Mutation analysis of GJB2 and GJB6 genes in Southeastern Brazilians with hereditary nonsyndromic deafness.

In developed countries deafness has a genetic cause in over 60% of the cases. Contrastingly, in Brazil, it is estimated that only 16% of all deafnesses are caused by genetic factors. Among hereditary hearing deficiencies, approximately half is caused by mutations in the Gap Junction Protein Beta-2 (GJB2) gene, which encodes the protein Connexin 26 (Cx26). There are four mutations in this gene that present high prevalence in specific ethnical groups, namely, 35delG, 167delT, 235delC, and W24X. The 35delG mutation is the most frequent one, occurring in homozygosity or in compound heterozygosity with mutations in the GJB2 and GJB6 genes. This study aims to determine the prevalence of GJB2-35delG, GJB2-167delT, GJB2-235delC, GJB2-W24X, del (GJB6-D13S1830), and del (GJB6-D13S1854) mutations in patients with nonsyndromic deafness in the Espirito Santo State, Brazil. A total of 77 individuals were evaluated, from which 88.3% presented normal genotypes for all analyzed mutations, 1.3% were compound heterozygotes for 35delG-GJB2/D13S1830-GJB6, 1.3% were compound heterozygotes for 35delG/D13S1854-GJB6, 3.9% were homozygotes for the 35delG mutation and 5.2% were heterozygotes for 35delG/GJB2. The frequency of mutant alleles 35delG/GJB2, del (D13S1830/GJB6), and del (D13S1854/GJB6) was 7.8, 0.65, and 0.65%, respectively. Mutations 167delT, 235delC, and W24X were not detected. Determining the prevalence of specific mutations related to inherited deafness in a population can contribute to the development of more efficient and affordable molecular diagnostic protocols, and help in the genetic counseling of patients and their families.

Prevalence of 35delG/GJB2 and del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutations in patients with non-syndromic deafness from a population of Espírito Santo-Brazil.

UNLABELLED: Mutations in GJB2 gene are the leading cause of deafness in autosomal recessive inheritance, and the 35delG mutation is the most common in many ethnic groups. Besides the 35delG mutation in homozygosis, the mutation is also found in compound heterozygosis, coupled with other mutations in genes GJB2 and GJB6. AIM: To determine the prevalence of 35delG/GJB2 and del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutations in patients with sensorineural hearing impairment in residents from the Espirito Santo state, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 77 unrelated individuals with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated. The 35delG mutation was studied by PCR / RFLP; and the del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutation was screened by the technique of multiplex PCR. RESULTS: 88.3% had normal genotype for the studied mutations, 1.3% were compound heterozygotes, 3.9% homozygotic for the 35delG mutation, 6.5% heterozygotic for 35delG/GJB2. The frequency of 35delG/GJB2 and del (D13S1830/GJB6) alleles in the sample was 7.8% and 0.65%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The data confirmed the existence of the mutations studied in cases of sensorineural hearing loss in a population from Espírito Santo / Brazil. These findings reinforce the importance of genetic diagnosis, which can provide early treatment for children and genetic counseling for the affected families.

Prevalências das mutações 35delG/GJB2 e del (GJB6-D13S1830) em portadores de surdez não-sindrômica na população do Espírito Santo - Brasil / Prevalence of 35delG/GJB2 and del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutations in patients with non-syndromic deafness from a population of Espírito Santo - Brazil

Mutações no gene GJB2 constituem a principal causa de surdez genética de herança autossômica recessiva, sendo a mutação 35delG a mais comum em muitos grupos étnicos. Além da mutação 35delG em homozigose, a mutação também é encontrada em heterozigose composta, associada com outras mutações nos genes GJB2 ou GJB6. OBJETIVOS: Determinar a prevalência das mutações 35delG/GJB2 e del (GJB6-D13S1830) em portadores de deficiência auditiva neurossensorial, residentes no estado do Espírito Santo (Brasil). MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 77 indivíduos não relacionados, com perda auditiva neurossensorial de moderada a profunda. A mutação 35delG foi estudada através da técnica de PCR/RFLP e a mutação del (GJB6-D13S1830) foi rastreada por meio da técnica de PCR multiplex. RESULTADOS: 88,3 por cento apresentaram genótipo normal para as mutações estudadas, 1,3 por cento foram heterozigotos compostos, 3,9 por cento homozigotos para a mutação 35delG, 6,5 por cento heterozigotos para 35delG/GJB2. A frequência do alelo 35delG/GJB2 e do alelo del (D13S1830/GJB6) na amostra foi de 7,8 por cento e 0,65 por cento, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados obtidos confirmaram a existência das mutações estudadas em casos de perda auditiva neurossensorial na população do Espírito Santo/Brasil. Esses achados reforçam a importância do diagnóstico genético, que pode propiciar um tratamento precoce para crianças e aconselhamento genético para as famílias dos afetados.

Mutations in GJB2 gene are the leading cause of deafness in autosomal recessive inheritance, and the 35delG mutation is the most common in many ethnic groups. Besides the 35delG mutation in homozygosis, the mutation is also found in compound heterozygosis, coupled with other mutations in genes GJB2 and GJB6. AIM: To determine the prevalence of 35delG/GJB2 and del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutations in patients with sensorineural hearing impairment in residents from the Espirito Santo state, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 77 unrelated individuals with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss were evaluated. The 35delG mutation was studied by PCR / RFLP; and the del (GJB6-D13S1830) mutation was screened by the technique of multiplex PCR. RESULTS: 88.3 percent had normal genotype for the studied mutations, 1.3 percent were compound heterozygotes, 3.9 percent homozygotic for the 35delG mutation, 6.5 percent heterozygotic for 35delG/GJB2. The frequency of 35delG/GJB2 and del (D13S1830/GJB6) alleles in the sample was 7.8 percent and 0.65 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: The data confirmed the existence of the mutations studied in cases of sensorineural hearing loss in a population from Espírito Santo / Brazil. These findings reinforce the importance of genetic diagnosis, which can provide early treatment for children and genetic counseling for the affected families.