eye Center Affiliated to Xiamen University.All patients and the carriers underwent comprehensive medical history collection and routine ophthalmological examinations, including visual acuity, non-contact tonometer, slit lamp microscope, direct ophthalmoscope, and optical coherence tomography.The proband and some patients underwent medical optometry, fundus photography or wide-angle fundus photography, and electroretinogram examination.Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from the family members, and whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis was performed on the proband samples.For variants screened by WES, the expanded verification in other patients and normal persons in the family was carried out by Sanger sequencing.Multiple bioinformatic tools were used to analyze the pathogenicity of variants.This study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University (No.XMYKZX-KY-2021-012). Written informed consent forms were obtained from each subject or guardian of minors.CADD, FATHMM and other bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the pathogenicity of the variation sites.Results:The Han XLRS pedigree consisted of 8 individuals in 3 generations.Out of the 3 cases diagnosed with XLRS based on clinical evaluation, all were male.The mother of the proband was a carrier of related genes.There were 5 persons with normal phenotypes.There was no history of consanguineous marriages within the family, and the disease was shown to be intergenerational, which is consistent with the recessive inheritance of the X chromosome.None of the patients had a history of systemic disease or any other abnormal manifestations.The prevailing feature of ophthalmopathy was poor binocular vision since childhood.The proband and his younger brother had spoke split in the macula, and their grandfather showed atrophy of retinal nerve fibers.Genetic analysis revealed a hemizygous variation c. 214G>C: p.Glu72Gln in the RS1 gene in all the patients in this family.The proband's mother was heterozygous at this site, and all other phenotypically normal family members exhibited wild type at this site.This variant was predicted to be a deleterious variation and likely to cause disease based on bioinformatics analysis. Conclusions:The proband and patients in this Han Chinese family have the known c. 214G>C: p.Glu72Gln hemizygous variation of the RS1 gene and exhibit mild XLRS, which was consistent with the recessive inheritance of X chromosome.

Genotype-environment interaction on arterial stiffness: A pedigree-based study / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To utilized the baseline data of the Beijing Fangshan Family Cohort Study, and to estimate whether the association between a healthy lifestyle and arterial stiffness might be modified by genetic effects.@*METHODS@#Probands and their relatives from 9 rural areas in Fangshan district, Beijing were included in this study. We developed a healthy lifestyle score based on five lifestyle behaviors: smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), dietary pattern, and physical activity. The measurements of arterial stiffness were brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). A variance component model was used to determine the heritability of arterial stiffness. Genotype-environment interaction effects were performed by the maximum likelihood methods. Subsequently, 45 candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in the glycolipid metabolism pathway were selected, and generalized estimated equations were used to assess the gene-environment interaction effects between particular genetic loci and healthy lifestyles.@*RESULTS@#A total of 6 302 study subjects across 3 225 pedigrees were enrolled in this study, with a mean age of 56.9 years and 45.1% male. Heritability of baPWV and ABI was 0.360 (95%CI: 0.302-0.418) and 0.243 (95%CI: 0.175-0.311), respectively. Significant genotype-healthy diet interaction on baPWV and genotype-BMI interaction on ABI were observed. Following the findings of genotype-environment interaction analysis, we further identified two SNPs located in ADAMTS9-AS2 and CDH13 might modify the association between healthy dietary pattern and arterial stiffness, indicating that adherence to a healthy dietary pattern might attenuate the genetic risk on arterial stiffness. Three SNPs in CDKAL1, ATP8B2 and SLC30A8 were shown to interact with BMI, implying that maintaining BMI within a healthy range might decrease the genetic risk of arterial stiffness.@*CONCLUSION@#The current study discovered that genotype-healthy dietary pattern and genotype-BMI interactions might affect the risk of arterial stiffness. Furthermore, we identified five genetic loci that might modify the relationship between healthy dietary pattern and BMI with arterial stiffness. Our findings suggested that a healthy lifestyle may reduce the genetic risk of arterial stiffness. This study has laid the groundwork for future research exploring mechanisms of arterial stiffness.

Methods and Research Hotspots of Forensic Kinship Testing / 法医学杂志

Kinship testing is widely needed in forensic science practice. This paper reviews the definitions of common concepts, and summarizes the basic principles, advantages and disadvantages, and application scope of kinship analysis methods, including identity by state (IBS) method, likelihood ratio (LR) method, method of moment (MoM), and identity by descent (IBD) segment method. This paper also discusses the research hotspots of challenging kinship testing, complex kinship testing, forensic genetic genealogy analysis, and non-human biological samples.

Frequency of JK (a-b-) in Yichang: genetic pedigree analysis of Jk (a-b-) and Jka weak expression / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To explore the molecular hereditary and frequency of Jk(a-b-) in blood donors in Yichang. 【Methods】 A total of 49 999 samples from Yichang Red Cross Central Blood Station were screened for Jk(a-b-) by urea hemolysis test(2 mol /L). The phenotypes of JK (a-b -) probands and their families were confirmed by monoclonal anti-Jka and anti-Jkb, and the whole exon of SLC14A1 gene was sequenced. 【Results】 The frequency of Jk(a-b-) in Yichang blood donors was 0.004% (2/49 999), and the exon sequencing of SLC14A1 gene confirmed that both two probands were JK*02N.01 caused by c. 342-1G>A homozygous mutation.Besides, JK*01W.01 allele was observed in the pedigree analysis, and weak expression of Jka was found in 4 out of 11 family members. 【Conclusion】 The frequency of JK (a-b -) in Yichang blood donors is similar to those in Shanghai 0.004%(2/48 400), and both caused by JK * 02N.01 allele with high frequency in Southeast Asia. The epidemiological survey of JK * 01w.01 allele frequency should be further performed.

Molecular genetic analysis and predigree of a new FUT1 allele of para-Bombay blood group: a case report / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To study the serological and molecular mechanism of a case of para-Bombay blood group caused by 236delG mutation of FUT1 gene and investigate the pedigree. 【Methods】 The ABO, H and Lewis antigens of the proband and her family members were detected serologically, and the ABO blood group was confirmed by gene testing. The FUT1 gene was amplified by PCR and then sequenced. The structure of FUT1 236delG enzyme of the proband was simulated in 3D by SwissModel online server. 【Results】 Serological results showed that the proband was rare para-Bombay ABhm, Le(a-b-). Her father and mother was type A and type B, respectively. The gene results showed that the proband was type AB, while her father and mother was type A and type B, respectively. The sequencing results showed that the proband had 236delG/551_552delAG gene mutation, while her mother had 236delG FUT1 gene mutation, and her father had 551_552delAG FUT1 gene mutation. The 3D simulation of the enzyme structure of the proband FUT1 236delG showed that the translated product was an alpha helix structure with no actual function. 【Conclusion】 The 236delG mutation is a new discovered mutation in FUT1 genotype, with 551_ 552delAG mutation(FUT1* 01N.06 genotype), which can result in the generation of para-Bombay blood group.

Identification and pedigree investigation of B(A) and cisAB blood groups / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the serological and molecular genetic characteristics of B(A) and cisAB blood groups discovered in our laboratory. 【Methods】 ABO blood group serology and genetic tests were used to identify blood groups of 6 blood samples, submitted by blood center and hospitals in Shandong, and pedigree investigation was carried on 2 of them. 【Results】 Among the 6 samples, serological results were B(A) in 5 cases and cisAB in 1 case. The results of genetic tests were consistent with the serological results, as the alleles included B(A)04, B(A)02 and cisAB01, and all genotypes were heterozygous with O. Serological pedigree study was conducted on 2 samples: One cisAB patient with his 4 relatives(cisAB type father and three O type relatives) and one B(A)02/O1 donor with his 3 relatives[ B(A) type father/brother and O type mother). For B(A)02/O1 donor, the results of genetic testing were consistent with the serological results, as the paternal genotype was the same as that of the proband, the younger brother was B(A)02/O2, and the maternal genotype was O1/O2. 【Conclusion】 The cisAB and B(A) blood groups are often indistinguishable by serological phenotypes and require genetic confirmation. CisAB pedigree investigation revealed 2 cases of cisAB blood type and B(A) pedigree investigation revealed 3 cases of B(A). The genotyping of cisAB and B(A) in this region were cisAB01/O2, B(A)02/O1, B(A)02/O2, B(A)04/O1 and B(A)04/O2. B(A)and cisAB subtypes can be accurately identified through genetic testing and pedigree investigation, which can provide a reliable basis for blood transfusion selection and ensure the safety of clinical blood transfusion.

Preimplantation genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis in a family with type Ⅰ neurofibromatosis / 中华围产医学杂志

We report the implantation genetic testing and prenatal diagnosis of a family with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). High-throughput sequencing combined with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was performed to identify the pathogenic mutation sites, then verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenic mutation of c.4172G>C in the NF1 gene was found in the proband and his mother. After sequencing and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotyping of the mutation sites in the embryos by establishing the SNP-linked haplotype, a well-developed blastocyst, without pathogenic mutations, was transplanted, and 28 d later, the ultrasound confirmed that the patient was pregnant. Amniotic fluid samples of the fetus were obtained at 19 +3 weeks for karyotyping and detection of the gene mutation site, which found the fetus did not carry the maternal c.4172G>C mutation of NF1 gene or any copy number variants of clear clinical significance. The patient delivered a healthy term girl by cesarean section, and no significant abnormalities were found during the follow-up to 10 months of age.

DYNC2H1 gene mutation analysis and prenatal diagnosis in two pedigrees affected with short rib-polydactyly syndrome type Ⅲ / 中华围产医学杂志

Objective:To investigate the molecular genetic etiology of two fetuses with short rib-polydactyly syndrome type Ⅲ (SRPS Ⅲ).Methods:Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to detect 226 known genes related to inherited skeletal dysplasia in two fetuses with SRPS Ⅲ diagnosed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in August 2015 and June 2020. Suspect pathological variants were verified in the pedigree members using Sanger sequencing. The prenatal genetic diagnosis of the high-risk fetus in pedigree one was conducted to identify the confirmed pathogenic variation.Results:The homozygous mutation of DYNC2H1 gene c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) was identified in the proband in pedigree one, and the parents were the carriers. The proband in pedigree two carried compound heterozygous mutations in the DYNC2H1 gene with c.10606C>T(p.Arg3536*) inherited from the father and c.8954T>G(p.Val2985Gly) from the mother. Autosomal recessive inheritance was confirmed in both pedigrees. Mutations of c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) and c.8954T>G(p.Val2985Gly) in the DYNC2H1 gene were likely pathogenic variants and had not been reported before. The prenatal diagnosis did not identify the DYNC2H1 gene c.5881A>G(p.Lys1961Glu) mutation in the fetus (Ⅱ-7) in pedigree one, which was confirmed by the umbilical cord blood sample after birth. Conclusion:DYNC2H1 gene mutation underlies the fetal skeletal dysplasia in the two pedigrees.

Pedigree analysis for prenatal screening and diagnosis / 中华围产医学杂志

The information arising from pedigree analysis is important for clinicians to understand the inheritance pattern of the disease, filter the testing data, and provide suggestions to other family members. Along with the development and clinical implementation of new genetic testing, an increasing number of "positive" results are obtained and pedigree analysis is required to further verify the pathogenicity.

Focusing on prenatal genetic counseling and proper option of genetic testing methods / 中华围产医学杂志

More and more new technologies are being applied to prenatal diagnosis as the development of genetic testing technology advances. Pedigree analysis and phenotype recognition are the foundation of prenatal genetic counseling and diagnosis. In addition, fully understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different genetic testing techniques, developing a rationale, standardized and sequential testing strategy for the affected family, and analyzing the underlying genetic etiology and prognosis are critical for prenatal diagnosis and achieving the goal of birth defect prevention.

Childhood onset spinocerebellar ataxia type 2: a family report and literature review / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics, genetic characteristics and diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) patients with childhood onset.Methods:The clinical data of a SCA2 pedigree who diagnosed at Neurogenetic Metabolic Disease Clinic of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University in July 2019 were collected, and the reported cases of childhood-onset SCA2 were reviewed. The CAG repeat of ATXN2 gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction, capillary gel electrophoresis and Sanger sequencing techniques.Results:A total of 9 people in 4 generations of the family were affected, showing an autosomal dominant inheritance. The proband was a 3 years and 4 months old boy, who showed abnormal symptoms at 9 months which manifested as developmental retardation. At 1 year old, he developed progressive regression which represented neither to be amused, recognize others, stand and walk alone, nor had language development. Meanwhile, he had difficulty swallowing, long-term constipation, and a history of convulsions. His sister and mother were not yet sick. His grandmother could not walk, had slurred speech accompanied by nystagmus, and magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar atrophy. His granduncles and grandaunts had unstable walking and dysarthria. His great-grandfather required wheelchair to walk. This pedigree showed an autosomal dominant inheritance. One of the ATXN2 gene alleles of the proband, his sister, mother and grandmother all showed abnormal amplification with 99, 55, 44, and 43 times respectively and no inserting CAA sequence. A total of 14 literatures reported 20 cases of childhood-onset SCA2 patients who were genetically diagnosed. The majorities had onset in infancy, and few can develop into school age. The main clinical manifestations were developmental delay, dystonia or insufficiency, myoclonus or infantile spasms, motor retardation, abnormal eye movement, retinitis pigmentosa and dysphagia, while the classic cerebellar syndrome was only partially present. Abnormal rhythm was found on electroencephalogram, cerebellar atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging or CT of the head.Conclusions:This case is the youngest genetically-confirmed SCA2 patient reported in China. Reported patients usually have onset in infancy with excessive repeat sequence expansion. Their clinical characteristics are different from the classic patients and could only be diagnosed by dynamic mutation detection.

Phenotype and genetic studies of the cases with ATXN2 intermediate-length CAG-repeat expansion in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 pedigree / 中华神经科杂志

Objective:To explore the phenotype and molecular genetic features of spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) cases with ATXN2 intermediate-length CAG-repeat expansion.Methods:Fragment analysis by capillary electrophoresis was performed to detect the dynamic mutations in the samples of the probands in 1 383 pedigrees with autosomal dominant inherited ataxia in Research Center for Motor Disorders and Neurogenetic Diseases, Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital from 2005 to 2018. The clinical and genetic features of individuals carrying the ATXN2 intermediate-length CAG-repeat expansion were carefully analyzed.Results:Two hundred and three individuals (including the probands and members of their families) in 163 families carried the expanded CAG repeats in ATXN2 gene, among which 107 individuals in 93 families carried the intermediate-length CAG-repeats. Within 20 parent-child pairs, the CAG repeats increased 0-28 copies in 16 pairs with paternal inheritance, and 0-4 copies in 4 pairs with maternal inheritance.Conclusions:For suspected SCA2 cases, ATXN2 gene testing should be performed on the parental members and adult offspring members in the family. Dynamic mutations testing is essential to identify the individuals with ATXN2 intermediate-length repeat expansion, which is very important for genetic counseling.

A case report of familial renal cell carcinoma / 中华泌尿外科杂志

A total of 4 patients with renal cancer were admitted to our hospital from October 2006 to September 2015 in a familial renal cancer family. Among the 4 patients, 1 patient showed unilateral multiple clear cell carcinoma, 1 patient showed bilateral multiple clear cell carcinoma, and 2 patients showed bilateral multiple chromophobe cell carcinoma. No mutation of VHL or FLCN gene was found in all patients by genetic analysis.

A novel mutation in PAX6 gene causing congenital iris coloboma with congenital cataract in a pedigree / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To identify the pathogenic gene and inheritance pattern in a pedigree of congenital iris coloboma with congenital cataract.Methods:The method of pedigree investigation was adopted.A pedigree of congenital iris coloboma with congenital cataract was collected by Yunnan Disabled Rehabilitation Center and the 2nd Afliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University in February 2020.Ophthalmic examinations were carried out on the female proband, her parents, her children and her husband, and the clinical diagnosis was made.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples collected from the family members.The suspected pathogenic gene in the proband and her husband was screened by whole exome sequencing and was identified by bioinformatics analysis.The amino acid conservation was analyzed by UGENE software.The impact of the mutation on protein translation was predicted using MutationTaster software.The pathogenicity of the mutation was assessed according to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines.Pathogenic gene and mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the 2nd Afliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (No.PJ-2020-61).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or custodian.Results:The proband showed large iris defects in both eyes with only a small amount of observable iris tissue in the periphery, lens cortical opacity and posterior capsule opacification, accompanied by nystagmus.A novel heterozygous frameshift variation c. 415dupA (p.R139fs) was located in exon 8 of PAX6 gene, and the variation was conservative across multiple species.The variation was in the highly conserved region of PAX6 gene and caused the dysfunction of PAX6 protein.The variation was graded as PVS1+ PM2+ PP1, a pathogenic variation, based on ACMG guidelines.The pedigree was consistent with co-segregation, indicating that the novel variation was pathogenic.The proband and her children were diagnosed, but her parents were phenotypically normal, in accordance with autosomal dominant inheritance. Conclusions:The novel frameshift variation c.415dupA (p.R139fs) on the exon 8 of PAX6 gene is responsible for congenital iris coloboma with congenital cataract in the pedigree.This is the first report of this novel variation in PAX6 gene.

Genetic analysis of a Chinese family with cataract-microcornea syndrome / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of a Chinese family with congenital cataract-microcornea syndrome.Methods:The method of pedigree investigation was adopted.A Chinese Han family with congenital cataract-microcornea syndrome was recruited in Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University.All the family members received detailed ophthalmologic examination including the best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement by handheld applanation tonometry, slit lamp biomicroscopy, color fundus photography, B-scan ultrasonography, corneal diameter, anterior segment optical coherence tomography, ultrasound biomicroscopy, corneal endoscopy, and corneal topography.Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood from some patients and unaffected family members.Targeted high-throughput DNA sequencing was performed on the proband.The sequencing chip contained 188 known pathogenic genes related to lens abnormalities.Suspected pathogenic genes were verified by Sanger sequencing in phenotypically normal family members to identify the co-segregation and the disease-causing gene.Bioinformatics analysis was performed to analyze the pathogenicity of variants by REVEL.Conserved protein domains were analyzed by InterPro.Physicochemical property of the mutant protein was analyzed by ProtParam.The deleteriousness of the protein was predicted by PolyPhen-2.Homology of the variants in pathogenic gene was analyzed by NCBI website to compare the conservation among various species.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Xiamen Eye Center of Xiamen University (No.XMYKZX-LW-2009-003).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to entering the study cohort.Results:There were 39 members of 4 generations in this family including 11 patients with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.Clinical features of the patients included congenital cataract and microcornea.No obvious abnormality was found in ophthalmic and general examination.A heterozygous mutation c. 61C>T in the CRYAA gene was found, resulting in the mutation of the amino acid from arginine to tryptophan (p.Arg21Trp) at position 21, consistent with co-segregation.The number of cationic cluster in the mutant protein decreased, and the hydrophilicity and stability were reduced.The variant was predicted to be deleterious and was highly conserved in multiple species. Conclusions:A novel heterozygous mutation c.61C>T p. Arg21Trp in CRYAA gene is considered as the causal gene of this family.It is the first time this variant has been reported in China.

Clinical and genetic features of a Chinese family with ATF6-associated achromatopsia / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To identify the clinical characteristics and pathogenic gene of a Chinese Han family with achromatopsia (ACHM).Methods:The method of pedigree investigation was adopted.A Chinese Han ACHM family was recruited in Peking Union Medical College Hospital form July 2010 to July 2019, including 5 members of 2 generations.There were 2 patients and 3 phenotypically normal individuals.The medical history was collected and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations were performed, including visual acuity, colour vision, color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), visual field and electroretinogram (ERG).Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood sample from the patients and family members.Pathogenic variant was screened by whole exome sequencing (WES) and verified by Sanger sequencing and co-segregation analysis.The variant was annotated with the 1000 Genomes, Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD), ExAC, ClinVar and OMIM databases to detect the single nucleotide polymorphism and whether it had been reported previously.The pathogenicity of the variant was evaluated according to the standards and guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (No.JS-2059).Written informed consent was obtained from the guardians of juvenile patients.Results:There was consanguinity between the proband's parents and this family was consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance.Both male patients presented the reduction of visual acuity accompanied with photophobia and color blindness since childhood.Barely visible foveal light reflex in fundus images, hypofluorescence of foveal areas in FAF images, foveal defect with disruption of ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone in OCT images were found in both patients.Central scotoma with or without peripheral visual field defects was detected.Generally normal scotopic 0.01, 3.0 and 10.0 responses, decreased oscillatory potentials amplitudes, no photopic 3.0 and 30 Hz flicker responses were observed.No sign of progression was found during the 9-year follow-up.It was confirmed that both patients carried a novel homozygous disease-causing variant c. 947insA (p.Asn316Lysfs*46) in ATF6 gene.Their mother had the heterozygous variant.The unaffected brother did not carry the variant.This family was consistent with co-segregation.This variant was labeled as pathogenic according to the ACMG standards and guidelines. Conclusions:A novel variant c.947insA (p.Asn316Lysfs*46) in ATF6 gene is the pathogenic variant of this achromatopsia family.This is the first time that this variant has been reported.

Clinical and genetic characteristics of a Han Chinese family with autosomal recessive enhanced S-cone syndrome / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To analyze the clinical phenotypes and pathogenic gene of a Han Chinese family with enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS).Methods:The method of pedigree investigation was adopted.A suspected ESCS Han Chinese family including 8 members of 3 generations was recruited in Henan Eye Hospital from June to September 2021.There was one patient in the family.A thorough ophthalmic examination of the proband was carried out to evaluate the phenotypes, including visual acuity, degree of strabismus, anterior segment and fundus, autofluorescence imaging, fluorescein fundus angiography, full-field electroretinogram (ERG), multifocal ERG, optical coherence tomography.DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the proband and family members.The pathogenic gene and variation were screened by whole exome sequencing (WES).The variation and co-segregation were verified by Sanger sequencing.The deleteriousness of the variation was analyzed by SIFT, Polyphen2 and MutationTaster.The pathogenicity of the variation was evaluated in accordance with the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) Standards and Guidelines.The analysis of amino acid sequence conservation was performed by SIFT.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Henan Eye Hospital (No.HNEECKY-2017[6]).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject.Results:This pedigree was consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance.The proband had clinical features such as night blindness, hyperopia, accommodative esotropia, peripheral retinal pigmentation, retinoschisis, and photopic ERG responses dominated by large-amplitude waves.Variations including a compound heterozygous variation, c.671C>T: p.S224L on exon 5 and c. 955G>A: p.E319K on exon 6 of NR2E3 were identified by WES.The variations were confirmed to be consistent with co-segregation.The both loci were missense variations, the variation frequency of which was 0 in the East Asian population via the gnomAD database.The variations were predicted to be deleterious by SIFT, Polyphen2 and MutationTaster.The c.671C>T variation was recorded with unknown significance in ClinVar database, and the c.955G>A variation was an unreported new locus.According to the ACMG Standards and Guidelines, the both variations were labeled as with uncertain clinical significance, and the corresponding amino acid sequences were highly conservative across multiple species. Conclusions:This family has the clinical characteristics of ESCS and meets the genetic diagnosis criteria.Two novel variations in NR2E3 gene, c.671C>T: p.S224L and 955G>A: p.E319K, are found.

Identification of a COL2A1 mutation in a Chinese family with Stickler syndrome type 1 via whole exome sequencing / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To identify the disease-causing mutation in a Chinese family with Stickler syndrome type 1.Methods:The pedigree investigation was conducted.A Chinese family with Stickler syndrome type 1 was enrolled in the Shantou International Eye Center in June 2012.Medical history collection and clinical examinations, such as vision, intraocular pressure, slit lamp microscopy and fundus, were carried out in all the included family members and the diagnosis was made by clinical experts.Total genomic DNAs were extracted from the peripheral blood samples (5 ml) obtained from 5 patients and 4 healthy members.The potential variant of the proband's father Ⅲ-5 were screened by whole exome sequencing (WES) and stepwise bioinformatic analysis.The segregation and mutation conformation of the variant was verified by Sanger sequencing.The pathogenicity of the variant was predicted by SIFT, Polyphen2, and MutationTaster.Conservation and three-dimensional structure of amino acid mutation were analyzed by multiple sequence alignment and UniProt.This study adhered to the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Joint Shantou International Eye Center (No.EC20110310[2]-P02).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or the guardian.Results:An autosomal dominant inherence in 39 members of 4 generations including 15 patients and 24 phenotypically normal members was found in the family.The proband (Ⅳ-4) showed high myopia, retinal detachment and strabismus in the right eye, and the left eye was blind.A patient (Ⅲ-5) showed high myopia and cataract in the right eye, atrophy in the left eye.A patient (Ⅳ-9) showed binocular high myopia.A heterozygous variation, c.1693C>T: p.Arg565Cys, within the exon 26 of COL2A1 gene was revealed in patient Ⅲ-5, which was only found in the patients and not in phenotypically normal members, indiacating co-separation in this family.The variant was predicted to be a severe damage by SIFT, Polyphen2 and MutationTaster.The amino acid mutation at position 565 was highly conservative among human, mouse, rat, bovine and Xenopus laevis, which caused the arginine to cysteine substitution at the X position in triple helix repeat region Gly-X-Y, affecting the function of fibrous protein and becoming pathogenic. Conclusions:Variant c.1693C>T: p.Arg565Cys in COL2A1 gene is disease-causing in this family and this is the first report about the variant in China.

Screening of pathogenic mutation in a family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome by whole exome sequencing / 中华实验眼科杂志

Objective:To identify disease-causing variation in a Chinese family with Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome (ARS) through the analysis of clinical symptoms and hereditary information.Methods:The method of pedigree investigation was adopted.A Chinese ARS family including 15 family members of 3 generations was recruited in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University in 2018.There were 3 patients in the family.The family history and clinical data were collected.Ophthalmic and general examinations were carried out in all the members included.DNA and RNA were extracted from collected peripheral venous blood samples of 2-5 ml from each member.Whole exome sequencing was used to screen the variations in the proband.Suspected variations screened through searching population databases and bioinformatics analysis were verified by Sanger sequencing and real-time quantitative PCR.Conservation analysis and deleteriousness prediction of suspected variations were conducted.The pathogenecity of candidate rare variations were evaluated according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) standards and guidelines.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University (No.KY2019-231).Written informed consent was obtained from each subject or custodian prior to entering the study cohort.Results:The 3 patients all had typical ARS clinical features in eyes, teeth and umbilicus, and carried the same heterozygous variant, c.525delC (p.Asp175Glufs *) in the PITX2 gene, which were not found in other members, indicating co-segregation.The relative expression of PITX2 mRNA was 0.672±0.063 in the patients, which was significantly lower than 1.015±0.179 in the healthy controls ( t=8.847, P<0.001).This variant was not recorded in dbSNP, 1000G, gnomeAD, ExAC, Korea1K and EVS databases, and it was labelled as deleterious by MutationTaster.The affected conservative amino acid sequences were found in 9 species.The variant was determined as pathogenic according to the ACMG standards and guidelines. Conclusions:The c.525delC (p.Asp175Glufs *) mutation of PITX2 gene is pathogenic in the pedigree.This is the first time that this mutation has been reported in Chinese family with ARS.