DIKUL - logo
E-viri
Recenzirano Odprti dostop
  • A Reassessment of Copy Numb...
    Meerschaut, Ilse; Vergult, Sarah; Dheedene, Annelies; Menten, Björn; De Groote, Katya; De Wilde, Hans; Muiño Mosquera, Laura; Panzer, Joseph; Vandekerckhove, Kristof; Coucke, Paul J; De Wolf, Daniël; Callewaert, Bert

    Genes, 07/2021, Letnik: 12, Številka: 7
    Journal Article

    Copy number variations (CNVs) can modulate phenotypes by affecting protein-coding sequences directly or through interference of gene expression. Recent studies in cancer and limb defects pinpointed the relevance of non-coding gene regulatory elements such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and topologically associated domain (TAD)-related gene-enhancer interactions. The contribution of such non-coding elements is largely unexplored in congenital heart defects (CHD). We performed a retrospective analysis of CNVs reported in a cohort of 270 CHD patients. We reviewed the diagnostic yield of pathogenic CNVs, and performed a comprehensive reassessment of 138 CNVs of unknown significance (CNV-US), evaluating protein-coding genes, lncRNA genes, and potential interferences with TAD-related gene-enhancer interactions. Fifty-two of the 138 CNV-US may relate to CHD, revealing three candidate CHD regions, 19 candidate CHD genes, 80 lncRNA genes of interest, and six potentially CHD-related TAD interferences. Our study thus indicates a potential relevance of non-coding gene regulatory elements in CNV-related CHD pathogenesis. Shortcomings in our current knowledge on genomic variation call for continuous reporting of CNV-US in international databases, careful patient counseling, and additional functional studies to confirm these preliminary findings.