Association of the rs1760944 polymorphism in the APEX1 base excision repair gene with risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a population from an endemic area in South China.

BACKGROUND: Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APEX1) plays a central role in the repair of oxidative DNA lesions via base excision repair, and polymorphism in the APEX1 gene may affect susceptibility to carcinogenesis. METHODS: Here, we assessed possible relationships between single-nucleotide polymorphism at APEX1 rs1760944 and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in 477 NPC patients and 558 healthy controls from Guangxi province, which is the second largest NPC endemic area in South China. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies in controls were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Logistic regression analysis identified the genotypes GT or GG as associated with significantly lower risk than the genotype TT (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.745, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.573-0.970). This apparent protective effect of GT/GG was even greater among those with no smoking history (adjusted OR 0.679, 95%CI 0.494-0.934). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that APEX1 rs1760944 polymorphism may correlate with NPC susceptibility in a population from an endemic area in South China.

Clinical features and molecular genetic investigation of infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis (IAHSP) in two Chinese siblings caused by a novel splice site ALS2 variation.

OBJECTIVE: ALS2-related disorder involves retrograde degeneration of the upper motor neurons of the pyramidal tracts, among which autosomal recessive Infantile-onset ascending hereditary spastic paralysis (IAHSP) is a rare phenotype. In this study, we gathered clinical data from two Chinese siblings who were affected by IAHSP. Our aim was to assess the potential pathogenicity of the identified variants and analyze their clinical and genetic characteristics. METHOD: Here, Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on proband to identify the candidate variants. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was used to verify identified candidate variants and to assess co-segregation among available family members. Utilizing both silico prediction and 3D protein modeling, an analysis was conducted to evaluate the potential functional implications of the variants on the encoded protein, and minigene assays were performed to unravel the effect of the variants on the cleavage of pre-mRNA. RESULTS: Both patients were characterized by slurred speech, astasia, inability to walk, scoliosis, lower limb hypertonia, ankle clonus, contracture of joint, foot pronation and no psychomotor retardation was found. Genetic analysis revealed a novel homozygous variant of ALS2, c.1815G > T(p.Lys605Asn) in two Chinese siblings. To our knowledge, it is the first confirmed case of a likely pathogenic variant leading to IAHSP in a Chinese patient. CONCLUSION: This study broadens the range of ALS2 variants and has practical implications for prenatal and postnatal screening of IAHSR. Symptom-based diagnosis of IAHSP is frequently difficult for medical practitioners. WES can be a beneficial resource to identify a particular disorder when the diagnosis cannot be determined from the symptoms alone.

Clinical and genetic analysis of trichohepatoneurodevelopmental syndrome caused by a CCDC47 variant.

Trichohepatoneurodevelopmental syndrome is an extremely uncommon autosomal recessive disorder resulting from variants in the CCDC47 gene, which encodes a Ca2+-binding endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transmembrane protein. To date, only four patients with CCDC47 deficiency have been reported, all of them with homozygous truncating CCDC47 variants. For this study, a Chinese family was recruited, which included a patient diagnosed with trichohepatoneurodevelopmental syndrome. Whole exome sequencing (WES) identified the proband's novel homozygous CCDC47 variation (NM_020198: c.634C > T(p.Arg212*). The variant was confirmed to be segregating in the proband and her unaffected relatives through Sanger sequencing. The patient described exhibited a clinical phenotype similar to that of patients with the CCDC47 variant. Compared to reported cases with CCDC47 pathogenic variants, our patients showed a novel complication of hearing impairment. In addition, brain abnormalities, small feet, bilateral hip dislocation, hip dysplasia, overlapping toes, pectus excavatum, scoliosis and narrow chest were not observed in our patient. We also examined five different variations and their corresponding phenotypes from five patients, both in current and previous research. Although some clinical manifestations of trichohepatoneurodevelopmental syndrome were highly variable, the most common phenotypes observed in these patients include microcephaly, profound intellectual disability, severe global development delay, pronounced growth restriction, hypotonia, woolly hair, facial dysmorphism, respiratory and visual abnormalities, gastrointestinal abnormalities, liver dysfunction, pruritus, skeletal and limb abnormalities, congenital heart defects and immunodeficiency. The present report is the first of a Chinese infant with homozygous variant in the CCDC47 gene. We expanded the genetic and phenotypic spectrum associated with trichohepatoneurodevelopmental syndrome.

Novel germline variants in KMT2C in Chinese patients with Kleefstra syndrome-2.

Kleefstra syndrome (KLEFS) refers to a rare inherited neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability (ID), language and motor delays, behavioral abnormalities, abnormal facial appearance, and other variable clinical features. KLEFS is subdivided into two subtypes: Kleefstra syndrome-1 (KLEFS1, OMIM: 610253), caused by a heterozygous microdeletion encompassing the Euchromatic Histone Lysine Methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) gene on chromosome 9q34.3 or pathogenic variants in the EHMT1 gene, and Kleefstra syndrome-2 (KLEFS2, OMIM: 617768), caused by pathogenic variants in the KMT2C gene. More than 100 cases of KLEFS1 have been reported with pathogenic variants in the EHMT1 gene. However, only 13 patients with KLEFS2 have been reported to date. In the present study, five unrelated Chinese patients were diagnosed with KLEFS2 caused by KMT2C variants through whole-exome sequencing (WES). We identified five different variants of the KMT2C gene in these patients: c.9166C>T (p.Gln3056*), c.9232_9247delCAGCGATCAGAACCGT (p.Gln3078fs*13), c.5068dupA (p.Arg1690fs*10), c.10815_10819delAAGAA (p.Lys3605fs*7), and c.6911_6912insA (p.Met2304fs*8). All five patients had a clinical profile similar to that of patients with KLEFS2. To analyze the correlation between the genotype and phenotype of KLEFS2, we examined 18 variants and their associated phenotypes in 18 patients with KLEFS2. Patients carrying KMT2C variants presented with a wide range of phenotypic defects and an extremely variable phenotype. We concluded that the core phenotypes associated with KMT2C variants were intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, language and motor delays, behavioral abnormalities, hypotonia, short stature, and weight loss. Additionally, sex may be one factor influencing the outcome. Our findings expand the phenotypic and genetic spectrum of KLEFS2 and help to clarify the genotype-phenotype correlation.

Novel variants in TNRC6B cause global developmental delay with speech and behavioral abnormalities, short stature, low body weight, café-au-lait spots, and metabolic abnormality.

BACKGROUND: TNRC6B deficiency syndrome, also known as global developmental delay with speech and behavioral abnormalities (MIM 619243), is a rare autosomal dominant genetic disease mainly characterized by facial dysmorphism, developmental delay/intellectual disability (DD/ID), speech and language delay, fine and motor delay, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and variable behavioral abnormalities. It is caused by heterozygous variant in the TNRC6B gene (NM_001162501.2, MIM 610740), which encodes the trinucleotide repeat-containing adaptor 6B protein. METHODS: In this study, two Chinese patients with TNRC6B deficiency syndrome were recruited, and genomic DNA extraction from peripheral blood leukocytes of these parents and their family members was extracted for whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Here, we report two unrelated Chinese patients diagnosed with TNRC6B deficiency syndrome caused by novel de novo likely pathogenic or pathogenic TNRC6B variants c.335C>T (p.Pro112Leu) and c.1632delC (p.Leu546fs*63), which expands the genetic spectrum of TNRC6B deficiency syndrome. The clinical features of the patients were DD/ID, delayed speech, ADHD, behavioral abnormalities, short stature, low body weight, café-au-lait spots, metabolic abnormalities, and facial dysmorphism including coarse facial features, sparse hair, frontal bossing, hypertelorism, amblyopia, strabismus, and downslanted palpebral fissures, which expands the phenotype spectrum associated with TNRC6B deficiency syndrome. CONCLUSION: This study expands the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of TNRC6B deficiency syndrome. Our findings indicate that patients with TNRC6B deficiency syndrome should be monitored for growth and metabolic problems and therapeutic strategies should be developed to address these problems. Our report also suggests the clinical diversity of TNRC6B deficiency syndrome.

Early onset horizontal gaze palsy and progressive scoliosis due to a noncanonical splicing-site variant and a missense variant in the ROBO3 gene.

BACKGROUND: Homozygous or compound heterozygous ROBO3 gene mutations cause horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS). This is an autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by congenital absence or severe restriction of horizontal gaze and progressive scoliosis. To date, almost 100 patients with HGPPS have been reported and 55 ROBO3 mutations have been identified. METHODS: We described an HGPPS patient and performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify the causative gene. RESULTS: We identified a missense variant and a splice-site variant in the ROBO3 gene in the proband. Sanger sequencing of cDNA revealed the presence of an aberrant transcript with retention of 700 bp from intron 17, which was caused by a variation in the noncanonical splicing site. We identified five additional ROBO3 variants, which were likely pathogenic, and estimated the overall allele frequency in the southern Chinese population to be 9.44 × 10-4 , by a review of our in-house database. CONCLUSION: This study has broadened the mutation spectrum of the ROBO3 gene and has expanded our knowledge of variants in noncanonical splicing sites. The results could help to provide more accurate genetic counseling to affected families and prospective couples. We suggest that the ROBO3 gene should be included in the local screening strategy.

Clinical and molecular analysis of Guangxi patients with Kabuki syndrome and KMT2D mutations.

Kabuki syndrome (KS) is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome that is characterized by postnatal growth deficiency, hypotonia, short stature, mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, skeletal abnormalities, persistence of fetal fingertip pads, and distinct facial appearance. It is mainly caused by pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in the KMT2D or KDM6A genes. Here, we described the clinical features of nine sporadic KS patients with considerable phenotypic heterogeneity. In addition to intellectual disability and short stature, our patients presented with a high prevalence of motor retardation and recurrent otitis media. We recommended that KS should be strongly considered in patients with motor delay, short stature, intellectual disability, language disorder and facial deformities. Nine KMT2D variants, four of which were novel, were identified by whole-exome sequencing. The variants included five nonsense variants, two frameshift variants, one missense variant, and one non-canonical splice site variant. In addition, we reviewed the mutation types of the pathogenic KMT2D variants in the ClinVar database. We also indicated that effective mRNA analysis, using biological materials from patients, is helpful in classifying the pathogenicity of atypical splice site variants. Pedigree segregation analysis may also provide valuable information for pathogenicity classification of novel missense variants. These findings extended the mutation spectrum of KMT2D and provided new insights into the understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations, which are helpful for accurate genetic counseling and treatment optimization.

Characteristics of Allan-Herndon-Dudley Syndrome in Chinese children: Identification of two novel pathogenic variants of the SLC16A2 gene.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify causative variants associated with Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome (AHDS) in two unrelated Chinese families, and to determine their potential pathogenicity. We also summarized the core clinical symptoms of AHDS by reviewing the related literature. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from the peripheral blood of AHDS patients and their family members. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the proband from each family to identify the candidate variants. Subsequently, Sanger sequencing was used to verify the identified candidate variants and to assess co-segregation among the available family members. In silico prediction combined with 3D protein modeling was conducted to predict the functional effects of the variants on the encoded protein. Results: Two novel hemizygous variants of SLC16A2, c.1111_1112insGTCTTGT (Gly375fs*6) and c.942delA (Val315fs*28), were detected in two patients. We compared the clinical symptoms of the patients with all patients with AHDS reported in China and those reported in the literature. While both our patients presented symptoms mostly consistent with AHDS, Patient 1 had no abnormal brain structure and thyroid function, and yet showed other symptoms including lactic aciduria, conjunctival hyperemia, vomiting, laryngeal stridor, low immunoglobulin and iron levels. Conclusions: This study expands the mutation spectrum of AHDS and has clinical value for variant-based prenatal and postnatal screening for this condition. Doctors often have difficulty identifying AHDS by using clinical symptoms. WES can help to identify specific disorder when diagnosis cannot be made based on symptoms alone.

The Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism rs13181 in ERCC2 with Risk and Prognosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in an Endemic Chinese Population.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs13181 in the gene encoding excision repair cross complementation group 2 (ERCC2) is associated with the risk and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: SNPs at rs13181 were genotyped in 439 NPC patients (NPC group) and 431 age- and gender-matched cancer-free controls (control group) from a region of China where NPC is endemic, and frequencies of GG, GT and TT genotypes were compared between the two groups in the case-control study. In a subset of 365 NPC cases, SNPs were examined for potential correlation with tumor-free survival time (TFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Relative to NPC risk with a TT genotype, NPC risk was similar with GT + GG genotypes (OR 1.052, 95% CI 0.656-1.688), after adjusting for gender, age, smoking history, and immunoglobin A against Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EBV-VCA-IgA) status. Univariate analysis showed that the GG or GT genotype was associated with significantly worse TFS (p<0.001) and OS (p=0.010) than the TT genotype. Prognosis was significantly worse for men than for women (TFS, p=0.045; OS, p=0.031), for T3-T4 classification than for T1-T2 (TFS, p=0.009; OS, p=0.007), for N3 than for N0+N1+N2 (TFS, p<0.001; OS, p<0.001). Based on multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for poor TFS were GG or GT genotype (HR 2.629, 95% CI 1.625-4.254, p<0.001), T3-T4 classification (HR 2.146, 95% CI 1.244-3.701, p=0.006) and N3 (HR 2.527, 95% CI 1.574-4.059, p<0.001). GG or GT genotype (HR 2.217, 95% CI 1.283-3.832, p=0.004), gender (HR 1.989, 95% CI 1.046-3.785, p=0.036), T3-T4 (HR 2.431, 95% CI 1.306-4.526, p=0.005) and N3 (HR 2.693, 95% CI 1.637-4.432, p<0.001) were independent risk factors for poor OS. CONCLUSION: The rs13181 SNP in ERCC2 does not appear to be associated with NPC risk, but it may serve as an independent prognostic factor for NPC recurrence and death.

Novel compound heterozygous frameshift variants in WDR81 associated with congenital hydrocephalus 3 with brain anomalies: First Chinese prenatal case confirms WDR81 involvement.

BACKGROUND: Congenital hydrocephalus-3 with brain anomalies (HYC3, MIM 617967) is a rare form of congenital hydrocephalus characterized by severe hydrocephalus and cerebellar abnormalities, the onset of the disease occurs in utero even resulting in fetal death. A very limited spectrum of WDR81 pathogenic variants had been reported in three unrelated families with HYC3. This study aims at presenting novel compound heterozygous frameshift variants in WDR81 in a Chinese fetus. METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed for a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies including sever hydrocephalus, cleft lip and palate, hydrops fetalis, hepatomegaly, and cerebellar hypoplasia. Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the origin of the variants subsequently. Variants classification was based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP) guidelines. RESULTS: Two novel heterozygous variants c.146_147insG (p.Thr52fs) and c.673delC (p.Leu225fs) in WDR81 were identified. Sanger sequencing revealed that the c.146_147insG mutation was maternal origin and the c.673delC mutation was paternal origin. Both variants were pathogenic according to the ACMG/AMP guidelines. CONCLUSION: The present study expands the mutation spectrum of WDR81 and help further define the genotype-phenotype correlations of HYC3. WDR81-related HYC3 were highly clinical heterogeneity. We suggested that fetal hydrocephalus with extracerebral manifestations may be suggestive of WDR81 deficiency and WES is effective for achieving a conclusive diagnosis for disorder.

Correlation of variable repeat number in the neck regions of DC-SIGN and DC-SIGNR with susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential association of variations in the number of tandem repeats in the dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin-related (DC-SIGNR) neck region with susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Variations in the number of repeats in the genotypes and alleles in the neck region of DC-SIGN/DC-SIGNR were analyzed in 477 unrelated NPC patients and 561 cancer-free controls. RESULTS: Genotypes and alleles in the DC-SIGN neck region did not differ significantly between NPC patients and controls, but the 9-repeat genotype in the DC-SIGNR neck region was significantly more frequent among patients (OR 1.339, 95% CI 1.018-1.760, P=0.037). The association between this genotype and NPC remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, smoking history, and presence of immunoglobulin against Epstein-Barr virus viral capsid antigen (OR 1.625, 95% CI 1.134-2.329, P=0.0082). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that genotypes/alleles in the DC-SIGN neck region are not associated with NPC susceptibility, whereas the 9-repeat variant in the neck region of DC-SIGNR may increase the risk of NPC.

Association of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in DC-SIGN with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Susceptibility.

The aim of this study was to explore potential relationships of four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) with risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The DC-SIGN SNPs rs7252229, rs4804803, rs2287886, and rs735240 were genotyped in 477 unrelated NPC patients and 561 cancer-free controls. At rs7252229, risk of NPC was significantly lower in individuals with GC (odds ratio [OR] 0.076, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.008-0.690), GG (OR 0.056, 95%CI 0.006-0.487), or GC + GG (OR 0.059, 95%CI 0.007-0.515) than in individuals with the CC genotype, after adjusting for age, gender, smoking history, and EBV-VCA-IgA status. At rs4804803, risk of NPC was significantly higher in individuals with the genotype GG than in those with the genotype AA (adjusted OR 9.038, 95%CI 1.708-47.822). At rs735240, risk of NPC did not change significantly with genotypes AG, GG, or AG + GG after adjusting for age, gender, and smoking history. However, when data were also adjusted for EBV-VCA-IgA status, three genotypes emerged as associated with significantly higher risk of NPC than the AA genotype: AG (OR 2.976, 95%CI 1.123-7.888), GG (OR 3.314, 95%CI 1.274-8.622), or GG + AG (OR 3.191, 95%CI 1.237-8.230). Our results suggest that DC-SIGN SNPs rs7252229, rs4804803, and rs735240 may influence NPC risk in the Chinese population. The mechanisms mediating this risk require a further study.

Association of polymorphisms hOGGI rs1052133 and hMUTYH rs3219472 with risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a Chinese population.

This case-control study investigates the possible relationships between the single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs1052133 in the human 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) gene and rs3219472 in the human MutY glycosylase homologue (hMUTYH) gene and the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The two polymorphisms were genotyped in 488 unrelated NPC patients and 573 cancer-free controls. Genotype GG at rs1052133 was associated with significantly lower NPC risk than genotypes GC + CC (odds ratio [OR] 0.770, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.595-0.996, P=0.012). In subgroup analyses, subjects with genotype GG at rs1052133 were at lower risk of NPC than those with GC or CC among individuals older than 40 years (OR 0.706, 95% CI 0.524-0.950), women (OR 0.571, 95% CI 0.337-0.968), and those with no smoking history (OR 0.634, 95% CI 0.463-0.868). No significant association was seen between polymorphisms at hMUTYH rs3219472 and the risk of NPC. However, gene-gene interaction analysis showed that subjects with genotype CC at rs1052133 and genotype AA at rs3219472 (CC/AA) were at 2.887-fold higher risk of NPC than those with GG/GG, 3.183-fold higher risk than those with GG/GA, and 3.392-fold higher risk than those with GG/AA. Our results suggest that hOGG1 rs1052133 polymorphism may play an important role in NPC pathogenesis, especially among women, >40 years old, and those with no smoking history. The hMUTYH rs3219472 polymorphism may interact with hOGG1 rs1052133 polymorphism to influence susceptibility to NPC.