DGAT1 mutations leading to delayed chronic diarrhoea: a case report

Background Early-onset chronic diarrhoea often indicates a congenital disorder. Mutation in diacylglycerol o-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) has recently been linked to early-onset chronic diarrhoea. To date, only a few cases of DGAT1 deficiency have been reported. Diarrhoea in those cases was severe and developed in the neonatal period or within 2 months after birth. Case presentation Here, we report a female patient with DGAT1 mutations with delayed-onset chronic diarrhoea. The patient had vomiting, hypoalbuminemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and failure to thrive at early infancy. Her intractable chronic diarrhoea occurred until she was 8 months of age. A compound heterozygous DGAT1 mutation was found in the patient, which was first found in the Chinese population. Her symptoms and nutrition status improved after nutritional therapy, including a fat restriction diet. Conclusions This case expanded our knowledge of the clinical features of patients with DGAT1 mutations. Intractable diarrhoea with delayed onset could also be a congenital disorder.

A non-synonymous variant rs12614 of complement factor B associated with risk of chronic hepatitis B in a Korean population

Background Hepatitis B is known to cause several forms of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous genome-wide association study of CHB risk has demonstrated that rs12614 of complement factor B (CFB) was significantly associated with CHB risk. In this study, fine-mapping study of previously reported GWAS single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; CFB rs12614) was performed to validate genetic effect of rs12614 on CHB susceptibility and identify possible additional causal variants around rs12614 in a Korean population. This association study was conducted in order to identify genetic effects of CFB single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to identify additional independent CHB susceptible causal markers within a Korean population. Methods A total of 10 CFB genetic polymorphisms were selected and genotyped in 1716 study subjects comprised of 955 CHB patients and 761 population controls. Results A non-synonymous variant, rs12614 (Arg32Trp) in exon2 of CFB, had significant associations with risk of CHB (odds ratio = 0.43, P = 5.91 × 10− 10). Additional linkage disequilibrium and conditional analysis confirmed that rs12614 had independent genetic effect on CHB susceptibility with previously identified CHB markers. The genetic risk scores (GRSs) were calculated and the CHB patients had higher GRSs than the population controls. Moreover, OR was found to increase significantly with cumulative GRS. Conclusions rs12614 showed significant genetic effect on CHB risk within the Korean population. As such rs12614 may be used as a possible causal genetic variant for CHB susceptibility.

Application of next generation sequencing in genetic counseling a case of a couple at risk of cystinosis

Background In Morocco, consanguinity rate is very high; which lead to an increase in the birth prevalence of infants with autosomal recessive disorders. Previously, it was difficult to diagnose rare autosomal recessive diseases. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) techniques have considerably improved clinical diagnostics. A genetic diagnosis showing biallelic causative mutations is the requirement for targeted carrier testing in parents, prenatal and preimplantation genetic diagnosis in further pregnancies, and also for targeted premarital testing in future couples at risk of producing affected children by a known autosomal recessive disease. Methods In this report, we present our strategy to advise a future couple of first cousins, whose descendants would risk cystinosis; an autosomal recessive lysosomal disease caused by mutations in the CTNS gene. Indeed, our future husband’s sister is clinically and biochemically diagnosed with cystinosis in early childhood. First, we opted to identify the patient’s CTNS gene abnormality by using (NGS), then we searched for heterozygosity in the couple’s DNA, which allows us to predict the exact risk of this familial disease in the future couple’s offspring. Results We have shown that the future husband, brother of the patient is heterozygous for the familial mutation. On the other hand, his future wife did not inherit the familial mutation. Therefore, genetic counseling was reassuring for the risk of familial cystinosis in this couple’s offspring. Conclusions We report in this study, one of the major applications of (NGS), an effective tool to improve clinical diagnosis and to provide the possibility of targeted premarital carrier testing in couples at risk.

Case report: progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 3 with compound heterozygous ABCB4 variants diagnosed 15 years after liver transplantation

Background Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC) type 3 is an autosomal recessive disorder arising from mutations in the ATP-binding cassette subfamily B member 4 (ABCB4) gene. This gene encodes multidrug resistance protein-3 (MDR3) that acts as a hepatocanalicular floppase that transports phosphatidylcholine from the inner to the outer canalicular membrane. In the absence of phosphatidylcholine, the detergent activity of bile salts is amplified and this leads to cholangiopathy, bile duct loss and biliary cirrhosis. Patients usually present in infancy or childhood and often progress to end-stage liver disease before adulthood. Case presentation We report a 32-year-old female who required cadaveric liver transplantation at the age of 17 for cryptogenic cirrhosis. When the patient developed chronic ductopenia in the allograft 15 years later, we hypothesized that the patient’s original disease was due to a deficiency of a biliary transport protein and the ductopenia could be explained by an autoimmune response to neoantigen that was not previously encountered by the immune system. We therefore performed genetic analyses and immunohistochemistry of the native liver, which led to a diagnosis of PFIC3. However, there was no evidence of humoral immune response to the MDR3 and therefore, we assumed that the ductopenia observed in the allograft was likely due to chronic rejection rather than autoimmune disease in the allograft. Conclusions Teenage patients referred for liver transplantation with cryptogenic liver disease should undergo work up for PFIC3. An accurate diagnosis of PFIC 3 is key for optimal management, therapeutic intervention, and avoidance of complications before the onset of end-stage liver disease.

First submicroscopic inversion of the OPA1 gene identified in dominant optic atrophy – a case report

Background Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is an inherited optic neuropathy that mainly affects visual acuity, central visual fields and color vision due to a progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells and their axons that form the optic nerve. Approximately 45–90% of affected individuals with DOA harbor pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene. The mutation spectrum of OPA1 comprises nonsense, canonical and non-canonical splice site, frameshift and missense as well as copy number variants, but intragenic inversions have not been reported so far. Case presentation We report a 33-year-old male with characteristic clinical features of DOA. Whole-genome sequencing identified a structural variant of 2.4 kb comprising an inversion of 937 bp at the OPA1 locus. Fine mapping of the breakpoints to single nucleotide level revealed that the structural variation was an inversion flanked by two deletions. As this rearrangement inverts the entire first exon of OPA1, it was classified as likely pathogenic. Conclusions We report the first DOA case harboring an inversion in the OPA1 gene. Our study demonstrates that copy-neutral genomic rearrangements have to be considered as a possible cause of disease in DOA cases.

First case report of cerebral folate deficiency caused by a novel mutation of FOLR1 gene in a Chinese patient

Background Cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) is a neurological disease, hallmarked by remarkable low concentrations of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The primary causes of CFD include the presence of folate receptor (FR) autoantibodies, defects of FR encoding gene FOLR1, mitochondrial diseases and congenital abnormalities in folate metabolism. Case presentation Here we first present a Chinese male CFD patient whose seizure onset at 2 years old with convulsive status epilepticus. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed the development of encephalomalacia, laminar necrosis in multiple lobes of the brain and cerebellar atrophy. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) uncovered a homozygous missense variant of c.524G > T (p.C175F) in FOLR1 gene. Further laboratory tests demonstrated the extremely low level of 5-MTHF in the CSF from this patient, which was attributed to cerebral folate transport deficiency. Following the intravenous and oral treatment of calcium folinate, the concentrations of 5-MTHF in CSF were recovered to the normal range and seizure symptoms were relieved as well. Conclusions One novel variation of FOLR1 was firstly identified from a Chinese male patient with tonic-clonic seizures, developmental delay, and ataxia. The WES and laboratory results elucidated the etiology of the symptoms. Clinical outcomes were improved by early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Two novel mutations in the DNAH11 gene in primary ciliary dyskinesia (CILD7) with considerable variety in the clinical and beating cilia phenotype

Background Diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) still remains a challenge, especially with mutations in the Dynein Arm Heavy Chain 11 (DNAH11) gene. Classical diagnostic measures like Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) are not applicable for mutations in the DNAH11 gene since ultrastructural defects of the ciliary apparatus are absent. Novel mutations encoding for PCD appear all the time with considerable variation in the clinical picture, making it necessary to update data bases and guidelines for PCD diagnostics. Methods In this study we examined two unrelated, Finnish families with symptoms of PCD applying the clinical scoring system: Primary ciliary dyskinesia Rule (PICADAR), high speed video microscopy analysis (HSVMA) for ciliary movement, a commercially available gene panel analysis and nasal Nitric Oxide (nNO) measurements if applicable. Results Two, likely pathogenic variants in the DNAH11 gene (c.2341G > A, p. (Glu781Lys) ja c.7645 + 5G > A) were detected. In the first family, compound heterozygous mutations led to disease manifestation in two of 4 children, which showed a similar phenotype of cilia beating pattern but marked differences in disease severity. In the second family, all three children were homozygotes for the c.2341G > A p.(Glu781Lys) mutation and showed a similar degree of disease severity. However, the phenotype of cilia beating pattern was different ranging from stiff, static cilia to a hyperkinetic movement in one of these children. Conclusions In this study we describe two Finnish families with PCD, revealing two novel mutations in the DNAH11 gene which show considerable variety in the clinical and beating cilia phenotype. The results of this study show the clinician that PCD can be much milder than generally expected and diagnosis demands a combination of measures which are only successful in experienced hands. Chronic and repeatedly treated wet cough should raise suspicion of PCD, referring the patient for further diagnostics to a specialised PCD centre.

Incidence of Huntington disease in a northeastern Spanish region: a 13-year retrospective study at tertiary care centre

Background Despite the progress in the knowledge of Huntington disease (HD) in recent years, the epidemiology continues uncertain, so the study of incidence becomes relevant. This is important since various factors (type of population, diagnostic criteria, disease-modifying factors, etc.) make these data highly variable. Therefore, the genetic diagnosis of these patients is important, since it unequivocally allows the detection of new cases. Methods Descriptive retrospective study with 179 individuals. Incidence of HD was calculated from the ratio of number of symptomatic cases newly diagnosed per 100,000 inhabitants per year during the period 2007–2019 in Aragon (Spain). Results 50 (27.9%) incident cases of HD (CAG repeat length ≥ 36) were identified from a total of 179 persons studied. The remaining 129/179 (72.1%) were HD negative (CAG repeat length < 36). 29 (58.0%) females and 21 (42.0%) males were confirmed as HD cases. The overall incidence was 0.648 per 100,000 patient-years. 11/50 positive HD cases (22.0%) were identified by performing a predictive test, without clinical symptoms. The minimum number of CAG repeats found was 9 and the most common CAG length among HD negative individuals was 16. Conclusions Our incidence lied within the range reported for other Caucasian populations. Implementation of new techniques has allowed to determine the exact number of CAG repeats, which is especially important in patients with triplet expansions in an HD intermediate and/or incomplete penetrance allele, both in diagnostic, predictive and prenatal tests.

Interleukin-4 gene polymorphism (C33T) and the risk of the asthma: a meta-analysis based on 24 publications

Background Previous studies evaluated the association of IL-4 C33T polymorphism and risk of bronchial asthma but failed to establish a consistent conclusive association. In the present meta-analysis, we intend to define a more reliable estimate of the association in the presence of filling published literature. Methods An exhaustive search in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases was performed to identify all relevant publications before September 2020, and 24 publications (28 studies) with 6587 cases and 8408 controls were included in final analysis. The association between polymorphism and risk of asthma were measured by Odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Moreover, Cochran’s Q and the I2 statistics were used to evaluate the degree of heterogeneity between studies. Results In the overall study populations, a significant positive association was detected under all genotype models and announced the IL-4 C33T polymorphism as a potential risk factor in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the subgroup analysis by age, a significant association between IL-4 C33T polymorphism and risk of asthma in different age groups was identified in allelic model, which highlighted the predisposing role of the T allele for the asthma risk in all three age groups. Furthermore, the results of subgroup analysis by continent were heterogenous. Accordingly, IL-4 C33T polymorphism was a risk factor in Europeans (all models except heterozygote comparison), Americans (all models except recessive and homozygote comparison) and Asians (just recessive and allelic model). Finally, the ethnicity-specific analysis disclosed a significant association between IL-4 C33T polymorphism and asthma risk in Caucasians (all genotype models except heterozygote comparison), while this association was not significant in African-Americans. Conclusions This study suggests that IL-4 C33T polymorphism potentially acts as a risk factor for asthma in different ethnicities and age groups.