0000000000124381

AUTHOR

Didier Lacombe

0000-0002-8956-2207

Search for a gene responsible for Floating-Harbor syndrome on chromosome 12q15q21.1.

International audience; Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS) is characterized by characteristic facial dysmorphism, short stature with delayed bone age, and expressive language delay. To date, the gene(s) responsible for FHS is (are) unknown and the diagnosis is only made on the basis of the clinical phenotype. The majority of cases appeared to be sporadic but rare cases following autosomal dominant inheritance have been reported. We identified a 4.7 Mb de novo 12q15-q21.1 microdeletion in a patient with FHS and intellectual deficiency. Pangenomic 244K array-CGH performed in a series of 12 patients with FHS failed to identify overlapping deletions. We hypothesized that FHS is caused by haploinsuf…

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Phenotypic spectrum and genomics of undiagnosed arthrogryposis multiplex congenital

BackgroundArthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is characterised by congenital joint contractures in two or more body areas. AMC exhibits wide phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Our goals were to improve the genetic diagnosis rates of AMC, to evaluate the added value of whole exome sequencing (WES) compared with targeted exome sequencing (TES) and to identify new genes in 315 unrelated undiagnosed AMC families.MethodsSeveral genomic approaches were used including genetic mapping of disease loci in multiplex or consanguineous families, TES then WES. Sanger sequencing was performed to identify or validate variants.ResultsWe achieved disease gene identification in 52.7% of AMC index pati…

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Excess of de novo variants in genes involved in chromatin remodelling in patients with marfanoid habitus and intellectual disability.

PurposeMarfanoid habitus (MH) combined with intellectual disability (ID) (MHID) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous presentation. The combination of array CGH and targeted sequencing of genes responsible for Marfan or Lujan–Fryns syndrome explain no more than 20% of subjects.MethodsTo further decipher the genetic basis of MHID, we performed exome sequencing on a combination of trio-based (33 subjects) or single probands (31 subjects), of which 61 were sporadic.ResultsWe identified eight genes with de novo variants (DNVs) in at least two unrelated individuals (ARID1B, ATP1A1, DLG4, EHMT1, NFIX, NSD1, NUP205 and ZEB2). Using simulation models, we showed that five genes (DLG4, NFIX, …

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Diagnostic strategy in segmentation defect of the vertebrae: a retrospective study of 73 patients

BackgroundSegmentation defects of the vertebrae (SDV) are non-specific features found in various syndromes. The molecular bases of SDV are not fully elucidated due to the wide range of phenotypes and classification issues. The genes involved are in the Notch signalling pathway, which is a key system in somitogenesis. Here we report on mutations identified in a diagnosis cohort of SDV. We focused on spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) and the phenotype of these patients in order to establish a diagnostic strategy when confronted with SDV.Patients and methodsWe used DNA samples from a cohort of 73 patients and performed targeted sequencing of the five known SCD-causing genes (DLL3,MESP2,LFNG,HES7…

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Clinical and neuroimaging findings in 33 patients with MCAP syndrome: A survey to evaluate relevant endpoints for future clinical trials

Megalencephaly-CApillary malformation-Polymicrogyria (MCAP) syndrome results from somatic mosaic gain-of-function variants in PIK3CA. Main features are macrocephaly, somatic overgrowth, cutaneous vascular malformations, connective tissue dysplasia, neurodevelopmental delay, and brain anomalies. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and radiological features of MCAP, to suggest relevant clinical endpoints applicable in future trials of targeted drug therapy. Based on a French collaboration, we collected clinical features of 33 patients (21 females, 12 males, median age of 9.9 years) with MCAP carrying mosaic PIK3CA pathogenic variants. MRI images were reviewed for 21 pat…

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Molecular, clinical and neuropsychological study in 31 patients with Kabuki syndrome and KMT2D mutations

IF 3.326; International audience; Kabuki syndrome (KS-OMIM 147920) is a rare developmental disease characterized by the association of multiple congenital anomalies and intellectual disability. This study aimed to investigate intellectual performance in children with KS and link the performance to several clinical features and molecular data. We recruited 31 children with KMT2D mutations who were 6 to 16 years old. They all completed the Weschler Intelligence Scale for Children, fourth edition. We calculated all indexes: the Full Scale Intellectual Quotient (FSIQ), Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI), Perceptive Reasoning Index (PRI), Processing Speed Index (PSI), and Working Memory Index (WMI…

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Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (CREBBP, EP300)

1.2 OMIM# of the disease180849.1.3 Name of the analyzed genes or DNA/chromosome segmentsCREBBP, EP300 (E1A binding protein p300).1.4 OMIM# of the genes600140 (CREBBP), 602700 (EP300).1.5 Mutational spectrumMainly frameshift, nonsense, splice site and missense mutations. Lessfrequently large deletions (one or more exons) and rarely balancedinversions and translocations. Mutations are heterozygous, and mosaicmutations have been described. At present, more than 100 pathogenicmutations are known for the two genes together, but mutations inEP300 are much less common (only 11 so far).

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Loss-of-function and missense variants in NSD2 cause decreased methylation activity and are associated with a distinct developmental phenotype

Purpose Despite a few recent reports of patients harboring truncating variants in NSD2, a gene considered critical for the Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) phenotype, the clinical spectrum associated with NSD2 pathogenic variants remains poorly understood. Methods We collected a comprehensive series of 18 unpublished patients carrying heterozygous missense, elongating, or truncating NSD2 variants; compared their clinical data to the typical WHS phenotype after pooling them with ten previously described patients; and assessed the underlying molecular mechanism by structural modeling and measuring methylation activity in vitro. Results The core NSD2-associated phenotype includes mostly mild dev…

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The 2q37-deletion syndrome: an update of the clinical spectrum including overweight, brachydactyly and behavioural features in 14 new patients

International audience; The 2q37 locus is one of the most commonly deleted subtelomeric regions. Such a deletion has been identified in >100 patients by telomeric fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and, less frequently, by array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH). A recognizable ‘2q37-deletion syndrome’ or Albright’s hereditary osteodystrophy-like syndrome has been previously described. To better map the deletion and further refine this deletional syndrome, we formed a collaboration with the Association of French Language Cytogeneticists to collect 14 new intellectually deficient patients with a distal or interstitial 2q37 deletion characterized by FISH and …

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Baraitser-Winter cerebrofrontofacial syndrome : Delineation of the spectrum in 42 cases

International audience; Baraitser-Winter, Fryns-Aftimos and cerebrofrontofacial syndrome types 1 and 3 have recently been associated with heterozygous gain-of-function mutations in one of the two ubiquitous cytoplasmic actin-encoding genes ACTB and ACTG1 that encode beta- and gamma-actins. We present detailed phenotypic descriptions and neuroimaging on 36 patients analyzed by our group and six cases from the literature with a molecularly proven actinopathy (9 ACTG1 and 33 ACTB). The major clinical anomalies are striking dysmorphic facial features with hypertelorism, broad nose with large tip and prominent root, congenital non-myopathic ptosis, ridged metopic suture and arched eyebrows. Iris…

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Detailed clinical, genetic and neuroimaging characterization of OFD VI syndrome.

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type VI (OFD VI) is characterized by the association of malformations of the face, oral cavity and extremities, distinguished from the 12 other OFD syndromes by cerebellar and metacarpal abnormalities. Cerebellar malformations in OFD VI have been described as a molar tooth sign (MTS), thus, including OFD VI among the "Joubert syndrome related disorders" (JSRD). OFD VI diagnostic criteria have recently been suggested: MTS and one or more of the following: 1) tongue hamartoma(s) and/or additional frenula and/or upper lip notch; 2) mesoaxial polydactyly of hands or feet; 3) hypothalamic hamartoma. In order to further delineate this rare entity, we present the neuro…

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Molecular findings and clinical data in a cohort of 150 patients with anophthalmia/microphthalmia

Anophthalmia and microphthalmia (AM) are the most severe malformations of the eye, corresponding respectively to reduced size or absent ocular globe. Wide genetic heterogeneity has been reported and different genes have been demonstrated to be causative of syndromic and non-syndromic forms of AM. We screened seven AM genes [GDF6 (growth differentiation factor 6), FOXE3 (forkhead box E3), OTX2 (orthodenticle protein homolog 2), PAX6 (paired box 6), RAX (retina and anterior neural fold homeobox), SOX2 (SRY sex determining region Y-box 2), and VSX2 (visual system homeobox 2 gene)] in a cohort of 150 patients with isolated or syndromic AM. The causative genetic defect was identified in 21% of t…

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Care management in a French cohort with Down syndrome from the AnDDI-Rares/CNSA study.

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. In individuals with DS, a multidisciplinary approach to care is required to prevent multiple medical complications. The aim of this study was to describe the rehabilitation, medical care, and educational and social support provided to school-aged French DS patients with varying neuropsychological profiles. A mixed study was conducted. Quantitative data were obtained from a French multicentre study that included patients aged 4-20 years with diverse genetic syndromes. Qualitative data were collected by semi-structured face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Ninety-five DS subjects with a mean age of 10.9 years were included. Sixt…

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Whole genome paired-end sequencing elucidates functional and phenotypic consequences of balanced chromosomal rearrangement in patients with developmental disorders

BackgroundBalanced chromosomal rearrangements associated with abnormal phenotype are rare events, but may be challenging for genetic counselling, since molecular characterisation of breakpoints is not performed routinely. We used next-generation sequencing to characterise breakpoints of balanced chromosomal rearrangements at the molecular level in patients with intellectual disability and/or congenital anomalies.MethodsBreakpoints were characterised by a paired-end low depth whole genome sequencing (WGS) strategy and validated by Sanger sequencing. Expression study of disrupted and neighbouring genes was performed by RT-qPCR from blood or lymphoblastoid cell line RNA.ResultsAmong the 55 pat…

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Large national series of patients with Xq28 duplication involving MECP2: Delineation of brain MRI abnormalities in 30 affected patients.

International audience; Xq28 duplications encompassing MECP2 have been described in male patients with a severe neurodevelopmental disorder associated with hypotonia and spasticity, severe learning disability, stereotyped movements, and recurrent pulmonary infections. We report on standardized brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 30 affected patients carrying an Xq28 duplication involving MECP2 of various sizes (228 kb to 11.7 Mb). The aim of this study was to seek recurrent malformations and attempt to determine whether variations in imaging features could be explained by differences in the size of the duplications. We showed that 93% of patients had brain MRI abnormalities such …

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Clinical and molecular spectrum of renal malformations in Kabuki syndrome.

International audience; OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and types of renal malformations, and to evaluate renal function in a cohort of patients with Kabuki syndrome (KS). STUDY DESIGN: Renal ultrasound scans and plasma creatinine measurements were collected from a French cohort of 94 patients with genotyped KS. Renal function was evaluated based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate. A genotype-phenotype study was conducted for renal and urinary tract malformations. RESULTS: Renal malformations were present in 22% of cases, and urinary tract anomalies were present in 15%. Renal malformations were observed in 28% of the MLL2 mutation-positive group and in 0% of the MLL2 mutation…

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Exome sequencing in congenital ataxia identifies two new candidate genes and highlights a pathophysiological link between some congenital ataxias and early infantile epileptic encephalopathies

To investigate the genetic basis of congenital ataxias (CAs), a unique group of cerebellar ataxias with a nonprogressive course, in 20 patients from consanguineous families, and to identify new CA genes. Singleton -exome sequencing on these 20 well-clinically characterized CA patients. We first checked for rare homozygous pathogenic variants, then, for variants from a list of genes known to be associated with CA or very early-onset ataxia, regardless of their mode of inheritance. Our replication cohort of 180 CA patients was used to validate the new CA genes. We identified a causal gene in 16/20 families: six known CA genes (7 patients); four genes previously implicated in another neurologi…

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Mutations inWNT10Aare frequently involved in oligodontia associated with minor signs of ectodermal dysplasia

Ectodermal dysplasias (ED) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary disorders that have in common abnormal development of ectodermal derivatives. Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is characterized by abnormal development of eccrine sweat glands, hair, and teeth. The X-linked form of the disease, caused by mutations in the EDA gene, represents the majority of patients with the hypohidrotic form. Autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive forms are occasionally seen, and result from mutations in at least three genes (WNT10A, EDAR, or more rarely EDARADD). We have screened for mutations in EDAR (commonly involved in the hypohidrotic form) and WNT10A (involved in…

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Associations between cognitive performance and the rehabilitation, medical care and social support provided to French children with Prader-Willi syndrome

International audience; Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder with a characteristic behavioural phenotype. A multidisciplinary approach to care is required to prevent multiple medical complications in individuals affected by PWS. The aim of this study was to describe the rehabilitation, medical care, educational and social support provided to school-aged French PWS patients with varying neuropsychological profiles. Data were obtained from a French multicentre study that included patients aged 4-20 years with diverse genetic syndromes. Nineteen PWS subjects with a mean age of 9.2 years were included. The mean full-scale intellectual quotient (IQ) was 58 (W…

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Evaluation of DNA Methylation Episignatures for Diagnosis and Phenotype Correlations in 42 Mendelian Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Contains fulltext : 218274.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Genetic syndromes frequently present with overlapping clinical features and inconclusive or ambiguous genetic findings which can confound accurate diagnosis and clinical management. An expanding number of genetic syndromes have been shown to have unique genomic DNA methylation patterns (called "episignatures"). Peripheral blood episignatures can be used for diagnostic testing as well as for the interpretation of ambiguous genetic test results. We present here an approach to episignature mapping in 42 genetic syndromes, which has allowed the identification of 34 robust disease-specific episignatures. We examine emerging pa…

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Molecular diagnosis of PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) in 162 patients and recommendations for genetic testing.

Postzygotic activating mutations of PIK3CA cause a wide range of mosaic disorders collectively referred to as PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS). We describe the diagnostic yield and characteristics of PIK3CA sequencing in PROS. We performed ultradeep next-generation sequencing (NGS) of PIK3CA in various tissues from 162 patients referred to our clinical laboratory and assessed diagnostic yield by phenotype and tissue tested. We identified disease-causing mutations in 66.7% (108/162) of patients, with mutant allele levels as low as 1%. The diagnostic rate was higher (74%) in syndromic than in isolated cases (35.5%; P = 9.03 × 10−5). We identified 40 different mutations and found stro…

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Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome as a major cause of syndromic intellectual disability: A study of 33 French cases.

International audience; Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a rare syndromic condition in which intellectual disability (ID) is associated with hypertrichosis cubiti, short stature, and characteristic facies. Following the identification of the causative gene (KMT2A) in 2012, only 31 cases of WSS have been described precisely in the literature. We report on 33 French individuals with a KMT2A mutation confirmed by targeted gene sequencing, high-throughput sequencing or exome sequencing. Patients' molecular and clinical features were recorded and compared with the literature data. On the molecular level, we found 29 novel mutations. We observed autosomal dominant transmission of WSS in 3 fami…

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