scholarly journals Genetic counseling as preventive intervention: toward individual specification of transgenerational autism risk

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Natasha Marrus ◽  
Tychele N. Turner ◽  
Elizabeth Forsen ◽  
Drew Bolster ◽  
Alison Marvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Counseling ◽  
Preventive Intervention ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Parental History ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Prospective Parents

Abstract Background Although autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are among the most heritable of all neuropsychiatric syndromes, most affected children are born to unaffected parents. Recently, we reported an average increase of 3–5% over general population risk of ASD among offspring of adults who have first-degree relatives with ASD in a large epidemiologic family sample. A next essential step is to investigate whether there are measurable characteristics of individual parents placing them at higher or lower recurrence risk, as this information could allow more personalized genetic counseling. Methods We assembled what is to our knowledge the largest collection of data on the ability of four measurable characteristics of unaffected prospective parents to specify risk for autism among their offspring: (1) sub clinical autistic trait burden, (2) parental history of a sibling with ASD, (3) transmitted autosomal molecular genetic abnormalities, and (4) parental age. Leveraging phenotypic and genetic data in curated family cohorts, we evaluate the respective associations between these factors and child outcome when autism is present in the family in the parental generation. Results All four characteristics were associated with elevation in offspring risk; however, the magnitude of their predictive power—with the exception of isolated rare inherited pathogenic variants —does not yet reach a threshold that would typically be considered actionable for reproductive decision-making. Conclusions Individual specification of risk to offspring of adults in ASD-affected families is not straightforwardly improved by ascertainment of parental phenotype, and it is not yet clear whether genomic screening of prospective parents in families affected by idiopathic ASD is warranted as a clinical standard. Systematic screening of affected family members for heritable pathogenic variants, including rare sex-linked mutations, will identify a subset of families with substantially elevated transmission risk. Polygenic risk scores are only weakly predictive at this time but steadily improving and ultimately may enable more robust prediction either singly or when combined with the risk variables examined in this study.

scholarly journals The patterns of family genetic risk scores for eleven major psychiatric and substance use disorders in a Swedish national sample

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth S. Kendler ◽  
Henrik Ohlsson ◽  
Jan Sundquist ◽  
Kristina Sundquist
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Pedigree Data ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Genetic Risk Scores

AbstractTo clarify the structure of genetic risks for 11 major psychiatric disorders, we calculated, from morbidity risks for disorders in 1st–5th degree relatives controlling for cohabitation effects, in the Swedish population born between 1932 and 1995 (n = 5,830,014), the family genetic risk scores (FGRS) for major depression (MD), anxiety disorders (AD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia (SZ), bulimia (BUL), anorexia nervosa (AN), alcohol use disorder (AUD), drug use disorder (DUD), ADHD, and autism-spectrum disorder (ASD). For all affected individuals, we calculated their mean standardized FGRS for each disorder. The patterns of FGRS were quite similar for MD and AD, and for AUD and DUD, but substantially less similar for BUL and AN, BD and SZ, and ADHD and ASD. While OCD had high levels of FGRS for MD and AD, the overall FGRS profile differed considerably from MD and AD. ADHD FGRS scores were substantially elevated in AUD and DUD. FGRS scores for BD, OCD, AN, ASD, ADHD, and especially SZ were relatively disorder-specific while genetic risk for MD and AD had more generalized effects. The levels of FGRS for BMI, coronary artery disease, and educational attainment across our disorders replicated prior associations found using molecular genetic methods. All diagnostic categories examined had elevated FGRS for many disorders producing, for each condition, an informative FGRS profile. Using a novel method which approximates, from pedigree data, aggregate genetic risk, we have replicated and extended prior insights into the structure of genetic risk factors for key psychiatric illnesses.

scholarly journals Paternal Uniparental Isodisomy of Chromosome 2 in a Patient with CNGA3-Associated Autosomal Recessive Achromatopsia

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 7842
Author(s):  
Susanne Kohl ◽  
Britta Baumann ◽  
Francesca Dassie ◽  
Anja K. Mayer ◽  
Maria Solaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Segregation Analysis ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Retinal Disease ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
Molecular Genetic Analysis ◽  
Recessive Mutation ◽  
Chromosome 2 ◽  
Inherited Retinal Disease ◽  
Uniparental Isodisomy

Achromatopsia (ACHM) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited retinal disease characterized by congenital photophobia, nystagmus, low visual acuity, and absence of color vision. ACHM is genetically heterogeneous and can be caused by biallelic mutations in the genes CNGA3, CNGB3, GNAT2, PDE6C, PDE6H, or ATF6. We undertook molecular genetic analysis in a single female patient with a clinical diagnosis of ACHM and identified the homozygous variant c.778G>C;p.(D260H) in the CNGA3 gene. While segregation analysis in the father, as expected, identified the CNGA3 variant in a heterozygous state, it could not be displayed in the mother. Microsatellite marker analysis provided evidence that the homozygosity of the CNGA3 variant is due to partial or complete paternal uniparental isodisomy (UPD) of chromosome 2 in the patient. Apart from the ACHM phenotype, the patient was clinically unsuspicious and healthy. This is one of few examples proving UPD as the underlying mechanism for the clinical manifestation of a recessive mutation in a patient with inherited retinal disease. It also highlights the importance of segregation analysis in both parents of a given patient or especially in cases of homozygous recessive mutations, as UPD has significant implications for genetic counseling with a very low recurrence risk assessment in such families.

scholarly journals Using Sibling Designs to Understand Neurodevelopmental Disorders: From Genes and Environments to Prevention Programming

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Wade ◽  
Heather Prime ◽  
Sheri Madigan
Keyword(s):  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Broad Class ◽  
Psychosocial Health ◽  
Recurrence Risk ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Functional Neuroanatomy ◽  
Early Screening ◽  
Environmental Liabilities ◽  
Hyperactivity Disorder ◽  
Significant Bearing

Neurodevelopmental disorders represent a broad class of childhood neurological conditions that have a significant bearing on the wellbeing of children, families, and communities. In this review, we draw on evidence from two common and widely studied neurodevelopmental disorders—autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)—to demonstrate the utility of genetically informed sibling designs in uncovering the nature and pathogenesis of these conditions. Specifically, we examine how twin, recurrence risk, and infant prospective tracking studies have contributed to our understanding of genetic and environmental liabilities towards neurodevelopmental morbidity through their impact on neurocognitive processes and structural/functional neuroanatomy. It is suggested that the siblings of children with ASD and ADHD are at risk not only of clinically elevated problems in these areas, but also of subthreshold symptoms and/or subtle impairments in various neurocognitive skills and other domains of psychosocial health. Finally, we close with a discussion on the practical relevance of sibling designs and how these might be used in the service of early screening, prevention, and intervention efforts that aim to alleviate the negative downstream consequences associated with disorders of neurodevelopment.

Clinical and genetic investigation of 136 Japanese patients with congenital hypothyroidism

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 691-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsushi Tanaka ◽  
Kohei Aoyama ◽  
Atsushi Suzuki ◽  
Shinji Saitoh ◽  
Haruo Mizuno
Keyword(s):  
Congenital Hypothyroidism ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Genetic Diagnosis ◽  
Japanese Patients ◽  
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Allelic Variant ◽  
Genetic Investigation ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Recessive Genes ◽  
Molecular Genetic Diagnosis

AbstractObjectivesCongenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common congenital endocrine disorder. Recent advances in genetic testing have revealed its causative mutations in some CH patients. However, the underlying etiology remains unknown in most patients. This study aimed to perform clinical and genetic investigation in Japanese CH patients to uncover genotype-phenotype correlations.MethodsWe enrolled 136 Japanese patients with transient or permanent CH between April 2015 and March 2017, and performed next-generation sequencing of 19 genes implicated in CH.ResultsWe identified potentially pathogenic bi-allelic variants in DUOX2, TSHR, and TPO in 19, 5, and 1 patient, respectively (autosomal recessive), and a potentially pathogenic mono-allelic variant in NKX2-1 (autosomal dominant) in 1 patient. Molecular genetic diagnosis was highly suggested in 26 patients (19%) from 23 families. We also detected a potentially pathogenic mono-allelic variant in five recessive genes (DUOX2, TSHR, TG, DUOXA2, and TPO) in 31 unrelated patients (23%), although the pathogenicity of these variants remains inconclusive. Patients with bi-allelic DUOX2 variants showed a more severe clinical presentation in infancy than those with bi-allelic TSHR variants. However, this trend reversed beyond infancy. There were no statistical differences in initial thyroid stimulating hormone, free thyroxine, thyroglobulin, and levothyroxine dose as of March 2017 between patients with bi-allelic and mono-allelic DUOX2 variants.ConclusionsThe prevalence of potentially-pathogenic variants in Japanese CH patients was similar to that found by previous reports. Our study demonstrates a genotype-phenotype correlation in Japanese CH patients.

scholarly journals Genetic contributions to suicidal thoughts and behaviors

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Emily DiBlasi ◽  
Jooeun Kang ◽  
Anna R. Docherty
Keyword(s):  
Major Depressive Disorder ◽  
Depressive Disorder ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
Genetic Covariance ◽  
Molecular Studies ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors

Abstract Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt (SA) and suicide are significantly heritable phenotypes. However, the extent to which these phenotypes share genetic architecture is unclear. This question is of great relevance to determining key risk factors for suicide, and to alleviate the societal burden of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). To help address the question of heterogeneity, consortia efforts have recently shifted from a focus on suicide within the context of major psychopathology (e.g. major depressive disorder, schizophrenia) to suicide as an independent entity. Recent molecular studies of suicide risk by members of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium and the International Suicide Genetics Consortium have identified genome-wide significant loci associated with SA and with suicide death, and have examined these phenotypes within and outside of the context of major psychopathology. This review summarizes important insights from epidemiological and biometrical research on suicide, and discusses key empirical findings from molecular genetic examinations of STBs. Polygenic risk scores for these phenotypes have been observed to be associated with case−control status and other risk phenotypes. In addition, estimated shared genetic covariance with other phenotypes suggests specific medical and psychiatric risks beyond major depressive disorder. Broadly, molecular studies suggest a complexity of suicide etiology that cannot simply be accounted for by depression. Discussion of the state of suicide genetics, a growing field, also includes important ethical and clinical implications of studying the genetic risk of suicide.

scholarly journals Effects of polygenic risk for major mental disorders and cross-disorder on cortical complexity

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Simon Schmitt ◽  
Tina Meller ◽  
Frederike Stein ◽  
Katharina Brosch ◽  
Kai Ringwald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Right Hemisphere ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Risk Scores ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Polygenic Risk ◽  
Risk For Depression

Abstract Background MRI-derived cortical folding measures are an indicator of largely genetically driven early developmental processes. However, the effects of genetic risk for major mental disorders on early brain development are not well understood. Methods We extracted cortical complexity values from structural MRI data of 580 healthy participants using the CAT12 toolbox. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and cross-disorder (incorporating cumulative genetic risk for depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) were computed and used in separate general linear models with cortical complexity as the regressand. In brain regions that showed a significant association between polygenic risk for mental disorders and cortical complexity, volume of interest (VOI)/region of interest (ROI) analyses were conducted to investigate additional changes in their volume and cortical thickness. Results The PRS for depression was associated with cortical complexity in the right orbitofrontal cortex (right hemisphere: p = 0.006). A subsequent VOI/ROI analysis showed no association between polygenic risk for depression and either grey matter volume or cortical thickness. We found no associations between cortical complexity and polygenic risk for either schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or psychiatric cross-disorder when correcting for multiple testing. Conclusions Changes in cortical complexity associated with polygenic risk for depression might facilitate well-established volume changes in orbitofrontal cortices in depression. Despite the absence of psychopathology, changed cortical complexity that parallels polygenic risk for depression might also change reward systems, which are also structurally affected in patients with depressive syndrome.

scholarly journals Genetic Approaches Using Zebrafish to Study the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis in Neurological Disorders

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 566
Author(s):  
Jae-Geun Lee ◽  
Hyun-Ju Cho ◽  
Yun-Mi Jeong ◽  
Jeong-Soo Lee
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Behavioral Abnormalities ◽  
Bidirectional Signaling ◽  
Intestinal Dysbiosis ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Brain

The microbiota–gut–brain axis (MGBA) is a bidirectional signaling pathway mediating the interaction of the microbiota, the intestine, and the central nervous system. While the MGBA plays a pivotal role in normal development and physiology of the nervous and gastrointestinal system of the host, its dysfunction has been strongly implicated in neurological disorders, where intestinal dysbiosis and derived metabolites cause barrier permeability defects and elicit local inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, concomitant with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines, mobilization and infiltration of immune cells into the brain, and the dysregulated activation of the vagus nerve, culminating in neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction of the brain and behavioral abnormalities. In this topical review, we summarize recent findings in human and animal models regarding the roles of the MGBA in physiological and neuropathological conditions, and discuss the molecular, genetic, and neurobehavioral characteristics of zebrafish as an animal model to study the MGBA. The exploitation of zebrafish as an amenable genetic model combined with in vivo imaging capabilities and gnotobiotic approaches at the whole organism level may reveal novel mechanistic insights into microbiota–gut–brain interactions, especially in the context of neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorder and Alzheimer’s disease.

scholarly journals Autistic traits in offspring of schizophrenic patients in comparison to those of normal population: a case-control study

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimaa Ibrahim Amin ◽  
Ghada Mohamed Salah EL-Deen
Keyword(s):  
Social Class ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cutoff Point ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Case Group ◽  
Parental History ◽  
Autism Quotient ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

Abstract Background Autism is not a discreet condition and those families members with autistic propend are more likely to display autistic symptoms with a wide range of severity, even below the threshold for diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders. Even with a parental history of schizophrenia, the likelihood of autistic spectrum disorder was found to be 3-fold greater. The aim of this study is to assess autistic traits among offspring of schizophrenic patients in the age group from 4 to 11 years and compare it in the offspring of normal individuals, and its association with the sociodemographic data. To determine whether schizophrenic parents are a risk factor to autistic traits in their children. Results There was a statistically significant (P < 0.05*) increase in Autism Quotient Child scores of the case group where 47.2% had a score equal or more than the cutoff point (76), while only 17 19.4% of the control group had the same score with odds = 3.71 indicating that children of schizophrenic parents 18 were three times likely to have Autism Quotient-Child score greater than or equal to the cutoff point (76) than 19 children of healthy parents. No statistically significant association (P ≥ 0.05) was found between all 20 sociodemographic characteristics and Autism Quotient-Child scores among the case group except for family 21 income and social class where there was a statistically significant association (P < 0.05) between insufficient income 22 and low social class and higher Autism Quotient-Child score (≥ 76). Conclusions Children of schizophrenic parents are at high risk to have autistic traits than children of normal parents.

Population-Based Screening in Children For Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Familial Hypercholesterolemia: Design of The VRONI Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronika Sanin ◽  
Raphael Schmieder ◽  
Sara Ates ◽  
Lea Dewi Schlieben ◽  
Jens Wiehler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Familial Hypercholesterolemia ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Molecular Genetic Analysis ◽  
Cascade Screening ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Risk Indices ◽  
Training Courses

Abstract Background: Heterozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) represents the most frequent monogenic disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1:250 in the general population. Diagnosis during childhood enables early initiation of preventive measures, reducing the risk of severe consecutive atherosclerotic manifestations. Nevertheless, population-based screening programs for FH are scarce.Methods: In the VRONI study children aged 5 to 14 years in Bavaria are invited to participate in a FH screening program during regular pediatric visits. The screening is based on LDL-C measurements from capillary blood. If exceeding 130 mg/dl (3.34 mmol/l), i.e. the expected 95th percentile in this age group, subsequent molecular genetic analysis for FH is performed. Children with FH pathogenic variants enter a registry and are treated by specialized pediatricians. Furthermore, qualified training centers offer FH-focused training courses to affected families. For first degree relatives, reverse cascade screening is recommended to identify and treat affected family members.Results: Implementation of VRONI required intensive prearrangements for addressing ethical, educational, data-safety, legal and organisational aspects, which will be outlined in this paper. Recruitment started in January of 2021, within two months more than 280 pediatricians screened over 1,150 children. Approximately 60,000 children are expected to be enrolled in the VRONI study until 2024. Conclusion: VRONI aims to test the feasibility of a population-based screening for FH in children in Bavaria, intending to set the stage for a nation-wide FH screening infrastructure. Further we aim to validate genetic variants of unclear significance, detect novel causative mutations, and contribute to polygenic risk indices. (German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00022140; registered August 21st2020.)

Molecular genetic diagnostics of Bardet-Biedl syndrome with an MPS-panel

2021 ◽  
pp. 26-35
Author(s):  
М.Д. Орлова ◽  
П. Гундорова ◽  
А.В. Поляков
Keyword(s):  
Autosomal Recessive ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Autosomal Recessive Disorder ◽  
Genetic Diagnostics ◽  
Bardet Biedl Syndrome ◽  
Pathogenic Variants ◽  
Development Delay ◽  
Molecular Genetic Diagnostics ◽  
First Time

Синдром Барде-Бидля - аутосомно-рецессивное заболевание, характеризующееся ожирением, пигментной дегенерацией сетчатки, полидактилией, задержкой психоречевого развития и структурными повреждениями почек. В работе представлены результаты применения МПС-панели, включающей кодирующие последовательности и прилегающие интронные области 21 гена, ассоциированного с синдромом Барде-Бидля. Впервые была проведена молекулярно-генетическая диагностика в группе из сорока российских пациентов с синдромом Барде-Бидля из неродственных семей. В результате исследования удалось подтвердить диагноз молекулярно-генетическим методом у 40% пациентов (n=16). В генах BBS1, BBS7 и BBS10 встретились повторяющиеся варианты. Частота встречаемости патогенных и вероятно патогенных вариантов в генах BBS1 и BBS10 у российских пациентов соответствует зарубежным данным. Варианты в гене BBS7 встретились у пяти человек, у четырех из них был обнаружен патогенный вариант c.1967_1968delTAinsC, не встречающийся в других популяциях. Результаты, представленные в статье, показывают значительный вклад в заболеваемость синдромом Барде-Бидля в российской популяции патогенных вариантов в гене BBS7. Bardet-Biedl syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by obesity, retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, development delay, and structural kidney defects. This study shows the results of using an MPS panel that includes coding sequences and intronic areas of 21 genes associated with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. For the first time molecular genetic testing has been provided for the group of 40 Russian patiens with Bardet-Biedl syndrome from unrelated families. As a result of the testing, diagnoses were confirmed for 40% of the patients (n=16). The genes BBS1, BBS7, BBS10 had recurrent variants. The frequency of pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in the genes BBS1 and BBS10 among Russian patients matches the research data in other countries. Variants in the BBS7 gene were found for five people, four of them had a pathogenic variant c.1967_1968delTAinsC, which is not present among other populations. Results provided in this article show the significant role of pathogenic variants in the BBS7 gene in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome in Russian population.

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