Human genetic structure in Northwest France provides new insights into West European historical demography.

The demographical history of France remains largely understudied despite its central role toward understanding modern population structure across Western Europe. Here, by exploring publicly available Europe-wide genotype datasets together with the genomes of 3234 present-day and six newly sequenced medieval individuals from Northern France, we found extensive fine-scale population structure across Brittany and the downstream Loire basin and increased population differentiation between the northern and southern sides of the river Loire, associated with higher proportions of steppe vs. Neolithic-related ancestry. We also found increased allele sharing between individuals from Western Brittany and those associated with the Bell Beaker complex. Our results emphasise the need for investigating local populations to better understand the distribution of rare (putatively deleterious) variants across space and the importance of common genetic legacy in understanding the sharing of disease-related alleles between Brittany and people from western Britain and Ireland.

Exploring the origins of neurodevelopmental proteasomopathies associated with cardiac malformations: are neural crest cells central to certain pathological mechanisms?

Neurodevelopmental proteasomopathies constitute a recently defined class of rare Mendelian disorders, arising from genomic alterations in proteasome-related genes. These alterations result in the dysfunction of proteasomes, which are multi-subunit protein complexes essential for maintaining cellular protein homeostasis. The clinical phenotype of these diseases manifests as a syndromic association involving impaired neural development and multisystem abnormalities, notably craniofacial anomalies and malformations of the cardiac outflow tract (OFT). These observations suggest that proteasome loss-of-function variants primarily affect specific embryonic cell types which serve as origins for both craniofacial structures and the conotruncal portion of the heart. In this hypothesis article, we propose that neural crest cells (NCCs), a highly multipotent cell population, which generates craniofacial skeleton, mesenchyme as well as the OFT of the heart, in addition to many other derivatives, would exhibit a distinctive vulnerability to protein homeostasis perturbations. Herein, we introduce the diverse cellular compensatory pathways activated in response to protein homeostasis disruption and explore their potential implications for NCC physiology. Altogether, the paper advocates for investigating proteasome biology within NCCs and their early cranial and cardiac derivatives, offering a rationale for future exploration and laying the initial groundwork for therapeutic considerations.

Brugada syndrome in Japan and Europe: a genome-wide association study reveals shared genetic architecture and new risk loci.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmia with a higher disease prevalence and more lethal arrhythmic events in Asians than in Europeans. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have revealed its polygenic architecture mainly in European populations. The aim of this study was to identify novel BrS-associated loci and to compare allelic effects across ancestries. METHODS: A GWAS was conducted in Japanese participants, involving 940 cases and 1634 controls, followed by a cross-ancestry meta-analysis of Japanese and European GWAS (total of 3760 cases and 11 635 controls). The novel loci were characterized by fine-mapping, gene expression, and splicing quantitative trait associations in the human heart. RESULTS: The Japanese-specific GWAS identified one novel locus near ZSCAN20 (P = 1.0 × 10-8), and the cross-ancestry meta-analysis identified 17 association signals, including six novel loci. The effect directions of the 17 lead variants were consistent (94.1%; P for sign test = 2.7 × 10-4), and their allelic effects were highly correlated across ancestries (Pearson's R = .91; P = 2.9 × 10-7). The genetic risk score derived from the BrS GWAS of European ancestry was significantly associated with the risk of BrS in the Japanese population [odds ratio 2.12 (95% confidence interval 1.94-2.31); P = 1.2 × 10-61], suggesting a shared genetic architecture across ancestries. Functional characterization revealed that a lead variant in CAMK2D promotes alternative splicing, resulting in an isoform switch of calmodulin kinase II-δ, favouring a pro-inflammatory/pro-death pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates novel susceptibility loci implicating potentially novel pathogenesis underlying BrS. Despite differences in clinical expressivity and epidemiology, the polygenic architecture of BrS was substantially shared across ancestries.

TAD boundary deletion causes PITX2-related cardiac electrical and structural defects.

While 3D chromatin organization in topologically associating domains (TADs) and loops mediating regulatory element-promoter interactions is crucial for tissue-specific gene regulation, the extent of their involvement in human Mendelian disease is largely unknown. Here, we identify 7 families presenting a new cardiac entity associated with a heterozygous deletion of 2 CTCF binding sites on 4q25, inducing TAD fusion and chromatin conformation remodeling. The CTCF binding sites are located in a gene desert at 1 Mb from the Paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 gene (PITX2). By introducing the ortholog of the human deletion in the mouse genome, we recapitulate the patient phenotype and characterize an opposite dysregulation of PITX2 expression in the sinoatrial node (ectopic activation) and ventricle (reduction), respectively. Chromatin conformation assay performed in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes harboring the minimal deletion identified in family#1 reveals a conformation remodeling and fusion of TADs. We conclude that TAD remodeling mediated by deletion of CTCF binding sites causes a new autosomal dominant Mendelian cardiac disorder.

Generation of a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell line carrying the DES p.R406W mutation, an isogenic control and a DES p.R406W knock-in line.

Mutations in the DES gene, which encodes the intermediate filament desmin, lead to desminopathy, a rare disease characterized by skeletal muscle weakness and different forms of cardiomyopathies associated with cardiac conduction defects and arrhythmias. We generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) from a patient carrying the DES p.R406W mutation, and employed CRISPR/Cas9 to rectify the mutation in the patient's hiPSC line and introduced the mutation in an hiPSC line from a control individual unrelated to the patient. These hiPSC lines represent useful models for delving into the mechanisms of desminopathy and developing new therapeutic approaches.

Filamin A heart valve disease as a genetic cause of inherited bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve disease.

OBJECTIVE: Variants in the FLNA gene have been associated with mitral valve dystrophy (MVD), and even polyvalvular disease has been reported. This study aimed to analyse the aortic valve and root involvement in FLNA-MVD families and its impact on outcomes. METHODS: 262 subjects (37 (18-53) years, 140 male, 79 carriers: FLNA+) from 4 FLNA-MVD families were included. Echocardiography was performed in 185 patients and histological analysis in 3 explanted aortic valves. The outcomes were defined as aortic valve surgery or all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Aortic valve alterations were found in 58% of FLNA+ compared with 6% of FLNA- (p<0.001). 9 (13.4%) FLNA+ had bicuspid aortic valve compared with 4 (3.4%) FLNA- (p=0.03). Overall, the transvalvular mean gradient was slightly increased in FLNA+ (4.8 (4.1-6.1) vs 4.0 (2.9-4.9) mm Hg, p=0.02). The sinuses of Valsalva and sinotubular junction diameters were enlarged in FLNA+ subjects (all p<0.05). 8 FLNA+ patients underwent aortic valve surgery (0 in relatives; p<0.001). Myxomatous remodelling with an infiltration of immune cells was observed. Overall survival was similar between FLNA+ versus FLNA- subjects (86±5% vs 85±6%, p=0.36). There was no statistical evidence for an interaction between genetic status and sex (p=0.15), but the survival tended to be impaired in FLNA+ men (p=0.06) whereas not in women (p=0.71). CONCLUSION: The patients with FLNA variants present frequent aortic valve disease and worse outcomes. Bicuspid aortic valve is more frequent in patients carrying the FLNA-MVD variants. These unique features should be factored into the management of patients with dystrophic and/or bicuspid aortic valve.

Left Ventricular Abnormal Substrate in Brugada Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Slow-conductive structural abnormalities located in the epicardium of the right ventricle (RV) underlie Brugada syndrome (BrS). The extent of such substrate in the left ventricle (LV) has not been investigated. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to characterize the extent of epicardial substrate abnormalities in BrS. METHODS: We evaluated 22 consecutive patients (mean age 46 ± 11 years, 21 male) referred for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (mean 10 ± 13 episodes) in the setting of BrS. The patients underwent clinical investigations and wide genetic screening to identify SCN5A mutations and common risk variants. High-density biventricular epicardial mapping was performed to detect prolonged (>70 ms) fragmented electrograms, indicating abnormal substrate area. RESULTS: All patients presented with abnormal substrate in the epicardial anterior RV (27 ± 11 cm2). Abnormal substrate was also identified on the LV epicardium in 10 patients (45%), 9 at baseline and 1 after ajmaline infusion, covering 15 ± 11 cm2. Of these, 4 had severe LV fascicular blocks. Patients with LV substrate had a longer history of arrhythmia (11.4 ± 6.7 years vs 4.3 ± 4.3 years; P = 0.003), longer PR (217 ± 24 ms vs 171 ± 14 ms; P < 0.001) and HV (60 ± 12 ms vs 46 ± 5 ms; P = 0.005) intervals, and abnormal substrate also extending into the inferior RV (100% vs 33%; P = 0.001). SCN5A mutation was present in 70% of patients with LV substrate (vs 25%; P = 0.035). SCN5A BrS patients with recurrent ventricular arrhythmias present a higher polygenic risk score compared with a nonselected BrS population (median of differences: -0.86; 95% CI: -1.48 to -0.27; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: A subset of patients with BrS present an abnormal substrate extending onto the LV epicardium and inferior RV that is associated with SCN5A mutations and multigenic variants.

Functional Epicardial Conduction Disturbances Due to a SCN5A Variant Associated With Brugada Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Brugada syndrome is a significant cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD), but the underlying mechanisms remain hypothetical. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to elucidate this knowledge gap through detailed ex vivo human heart studies. METHODS: A heart was obtained from a 15-year-old adolescent boy with normal electrocardiogram who experienced SCD. Postmortem genotyping was performed, and clinical examinations were done on first-degree relatives. The right ventricle was optically mapped, followed by high-field magnetic resonance imaging and histology. Connexin-43 and NaV1.5 were localized by immunofluorescence, and RNA and protein expression levels were studied. HEK-293 cell surface biotinylation assays were performed to examine NaV1.5 trafficking. RESULTS: A Brugada-related SCD diagnosis was established for the donor because of a SCN5A Brugada-related variant (p.D356N) inherited from his mother, together with a concomitant NKX2.5 variant of unknown significance. Optical mapping demonstrated a localized epicardial region of impaired conduction near the outflow tract, in the absence of repolarization alterations and microstructural defects, leading to conduction blocks and figure-of-8 patterns. NaV1.5 and connexin-43 localizations were normal in this region, consistent with the finding that the p.D356N variant does not affect the trafficking, nor the expression of NaV1.5. Trends of decreased NaV1.5, connexin-43, and desmoglein-2 protein levels were noted; however, the RT-qPCR results suggested that the NKX2-5 variant was unlikely to be involved. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that SCD associated with a Brugada-SCN5A variant can be caused by localized functionally, not structurally, impaired conduction.

Machine Learning-Based Phenogrouping in MVP Identifies Profiles Associated With Myocardial Fibrosis and Cardiovascular Events.

BACKGROUND: Structural changes and myocardial fibrosis quantification by cardiac imaging have become increasingly important to predict cardiovascular events in patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). In this setting, it is likely that an unsupervised approach using machine learning may improve their risk assessment. OBJECTIVES: This study used machine learning to improve the risk assessment of patients with MVP by identifying echocardiographic phenotypes and their respective association with myocardial fibrosis and prognosis. METHODS: Clusters were constructed using echocardiographic variables in a bicentric cohort of patients with MVP (n = 429, age 54 ± 15 years) and subsequently investigated for their association with myocardial fibrosis (assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance) and cardiovascular outcomes. RESULTS: Mitral regurgitation (MR) was severe in 195 (45%) patients. Four clusters were identified: cluster 1 comprised no remodeling with mainly mild MR, cluster 2 was a transitional cluster, cluster 3 included significant left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) remodeling with severe MR, and cluster 4 included remodeling with a drop in LV systolic strain. Clusters 3 and 4 featured more myocardial fibrosis than clusters 1 and 2 (P < 0.0001) and were associated with higher rates of cardiovascular events. Cluster analysis significantly improved diagnostic accuracy over conventional analysis. The decision tree identified the severity of MR along with LV systolic strain <21% and indexed LA volume >42 mL/m2 as the 3 most relevant variables to correctly classify participants into 1 of the echocardiographic profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Clustering enabled the identification of 4 clusters with distinct echocardiographic LV and LA remodeling profiles associated with myocardial fibrosis and clinical outcomes. Our findings suggest that a simple algorithm based on only 3 key variables (severity of MR, LV systolic strain, and indexed LA volume) may help risk stratification and decision making in patients with MVP. (Genetic and Phenotypic Characteristics of Mitral Valve Prolapse, NCT03884426; Myocardial Characterization of Arrhythmogenic Mitral Valve Prolapse [MVP STAMP], NCT02879825).

Genetics and pathophysiology of mitral valve prolapse.

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common condition affecting 2-3% of the general population, and the most complex form of valve pathology, with a complication rate up to 10-15% per year in advanced stages. Complications include mitral regurgitation which can lead to heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but also life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia and cardiovascular death. Sudden death has been recently brought to the forefront of MVP disease, increasing the complexity of management and suggesting that MVP condition is not properly understood. MVP can occur as part of syndromic conditions such as Marfan syndrome, but the most common form is non-syndromic, isolated or familial. Although a specific X-linked form of MVP was initially identified, autosomal dominant inheritance appears to be the primary mode of transmission. MVP can be stratified into myxomatous degeneration (Barlow), fibroelastic deficiency, and Filamin A-related MVP. While FED is still considered a degenerative disease associated with aging, myxomatous MVP and FlnA-MVP are recognized as familial pathologies. Deciphering genetic defects associated to MVP is still a work in progress; although FLNA, DCHS1, and DZIP1 have been identified as causative genes in myxomatous forms of MVP thanks to familial approaches, they explain only a small proportion of MVP. In addition, genome-wide association studies have revealed the important role of common variants in the development of MVP, in agreement with the high prevalence of this condition in the population. Furthermore, a potential genetic link between MVP and ventricular arrhythmia or a specific type of cardiomyopathy is considered. Animal models that allow to advance in the genetic and pathophysiological knowledge of MVP, and in particular those that can be easily manipulated to express a genetic defect identified in humans are detailed. Corroborated by genetic data and animal models, the main pathophysiological pathways of MVP are briefly addressed. Finally, genetic counseling is considered in the context of MVP.

A need for exhaustive and standardized characterization of ion channels activity. The case of KV11.1.

hERG, the pore-forming subunit of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current, plays a key role in ventricular repolarization. Mutations in the KCNH2 gene encoding hERG are associated with several cardiac rhythmic disorders, mainly the Long QT syndrome (LQTS) characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization, leading to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, sometimes progressing to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Over the past few years, the emergence of next-generation sequencing has revealed an increasing number of genetic variants including KCNH2 variants. However, the potential pathogenicity of the majority of the variants remains unknown, thus classifying them as variants of uncertain significance or VUS. With diseases such as LQTS being associated with sudden death, identifying patients at risk by determining the variant pathogenicity, is crucial. The purpose of this review is to describe, on the basis of an exhaustive examination of the 1322 missense variants, the nature of the functional assays undertaken so far and their limitations. A detailed analysis of 38 hERG missense variants identified in Long QT French patients and studied in electrophysiology also underlies the incomplete characterization of the biophysical properties for each variant. These analyses lead to two conclusions: first, the function of many hERG variants has never been looked at and, second, the functional studies done so far are excessively heterogeneous regarding the stimulation protocols, cellular models, experimental temperatures, homozygous and/or the heterozygous condition under study, a context that may lead to conflicting conclusions. The state of the literature emphasizes how necessary and important it is to perform an exhaustive functional characterization of hERG variants and to standardize this effort for meaningful comparison among variants. The review ends with suggestions to create a unique homogeneous protocol that could be shared and adopted among scientists and that would facilitate cardiologists and geneticists in patient counseling and management.

Multimodality imaging and transcriptomics to phenotype mitral valve dystrophy in a unique knock-in Filamin-A rat model.

AIMS: Degenerative mitral valve dystrophy (MVD) leading to mitral valve prolapse is the most frequent form of MV disease, and there is currently no pharmacological treatment available. The limited understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms leading to MVD limits our ability to identify therapeutic targets. This study aimed to reveal the main pathophysiological pathways involved in MVD via the multimodality imaging and transcriptomic analysis of the new and unique knock-in (KI) rat model for the FilaminA-P637Q (FlnA-P637Q) mutation associated-MVD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Wild-type (WT) and KI rats were evaluated morphologically, functionally, and histologically between 3-week-old and 3-to-6-month-old based on Doppler echocardiography, 3D micro-computed tomography (microCT), and standard histology. RNA-sequencing and Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin (ATAC-seq) were performed on 3-week-old WT and KI mitral valves and valvular cells, respectively, to highlight the main signalling pathways associated with MVD. Echocardiographic exploration confirmed MV elongation (2.0 ± 0.1 mm vs. 1.8 ± 0.1, P = 0.001), as well as MV thickening and prolapse in KI animals compared to WT at 3 weeks. 3D MV volume quantified by microCT was significantly increased in KI animals (+58% vs. WT, P = 0.02). Histological analyses revealed a myxomatous remodelling in KI MV characterized by proteoglycans accumulation. A persistent phenotype was observed in adult KI rats. Signalling pathways related to extracellular matrix homeostasis, response to molecular stress, epithelial cell migration, endothelial to mesenchymal transition, chemotaxis and immune cell migration, were identified based on RNA-seq analysis. ATAC-seq analysis points to the critical role of transforming growth factor-ß and inflammation in the disease. CONCLUSION: The KI FlnA-P637Q rat model mimics human myxomatous MVD, offering a unique opportunity to decipher pathophysiological mechanisms related to this disease. Extracellular matrix organization, epithelial cell migration, response to mechanical stress, and a central contribution of immune cells are highlighted as the main signalling pathways leading to myxomatous MVD. Our findings pave the road to decipher underlying molecular mechanisms and the specific role of distinct cell populations in this context.

Burden of rare variants in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with right dominant form-associated genes provides new insights for molecular diagnosis and clinical management.

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with right dominant form (ACR) is a rare heritable cardiac cardiomyopathy disorder associated with sudden cardiac death. Pathogenic variants (PVs) in desmosomal genes have been causally related to ACR in 40% of cases. Other genes encoding nondesmosomal proteins have been described in ACR, but their contribution in this pathology is still debated. A panel of 71 genes associated with inherited cardiopathies was screened in an ACR population of 172 probands and 856 individuals from the general population. PVs and uncertain significance variants (VUS) have been identified in 36% and 18.6% of patients, respectively. Among the cardiopathy-associated genes, burden tests show a significant enrichment in PV and VUS only for desmosomal genes PKP2 (plakophilin-2), DSP (desmoplakin), DSC2 (desmocollin-2), and DSG2 (desmoglein-2). Importantly, VUS may account for 15% of ACR cases and should then be considered for molecular diagnosis. Among the other genes, no evidence of enrichment was detected, suggesting an extreme caution in the interpretation of these genetic variations without associated functional or segregation data. Genotype-phenotype correlation points to (1) a more severe and earlier onset of the disease in PV and VUS carriers, underlying the importance to carry out presymptomatic diagnosis in relatives and (2) to a more prevalent left ventricular dysfunction in DSP variant carriers.

Heritability of aortic valve stenosis and bicuspid enrichment in families with aortic valve stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Although a familial component of calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS) has been described, its heritability remains unknown. Hence, we aim to assess the heritability of CAVS and the prevalence of bicuspid aortic valve among CAVS families. METHODS: Probands were recruited following aortic valve replacement (AVR) for severe CAVS on either tricuspid (TAV) or bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). After screening, relatives underwent a Doppler-echocardiography to assess the aortic valve morphology as well as the presence and severity of CAVS. Families were classified in two types according to proband's aortic valve phenotype: TAV or BAV families. Control families were recruited and screened for the presence of BAV. RESULTS: Among the 2371 relatives from 138 CAVS families (pedigree cohort), heritability of CAVS was significant (h2 = 0.47, p < 0.0001), in TAV (h2 = 0.49, p < 0.0001) and BAV families (h2 = 0.50, p < 0.0001). The prevalence of BAV in 790 relatives (phenotype cohort) was significantly increased in both TAV and BAV families compared to control families with a prevalence ratio of 2.6 ([95%CI:1.4-5.9]; p = 0.005) and 4.6 ([95%CI:2.4-13.4]; p < 0.0001), respectively. At least one relative had a BAV in 22.2% of tricuspid CAVS families. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the heritability of CAVS in both TAV and BAV families, suggesting a genetic background of this frequent valvular disease. In addition, BAV enrichment in TAV families suggests an interplay between tricuspid CAVS and BAV. Overall results support the need to improve phenotyping (i.e. BAV, TAV, risk factors) in CAVS families in order to enhance the identification of rare and causal genetic variants of CAVS. CLINICAL TRIALS IDENTIFIER: NCT02890407.

A standardised hERG phenotyping pipeline to evaluate KCNH2 genetic variant pathogenicity.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mutations in KCNH2 cause long or short QT syndromes (LQTS or SQTS) predisposing to life-threatening arrhythmias. Over 1000 hERG variants have been described by clinicians, but most remain to be characterised. The objective is to standardise and accelerate the phenotyping process to contribute to clinician diagnosis and patient counselling. In silico evaluation was also included to characterise the structural impact of the variants. METHODS: We selected 11 variants from known LQTS patients and two variants for which diagnosis was problematic. Using the Gibson assembly strategy, we efficiently introduced mutations in hERG cDNA despite GC-rich sequences. A pH-sensitive fluorescent tag was fused to hERG for efficient evaluation of channel trafficking. An optimised 35-s patch-clamp protocol was developed to evaluate hERG channel activity in transfected cells. R software was used to speed up analyses. RESULTS: In the present work, we observed a good correlation between cell surface expression, assessed by the pH-sensitive tag, and current densities. Also, we showed that the new biophysical protocol allows a significant gain of time in recording ion channel properties and provides extensive information on WT and variant channel biophysical parameters, that can all be recapitulated in a single parameter defined herein as the repolarisation power. The impacts of the variants on channel structure were also reported where structural information was available. These three readouts (trafficking, repolarisation power and structural impact) define three pathogenicity indexes that may help clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Fast-track characterisation of KCNH2 genetic variants shows its relevance to discriminate mutants that affect hERG channel activity from variants with undetectable effects. It also helped the diagnosis of two new variants. This information is meant to fill a patient database, as a basis for personalised medicine. The next steps will be to further accelerate the process using an automated patch-clamp system.

Genome-Wide Association Meta-Analysis Supports Genes Involved in Valve and Cardiac Development to Associate With Mitral Valve Prolapse.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiac valve disease, which affects 1 in 40 in the general population. Previous genome-wide association study has identified 6 risk loci for MVP. But these loci explained only partially the genetic risk for MVP. We aim to identify additional risk loci for MVP by adding data set from the UK Biobank. METHODS: We also incorporated 434 MVP cases and 4527 controls from the UK Biobank for discovery analyses. Genetic association was conducted using SNPTEST and meta-analyses using METAL. We used Functional Mapping and Annotation of Genome-Wide Association Studies for post-genome-wide association study annotations and Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation for gene-based and gene-set analyses. RESULTS: We found Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine imputation to perform better in terms of accuracy in the lower ranges of minor allele frequency below 0.1. Our updated meta-analysis included UK Biobank study for ≈8 million common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (minor allele frequency >0.01) and replicated the association on Chr2 as the top association signal near TNS1. We identified an additional risk locus on Chr1 (SYT2) and 2 suggestive risk loci on chr8 (MSRA) and chr19 (FBXO46), all driven by common variants. Gene-based association using Multi-marker Analysis of GenoMic Annotation revealed 6 risk genes for MVP with pronounced expression levels in cardiovascular tissues, especially the heart and globally part of enriched GO terms related to cardiac development. CONCLUSIONS: We report an updated meta-analysis genome-wide association study for MVP using dense imputation coverage and an improved case-control sample. We describe several loci and genes with MVP spanning biological mechanisms highly relevant to MVP, especially during valve and heart development.

Functionally validated SCN5A variants allow interpretation of pathogenicity and prediction of lethal events in Brugada syndrome.

AIMS: The prognostic value of genetic variants for predicting lethal arrhythmic events (LAEs) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains controversial. We investigated whether the functional curation of SCN5A variations improves prognostic predictability. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a heterologous expression system and whole-cell patch clamping, we functionally characterized 22 variants of unknown significance (VUSs) among 55 SCN5A mutations previously curated using in silico prediction algorithms in the Japanese BrS registry (n = 415). According to the loss-of-function (LOF) properties, SCN5A mutation carriers (n = 60) were divided into two groups: LOF-SCN5A mutations and non-LOF SCN5A variations. Functionally proven LOF-SCN5A mutation carriers (n = 45) showed significantly severer electrocardiographic conduction abnormalities and worse prognosis associated with earlier manifestations of LAEs (7.9%/year) than in silico algorithm-predicted SCN5A carriers (5.1%/year) or all BrS probands (2.5%/year). Notably, non-LOF SCN5A variation carriers (n = 15) exhibited no LAEs during the follow-up period. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that only LOF-SCN5A mutations and a history of aborted cardiac arrest were significant predictors of LAEs. Gene-based association studies using whole-exome sequencing data on another independent SCN5A mutation-negative BrS cohort (n = 288) showed no significant enrichment of rare variants in 16 985 genes including 22 non-SCN5A BrS-associated genes as compared with controls (n = 372). Furthermore, rare variations of non-SCN5A BrS-associated genes did not affect LAE-free survival curves. CONCLUSION: In vitro functional validation is key to classifying the pathogenicity of SCN5A VUSs and for risk stratification of genetic predictors of LAEs. Functionally proven LOF-SCN5A mutations are genetic burdens of sudden death in BrS, but evidence for other BrS-associated genes is elusive.

DZIP1 regulates mammalian cardiac valve development through a Cby1-ß-catenin mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common and progressive cardiovascular disease with developmental origins. How developmental errors contribute to disease pathogenesis are not well understood. RESULTS: A multimeric complex was identified that consists of the MVP gene Dzip1, Cby1, and ß-catenin. Co-expression during valve development revealed overlap at the basal body of the primary cilia. Biochemical studies revealed a DZIP1 peptide required for stabilization of the complex and suppression of ß-catenin activities. Decoy peptides generated against this interaction motif altered nuclear vs cytosolic levels of ß-catenin with effects on transcriptional activity. A mutation within this domain was identified in a family with inherited non-syndromic MVP. This novel mutation and our previously identified DZIP1S24R variant resulted in reduced DZIP1 and CBY1 stability and increased ß-catenin activities. The ß-catenin target gene, MMP2 was up-regulated in the Dzip1S14R/+ valves and correlated with loss of collagenous ECM matrix and myxomatous phenotype. CONCLUSION: Dzip1 functions to restrain ß-catenin signaling through a CBY1 linker during cardiac development. Loss of these interactions results in increased nuclear ß-catenin/Lef1 and excess MMP2 production, which correlates with developmental and postnatal changes in ECM and generation of a myxomatous phenotype.

Replacement Myocardial Fibrosis in Patients With Mitral Valve Prolapse: Relation to Mitral Regurgitation, Ventricular Remodeling, and Arrhythmia.

BACKGROUND: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a frequent disease that can be complicated by mitral regurgitation (MR), heart failure, arterial embolism, rhythm disorders, and death. Left ventricular (LV) replacement myocardial fibrosis, a marker of maladaptive remodeling, has been described in patients with MVP, but the implications of this finding remain scarcely explored. We aimed at assessing the prevalence, pathophysiological and prognostic significance of LV replacement myocardial fibrosis through late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) by cardiac magnetic resonance in patients with MVP. METHODS: Four hundred patients (53±15 years of age, 55% male) with MVP (trace to severe MR by echocardiography) from 2 centers, who underwent a comprehensive echocardiography and LGE cardiac magnetic resonance, were included. Correlates of replacement myocardial fibrosis (LGE+), influence of MR degree, and ventricular arrhythmia were assessed. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiovascular events (cardiac death, heart failure, new-onset atrial fibrillation, arterial embolism, and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia). RESULTS: Replacement myocardial fibrosis (LGE+) was observed in 110 patients (28%; 91 with myocardial wall including 71 with basal inferolateral wall, 29 with papillary muscle). LGE+ prevalence was 13% in trace-mild MR, 28% in moderate MR, and 37% in severe MR, and was associated with specific features of mitral valve apparatus, more dilated LV and more frequent ventricular arrhythmias (45% versus 26%, P<0.0001). In trace-mild MR, despite the absence of significant volume overload, abnormal LV dilatation was observed in 16% of patients and ventricular arrhythmia in 25%. Correlates of LGE+ in multivariable analysis were LV mass (odds ratio, 1.01 [95% CI, 1.002-1.017], P=0.009) and moderate-severe MR (odds ratio, 2.28 [95% CI, 1.21-4.31], P=0.011). LGE+ was associated with worse 4-year cardiovascular event-free survival (49.6±11.7 in LGE+ versus 73.3±6.5% in LGE-, P<0.0001). In a stepwise multivariable Cox model, MR volume and LGE+ (hazard ratio, 2.6 [1.4-4.9], P=0.002) were associated with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: LV replacement myocardial fibrosis is frequent in patients with MVP; is associated with mitral valve apparatus alteration, more dilated LV, MR grade, and ventricular arrhythmia; and is independently associated with cardiovascular events. These findings suggest an MVP-related myocardial disease. Last, cardiac magnetic resonance provides additional information to echocardiography in MVP.