RP1 Dominant p.Ser740* Pathogenic Variant in 20 Knowingly Unrelated Families Affected by Rod-Cone Dystrophy: Potential Founder Effect in Western Sicily.

Background and Objectives. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common inherited rod-cone dystrophy (RCD), resulting in nyctalopia, progressive visual field, and visual acuity decay in the late stages. The autosomal dominant form (ADRP) accounts for about 20% of RPs. Among the over 30 genes found to date related to ADRP, RP1 pathogenic variants have been identified in 5-10% of cases. In a cohort of RCD patients from the Palermo province on the island of Sicily, we identified a prevalent nonsense variant in RP1, which was associated with ADRP. The objective of our study was to analyse the clinical and molecular data of this patient cohort and to evaluate the potential presence of a founder effect. Materials and Methods. From 2005 to January 2023, 84 probands originating from Western Sicily (Italy) with a diagnosis of RCD or RP and their relatives underwent deep phenotyping, which was performed in various Italian clinical institutions. Molecular characterisation of patients and familial segregation of pathogenic variants were carried out in different laboratories using Sanger and/or next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results. Among 84 probands with RCD/RP, we found 28 heterozygotes for the RP1 variant c.2219C>G, p.Ser740* ((NM_006269.2)*, which was therefore significantly prevalent in this patient cohort. After a careful interview process, we ascertained that some of these patients shared the same pedigree. Therefore, we were ultimately able to define 20 independent family groups with no traceable consanguinity. Lastly, analysis of clinical data showed, in our patients, that the p.Ser740* nonsense variant was often associated with a late-onset and relatively mild phenotype. Conclusions. The high prevalence of the p.Ser740* variant in ADRP patients from Western Sicily suggests the presence of a founder effect, which has useful implications for the molecular diagnosis of RCD in patients coming from this Italian region. This variant can be primarily searched for in RP-affected subjects displaying compatible modes of transmission and phenotypes, with an advantage in terms of the required costs and time for analysis. Moreover, given its high prevalence, the RP1 p.Ser740* variant could represent a potential candidate for the development of therapeutic strategies based on gene editing or translational read-through therapy for suppression of nonsense variants.

Study on the Role of Polymorphisms of the SOX-6 and MYB Genes and Fetal Hemoglobin Levels in Sicilian Patients with ß-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease.

The hemoglobinopathies, as ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) and sickle cell disease, are the most common hereditary hemolytic anemias. The increase of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) levels can ameliorate the symptoms of hemoglobinopathies. There are several transcription factors such as MYB and SOX-6, which are involved in the regulation of Hb F. There are not enough studies investigating the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the SOX-6 and MYB genes and the variation of Hb F levels in patients affected by sickle cell disease and ß-thal. We therefore decided to analyze the role of four missense variants of MYB and SOX-6 genes in the regulation of Hb F levels. In order to do so, we examinated 30 Sicilian patients affected by sickle cell disease and ß-thal, to understand if these variants could also have an influence in our populations. Comparing two groups of patients with low and high levels of Hb F, we found no significant differences in the genetic distribution and allelic frequency of MYB and SOX-6 gene polymorphisms. We also created and compared a 'high producer' and 'low producer' genotype with different genes achieving the same result of no significant difference. Our results may be due either to the fact that the association between these genes and the regulation of Hb F levels are influenced by environmental history and population genetics, or to the small number of samples being analyzed.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis by Celocentesis.

Celocentesis is a new sampling tool for prenatal diagnosis available from 7 weeks in case of couples at risk for genetic diseases. In this study, we reported the feasibility of earlier prenatal diagnosis by celocentesis in four cases of cystic fibrosis and one case of cystic fibrosis and ß-thalassemia co-inherited in the same fetus. Celomic fluids were aspired from the celomic cavity between 8+2 and 9+3 weeks of gestation and fetal cells were picked up by micromanipulator. Maternal DNA contamination was tested and target regions of fetal DNA containing parental pathogenetic variants of CFTR and HBB genes were amplified and sequenced. Four of the five fetuses resulted as being affected by cystic fibrosis and, in all cases, the women decided to interrupt the pregnancy. In the other case, the fetus presented a healthy carrier of cystic fibrosis. The results were confirmed in three cases on placental tissue. In one case, no abortive tissue was obtained. In the last case, the woman refused the prenatal diagnosis to confirm the celocentesis data; the pregnancy is ongoing without complications. This procedure provides prenatal diagnosis of monogenic diseases at least four weeks earlier than traditional procedures, reducing the anxiety of patients and providing the option for medical termination of the affected fetus at 8-10 weeks of gestation, which is less traumatic and safer than surgical termination in the second trimester.

New Codanin-1 Gene Mutations in a Italian Patient with Congenital Dyserythropoietic Anemia Type I and Heterozygous Beta-Thalassemia.

Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I is an autosomal recessive disorder associated with macrocytic anemia, ineffective erythropoiesis, iron overloading and characterized by abnormal chromatin ultrastructure in erythroblasts such as internuclear chromatin bridges, spongy heterochromatin and invagination of the nuclear membrane. A 58-year-old Causasian man with chronic hemolytic anemia, heterozygous for ß (+) -globin IVS1, nt110 G>A mutation (causing abnormal alpha:beta globin chain ratio) showed clinical, laboratory and hematological features suggesting diagnosis of CDA1. Sequence analysis of CDA-related genes revealed compound heterozygosity for two novel mutations in the CDAN1 gene: a frameshift mutation 3367 del 4 (TTAG) in exon 25 and a missense mutation c.1811 G>T in exon 11 causing an aminoacid change from glycine to valine at codon 565 (G565V). One of the propositus' brothers showed the same gene mutations. As the CDA1 can mimic thalassemia, a frequent misdiagnosis is possible especially in countries where the prevalence of thalassemia is high. A strong clinical suspicion in patients who do not reveal a clear genetic basis for presumed thalassemia may help clinch the correct diagnosis.

Study on Hydroxyurea Response in Hemoglobinopathies Patients Using Genetic Markers and Liquid Erythroid Cultures.

Increased expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) may ameliorate the clinical course of hemoglobinopathies. Hydroxyurea (HU) is the only inducer approved for the treatment of these diseases able to stimulate HbF production but patients' response is highly variable indicating the utility of the identification of pharmacogenomic biomarkers in order to predict pharmacological treatment efficacy. To date few studies to evaluate the role of genetic determinants in HU response have been conducted showing contradictory results. In this study we analyzed BCL11A, GATA-1, KLF-1 genes and γ-globin promoter in 60 alleles from 30 hemoglobinopathies patients under HU treatment to assess the role of these markers in HU response. We did not find any association between these genetic determinants and HU response. Before treatment started, the same patients were analyzed in vitro using liquid erythroid cultures in a test able to predict their response to HU. The results of our analysis confirm the absence of pharmacogenomic biomarker associated to HU response indicating that, the quantification of γ-globin mRNA fold increase remains the only method able to predict in vivo patients response to the drug.