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Alhazmi S, Alharthi M, Alzahrani M, Alrofaidi A, Basingab F, Almuhammadi A, Alkhatabi H, Ashi A, Chaudhary A, Elaimi A. Copy number variations in autistic children. Biomed Rep 2024; 21:107. [PMID: 38868529 PMCID: PMC11168027 DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) manifests as a neurodevelopmental condition marked by challenges in social communication, interaction and the performing of repetitive behaviors. The prevalence of autism increases markedly on an annual basis; however, the etiology remains incompletely understood. Cytogenetically visible chromosomal abnormalities, including copy number variations (CNVs), have been shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD. More than 1% of ASD conditions can be explained based on a known genetic locus, whereas CNVs account for 5-10% of cases. However, there are no studies on the Saudi Arabian population for the detection of CNVs linked to ASD, to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore the prevalence of CNVs in autistic Saudi Arabian children. Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 14 autistic children along with four healthy control children and then array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was used to detect CNVs. Bioinformatics analysis of the aCGH results showed the presence of recurrent and non-recurrent deletion/duplication CNVs in several regions of the genome of autistic children. The most frequent CNVs were 1q21.2, 3p26.3, 4q13.2, 6p25.3, 6q24.2, 7p21.1, 7q34, 7q11.1, 8p23.2, 13q32.3, 14q11.1-q11.2 and 15q11.1-q11.2. In the present study, CNVs in autistic Saudi Arabian children were identified to improve the understanding of the etiology of autism and facilitate its diagnosis. Additionally, the present study identified certain possible pathogenic genes in the CNV region associated with several developmental and neurogenetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safiah Alhazmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Neuroscience and Geroscience Research Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Central Laboratory of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maram Alharthi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam Alzahrani
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Alrofaidi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatemah Basingab
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Immunology Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Centre, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asma Almuhammadi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Heba Alkhatabi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Hematology Research Unit, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abrar Ashi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
| | - Adeel Chaudhary
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Elaimi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
- Center of Innovation in Personalized Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia
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2
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Romano F, Haanpää MK, Pomianowski P, Peraino AR, Pollard JR, Di Feo MF, Traverso M, Severino M, Derchi M, Henzen E, Zara F, Faravelli F, Capra V, Scala M. Expanding the phenotype of UPF3B-related disorder: Case reports and literature review. Am J Med Genet A 2024; 194:e63534. [PMID: 38318947 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63534] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
UPF3B encodes the Regulator of nonsense transcripts 3B protein, a core-member of the nonsense-mediated mRNA decay pathway, protecting the cells from the potentially deleterious actions of transcripts with premature termination codons. Hemizygous variants in the UPF3B gene cause a spectrum of neuropsychiatric issues including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia/childhood-onset schizophrenia (COS). The number of patients reported to date is very limited, often lacking an extensive phenotypical and neuroradiological description of this ultra-rare syndrome. Here we report three subjects harboring UPF3B variants, presenting with variable clinical pictures, including cognitive impairment, central hypotonia, and syndromic features. Patients 1 and 2 harbored novel UPF3B variants-the p.(Lys207*) and p.(Asp429Serfs*27) ones, respectively-while the p.(Arg225Lysfs*229) variant, identified in Patient 3, was already reported in the literature. Novel features in our patients are represented by microcephaly, midface hypoplasia, and brain malformations. Then, we reviewed pertinent literature and compared previously reported subjects to our cases, providing possible insights into genotype-phenotype correlations in this emerging condition. Overall, the detailed phenotypic description of three patients carrying UPF3B variants is useful not only to expand the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of UPF3B-related disorders, but also to ameliorate the clinical management of affected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ferruccio Romano
- Clinical Genomics and Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria K Haanpää
- Department of Genomics and Clinical Genetics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - Pawel Pomianowski
- Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Amanda Rose Peraino
- Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - John R Pollard
- Epilepsy Center, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA
| | - Maria Francesca Di Feo
- Clinical Genomics and Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Genomics and Clinical Genetics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
- Center for Medical Genetics and Genomics, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Epilepsy Center, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Delaware, USA
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Monica Traverso
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Maria Derchi
- Cardiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Edoardo Henzen
- Genomics Facility, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Faravelli
- Clinical Genomics and Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Valeria Capra
- Clinical Genomics and Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Scala
- Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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3
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Ranieri A, La Monica I, Di Iorio MR, Lombardo B, Pastore L. Genetic Alterations in a Large Population of Italian Patients Affected by Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:427. [PMID: 38674362 PMCID: PMC11050211 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040427] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of complex multifactorial disorders characterized by cognitive impairment, communication deficits, abnormal behaviour, and/or motor skills resulting from abnormal neural development. Copy number variants (CNVs) are genetic alterations often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. We evaluated the diagnostic efficacy of the array-comparative genomic hybridization (a-CGH) method and its relevance as a routine diagnostic test in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders for the identification of the molecular alterations underlying or contributing to the clinical manifestations. In the present study, we analysed 1800 subjects with neurodevelopmental disorders using a CGH microarray. We identified 208 (7%) pathogenetic CNVs, 2202 (78%) variants of uncertain significance (VOUS), and 504 (18%) benign CNVs in the 1800 patients analysed. Some alterations contain genes potentially related to neurodevelopmental disorders including CHRNA7, ANKS1B, ANKRD11, RBFOX1, ASTN2, GABRG3, SHANK2, KIF1A SETBP1, SNTG2, CTNNA2, TOP3B, CNTN4, CNTN5, and CNTN6. The identification of interesting significant genes related to neurological disorders with a-CGH is therefore an essential step in the diagnostic procedure, allowing a better understanding of both the pathophysiology of these disorders and the mechanisms underlying their clinical manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaluisa Ranieri
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (I.L.M.); (M.R.D.I.); (L.P.)
| | - Ilaria La Monica
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (I.L.M.); (M.R.D.I.); (L.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Di Iorio
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (I.L.M.); (M.R.D.I.); (L.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Barbara Lombardo
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (I.L.M.); (M.R.D.I.); (L.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Lucio Pastore
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore, via G. Salvatore 486, 80145 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (I.L.M.); (M.R.D.I.); (L.P.)
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, via Sergio Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Kucińska A, Hawuła W, Rutkowska L, Wysocka U, Kępczyński Ł, Piotrowicz M, Chilarska T, Wieczorek-Cichecka N, Połatyńska K, Przysło Ł, Gach A. The Use of CGH Arrays for Identifying Copy Number Variations in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Brain Sci 2024; 14:273. [PMID: 38539661 PMCID: PMC10968557 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14030273] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) encompass a broad group of neurodevelopmental disorders with varied clinical symptoms, all being characterized by deficits in social communication and repetitive behavior. Although the etiology of ASD is heterogeneous, with many genes involved, a crucial role is believed to be played by copy number variants (CNVs). The present study examines the role of copy number variation in the development of isolated ASD, or ASD with additional clinical features, among a group of 180 patients ranging in age from two years and four months to 17 years and nine months. Samples were taken and subjected to array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), the gold standard in detecting gains or losses in the genome, using a 4 × 180 CytoSure Autism Research Array, with a resolution of around 75 kb. The results indicated the presence of nine pathogenic and six likely pathogenic imbalances, and 20 variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) among the group. Relevant variants were more prevalent in patients with ASD and additional clinical features. Twelve of the detected variants, four of which were probably pathogenic, would not have been identified using the routine 8 × 60 k microarray. These results confirm the value of microarrays in ASD diagnostics and highlight the need for dedicated tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Kucińska
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Wanda Hawuła
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Lena Rutkowska
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Urszula Wysocka
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Łukasz Kępczyński
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Małgorzata Piotrowicz
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Tatiana Chilarska
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Nina Wieczorek-Cichecka
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
| | - Katarzyna Połatyńska
- Department of Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (K.P.); (Ł.P.)
| | - Łukasz Przysło
- Department of Developmental Neurology and Epileptology, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (K.P.); (Ł.P.)
| | - Agnieszka Gach
- Department of Genetics, Polish Mother’s Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 93-338 Lodz, Poland; (W.H.); (L.R.); (U.W.); (Ł.K.); (M.P.); (T.C.); (N.W.-C.); (A.G.)
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5
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Chaves TF, Ocampos M, Barbato IT, de Camargo Pinto LL, de Luca GR, Barbato Filho JH, Bernardi P, Costa Netto Muniz Y, Francesca Maris A. A cohort study of neurodevelopmental disorders and/or congenital anomalies using high resolution chromosomal microarrays in southern Brazil highlighting the significance of ASD. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3762. [PMID: 38355898 PMCID: PMC10867078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54385-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal microarray (CMA) is the reference in evaluation of copy number variations (CNVs) in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affect around 3-4% of the world's population. Modern platforms for CMA, also include probes for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that detect homozygous regions in the genome, such as long contiguous stretches of homozygosity (LCSH). These regions result from complete or segmental chromosomal homozygosis and may be indicative of uniparental disomy (UPD), inbreeding, population characteristics, as well as replicative DNA repair events. In this retrospective study, we analyzed CMA reading files requested by geneticists and neurologists for diagnostic purposes along with available clinical data. Our objectives were interpreting CNVs and assess the frequencies and implications of LCSH detected by Affymetrix CytoScan HD (41%) or 750K (59%) platforms in 1012 patients from the south of Brazil. The patients were mainly children with NDDs and/or congenital anomalies (CAs). A total of 206 CNVs, comprising 132 deletions and 74 duplications, interpreted as pathogenic, were found in 17% of the patients in the cohort and across all chromosomes. Additionally, 12% presented rare variants of uncertain clinical significance, including LPCNVs, as the only clinically relevant CNV. Within the realm of NDDs, ASD carries a particular importance, owing to its escalating prevalence and its growing repercussions for individuals, families, and communities. ASD was one clinical phenotype, if not the main reason for referral to testing, for about one-third of the cohort, and these patients were further analyzed as a sub-cohort. Considering only the patients with ASD, the diagnostic rate was 10%, within the range reported in the literature (8-21%). It was higher (16%) when associated with dysmorphic features and lower (7%) for "isolated" ASD (without ID and without dysmorphic features). In 953 CMAs of the whole cohort, LCSH (≥ 3 Mbp) were analyzed not only for their potential pathogenic significance but were also explored to identify common LCSH in the South Brazilians population. CMA revealed at least one LCSH in 91% of the patients. For about 11.5% of patients, the LCSH suggested consanguinity from the first to the fifth degree, with a greater probability of clinical impact, and in 2.8%, they revealed a putative UPD. LCSH found at a frequency of 5% or more were considered common LCSH in the general population, allowing us to delineate 10 regions as potentially representing ancestral haplotypes of neglectable clinical significance. The main referrals for CMA were developmental delay (56%), ID (33%), ASD (33%) and syndromic features (56%). Some phenotypes in this population may be predictive of a higher probability of indicating a carrier of a pathogenic CNV. Here, we present the largest report of CMA data in a cohort with NDDs and/or CAs from the South of Brazil. We characterize the rare CNVs found along with the main phenotypes presented by each patient and show the importance and usefulness of LCSH interpretation in CMA results that incorporate SNPs, as well as we illustrate the value of CMA to investigate CNV in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Fernando Chaves
- Laboratório de Polimorfismos Genéticos (LAPOGE), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
| | - Maristela Ocampos
- Laboratory Neurogene (former), Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
- Mercolab Diagnóstica (actual), Florianopolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Priscila Bernardi
- University Hospital Professor Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Yara Costa Netto Muniz
- Laboratório de Polimorfismos Genéticos (LAPOGE), Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Angelica Francesca Maris
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
- Children's Hospital Joana de Gusmão, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
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Annunziata S, Bulgheroni S, D'Arrigo S, Esposito S, Taddei M, Saletti V, Alfei E, Sciacca FL, Rizzo A, Pantaleoni C, Riva D. CGH Findings in Children with Complex and Essential Autistic Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 2023; 53:615-623. [PMID: 33394245 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-020-04833-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition with a strong genetic basis. We accurately assessed 209 ASD subjects, categorized in complex (47) and essential (162), and performed array comparative genomic hybridization to identify pathogenic and recurrent Copy Number Variants (CNVs). We found 117 CNVs in 75 patients, 11 classified as pathogenic. The complex ASD subjects have higher frequency of pathogenic CNVs with a diagnostic yield of 12.8%. Familiality, cognitive and verbal abilities, severity of autistic symptoms, neuroimaging and neurophysiological findings are not related to genetic data. This study identifies loci of interest for ASD and highlights the importance of a careful phenotypic characterization, as complex ASD is related to higher rate of pathogenic CNVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Annunziata
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Brain and Behavioral Sciences Department, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara Bulgheroni
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano D'Arrigo
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Esposito
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Matilde Taddei
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Saletti
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Alfei
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy.,Pediatric Neurology Unit, "Vittore Buzzi" Children's Hospital ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, 20100, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Luisa Sciacca
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Ambra Rizzo
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Pantaleoni
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Riva
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Via Celoria 11, 20133, Milan, Italy
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7
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Barone R, Cirnigliaro L, Saccuzzo L, Valdese S, Pettinato F, Prato A, Bernardini L, Fichera M, Rizzo R. PARK2 microdeletion in a multiplex family with autism spectrum disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2023; 83:121-131. [PMID: 36478299 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10246] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND PARK2 (PRKN; MIM*602544) encodes Parkin protein, an ubiquitin-protein ligase required for proteasomal degradation and operating in the synaptic compartments. Copy number variations (CNVs) involving PARK2 have been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We report on a family with ASD (multiplex family) harbouring a microdeletion at chr. 6q26 causing PARK2 disruption. METHODS CNV analyses were performed using CGH/SNP-array platforms, and the detected microdeletion was confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR. Standardized psychometric evaluation was used for neurobehavioral characterization. RESULTS We found an intragenic ~157 kb microdeletion of the chromosomal region 6q26 causing PARK2 disruption in two male sibs with ASD and syndromic phenotype. They both had dysmorphic facial features with coarse faces, deeply set eyes with long horizontal palpebral fissures, long eyelashes and thick eyebrows, fleshy lips and mild skeletal problems. We found an intrafamilial clinical heterogeneity owing to different severity of the autism symptoms between the affected sibs: the younger one had minimally verbal autism and severe intellectual disability, whereas his older brother presented high-functioning autism and preserved speech. Parental analysis and real-time PCR using a PRKN fragment mapping within the deletion demonstrated that the deletion was inherited from their father having subthreshold features of ASD consisting with broad autism phenotype. CONCLUSIONS The study corroborates the hypothesis that PARK2 aberrations may be associated with ASD and highlights correlations between CNV affecting PARK2 and ASD in a multiplex family. We show remarkable intrafamilial variability in the severity of inherited ASD associated with PARK2 microdeletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Barone
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Reseach Unit of Rare Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
| | - Lara Cirnigliaro
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lucia Saccuzzo
- Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Silvia Valdese
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Fabio Pettinato
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Adriana Prato
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.,Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psychology, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Bernardini
- Cytogenetics Unit, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Foundation, San Giovanni Rotondo, FG, Italy
| | - Marco Fichera
- Reseach Unit of Rare Diseases and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy.,Medical Genetics, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Renata Rizzo
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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8
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Combined aCGH and Exome Sequencing Analysis Improves Autism Spectrum Disorders Diagnosis: A Case Report. Medicina (B Aires) 2022; 58:medicina58040522. [PMID: 35454361 PMCID: PMC9030270 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58040522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The development and standardization of genome-wide technologies able to carry out high-resolution, genomic analyses in a cost- and time-affordable way is increasing our knowledge regarding the molecular bases of complex diseases like autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a group of heterogeneous diseases with multifactorial origins. Genetic factors seem to be involved, albeit they remain still largely unknown. Here, we report the case of a child with a clinical suspicion of ASD investigated by using such a genomic high-resolution approach. Materials and Methods: Both array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and exome sequencing were carried out on the family trio. aCGH was performed using the 4 × 180 K SurePrint G3 Human CGH Microarray, while the Human All Exon V7 targeted SureSelect XT HS panel was used for exome sequencing. Results: aCGH identified a paternally inherited duplication of chromosome 7 involving the CNTNAP2 gene, while 5 potentially clinically-relevant variants were identified by exome sequencing. Conclusions: Within the identified genomic alterations, the CNTNAP2 gene duplication may be related to the patient’s phenotype. Indeed, this gene has already been associated with brain development and cognitive functions, including language. The paternal origin of the alteration cannot exclude an incomplete penetrance. Moreover, other genomic factors may act as phenotype modifiers combined with CNTNAP2 gene duplication. Thus, the case reported herein strongly reinforces the need to use extensive genomic analyses to shed light on the bases of complex diseases.
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Šimić G, Vukić V, Kopić J, Krsnik Ž, Hof PR. Molecules, Mechanisms, and Disorders of Self-Domestication: Keys for Understanding Emotional and Social Communication from an Evolutionary Perspective. Biomolecules 2020; 11:E2. [PMID: 33375093 PMCID: PMC7822183 DOI: 10.3390/biom11010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural crest hypothesis states that the phenotypic features of the domestication syndrome are due to a reduced number or disruption of neural crest cells (NCCs) migration, as these cells differentiate at their final destinations and proliferate into different tissues whose activity is reduced by domestication. Comparing the phenotypic characteristics of modern and prehistoric man, it is clear that during their recent evolutionary past, humans also went through a process of self-domestication with a simultaneous prolongation of the period of socialization. This has led to the development of social abilities and skills, especially language, as well as neoteny. Disorders of neural crest cell development and migration lead to many different conditions such as Waardenburg syndrome, Hirschsprung disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, DiGeorge and Treacher-Collins syndrome, for which the mechanisms are already relatively well-known. However, for others, such as Williams-Beuren syndrome and schizophrenia that have the characteristics of hyperdomestication, and autism spectrum disorders, and 7dupASD syndrome that have the characteristics of hypodomestication, much less is known. Thus, deciphering the biological determinants of disordered self-domestication has great potential for elucidating the normal and disturbed ontogenesis of humans, as well as for the understanding of evolution of mammals in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Vana Vukić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Janja Kopić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Željka Krsnik
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb Medical School, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (V.V.); (J.K.); (Ž.K.)
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s disease, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
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Deka B, Chandra P, Singh KK. Functional roles of human Up-frameshift suppressor 3 (UPF3) proteins: From nonsense-mediated mRNA decay to neurodevelopmental disorders. Biochimie 2020; 180:10-22. [PMID: 33132159 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a post-transcriptional quality control mechanism that eradicates aberrant transcripts from cells. Aberrant transcripts are recognized by translating ribosomes, eRFs, and trans-acting NMD factors leading to their degradation. The trans-factors are conserved among eukaryotes and consist of UPF1, UPF2, and UPF3 proteins. Intriguingly, in humans, UPF3 exists as paralog proteins, UPF3A, and UPF3B. While UPF3 paralogs are traditionally known to be involved in the NMD pathway, there is a growing consensus that there are other critical cellular functions beyond quality control that are dictated by the UPF3 proteins. This review presents the current knowledge on the biochemical functions of UPF3 paralogs in diverse cellular processes, including NMD, translation, and genetic compensation response. We also discuss the contribution of the UPF3 paralogs in development and function of the central nervous system and germ cells. Furthermore, significant advances in the past decade have provided new perspectives on the implications of UPF3 paralogs in neurodevelopmental diseases. In this regard, genome- and transcriptome-wide sequencing analysis of patient samples revealed that loss of UPF3B is associated with brain disorders such as intellectual disability, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia. Therefore, we further aim to provide an insight into the brain diseases associated with loss-of-function mutations of UPF3B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhagyashree Deka
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
| | - Pratap Chandra
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
| | - Kusum Kumari Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, 781039, Assam, India.
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Tejada MI, Villate O, Ibarluzea N, de la Hoz AB, Martínez-Bouzas C, Beristain E, Martínez F, Friez MJ, Sobrino B, Barros F. Molecular and Clinical Characterization of a Novel Nonsense Variant in Exon 1 of the UPF3B Gene Found in a Large Spanish Basque Family (MRX82). Front Genet 2019; 10:1074. [PMID: 31737052 PMCID: PMC6836624 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
X-linked intellectual disability (XLID) is known to explain up to 10% of the intellectual disability in males. A large number of families in which intellectual disability is the only clinically consistent manifestation have been described. While linkage analysis and candidate gene testing were the initial approaches to find genes and variants, next generation sequencing (NGS) has accelerated the discovery of more and more XLID genes. Using NGS, we resolved the genetic cause of MRX82 (OMIM number 300518), a large Spanish Basque family with five affected males with intellectual disability and a wide phenotypic variability among them despite having the same pathogenic variant. Although the previous linkage study had mapped the locus to an interval of 7.6Mb in Xq24–Xq25 of the X chromosome, this region contained too many candidate genes to be analysed using conventional approaches. NGS revealed a novel nonsense variant: c.118C > T; p.Gln40* in UPF3B, a gene previously implicated in XLID that encodes a protein involved in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Further molecular studies showed that the mRNA transcript was not completely degraded by NMD. However, UPF3B protein was not detected by conventional Western Blot analysis at least downstream of the 40 residue demonstrating that the phenotype could be due to the loss of functional protein. This is the first report of a premature termination codon before the three functional domains of the UPF3B protein and these results directly implicate the absence of these domains with XLID, autism and some dysmorphic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Isabel Tejada
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Olatz Villate
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nekane Ibarluzea
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Belén de la Hoz
- Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Cristina Martínez-Bouzas
- Genetics Service, Cruces University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Barakaldo, Spain.,Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Spain.,Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Beristain
- Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Araba University Hospital, Osakidetza Basque Health Service, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Francisco Martínez
- Servicio de Genética, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Beatriz Sobrino
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Grupo de Medicina Xenómica (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Francisco Barros
- Spanish Consortium for Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain.,Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenómica, Grupo de Medicina Xenómica (USC), Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Sriretnakumar V, Zai CC, Wasim S, Barsanti-Innes B, Kennedy JL, So J. Copy number variant syndromes are frequent in schizophrenia: Progressing towards a CNV-schizophrenia model. Schizophr Res 2019; 209:171-178. [PMID: 31080157 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2019.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia (SCZ) remain unclear. SCZ genetic studies thus far have only identified numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms with small effect sizes and a handful of copy number variants (CNVs). This study investigates the prevalence of well-characterized CNV syndromes and candidate CNVs within a cohort of 348 SCZ patients, and explores correlations to their phenotypic findings. There was an enrichment of syndromic CNVs in the cohort, as well as brain-related and immune pathway genes within the detected CNVs. SCZ patients with brain-related CNVs had increased CNV burden, neurodevelopmental features, and types of hallucinations. Based on these results, we propose a CNV-SCZ model wherein specific phenotypic profiles should be prioritized for CNV screening within the SCZ patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venuja Sriretnakumar
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Clement C Zai
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Syed Wasim
- The Fred A. Litwin Family Centre in Genetic Medicine, University Health Network & Mount Sinai Hospital, 60 Murray Street, Toronto M5T 3L9, Canada
| | - Brianna Barsanti-Innes
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - James L Kennedy
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Joyce So
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, 250 College Street, Toronto M5T 1R8, Canada; The Fred A. Litwin Family Centre in Genetic Medicine, University Health Network & Mount Sinai Hospital, 60 Murray Street, Toronto M5T 3L9, Canada.
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