BACKGROUND:Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is the first described and most common inherited arrhythmia. Over the last 25 years, multiple genes have been reported to cause this condition and are routinely ...tested in patients. Because of dramatic changes in our understanding of human genetic variation, reappraisal of reported genetic causes for LQTS is required.
METHODS:Utilizing an evidence-based framework, 3 gene curation teams blinded to each other’s work scored the level of evidence for 17 genes reported to cause LQTS. A Clinical Domain Channelopathy Working Group provided a final classification of these genes for causation of LQTS after assessment of the evidence scored by the independent curation teams.
RESULTS:Of 17 genes reported as being causative for LQTS, 9 (AKAP9, ANK2, CAV3, KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNJ2, KCNJ5, SCN4B, SNTA1) were classified as having limited or disputed evidence as LQTS-causative genes. Only 3 genes (KCNQ1, KCNH2, SCN5A) were curated as definitive genes for typical LQTS. Another 4 genes (CALM1, CALM2, CALM3, TRDN) were found to have strong or definitive evidence for causality in LQTS with atypical features, including neonatal atrioventricular block. The remaining gene (CACNA1C) had moderate level evidence for causing LQTS.
CONCLUSIONS:More than half of the genes reported as causing LQTS have limited or disputed evidence to support their disease causation. Genetic variants in these genes should not be used for clinical decision-making, unless accompanied by new and sufficient genetic evidence. The findings of insufficient evidence to support gene-disease associations may extend to other disciplines of medicine and warrants a contemporary evidence-based evaluation for previously reported disease-causing genes to ensure their appropriate use in precision medicine.
Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) is a heme binding protein localized on the apical membrane of the thyrocyte. TPO enzymatic activity is essential for thyroid hormonogenesis. Inactivating mutations form the ...molecular basis for a specific subtype of congenital hypothyroidism: thyroid dyshormonogenesis due to an iodide organification defect. The most common phenotype of this autosomal recessive disease is a total iodide organification defect, with severe and permanent hypothyroidism as a consequence. Currently 61 properly annotated mutations in the TPO gene have been reported, of which the majority are missense mutations. Functional data of most missense mutations is not available, making it necessary to revert to
in silico methods for functional interpretation of mutations.
We hypothesize that iodine status is the main phenomic modifier of TPO function.
Desmosomes are dynamic junctions between cells that maintain the structural integrity of skin and heart tissues by withstanding shear forces. Mutations in component genes cause life-threatening ...conditions including arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, and desmosomal proteins are targeted by pathogenic autoantibodies in skin blistering diseases such as pemphigus. Here, we review a set of newly discovered pathogenic alterations and discuss the structural repercussions of debilitating mutations on desmosomal proteins. The architectures of native desmosomal assemblies have been visualized by cryo-electron microscopy and cryo-electron tomography, and the network of protein domain interactions is becoming apparent. Plakophilin and desmoplakin mutations have been discovered to alter binding interfaces, structures, and stabilities of folded domains that have been resolved by X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy. The flexibility within desmoplakin has been revealed by small-angle X-ray scattering and fluorescence assays, explaining how mechanical stresses are accommodated. These studies have shown that the structural and functional consequences of desmosomal mutations can now begin to be understood at multiple levels of spatial and temporal resolution. This review discusses the recent structural insights and raises the possibility of using modeling for mechanism-based diagnosis of how deleterious mutations alter the integrity of solid tissues.
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Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and short QT syndrome (SQTS) are inherited arrhythmogenic disorders that can cause sudden death. Numerous genes have been reported to ...cause these conditions, but evidence supporting these gene-disease relationships varies considerably. To ensure appropriate utilization of genetic information for CPVT and SQTS patients, we applied an evidence-based reappraisal of previously reported genes.
Three teams independently curated all published evidence for 11 CPVT and 9 SQTS implicated genes using the ClinGen gene curation framework. The results were reviewed by a Channelopathy Expert Panel who provided the final classifications. Seven genes had definitive to moderate evidence for disease causation in CPVT, with either autosomal dominant (RYR2, CALM1, CALM2, CALM3) or autosomal recessive (CASQ2, TRDN, TECRL) inheritance. Three of the four disputed genes for CPVT (KCNJ2, PKP2, SCN5A) were deemed by the Expert Panel to be reported for phenotypes that were not representative of CPVT, while reported variants in a fourth gene (ANK2) were too common in the population to be disease-causing. For SQTS, only one gene (KCNH2) was classified as definitive, with three others (KCNQ1, KCNJ2, SLC4A3) having strong to moderate evidence. The majority of genetic evidence for SQTS genes was derived from very few variants (five in KCNJ2, two in KCNH2, one in KCNQ1/SLC4A3).
Seven CPVT and four SQTS genes have valid evidence for disease causation and should be included in genetic testing panels. Additional genes associated with conditions that may mimic clinical features of CPVT/SQTS have potential utility for differential diagnosis.
Pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants in the KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1 potassium channel cause type 1 long QT syndrome (LQT1). Despite the revamped 2015 American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) ...variant interpretation guidelines, the burden of KCNQ1 variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in patients with LQTS remains ∼30%.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether a phenotype-enhanced (PE) variant classification approach could reduce the VUS burden in LQTS genetic testing.
Retrospective analysis was performed on 79 KCNQ1 missense variants in 356 patients from Mayo Clinic and an independent cohort of 42 variants in 225 patients from Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC). Each variant was classified initially using the ACMG guidelines and then readjudicated using a PE-ACMG framework that incorporated the LQTS clinical diagnostic Schwartz score plus 4 "LQT1-defining features": broad-based/slow upstroke T waves, syncope/seizure during exertion, swimming-associated events, and a maladaptive LQT1 treadmill stress test.
According to the ACMG guidelines, Mayo Clinic variants were classified as follows: 17 of 79 P variants (22%), 34 of 79 LP variants (43%), and 28 of 79 VUS (35%). Similarly, for Amsterdam UMC, the variant distribution was 9 of 42 P variants (22%), 14 of 42 LP variants (33%), and 19 of 42 variants VUS (45%). After PE-ACMG readjudication, the total VUS burden decreased significantly from 28 (35%) to 13 (16%) (P = .0007) for Mayo Clinic and from 19 (45%) to 12 (29%) (P = .02) for Amsterdam UMC.
Phenotype-guided variant adjudication decreased significantly the VUS burden of LQT1 case-derived KCNQ1 missense variants in 2 independent cohorts. This study demonstrates the value of incorporating LQT1-specific phenotype/clinical data to aid in the interpretation of KCNQ1 missense variants identified during genetic testing for LQTS.
Pathogenic
variants account for ≈60% of clinically definite cases of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. However, the rate of rare benign
variants identified in the general ...population remains a challenge for genetic test interpretation. Therefore, we examined the results of the
genetic test among patients referred for commercial genetic testing and examined factors impacting variant interpretability.
Frequency and location comparisons were made for
variants identified among 1355 total patients of varying clinical certainty and 60 706 Exome Aggregation Consortium controls. The impact of the clinical phenotype on the yield of
variants was examined. Six in silico tools were assessed using patient- and control-derived variants.
A total of 18.2% (218/1200) of patients referred for commercial testing hosted rare
variants, statistically less than the 59% (46/78) yield among clinically definite cases, resulting in a much higher potential genetic false discovery rate among referrals considering the 3.2% background rate of rare, benign
variants. Exclusion of clearly putative pathogenic variants further complicates the interpretation of the next novel
variant. Exonic/topologic analyses revealed overrepresentation of patient variants in exons covering only one third of the protein. In silico tools largely failed to show evidence toward enhancement of variant interpretation.
Current expert recommendations have resulted in increased use of
genetic testing in patients with questionable clinical phenotypes. Using the largest to date catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia patient versus control comparison, this study highlights important variables in the interpretation of variants to overcome the 3.2% background rate that confounds
variant interpretation.
Conventional therapy with beta-blockers is incompletely effective in preventing arrhythmic events in patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). We have previously ...discovered that flecainide in addition to conventional drug therapy prevents ventricular arrhythmias in patients with genotype-positive CPVT.
To study the efficacy of flecainide in patients with genotype-negative CPVT.
We studied the efficacy of flecainide for reducing ventricular arrhythmias during exercise testing and preventing arrhythmia events during long-term follow-up.
Twelve patients with genotype-negative CPVT were treated with flecainide. Conventional therapy failed to control ventricular arrhythmias in all patients. Flecainide was initiated because of significant ventricular arrhythmias (n = 8), syncope (n = 3), or cardiac arrest (n = 1). At the baseline exercise test before flecainide, 6 patients had ventricular tachycardia and 5 patients had bigeminal or frequent ventricular premature beats. Flecainide reduced ventricular arrhythmias at the exercise test in 8 patients compared to conventional therapy, similar to that in patients with genotype-positive CPVT in our previous report. Notably, flecainide completely prevented ventricular arrhythmias in 7 patients. Flecainide was continued in all patients except for one who had ventricular tachycardia at the exercise test on flecainide. During a follow-up of 48±94 months, arrhythmia events (sudden cardiac death and aborted cardiac arrest) associated with noncompliance occurred in 2 patients. Flecainide was not discontinued owing to side effects in any of the patients.
Flecainide was effective in patients with genotype-negative CPVT, suggesting that spontaneous Ca(2+) release from ryanodine channels plays a role in arrhythmia susceptibility, similar to that in patients with genotype-positive CPVT.
Untreated congenital hypothyroidism leads to severe developmental difficulties. The authors of this report sought to identify defects in the thyroid oxidase system in infants with ...iodide-organification defects because two proteins, thyroid oxidase 1 and thyroid oxidase 2, are involved in that process. Biallelic loss-of-function mutations in
THOX2,
the gene for thyroid oxidase 2, were found in one patient with permanent congenital hypothyroidism, and monoallelic mutations were found in three patients with transient congenital hypothyroidism.
Congenital hypothyroidism is the most common congenital endocrine disorder, affecting 1 in every 3000 to 4000 newborns. Neonatal screening programs allow its early detection and treatment, thus preventing the cognitive and motor impairment caused by lack of thyroid hormone during the early postnatal phase of brain development.
1
The need for thyroid hormone supplementation can be permanent or transient.
2
,
3
The cause of permanent congenital hypothyroidism of primary origin has been linked to defects in proteins involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones
4
and to defects in transcription factors involved in the development of the thyroid gland.
5
–
7
Overall, these cases . . .
ABCC8 and KCJN11 mutations cause the most severe diazoxide-resistant forms of congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). Somatostatin analogues are considered as secondline treatment in diazoxide-unresponsive ...cases. Current treatment protocols include the first-generation somatostatin analogue octreotide, although pasireotide, a second-generation somatostatin analogue, might be more effective in reducing insulin secretion. Herein we report the first off-label use of pasireotide in a boy with a severe therapy-resistant form of CHI due to a homozygous ABCC8 mutation. After partial pancreatectomy, hyperinsulinism persisted; in an attempt to prevent further surgery, off-label treatment with pasireotide was initiated. Short-acting pasireotide treatment caused high blood glucose level shortly after injection. Long-acting pasireotide treatment resulted in more stable glycemic control. No side effects (e.g., central adrenal insufficiency) were noticed during a 2-month treatment period. Because of recurrent hypoglycemia despite a rather high carbohydrate intake, the boy underwent near-total pancreatectomy at the age of 11 months. In conclusion, pasireotide treatment slightly improved glycemic control without side effects in a boy with severe CHI. However, the effect of pasireotide was not sufficient to prevent near-total pancreatectomy in this case of severe CHI.
Gallstones are very common. However, there is a small group of patients with low phospholipid‐associated cholelithiasis (LPAC) that is characterized by symptomatic cholelithiasis at a young age (<40 ...years), recurrence of biliary symptoms despite cholecystectomy and concrements or sludge in the intra‐ and extrahepatic biliary system. The LPAC syndrome is associated with mutations of the adenosine triphosphate‐binding cassette, subfamily B, member 4 (ABCB4) gene encoding the hepatobiliary phospholipid translocator multidrug resistance protein 3 (MDR3). Impairment of MDR3 leads to a reduction of biliary phosphatidyl choline levels resulting in a lithogenic and toxic bile. This causes recurrent cholelithiasis, continuous irritations of the biliary tract with cholangitis, chronic cholestasis and even biliary cirrhosis. Here we report on a family with ABCB4 deficiency and LPAC syndrome associated with a novel mutation (c.3203T>A) in the ABCB4 gene.
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