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Bonneau S, Kulbay M, Kahn-Ali S, Qian CX. Exploring the impact of Choroideremia on women with phenotypic and/or genotypic evidence of disease: insights from a global survey. Ophthalmic Genet 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38847528 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2024.2357705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked inherited retinal disease mostly affecting males. However, women with phenotypic and/or genotypic evidence of CHM may develop degenerative visual disability with advancing age. Our objective was to determine the visual impacts of phenotypic and/or genotypic evidence of CHM in women and its associated psychosocial burden and influence on activities of daily living (ADLs). METHODS We conducted an international cross-sectional survey from April to December 2022 using an e-questionnaire distributed through not-for-profit stakeholder organizations and social media plat-forms. RESULTS With a total of 55 respondents (n = 55), most women with phenotypic and/or genotypic evidence of CHM (76%) reported a change in their visual acuity. When assessing its impact on ADLs, Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a negative correlation between driving (p = 0.046) and mobility capabil-ities (0.046) with the respondent's age. More than half of women reported being afraid, anxious, and stressed, with women below the age of 50 years old reporting a significantly higher level of distress and hopelessness (p = 0.003), anxiety (p = 0.00007), issues with relaxing (p = 0.025), and negative personal thoughts (p = 0.042). CONCLUSION Overall, this survey outlines both physical and psychological burden of being a woman with phenotypic and/or genotypic evidence of CHM. Given the limited clinical research in females affected by CHM, this patient-centered survey is a crucial advocacy tool for these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bonneau
- Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Centre Universitaire affilié à l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - Merve Kulbay
- Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Centre Universitaire affilié à l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Shigufa Kahn-Ali
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centre Universitaire d'Ophtalmologie (CUO), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, University of Montreal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cynthia X Qian
- Centre de recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Centre Universitaire affilié à l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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2
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Kolkova Z, Durdik P, Holubekova V, Durdikova A, Jesenak M, Banovcin P. Identification of a novel RPGR mutation associated with retinitis pigmentosa and primary ciliary dyskinesia in a Slovak family: a case report. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1339664. [PMID: 38333087 PMCID: PMC10850321 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1339664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The mutations in the RPGR (retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator) gene are the most common cause of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), a rare genetic disorder affecting the photoreceptor cells in the retina. Several reported cases identified this gene as a genetic link between retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), characterised by impaired ciliary function predominantly in the respiratory tract. Since different mutations in the same gene can result in various clinical manifestations, it is important to describe a correlation between the gene variant and the observed phenotype. Methods Two young brothers from a non-consanguineous Slovak family with diagnosed retinal dystrophy and recurrent respiratory infections were examined. Suspected PCD was diagnosed based on a PICADAR questionnaire, nasal nitric oxide analysis, transmission electron microscopy, high-speed video microscopy analysis, and genetic testing. Results We identified a novel frameshift RPGR mutation NM_001034853: c.309_310insA, p.Glu104Argfs*12, resulting in a complex X-linked phenotype combining PCD and RP. In our patients, this mutation was associated with normal ultrastructure of respiratory cilia, reduced ciliary epithelium, more aciliary respiratory epithelium, shorter cilia, and uncoordinated beating with a frequency at a lower limit of normal beating, explaining the clinical manifestation of PCD in our patients. Conclusion The identified novel pathogenic mutation in the RPGR gene expands the spectrum of genetic variants associated with the X-linked PCD phenotype overlapping with RP, highlighting the diversity of mutations contributing to the disorder. The described genotype-phenotype correlation can be useful in clinical practice to recognise a broader spectrum of PCD phenotypes as well as for future research focused on the genetic basis of PCD, gene interactions, the pathways implicated in PCD pathogenesis, and the role of RPGR protein for the proper functioning of cilia in various tissues throughout the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Kolkova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Peter Durdik
- Department of Pediatrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Martin, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Holubekova
- Biomedical Center Martin, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Anna Durdikova
- Department of Pediatrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Martin, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Milos Jesenak
- Department of Pediatrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Martin, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Pulmonology and Phthisiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, University Hospital in Martin, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, University Hospital in Martin, Martin, Slovakia
| | - Peter Banovcin
- Department of Pediatrics, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, Martin, Slovakia
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Martin, Martin, Slovakia
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3
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Richards CJ, Pulido JS. Random Allelic Expression in Inherited Retinal Disease Genes. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:10018-10025. [PMID: 38132471 PMCID: PMC10742332 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45120625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a significant contributor to visual loss in children and young adults, falling second only to diabetic retinopathy. Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of IRDs remains paramount. Some autosomal genes exhibit random allelic expression (RAE), similar to X-chromosome inactivation. This study identifies RAE genes in IRDs. Genes in the Retinal Information Network were cross-referenced with the recent literature to identify expression profiles, RAE, or biallelic expression (BAE). Loss-of-function intolerance (LOFI) was determined by cross-referencing the existing literature. Molecular and biological pathways that are significantly enriched were evaluated using gene ontology. A total of 184 IRD-causing genes were evaluated. Of these, 31 (16.8%) genes exhibited RAE. LOFI was exhibited in 6/31 (19.4%) of the RAE genes and 18/153 (11.8%) of the BAE genes. Brain tissue exhibited BAE in 107/128 (83.6%) genes for both sexes. The molecular pathways significantly enriched among BAE genes were photoreceptor activity, tubulin binding, and nucleotide/ribonucleotide binding. The biologic pathways significantly enriched for RAE genes were equilibrioception, parallel actin filament bundle assembly, photoreceptor cell outer segment organization, and protein depalmitoylation. Allele-specific expression may be a mechanism underlying IRD phenotypic variability, with clonal populations of embryologic precursor cells exhibiting RAE. Brain tissue preferentially exhibited BAE, possibly due to selective pressures against RAE. Pathways critical for cellular and visual function were enriched in BAE, which may offer a survival benefit.
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4
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Usman M, Jüschke C, Song F, Kastrati D, Owczarek-Lipska M, Eilers J, Pauleikhoff L, Lange C, Neidhardt J. Skewed X-inactivation is associated with retinal dystrophy in female carriers of RPGR mutations. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201814. [PMID: 37541846 PMCID: PMC10403639 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive degeneration of rod and cone photoreceptors frequently is caused by mutations in the X-chromosomal gene Retinitis Pigmentosa GTPase Regulator (RPGR). Males hemizygous for a RPGR mutation often are affected by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), whereas female mutation carriers only occasionally present with severe RP phenotypes. The underlying pathomechanism leading to RP in female carriers is not well understood. Here, we analyzed a three-generation family in which two of three female carriers of a nonsense RPGR mutation presented with RP. Among two cell lines derived from the same female family members, differences were detected in RPGR transcript expression, in localization of RPGR along cilia, as well as in primary cilium length. Significantly, these differences correlated with alterations in X-chromosomal inactivation patterns found in the patient-derived cell lines from females. In summary, our data suggest that skewed X-chromosomal inactivation is an important factor that determines the disease manifestation of RP among female carriers of pathogenic sequence alterations in the RPGR gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Usman
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Jüschke
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Fei Song
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Kastrati
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Marta Owczarek-Lipska
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Junior Research Group, Genetics of Childhood Brain Malformations, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Jannis Eilers
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Laurenz Pauleikhoff
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - Clemens Lange
- Eye Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Ophtha-Lab, Department of Ophthalmology at St. Franziskus Hospital, Muenster, Germany
| | - John Neidhardt
- Human Genetics, Medical Faculty, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Research Center Neurosensory Science, Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
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5
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Gocuk SA, Jolly JK, Edwards TL, Ayton LN. Female carriers of X-linked inherited retinal diseases - Genetics, diagnosis, and potential therapies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 96:101190. [PMID: 37406879 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2023.101190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of heterogeneous conditions that cause progressive vision loss, typically due to monogenic mutations. Female carriers of X-linked IRDs have a single copy of the disease-causing gene, and therefore, may exhibit variable clinical signs that vary from near normal retina to severe disease and vision loss. The relationships between individual genetic mutations and disease severity in X-linked carriers requires further study. This review summarises the current literature surrounding the spectrum of disease seen in female carriers of choroideremia and X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. Various classification systems are contrasted to accurately grade retinal disease. Furthermore, genetic mechanisms at the early embryonic stage are explored to potentially explain the variability of disease seen in female carriers. Future research in this area will provide insight into the association between genotype and retinal phenotypes of female carriers, which will guide in the management of these patients. This review acknowledges the importance of identifying which patients may be at high risk of developing severe symptoms, and therefore should be considered for emerging treatments, such as retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sena A Gocuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jasleen K Jolly
- Vision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas L Edwards
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lauren N Ayton
- Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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6
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Kirkby J, Halford S, Shanks M, Moore A, Gait A, Jenkins L, Clouston P, Patel CK, Downes SM. A Carrier Female Manifesting an Unusual X-Linked Retinoschisis Phenotype Associated with the Pathogenic Variant c.266delA, p.(Tyr89LeufsTer37) in RS1, and Skewed X-Inactivation. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1193. [PMID: 37372373 DOI: 10.3390/genes14061193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) is the most common juvenile macular degeneration in males. Unlike most other X-linked retinal dystrophies, carrier heterozygous females are very rarely reported to show clinical features of the disease. Herein, we describe unusual retinal features in a 2-year-old female infant with family history and genetic testing consistent with XLRS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kirkby
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Stephanie Halford
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Level 6 John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Morag Shanks
- Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratory, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Anthony Moore
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anthony Gait
- Rare & Inherited Disease Genomic Laboratory, Great Ormond Street for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JN, UK
| | - Lucy Jenkins
- Rare & Inherited Disease Genomic Laboratory, Great Ormond Street for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JN, UK
| | - Penny Clouston
- Oxford Medical Genetics Laboratory, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Chetan K Patel
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Susan M Downes
- Oxford Eye Hospital, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Level 6 John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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7
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Marques JP, Pinheiro R, Carvalho AL, Raimundo M, Soares M, Melo P, Murta J, Saraiva J, Silva R. Genetic spectrum, retinal phenotype, and peripapillary RNFL thickness in RPGR heterozygotes. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2023; 261:867-878. [PMID: 36050475 DOI: 10.1007/s00417-022-05809-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Phenotypic heterogeneity with variable severity has been reported in female carriers of retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) mutations, including a male-type phenotype. A phenomenon not fully understood is peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickening in male patients with RPGR-associated X-linked retinitis pigmentosa, especially in the temporal sector. We aim to describe the genetic spectrum, retinal phenotypes, and pRNFL thickness in a cohort of Caucasian RPGR-mutation heterozygotes. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at an inherited retinal degeneration (IRD) reference center in Portugal. Female patients heterozygous for clinically significant RPGR variants were identified using the IRD-PT registry. A complete ophthalmologic examination was performed, complemented by macular and peripapillary spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), ultra-widefield color fundus photography (UW-CFP), and ultra-widefield fundus autofluorescence (UW-FAF). The retinal phenotypes were graded according to previously described classifications. The pRNFL thickness across the superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal quadrants was compared to the Spectralis® RNFL age-adjusted reference database. RESULTS Forty-eight eyes from 24 females (10 families) were included in the study. Genetic analysis yielded 8 distinct clinically significant frameshift variants in RPGR gene, 3 of which herein reported for the first time. No association was found between mutation location and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) or retinal phenotype. Age was associated with worse BCVA and more advanced phenotypes on SD-OCT, UW-CFP, and UW-FAF. Seven women (29.17%) presented a male-type phenotype on UW-FAF in at least one eye. An association was found between UW-FAF and pRNFL thickness in the temporal sector (p = 0.003), with the most advanced fundus autofluorescence phenotypes showing increased pRNFL thickness in this sector. CONCLUSION This study expands the genetic landscape of RPGR-associated disease by reporting 3 novel clinically significant variants. We have shown that clinically severe phenotypes are not uncommon among female carriers. Furthermore, we provide novel insights into pRNFL changes observed in RPGR heterozygotes that mimic what has been reported in male patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Pedro Marques
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal. .,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal. .,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal. .,Centro de Responsabilidade Integrado de Oftalmologia (CRIO), Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Rosa Pinheiro
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Medical Genetics Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Raimundo
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mário Soares
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Pedro Melo
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joaquim Murta
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Saraiva
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rufino Silva
- Ophthalmology Unit, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra (CHUC), Coimbra, Portugal.,Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal.,University Clinic of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), Coimbra, Portugal
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8
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Hadalin V, Buscarino M, Sajovic J, Meglič A, Jarc-Vidmar M, Hawlina M, Volk M, Fakin A. Genetic Characteristics and Long-Term Follow-Up of Slovenian Patients with RPGR Retinal Dystrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043840. [PMID: 36835250 PMCID: PMC9958649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic characteristics and a long-term clinical follow-up of 18 Slovenian retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) patients from 10 families with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or cone/cone-rod dystrophy (COD/CORD) are reported. RP (eight families) was associated with two already known (p.(Ser407Ilefs*46) and p.(Glu746Argfs*23)) and five novel variants (c.1245+704_1415-2286del, p.(Glu660*), p.(Ala153Thr), c.1506+1G>T, and p.(Arg780Serfs*54)). COD (two families) was associated with p.(Ter1153Lysext*38). The median age of onset in males with RP (N = 9) was 6 years. At the first examination (median age of 32 years), the median best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.30 logMAR, and all patients had a hyperautofluorescent ring on fundus autofluorescence (FAF) encircling preserved photoreceptors. At the last follow-up (median age of 39 years), the median BCVA was 0.48 logMAR, and FAF showed ring constriction transitioning to patch in 2/9. Among females (N = 6; median age of 40 years), two had normal/near-normal FAF, one had unilateral RP (male pattern), and three had a radial and/or focal pattern of retinal degeneration. After a median of 4 years (4-21) of follow-up, 2/6 exhibited disease progression. The median age of onset in males with COD was 25 years. At first examination (median age of 35 years), the median BCVA was 1.00 logMAR, and all patients had a hyperautofluorescent FAF ring encircling foveal photoreceptor loss. At the last follow-up (median age of 42 years), the median BCVA was 1.30 logMAR, and FAF showed ring enlargement. The majority of the identified variants (75%; 6/8) had not been previously reported in other RPGR cohorts, which suggested the presence of distinct RPGR alleles in the Slovenian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlasta Hadalin
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maša Buscarino
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jana Sajovic
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andrej Meglič
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Martina Jarc-Vidmar
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Hawlina
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marija Volk
- Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Šlajmerjeva 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ana Fakin
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence:
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9
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Wawrocka A, Socha M, Walczak-Sztulpa J, Koczyk G, Skorczyk-Werner A, Krawczyński MR. Molecular Re-Diagnosis with Whole-Exome Sequencing Increases the Diagnostic Yield in Patients with Non-Syndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13040730. [PMID: 36832217 PMCID: PMC9954991 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13040730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of disorders with progressive loss of photoreceptor and pigment epithelial function. Nineteen unrelated Polish probands clinically diagnosed with nonsyndromic RP were recruited to this study. We used whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify potential pathogenic gene variants in molecularly undiagnosed RP patients, as a molecular re-diagnosis after having performed targeted NGS in the past. Targeted NGS allowed for identification of the molecular background in only 5 out of 19 patients. Fourteen patients who remained unsolved despite the targeted NGS were subjected to WES. WES revealed potentially causative variants in RP-related genes in another 12 patients. Together, NGS methods revealed the coexistence of causal variants affecting distinct RP genes in 17 out of 19 RP families, with a very high efficiency of 89%. With the improvement of NGS methods, including higher sequencing depth, broader target enrichment, and better bioinformatic analysis capabilities, the ratio of identified causal gene variants has significantly increased. Therefore, it is important to consider repeating high-throughput sequencing analysis in those patients in whom the previously performed NGS did not reveal any pathogenic variants. The study confirmed the efficiency and clinical utility of re-diagnosis with WES in molecularly undiagnosed RP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Wawrocka
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Magdalena Socha
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Walczak-Sztulpa
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Grzegorz Koczyk
- Biometry and Bioinformatics Team, Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 60-479 Poznan, Poland
| | - Anna Skorczyk-Werner
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej R. Krawczyński
- Department of Medical Genetics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
- Centers for Medical Genetics GENESIS, 60-529 Poznan, Poland
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10
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Cheloni R, Jackson D, Moosajee M. A Natural History Study of RP2-Related Retinopathy. J Clin Med 2022; 11:6877. [PMID: 36498452 PMCID: PMC9738434 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11236877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a severe form of RP, often with early macular involvement. This study aimed to characterise the natural history of patients with a diagnosis of X-linked RP due to RP2 mutations. Clinical details, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and multimodal retinal imaging were retrospectively collected from patients with RP2 variants from Moorfields Eye Hospital (London, UK). Measures of the ellipsoid-zone (EZ) width, central retinal thickness (CRT), and thickness of the photoreceptor and retinal pigment epithelium complex (PR+RPE, taken between the external limiting membrane and RPE) were extracted from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans. A total of 47 affected males (median baseline age: 20 years, IQR: 12.5−36.5) were included, and 41 had two or more visits (median follow-up: 8.0 years, IQR: 3.2−14.5). A total of 24 RP2 variants were identified, 13 of which were novel. BCVA dropped from 0.66 LogMAR at baseline (IQR, 0.35−1.4) to 1.3 LogMAR at the most recent visit (IQR: 0.6−1.4). SD-OCT revealed a prevalent outer retinal atrophy (n = 23/35, 65.7%), and measurable EZ width at baseline in 34.3% of patients (n = 12). Age significantly affected all quantitative measures (p < 0.001) except EZ width (p = 0.58), with exponential decays of 46−49% and 12.6−33.9% per decade for BCVA and SD-OCT measures, respectively. RP2 patients exhibited rapid progression to outer retina atrophy and early macular involvement with substantial vision loss by age 30−40.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Cheloni
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Daniel Jackson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London EC1V 2PD, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
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11
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Di Giosaffatte N, Valiante M, Tricarico S, Parise G, De Negri AM, Ricciotti G, Florean L, Paiardini A, Bottillo I, Grammatico P. A Novel Hypothesis on Choroideremia-Manifesting Female Carriers: Could CHM In-Frame Variants Exert a Dominant Negative Effect? A Case Report. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1268. [PMID: 35886051 PMCID: PMC9321261 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Choroideremia is an X-linked recessive condition presenting in males, with progressive degeneration of retinal and choroidal tissues leading to progressive visual loss. Its pathological mechanism is due to alterations in the CHM gene that encodes for REP1, a protein required for prenylation of Rab by the Rab geranylgeranyl transferase (RGGT). Even though female carriers are predicted to be not affected by the disease, a wide phenotypic spectrum ranging from mild to severe cases has been reported in women. The reason why Choroideremia manifests in female carriers remains elusive. While X chromosome inactivation (XCI) skewing has been proposed as a leading putative mechanism, emerging evidence has shown that CHM could variably escape from XCI. We described a family with an initial clinical suspicion of Retinitis Pigmentosa in which a novel CHM pathogenic splicing variant was found by exome sequencing. The variant, initially found in the 63-year-old female presenting with impaired visual acuity and severe retinal degeneration, segregated in the 31-year-old daughter and the 37-year-old son, both presenting with fundus anomalies. mRNA studies revealed a shorter in-frame CHM isoform lacking exon 10. Molecular modeling of the ternary REP1/Rab/RGGT protein complex predicted significant impairing of REP1/Rab binding without alteration of REP1/RGGT interaction. We suggest that, in our female cases, the biallelic expression of CHM may have led to the production of both the mutant and wild type REP1. The mutant isoform, sequestrating RGGT, could reduce its available amount for Rab prenylation, thus exerting a dominant-negative effect. If confirmed with further studies and in large cohorts of female carriers, the here proposed molecular mechanism could help to explain the complexity of manifestation of Choroideremia in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Di Giosaffatte
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (N.D.G.); (M.V.); (G.P.); (L.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Michele Valiante
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (N.D.G.); (M.V.); (G.P.); (L.F.); (P.G.)
| | | | - Giulia Parise
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (N.D.G.); (M.V.); (G.P.); (L.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Anna Maria De Negri
- Neuro-Ophthalmology Clinic, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00152 Rome, Italy;
| | - Guido Ricciotti
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Lara Florean
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (N.D.G.); (M.V.); (G.P.); (L.F.); (P.G.)
| | - Alessandro Paiardini
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Irene Bottillo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Molecular Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Grammatico
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental Medicine, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (N.D.G.); (M.V.); (G.P.); (L.F.); (P.G.)
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12
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Parmann R, Greenstein VC, Tsang SH, Sparrow JR. Choroideremia Carriers: Dark-Adapted Perimetry and Retinal Structures. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2022; 63:4. [PMID: 35816046 PMCID: PMC9284471 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.63.8.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose In choroideremia (CHM) carriers, scotopic sensitivity was assessed by dark adapted chromatic perimetry (DACP) and outer retinal structure was evaluated by multimodal imaging. Methods Nine carriers (18 eyes) and 13 healthy controls (13 eyes) underwent DACP testing with cyan and red stimuli. Analysis addressed peripapillary (4 test locations closest to the optic disc), macular (52 locations), and peripheral (60 locations outside the macula) regions. Responses were considered to be rod-mediated when cyan relative to red sensitivity was >5 dB. Fundus imaging included spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), short-wavelength (SW-AF), near-infrared (NIR-AF), ultrawide-field (200 degrees) pseudocolor fundus imaging, and quantitative (qAF) fundus autofluorescence. Results Detection of the cyan stimulus was rod mediated in essentially all test locations (99.7%). In the macular and peripheral areas, DACP sensitivity values were not significantly different from healthy eyes. In the peripapillary area, sensitivities were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). SD-OCT imaging ranged from hyper-reflective lesions and discontinuities of the outer retinal bands to hypertransmission of signal. SW-AF and NIR-AF images presented with peripapillary atrophy in seven patients (14 eyes). Mosaicism was detectable in SW-AF images in seven patients and in NIR-AF images in five patients. Frank hypo-autofluorescence was visible in eight patients with distinct chorioretinopathy in seven patients. The qAF values were below the 95% confidence interval (CI) of healthy age-matched individuals in 12 eyes. Conclusions Rod mediated scotopic sensitivity was comparable to that in control eyes in macular and peripheral areas but was decreased in the peripapillary area where changes in retinal structure were also most severe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rait Parmann
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Stephen H Tsang
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.,Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Janet R Sparrow
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States.,Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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13
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Huang J, Basith SST, Patel S, Goetsch Weisman A, Brickman W, Mets MB, Mets-Halgrimson R. Ocular findings in pediatric turner syndrome. Ophthalmic Genet 2022; 43:450-453. [PMID: 35382690 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2022.2045512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with abnormalities across several organ systems, including the visual system. There is a relative paucity of literature describing ophthalmic manifestations of TS. We sought to investigate eye manifestations in our cross-sectional population of pediatric TS patients. METHODS All patients managed by the TS program of a tertiary children's hospital were identified. Patients with documentation of at least one eye exam were included for analysis. Chart review was retrospectively performed to identify all documented ocular abnormalities as well as patient demographics, including TS karyotype. Statistical analysis was performed to identify any association between karyotype and ocular abnormality. RESULTS A total of 187 patients with TS were identified. The mean age of the cohort was 14.3 ± 7.2 years. Ametropia was the most common ocular abnormality, occurring in 79 patients (42%), followed by strabismus in 25 (13%). Of the patients with strabismus, 17 had exotropia and 8 had esotropia, with only 2 patients requiring surgical intervention. Posterior segment abnormalities were identified in five patients without accompanying visual deficits. Two patients had ocular tumors: one with retinoblastoma and one with retinal astrocytic hamartoma. There was no association between TS karyotype and occurrence of ocular abnormalities. CONCLUSION Ophthalmic manifestations of TS were common, particularly ametropia and strabismus. Management of strabismus was conservative in the vast majority of patients. Ocular manifestations were not associated with TS karyotype. Early screening and routine ophthalmic evaluation of patients with TS is needed to prevent progression of potentially vision-threatening abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Syeda Sumara Taranum Basith
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sheetal Patel
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Allison Goetsch Weisman
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Genetics, Birth Defects & Metabolism, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Wendy Brickman
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Marilyn B Mets
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Rebecca Mets-Halgrimson
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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14
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Yang YP, Jheng YC, Chien Y, Tsai PH, Hwang DK, Weng CC, Huang YM, Hsu CC, Chou YB, Chen SJ, Lin TC. Clinical manifestation and current therapeutics in X-juvenile retinoschisis. J Chin Med Assoc 2022; 85:276-278. [PMID: 35259130 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000000684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked juvenile retinoschisis (XLRS) is one of the common early-onset hereditary retinal degenerative diseases in men. The common symptoms of XLRS range from mild to severe central vision loss and radial stripes created by the fovea, the division of the inner layer of the retina in the peripheral retina and the significant decrease in b-wave amplitude (ERG). Retinoschisin, the 224-amino-acid protein product of the retinoschisis 1 (RS1) gene, contains a discoid domain as the primary structural unit, an N-terminal cleavable signal sequence, and an oligomerization-area component. Retinoschisin is a homo-octamer complex with disulfide links that are released by retinal cells. It helps preserve the retina's integrity by binding to the surface of photoreceptors and bipolar cells. As a recessive genetic disease, XLRS was usually treated by prescribing low vision aids in most clinical cases. A gene replacement therapy based on adeno-associated virus vectors was initiated and showed a breakthrough in treating XLRS in 2014. Understanding the revolution of gene therapy for treating XLRS may accelerate its development and make this gene therapy the template for developing therapeutics against other inherited retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ping Yang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ying-Chun Jheng
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Big Data Center, Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yueh Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ping-Hsing Tsai
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - De-Kuang Hwang
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chang-Chi Weng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ming Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Chien Hsu
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Bai Chou
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shih-Jen Chen
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tai-Chi Lin
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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15
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Daruich A, Munier FL. Phenotype of Coats disease in females. BMJ Open Ophthalmol 2022; 7:e000883. [PMID: 35141419 PMCID: PMC8819807 DOI: 10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine whether the clinical presentation of Coats disease differs between males and females. Methods and analysis Records of patients diagnosed with Coats disease at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, main reason for initial consultation, comprehensive ocular examination at diagnosis and modalities of treatments during the follow-up were recorded. Results Records from 114 patients with Coats disease were analysed. Ninety-eight patients (86%) were male and 16 (14%) female. Mean age at diagnosis was 6.2 years±6.1 in males and 7.4 years±4.7 in females. The main initial reason for consultation was strabismus in males and decreased visual acuity in females. Stage severity at diagnosis was similar in the two groups with half of the patients presenting with stage 2B2 or lower. The extension of peripheral retinal telangiectasia was also similar (mean: 6.2±3.4 and 5.8±4.0, respectively), as was the extension of intraretinal exudation (mean: 5.0±4.5 and 5.8±4.4) and the frequency of a subfoveal nodule at diagnosis (40% vs 30%, respectively). There was no distinction between the number of laser photocoagulation or cryotherapy sessions required for both groups during the follow-up. Conclusions Coats disease presentation does not differ between genders despite being much rarer in females. We propose a pathogenic mechanism accounting for the gender-dependent incidence combined with gender-independent expressivity of Coats disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Daruich
- Ophthalmology Department, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Université de Paris, Paris. INSERM, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Team 17, Paris, France
| | - Francis L Munier
- Ophthalmology Department, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Fondation Asile des Aveugles, Lausanne, Switzerland
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16
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Long-read technologies identify a hidden inverted duplication in a family with choroideremia. HGG ADVANCES 2021; 2:100046. [PMID: 35047838 PMCID: PMC8756506 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2021.100046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The lack of molecular diagnoses in rare genetic diseases can be explained by limitations of current standard genomic technologies. Upcoming long-read techniques have complementary strengths to overcome these limitations, with a particular strength in identifying structural variants. By using optical genome mapping and long-read sequencing, we aimed to identify the pathogenic variant in a large family with X-linked choroideremia. In this family, aberrant splicing of exon 12 of the choroideremia gene CHM was detected in 2003, but the underlying genomic defect remained elusive. Optical genome mapping and long-read sequencing approaches now revealed an intragenic 1,752 bp inverted duplication including exon 12 and surrounding regions, located downstream of the wild-type copy of exon 12. Both breakpoint junctions were confirmed with Sanger sequencing and segregate with the X-linked inheritance in the family. The breakpoint junctions displayed sequence microhomology suggestive for an erroneous replication mechanism as the origin of the structural variant. The inverted duplication is predicted to result in a hairpin formation of the pre-mRNA with the wild-type exon 12, leading to exon skipping in the mature mRNA. The identified inverted duplication is deemed the hidden pathogenic cause of disease in this family. Our study shows that optical genome mapping and long-read sequencing have significant potential for the identification of (hidden) structural variants in rare genetic diseases.
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Chivers M, Li N, Pan F, Wieffer H, Slowik R, Leartsakulpanitch J. The Burden of X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa on Patients and Society: A Narrative Literature Review. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2021; 13:565-572. [PMID: 34188501 PMCID: PMC8236258 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s297287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) is a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a rare, inherited retinal degenerative disorder, that causes blindness. The aim of this literature review was to identify what is currently known about the burden of XLRP. Literature databases were searched for articles describing the clinical, humanistic, or economic burden of XLRP or RP in the US, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, published in English between 2014 and 2019; gray literature and cited references were reviewed. Literature describing XLRP is limited as this is an ultra-rare condition; findings relating to burden of RP have been reported with interpretation of how burden differs for XLRP. In XLRP, night blindness usually presents in the first decade of life, followed by loss of peripheral and then central vision; legal blindness is reported at a median of 45 years in affected males (vs median 70 years for RP). There is limited evidence of humanistic or economic burden specific to XLRP; one study identified greater vision-related activity limitations in patients with XLRP compared with the wider RP population. Qualitative studies describe increased humanistic burden for people living with RP; difficulty undertaking everyday tasks (driving, hobbies, reading), psychosocial burden and barriers to work and career. People described the emotional impact of dealing with progression of RP, ongoing social and physical challenges, and the impact of RP on relationships. The economic burden of RP is associated with lost productivity, greater healthcare costs and increasing requirement for formal and informal care. In summary, XLRP remains an untreatable condition that can impact people from childhood. The humanistic burden of RP has been shown to increase as the disease progresses; hence, in XLRP the earlier onset and earlier progression to blindness during prime working years may mean a comparatively greater lifetime burden of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nan Li
- Janssen Global Services,LLC, Raritan, NJ, 08869, USA
| | - Feng Pan
- Janssen Global Services,LLC, Raritan, NJ, 08869, USA
| | | | - Rafal Slowik
- Janssen Global Services,LLC, Raritan, NJ, 08869, USA
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A novel mutation of the RPGR gene in a Chinese X-linked retinitis pigmentosa family and possible involvement of X-chromosome inactivation. Eye (Lond) 2021; 35:1688-1696. [PMID: 32839555 PMCID: PMC8169654 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-01150-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanisms and genotype-phenotype correlations of a Chinese family with X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP). METHODS A four-generation family with a total of 41 individuals including 7 affected males was recruited. All subjects in this pedigree underwent a complete ophthalmic examination. Targeted capture and next-generation sequencing were performed on the proband using a multigene panel containing 57 known causative genes of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), including RP1, RP2, RPGR, RHO, PRPH2, CRB1 among others. All variants were verified in the remaining family members by polymerase chain reaction amplification and Sanger sequencing. Blood DNA was used for X-chromosome inactivation analysis in female carriers. RESULTS All the affected individuals were diagnosed with RP. The affected males showed symptoms from the first decade, while the female carriers had onset in the second decade or later. A frameshift mutation c.345_348delTGAA in the RPGR gene was identified in all affected males and female carriers. By XCI analysis, we found that there was little correlation between their phenotype and the methylation status of their X chromosomes. CONCLUSIONS A novel mutation c.345_348delTGAA of the RPGR gene was identified, expanding the spectrum of RPGR mutations causing XLRP. In this pedigree, the phenotype extended to female carriers, in whom RP was milder and its onset delayed compared to hemizygous males. Although lack of strong correlation between X-inactivation and the severity of the disease, the milder, variable effects in female carriers still could reflect X-inactivation patterns in the retina of each individual.
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The Differences of Population Birth Defects in Epidemiology Analysis between the Rural and Urban Areas of Hunan Province in China, 2014-2018. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:2732983. [PMID: 33969116 PMCID: PMC8081611 DOI: 10.1155/2021/2732983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectives To compare the differences of epidemiology analysis in population birth defects (BDs) between the rural and urban areas of Hunan Province in China. Methods The data of population-based BDs in Liuyang county (rural) and Shifeng district (urban) in Hunan Province for 2014-2018 were analyzed. BD prevalence rates, percentage change, and annual percentage change (APC) by sex and age were calculated to evaluate time trends. Risk factors associated with BDs were assessed using simple and multiple logistic regression analyses. Results The BD prevalence rate per 10,000 perinatal infants (PIs) was 220.54 (95% CI: 211.26-230.13) in Liuyang and 181.14 (95% CI: 161.18-202.87) in Shifeng. Significant decreasing trends in BD prevalence rates were noted in the female PIs (APC = -9.31, P = 0.044) and the total BD prevalence rate in Shifeng (APC = -14.14, P = 0.039). Risk factors for BDs were as follows: rural area, male PIs, PIs with gestational age < 37 weeks, PIs with birth weight < 2500 g, and migrant pregnancies. Conclusions We should focus on rural areas, reduce the prevalence of premature and low birth weight infants, and provide maternal healthcare services for migrant pregnancies for BD prevention from the perspective of population-based BD surveillance.
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Hadalin V, Šuštar M, Volk M, Maver A, Sajovic J, Jarc-Vidmar M, Peterlin B, Hawlina M, Fakin A. Cone Dystrophy Associated with a Novel Variant in the Terminal Codon of the RPGR- ORF15. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12040499. [PMID: 33805381 PMCID: PMC8066792 DOI: 10.3390/genes12040499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in RPGRORF15 are associated with rod-cone or cone/cone-rod dystrophy, the latter associated with mutations at the distal end. We describe the phenotype associated with a novel variant in the terminal codon of the RPGRORF15 c.3457T>A (Ter1153Lysext*38), which results in a C-terminal extension. Three male patients from two families were recruited, aged 31, 35, and 38 years. Genetic testing was performed by whole exome sequencing. Filtered variants were analysed according to the population frequency, ClinVar database, the variant’s putative impact, and predicted pathogenicity; and were classified according to the ACMG guidelines. Examination included visual acuity (Snellen), colour vision (Ishihara), visual field, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and electrophysiology. All patients were myopic, and had central scotoma and reduced colour vision. Visual acuities on better eyes were counting fingers, 0.3 and 0.05. Electrophysiology showed severely reduced cone-specific responses and macular dysfunction, while the rod-specific response was normal. FAF showed hyperautofluorescent ring centred at the fovea encompassing an area of photoreceptor loss approximately two optic discs in diameter (3462–6342 μm). Follow up after 2–11 years showed enlargement of the diameter (avg. 100 μm/year). The novel c.3457T>A (Ter1153Lysext*38) mutation in the terminal RPGRORF15 codon is associated with cone dystrophy, which corresponds to the previously described phenotypes associated with mutations in the distal end of the RPGRORF15. Minimal progression during follow-up years suggests a relatively stable disease after the initial loss of the central cones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vlasta Hadalin
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
| | - Maja Šuštar
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
| | - Marija Volk
- Clinical Institute of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Šlajmerjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.V.); (A.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Aleš Maver
- Clinical Institute of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Šlajmerjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.V.); (A.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Jana Sajovic
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
| | - Martina Jarc-Vidmar
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
| | - Borut Peterlin
- Clinical Institute of Medical Genetics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Šlajmerjeva ulica 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.V.); (A.M.); (B.P.)
| | - Marko Hawlina
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
| | - Ana Fakin
- Eye Hospital, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Grablovičeva 46, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (V.H.); (M.Š.); (J.S.); (M.J.-V.); (M.H.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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De Silva SR, Arno G, Robson AG, Fakin A, Pontikos N, Mohamed MD, Bird AC, Moore AT, Michaelides M, Webster AR, Mahroo OA. The X-linked retinopathies: Physiological insights, pathogenic mechanisms, phenotypic features and novel therapies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2020; 82:100898. [PMID: 32860923 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
X-linked retinopathies represent a significant proportion of monogenic retinal disease. They include progressive and stationary conditions, with and without syndromic features. Many are X-linked recessive, but several exhibit a phenotype in female carriers, which can help establish diagnosis and yield insights into disease mechanisms. The presence of affected carriers can misleadingly suggest autosomal dominant inheritance. Some disorders (such as RPGR-associated retinopathy) show diverse phenotypes from variants in the same gene and also highlight limitations of current genetic sequencing methods. X-linked disease frequently arises from loss of function, implying potential for benefit from gene replacement strategies. We review X-inactivation and X-linked inheritance, and explore burden of disease attributable to X-linked genes in our clinically and genetically characterised retinal disease cohort, finding correlation between gene transcript length and numbers of families. We list relevant genes and discuss key clinical features, disease mechanisms, carrier phenotypes and novel experimental therapies. We consider in detail the following: RPGR (associated with retinitis pigmentosa, cone and cone-rod dystrophy), RP2 (retinitis pigmentosa), CHM (choroideremia), RS1 (X-linked retinoschisis), NYX (complete congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB)), CACNA1F (incomplete CSNB), OPN1LW/OPN1MW (blue cone monochromacy, Bornholm eye disease, cone dystrophy), GPR143 (ocular albinism), COL4A5 (Alport syndrome), and NDP (Norrie disease and X-linked familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR)). We use a recently published transcriptome analysis to explore expression by cell-type and discuss insights from electrophysiology. In the final section, we present an algorithm for genes to consider in diagnosing males with non-syndromic X-linked retinopathy, summarise current experimental therapeutic approaches, and consider questions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha R De Silva
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gavin Arno
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Anthony G Robson
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Ana Fakin
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Ljubljana University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nikolas Pontikos
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Moin D Mohamed
- Department of Ophthalmology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Alan C Bird
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Anthony T Moore
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Michel Michaelides
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Andrew R Webster
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Omar A Mahroo
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Section of Ophthalmology, King's College London, UK; Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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22
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Salvetti AP, Nanda A, MacLaren RE. RPGR-Related X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa Carriers with a Severe "Male Pattern". Ophthalmologica 2020; 244:60-67. [PMID: 32434206 DOI: 10.1159/000503687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP) due to mutations in the RPGR gene is a very severe form of RP, resulting in rapid disease progression and retinal dysfunction. Female carriers do not usually report symptoms. However, it has reported that carriers of XLRP can have a significant visual and retinal impairment. OBJECTIVES To report a detailed description of 3 cases of severely affected females who presented with a "male" phenotype and have posed challenges at diagnosis, due to the apparent autosomal dominant family history. METHOD Autofluorescence imaging (AF), colour imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed. Confirmation of the genetic mutation was obtained by Sanger genetic sequencing. In 1 patient an X-inactivation analysis was performed to detect the X-inactivation ratio, as the percentage of cells tested in which each allele is active. RESULTS All the patients started suffering from night blindness in early childhood. Colour, fundus AF and OCT images showed the typical pattern of degeneration reported in men. One patient underwent retina implant surgery due to the severe atrophy. CONCLUSIONS This is a small selection of females with a severe phenotype that do not differ from the typical male phenotype. In our opinion gene therapy surgery should be warranted in this scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Paola Salvetti
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Anika Nanda
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom,
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23
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Gonzàlez-Duarte R, de Castro-Miró M, Tuson M, Ramírez-Castañeda V, Gils RV, Marfany G. Scaling New Heights in the Genetic Diagnosis of Inherited Retinal Dystrophies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1185:215-219. [PMID: 31884614 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27378-1_35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
During the last 20 years, our group has focused on identifying the genes and mutations causative of inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). By applying massive sequencing approaches (NGS) in more than 500 familial and sporadic cases, we attained high diagnostic efficiency (85%) with a custom target gene panel and over 75% using whole exome sequencing (WES). Close to 40% of pathogenic alleles are novel mutations, which demand specific in silico tests and in vitro assays. Notably, missense variants are by far the most common type of mutation identified (around 40%), with small in-frame indels being less frequent (2%). To fill the gap of unsolved cases, when no candidate gene or only a single pathogenic allele has been identified, additional scientific and technical issues remain to be addressed. Reliable detection of genomic rearrangements and copy number variants (partial or complete), deep intronic mutations, variants that cause aberrant splicing events in retina-specific transcripts, functional assessment of hypomorphic missense alleles, mutations in regulatory sequences, the contribution of modifier genes to the IRD phenotype, and detection of low heteroplasmy mtDNA mutations are among the new challenges to be met.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roser Gonzàlez-Duarte
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | - Gemma Marfany
- Departament de Genètica, Microbiologia i Estadística, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,DBGen Ocular Genomics SL, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB-IRSJD), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND MOLECULAR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF A COHORT OF CHINESE PATIENTS WITH CHOROIDEREMIA. Retina 2020; 40:2240-2253. [PMID: 31922496 DOI: 10.1097/iae.0000000000002743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To describe the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of a large cohort of Chinese patients with choroideremia (CHM). METHODS Forty-eight Chinese participants from 35 families with a clinical diagnosis of CHM who harbored sequence variants in the CHM gene were enrolled. Comprehensive clinical evaluations and molecular genetic analysis of the CHM gene were performed. RESULTS The median age of the 48 patients was 31.5 years (range, 5-78 years). There were 30 different sequence variants detected in 35 families; of which, 13 sequence variants were novel. The mean (±SD) best-corrected visual acuity best in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution equivalents was 0.71 (±0.87) (range, 0.00-2.80) or approximately 20/100 in Snellen visual acuity. A significant correlation was revealed between best-corrected visual acuity best and age (P < 0.001). The trend in the change in the best-corrected visual acuity over age showed that relatively good vision remained until 20 years old. The patterns of fundus photography and fundus autofluorescence finding demonstrated that residual retinal pigment epithelium areas significantly declined in patients at the age of 20 years or older. The results of visual field and full-field electroretinography showed that these measures might be of limited value for evaluating the condition of the late stage of CHM in Chinese patients. CONCLUSION This study described for the first time the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of a large cohort of Chinese patients with CHM. The findings from best-corrected visual acuity best and visual field showed that the impairment of visual function in CHM might be more severe in Chinese patients than in western patients.
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Fahim AT, Sullivan LS, Bowne SJ, Jones KD, Wheaton DKH, Khan NW, Heckenlively JR, Jayasundera KT, Branham KH, Andrews CA, Othman MI, Karoukis AJ, Birch DG, Daiger SP. X-Chromosome Inactivation Is a Biomarker of Clinical Severity in Female Carriers of RPGR-Associated X-Linked Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ophthalmol Retina 2019; 4:510-520. [PMID: 31953110 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2019.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE X-linked retinitis pigmentosa can manifest in female carriers with widely variable severity, whereas others remain unaffected. The contribution of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) to phenotypic variation has been postulated but not demonstrated. Furthermore, the impact of genotype and genetic modifiers has been demonstrated in affected males but has not been well established in female carriers. The purpose of this study was to describe the scope of clinical phenotype in female carriers with mutations in RPGR and quantify the contribution of genotype, genetic modifiers, and XCI to phenotypic severity. DESIGN Cohort study. PARTICIPANTS Seventy-seven female carriers with RPGR mutations from 41 pedigrees. METHODS Coding single nucleotide polymorphisms were sequenced in candidate genetic modifier genes encoding known RPGR-interacting proteins. X-chromosome inactivation ratios were determined in genomic DNA isolated from blood (n = 42) and saliva (n = 20) using methylation status of X-linked polymorphic repeats. These genetic data were compared with disease severity based on quantitative clinical parameters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Visual acuity, Humphrey visual field (HVF) results, full-field electroretinography results, and dark adaptation. RESULTS Most individuals at all ages were mildly affected or unaffected, whereas those who progressed to moderate or severe vision loss were older than 30 years. RPGR genotype was not associated with clinical severity. The D1264N variant in RPGRIP1L was associated with more severe disease. Skewed XCI toward inactivation of the normal RPGR allele was associated with more severe disease. The XCI ratio in both blood and saliva was a predictor of visual function as measured by HVF diameter, rod amplitude, flicker amplitude, and flicker implicit time. For carriers with extreme XCI skewing of 80:20 or more, 57% were affected severely compared with 8% for those with XCI of less than 80:20 (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Female carriers with mutations in RPGR demonstrate widely variable clinical severity. X-chromosome inactivation ratios correlate with clinical severity and may serve as a predictor of clinically significant disease. Because RPGR gene therapy trials are underway, a future imperative exists to determine which carriers require intervention and when to intervene. X-chromosome inactivation analysis may be useful for identifying candidates for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail T Fahim
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
| | - Lori S Sullivan
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sara J Bowne
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | | | - Naheed W Khan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - John R Heckenlively
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - K Thiran Jayasundera
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Kari H Branham
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Chris A Andrews
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Mohammad I Othman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Athanasios J Karoukis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | | | - Stephen P Daiger
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
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Wert KJ, Bakall B, Bassuk AG, Tsang SH, Mahajan VB. Insights into Retinal Development Using Live Imaging in Female Carriers of Choroideremia. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2019; 50:e158-e162. [PMID: 31100169 DOI: 10.3928/23258160-20190503-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Lineage tracing can provide key insights into the development of tissues, such as the retina. Yet it is not possible to manipulate human cells during embryogenesis. The authors observed a distinct phenotype in female carriers of X-linked disorders, in particular, carriers of choroideremia caused by mutations in CHM, encoding Rab escort protein-1. The authors found that X chromosome inactivation provides a method for retinal lineage tracing in human patients. Live imaging of female carriers displays a developmental pattern that is different within the peripheral retina compared with the posterior retina and provides important insights into the development and migration of retinal cells. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina. 2019;50:e158-e162.].
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27
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Exploring the Variable Phenotypes of RPGR Carrier Females in Assessing their Potential for Retinal Gene Therapy. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9120643. [PMID: 30567410 PMCID: PMC6316369 DOI: 10.3390/genes9120643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal degenerations are the leading cause of blindness in the working population. X-linked retinitis pigmentosa (XLRP), caused by mutations in the Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR) gene is one of the more severe forms, and female carriers of RPGR mutations have a variable presentation. A retrospective review of twenty-three female RPGR carriers aged between 8 and 76 years old was carried out using fundoscopy, autofluorescence imaging (AF), blue reflectance (BR) imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Confirmation of the genetic mutation was obtained from male relatives or Sanger genetic sequencing. Fundus examination and AF demonstrate phenotypic variability in RPGR carriers. The genetic mutation appears indeterminate of the degree of change. We found four distinct classifications based on AF images to describe RPGR carriers; normal (N) representing normal or near-normal AF appearance (n = 1, 4%); radial (R) pattern reflex without pigmentary retinopathy (n = 14, 61%); focal (F) pigmentary retinopathy (n = 5, 22%) and; male (M) phenotype (n = 3, 13%). The phenotypes were precisely correlated in both eyes (rs = 1.0, p < 0.0001). Skewed X-inactivation can result in severely affected carrier females—in some cases indistinguishable from the male pattern and these patients should be considered for RPGR gene therapy. In the cases of the male (M) phenotype where the X-inactivation was skewed, the pattern was similar in both eyes, suggesting that the mechanism is not truly random but may have an underlying genetic basis.
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A novel small deletion in the NHS gene associated with Nance-Horan syndrome. Sci Rep 2018; 8:2398. [PMID: 29402928 PMCID: PMC5799206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20787-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Nance-Horan syndrome is a rare X-linked recessive inherited disease with clinical features including severe bilateral congenital cataracts, characteristic facial and dental abnormalities. Data from Chinese Nance-Horan syndrome patients are limited. We assessed the clinical manifestations of a Chinese Nance-Horan syndrome pedigree and identified the genetic defect. Genetic analysis showed that 3 affected males carried a novel small deletion in NHS gene, c.263_266delCGTC (p.Ala89TrpfsTer106), and 2 female carriers were heterozygous for the same variant. All 3 affected males presented with typical Nance-Horan syndrome features. One female carrier displayed lens opacities centered on the posterior Y-suture in both eyes, as well as mild dental abnormalities. We recorded the clinical features of a Chinese Nance-Horan syndrome family and broadened the spectrum of mutations in the NHS gene.
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