Identification of a novel p.R1443W mutation in RP1 gene associated with retinitis pigmentosa sine pigmento

Genetic Profile and Associated Characteristics of 150 Korean Patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa

PURPOSE

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) shows great diversity between genotypes and phenotypes, and it is important to identify the causative genes. This study aimed to analyze the molecular profiles, associated ocular characteristics, and progression of RP in Korean patients.

METHODS

All the genetic variants in patients with RP, identified using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) with a panel of 88 RP-related genes between November 2018 and November 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients underwent comprehensive ophthalmological evaluations, and their clinical and family histories were recorded. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) deterioration and photoreceptor disruption progression rates were determined based on the major causative mutational genes using nonlinear mixed models, and the differences among them were investigated using the interaction effect.

RESULTS

Among the 144 probands, 82 variants in 24 causative genes were identified in 77 families (53.5%). Most of the RP cases were associated with autosomal recessive variants (N = 64 (44.4%)), followed by autosomal dominant (N = 10 (6.9%)) and X-linked variants (N = 3 (2.1%)). The four most frequently affected genes were EYS (N = 15 (10.4%)), USH2A (N = 12 (8.3%)), PDE6B (N = 9 (6.3%)), and RP1 (N = 8 (5.6%)). Epiretinal membranes and cystoid macular edema were frequently noted in the patients with USH2A (75.0%) and PDE6B (50.0%) variants, respectively. During the follow-up period, the BCVA and photoreceptor disruption changes were significantly different among the patients carrying the four common causative genes (P=0.014 and 0.034, resp.). Patients with PDE6B variants showed faster BCVA changes (0.2 LogMAR/10 years), and those with USH2A variants showed the fastest ellipsoid zone disruptions (-170.4 µm/year).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our genetic analysis using targeted NGS provides information about the prevalence of RP-associated mutations in Korean patients. Delineating clinical characteristics according to genetic variations may help clinicians identify subtype features and predict the clinical course of RP.

Visual field mean deviation and relevant factors in 928 Chinese retinitis pigmentosa patients

AIM

To investigate the associations between demographic and clinical factors with the rate of visual field mean derivation (MD) decline in retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients.

METHODS

Correlations of MDs with the visual acuity and retinal pigmentation were analyzed in 928 RP patients. MD decreasing rate in 10y and potential influences of gender, age, family history and retinal pigmentation on the rate were explored in 201 RP patients.

RESULTS

In the 928 patients, average MD and visual acuity were -14.44±8.61 dB and 0.79±0.35 respectively and when MD was lower than -9.18 dB the visual acuity would be below 1.0 (20/20). The average MD medium between eyes with or without retinal pigmentation was -14.82 dB. In 123 non-pigmented eyes, the average MD were lower than the medium but in 153 pigmented eyes it was higher than that. In the 201 patients, the average decreasing value of MD in 10 years' period was -8.01±3.66 dB and the value were correlated to retinal pigmentation but not to gender, age or RP family history.

CONCLUSION

The rate of MD decline in RP eyes is significantly related to retinal pigmentation. Our study demonstrates the quantitative rate of MD decline in RP patients and the value of MD could well reflect the severity of RP.

Loss of function mutations in RP1 are responsible for retinitis pigmentosa in consanguineous familial cases

PURPOSE

This study was undertaken to identify causal mutations responsible for autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (arRP) in consanguineous families.

METHODS

Large consanguineous families were ascertained from the Punjab province of Pakistan. An ophthalmic examination consisting of a fundus evaluation and electroretinography (ERG) was completed, and small aliquots of blood were collected from all participating individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells, and a genome-wide linkage or a locus-specific exclusion analysis was completed with polymorphic short tandem repeats (STRs). Two-point logarithm of odds (LOD) scores were calculated, and all coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of RP1 were sequenced to identify the causal mutation.

RESULTS

The ophthalmic examination showed that affected individuals in all families manifest cardinal symptoms of RP. Genome-wide scans localized the disease phenotype to chromosome 8q, a region harboring RP1, a gene previously implicated in the pathogenesis of RP. Sanger sequencing identified a homozygous single base deletion in exon 4: c.3697delT (p.S1233Pfs22*), a single base substitution in intron 3: c.787+1G>A (p.I263Nfs8*), a 2 bp duplication in exon 2: c.551_552dupTA (p.Q185Yfs4*) and an 11,117 bp deletion that removes all three coding exons of RP1. These variations segregated with the disease phenotype within the respective families and were not present in ethnically matched control samples.

CONCLUSIONS

These results strongly suggest that these mutations in RP1 are responsible for the retinal phenotype in affected individuals of all four consanguineous families.

Efficacy of Column Scatter Plots for Presenting Retinitis Pigmentosa Phenotypes in a Japanese Cohort

Purpose

We evaluated the efficacy of column scatter plots to describe genotype–phenotype correlations in a Japanese cohort with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Methods

Clinical records of 121 patients with RP with identified causative mutations were reviewed. Visual acuity, central and peripheral visual fields, electroretinography (ERG), lens status, and measurements of optical coherence tomography were evaluated according to causative genes using column scatter plots. Values for three common genes (EYS, USH2A, and RHO) were compared statistically.

Results

All patients with PDE6B, PRPH2, and RPGR mutations, those 55 years old or younger with RP1L1 and USH2A mutations, and those 45 years old or younger with EYS and RHO mutations retained visual acuity of at least 0.1. All patients with RPGR mutations showed at least −20 dB mean deviation. Goldmann perimeter measures of 4/6 patients with RHO mutations showed remaining peripheral visual fields. Dark-adapted 0.01 and 3.0 ERGs were extinguished for most genes. Half of the patients with RHO RP maintained cone responses in light-adapted 3.0 and 3.0 flicker ERG. All patients with PRPH2, those 55 years old or younger with USH2A and RP1L1, and those 45 years old or younger with PDE6B and EYS mutations maintained subfoveal ellipsoid zones. No differences were identified between EYS and USH2A or RHO and USH2A.

Conclusions

Column scatter plots enabled comparisons of the associated severities and illustration of the ophthalmological measurements for every RP causative gene.

Translational Relevance

Analysis of mutations in specific genes may be helpful for determining visual prognoses in the clinical setting.