RESUMO
We assembled genome-wide data from 16 prehistoric Africans. We show that the anciently divergent lineage that comprises the primary ancestry of the southern African San had a wider distribution in the past, contributing approximately two-thirds of the ancestry of Malawi hunter-gatherers â¼8,100-2,500 years ago and approximately one-third of the ancestry of Tanzanian hunter-gatherers â¼1,400 years ago. We document how the spread of farmers from western Africa involved complete replacement of local hunter-gatherers in some regions, and we track the spread of herders by showing that the population of a â¼3,100-year-old pastoralist from Tanzania contributed ancestry to people from northeastern to southern Africa, including a â¼1,200-year-old southern African pastoralist. The deepest diversifications of African lineages were complex, involving either repeated gene flow among geographically disparate groups or a lineage more deeply diverging than that of the San contributing more to some western African populations than to others. We finally leverage ancient genomes to document episodes of natural selection in southern African populations. PAPERCLIP.
Assuntos
População Negra/genética , Genoma Humano , África , Osso e Ossos/química , DNA Antigo/análise , Feminino , Fósseis , Genética Médica , Genética Populacional , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Humanos , Estilo de Vida , MasculinoRESUMO
African populations are the most diverse in the world yet are sorely underrepresented in medical genetics research. Here, we examine the structure of African populations using genetic and comprehensive multi-generational ethnolinguistic data from the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Populations-Psychosis study (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) consisting of 900 individuals from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. We find that self-reported language classifications meaningfully tag underlying genetic variation that would be missed with consideration of geography alone, highlighting the importance of culture in shaping genetic diversity. Leveraging our uniquely rich multi-generational ethnolinguistic metadata, we track language transmission through the pedigree, observing the disappearance of several languages in our cohort as well as notable shifts in frequency over three generations. We find suggestive evidence for the rate of language transmission in matrilineal groups having been higher than that for patrilineal ones. We highlight both the diversity of variation within Africa as well as how within-Africa variation can be informative for broader variant interpretation; many variants that are rare elsewhere are common in parts of Africa. The work presented here improves the understanding of the spectrum of genetic variation in African populations and highlights the enormous and complex genetic and ethnolinguistic diversity across Africa.
Assuntos
Variação Genética , Genética Populacional , África Austral , População Negra/genética , Estruturas Genéticas , Variação Genética/genética , HumanosRESUMO
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have benefited greatly from enhanced high-throughput technology in recent decades. GWAS meta-analysis has become increasingly popular to highlight the genetic architecture of complex traits, informing about the replicability and variability of effect estimations across human ancestries. A wealth of GWAS meta-analysis methodologies have been developed depending on the input data and the outcome information of interest. We present a survey of current approaches from SNP to pathway-based meta-analysis by acknowledging the range of resources and methodologies in the field, and we provide a comprehensive review of different categories of Genome-Wide Meta-analysis methods employed. These methods highlight different levels at which GWAS meta-analysis may be done, including Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, Genes and Pathways, for which we describe their framework outline. We also discuss the strengths and pitfalls of each approach and make suggestions regarding each of them.
Assuntos
Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Humanos , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla/métodos , Estudos de Associação Genética , Herança MultifatorialRESUMO
Genetic studies in underrepresented populations identify disproportionate numbers of novel associations. However, most genetic studies use genotyping arrays and sequenced reference panels that best capture variation most common in European ancestry populations. To compare data generation strategies best suited for underrepresented populations, we sequenced the whole genomes of 91 individuals to high coverage as part of the Neuropsychiatric Genetics of African Population-Psychosis (NeuroGAP-Psychosis) study with participants from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda. We used a downsampling approach to evaluate the quality of two cost-effective data generation strategies, GWAS arrays versus low-coverage sequencing, by calculating the concordance of imputed variants from these technologies with those from deep whole-genome sequencing data. We show that low-coverage sequencing at a depth of ≥4× captures variants of all frequencies more accurately than all commonly used GWAS arrays investigated and at a comparable cost. Lower depths of sequencing (0.5-1×) performed comparably to commonly used low-density GWAS arrays. Low-coverage sequencing is also sensitive to novel variation; 4× sequencing detects 45% of singletons and 95% of common variants identified in high-coverage African whole genomes. Low-coverage sequencing approaches surmount the problems induced by the ascertainment of common genotyping arrays, effectively identify novel variation particularly in underrepresented populations, and present opportunities to enhance variant discovery at a cost similar to traditional approaches.
Assuntos
Análise Mutacional de DNA/economia , Análise Mutacional de DNA/normas , Variação Genética/genética , Genética Populacional/economia , África , Análise Mutacional de DNA/métodos , Genética Populacional/métodos , Genoma Humano/genética , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Equidade em Saúde , Humanos , Microbiota , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/economia , Sequenciamento Completo do Genoma/normasRESUMO
Reaction time variability (RTV), reflecting fluctuations in response time on cognitive tasks, has been proposed as an endophenotype for many neuropsychiatric disorders. There have been no large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of RTV and little is known about its genetic underpinnings. Here, we used data from the UK Biobank to conduct a GWAS of RTV in participants of white British ancestry (n = 404,302) as well as a trans-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis (n = 44,873) to assess replication. We found 161 genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) distributed across 7 genomic loci in our discovery GWAS. Functional annotation of the variants implicated genes involved in synaptic function and neural development. The SNP-based heritability (h2SNP) estimate for RTV was 3%. We investigated genetic correlations between RTV and selected neuropsychological traits using linkage disequilibrium score regression, and found significant correlations with several traits, including a positive correlation with mean reaction time and schizophrenia. Despite the high genetic correlation between RTV and mean reaction time, we demonstrate distinctions in the genetic underpinnings of these traits. Lastly, we assessed the predictive ability of a polygenic score (PGS) for RTV, calculated using PRSice and PRS-CS, and found that the RTV-PGS significantly predicted RTV in independent cohorts, but that the generalisability to other ancestry groups was poor. These results identify genetic underpinnings of RTV, and support the use of RTV as an endophenotype for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Assuntos
Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Esquizofrenia , Humanos , Tempo de Reação/genética , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Esquizofrenia/genética , Herança Multifatorial/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único/genéticaRESUMO
Sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI) is a traumatic event for families, and unfortunately its occurrence remains high in many parts of the world. Whilst cause of death is resolved for most cases, others remain undetermined following postmortem investigations. There has been a recognition of the role of genetic testing in unexplained cases, where previous studies have demonstrated the resolution of cases through DNA analyses. Here we present two case reports of SUDI cases admitted to Salt River Mortuary, South Africa, and show that underlying causes of death were determined for both infants using clinical exome sequencing. The first infant was heterozygous for a variant (rs148175795) in COL6A3, which suggested a bronchopulmonary dysplasia phenotype. This hypothesis led to finding of a second candidate variant in DMP1 (rs142880465), which may contribute towards a digenic/polygenic mechanism of a more severe phenotype. Histological analysis of retained tissue sections showed an asphyxial mechanism of death, where bronchiolar muscle weakness from an underlying bronchopulmonary dysplasia may have contributed to the asphyxia by affecting respiration. In the second infant, a homozygous variant (rs201340753) was identified in MASP1, which was heterozygous in each parent, highlighting the value of including parental DNA in genetic studies. Whilst mannose-binding lectin deficiency could not be assessed, it is plausible that this variant may have acted in combination with other risk factors within the triple-risk model to result in sudden death. These results may have genetic implications for family members, and represent possible new candidate variants for molecular autopsies.
Assuntos
Displasia Broncopulmonar , Morte Súbita do Lactente , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Humanos , Causas de Morte , Displasia Broncopulmonar/complicações , Sequenciamento do Exoma , Morte Súbita do Lactente/epidemiologia , Asfixia/etiologia , DNARESUMO
The cause of autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP), which leads to loss of vision and blindness, was investigated in families lacking a molecular diagnosis. A refined locus for adRP on Chr17q22 (RP17) was delineated through genotyping and genome sequencing, leading to the identification of structural variants (SVs) that segregate with disease. Eight different complex SVs were characterized in 22 adRP-affected families with >300 affected individuals. All RP17 SVs had breakpoints within a genomic region spanning YPEL2 to LINC01476. To investigate the mechanism of disease, we reprogrammed fibroblasts from affected individuals and controls into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and differentiated them into photoreceptor precursor cells (PPCs) or retinal organoids (ROs). Hi-C was performed on ROs, and differential expression of regional genes and a retinal enhancer RNA at this locus was assessed by qPCR. The epigenetic landscape of the region, and Hi-C RO data, showed that YPEL2 sits within its own topologically associating domain (TAD), rich in enhancers with binding sites for retinal transcription factors. The Hi-C map of RP17 ROs revealed creation of a neo-TAD with ectopic contacts between GDPD1 and retinal enhancers, and modeling of all RP17 SVs was consistent with neo-TADs leading to ectopic retinal-specific enhancer-GDPD1 accessibility. qPCR confirmed increased expression of GDPD1 and increased expression of the retinal enhancer that enters the neo-TAD. Altered TAD structure resulting in increased retinal expression of GDPD1 is the likely convergent mechanism of disease, consistent with a dominant gain of function. Our study highlights the importance of SVs as a genomic mechanism in unsolved Mendelian diseases.
Assuntos
Cromossomos Humanos Par 17/química , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Diester Fosfórico Hidrolases/genética , Células Fotorreceptoras Retinianas Cones/metabolismo , Retinose Pigmentar/genética , Fatores de Transcrição/genética , Adulto , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Diferenciação Celular , Reprogramação Celular , Criança , Mapeamento Cromossômico , Estudos de Coortes , Elementos Facilitadores Genéticos , Feminino , Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fibroblastos/patologia , Expressão Gênica , Genes Dominantes , Genoma Humano , Humanos , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/metabolismo , Células-Tronco Pluripotentes Induzidas/patologia , Masculino , Proteínas Nucleares/metabolismo , Organoides/metabolismo , Organoides/patologia , Diester Fosfórico Hidrolases/metabolismo , Polimorfismo Genético , Cultura Primária de Células , Células Fotorreceptoras Retinianas Cones/patologia , Retinose Pigmentar/diagnóstico , Retinose Pigmentar/metabolismo , Retinose Pigmentar/patologia , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Sequenciamento Completo do GenomaRESUMO
AIM: Lynch Syndrome (LS) individuals have a 25-75% lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer. Colonoscopy screening decreases this risk. This study compared the cost of Strategy 1: screening colonoscopy for 1st degree relatives of patients that met the Revised Bethesda Criteria (i.e., probands) to Strategy 2: screening colonoscopy for 1st degree relatives of probands with genetic mutations for Lynch Syndrome based in a resource-constrained health care system. METHOD: A comparative, health care provider perspective, cost analysis was conducted at a tertiary hospital, using a micro-costing, ingredient approach. Forty probands that underwent genetic testing between November 01, 2014 and October 30, 2015 and their first-degree relatives were costed according to Strategy 1 and Strategy 2. Unit costs of colonoscopy and genetic testing were estimated and used to calculate and compare the total costs per strategy in South African rand (R) converted to UK pounds (£). Sensitivity analyses were performed on colonoscopy adherence, relatives' positivity, and variable discount rates. RESULTS: The cost for Strategy 1 amounted to £653 344/R6 161 035 compared to £49 327/R 465 155 for Strategy 2 (Discount rate 3%; Adherence 75%; and Positivity rate of relatives 45%). Base case analysis indicated a difference of 92% less in the total cost for Strategy 2 compared to Strategy 1. Sensitivity analyses showed that the difference in cost between the two strategies was not sensitive to variations in adherence, positivity or discount rates. CONCLUSION: Colonoscopy screening for LS and at-risk family members was tenfold less costly when combined with genetic analysis. The logistics of rolling out this strategy nationally should be investigated.
Assuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose , Neoplasias Colorretais , Humanos , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/genética , África do Sul , Centros de Atenção Terciária , Detecção Precoce de Câncer , Análise Custo-Benefício , Neoplasias Colorretais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Colorretais/epidemiologia , Neoplasias Colorretais/genética , Colonoscopia , Programas de RastreamentoRESUMO
PURPOSE: Sub-Saharan Africa bears the highest burden of epilepsy worldwide. A presumed proportion is genetic, but this etiology is buried under the burden of infections and perinatal insults in a setting of limited awareness and few options for testing. Children with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are most severely affected by this diagnostic gap in Africa, because the rate of actionable findings is highest in DEE-associated genes. METHODS: We tested 234 genetically naive South African children diagnosed with/possible DEE using gene panels, exome sequencing, and chromosomal microarray. Statistical comparison of electroclinical features in children with and children without candidate variants was performed to identify characteristics most likely predictive of a positive genetic finding. RESULTS: Of the 41 (of 234) children with likely/pathogenic variants, 26 had variants supporting precision therapy. Multivariate regression modeling highlighted neonatal or infantile-onset seizures and movement abnormalities as predictive of a positive genetic finding. We used this, coupled with an emphasis on precision medicine outcomes, to propose the pragmatic "Think-Genetics" strategy for early recognition of a possible genetic etiology. CONCLUSION: Our findings emphasize the importance of an early genetic diagnosis in DEE. We designed the Think-Genetics strategy for early recognition, appropriate interim management, and genetic testing for DEE in resource-constrained settings.
Assuntos
Epilepsia , Medicina de Precisão , Criança , Recém-Nascido , Humanos , Região de Recursos Limitados , Epilepsia/diagnóstico , Epilepsia/epidemiologia , Epilepsia/genética , Testes Genéticos , ÁfricaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Lynch syndrome is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and with a broader spectrum of cancers, especially endometrial cancer. In 2011, our group reported long-term cancer outcomes (mean follow-up 55·7 months [SD 31·4]) for participants with Lynch syndrome enrolled into a randomised trial of daily aspirin versus placebo. This report completes the planned 10-year follow-up to allow a longer-term assessment of the effect of taking regular aspirin in this high-risk population. METHODS: In the double-blind, randomised CAPP2 trial, 861 patients from 43 international centres worldwide (707 [82%] from Europe, 112 [13%] from Australasia, 38 [4%] from Africa, and four [<1%] from The Americas) with Lynch syndrome were randomly assigned to receive 600 mg aspirin daily or placebo. Cancer outcomes were monitored for at least 10 years from recruitment with English, Finnish, and Welsh participants being monitored for up to 20 years. The primary endpoint was development of colorectal cancer. Analysis was by intention to treat and per protocol. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN59521990. FINDINGS: Between January, 1999, and March, 2005, 937 eligible patients with Lynch syndrome, mean age 45 years, commenced treatment, of whom 861 agreed to be randomly assigned to the aspirin group or placebo; 427 (50%) participants received aspirin and 434 (50%) placebo. Participants were followed for a mean of 10 years approximating 8500 person-years. 40 (9%) of 427 participants who received aspirin developed colorectal cancer compared with 58 (13%) of 434 who received placebo. Intention-to-treat Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a significantly reduced hazard ratio (HR) of 0·65 (95% CI 0·43-0·97; p=0·035) for aspirin versus placebo. Negative binomial regression to account for multiple primary events gave an incidence rate ratio of 0·58 (0·39-0·87; p=0·0085). Per-protocol analyses restricted to 509 who achieved 2 years' intervention gave an HR of 0·56 (0·34-0·91; p=0·019) and an incidence rate ratio of 0·50 (0·31-0·82; p=0·0057). Non-colorectal Lynch syndrome cancers were reported in 36 participants who received aspirin and 36 participants who received placebo. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed no effect. For all Lynch syndrome cancers combined, the intention-to-treat analysis did not reach significance but per-protocol analysis showed significantly reduced overall risk for the aspirin group (HR=0·63, 0·43-0·92; p=0·018). Adverse events during the intervention phase between aspirin and placebo groups were similar, and no significant difference in compliance between intervention groups was observed for participants with complete intervention phase data; details reported previously. INTERPRETATION: The case for prevention of colorectal cancer with aspirin in Lynch syndrome is supported by our results. FUNDING: Cancer Research UK, European Union, MRC, NIHR, Bayer Pharma AG, Barbour Foundation.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/uso terapêutico , Aspirina/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/prevenção & controle , Anti-Inflamatórios não Esteroides/efeitos adversos , Aspirina/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/genética , Método Duplo-Cego , Seguimentos , Heterozigoto , Humanos , Análise de Intenção de Tratamento , Tábuas de Vida , Adesão à Medicação , Modelos de Riscos ProporcionaisRESUMO
More than two decades ago, a recessive syndromic phenotype affecting kidneys, eyes, and ears, was first described in the endogamous Afrikaner population of South Africa. Using whole-exome sequencing of DNA from two affected siblings (and their carrier parents), we identified the novel RRM2B c.786G>T variant as a plausible disease-causing mutation. The RRM2B gene is involved in mitochondrial integrity, and the observed change was not previously reported in any genomic database. The subsequent screening revealed the variant in two newly presenting unrelated patients, as well as two patients in our registry with rod-cone dystrophy, hearing loss, and Fanconi-type renal disease. All patients with the c.786G>T variant share an identical 1.5 Mb haplotype around this gene, suggesting a founder effect in the Afrikaner population. We present ultrastructural evidence of mitochondrial impairment in one patient, to support our thesis that this RRM2B variant is associated with the renal, ophthalmological, and auditory phenotype.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Ciclo Celular/genética , Distrofias de Cones e Bastonetes/genética , Perda Auditiva Neurossensorial/genética , Nefropatias/genética , Ribonucleotídeo Redutases/genética , Feminino , Efeito Fundador , Haplótipos , Humanos , Masculino , Linhagem , África do Sul , Sequenciamento do ExomaRESUMO
Purpose: Seven founder mutations in ABCA4 underlie a large proportion of Stargardt disease in the South African Caucasian population of Afrikaner descent. The Quick 7 assay was locally developed to test for these specific mutations and is available through the National Health Laboratory Service. However, in 2017 it was suggested that one of these mutations, c.2588G>C (p.Gly863Ala), is only pathogenic when present in cis with the c.5603A>T (p.Asn1868Ile) hypomorphic variant. Several patients and family members have been screened and have had their results delivered; thus, a retrospective analysis for the presence of c.5603A>T in all resolved ABCA4 cases was warranted. Methods: In this study, probands with biallelic mutations in ABCA4 and all families carrying the c.2588G>C variant were genotyped for c.5603A>T with restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Cosegregation analysis was performed to ascertain the phase of causative mutations. Results: The downgraded c.2588G>C variant was present in 26 families, of whom 24 (92.31%) also carried the hypomorphic variant (cis phase confirmation was possible in 12 families). Two families (7.69%) carried the downgraded variant without the hypomorphic variant; however, in these cases the second disease-causing variant had not been identified. These two families remained in research mode; therefore, family follow-up was not immediately required. Additionally, the hypomorphic variant occurred in cis with two of the other Quick 7 mutations. Conclusions: This study adds to the evidence of the pathogenicity downgrade of c.2588G>C, as it results in disease when in cis with c.5603A>T in this cohort. This work highlights the value of a close link between research and diagnostic laboratories, in keeping abreast of the functionality of variants. It is recommended that the Quick 7 assay be expanded to include c.5603A>T, and that only the complex c.[2588G>C;5603A>T] allele be reported as pathogenic. Confirmation of cis or trans configuration of alleles by the inclusion of familial samples is strongly recommended.
Assuntos
Transportadores de Cassetes de Ligação de ATP/genética , Doença de Stargardt/genética , Alelos , Estudos de Coortes , Família , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Genótipo , Humanos , Masculino , Mutação , Linhagem , Polimorfismo Genético , África do Sul , População BrancaRESUMO
Sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI) is a devastating event, and unfortunately is still a burden in many parts of the world, including in South Africa. Due to the absence of routine testing for inborn metabolic diseases in newborns and in a post-mortem context, little is known about the presence of metabolic diseases in local SUDI cases. The aim of this study was to genotype five candidate variants previously associated with metabolic disorders in a cohort of SUDI cases (n = 169) from Salt River Mortuary, Cape Town. DNA was isolated from blood, and SNaPshot® PCR and Sanger sequencing were used to genotype the following variants: ACADM: c.583G > A, ACADM: c.985A > G, GCDH: c.877G > A/T, GALT: c.404C > G/T and GALT: c.563A > G. Four carriers of GCDH: c.877G > A/T were identified, while one infant was homozygous for the founder mutation GALT: c.404C > G/T; the latter which is causative of galactosaemia and was previously undiagnosed. During the follow-up with the family, it emerged that the affected infant's identical twin had subsequently demised. The findings in this study highlight possible new candidate variants to assess in South African SUDI cases, and these results directly contribute to the development of a molecular autopsy which is locally relevant. It is evident that until newborn screening becomes routine and accessible in South Africa, molecular autopsies should include testing for inherited metabolic disorders, as it holds potential to save lives.
Assuntos
Acil-CoA Desidrogenase/genética , Glutaril-CoA Desidrogenase/genética , Erros Inatos do Metabolismo/diagnóstico , Erros Inatos do Metabolismo/epidemiologia , Erros Inatos do Metabolismo/genética , Epidemiologia Molecular , UTP-Hexose-1-Fosfato Uridililtransferase/genética , Acil-CoA Desidrogenase/deficiência , Adulto , DNA/isolamento & purificação , Feminino , Triagem de Portadores Genéticos , Loci Gênicos , Genótipo , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Erros Inatos do Metabolismo Lipídico/genética , Masculino , África do Sul/epidemiologia , Morte Súbita do Lactente/epidemiologiaRESUMO
There is a glaring disparity in the populations included in genetic research; the majority of work involves European-derived cohorts, while other global populations - including Africans - are underrepresented. This is also true for the study of inherited retinal diseases. Being the most ancient of extant populations, African samples carry more variation than others, making them valuable for novel gene and variant discovery. The inclusion of diverse populations in research is essential to gain a more comprehensive understanding of genetic variation and molecular mechanisms of disease.
Assuntos
Variação Genética , Doenças Retinianas/genética , População Negra/genética , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Genética Populacional , Humanos , Doenças Retinianas/etnologia , África do SulRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Many studies have identified changes in the brain associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but few have examined the relationship between genetic determinants of OCD and brain variation.AimsWe present the first genome-wide investigation of overlapping genetic risk for OCD and genetic influences on subcortical brain structures. METHOD: Using single nucleotide polymorphism effect concordance analysis, we measured genetic overlap between the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) of OCD (1465 participants with OCD, 5557 controls) and recent GWASs of eight subcortical brain volumes (13 171 participants). RESULTS: We found evidence of significant positive concordance between OCD risk variants and variants associated with greater nucleus accumbens and putamen volumes. When conditioning OCD risk variants on brain volume, variants influencing putamen, amygdala and thalamus volumes were associated with risk for OCD. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with current OCD neurocircuitry models. Further evidence will clarify the relationship between putamen volume and OCD risk, and the roles of the detected variants in this disorder.Declaration of interestThe authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Assuntos
Variação Genética , Núcleo Accumbens/fisiopatologia , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/genética , Putamen/fisiopatologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Feminino , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Estudo de Associação Genômica Ampla , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Transtorno Obsessivo-Compulsivo/patologia , Tamanho do Órgão , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo ÚnicoAssuntos
Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/genética , Neoplasias Colorretais Hereditárias sem Polipose/patologia , Reparo de Erro de Pareamento de DNA/genética , Heterozigoto , Humanos , Endonuclease PMS2 de Reparo de Erro de Pareamento/genética , Proteína 1 Homóloga a MutL/genética , Proteína 2 Homóloga a MutS/genética , Estudos ProspectivosRESUMO
PURPOSE: To identify the genetic cause of and describe the phenotype in 4 families with autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) that can be associated with pseudocoloboma. DESIGN: Case series. PARTICIPANTS: Seven patients from 4 unrelated families with arRP, among whom 3 patients had bilateral early-onset macular pseudocoloboma. METHODS: We performed homozygosity mapping and whole-exome sequencing in 5 probands and 2 unaffected family members from 4 unrelated families. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing and segregation analysis were performed in additional family members. We reviewed the medical history of individuals carrying IDH3A variants and performed additional ophthalmic examinations, including full-field electroretinography, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence imaging, and optical coherence tomography. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: IDH3A variants, age at diagnosis, visual acuity, fundus appearance, visual field, and full-field electroretinography, fundus autofluorescence, and optical coherence tomography findings. RESULTS: We identified 7 different variants in IDH3A in 4 unrelated families, that is, 5 missense, 1 nonsense, and 1 frameshift variant. All participants showed symptoms early in life, ranging from night blindness to decreased visual acuity, and were diagnosed between the ages of 1 and 11 years. Four participants with biallelic IDH3A variants displayed a typical arRP phenotype and 3 participants were diagnosed with arRP and pseudocoloboma of the macula. CONCLUSIONS: IDH3A variants were identified as a novel cause of typical arRP in some individuals associated with macular pseudocoloboma. We observed both phenotypes in 2 siblings carrying the same compound heterozygous variants, which could be explained by variable disease expression and warrants caution when making assertions about genotype-phenotype correlations.
Assuntos
Coloboma/genética , DNA/genética , Proteínas do Olho/genética , Estudos de Associação Genética , Macula Lutea/patologia , Mutação , Retinose Pigmentar/genética , Adolescente , Adulto , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Coloboma/diagnóstico , Coloboma/metabolismo , Análise Mutacional de DNA , Eletrorretinografia , Exoma , Proteínas do Olho/metabolismo , Feminino , Genes Recessivos , Homozigoto , Humanos , Masculino , Linhagem , Fenótipo , Retinose Pigmentar/diagnóstico , Retinose Pigmentar/metabolismo , Tomografia de Coerência Óptica , Acuidade Visual , Campos Visuais , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The use of tissue collected at a forensic post-mortem for forensic genetics research purposes remains of ethical concern as the process involves obtaining informed consent from grieving family members. Two forensic genetics research studies using tissue collected from a forensic post-mortem were recently initiated at our institution and were the first of their kind to be conducted in Cape Town, South Africa. MAIN BODY: This article discusses some of the ethical challenges that were encountered in these research projects. Among these challenges was the adaptation of research workflows to fit in with an exceptionally busy service delivery that is operating with limited resources. Whilst seeking guidance from the literature regarding research on deceased populations, it was noted that next of kin of decedents are not formally recognised as a vulnerable group in the existing ethical and legal frameworks in South Africa. The authors recommend that research in the forensic mortuary setting is approached using guidance for vulnerable groups, and the benefit to risk standard needs to be strongly justified. Lastly, when planning forensic genetics research, consideration must be given to the potential of uncovering incidental findings, funding to validate these findings and the feedback of results to family members; the latter of which is recommended to occur through a genetic counsellor. CONCLUSION: It is hoped that these experiences will contribute towards a formal framework for conducting forensic genetic research in medico-legal mortuaries in South Africa.
Assuntos
Bancos de Espécimes Biológicos/ética , Morte , Família , Genética Forense/ética , Pesquisa em Genética/ética , Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido , Coleta de Tecidos e Órgãos/ética , Autopsia , Revelação , Genética Forense/métodos , Pesar , Humanos , Princípios Morais , Práticas Mortuárias/ética , Medição de Risco , África do Sul , Coleta de Tecidos e Órgãos/métodos , Populações Vulneráveis , Carga de TrabalhoRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Brain structure differences and adolescent alcohol dependence both show substantial heritability. However, exactly which genes are responsible for brain volume variation in adolescents with substance abuse disorders are currently unknown. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether genetic variants previously implicated in psychiatric disorders are associated with variation in brain volume in adolescents with alcohol use disorder (AUD). METHODS: The cohort consisted of 58 adolescents with DSM-IV AUD and 58 age and gender-matched controls of mixed ancestry ethnicity. An Illumina Infinium iSelect custom 6000 bead chip was used to genotype 5348 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 378 candidate genes. Magnetic resonance images were acquired and volumes of global and regional structures were estimated using voxel-based morphometry. To determine whether any of the genetic variants were associated with brain volume, association analysis was conducted using linear regression in Plink. RESULTS: From the exploratory analysis, the GRIN2B SNP rs219927 was associated with brain volume in the left posterior cingulate cortex (p<0.05), whereby having a G-allele was associated with a bigger volume. CONCLUSION: The GRIN2B gene is involved in glutamatergic signalling and may be associated with developmental differences in AUD in brain regions such as the posterior cingulate cortex. Such differences may play a role in risk for AUD, and deserve more detailed investigation.