Novel MYT1 variants expose the complexity of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum genetic mechanisms.

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a developmental disorder characterized by anomalies mainly involving the structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches. The spectrum presents with heterogeneous clinical features and complex etiology with genetic factors not yet completely understood. To date, MYT1 is the most important gene unambiguously associated with the spectrum and with functional data confirmation. In this work, we aimed to identify new single nucleotide variants (SNVs) affecting MYT1 in a cohort of 73 Brazilian patients diagnosed with OAVS. In addition, we investigated copy number variations (CNVs) encompassing this gene or its cis-regulatory elements and compared the frequency of these events in patients versus a cohort of 455 Brazilian control individuals. A new SNV, predicted as likely deleterious, was identified in five unrelated patients with OAVS. All five patients presented hearing impairment and orbital asymmetry suggesting an association with the variant. CNVs near MYT1, located in its neighboring topologically associating domain (TAD), were found to be enriched in patients when compared to controls, indicating a possible involvement of this region with OAVS pathogenicity. Our findings highlight the genetic complexity of the spectrum that seems to involve more than one variant type and inheritance patterns.

Investigating 22q11.2 deletion and other chromosomal aberrations in fetuses with heart defects detected by prenatal echocardiography.

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and the leading cause of mortality in the first year of life. In fetuses with a heart defect, chromosomal abnormalities are very frequent. Besides aneuploidy, 22q11.2 deletion is one of the most recognizable chromosomal abnormalities causing CHD. The frequency of this abnormality varies in nonselected populations. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of the 22q11.2 deletion and other chromosomal alterations in a Brazilian sample of fetuses with structural cardiac anomalies detected by fetal echocardiography. In a prospective study, 68 fetuses with a heart defect were evaluated. Prenatal detection of cardiac abnormalities led to identification of aneuploidy or structural chromosomal anomaly in 35.3% of these cases. None of the fetuses with apparently normal karyotypes had a 22q11.2 deletion. The heart defects most frequently associated with chromosomal abnormalities were atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), and tetralogy of Fallot. Autosomal trisomies 18 and 21 were the most common chromosomal abnormalities. The study results support the strong association of chromosome alterations and cardiac malformation, especially in AVSD and VSD, for which a chromosome investigation is indicated. In fetuses with an isolated conotruncal cardiopathy, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to investigate a 22q11.2 deletion is not indicated.

Interrupted aortic arch type B in A patient with cat eye syndrome.

We report a patient with cat eye syndrome and interrupted aortic arch type B, a typical finding in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Chromosomal analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed a supernumerary bisatellited isodicentric marker chromosome derived from chromosome 22. The segment from 22pter to 22q11.2 in the supernumerary chromosome found in our patient does not overlap with the region deleted in patients with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. However, the finding of an interrupted aortic arch type B is unusual in CES, although it is a frequent heart defect in the 22q11 deletion syndrome.

Interrupção do arco aórtico tipo B em uma paciente com síndrome de olho de gato / Interrupted aortic arch type B in A patient with cat eye syndrome / Interrupción del arco aórtico tipo B en una paciente con síndrome del ojo de gato

Relatamos um caso de paciente com Síndrome do Olho de Gato (Cat Eye Syndrome-CES) e interrupção do arco aórtico tipo B, um achado típico na síndrome da deleção 22q11.2. A análise cromossômica e a técnica de hibridização fluorescente in situ (FISH) mostraram um cromossomo marcador isodicêntrico supranumerário com bi-satélite derivado do cromossomo 22. O segmento de 22pter a 22q11.2 no cromossomo supranumerário encontrado em nosso paciente não estava em sobreposição com a região deletada em pacientes com a síndrome da deleção 22q11.2. Entretanto, o achado de interrupção do arco aórtico tipo B não é usual na CES, mas é um defeito cardíaco freqüente na síndrome da deleção 22q11.

We report a patient with cat eye syndrome and interrupted aortic arch type B, a typical finding in the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Chromosomal analysis and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed a supernumerary bisatellited isodicentric marker chromosome derived from chromosome 22. The segment from 22pter to 22q11.2 in the supernumerary chromosome found in our patient does not overlap with the region deleted in patients with the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. However, the finding of an interrupted aortic arch type B is unusual in CES, although it is a frequent heart defect in the 22q11 deletion syndrome.

Informamos un caso de paciente con Síndrome de Ojo de Gato (Cat Eye Syndrome-CES) e Interrupción del Arco Aórtico tipo B, un hallazgo típico en el síndrome de la deleción 22q11.2. El análisis cromosómico y la técnica de hibridación in situ fluorescente (FISH) mostraron un cromosoma marcador isodicéntrico supernumerario bisatelitado derivado del cromosoma 22. El segmento de 22pter a 22q11.2 en el cromosoma supernumerario encontrado en nuestro paciente no estaba en sobreposición con la región deletada en pacientes con el síndrome de la deleción 22q11.2. Con todo, el hallazgo de interrupción del arco aórtico tipo B no es usual en el CES, sino que es un defecto cardíaco frecuente en el síndrome de deleción 22q11.