Mutations identified in a cohort of Mexican patients with lysosomal acid lipase deficiency.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the LIPA gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 10 (10q23.31). Up until now, more than 59 mutations have been described and which are the cause of a very wide clinical spectrum. The goal of this study was to identify the mutations present in Mexican pediatric patients with a diagnosis of LAL-D. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out which included all the pediatric patients with LAL-D treated in a tertiary hospital in Mexico from January 2000 to June 2017. RESULTS: Sixteen patients with LAL-D were identified with a disease phenotype marked by the accumulation of cholesteryl esters. Eight distinct variants in the LIPA gene sequence were found, four pathogenic variants and four probably pathogenic. In six individuals, the variants were found in the homozygous state and ten were compound heterozygous. The eight variants were inverted, with five found on exon 4 and the others on exons 2, 8 and 10. The variant c.386A>G;p.His129Arg was the most common, being found in six of the 16 individuals (37.5%), making it much more frequent than what had previously been reported in the literature in proportion to the rest of the variants. The mutation known as E8SJM, which has been the mostly frequently found at the international level, was not the most common among this group of Mexican patients. In conclusion, Mexican patients present a different frequency of mutations associated with LAL-D in comparison to European populations.

A Novel c.91dupG JAG1 Gene Mutation Is Associated with Early Onset and Severe Alagille Syndrome.

Alagille syndrome (MIM 118450) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by paucity of intrahepatic bile ducts, chronic cholestasis, pulmonary stenosis, butterfly-like vertebrae, posterior embryotoxon, and dysmorphic facial features. Most cases are caused by JAG1 gene mutations. We report the case of a 2-year-old Mexican mestizo patient with Alagille syndrome, having exhibited jaundice and cholestatic syndrome as of three weeks of age. Sequencing analysis of the JAG1 gene revealed the novel heterozygous mutation c.91dupG that originates a truncated protein and therefore a possibly diminished activation of the Notch signaling pathway. The latter may explain the severe phenotype of the patient. Since the mutation was not identified in the parents, it was considered a de novo event, highlighting the importance of molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling. In conclusion, this report widens the spectrum of JAG1 gene mutations associated with Alagille syndrome.

Nance-Horan syndrome in females due to a balanced X;1 translocation that disrupts the NHS gene: Familial case report and review of the literature.

The Nance-Horan syndrome is an X-linked disorder characterized by congenital cataract, facial features, microcornea, microphthalmia, and dental anomalies; most of the cases are due to NHS gene mutations on Xp22.13. Heterozygous carrier females generally present less severe features, and up to 30% of the affected males have intellectual disability. We describe two patients, mother and daughter, manifesting Nance-Horan syndrome. The cytogenetic and molecular analyses demonstrated a 46,X,t(X;1)(p22.13;q22) karyotype in each of them. No copy-number genomic imbalances were detected by high-density microarray analysis. The mother had a preferential inactivation of the normal X chromosome; expression analysis did not detect any mRNA isoform of NHS. This is the first report of Nance-Horan syndrome due to a skewed X chromosome inactivation resulting from a balanced translocation t(X;1) that disrupts the NHS gene expression, with important implications for clinical presentation and genetic counseling.

Velocardiofacial syndrome in Mexican patients: Unusually high prevalence of congenital heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome with an incidence of 1:4000 live births. Its phenotype is highly variable with facial, velopharyngeal, cardiac, endocrine, immunologic and psychiatric abnormalities. It is caused by a microdeletion in chromosome 22q11.2. OBJECTIVES: We present 7 years of experience evaluating patients with VCFS regarding their main clinical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients included were multidisciplinary evaluated and had a positive FISH analysis for del22q11.2. RESULTS: A total of 62 patients were assessed, a 34 female/28 male ratio was observed with ages ranging from 9 days to 16 years, all but one patient had typical facial features. A diagnosis of congenital heart disease was established in 97% of the patients; other clinical characteristics were identified with different percentages such as cleft palate, and hypocalcaemia. Three cases had a familial presentation. DISCUSSION: While the clinical findings of this study were in general terms in keeping with the literature, it is interesting the unexpectedly high percentage of congenital heart disease identified in Mexican children with VCFS that also was the main cause for clinical referral.