A large duplication involving the IHH locus mimics acrocallosal syndrome.

Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling is a major determinant of various processes during embryonic development and has a pivotal role in embryonic skeletal development. A specific spatial and temporal expression of Ihh within the developing limb buds is essential for accurate digit outgrowth and correct digit number. Although missense mutations in IHH cause brachydactyly type A1, small tandem duplications involving the IHH locus have recently been described in patients with mild syndactyly and craniosynostosis. In contrast, a ∼600-kb deletion 5' of IHH in the doublefoot mouse mutant (Dbf) leads to severe polydactyly without craniosynostosis, but with craniofacial dysmorphism. We now present a patient resembling acrocallosal syndrome (ACS) with extensive polysyndactyly of the hands and feet, craniofacial abnormalities including macrocephaly, agenesis of the corpus callosum, dysplastic and low-set ears, severe hypertelorism and profound psychomotor delay. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array copy number analysis identified a ∼900-kb duplication of the IHH locus, which was confirmed by an independent quantitative method. A fetus from a second pregnancy of the mother by a different spouse showed similar craniofacial and limb malformations and the same duplication of the IHH-locus. We defined the exact breakpoints and showed that the duplications are identical tandem duplications in both sibs. No copy number changes were observed in the healthy mother. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a human phenotype similar to the Dbf mutant and strikingly overlapping with ACS that is caused by a copy number variation involving the IHH locus on chromosome 2q35.

Mutational screening of BASP1 and transcribed processed pseudogene TPPsig-BASP1 in patients with Möbius syndrome.

Möbius syndrome is a rare disorder primarily characterized by congenital facial palsy, frequently accompanied by ocular abduction anomalies and occasionally associated with orofacial, limb and musculoskeletal malformations. Abnormal development of cranial nerves V through XII underlines the disease pathogenesis. Although a genetic etiology for Möbius syndrome was proposed, molecular genetic studies to identify the causative gene(s) are scarce. In this study, we selected two candidate genes. One is BASP1 residing in a human chromosome 5p15.1-p15.2, syntenic to mouse chromosome 15qA2-qB2, to which a mouse model with facial nerve anomalies was mapped. The other is transcribed processed pseudogene TPPsig-BASP1, which is located on chromosome 13q flanking the putative locus for Möbius syndrome and might be involved in the regulation of the transcripts encoded by BASP1. Mutation analyses in nineteen patients excluded these genes as being candidates for Möbius syndrome.

CYP21A2 gene mutations in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: genotype-phenotype correlation in Turkish children.

BACKGROUND: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) due 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) is a common autosomal recessive disorder. It is caused by defects in the CYP21A2 gene. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the frequency of common gene mutations and to evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations in Turkish 21-OHD patients. METHODS: Molecular analysis of the CYP21A2 gene was performed for the detection of the eight most common point mutations [p.P30L, IVS2-13C>G (IVS-2), p.I172N, exon 6 mutation cluster (p.I236N, p.V237E, p.M239K), p.V281L, p.Q318X, p.R356W, 8-bp-deletion], of large deletion and conversion by southern blotting, allele specific semi-quantitative PCR/enzyme restriction method and sequencing, in 56 patients with 21-OHD, from 52 families. RESULTS: Disease-causing mutations were identified in 77 out of 91 alleles (84.6%) of the patients. Mutations were found in 34 of 43 alleles (79.1%) in salt wasting (SW; n=26), 32 of 36 alleles (88.8%) in simple virilizing (SV; n=24) and 11 of 12 alleles (91.6%) in non-classical (NC; n=6) form of CAH. The most frequent mutations were IVS-2 (22.0%), large conversion (14.3%), p.I172N (9.9%) p.R356W (8.8%), and large deletion (6.6%). In the SW form, the most frequent genotypes were homozygous for IVS-2 (11.5%) and homozygous for large conversion of the gene (11.5%). In the SV form, the most frequent genotype was homozygous for IVS-2 (20%), followed by compound heterozygous for p.I172N/8-bp del (10%). Homozygous for p.V281L (16.7%) was most common in NC. In most cases there was good correlation between genotype and phenotype. In the SW and NC forms, genotypes of all the patients correlated with their phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first comprehensive study on the molecular basis of CAH patients in the Turkish population. Based on these results, we propose a modified screening strategy to facilitate molecular testing of CAH patients in our population.

The identification of small supernumerary marker chromosomes; the experiences of 15,792 fetal karyotyping from Turkey.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are often associated with developmental abnormalities and malformations are de novo in approximately 60% of the cases. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques using various probes provided the possibility to analyze and characterize sSMCs, which is highly important for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. We now present the establishment of a specific strategy to identify the origin and structure of the sSMCs using a combination of conventional banding and classical FISH techniques. Based on this strategy, in a series of 15,792 prenatal karyotypes, 20 cases with sSMCs (prevalence 1.26 per 1000) were diagnosed. Eighteen of these cases were completely analyzed by FISH using commercial probes and Chromoprobe Multiprobe-I System. Out of 20 sSMCs 12 were satellited (10 bisatellited and two monosatellited) (60%) and eight were non-satellited (six ring-like and two isochromosomes) (40%). sSMCs were mostly derived from chromosome 15 (10/20) (50%). Euchromatin material was found in 13 cases by various banding and FISH techniques, while in six of 20 sSMCs there was no evidence of euchromatin material. Parental karyotypes could be evaluated in 15 cases and familial inheritance was found in only three of them (20%). We conclude that the proposed strategy for the identification and characterization of sSMCs is accurate and represents a good alternative to novel FISH techniques for modestly equipped cytogenetic laboratories.

Mutations in different components of FGF signaling in LADD syndrome.

Lacrimo-auriculo-dento-digital (LADD) syndrome is characterized by lacrimal duct aplasia, malformed ears and deafness, small teeth and digital anomalies. We identified heterozygous mutations in the tyrosine kinase domains of the genes encoding fibroblast growth factor receptors 2 and 3 (FGFR2, FGFR3) in LADD families, and in one further LADD family, we detected a mutation in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10), a known FGFR ligand. These findings increase the spectrum of anomalies associated with abnormal FGF signaling.

Homozygous and heterozygous inheritance of PAX3 mutations causes different types of Waardenburg syndrome.

Type I Waardenburg syndrome (WS-I) is an auditory-pigmentary syndrome caused by heterozygous loss of function mutations in the PAX3 gene. Klein-Waardenburg syndrome (WS-III) is a very rare condition and represents an extreme presentation of WS-I, additionally associated with musculoskeletal abnormalities. We present an 18-months old Turkish child with typical Klein-Waardenburg syndrome (WS) including dystopia canthorum, partial albinism, and upper-limb defects. The child was born to a consanguineous couple and both parents had WS-I. We screened the entire coding region of the PAX3 gene for mutations and identified a novel missense mutation, Y90H, within the paired box domain of PAX3. Both parents were heterozygous for the mutation and the proposita was homozygous. This is the third report of a homozygous PAX3 mutation causing the WS-III phenotype. Molecular analysis of four additional Turkish families with variable clinical expression of WS-I identified two missense mutations, one splice-site mutation, and one small insertion in the PAX3 gene.

Mutations in capillary morphogenesis gene-2 result in the allelic disorders juvenile hyaline fibromatosis and infantile systemic hyalinosis.

Juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (JHF) and infantile systemic hyalinosis (ISH) are autosomal recessive syndromes of unknown etiology characterized by multiple, recurring subcutaneous tumors, gingival hypertrophy, joint contractures, osteolysis, and osteoporosis. Both are believed to be allelic disorders; ISH is distinguished from JHF by its more severe phenotype, which includes hyaline deposits in multiple organs, recurrent infections, and death within the first 2 years of life. Using the previously reported chromosome 4q21 JHF disease locus as a guide for candidate-gene identification, we identified and characterized JHF and ISH disease-causing mutations in the capillary morphogenesis factor-2 gene (CMG2). Although CMG2 encodes a protein upregulated in endothelial cells during capillary formation and was recently shown to function as an anthrax-toxin receptor, its physiologic role is unclear. Two ISH family-specific truncating mutations, E220X and the 1-bp insertion P357insC that results in translation of an out-of-frame stop codon, were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and were shown to delete the CMG-2 transmembrane and/or cytosolic domains, respectively. An ISH compound mutation, I189T, is predicted to create a novel and destabilizing internal cavity within the protein. The JHF family-specific homoallelic missense mutation G105D destabilizes a von Willebrand factor A extracellular domain alpha-helix, whereas the other mutation, L329R, occurs within the transmembrane domain of the protein. Finally, and possibly providing insight into the pathophysiology of these diseases, analysis of fibroblasts derived from patients with JHF or ISH suggests that CMG2 mutations abrogate normal cell interactions with the extracellular matrix.

Identification and functional assessment of novel and known insulin receptor mutations in five patients with syndromes of severe insulin resistance.

We analyzed the insulin receptor gene in four patients with leprechaunism and one with type A insulin resistance. We detected novel and previously reported mutations. The novel mutants were expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells to evaluate the consequences for insulin receptor function. A type A insulin resistance patient from Morocco was homozygous for Arg252His mutation, similar to a previously described type A patient from Japan. A patient with leprechaunism was homozygous for the Ser323Leu mutation, previously identified in homozygous form in two patients with Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome. Phenotypic expression of this mutation is variable. A patient with leprechaunism is compound heterozygous for the previously described Arg1092Trp mutation and a nonsense mutation in codon 897. Another patient with leprechaunism was homozygous for a novel Asn431Asp mutation, which only partially reduces insulin proreceptor processing and activation of signaling cascades. The novel Leu93Gln mutation that fully disrupts proreceptor processing was found in one allele in a patient with leprechaunism. A nonsense mutation at codon 1122 was in the other allele. These results expand the number of pathogenic insulin receptor mutations and demonstrate the variability in their phenotypic expression. The biochemical analysis of mutant insulin receptors does not reliably predict whether the phenotype will be leprechaunism, the Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome, or type A insulin resistance. The previously reported correlation between fibroblast insulin binding and duration of patient survival was not observed.

Progressive autosomal dominant optic atrophy and sensorineural hearing loss in a Turkish family.

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features, mode of inheritance, and linkage analysis of ten affected members of a three-generation family with progressive optic atrophy and progressive hearing loss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The proband, a 10-year-old boy, presented with progressive visual failure. Ten other members in his family, including his mother, half-sister, aunt, two uncles, grandfather, and some of the cousins, also had progressive visual loss and hearing loss. Six affected and four unaffected cases were examined in detail. Blood samples were drawn from 16 members for DNA extraction. Two loci previously described for optic atrophy were tested for linkage in the present family. RESULTS: The mode of inheritance was clearly autosomal dominant. Six members of the family were found to have progressive optic atrophy and hearing loss, both starting in the first decade of life. Total or red-green color blindness was detected in some patients. None of the members of this family showed evidence of other systemic disorders; however, four had blepharochalasis. No other cause could be found for the hearing or the visual loss. Linkage analysis excluded OPA1 and OPA2. CONCLUSION: The present Turkish family belongs to the group of individuals with autosomal dominantly inherited optic atrophies with hearing loss. Linkage analysis excluded OPA1 and OPA2, indicating that a novel gene defect underlies the disease in this family. Further genome-wide linkage analysis and identification of the disease-associated gene will help define the pathophysiology of this syndrome.

Haploinsufficiency of TBX3 causes ulnar-mammary syndrome in a large Turkish family.

We present a large Turkish family with autosomal dominant inherited ulnar-mammary syndrome in which 10 affected family members, spanning three generations, were diagnosed. The phenotypic expression of the disease was found to be highly variable among the affected family members showing posterior-limb deficiencies and/or duplications, mammary-gland hypoplasia, apocrine dysfunction, dental and genital abnormalities. Mutation analysis of the TBX3 gene showed a novel one base-pair insertion at position 89 (designated 88_89insA) in the coding region. The mutation leads to a shift of the open reading frame and causes a premature truncation of the protein (M30fsX110). The truncated protein lacks almost all functional important parts of TBX3, most likely leading to a complete loss of functional protein. Our findings indicate that ulnar-mammary syndrome shows a wide range of phenotypes even within the same family and provide further evidence that haploinsufficiency of TBX3 is the disease-causing mechanism.