scholarly journals Usher Syndrome: Genetics of a Human Ciliopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (13) ◽  
pp. 6723
Author(s):  
Carla Fuster-García ◽  
Belén García-Bohórquez ◽  
Ana Rodríguez-Muñoz ◽  
Elena Aller ◽  
Teresa Jaijo ◽  
...  

Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive syndromic ciliopathy characterized by sensorineural hearing loss, retinitis pigmentosa and, sometimes, vestibular dysfunction. There are three clinical types depending on the severity and age of onset of the symptoms; in addition, ten genes are reported to be causative of USH, and six more related to the disease. These genes encode proteins of a diverse nature, which interact and form a dynamic protein network called the “Usher interactome”. In the organ of Corti, the USH proteins are essential for the correct development and maintenance of the structure and cohesion of the stereocilia. In the retina, the USH protein network is principally located in the periciliary region of the photoreceptors, and plays an important role in the maintenance of the periciliary structure and the trafficking of molecules between the inner and the outer segments of photoreceptors. Even though some genes are clearly involved in the syndrome, others are controversial. Moreover, expression of some USH genes has been detected in other tissues, which could explain their involvement in additional mild comorbidities. In this paper, we review the genetics of Usher syndrome and the spectrum of mutations in USH genes. The aim is to identify possible mutation associations with the disease and provide an updated genotype–phenotype correlation.

2019 ◽  
pp. 112067211987939
Author(s):  
Fabiana D’Esposito ◽  
Viviana Randazzo ◽  
Gilda Cennamo ◽  
Nicola Centore ◽  
Paolo Enrico Maltese ◽  
...  

Purpose: Usher syndrome (USH) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by congenital sensorineural hearing impairment and retinitis pigmentosa. Classification distinguishes three clinical types of which type I (USH1) is the most severe, with vestibular dysfunction as an added feature. To date, 15 genes and 3 loci have been identified with the USH1G gene being an uncommon cause of USH. We describe an atypical USH1G-related phenotype caused by a novel homozygous missense variation in a patient with profound hearing impairment and relatively mild retinitis pigmentosa, but no vestibular dysfunction. Methods: A 26-year-old female patient with profound congenital sensorineural hearing loss, nyctalopia and retinitis pigmentosa was studied. Audiometric, vestibular and ophthalmologic examination was performed. A panel of 13 genes was tested by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: While the hearing loss was confirmed to be profound, the vestibular function resulted normal. Although typical retinitis pigmentosa was present, the age at onset was unusually late for USH1 syndrome. A novel homozygous missense variation (c.1187T>A, p.Leu396Gln) in the USH1G gene has been identified as causing the disease in our patient. Conclusions: Genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity are very common in both isolated and syndromic retinal dystrophies and sensorineural hearing loss. Our findings widen the spectrum of USH allelic disorders and strength the concept that variants in genes that are classically known as underlying one specific clinical USH subtype might result in unexpected phenotypes.


2006 ◽  
Vol 121 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Ebermann ◽  
Hendrik P. N. Scholl ◽  
Peter Charbel Issa ◽  
Elvir Becirovic ◽  
Jürgen Lamprecht ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2050313X1774590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Umrigar ◽  
Amanda Musso ◽  
Danielle Mercer ◽  
Annette Hurley ◽  
Cassondra Glausier ◽  
...  

Advances in sequencing technologies and increased understanding of the contribution of genetics to congenital sensorineural hearing loss have led to vastly improved outcomes for patients and their families. Next-generation sequencing and diagnostic panels have become increasingly reliable and less expensive for clinical use. Despite these developments, the diagnosis of genetic sensorineural hearing loss still presents challenges for healthcare providers. Inherited sensorineural hearing loss has high levels of genetic heterogeneity and variable expressivity. Additionally, syndromic hearing loss (hearing loss and additional clinical abnormalities) should be distinguished from non-syndromic (hearing loss is the only clinical symptom). Although the diagnosis of genetic sensorineural hearing loss can be challenging, the patient’s family history and ethnicity may provide critical information, as certain genetic mutations are more common in specific ethnic populations. The early identification of the cause of deafness can benefit patients and their families by estimating recurrence risks for future family planning and offering the proper interventions to improve their quality of life. Collaboration between pediatricians, audiologists, otolaryngologists, geneticists, and other specialists are essential in the diagnosis and management of patients with hearing disorders. An early diagnosis is vital for proper management and care, as some clinical manifestations of syndromic sensorineural hearing loss are not apparent at birth and have a delayed age of onset. We present a case of Usher syndrome (congenital deafness and childhood-onset blindness) illustrating the challenges encountered in the diagnosis and management of children presenting with congenital genetic sensorineural hearing loss, along with helpful resources for clinicians and families.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Yeon Lee ◽  
Kwangsic Joo ◽  
Jayoung Oh ◽  
Jin Hee Han ◽  
Hye-Rim Park ◽  
...  

Objectives. We, herein, report two novel <i>USH2A</i> variants from two unrelated Korean families and their clinical phenotypes, with attention to severe or more than severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).Methods. Two postlingually deafened subjects (SB237-461, M/46 and SB354-692, F/34) with more than severe SNHL and also with suspicion of Usher syndrome type II (USH2) were enrolled. A comprehensive audiological and ophthalmological assessments were evaluated. We conducted the whole exome sequencing and subsequent pathogenicity prediction analysis.Results. We identified the following variants of <i>USH2A</i> from the two probands manifesting more than severe SNHL and retinitis pigmentosa (RP): compound heterozygosity for a nonsense (c.8176C>T: p.R2723X) and a missense variant (c.1823G>A: p.C608Y) in SB237, and compound heterozygosity for two frameshift variants (c.14835delT: p.S4945fs & c.13112_13115delAAAT: p.G4371fs) in SB354. Based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association for Molecular Pathology guidelines, two novel variants, c.1823G>A: p.C608Y and c.14835delT: p.Ser4945fs, can be classified as “uncertain significance” and “pathogenic,” respectively. The audiogram exhibited more than severe SNHL and a down-sloping configuration, necessitating cochlear implantation. The ophthalmic examinations revealed typical features of RP. Interestingly, one proband (SB 354-692) carrying two truncating compound heterozygous variants exhibited more severe hearing loss than the other proband (SB 237-461), carrying one truncation with one missense variant.Conclusion. Our results provide insight on the expansion of audiological spectrum encompassing more than severe SNHL in Korean subjects harboring <i>USH2A</i> variants, suggesting that <i>USH2A</i> should also be included in the candidate gene of cochlear implantation. A specific combination of <i>USH2A</i> variants causing truncating proteins in both alleles could demonstrate more severe audiological phenotype than that of <i>USH2A</i> variants carrying one truncating mutation and one missense mutation, suggesting a possible genotype-phenotype correlation. The understanding of audiological complexity associated with <i>USH2A</i> will be helpful for genetic counseling and treatment starategy.


1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leanne Moynihan ◽  
Mark Houseman ◽  
Valerie Newton ◽  
Robert Mueller ◽  
Nicholas Lench

Author(s):  
Л.А. Кларов ◽  
К.Ю. Николаева ◽  
В.Г. Пшенникова ◽  
А.М. Чердонова ◽  
Ф.М. Терютин ◽  
...  

Мутации гена SLC26A4 могут приводить как к формированию аутосомно-рецессивной тугоухости 4 типа (DFNB4, OMIM #600791), так и к синдрому Пендреда (PDS, OMIM #274600), при котором нейросенсорная потеря слуха сочетается с дисфункцией щитовидной железы, клинически проявляющейся во второй декаде жизни. Обе формы могут сопровождаться специфическими аномалиями внутреннего уха: IP-I, IP-II (Mondini) и/или EVA. В Якутии аудиологическими, рентгенологическими и молекулярно-генетическими методами обследовано 165 пациентов с врожденным нарушением слуха. При компьютерной томографии пирамиды височных костей у 9 из 165 (5,5%) пациентов были обнаружены аномалии IP-I, IP-II (Mondini) и/или EVA. Методом прямого секвенирования по Сэнгеру у этих 9 пациентов было проведено определение нуклеотидной последовательности гена SLC26A4 (21 экзон). В гене SLC26A4 обнаружено 5 ранее известных вариантов, среди которых 4 варианта относились к миссенс-заменам: c.85G>C p.(Glu29Gln), c.441G>A p.(Met147Ile), c.757A>G p.(Ile253Val), c.2027T>A p.(Leu676Gln) и один вариант затрагивал донорный сайт сплайсинга - c.2089+1G>A (IVS18+1G>A). У 4-х из 9 пациентов патогенные варианты гена SLC26A4 обнаружены в гомозиготном или компаунд-гетерозиготном состоянии. Доля биаллельных мутаций гена SLС26A4 у пациентов с IP-I, IP-II (Mondini) и/или EVA составила 44,4%. Пациенты с биаллельными мутациями гена SLC26A4 имели тяжелые врожденные нарушения слуха (двусторонняя нейросенсорная тугоухость от III степени до глухоты), при этом доминирующим типом аномалий были IP-II (Mondini)+EVA (62,5%), аномалии IP-I не были выявлены ни у одного пациента. По совокупности полученных клинических и молекулярно-генетических данных у трех пациентов форма заболевания классифицирована как аутосомно-рецессивная тугоухость 4 типа (DFNB4), а у одной пациентки с двусторонней аномалией EVA, нейросенсорной тугоухостью III степени и узловым зобом (оперирован) подтвержден синдром Пендреда. Mutations in the SLC26A4 gene can lead to both the formation of autosomal recessive deafness type 4 (DFNB4, OMIM#600791), and to Pendred’s syndrome (PDS, OMIM#274600), in which sensorineural hearing loss is combined with thyroid dysfunction, with both forms can be accompanied by specific anomalies of the inner ear: IP-I, IP-II (Mondini) and/or EVA. Using audiological, radiological and molecular genetics methods, 165 patients with congenital hearing impairment in Yakutia were examined. Computed tomography revealed IP-I, IP-II (Mondini) and/or EVA abnormalities in 9 of 165 (5,5%) patients. Then, using direct Sanger sequencing in these 9 patients, the nucleotide sequence of the coding regions of the SLC26A4 gene (21 exons) was determined. In total, 5 previously known variants were found in the SLC26A4 gene, among which 4 variants were missense substitutions: c.85G>C p.(Glu29Gln), c.441G>A p.(Met147Ile), c.757A>G p.(Ile253Val), c.2027T>A p.(Leu676Gln) and one variant affected the splice donor site - c.2089+1G>A (IVS18+1G>A). In 4 out of 9 patients, pathogenic variants of the SLC26A4 gene were found in a homozygous or compound heterozygous state. The total contribution of biallelic mutations in the SLC26A4 gene among patients with inner ear anomalies was 44,4%. Patients with biallelic SLC26A4-mutations had several to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. In patients with biallelic SLC26A4-mutations, the dominant type of anomaly was IP-II (Mondini)+EVA (62,5%), IP-I anomalies were not detected in any patient. In three patients we were able to confirm the diagnosis of DFNB4, and in one patient, due to the sum of phenotypic features (operated on for nodular goiter, autosomal recessive deafness with EVA), Pendred’s syndrome was diagnosed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Omar Elghawy ◽  
Alice Y. Zhang ◽  
Ryan Duong ◽  
William G. Wilson ◽  
Eugene Y. Shildkrot

Infantile Refsum disease is a rare peroxisomal biogenesis disorder characterized by impaired alpha-oxidation and accumulation of phytanic acid in the tissues. Patients often present with fundus changes resembling retinitis pigmentosa, developmental delay, sensorineural hearing loss, ataxia, and hepatomegaly. Traditionally, mainstay treatment for this condition has been a phytanic acid-restricted diet, although supplementation with either docosahexaenoic acid or cholic acid has rarely been described in the literature. We present a case of infantile Refsum disease in a child with retinitis pigmentosa-like ocular findings, sensorineural hearing loss, and self-resolving hepatic disease, who developed novel findings of macular edema refractory to carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. We describe management with a phytanic acid-restricted diet and combination docosahexaenoic acid, and cholic acid therapy, which helped to limit progression of her disease.


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