Prenatal diagnosis and array comparative genomic hybridization characterization of interstitial deletions of 8q23.3–q24.11 and 8q24.13 associated with Langer-Giedion syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome and haploinsufficiency of TRPS1, RAD21 and EXT1

Deficiency of Mineralization-Regulating Transcription Factor Trps1 Compromises Quality of Dental Tissues and Increases Susceptibility to Dental Caries

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease in children and adults worldwide. The complex etiology of dental caries includes environmental factors as well as host genetics, which together contribute to inter-individual variation in susceptibility. The goal of this study was to provide insights into the molecular pathology underlying increased predisposition to dental caries in trichorhinophalangeal syndrome (TRPS). This rare inherited skeletal dysplasia is caused by mutations in the TRPS1 gene coding for the TRPS1 transcription factor. Considering Trps1 expression in odontoblasts, where Trps1 supports expression of multiple mineralization-related genes, we focused on determining the consequences of odontoblast-specific Trps1 deficiency on the quality of dental tissues. We generated a conditional Trps1Col1a1 knockout mouse, in which Trps1 is deleted in differentiated odontoblasts using 2.3kbCol1a1-CreERT2 driver. Mandibular first molars of 4wk old male and female mice were analyzed by micro-computed tomography (μCT) and histology. Mechanical properties of dentin and enamel were analyzed by Vickers microhardness test. The susceptibility to acid demineralization was compared between WT and Trps1Col1a1cKO molars using an ex vivo artificial caries procedure. μCT analyses demonstrated that odontoblast-specific deletion of Trps1 results in decreased dentin volume in male and female mice, while no significant differences were detected in dentin mineral density. However, histology revealed a wider predentin layer and the presence of globular dentin, which are indicative of disturbed mineralization. The secondary effect on enamel was also detected, with both dentin and enamel of Trps1Col1a1cKO mice being more susceptible to demineralization than WT tissues. The quality of dental tissues was particularly impaired in molar pits, which are sites highly susceptible to dental caries in human teeth. Interestingly, Trps1Col1a1cKO males demonstrated a stronger phenotype than females, which calls for attention to genetically-driven sex differences in predisposition to dental caries. In conclusion, the analyses of Trps1Col1a1cKO mice suggest that compromised quality of dental tissues contributes to the high prevalence of dental caries in TRPS patients. Furthermore, our results suggest that TRPS patients will benefit particularly from improved dental caries prevention strategies tailored for individuals genetically predisposed due to developmental defects in tooth mineralization.

Mediator complex proximal Tail subunit MED30 is critical for Mediator core stability and cardiomyocyte transcriptional network

Dysregulation of cardiac transcription programs has been identified in patients and families with heart failure, as well as those with morphological and functional forms of congenital heart defects. Mediator is a multi-subunit complex that plays a central role in transcription initiation by integrating regulatory signals from gene-specific transcriptional activators to RNA polymerase II (Pol II). Recently, Mediator subunit 30 (MED30), a metazoan specific Mediator subunit, has been associated with Langer-Giedion syndrome (LGS) Type II and Cornelia de Lange syndrome-4 (CDLS4), characterized by several abnormalities including congenital heart defects. A point mutation in MED30 has been identified in mouse and is associated with mitochondrial cardiomyopathy. Very recent structural analyses of Mediator revealed that MED30 localizes to the proximal Tail, anchoring Head and Tail modules, thus potentially influencing stability of the Mediator core. However, in vivo cellular and physiological roles of MED30 in maintaining Mediator core integrity remain to be tested. Here, we report that deletion of MED30 in embryonic or adult cardiomyocytes caused rapid development of cardiac defects and lethality. Importantly, cardiomyocyte specific ablation of MED30 destabilized Mediator core subunits, while the kinase module was preserved, demonstrating an essential role of MED30 in stability of the overall Mediator complex. RNAseq analyses of constitutive cardiomyocyte specific Med30 knockout (cKO) embryonic hearts and inducible cardiomyocyte specific Med30 knockout (icKO) adult cardiomyocytes further revealed critical transcription networks in cardiomyocytes controlled by Mediator. Taken together, our results demonstrated that MED30 is essential for Mediator stability and transcriptional networks in both developing and adult cardiomyocytes. Our results affirm the key role of proximal Tail modular subunits in maintaining core Mediator stability in vivo.

Prenatal diagnosis of an 8q22.2-q23.3 deletion associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate and intrauterine growth restriction on fetal ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

We present prenatal diagnosis of an interstitial 8q22.2-q23.3 deletion associated with bilateral cleft lip and palate and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on fetal ultrasound.

CASE REPORT

A 29-year-old, primigravid woman underwent elective amniocentesis at 17 weeks of gestation because of anxiety. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46, XX. However, level II ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation revealed a fetus with IUGR and bilateral cleft lip and palate. Repeat amniocentesis was performed at 21 weeks of gestation, and array comparative genomic hybridization using uncultured amniocytes revealed a 13.5-Mb interstitial deletion of 8q22.2-q23.3 encompassing 37 Online Mendelian Inheritance of in Man (OMIM) genes including SPAG1, GRHL2, NCALD, RRM2B and ZFPM2. Polymorphic DNA marker analysis determined a paternal origin of the deletion. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a malformed fetus was delivered with a depressed nose and bilateral cleft lip and palate.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal diagnosis of facial cleft with IUGR should raise a suspicion of subtle chromosome deletions.

Prenatal diagnosis and molecular cytogenetic characterization of a de novo unbalanced reciprocal translocation of der(9)t(9;14)(p24.2;q32.11) associated with 9p terminal deletion and 14q distal duplication

OBJECTIVE

We present molecular cytogenetic characterization of a prenatally detected derivative chromosome 9 [der(9)] of unknown origin.

CASE REPORT

A 35-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis at 18 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age, which revealed a der(9) chromosome of unknown origin. The parental karyotypes were normal. Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis revealed a 2.593 Mb deletion of 9p24.3-p24.2 encompassing DOCK8, KANK1, DMRT1, and VLDLR and a 16.65 Mb duplication of 14q32.11-q32.33 encompassing DLK1, RTL1, MEG3, RTL1as, and MEG8. Quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR) analysis using D9S937 (9p24.2) and D14S605 (14q32.2) showed a paternal origin of 9p24.2 deletion and a paternal origin of 14q32.2 duplication consistent with a paternal origin of the de novo aberrant chromosome of der(9)t(9p;14q). The fetal karyotype was 46,XX,der(9)t(9;14) (p24.2;q32.11). Metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis using RP11-57K23 (14q32.33), RP11-31F19 (9p24.3), RP11-30O14 (9p21.1), and RP11-1105I14 (14q11.2) confirmed an unbalanced reciprocal translocation of der(9)t(9p;14q). We discuss 9p deletion syndrome and 14q duplication syndrome in this case.

CONCLUSION

Molecular cytogenetic techniques such as aCGH, FISH, and QF-PCR are useful in the determination of the origin and nature of a prenatally detected de novo derivative chromosome of unknown origin.