Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Multiple Osteochondromas in A Cohort of Argentine Patients.

Multiple Osteochondromatosis (MO, MIM 133700 & 133701), an autosomal dominant O-glycosylation disorder (EXT1/EXT2-CDG), can be associated with a reduction in skeletal growth, bony deformity, restricted joint motion, shortened stature and pathogenic variants in two tumor suppressor genes, EXT1 and EXT2. In this work, we report a cross-sectional study including 35 index patients and 20 affected family members. Clinical phenotyping of all 55 affected cases was obtained, but genetic studies were performed only in 35 indexes. Of these, a total of 40% (n = 14) had a family history of MO. Clinical severity scores were class I in 34% (n:18), class II in 24.5% (n:13) and class III in 41.5% (n:22). Pathogenic variants were identified in 83% (29/35) probands. We detected 18 (62%) in EXT1 and 11 (38%) in EXT2. Patients with EXT1 variants showed a height z-score of 1.03 SD lower than those with EXT2 variants and greater clinical severity (II-III vs. I). Interestingly, three patients showed intellectual impairment, two patients showed a dual diagnosis, one Turner Syndrome and one hypochondroplasia. This study improves knowledge of MO, reporting new pathogenic variants and forwarding the worldwide collaboration necessary to promote the inclusion of patients into future biologically based therapeutics.

COG1-congenital disorders of glycosylation: Milder presentation and review.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a heterogeneous group of genetic defects in glycoprotein and glycolipid glycan synthesis and attachment. A CDG subgroup are defects in the conserved oligomeric Golgi complex encoded by eight genes, COG1-COG8. Pathogenic variants in all genes except the COG3 gene have been reported. COG1-CDG has been reported in five patients. We report a male with neonatal seizures, dysmorphism, hepatitis and a type 2 serum transferrin isoelectrofocusing. Exome sequencing identified a homozygous COG1 variant (NM_018714.3: c.2665dup: p.[Arg889Profs*12]), which has been reported previously in one patient. We review the reported patients.

Mass spectrometry glycophenotype characterization of ALG2-CDG in Argentinean patients with a new genetic variant in homozygosis.

Human ALG2 encodes an α 1,3mannosyltransferase that catalyzes the first steps in the synthesis of N-glycans in the endoplasmic reticulum. Variants in ALG2cause a congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) known as ALG2-CDG. Up to date, nine ALG2-CDG patients have been reported worldwide. ALG2-CDG is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder characterized by neurological involvement, convulsive syndrome of unknown origin, axial hypotonia, and mental and motor regression. In this study, we used MALDI-TOF MS to define both total serum protein and transferrin (Tf) N-glycan phenotypes in three ALG2-CDG patients carrying a c.752G > T, p.Arg251Leu ALG2 missense variant in homozygous state, as determined by exome sequencing. Comparing it to control samples, we have observed Tf under-occupancy of glycosylation site(s) typical of a defective N-glycan assembly and the occurrence of oligomannose and hybrid type N-glycans. Moreover, we have observed a slight oligomannose accumulation in total serum glyco-profiles. The increased heterogeneity of serum N-glycome in the studied patients suggests a marginal disarrangement of the glycan processing in ALG2-CDG. Previous studies reported on slightly increased concentrations of abnormal serum N-glycans in CDG-I due to defects in the mannosylation steps of dolichol-linked oligosaccharide biosynthesis. This preliminary work aims at considering serum N-glycan accumulation of high mannosylated glycoforms, such as oligomannose and hybrid type N-glycans, as potential diagnostic signals for ALG2-CDG patients.

Predominant and novel de novo variants in 29 individuals with ALG13 deficiency: Clinical description, biomarker status, biochemical analysis, and treatment suggestions.

Asparagine-linked glycosylation 13 homolog (ALG13) encodes a nonredundant, highly conserved, X-linked uridine diphosphate (UDP)-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase required for the synthesis of lipid linked oligosaccharide precursor and proper N-linked glycosylation. De novo variants in ALG13 underlie a form of early infantile epileptic encephalopathy known as EIEE36, but given its essential role in glycosylation, it is also considered a congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG), ALG13-CDG. Twenty-four previously reported ALG13-CDG cases had de novo variants, but surprisingly, unlike most forms of CDG, ALG13-CDG did not show the anticipated glycosylation defects, typically detected by altered transferrin glycosylation. Structural homology modeling of two recurrent de novo variants, p.A81T and p.N107S, suggests both are likely to impact the function of ALG13. Using a corresponding ALG13-deficient yeast strain, we show that expressing yeast ALG13 with either of the highly conserved hotspot variants rescues the observed growth defect, but not its glycosylation abnormality. We present molecular and clinical data on 29 previously unreported individuals with de novo variants in ALG13. This more than doubles the number of known cases. A key finding is that a vast majority of the individuals presents with West syndrome, a feature shared with other CDG types. Among these, the initial epileptic spasms best responded to adrenocorticotropic hormone or prednisolone, while clobazam and felbamate showed promise for continued epilepsy treatment. A ketogenic diet seems to play an important role in the treatment of these individuals.

Ten years of screening for congenital disorders of glycosylation in Argentina: case studies and pitfalls.

BACKGROUND: Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG) are genetic diseases caused by hypoglycosylation of glycoproteins and glycolipids. Most CDG are multisystem disorders with mild to severe involvement. METHODS: We studied 554 patients (2007-2017) with a clinical phenotype compatible with a CDG. Screening was performed by serum transferrin isoelectric focusing. The diagnosis was confirmed by genetic testing (Sanger or exome sequencing). RESULTS: A confirmed abnormal pattern was found in nine patients. Seven patients showed a type 1 pattern: four with PMM2-CDG, two with ALG2-CDG, and one with classical galactosemia. A type 2 pattern was found in two patients: one with a CDG-IIx and one with a transferrin protein variant. Abnormal transferrin pattern were observed in a patient with a myopathy due to a COL6A2 gene variant. CONCLUSIONS: CDG screening in Argentina from 2007 to 2017 revealed 4 PMM2-CDG patients, 2 ALG2-CDG patients with a novel homozygous gene variant and 1 CDG-IIx.

Encephalopathy caused by novel mutations in the CMP-sialic acid transporter, SLC35A1.

Transport of activated nucleotide-sugars into the Golgi is critical for proper glycosylation and mutations in these transporters cause a group of rare genetic disorders termed congenital disorders of glycosylation. We performed exome sequencing on an individual with a profound neurological presentation and identified rare compound heterozygous mutations, p.Thr156Arg and p.Glu196Lys, in the CMP-sialic acid transporter, SLC35A1. Patient primary fibroblasts and serum showed a considerable decrease in the amount of N- and O-glycans terminating in sialic acid. Direct measurement of CMP-sialic acid transport into the Golgi showed a substantial decrease in overall rate of transport. Here we report the identification of the third patient with CMP-sialic acid transporter deficiency, who presented with severe neurological phenotype, but without hematological abnormalities.

Alelo doble mutante en el gen EXT1 no informado previamente en una adolescente con exostosis múltiple hereditaria / Double mutant alleles in the EXT1 gene not previously reported in a teenager with hereditary multiple exostoses

Las formas hereditarias de exostosis múltiple, actualmente denominada EXT1 / EXT2-CDG dentro de los desórdenes congénitos de la glicosilación, son los tumores óseos benignos más comunes y se caracterizan por la formación de lesiones óseas cubiertas de cartílago, localizadas en yuxtaposición a epífisis de huesos largos, aunque, en los casos graves, pueden presentar una amplia distribución. El inicio es variable desde los 2-3 años hasta los 13-15 y presenta una incidencia estimada que va de 1/18 000 a 1/50 000 casos en los países europeos. Se presenta el caso de un doble alelo mutante en el gen EXT1 no informado previamente en una adolescente y su familia con exostosis múltiple hereditaria.

Hereditary forms of multiple exostoses, now called EXT1/EXT2-CDG within Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, are the most common benign bone tumors in humans and clinical description consists of the formation of several cartilage-capped bone tumors, usually benign and localized in the juxta-epiphyseal region of long bones, although wide body dissemination in severe cases is not uncommon. Onset of the Alelo doble mutante en el gen EXT1 no informado previamente en una adolescente con exostosis múltiple hereditariaDouble mutant alleles in the EXT1 gene not previously reported in a teenager with hereditary multiple exostosesdisease is variable ranging from 2-3 years up to 13-15 years with an estimated incidence ranging from 1/18 000 to 1/50 000 cases in European countries. We present a double mutant alleles in the EXT1 gene not previously reported in a teenager and her family with hereditary multiple exostoses

[Double mutant alleles in the EXT1 gene not previously reported in a teenager with hereditary multiple exostoses]. / Alelo doble mutante en el gen EXT1 no informado previamente en una adolescente con exostosis múltiple hereditaria.

Hereditary forms of multiple exostoses, now called EXT1/EXT2-CDG within Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, are the most common benign bone tumors in humans and clinical description consists of the formation of several cartilage-capped bone tumors, usually benign and localized in the juxta-epiphyseal region of long bones, although wide body dissemination in severe cases is not uncommon. Onset of the disease is variable ranging from 2-3 years up to 13-15 years with an estimated incidence ranging from 1/18,000 to 1/50,000 cases in European countries. We present a double mutant alleles in the EXT1 gene not previously reported in a teenager and her family with hereditary multiple exostoses.

MAN1B1 deficiency: an unexpected CDG-II.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDG) are a group of rare metabolic diseases, due to impaired protein and lipid glycosylation. In the present study, exome sequencing was used to identify MAN1B1 as the culprit gene in an unsolved CDG-II patient. Subsequently, 6 additional cases with MAN1B1-CDG were found. All individuals presented slight facial dysmorphism, psychomotor retardation and truncal obesity. Generally, MAN1B1 is believed to be an ER resident alpha-1,2-mannosidase acting as a key factor in glycoprotein quality control by targeting misfolded proteins for ER-associated degradation (ERAD). However, recent studies indicated a Golgi localization of the endogenous MAN1B1, suggesting a more complex role for MAN1B1 in quality control. We were able to confirm that MAN1B1 is indeed localized to the Golgi complex instead of the ER. Furthermore, we observed an altered Golgi morphology in all patients' cells, with marked dilatation and fragmentation. We hypothesize that part of the phenotype is associated to this Golgi disruption. In conclusion, we linked mutations in MAN1B1 to a Golgi glycosylation disorder. Additionally, our results support the recent findings on MAN1B1 localization. However, more work is needed to pinpoint the exact function of MAN1B1 in glycoprotein quality control, and to understand the pathophysiology of its deficiency.

Identification and functional analyses of CBS alleles in Spanish and Argentinian homocystinuric patients.

Homocystinuria due to CBS deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by elevated plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and methionine (Met). Here we present the analysis of 22 unrelated patients of different geographical origins, mainly Spanish and Argentinian. Twenty-two different mutations were found, 10 of which were novel. Five new mutations were missense and five were deletions of different sizes, including a 794-bp deletion (c.532-37_736 + 438del794) detected by Southern blot analysis. To assess the pathogenicity of these mutations, seven were expressed heterologously in Escherichia coli and their enzyme activities were assayed in vitro, in the absence and presence of the CBS activators PLP and SAM. The presence of the mutant proteins was confirmed by Western blotting. Mutations p.M173del, p.I278S, p.D281N, and p.D321V showed null activity in all conditions tested, whereas mutations p.49L, p.P200L and p.A446S retained different degrees of activity and response to stimulation. Finally, a minigene strategy allowed us to demonstrate the pathogenicity of an 8-bp intronic deletion, which led to the skipping of exon 6. In general, frameshifting deletions correlated with a more severe phenotype, consistent with the concept that missense mutations may recover enzymatic activity under certain conditions.

Multiple osteochondromas: mutation update and description of the multiple osteochondromas mutation database (MOdb).

Multiple osteochondromas (MO) is an autosomal dominant skeletal disease characterized by the formation of multiple cartilage-capped bone tumors growing outward from the metaphyses of long tubular bones. MO is genetically heterogeneous, and is associated with mutations in Exostosin-1 (EXT1) or Exostosin-2 (EXT2), both tumor-suppressor genes of the EXT gene family. All members of this multigene family encode glycosyltransferases involved in the adhesion and/or polymerization of heparin sulfate (HS) chains at HS proteoglycans (HSPGs). HSPGs have been shown to play a role in the diffusion of Ihh, thereby regulating chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. EXT1 is located at 8q24.11-q24.13, and comprises 11 exons, whereas the 16 exon EXT2 is located at 11p12-p11. To date, an EXT1 or EXT2 mutation is detected in 70-95% of affected individuals. EXT1 mutations are detected in +/-65% of cases, versus +/-35% EXT2 mutations in MO patient cohorts. Inactivating mutations (nonsense, frame shift, and splice-site mutations) represent the majority of MO causing mutations (75-80%). In this article, the clinical aspects and molecular genetics of EXT1 and EXT2 are reviewed together with 895 variants in MO patients. An overview of the reported variants is provided by the online Multiple Osteochondromas Mutation Database (http://medgen.ua.ac.be/LOVD).

A CBS haplotype and a polymorphism at the MSR gene are associated with cardiovascular disease in a Spanish case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of polymorphisms present in genes related to homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism with coronary artery disease (CAD). DESIGN AND METHODS: We examined 8 polymorphisms in the cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS), glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII), methionine synthase (MS), methionine synthase reductase (MSR) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes in 140 CAD patients and 113 controls, by means of Chi-square, logistic regression, ANOVA and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The c.66 G allele of MSR conferred an odds-ratio for CAD of 1.76 (95% CI 1.12-2.77), while a CBS haplotype [c.699C-c.844wt-c.1080C] was found over-represented in CAD [OR of 2.16 (1.29-3.63)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results not only highlight the involvement of the MSR and CBS genes in the etiology of cardiovascular disease, but also emphasize the strength of haplotype analyses in association studies.

Erratum to: The p.T191M mutation of the CBS gene is highly prevalent among homocystinuric patients from Spain, Portugal and South America.

In this article, one of the novel mutations, c.208_209+ 8del10, was incorrectly given as c.69_70+8del10. It corresponds to patient 64 in Table 4.

The p.T191M mutation of the CBS gene is highly prevalent among homocystinuric patients from Spain, Portugal and South America.

Classical homocystinuria is due to cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency. More than 130 mutations, which differ in prevalence and severity, have been described at the CBS gene. Mutation p.I278T is very prevalent, has been found in all European countries where it has been looked for with the exception of the Iberian peninsula, and is known to respond to vitamin B6. On the other hand, mutation p.T191M is prevalent in Spain and Portugal and does not respond to B6. We analysed 30 pedigrees from Spain, Portugal, Colombia and Argentina, segregating for homocystinuria. The p.T191M mutation was detected in patients from all four countries and was particularly prevalent in Colombia. The number of p.T191M alleles described in this study, together with those previously published, is 71. The prevalence of p.T191M among CBS mutant alleles in the different countries was: 0.75 in Colombia, 0.52 in Spain, 0.33 in Portugal, 0.25 in Venezuela, 0.20 in Argentina and 0.14 in Brazil. Haplotype analyses suggested a double origin for this mutation. No genotype-phenotype correlation other than the B6-nonresponsiveness could be established for the p.T191M mutation. Additionally, three new mutations, p.M173V, p.I429del and c.69_70+8del10, were found. The p.M173V was associated with a mild, B6-responsive, phenotype.

Functional assays testing pathogenicity of 14 cystathionine-beta synthase mutations.

In this study, 14 CBS alleles from homocystinuric patients were expressed heterologously in E. coli and their enzyme activities were assayed in vitro. Additionally, mutant CBS proteins were visualized by Western blot from denaturing and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gels. The 14 mutations characterized were: p.R125W (c.373C>T), p.G148R (c.442G>A), p.M173V (c.517A>G), p.T191M (c.572C>T), p.A226T (c.676G>A), p.C275Y (c.824G>A), p.R336C (c.1006C>T), p.R336H (c.1007G>A), p.L338P (c.1013T>C), p.S349N (c.1046G>A), p.R379Q (c.1136G>A), p.L456P (c.1367T>C), p.G522fsX540 (c.1566delG), and p.R548Q (c.1643G>A). Eleven of the mutant alleles exhibited an activity lower than 4% of the wild-type protein. In contrast, mutations p.A226T and p.M173V presented 20% and 40% of the wild-type activity, respectively, whereas the activity of p.R548Q was up to 60% of the wild-type. This suggests that it is a new rare variant rather than a pathogenic mutation. Most of the mutated proteins exhibited a decreased signal in Western blot analyses. The non-denaturing PAGE revealed that the wild-type protein retained the capacity to form a multimeric quaternary structure, whereas in the mutations p.M173V, p.A226T, and p.G548Q, this structure grade was dramatically reduced and was completely absent in the rest of the mutations.

Regulation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate bound to the bovine cardiac Na+/Ca2+ exchanger.

Western blot and cross immunoprecipitation analysis with specific antibodies demonstrate that in bovine heart sarcolemmal vesicles phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate (PtdIns-4,5-P(2)) binds strongly to the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX1). This binding is modulated by ATP, Ca(2+), vanadate, exchanger inhibitory peptide (XIP), and PLC-PtdIns specific in a way resembling the ATP regulation of the exchange fluxes. With 1 microM Ca(2+), 3 mM Mg(2+), and 0.4 mM vanadate, 1 mM ATP increased about twofold the bound PtdIns-4,5-P(2), reaching a steady state in 3-5 s at 37 degrees C. With 100 microM Ca(2+), ATP had no effect on the PtdIns-4,5-P(2) bound to NCX1 or on the exchange fluxes. Without vanadate the bound PtdIns-4,5-P(2) was largely reduced; under this condition ATP failed to increase it and did not stimulate the exchanger. XIP inhibits the exchanger, more noticeable in the absence of ATP. With XIP, ATP does not modify the levels of bound PtdIns-4,5-P(2); however there is a small but distinct ATP stimulation of the exchanger. Vesicles pretreated with PtdIns-PLC, showed no de novo, [(32)P]ATP-induced, production of PtdIns-4,5-P(2), but some ATP-stimulated increase in the bound PtdIns-4,5-P(2) was detected; however, that increase did not exceed the levels found with vanadate and no ATP. These results indicate that in bovine heart sarcolemmal vesicles, ATP upregulation of NCX1 is related to PtdIns-4,5-P(2) bound to the exchanger, perhaps over a "threshold" or "unspecific" amount. In addition, vanadate could influence the amount of detected PtdIns-4,5-P(2) either by inhibiting phosphoinositide-specific phosphatases and/or by inducing a redistribution of PtdIns-4,5-P(2) molecules associated with the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger.

MgATP and phosphoinositides activate Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange in bovine brain vesicles. Comparison with other Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers.

We investigated the metabolic modulation of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger in membrane vesicles obtained from bovine brain. The Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger was activated by MgATP with a K(0.5) of 336 micro M. Unlike the squid nerve Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger, this effect required no cytosolic component. Also, stimulation is the same in vesicles prepared and/or assayed at the ionic strength found in mammals (160 mM) or marine animals (300 mM). Other differences between squid and bovine nerve are that the bovine brain Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger is not stimulated by phosphagens, either phosphoarginine (molluscan source) or phosphocreatine (mammalian source); and that stimulation by MgATP in bovine brain is related to the production of polyphosphatidylinositides. In this regard bovine heart and brain Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers behave similarly. These results indicate that the mechanisms of metabolic regulation of the squid and mammalian nerve Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers are not alike and represent differences between species. Some differences found between bovine heart and brain exchangers, such as MgATP stimulation even at saturating [Ca(2+)] and the smaller degree of activation by adenosine 5'- O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (ATP-gamma-S) in the brain, may be related to the unequal isoform population in both tissues.