Project description:The GJB6 gene is located just 35 kb telomeric to GJB2 in the so-called nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness locus 1 (DFNB1). Knock out mouse models confirmed that inner ear expression of their protein products, connexin 30 (Cx30) and connexin 26 (Cx26), is crucial for hearing acquisition and normal development of the organ of Corti, however the coordinated regulation mechanism of Cx26 and Cx30 expression in the cochlea remains unclear. To investigate the mechanism underlying the etiopathogenesis of DFNB1, we used a microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA integrated expression profiling analysis on Cx30 -/- mice, which represent a model for humans in which large deletions in the DFNB1 locus lead to the down-regulation of both connexins and profound deafness.
Project description:The GJB6 gene is located just 35 kb telomeric to GJB2 in the so-called nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness locus 1 (DFNB1). Knock out mouse models confirmed that inner ear expression of their protein products, connexin 30 (Cx30) and connexin 26 (Cx26), is crucial for hearing acquisition and normal development of the organ of Corti, however the coordinated regulation mechanism of Cx26 and Cx30 expression in the cochlea remains unclear. To investigate the mechanism underlying the etiopathogenesis of DFNB1, we used a microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA integrated expression profiling analysis on Cx30 -/- mice, which represent a model for humans in which large deletions in the DFNB1 locus lead to the down-regulation of both connexins and profound deafness.
Project description:We analyzed samples from fourteen deaf individuals (Affected 1 through 14), fifteen hearing maternally related family members (Unaffected 1-15), six marry-in controls (Controls 1-6) from extended pedigree from Arab-Israeli village, and nine individuals from another Arab-Israeli village (Controls 7-15). All affected and unaffected maternally-related individuals carry homoplasmic mutation in the 12S rRNA gene of the mitochondrial DNA, associated with both non-syndromic and aminoglycosides-induced deafness. Keywords: Comparison of genome-wide expression in cell lines of maternally-related individuals with mitochondrial mutation and controls carrying wild-type mitochondrial chromosome.
Project description:Deafness is the most common form of sensory impairment in humans and frequently caused by defects in hair cells of the inner ear. Here we demonstrate that in a mouse model for recessive non-syndromic deafness (DFNB6), inactivation of Tmie in hair cells disrupts gene expression in the neurons that innervate them. This includes genes regulating axonal pathfinding and synaptogenesis, two processes that are disrupted in the inner ear of the mutant mice. Similar defects are observed in mouse models for deafness caused by mutations in other genes with primary functions in hair cells. Gene therapy targeting hair cells restores hearing and inner ear circuitry in DFNB6 model mice. We conclude that hair cell function is crucial for the establishment of peripheral auditory circuitry. Treatment modalities for deafness thus need to consider restoration of the function of both hair cells and neurons, even when the primary defect occurs in hair cells.
Project description:Mutations in GJB2 (Gap junction protein beta 2) are the most common genetic cause of non-syndromic hereditary deafness in humans, especially the 35delG and 235delC mutations. Owing to the homozygous-lethal of Gjb2 mutation in mice, there are currently no perfect mouse models carrying Gjb2 mutation to mimic human hereditary deafness and unveil the pathogenesis. Here, we first constructed heterozygous mutant mice, Gjb2+/35delG and Gjb2+/235delC, through androgenic haploid embryonic stem cells (AG-haESCs) mediated semi-cloning technology, which showed normal hearing function at P28. Furthermore, a homozygous mutant mouse model, Gjb235delG/35delG, was generated via enhanced tetraploid embryo complementation, which exhibited profound hearing loss like human patients at P14. Mechanism analysis showed that Gjb2 35delG disrupts the formation of intercellular gap junction channel and tunnel of Corti, and hair cell mechanotransduction, rather than the development of hair cells. Collectively, our study provides ideal mouse models for understanding the pathogenic mechanism and opens up a new avenue for investigating the treatment for DFNB1A-related hereditary deafness.
Project description:The genetics of both syndromic (SHL) and non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is characterized by a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. We analyzed whole exome sequencing data of 102 unrelated probands with apparently NSHL without a causative variant in known NSHL genes. We detected five causative variants in different SHL genes (SOX10, MITF, PTPN11, CHD7, and KMT2D) in five (4.9%) probands. Clinical re-evaluation of these probands shows that some of them have subtle syndromic findings, while none of them meets clinical criteria for the diagnosis of the associated syndrome (Waardenburg (SOX10 and MITF), Kallmann (CHD7 and SOX10), Noonan/LEOPARD (PTPN11), CHARGE (CHD7), or Kabuki (KMT2D). This study demonstrates that individuals who are evaluated for NSHL can have pathogenic variants in SHL genes that are not usually considered for etiologic studies.
Project description:Background The genetic diversity of loci and mutations underlying hereditary hearing loss is an active area of investigation. To identify loci associated with predominantly non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss, we performed exome sequencing of families and of single probands, as well as copy number variation (CNV) mapping in a case-control cohort. Results Analysis of three distinct families revealed several candidate loci in two families and a single strong candidate gene, MYH7B, for hearing loss in one family. MYH7B encodes a Type II myosin, consistent with a role for cytoskeletal proteins in hearing. High-resolution genome-wide CNV analysis of 150 cases and 157 controls revealed deletions in genes known to be involved in hearing (e.g. GJB6, OTOA, and STRC, encoding connexin 30, otoancorin, and stereocilin, respectively), supporting CNV contributions to hearing loss phenotypes. Additionally, a novel region on chromosome 16 containing part of the PDXDC1 gene was found to be frequently deleted in hearing loss patients (OR = 3.91, 95% CI: 1.62-9.40, p = 1.45 x 10-7). Conclusions We conclude that many known as well as novel loci and distinct types of mutations not typically tested in clinical settings can contribute to the etiology of hearing loss. Our study also demonstrates the challenges of exome sequencing and genome-wide CNV mapping for direct clinical application, and illustrates the need for functional and clinical follow-up as well as curated open-access databases. Single replicates of 151 non-syndromic hereditary hearing loss cases and 157 controls with normal hearing were analyzed.