Identification and characterization of a novel recessive KCNQ1 mutation associated with Romano-Ward Long-QT syndrome in two Iranian families.

BACKGROUND: One of the foremost causes of sudden cardiac death in the young is an inherent cardiac arrhythmia known as Long-QT syndrome (LQTS). Whereas heterozygous mutations typically lead to the Romano-Ward type of LQTS, We have provided a further evidence for the recessive transmission of a novel KCNQ1 gene mutation in two consanguineous families for the first time in Iran. METHODS: Next generation sequencing, DNA Sanger sequencing and haplotype analysis were performed for genotype determination. Twelve different in silico tools were used for predicting the variant pathogenecity along with the family and population study. RESULTS: A novel recessive KCNQ1 variant (p.D564G) was revealed in none of the unrelated healthy individuals but four patients in two apparently unrelated families. The variant was classified as a likely pathogenic mutation by combining the resulted criteria for the changed amino acid. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the novel mutation not only supports the genetic testing as a definitive diagnostic tool for detection of at risk family members, but also emphasizes its screening in Iranian LQTS patients as this mutation is very likely a founder mutation in Iran.

Positive Brugada challenge test in V1 R-V3 R as a predictor of malignant prognosis in Brugada patients.

BACKGROUND: The Brugada syndrome is a heterogeneous genetic disease that predisposes to life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). The only proven way to prolong the survival of patients with Brugada syndrome is to implant an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). This should be implanted for high-risk patients only. METHOD: The patients with type 2 or 3 Brugada ECG pattern were selected for the study. We evaluated 126 patients with Brugada type ECG patterns. Nineteen patients had positive response. Those who had positive result in right side located leads had poorer prognosis. CONCLUSION: Positive flecainide challenge test in right side located pericordial leads can be used as a predictor of poor prognosis in Brugada patients. This can be evaluated in another research for its role in the implantation of ICD. Also, the oral flecainide is not sensitive enough to rule out the presence of Brugada syndrome and it should not be trusted as a screening test for suspected cases.

A Novel Mutation in CLDN16 Gene Causing Familial Hypomagnesemia, Hypercalciuria, Nephrocalcinosis in An Iranian Family.

Familial hypomagnesemia with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis (FHHNC) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that is characterized by renal magnesium wasting, hypercalciuria and eventually kidney failure which mostly affects children and young aged adults. Mutation of genes of claudin-16 and claudin-19 are involved in the pathogenesis of this disorder, which leads to renal magnesium and calcium wasting. A 35-year-old man with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) was referred to our clinic due to bilateral nephrocalcinosis, detected by ultrasonographic study, for further evaluation. Detailed investigations revealed that his siblings had also similar presentations of hypomagnesemia, hypercalciuria, nephrocalcinosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sanger sequencing showed a novel mutation (c.338G > A: p.C113Y) at the second exon of the CLDN16 gene. The patient underwent kidney transplantation and his siblings received only medical treatment. In young patients with ESKD and concomitant nephrocalcinosis, especially where there is a family history of CKD/ESKD, genetic evaluation is strongly recommended.  DOI: 10.52547/ijkd.6845.

Allelic Dropout Is a Common Phenomenon That Reduces the Diagnostic Yield of PCR-Based Sequencing of Targeted Gene Panels.

Primary cardiomyopathies (CMPs) are monogenic but multi-allelic disorders with dozens of genes involved in pathogenesis. The implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches has resulted in more time- and cost-efficient DNA diagnostics of cardiomyopathies. However, the diagnostic yield of genetic testing for each subtype of CMP fails to exceed 60%. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that allelic dropout (ADO) is a common phenomenon that reduces the diagnostic yield in primary cardiomyopathy genetic testing based on targeted gene panels assayed on the Ion Torrent platform. We performed mutational screening with three custom targeted gene panels based on sets of oligoprimers designed automatically using AmpliSeq Designer® containing 1049 primer pairs for 37 genes with a total length of 153 kb. DNA samples from 232 patients were screened with at least one of these targeted gene panels. We detected six ADO events in both IonTorrent PGM (three cases) and capillary Sanger sequencing (three cases) data, identifying ADO-causing variants in all cases. All ADO events occurred due to common or rare single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the oligoprimer binding sites and were detected because of the presence of "marker" SNVs in the target DNA fragment. We ultimately identified that PCR-based NGS involves a risk of ADO that necessitates the use of Sanger sequencing to validate NGS results. We assume that oligoprimer design without ADO data affects the amplification efficiency of up to 0.77% of amplicons.

A Rare Mutation in the MARVELD2 Gene Can Cause Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

The MARVELD2 gene which is located on the 5q13.2 may cause nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) with autosomal recessive inherited pattern. So far c.1331+1G>A (IVS4+1G>A); NM_001038603.3, variant in deafness, has only reported previously in one Pakistani family in 2008 and it is reported for the first time in Iran and second time in the world. The case is a 21-year-old Iranian woman who has NSHL referred for genetic consultation, and her parents had a consanguineous marriage. To study the responsible genes for the mentioned disorder, whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed for the case. The result of WES analysis revealed a transition at the splice donor variant site of the MARVELD2 gene. The NGS result was confirmed by Sanger sequencing.

Identification of a Novel KCNQ1 Frameshift Mutation and Review of the Literature among Iranian Long QT Families

Background: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is characterized by the prolongation of QT interval, which results in syncope and sudden cardiac death in young people. KCNQ1 is the most common gene responsible for this syndrome. Methods: Molecular investigation was performed by DNA Sanger sequencing in Iranian families with a history of syncope. In silico examinations were performed for predicting the pathogenicity of the novel variant. Results: A novel homozygous KCNQ1 frameshift mutation, c.1426_1429delATGC (M476Pfs*4), was identified, and then the current literatures of five patients were reviewed regarding the LQTS. Conclusion: The novel frameshift mutation has been reported for the first time among the Iranian population. Our finding along with the case series study of LQTS patients illustrates the importance of genetic and case series in precise detection of the frequency of LQTS carriers.

Novel frameshift mutation in the KCNQ1 gene responsible for Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in KCNQ1 or KCNE1 genes. The disease is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and long QT syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we present a 3.5-year-old female patient, an offspring of consanguineous marriage, who had a history of recurrent syncope and congenital sensorineural deafness. The patient and the family members were screened for mutations in KCNQ1 gene by linkage analysis and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: DNA sequencing showed a c.1532_1534delG (p. A512Pfs*81) mutation in the KCNQ1 gene in homozygous form. The results of short tandem repeat (STR) markers showed that the disease in the family is linked to the KCNQ1 gene. The mutation was confirmed in the parents in heterozygous form. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of this variant in KCNQ1 gene in an Iranian family. The data of this study could be used for early diagnosis of the condition in the family and genetic counseling.

Detection of a new KCNQ1 frameshift mutation associated with Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome in 2 Iranian families.

Jervell-Lange Nielsen syndrome (JLNS) with autosomal recessive inheritance is a congenital cardiovascular disorder characterized by prolongation of QT interval on the ECG and deafness. We have performed molecular investigation by haplotype analysis and DNA Sanger sequencing in 2 unrelated Iranian families with a history of syncope. Mutational screening of KCNQ1 gene revealed the novel homozygous frameshift mutation c.733-734delGG (p.G245Rfs*39) in 2 obviously unrelated cases of JLNS which is probably a founder mutation in Iran. The novel mutation detected in this study is the first time reported among Iranian population and will be beneficial in the tribe and region-specific cascade screening of LQTS in Iran.

Identification of a new mutation in an Iranian family with hereditary multiple osteochondromas.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO), previously named hereditary multiple exostoses (HME), is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder characterized by the growth of multiple osteochondromas and is associated with bony deformity, skeletal growth reduction, nerve compression, restriction of joint motion, and premature osteoarthrosis. HMO is genetically heterogeneous, localized on at least three chromosomal loci including 8q24.1 (EXT1), 11p11-p13 (EXT2), and 19p (EXT3). The median age of diagnosis is 3 years; almost all affected individuals are diagnosed by age 12. The risk for malignant degeneration to osteochondrosarcoma increases with age, although the lifetime risk of malignant degeneration is low (~1%). METHODS AND RESULTS: This study was performed on an Iranian family with nine affected individuals from three consecutive generations. Here, the proband was an affected woman who received genetic counseling prior to pregnancy. All exons of the three genes were examined in the proband using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods (the last member of this family is a male with severe deformities and lesions, especially around his large joints). Exon 4 of EXT1 (c.1235 G>A) was changed in affected individuals. This mutation alters tryptophan to a premature stop codon on amino acid position 412 (p.Trp412x). CONCLUSION: The outcome of this study has extended the genotypic spectrum of Iranian patients with HMO, revealing a way for improving detection and genetic counseling in carriers.

Complex genetic background in a large family with Brugada syndrome.

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited arrhythmia characterized by ST-segment elevation in V1-V3 leads and negative T wave on standard ECG. BrS patients are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular tachyarrhythmia. At least 17 genes have been proposed to be linked to BrS, although recent findings suggested a polygenic background. Mutations in SCN5A, the gene coding for the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5, have been found in 15-30% of index cases. Here, we present the results of clinical, genetic, and expression studies of a large Iranian family with BrS carrying a novel genetic variant (p.P1506S) in SCN5A. By performing whole-cell patch-clamp experiments using HEK293 cells expressing wild-type (WT) or p.P1506S Nav1.5 channels, hyperpolarizing shift of the availability curve, depolarizing shift of the activation curve, and hastening of the fast inactivation process were observed. These mutant-induced alterations lead to a loss of function of Nav1.5 and thus suggest that the p.P1506S variant is pathogenic. In addition, cascade familial screening found a family member with BrS who did not carry the p.P1506S mutation. Additional next generation sequencing analyses revealed the p.R25W mutation in KCNH2 gene in SCN5A-negative BrS patients. These findings illustrate the complex genetic background of BrS found in this family and the possible pathogenic role of a new SCN5A genetic variant.

Sodium current and potassium transient outward current genes in Brugada syndrome: screening and bioinformatics.

BACKGROUND: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a primary arrhythmia syndrome characterized by the occurrence of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Previously, the genes SCN1B, SCN3B, MOG1, and KCND3 have been associated with BrS. Recent data from exome screening efforts permit better discrimination between low-frequency genetic variants and true monogenetic disease-causing variants. We aimed to screen the genes SCN1B through SCN4B, MOG1, CAV3, and KCND3 for variations in a population of SCN5A negative Danish and Iranian BrS patients, as well as research prior associations using newly released exome data. METHODS: Screening of all exons and splice sites was performed using Sanger sequencing. Bioinformatic searches were performed in the Single-nucleotide polymorphism database (build 132) and in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grand Opportunity Exome Sequencing Project (ESP) for both previously published variant-BrS associations and newly uncovered variations within the noted genes. RESULTS: A total of 42 BrS patients were screened, and 2 different nonsynonymous mutations in SCN1Bb (H162P and R214Q) were found in 2 different Danish patients. The variants were not found in 216 Danish controls, but R214Q was present in ESP data (5 of 841 alleles). No other mutations were found. Previously BrS-associated mutations in KNCD3 and SCN3B were also present in ESP data. This was not the case for MOG1, but a nonsense polymorphism was present in 0.5% of alleles. CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the association of SCN1Bb with BrS. However, recently released exome data make some of the prior associations of BrS with genes SCN3B, MOG1, and KCND3 less likely.

Accumulation of mitochondrial genome variations in Persian LQTS patients: a possible risk factor?

BACKGROUND: Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is among arrhythmia disorders of the heart that causes sudden cardiac death in young individuals. As yet, most of investigations have focused on nuclear genome for finding genetic defects in this disorder, but some of the cases with LQTS cannot be explained by mutations of identified genes. On the other hand, it has been reported that the activity of ion channels in cardiomyocytes is sensitive to ATP level. It prompted us to focus on the mitochondrial DNA and monitor the point mutations of genome which are probably the cause of respiratory chain defects and reduced ATP generation. METHODS: We searched about 55% of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE), and DNA fragments showing abnormal banding patterns were sequenced for identification of exact mutations. RESULTS: In 39 patients (33 familial and 6 sporadic cases), for the first time, we detected 35 mtDNA mutations in which 8 were novel (23%) and 27 (77%) have been reported in other mitochondrial diseases. Our results showed that these mutations in LQTS patients were higher than those in normal controls (P<.0001), and the number of mutations in LQTS patients with syncope is higher than in patients without syncope (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: As the mitochondrion's ATP synthesis is important in heart, it is possible that mutations and their accumulation in mtDNA could constitute a predisposing factor that in combination with environmental factors may trigger the syncope in patients with LQTS.