Mutation Analysis of the CYP4F22 Gene in a Family with Autosomal Recessive Congenital Ichthyosis / 罕见病研究

Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a rare hereditary cornification disorder presented with abnormal skin scaling. In this paper, we used next-generation sequencing to determine the variants in a Chinese ARCI patient. We used sanger sequencing to verify bidirectionally the DNA from the proband and her parents. Results showes that two compound heterozygous variants (c.235G > T and c.641delG) in CYP4F22 gene, and both of the mutations are novel. The parents were heterozygous carriers. The two variants are classified as pathogenic variants based on interpretation guidelines. The compound heterozygous mutations in CYP4F22 gene were the causative mutations responsible for ARCI in proband.

BRCA1/BRCA2 Pathogenic Variant Breast Cancer: Treatment and Prevention Strategies

Hereditary breast cancer is known for its strong tendency of inheritance. Most hereditary breast cancers are related to BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variants. The lifelong risk of breast cancer in pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 variant carriers is approximately 65% and 45%, respectively, whereas that of ovarian cancer is estimated to be 39% and 11%, respectively. Therefore, understanding these variants and clinical knowledge on their occurrence in breast cancers and carriers are important. BRCA1 pathogenic variant breast cancer shows more aggressive clinicopathological features than the BRCA2 pathogenic variant breast cancer. Compared with sporadic breast cancer, their prognosis is still debated. Treatments of BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variant breast cancer are similar to those for BRCA-negative breast cancer, mainly including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Recently, various clinical trials have investigated poly (adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor treatment for advanced-stage BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variant breast cancer. Among the various PARP inhibitors, olaparib and talazoparib, which reached phase III clinical trials, showed improvement of median progression-free survival around three months. Preventive and surveillance strategies for BRCA pathogenic variant breast cancer to reduce cancer recurrence and improve treatment outcomes have recently received increasing attention. In this review, we provide an information on the clinical features of BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variant breast cancer and clinical recommendations for BRCA pathogenic variant carriers, with a focus on treatment and prevention strategies. With this knowledge, clinicians could manage the BRCA1/BRCA2 pathogenic variant breast cancer patients more effectively.

Frequently Delayed Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis in MYH9-related Disorders: Data from Genetically Confirmed Cases of Korean Patients

MYH9-related disorders (MYH9RD) are autosomal-dominant disorders characterized by macrothrombocytopenia with or without leukocyte inclusion bodies or extra-hematological features, such as sensorineural deafness and renal impairment. MYH9RD can be misdiagnosed as an acquired form of thrombocytopenia including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This leads to delayed diagnosis or administration of ineffective treatment. In the present study, we investigated the clinical and molecular characteristics of five unrelated Korean patients with MYH9RD and their family members, from four institutions. We reviewed clinical and laboratory data including extra-hematological manifestations. MYH9 pathogenic variants were detected by direct sequencing in all probands and the affected family members (N=10): two probands with c.5521G>A (p.Glu1841Lys) and one proband each with c.99G>T (p.Trp33Cys), c.287C>T (p.Ser96Leu), and c.3493C>T (p.Arg1165Cys). All patients had macrothrombocytopenia. Only the proband with Ser96Leu had extra-hematological manifestations. Past history revealed that two patients had been misdiagnosed with ITP and one of them had received a splenectomy. We validated the frequency of misdiagnosis (~20%) and genotype-phenotype correlations through a comprehensive review of previously reported cases of MYH9RD in Korea. It is important to suspect MYH9RD in patients with thrombocytopenia, and timely identification of macrothrombocytopenia and MYH9 pathogenic variants is required for early and accurate diagnosis of MYH9RD.

Spectrum of MNX1 Pathogenic Variants and Associated Clinical Features in Korean Patients with Currarino Syndrome

BACKGROUND: The major genetic cause of Currarino syndrome (CS), a congenital malformation syndrome typically characterized by sacral agenesis, anorectal malformation, and presence of a pre-sacral mass, is known to be pathogenic variants in motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1 (MNX1), which exist in almost all familial cases and 30% of sporadic cases. Less commonly, a large deletion or a complex rearrangement involving the 7q36 region is associated with CS. We investigated the spectrum of MNX1 pathogenic variants and associated clinical features in the Korean patients with CS. METHODS: We enrolled 25 patients with CS, including 24 sporadic cases and one familial case. Direct sequencing of MNX1 and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification were performed. We also analyzed clinical phenotypes and evaluated genotype-phenotype correlations. RESULTS: We identified six novel variants amongst a total of six null variants, one missense variant, and one large deletion. The null variants included four frameshift variants (p.Gly98Alafs*124, p.Gly145Alafs*77, p.Gly151Leufs*67, and p.Ala216Profs*5) and two nonsense variants (p.Tyr186* and p.Gln212*). The missense variant, p.Lys295Gln, was located in the highly-conserved homeobox domain and was predicted to be deleterious. A large deletion involving the 7q36 region was detected in one patient. Pathogenic variants in MNX1 were detected in 28% of all CS cases and 25% of sporadic cases. The clinical phenotype was variable in patients with and without pathogenic variants; no significant genotype-phenotype correlation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the spectrum and phenotypic variability of MNX1 pathogenic variants in the Korean population.

Germline Variants in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 in Korean Patients with Lynch Syndrome

BACKGROUND: The phenotypic and genetic spectrum of Lynch syndrome (LS) seems to differ according to ethnicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, pathological, and genetic features of LS in a large sample of Korean patients. METHODS: We enrolled a total of 232 patients who fulfilled the revised Bethesda criteria (81%, 232/286) from 286 individuals who underwent genetic screening for LS (MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 sequencing) in the Samsung Medical Center in Korea from 2004 to 2015. Histopathologic findings, microsatellite instability data, and clinical information were collected. RESULTS: We identified 61 different pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (39 in MLH1, 20 in MSH2, and 2 in MSH6), including 4 novel variants, in 101 unrelated Korean patients (101/232, 44%). When multiple tumor manifestations in a single patient were individually considered, there were 285 cancers recorded from 232 cases. A diverse spectrum of tumors, including colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, stomach cancer, and ovary cancer, was observed. Patients with genetic alterations were more closely associated with a family history of cancers, double primary cancers, and the development of secondary neoplasms than patients without genetic alterations (P < 0.0001, P=0.0052, and P=0.0010, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We report the distribution of pathogenic variants in MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6, as well as the tumor spectrum, in a large sample of Korean patients with LS. Genetic testing could be an effective stratification strategy for surveillance of LS. This study sheds light on the genetic features of Asian patients with LS.

Clinical and genetic diagnosis in a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia family / 中南大学学报(医学版)

Objective:To investigate the clinical features and feasibility genetic diagnosis in a hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) family,and to explore the application of gene mutation testing in HHT diagnosis.Methods:Medical histories and clinical features of a family were analyzed to diagnose HHT patients and suspected individuals according to the clinical diagnostic criteria.Sequence analysis of endoglin (ENG) and activin A receptor like type 1 (ACVRL1) gene in the proband was performed with PCR and Sanger sequencing technology.After the possible pathogenic mutation was identified in the proband,the specific mutation was detected in the suspected individuals and part of other family members.Then the genetic diagnoses were concluded.Results:There were 5 family members in 4 generations manifested with epistaxis.According to the clinical diagnosis criteria,the proband with epistaxis,mucocutaneous telangiectases,visceral arteriovenous malformation and family history was diagnosed as HHT;while 2 survival family members with epistaxis and family history were suspected individuals.A substitution mutation in the 5'-untranslated region(5'-UTR) of ENG c.1-127 C＞T was detected in the proband and the 2 suspected individuals,which did not exist in other family members.Based on the clinical and genetic findings,the 2 clinically suspected individuals were diagnosed as HHT.Conclusion:There is great variability of the clinical manifestations among HHT patients.ENG c.1127 C＞T mutation is the possible pathogenic variant of the HHT family.A combination of clinical and genetic diagnosis could improve the diagnosis and treatment of HHT.

Molecular Characterization of a Highly Pathogenetic Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Variant in Hubei, China / 中国病毒学·英文版

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has been recognized as one of the most important pathogens of pigs throughout the world. In 2006, more than 10 provinces of China have experienced an epizootic outbreak of pig diseases characterized by high fever, reddened skin and high morbidity and mortality. From June 2006 to April 2007, we have investigated some clinical samples in Hubei province by RT-PCR and cloned several major genes, N, GP5 and NSP2 gene, shown in this study. Phylogenetic analysis of these genes revealed that the highly pathogenic PRRSV variant, ZB, was responsible for 2006 emergent outbreak of pig disease in Hubei province similar with those variants isolated from other provinces in China in 2006, and belongs to the NA-type PRRSV. In the PRRSV variants, the N and GP5 shear about 90% identity with prototypic ATCC VR-2332 and some typical NA-type Chinese isolates, except the 2850bp NSP2 gene (only shares 65% identity with ATCC VR-2332). But they all shear more than and 97% identity with other highly pathogenetic Chinese PRRSV strains. Additionally, there are extensive amino acid (aa) mutations in the GP5 protein and 2 deletions in the Nsp2 protein when compared with the previous isolates. Most of the variants found in 2006 epizootic outbreak of pig diseases in China were the farthest variants from the typical NA-type PRRSV in phylogenetic distance, and these diversities may be responsible for the differences in the pathogenicity observed between these variants and original Chinese PRRSV strains.