ABSTRACT
Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a specific type of asthenoteratozoospermia, presenting with multiple morphological anomalies in spermatozoa, such as absent, bent, coiled, short, or irregular caliber flagella. Previous genetic studies revealed pathogenic mutations in genes encoding cilia and flagella-associated proteins (CFAPs; e.g., CFAP43, CFAP44, CFAP65, CFAP69, CFAP70, and CFAP251) responsible for the MMAF phenotype in infertile men from different ethnic groups. However, none of them have been identified in infertile Pakistani males with MMAF. In the current study, two Pakistani families with MMAF patients were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of patients and their parents was performed. WES analysis reflected novel biallelic loss-of-function mutations in CFAP43 in both families (Family 1: ENST00000357060.3, p.Arg300Lysfs*22 and p.Thr526Serfs*43 in a compound heterozygous state; Family 2: ENST00000357060.3, p.Thr526Serfs*43 in a homozygous state). Sanger sequencing further confirmed that these mutations were segregated recessively in the families with the MMAF phenotype. Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to detect the effect of the mutation on mRNA of the affected gene. Previous research demonstrated that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in CFAP43 accounted for the majority of all CFAP43-mutant MMAF patients. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report CFAP43 biallelic loss-of-function mutations in a Pakistani population with the MMAF phenotype. This study will help researchers and clinicians to understand the genetic etiology of MMAF better.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Infertility, Male/epidemiology , Loss of Function Mutation/genetics , Microtubule Proteins/genetics , Pakistan/epidemiology , Sperm Tail/physiologyABSTRACT
Introdução: a fibrose cística é a doença autossômica recessiva mais comum em populações caucasianas e a sua etiologia está associada a variantes patogênicas no gene CFTR. O teste do suor é considerado o padrão ouro para o diagnóstico dessa enfermidade. Estudos apontam que o genótipo do CFTR e a idade dos indivíduos influenciam as concentrações de cloreto no suor. Objetivos: pesquisar a correlação entre os níveis de cloreto no teste do suor e a idade ao diagnóstico de indivíduos com fibrose cística e comparar as concentrações iônicas do cloreto entre os sexos, diferentes faixas etárias e três grupos diversos de genótipos do CFTR. Metodologia: realizou-se um estudo de corte transversal, incluindo sujeitos de 0 a 20 anos, com diagnóstico confirmado de fibrose cística. Os indivíduos selecionados foram agrupados de acordo com as variáveis analisadas. Calcularam-se os valores descritivos das concentrações de íons cloreto de cada grupo. Utilizou-se o teste de Spearman para a análise da correlação entre a idade ao diagnóstico e os níveis de cloreto no suor. Resultados: 64 indivíduos foram incluídos no estudo, sendo 51,56% do sexo masculino. A mediana (Min Max) da idade ao diagnóstico foi de 7 meses (1-206). Não foi observa da correlação entre a idade dos indivíduos ao diagnóstico e os níveis de cloreto no suor. As concentrações medianas de cloreto foram maiores nos escolares (106 mEq/l), no sexo feminino (102 mEq/l) e nos heterozigotos F508del/Classe I a III (108 mEq/l); e menores nos adolescentes (100 mEq/l) e nos heterozigotos F508del/Classes IV a VI (77 mEq/l). Conclusão: os níveis de cloreto no suor não apresentaram correlação com a idade dos indivíduos ao diagnóstico. A variação considerável dos níveis iônicos entre os grupos de diferentes genótipos corrobora que o teste do suor é um bom preditor da avaliação funcional do canal CFTR.
Introduction: cystic fibrosis is the most common autosomal recessive disorder in Caucasian populations and its etiology is associated with pathogenic variants in the CFTR gene. The sweat test is considered the gold standard for the diagnosis of the disease. Some studies suggest that CFTR genotype and age affect sweat chloride concentrations. Objectives: to investigate the correlation between sweat chloride levels and age at diagnosis of individuals with cystic fibrosis and to compare ionic chloride concentrations among sexes, different age groups and three distinct groups of CFTR genotypes. Methodology: a cross-sectional study was conducted, which included CF subjects from 0 to 20 years of age. The selected individuals were clustered on the variables in analysis. The description values for chloride ion concentrations in each group were calculated. The Spearman's test was used to analyze the correlation between the age at diagnosis and sweat chloride levels. Results: 64 individuals were included, 51,56% male. The median (Min Max) age at diagnosis was 7 months (1-206). There was no correlation between the age at diagnosis and sweat chloride levels. The median of the chloride concentrations were higher for schoolchildren (106 mEq/l), females (102 mEq/l) and heterozygous F508del/Classes I to III (108 mEq/l), and reached the lowest values for teenagers (100 mEq/l) and heterozygous F508del/Classes IV to VI (77 mEq/l). Conclusion: sweat chloride levels did not correlate with the age of individuals at diagnosis. The substantial variation of ionic levels among groups of distinct genotypes corroborates that the sweat test is a good predictor for functional assessment of the CFTR channel.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Infant, Newborn , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Adolescent , Adult , Sweat , Cystic Fibrosis , Loss of Function Mutation , Cross-Sectional StudiesABSTRACT
Resumen Introducción: La enfermedad de Parkinson se caracteriza por la degeneración y pérdida de las neuronas dopaminérgicas en el cerebro. Existen factores genéticos involucrados en su desarrollo, en su forma de inicio temprano como el gen PARK2, codificante de la parkina, una E3 ubiquitín ligasa, lo que hace que en caso de mutaciones pierda su capacidad reguladora de degradación de proteínas causando estrés y muerte celular. Objetivo: Determinar la presencia de cambios moleculares en los exones 3, 4, y 5 de PARK2 en un grupo de 29 pacientes y 21 controles colombianos con enfermedad de Parkinson de inicio temprano o con antecedentes familiares de ella y la posible correlación con las manifestaciones clínicas de los pacientes. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional (entre junio de 2013 y noviembre de 2014) en donde se realizó extracción de ADN de sangre total y se utilizó la técnica de PCR para cada uno de los exones. Finalmente se procedió a la secuenciación automática, análisis de las secuencias con el software Sequencher y comparación con información de bases de datos. Resultados: Se identificó una variante en estado homocigoto (Ala46Thr) en el exón 4 en un paciente no reportada anteriormente, posiblemente no patogénica y la variante Ser167Asn en estado heterocigoto en el mismo exón en otro paciente, considerada patogénica y reportada con anterioridad en poblaciones asiática y europea. No se identificaron variantes en los controles. Conclusiones: Los cambios no descritos antes en la población colombiana, -Ala46Thr y Ser167Asn-, fueron identificados en el grupo de pacientes. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(3):31-8.
Abstract Introduction: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the degeneration and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. There are genetic factors involved in its development in its early onset form, such as the PARK2 gene encoding the parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which in the case of mutations loses its ability to regulate protein degradation causing stress and cell death. Objective: To determine the presence of molecular changes in PARK2 exons 3, 4 and 5 in a group of 29 patients and 21 colombian controls with early onset Parkinson's disease or a family history of Parkinson's disease and the possible correlation with clinical manifestations from the patients. Materials and methods: Observational descriptive study (between june of 2013 and november of 2014) where DNA extraction of whole blood was performed and the PCR technique was used for each of the exons. Finally, we proceeded to the automatic sequencing, analysis of the sequences with the Sequencher software and comparison with information of databases. Results: A homozygous variant (Ala46Thr) in exon 4 was identified in one patient not previously reported, possibly nonpathogenic and the Ser167Asn variant in heterozygous state in the same exon in another patient, considered pathogenic and previously reported in populations Asian and European. No variants were identified in the controls. Conclusions: changes not previously described in the colombian population, -Ala46Thr and Ser167Asn-, were identified in the group of patients and not in the controls. MÉD.UIS. 2017;30(3):31-8.