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Alavanda C, Ceylan Eİ, Kılavuz S, Çıkı K. Comprehensive analyses of phenylalanine hydroxylase variants and phenotypic characteristics of patients in the eastern region of Türkiye. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2024; 37:543-552. [PMID: 38706300 DOI: 10.1515/jpem-2024-0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) is predominantly a hepatic enzyme that catalyzes phenylalanine (Phe) into tyrosine, which is the rate-limiting step in Phe catabolism. Biallelic variants in the PAH gene cause PAH enzyme deficiency. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes neurologic, behavioral, and dermatological findings. PKU could be divided clinically into three types based on the blood Phe levels: classic phenylketonuria (cPKU), mild-moderate phenylketonuria (mPKU), and mild hyperphenylalaninemia (MHP). This study aimed to determine the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of Turkish PKU patients in the eastern region of Türkiye. METHODS Demographic characteristics, serum Phe levels, treatments, and PAH variants of 163 patients with PKU and hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) were retrospectively evaluated. Blood Phe levels of the patients were analyzed with the high-performance liquid chromatography method. For PAH gene analysis, next-generation sequencing was performed. RESULTS Of the 163 patients included in the study, 38 (23.3 %) had cPKU, 16 (9.8 %) had mPKU, and 109 (66.9 %) had MHP. Homozygous variants in the PAH gene were detected in 66 (40.5 %) of the patients, while compound heterozygous variants were detected in 97 (59.5 %) patients. Two novel and 35 recurrent variants in the PAH gene were detected. Of the two novel variants, one was missense (p.Phe351Leu) and the other was frameshift (p.Met276Cysfs*65). The most frequently detected variants were p.Thr380Met (18 %), p.Arg261Gln (16.8 %), and p.Ala300Ser (12.8 %). All patients with the homozygous c.1066-11G>A variant exhibited cPKU phenotype. The c.898G>T (p.Ala300Ser), c.1139C>T (p.Thr380Met), and c.1208C>T (p.Ala403Val) variants were statistically related to mild phenotype. On the other hand, c.592_613del (p.Tyr198Serfs*136), c.1028A>G (p.Tyr343Cys), and c.782G>A (p.Arg261Gln) variants were more frequently detected in the cPKU group. CONCLUSIONS Our study, conducted with patients from the eastern region of Türkiye, demonstrates the genetic heterogeneity in the Turkish population. Simultaneously, our research contributes to genotype-phenotype correlation and expands the genotypic spectrum by identifying novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceren Alavanda
- Department of Medical Genetics, Van Research and Training Hospital, Van, Türkiye
| | - Emine İpek Ceylan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Van Research and Training Hospital, Van, Türkiye
- Department of Medical Genetics, Dr Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Ankara Oncology Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
| | - Sebile Kılavuz
- Division of Child Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Marmara University, İstanbul, Türkiye
- Division of Child Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Van Research and Training Hospital, Van, Türkiye
| | - Kısmet Çıkı
- Division of Child Nutrition and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Van Research and Training Hospital, Van, Türkiye
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Elhawary NA, AlJahdali IA, Abumansour IS, Elhawary EN, Gaboon N, Dandini M, Madkhali A, Alosaimi W, Alzahrani A, Aljohani F, Melibary EM, Kensara OA. Genetic etiology and clinical challenges of phenylketonuria. Hum Genomics 2022; 16:22. [PMID: 35854334 PMCID: PMC9295449 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-022-00398-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, genetic etiology, and management of phenylketonuria (PKU). PKU, an autosomal recessive disease, is an inborn error of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism caused by pathogenic variants in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene. The prevalence of PKU varies widely among ethnicities and geographic regions, affecting approximately 1 in 24,000 individuals worldwide. Deficiency in the PAH enzyme or, in rare cases, the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin results in high blood Phe concentrations, causing brain dysfunction. Untreated PKU, also known as PAH deficiency, results in severe and irreversible intellectual disability, epilepsy, behavioral disorders, and clinical features such as acquired microcephaly, seizures, psychological signs, and generalized hypopigmentation of skin (including hair and eyes). Severe phenotypes are classic PKU, and less severe forms of PAH deficiency are moderate PKU, mild PKU, mild hyperphenylalaninaemia (HPA), or benign HPA. Early diagnosis and intervention must start shortly after birth to prevent major cognitive and neurological effects. Dietary treatment, including natural protein restriction and Phe-free supplements, must be used to maintain blood Phe concentrations of 120-360 μmol/L throughout the life span. Additional treatments include the casein glycomacropeptide (GMP), which contains very limited aromatic amino acids and may improve immunological function, and large neutral amino acid (LNAA) supplementation to prevent plasma Phe transport into the brain. The synthetic BH4 analog, sapropterin hydrochloride (i.e., Kuvan®, BioMarin), is another potential treatment that activates residual PAH, thus decreasing Phe concentrations in the blood of PKU patients. Moreover, daily subcutaneous injection of pegylated Phe ammonia-lyase (i.e., pegvaliase; PALYNZIQ®, BioMarin) has promised gene therapy in recent clinical trials, and mRNA approaches are also being studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser A. Elhawary
- grid.412832.e0000 0000 9137 6644Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 57543, Mecca, 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Imad A. AlJahdali
- grid.412832.e0000 0000 9137 6644Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 57543, Mecca, 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Iman S. Abumansour
- grid.412832.e0000 0000 9137 6644Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 57543, Mecca, 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Ezzeldin N. Elhawary
- grid.123047.30000000103590315Faculty of Medicine, MS Genomic Medicine Program, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, UK
| | - Nagwa Gaboon
- grid.7269.a0000 0004 0621 1570Department of Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Dandini
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank, Maternity and Children Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulelah Madkhali
- grid.415254.30000 0004 1790 7311Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wafaa Alosaimi
- Department of Hematology, Maternity and Children Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmajeed Alzahrani
- Department of Laboratory and Blood Bank at Maternity and Children Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fawzia Aljohani
- Department of Pediatric Clinics, Maternity and Children Hospital, King Salman Medical City, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ehab M. Melibary
- grid.412832.e0000 0000 9137 6644Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, P.O. Box 57543, Mecca, 21955 Saudi Arabia
| | - Osama A. Kensara
- grid.412832.e0000 0000 9137 6644Department of Clinical Nutrition, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Bik-Multanowski M, Didycz B, Bik-Multanowska K. Management precautions for risk of obesity are necessary among infants with PKU carrying the rs113883650 variant of the LAT1 gene: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0264084. [PMID: 35176108 PMCID: PMC8853486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU), an inborn error of phenylalanine metabolism, require consistent treatment to avoid the brain toxicity caused by hyperphenylalaninemia. The treatment consists of life-long use of a low-phenylalanine diet, which aims at decreasing hyperphenylalaninemia and maintaining blood phenylalanine concentration in a safe range. Problems with balancing diet can result in suboptimal treatment outcomes; however, recent findings suggest that genetic alteration of the transport of phenylalanine might result in an additional health burden. We assessed the effect of a common variant (rs113883650) of the LAT1(SLC7A5) gene, which encodes the main transmembrane phenylalanine transporter, on the development of overweight in 54 infants with PKU who received standard therapy and adhered well to therapeutic prescriptions, and in 55 infants with a milder disease form—the so-called mild hyperphenylalaninemia (MHP), which does not require treatment. We found that infants with PKU—carriers of the rs113883650 variant had significantly higher Body Mass Index (BMI) at 1 year compared to PKU infants without the variant (mean BMI Z-Score of +1.15 SD vs -0.15 SD, respectively; t(52) = 5.25, p = 0.00005). Conversely, no significant BMI differences were detected in the subgroups of infants with MHP (t(53) = 1.15, p = 0.25). Additionally, high BMI in infants with PKU—carriers of the rs113883650 variant positively correlated with high variability of their blood phenylalanine levels (r(52) = 0.42, p = 0.002). It should be noted that this is an observational study, which does not determine causation. Nevertheless, our findings show that the rs113883650 variant of the LAT1 gene may be a risk factor for overweight in properly treated infants with PKU. Management precautions should be taken to prevent the development of overweight and obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslaw Bik-Multanowski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Bozena Didycz
- Department of Medical Genetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Kinga Bik-Multanowska
- Department of Medical Genetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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Klaassen K, Djordjevic M, Skakic A, Kecman B, Drmanac R, Pavlovic S, Stojiljkovic M. Untreated PKU patients without intellectual disability: SHANK gene family as a candidate modifier. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2021; 29:100822. [PMID: 34900593 PMCID: PMC8639809 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2021.100822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by variants in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene and it is characterized by excessively high levels of phenylalanine in body fluids. PKU is a paradigm for a genetic disease that can be treated and majority of developed countries have a population-based newborn screening. Thus, the combination of early diagnosis and immediate initiation of treatment has resulted in normal intelligence for treated PKU patients. Although PKU is a monogenic disease, decades of research and clinical practice have shown that the correlation between the genotype and corresponding phenotype is not simple at all. Attempts have been made to discover modifier genes for PKU cognitive phenotype but without any success so far. We conducted whole genome sequencing of 4 subjects from unrelated non-consanguineous families who presented with pathogenic mutations in the PAH gene, high blood phenylalanine concentrations and near-normal cognitive development despite no treatment. We used cross sample analysis to select genes common for more than one patient. Thus, the SHANK gene family emerged as the only relevant gene family with variants detected in 3 of 4 analyzed patients. We detected two novel variants, p.Pro1591Ala in SHANK1 and p.Asp18Asn in SHANK2, as well as SHANK2:p.Gly46Ser, SHANK2:p.Pro1388_Phe1389insLeuPro and SHANK3:p.Pro1716Thr variants that were previously described. Computational analysis indicated that the identified variants do not abolish the function of SHANK proteins. However, changes in posttranslational modifications of SHANK proteins could influence functioning of the glutamatergic synapses, cytoskeleton regulation and contribute to maintaining optimal synaptic density and number of dendritic spines. Our findings are linking SHANK gene family and brain plasticity in PKU for the first time. We hypothesize that variant SHANK proteins maintain optimal synaptic density and number of dendritic spines under high concentrations of phenylalanine and could have protective modifying effect on cognitive development of PKU patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Klaassen
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Djordjevic
- Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia.,School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - A Skakic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - B Kecman
- Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic", Belgrade, Serbia
| | - R Drmanac
- Complete Genomics Incorporated, San Jose, California 95134, USA.,MGI, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China.,BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - S Pavlovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - M Stojiljkovic
- Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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