Coffin-Lowry Syndrome Induced by RPS6KA3 Gene Variation in China: A Case Report in Twins.

Background and objectives: Coffin-Lowry Syndrome (CLS), a rare neurodegenerative disorder, is mainly diagnosed based on clinical manifestations and molecular analyses. In total, about 20 cases of CLS have been reported in China. Here, we report two cases of CLS in identical twin brothers and examine their potential causative mutations. Methods: The Trio mode was used in this analysis, i.e., DNA from the proband and his parents was sequenced. Furthermore, DNA from the proband's twin brother was used for confirmation. Results: A hemizygous variation was detected in the 11th exon of the RPS6KA3 gene, c.898C>T (p.R300*) of the proband, and the same site variation was detected in his identical twin brother; however, the mutation was not detected in his parents. Conclusions: The RPS6KA3 gene mutation c.898C>T (p.R300*) is the causative factor of familial CLS. The variant detected was reported for the first time in the Chinese population. Additionally, by analyzing the previous literature, we were able to summarize the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of GLS in China.

Genome-wide association analysis for lethal brachycephalic-like facial dysmorphia in Labrador Retrievers.

A GWAS was performed for inborn X-linked facial dysmorphia with severe growth retardation in Labrador Retrievers. This lethal condition was mapped on the X chromosome at 17-21 Mb and supported by eight SNPs in complete LD. Dams of affected male puppies were heterozygous for the significantly associated SNPs and male affected puppies carried the associated alleles hemizygously. In the near vicinity to the associated region, RPS6KA3 was identified as a candidate gene causing facial dysmorphia in humans and mice known as Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Haplotype analysis showed significant association with the phenotypes of all 18 animals under study. This haplotype was validated through normal male progeny from a dam with the not-associated haplotype on both X chromosomes but male affected full-sibs with the associated haplotype.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome in Chinese.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a well-described syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, growth retardation, recognizable dysmorphic features, and skeletal changes. It is an X-linked syndrome where males are more severely affected and females have high variability in clinical presentations. This case series reports nine molecularly confirmed Chinese CLS patients from six unrelated families (three with familial variants and three with de novo variants). There is a wide genotypic spectrum with five novel variants in RPS6KA3 gene. Clinical phenotype and facial features of these Chinese CLS patients are comparable to what has been described in other ethnicities.

An unusual cause for Coffin-Lowry syndrome: Three brothers with a novel microduplication in RPS6KA3.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a rare X-linked disorder characterized by moderate to severe intellectual disability, hypotonia, craniofacial features, tapering digits, short stature, and skeletal deformities. Using whole exome sequencing and high-resolution targeted comparative genomic hybridization array analysis, we identified a novel microduplication encompassing exons five through nine of RPS6KA3 in three full brothers. Each brother presented with intellectual disability and clinical and radiographic features consistent with CLS. qRT-PCR analyses performed on mRNA from the peripheral blood of the three siblings revealed a marked reduction of RPS6KA3 levels suggesting a loss-of-function mechanism. PCR analysis of the patients' cDNA detected a band greater than expected for an exon 4-10 amplicon, suggesting this was likely a direct duplication that lies between exons 4 through 10, which was later confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This microduplication is only the third intragenic duplication of RPS6KA3, and the second and smallest reported to date thought to cause CLS. Our study further supports the clinical utility of methods such as next-generation sequencing and high-resolution genomic arrays to detect small intragenic duplications. These methods, coupled with expression studies and cDNA structural analysis have the capacity to confirm the diagnosis of CLS in these rare cases.

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Cancer Reveals FN1 as a Potential Novel Candidate Prognostic Biomarker.

BACKGROUND: Sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Currently, although the diagnosis of sporadic MTC is relatively simple, the need to discover novel candidate prognostic biomarkers for sporadic MTC and investigate the underlying mechanism involved in this rare disease is urgent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed tandem mass tag-based liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and analyze differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in sporadic MTC. Western blotting was used to validate the DEPs. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate FN1 and RPS6KA3 in an independent set of sporadic MTC tissues. Immunohistochemical data were analyzed by different statistical methods. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-eight DEPs were identified in mass spectrometry, mainly involved in the extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal remodeling, or oxidoreductase activity. Among them, THBS1, MMP9, FN1, RPS6KA3, SYT1, and carcinoembryonic antigen were successfully validated by Western blot. In addition, FN1 and RPS6KA3, enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, respectively, were investigated in an independent set of sporadic MTC tissues. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis showed that FN1 and RPS6KA3 can be used for discriminating sporadic MTC tumorous tissues from paired normal thyroid tissues, and the clinical biomarker calcitonin was positively correlated with FN1 and RPS6KA3 in tumorous tissues. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical scores of FN1 in tumorous tissue showed an inverse relationship with tumor classification, lymph node classification, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. Through univariate and multivariate analysis for progression-free survival, we also found that low FN1 expression in tumorous tissues was an independent worse prognostic factor for progression-free survival. CONCLUSION: We identified that the pathophysiology of sporadic MTC involve numerous pathways, including the synaptic vesicle pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the ECM remodeling pathway. Furthermore, our study also identified FN1 as novel prognostic biomarkers related to the pathophysiologic changes in sporadic MTC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Proteomic dissection and prognostic biomarkers are scarce in sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This article reports the use of proteomics technology to comprehensively investigate the molecular mechanisms of sporadic MTC, which resulted in the identification of FN1 as a novel candidate prognostic biomarker.

Mutant MAPK7-Induced Idiopathic Scoliosis is Linked to Impaired Osteogenesis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Three rare MAPK7 variants that predispose individuals to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis have previously been identified. However, the mechanism underlying the effects of the mutations remain unknown. METHODS: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were isolated from both patients and healthy volunteer donors, and MAPK7 expression was detected by western blotting and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Zebrafish embryos were injected with mapk7 morpholinos or co-injected with morpholinos and wild-type (WT) MAPK7 messenger RNA (mRNA) at the one-cell stage, followed by calcein staining to evaluate bone formation. hMSCs were transfected with MAPK7 small interfering RNAs and osteogenesis was induced for 14 days. Alizarin red staining was performed and osteoblast markers were detected by western blotting and RT-qPCR. Since RPS6KA3 is a downstream target of MAPK7 and plays an important role in the osteogenesis, zebrafish embryos were then injected with rps6ka3 morpholinos, or co-injected with rps6ka3 or mapk7 morpholinos and WT RPS6KA3 mRNA at the one-cell stage. RESULTS: MAPK7 expression in the patient group was much lower than in the control group. Morpholino-induced mapk7 knockdown in zebrafish embryos led to body curvature, which was significantly reversed by WT MAPK7 mRNA. Calcein staining revealed that mapk7-knockdown delayed the ossification of the vertebrae. MAPK7 silencing in hMSCs impaired osteogenesis and downregulated osteoblast marker expression. Morpholino-induced rps6ka3-knockdown in zebrafish embryos led to body curvature, which was reversed by WT RPS6KA3 mRNA. Interestingly, RPS6KA3 mRNA also partially reversed the phenotype induced by mapk7 morpholinos. CONCLUSION: Impaired osteogenesis is linked to mutant MAPK7-induced idiopathic scoliosis , and RPS6KA3 may play an important role in this process.

The historical Coffin-Lowry syndrome family revisited: identification of two novel mutations of RPS6KA3 in three male patients.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a rare X-linked dominant disorder characterized by intellectual disability, craniofacial abnormalities, short stature, tapering fingers, hypotonia, and skeletal malformations. CLS is caused by mutations in the Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase, 90 kDa, Polypeptide 3 (RPS6KA3) gene located at Xp22.12, which encodes Ribosomal S6 Kinase 2 (RSK2). Here we analyzed RPS6KA3 in three unrelated CLS patients including one from the historical Coffin-Lowry syndrome family and found two novel mutations. To date, over 140 mutations in RPS6KA3 have been reported. However, the etiology of the very first familial case, which was described in 1971 by Lowry with detailed phenotype and coined the term CLS, has remained unknown. More than 40 years after the report, we succeeded in identifying deposited fibroblast cells from one patient of this historic family and found a novel heterozygous 216 bp in-frame deletion, encompassing exons 15 and 16 of RPS6KA3. Drop episodes in CLS patients were reported to be associated with truncating mutations deleting the C-terminal kinase domain (KD), and only one missense mutation and one single basepair duplication involving the C-terminal KD of RSK2 in the patients with drop episode have been reported thus far. Here we report the first in-frame deletion in C-terminal KD of RPS6KA3 in a CLS patient with drop episodes.

Classic phenotype of Coffin-Lowry syndrome in a female with stimulus-induced drop episodes and a genotype with preserved N-terminal kinase domain.

An adolescent female presented with intellectual disability, stimulus-induced drop episodes (SIDEs), facial characteristics that include wide set eyes, short nose with wide columella, full and everted lips with wide mouth and progressive skeletal changes: scoliosis, spondylolisthesis and pectus excavatum. These findings were suggestive of Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS), and this was confirmed by the identification of a novel mutation in RPS6KA3, a heterozygous one basepair duplication at nucleotide 1570 (c.1570dupA). This mutation occurs within the C-terminal kinase domain of the protein, and, therefore contradicts the previous report that SIDEs is only associated with premature truncation of the protein in the N-terminal kinase domain or upstream of this domain. As CLS is X-linked, it is unusual for a female to have such a classic phenotype.

Establishment of linkage phase, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies, for preimplantation genetic testing of Coffin-Lowry syndrome with a de novo RPS6KA3 mutation.

Background: This study aimed to perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for a female Coffin-Lowry Syndrome (CLS) patient with a de novo mutation (DNM) in RPS6KA3. It was challenging to establish the haplotype in this family because of the lack of information from affected family members. Hence, we explored a new and reliable strategy for the detection of the DNM in PGT, using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and the MARSALA platform. Methods: We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) on the proband and confirmed the pathogenic mutation by Sanger sequencing. The proband then underwent PGT to prevent the transmission of the pathogenic mutation to her offspring. We diverged from the conventional methods and used long-read sequencing (LRS) on the ONT platform to directly detect the mutation and nearby SNPs, for construction of the haplotype in the preclinical phase of PGT. In the clinical phase of embryo diagnosis, the MARSALA method was used to detect both the SNP-based haplotype and chromosome copy number variations (CNVs), in each blastocyst. Finally, a normal embryo was selected by comparison to the haplotype of the proband and transferred into the uterus. Sanger sequencing and karyotyping were performed by amniocentesis, at 17 weeks of gestation, to confirm the accuracy of PGT. Results: Using WES, we found the novel, heterozygous, pathogenic c.1496delG (p.Gly499Valfs*25) mutation of RPS6KA3 in the proband. The SNP-based haplotype that was linked to the pathogenic mutation site was successfully established in the proband, without the need for other family members to be tested with ONT. Eight blastocysts were biopsied to perform PGT and were assessed with a haplotype linkage analysis (30 SNP sites selected), to give results that were consistent with direct mutation detection using Sanger sequencing. The results of PGT showed that three of the eight blastocysts were normal, without the DNM. Moreover, the patient had a successful pregnancy, after transfer of a normal blastocyst into the uterus, and delivered a healthy baby. Conclusion: The ONT platform, combined with the MARSALA method, can be used to perform PGT for DNM patients without the need for other samples as a reference.

First female Korean child with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a novel variant in RPS6KA3 diagnosed by exome sequencing and a literature review.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS, OMIM # 303600) is a rare X-linked disorder caused by mutations in RPS6KA3. CLS is characterized by facial dysmorphism, digit abnormalities, developmental delays, growth retardation, and progressive skeletal changes in male patients. Females with CLS are variably affected, complicating diagnosis. Here, we describe the clinical and molecular findings in a female Korean child with CLS and review the associated literature. A 5-year-old girl presented with short stature and developmental delays. She had a coarse facial appearance characterized by a prominent forehead, hypertelorism, thick lips, and hypodontia. She also had puffy tapering fingers and pectus excavatum. We performed exome sequencing and identified a novel, likely pathogenic, heterozygous variant, c.326_338delinsCTCGAGAC (p.Val109Alafs*10), in RPS6KA3 (NM_004586.2). This is the first Korean female genetically diagnosed with CLS. In contrast to the delayed bone age reported in previous studies, our patient showed advanced bone age and central precocious puberty. CLS should be considered as a differential diagnosis of short stature, tapering fingers, and developmental delay. We suggest that molecular techniques can be a useful tool for diagnosis of rare disorders such as CLS because such conditions are not simple, and the associated spectrum of phenotypes can vary.

A 6-year-old boy with an atypical liver neoplasm harboring a novel RPS6KA3 variant.

Pediatric hepatoblastoma (HBL) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are primary liver malignant neoplasms with 5-year event-free survival of >80% and <30%, respectively. In these patients, α-fetoprotein levels can guide surgical intervention and monitor disease progression. Although histology and immunohistochemical stains support diagnosis, genetic testing can elucidate mechanisms that drive pathogenesis. Pediatric HBL and HCC harbor well-characterized molecular signatures such as alterations in CTNNB1, TERT, and AXIN1 that alter the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Approximately 8% of individuals with HCC harbor RPS6KA3 variants that appear with other gene mutations. Herein, we report a novel solitary pathogenic RPS6KA3 variant finding in a 6-year-old boy whose final diagnosis was hepatocellular malignant neoplasm, not otherwise specified.

Case Report: Chinese female patients with a heterozygous pathogenic RPS6KA3 gene variant c.898C>T and distal 22q11.2 microdeletion.

Background: Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) [OMIM#303600] is a rare X-linked dominant syndrome. CLS is caused by highly heterogeneous loss-of-function mutations in the RPS6KA3 gene (OMIM*300,075). CLS is characterized by intellectual disability (ID), short stature, tapered fingers, characteristic facial features, and progressive skeletal changes. Distal 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome (OMIM#611867) is an autosomal dominant and recurrent genomic disorder. It mainly includes three types [distal type I (D-E/F), type II (E-F), and type III (F-G)] and exhibits variable clinical phenotypes (mild, moderate, or even normal): preterm birth, pre- and/or postnatal growth restriction, development delay, ID, behavioral problems, cardiovascular defects, skeletal anomalies, and dysmorphic facial features. We investigated the genetic etiology of a Chinese pedigree with ID, short stature, digit abnormalities, facial dysmorphism, and menstrual disorder. A heterozygous RPS6KA3 gene variant c.898C>T (p.R300X) was identified in this familial case. Two female CLS patients with distal 22q11.2 microdeletion presented with more severe clinical phenotypes. We provided clinical characteristics of these Chinese female CLS patients. Case presentation: We described a Chinese family with three affected females (the mother, the elder sister, and the proband). The mother and the elder sister had more severe clinical phenotypes (moderate facial dysmorphism, more severe cognitive impairment, and shorter stature). The common characteristic phenotypes are ID, short stature, facial dysmorphism, irregular menstruation, and cardiovascular disorders. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the pedigree. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified a heterozygous nonsense RPS6KA3 gene variant c.898C>T (p.R300X). It was verified by Sanger sequencing. Copy number variation sequencing (CNV-seq) showed that both the mother and the elder sister carried a CNVseq [hg19] del (22) (q11.22-q11.23) (22997582-23637176)×0.5. RNA from peripheral blood samples was used for measuring the relative quantification of mRNA (expressed by exon 14 of RPS6KA3). The levels of mRNA relative expressions were significantly lower in the mother's and the elder sister's blood samples. The levels of mRNA relative expressions were significantly higher in the proband's blood sample. X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) studies demonstrated that the proband showed extremely skewed XCI, and the XCI pattern of the elder sister was random. Conclusion: Herein, we reported three Chinese female patients with a heterozygous nonsense RPS6KA3 gene variant c.898C>T. Further genetic studies were performed. To our knowledge, Chinese patients with this variant have not been previously reported in the literature. The three female patients presented with variable degrees of severity. The clinical characteristics of these Chinese female CLS patients could expand the phenotypic spectrum of CLS. We helped physicians to understand the genotype-phenotype correlation further.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome in a girl with 46,XX,t(X;11)(p22;p15)dn: Identification of RPS6KA3 disruption by whole genome sequencing.

We report a Japanese girl with Coffin-Lowry syndrome phenotype such as hypertelorism, hypodontia, and tapering fingers and 46,XX,t(X;11)(p22;p15)dn. Whole genome sequencing revealed RPS6KA3 disruption by the translocation, and X-inactivation analysis indicated preferential inactivation of the normal X chromosome. The results explain the development of an X-linked disease in this girl.

Periventricular small cystic lesions in a patient with Coffin-Lowry syndrome who exhibited a novel mutation in the RPS6KA3 gene.

BACKGROUND: Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare X-linked disease, caused by loss-of-function mutations in the RPS6KA3 gene. Patients exhibit severe intellectual disability with characteristic dysmorphism. As there are no specific laboratory findings to support the diagnosis of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, it may be difficult to diagnose-especially in young children, where the characteristic craniofacial features are less discernible. CASE: Here we report on a 2-year-old boy with Coffin-Lowry syndrome with a novel missense mutation in the RPS6KA3 gene. On magnetic resonance imaging, his brain exhibited periventricular signal abnormalities with multiple small cystic lesions. These findings may aid in diagnosis of Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Exome sequencing in children of women with skewed X-inactivation identifies atypical cases and complex phenotypes.

BACKGROUND: More than 100 X-linked intellectual disability (X-LID) genes have been identified to be involved in 10-15% of intellectual disability (ID). METHOD: To identify novel possible candidates, we selected 18 families with a male proband affected by isolated or syndromic ID. Pedigree and/or clinical presentation suggested an X-LID disorder. After exclusion of known genetic diseases, we identified seven cases whose mother showed a skewed X-inactivation (>80%) that underwent whole exome sequencing (WES, 50X average depth). RESULTS: WES allowed to solve the genetic basis in four cases, two of which (Coffin-Lowry syndrome, RPS6K3 gene; ATRX syndrome, ATRX gene) had been missed by previous clinical/genetics tests. One further ATRX case showed a complex phenotype including pontocerebellar atrophy (PCA), possibly associated to an unidentified PCA gene mutation. In a case with suspected Lujan-Fryns syndrome, a c.649C>T (p.Pro217Ser) MECP2 missense change was identified, likely explaining the neurological impairment, but not the marfanoid features, which were possibly associated to the p.Thr1020Ala variant in fibrillin 1. Finally, a c.707T>G variant (p.Phe236Cys) in the DMD gene was identified in a patient retrospectively recognized to be affected by Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD, OMIM 300376). CONCLUSION: Overall, our data show that WES may give hints to solve complex ID phenotypes with a likely X-linked transmission, and that a significant proportion of these orphan conditions might result from concomitant mutations affecting different clinically associated genes.

Recurrent Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus in a Patient with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome.

Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is a rare neurodevelopmental condition caused by heterogeneous mutations in the RPS6KA3 gene on the X chromosome, leading to severe intellectual disability and dysmorphism in men, while women are carriers and only weakly affected. CLS is well known for stimulus-induced drop episodes; however, epilepsy is not commonly reported in this condition. We report on a CLS patient presenting with recurrent episodes of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) with generalized epileptic activity, for which investigations did not find any other cause than the patient's genetic condition. This case underlines that the possibility of nonconvulsive epileptic seizures and status epilepticus should, therefore, be considered in those patients. The treatable diagnosis of NCSE may easily be overlooked, as symptoms can be unspecific.

[Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Its association with congenitally narrow cervical canal and myelomalacia]. / Síndrome de Coffin-Lowry. Su asociación con canal cervical estrecho congénito y mielomalacia.

BACKGROUND: Typical clinical features of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome include facies with hypertelorism, small nose, wide mouth, full and everted lips; short stature, mental retardation, pectus deformity, mitral valve dysfunction, hippocampal and cerebellar involvement, hearing loss and spinal disorders such as kyphosis and scoliosis. Due to its scarce incidence, it is difficult making an early diagnosis. The aim of this report was to document the anatomical peculiarities identified during the surgical treatment of a patient with this syndrome. CLINICAL CASE: Male patient with Coffin-Lowry syndrome who evolved with narrow cervical canal plus myelomalacia at short age, making decompression from C3 to C6 and instrumentation from C2 to C7 necessary. During the surgery, in addition to calcification of the yellow ligament, adhesions on the dura mater from C4 to C4, dark purplish color in this area and hourglass-shaped thinning were found; the ends at C3 and C6 were normal. The purpose of the surgery was to stop the myopathy. Post-operatively, the patient had pulmonary complications; at the sixth day he passed away due to ventilatory complications and inadequate secretion control. CONCLUSIONS: The Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare diagnosis in our country; neurological involvement at the spinal level is characterized by kyphosis or scoliosis; for its diagnosis, an adequate medical history and a karyotype are necessary.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las características clínicas típicas del síndrome de Coffin-Lowry son facies con hipertelorismo, nariz pequeña, boca amplia, labios amplios y evertidos; estatura corta, retardo mental, deformidad del pectus, disfunción de la válvula mitral, afectación de hipocampo y cerebelo, pérdida de la audición y trastornos de la columna, como cifosis o escoliosis. Debido a su escasa incidencia es difícil realizar el diagnóstico temprano. El objetivo de este informe fue documentar las peculiaridades anatómicas identificadas durante el tratamiento quirúrgico de un paciente con este síndrome. CASO CLÍNICO: varón con síndrome de Coffin-Lowry quien evolucionó con canal cervical estrecho más mielomalacia a corta edad, por lo que fue necesaria descompresión de C3 a C6 e instrumentación de C2 a C7. Durante la cirugía se encontró, además de la calcificación del ligamento amarillo, adherencias a la duramadre desde C4 a C5, color violáceo obscuro en esta área y adelgazamiento en forma de reloj de arena; los extremos en C3 y C6 eran normales. El objetivo de la cirugía fue detener la miopatía. En el posquirúrgico, el paciente presentó complicaciones pulmonares; al sexto día falleció por complicaciones ventilatorias y mal manejo de secreciones. CONCLUSIONES: el síndrome de Coffin-Lowry es un diagnóstico raro en nuestro país, la afección neurológica a nivel de la columna se caracteriza por cifosis o escoliosis, para su diagnóstico es necesario una adecuada historia clínica y un cariotipo.