Non-coding deletions identify Maenli lncRNA as a limb-specific En1 regulator.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can be important components in gene-regulatory networks1, but the exact nature and extent of their involvement in human Mendelian disease is largely unknown. Here we show that genetic ablation of a lncRNA locus on human chromosome 2 causes a severe congenital limb malformation. We identified homozygous 27-63-kilobase deletions located 300 kilobases upstream of the engrailed-1 gene (EN1) in patients with a complex limb malformation featuring mesomelic shortening, syndactyly and ventral nails (dorsal dimelia). Re-engineering of the human deletions in mice resulted in a complete loss of En1 expression in the limb and a double dorsal-limb phenotype that recapitulates the human disease phenotype. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis in the developing mouse limb revealed a four-exon-long non-coding transcript within the deleted region, which we named Maenli. Functional dissection of the Maenli locus showed that its transcriptional activity is required for limb-specific En1 activation in cis, thereby fine-tuning the gene-regulatory networks controlling dorso-ventral polarity in the developing limb bud. Its loss results in the En1-related dorsal ventral limb phenotype, a subset of the full En1-associated phenotype. Our findings demonstrate that mutations involving lncRNA loci can result in human Mendelian disease.

Phenotypic, molecular, and functional characterization of COQ7-related primary CoQ10 deficiency: Hypomorphic variants and two distinct disease entities.

Primary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency is a group of inborn errors of metabolism caused by defects in CoQ10 biosynthesis. Biallelic pathogenic variants in COQ7, encoding mitochondrial 5-demethoxyubiquinone hydroxylase, have been reported in nine patients from seven families. We identified five new patients with COQ7-related primary CoQ10 deficiency, performed clinical assessment of the patients, and studied the functional effects of current and previously reported COQ7 variants and potential treatment options. The main clinical features included a neonatal-onset presentation with severe neuromuscular, cardiorespiratory and renal involvement and a late-onset disease presenting with progressive neuropathy, lower extremity weakness, abnormal gait, and variable developmental delay. Baker's yeast orthologue of COQ7, CAT5, is required for growth on oxidative carbon sources and cat5Δ strain demonstrates oxidative growth defect. Expression of wild-type CAT5 could completely rescue the defect; however, yeast CAT5 harboring equivalent human pathogenic variants could not. Interestingly, cat5Δ yeast harboring p.Arg57Gln (equivalent to human p.Arg54Gln), p.Arg112Trp (equivalent to p.Arg107Trp), p.Ile69Asn (equivalent to p.Ile66Asn) and combination of p.Lys108Met and p.Leu116Pro (equivalent to the complex allele p.[Thr103Met;Leu111Pro]) partially rescued the growth defects, indicating these variants are hypomorphic alleles. Supplementation with 2,4 dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-diHB) rescued the growth defect of both the leaky and severe mutants. Overexpression of COQ8 and 2,4-diHB supplementation synergistically restored oxidative growth and respiratory defect. Overall, we define two distinct disease presentations of COQ7-related disorder with emerging genotype-phenotype correlation and validate the use of the yeast model for functional studies of COQ7 variants.

Czech dysplasia mimicking rheumatoid arthritis: Case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: This study reported a family with most members affected by Czech dysplasia. We examined the patients' clinical, laboratory, and imaging characteristics and evaluated their functional capacity using the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index. METHODS: The method used was case series description and literature review. RESULTS: This study showed that the pathogenic variant c.823C>T in the COL2A1 gene, which is a characteristic of Czech dysplasia, was found in 12 Brazilian individuals. Half of the patients in this family met the criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on the 2010 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism classification criteria. Patients had arthritis in their hand joints, synovitis detected by ultrasound, and alterations in inflammatory tests. The Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index assessment revealed that all patients exhibited moderate-to-severe functional disability. What distinguish Czech dysplasia from RA are an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, platyspondyly, sensorineural hearing loss, and shortening of the metatarsal bones. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consider Czech dysplasia as a potential differential diagnosis for RA. This autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasia is associated with normal height, short metatarsals, platyspondyly, hearing loss, enlarged epiphyses, and precocious osteoarthritis. Inflammatory findings such as arthritis, synovitis, and alteration of inflammatory markers may also be present in individuals with Czech dysplasia.

Synergistic use of glycomics and single-molecule molecular inversion probes for identification of congenital disorders of glycosylation type-1.

Congenital disorders of glycosylation type 1 (CDG-I) comprise a group of 27 genetic defects with heterogeneous multisystem phenotype, mostly presenting with nonspecific neurological symptoms. The biochemical hallmark of CDG-I is a partial absence of complete N-glycans on transferrin. However, recent findings of a diagnostic N-tetrasaccharide for ALG1-CDG and increased high-mannose N-glycans for a few other CDG suggested the potential of glycan structural analysis for CDG-I gene discovery. We analyzed the relative abundance of total plasma N-glycans by high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in a large cohort of 111 CDG-I patients with known (n = 75) or unsolved (n = 36) genetic cause. We designed single-molecule molecular inversion probes (smMIPs) for sequencing of CDG-I candidate genes on the basis of specific N-glycan signatures. Glycomics profiling in patients with known defects revealed novel features such as the N-tetrasaccharide in ALG2-CDG patients and a novel fucosylated N-pentasaccharide as specific glycomarker for ALG1-CDG. Moreover, group-specific high-mannose N-glycan signatures were found in ALG3-, ALG9-, ALG11-, ALG12-, RFT1-, SRD5A3-, DOLK-, DPM1-, DPM3-, MPDU1-, ALG13-CDG, and hereditary fructose intolerance. Further differential analysis revealed high-mannose profiles, characteristic for ALG12- and ALG9-CDG. Prediction of candidate genes by glycomics profiling in 36 patients with thus far unsolved CDG-I and subsequent smMIPs sequencing led to a yield of solved cases of 78% (28/36). Combined plasma glycomics profiling and targeted smMIPs sequencing of candidate genes is a powerful approach to identify causative mutations in CDG-I patient cohorts.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: Genetic profile of patients from a large Brazilian neuromuscular reference center.

This study aimed to describe the clinical, genetic, and epidemiological features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) in Brazilian patients from a tertiary center, and to compare our data with previously published findings. This retrospective observational study conducted between February 2015 and July 2020 evaluated 503 patients (94 families and 192 unrelated individuals), diagnosed with CMT. Clinical and neurophysiological data were obtained from electronic medical records and blood samples were used for genetic analyses. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to assess duplications/deletions in PMP22. Sanger sequencing of GJB1 was performed in cases of suspected demyelinating CMT. Targeted gene panel sequencing was used for the remaining negative demyelinating cases and all axonal CMT cases. The first decade of life was the most common period of disease onset. In all, 353 patients had demyelinating CMT, 39 had intermediate CMT, and 111 had axonal CMT. Pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants were identified in 197 index cases. The most common causative genes among probands were PMP22 (duplication) (n = 116, 58.88%), GJB1 (n = 23, 11.67%), MFN2 (n = 12, 6.09%), GDAP1 (n = 7, 3.55%), MPZ (n = 6, 3.05%), PMP22 (point mutation) (n = 6, 3.05%), NEFL (n = 3, 1.52%), SBF2 (n = 3, 1.52%), and SH3TC2 (n = 3, 1.52%). Other identified variants were ≤1% of index cases. This study provides further data on the frequency of CMT subtypes in a Brazilian clinical-based population and highlights the importance of rarer and previously undiagnosed variants in clinical practice.

Femoral-facial syndrome: A review of the literature and 14 additional patients including a monozygotic discordant twin pair.

Femoral-facial syndrome (FFS, OMIM 134780), also known as femoral hypoplasia-unusual face syndrome, is a rare sporadic syndrome associated with maternal diabetes, and comprising femoral hypoplasia/agenesis and a distinct facies characterized by micrognathia, cleft palate, and other minor dysmorphisms. The evaluation of 14 unpublished Brazilian patients, prompted us to make an extensive literature review comparing both sets of data. From 120 previously reported individuals with FFS, 66 were excluded due to: not meeting the inclusion criteria (n = 21); not providing sufficient data to ascertain the diagnosis (n = 29); were better assigned to another diagnosis (n = 3); and, being fetuses of the second trimester (n = 13) due to the obvious difficult to confirm a typical facies. Clinical-radiological and family information from 54 typical patients were collected and compared with the 14 new Brazilian patients. The comparison between the two sets of patients did not show any relevant differences. Femoral involvement was most frequently hypoplasia, observed in 91.2% of patients, and the typical facies was characterized by micrognathia (97%), cleft palate (61.8%), and minor dysmorphisms (frontal bossing 63.6%, short nose 91.7%, long philtrum 94.9%, and thin upper lip 92.3%). Clubfoot (55.9%) was commonly observed. Other observed findings may be part of FFS or may be simply concurrent anomalies since maternal diabetes is a common risk factor. While maternal diabetes was the only common feature observed during pregnancy (50.8%), no evidence for a monogenic basis was found. Moreover, a monozygotic discordant twin pair was described reinforcing the absence of a major genetic factor associated with FFS.

Novel Variant of SLC34A3 in a Compound Heterozygous Brazilian Girl with Hereditary Hypophosphatemic Rickets with Hypercalciuria.

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria (HHRH) is a rare FGF23-independent disorder caused by biallelic variants in the SLC34A3 gene. The disease severity varies, and patients have an increased risk of developing renal complications. Phosphate supplementation is standard of care and active vitamin D analogs are not indicated as they could worsen the hypercalciuria. We report a Brazilian girl with HHRH who presented with knee pain and progressive genu valgum deformity that became apparent later in childhood (at age 8). Nephrocalcinosis was also identified at age 13. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) target panel directed to inherited forms of rickets detected compound heterozygous pathogenic variants in SLC34A3, including a novel missense variant c.1217G>T (p.Gly406Val). Compliance to oral phosphorus therapy was suboptimal and adjunctive chlorthalidone therapy improved hypercalciuria. Our case highlights the phenotypic variability of patients with HHRH and expands the growing list of SLC34A3 variants associated with this disorder. An accurate diagnosis is crucial for proper treatment, and a thiazide diuretic may be useful as adjunctive therapy for controlling hypercalciuria.

Additional features of unique Primrose syndrome phenotype.

Primrose syndrome is a unique condition of intellectual disability, dysmorphic facial features, and specific minor abnormalities including large calcified ear auricles. Only six patients have been previously reported. We describe a Brazilian boy with the striking similar facies and the main clinical findings that reinforced the singular phenotype of this rare disorder. The key features of all patients already published were compared. Our young patient has abnormalities that were not observed in preceding reports: nail dysplasia and hyperuricemia.

Tibial hemimelia in Langer-Giedion syndrome with 8q23.1-q24.12 interstitial deletion.

Langer-Giedion syndrome (LGS) (OMIM 150230) is defined as a contiguous gene syndrome caused by loss of functional copies of the TRPS1 and EXT1 genes usually secondary to 8q microdeletion. Tibial hemimelia (TH) is the least common lower limb deficiency characterized by hypoplasia of the tibia with relatively intact fibula. We describe the third report of LGS with bilateral TH and an 8q23.1-q24.12 interstitial deletion. It is not possible to exclude that this association is fortuitous, but our report reinforces the suggestion of a putative gene involved in limb development in this chromosomal region interval.

Unique skeletal manifestations in patients with Primrose syndrome.

Primrose syndrome (OMIM 259050) is a rare disorder characterised by macrocephaly with developmental delay, a recognisable facial phenotype, altered glucose metabolism, and other features such as sensorineural hearing loss, short stature, and calcification of the ear cartilage. It is caused by heterozygous variants in ZBTB20, a member of the POK family of transcription repressors. Recently, this gene was shown to have a role in skeletal development through its action on chondrocyte differentiation by repression of SOX9. We describe five unrelated patients with Primrose syndrome and distinct skeletal features including multiple Wormian bones, platybasia, bitemporal bossing, bathrocephaly, slender bones, epiphyseal and spondylar dysplasia. The radiological abnormalities of the skull and the epiphyseal dysplasia were the most consistent findings. This novel constellation of skeletal features expands the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder.

Schilbach-Rott/blepharofacioskeletal syndrome in a Brazilian patient.

We report on a 4-year-old girl with blepharophimosis, a typical facial gestalt and skeletal abnormalities seen in the blepharofacioskeletal syndrome (BFSS). A comparative review with previous cases provides further evidence that BFSS and Schilbach-Rott syndrome (SRS) are the same condition.

Serological prevalence of celiac disease in Brazilian population of multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and myelitis.

PURPOSE: Comorbidity of celiac disease with demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system has been reported since the 1960s. The objective of this study was to determine the serological prevalence of celiac disease in the largest series of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, or myelitis. METHODS: A prevalence study was conducted with patients evaluated at Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals between March 2012 and September 2013. They were previously diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, or idiopathic myelitis. The serum levels of antibodies against tissue transglutaminase and endomysium were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 379 patients evaluated, 249 (65.70%) were diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, 37 (9.56%) with neuromyelitis optica, and 96 (24.54%) with idiopathic myelitis. Two patients (0.53%), one with multiple sclerosis and other with myelitis, tested positive for both antibodies. CONCLUSION: Our study do not confirm the relationship between celiac serological antibodies with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica and inflammatory myelitis of an unknown etiology.

Analysis of novel ARG1 mutations causing hyperargininemia and correlation with arginase I activity in erythrocytes.

Hyperargininemia (HA) is an autosomal recessive disease that typically has a clinical presentation that is distinct from other urea cycle disorders. It is caused by the deficient activity of the enzyme arginase I, encoded by the gene ARG1. We screened for ARG1 mutations and measured erythrocyte enzyme activity in a series of 16 Brazilian HA patients. Novel mutations, in addition to previously described missense mutations, were analysed for their effect on the structure, stability and/or function of arginase I (ARG1) using bioinformatics tools. Three previously reported mutations were found (p.R21X; p.I11T and p.W122X), and five novel mutations were identified (p.G27D; p.G74V; p.T134I; p.R308Q; p.I174fs179). The p.T134I mutation was the most frequent in the Brazilian population. Patients carrying the p.R308Q mutation had higher residual ARG1 decreased activity, but presented no distinguishable phenotype compared to the other patients. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that missense mutations (1) affect the ARG1 active site, (2) interfere with the stability of the ARG1 folded conformation or (3) alter the quaternary structure of the ARG1. Our study reinforced the role of Arg308 residue for assembly of the ARG1 homotrimer. The panel of heterogeneous ARG1 mutations that cause HA was expanded, nevertheless a clear genotype-phenotype correlation was not observed in our series.

Craniofacial findings in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: computerized tomography evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was the evaluation by using computerized tomography (CT) of craniofacial abnormalities in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) patients regarding jaw restriction and retrognathia. STUDY DESIGN: Seven FOP patients were evaluated retrospectively in this observational study. Inclusion criteria were detection of ACVR1 gene mutation and complete craniofacial CT examination. The age of jaw restriction and presence of retrognathia were clinically determined. The features analyzed were skull base structures and heterotopic ossification (HO). RESULTS: Of this group (age range 4-23 years), the 3 oldest patients presented with jaw restriction and retrognathia as well as displayed elongation of the lateral pterygoid plate with HO of the pterygoid muscles that reached the medial surface of the right mandibular ramus. They had significant history of trauma or surgery. The other 4 patients did not have retrognathia or HO involving the facial or masticatory muscles, and the mouth opening was normal. CONCLUSIONS: CT evaluation can reveal HO of the pterygoid muscles that probably may cause jaw restriction and retrognathia in older FOP patients.

Síndrome de MOebius e uso de misoprostol: Relato de dois casos / Moebius syndrome and the use of misoprostol: Report of two cases

A síndrome de Moebius é auma anomalia congênita de ocorrência esporádica caracterizada por ausênsia de expressão facial associada a defeitos de membros. Seu mecanismo patogênico parece estar relacionado a eventos hipóxico-isquêmicos durante o primeiro trimestre da gestação. Dois casos de crianças nascidas na maternidade do Hospital das Clínicas UFPE, com antecedente pré-natal de uso de misoprostol, droga largamente utilizada como manobra abortiva - e diagnostico de síndrome de Moebius são relatados