Project description:To identify novel genetic causes of congenital kidney anomalies(KA), we performed a whole genome copy number variation (CNV) detection in 62 patients with KA using Agilent SurePrint G3 Human CGH Microarray Kit (1x1M). Agilent sex-matched human DNA was used as reference. Data were extracted using Agilent Feature Extraction software v10.7 and CNVs were called using the ADM-II algorithm with a threshold of 6.0 in Agilent CytoGenomics software v5.0. With a systematic analysis, we identified 10 known or novel genomic imbalances in 9 (14.5%) cases.
Project description:Purpose: Mutations in several genetic loci lead to cardiac anomalies, with mutations in transcription factor NKX2-5 gene being one of the largest mutations known. Gestational hypoxia, such as seen in high-altitude pregnancy, has been known to affect cardiac development, and this paper aims to uncover information about the underlying mechanisms of this phenomena. Methods: Wild-type female mice were mated with Nkx2-5 mutant males, to produce offsprings. The pregnant females were then separated into two groups, one left in normal air and one breathing hypoxic, 14% oxygen, air from gestation day 10.5 to 12.5. Hearts were dissected from E12.5 embryos, subjected to RNA purification followed by RNA-seq. Wild-hypoxia and mutant-normoxia were compared to control wild-normoxia. Conclusions: The results of our study provide insights into a common molecular mechanism underlying non-genetic/epigenetic and genetic cardiac anomalies.
Project description:Potocki-Shaffer syndrome (PSS) is a rare contiguous gene deletion syndrome marked by haploinsufficiency of genes in chromosomal region 11p11.2p12. Approximately 50 cases of PSS have been reported; however, a syndrome with a PSS-like clinical phenotype caused by 11p11.12p12 duplication has not yet been reported. We first report the 11p11.12p12 duplication in a family with intellectual disability and craniofacial anomalies. 11p11.12p12 duplication syndrome was identified by karyotype analysis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis clarified the location of the chromosomal variations, which was confirmed by chromosome microarray analysis (CMA). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to exclude single nucleotide variations (SNVs). The raw data of NGS analysis and WES have been submitted to SRA, the accession number is PRJNA713823.
Project description:Background: Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is characterized by arrested T lymphocyte production and B lymphocyte dysfunction, resulting in life-threatening infections. Early diagnosis of SCID through population-based newborn screening (NBS) optimizes clinical management and outcomes, and also permits identification of previously unknown factors essential for human lymphocyte development. Methods: SCID was detected, prior to onset of infections, by NBS of T cell receptor excision circles, a biomarker for thymic output. Upon confirmation, the affected baby was treated by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). The genetic cause was sought by exome sequencing of the patient and parents, followed by functional analysis of a prioritized candidate gene using human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and zebrafish embryos. Results: An infant with leaky SCID, craniofacial and dermal abnormalities, and absent corpus callosum had his immune deficit fully corrected by HCT. Exome sequencing revealed a heterozygous, de novo, missense mutation pN441K in BCL11B. The mutant Bcl11b protein had dominant negative activity, abrogating the ability of wild type Bcl11b to bind DNA, arresting T cell lineage development and disrupting HSC migration, revealing a novel function of Bcl11b. The patientâs defects, recapitulated in Bcl11b-deficient zebrafish, were reversed by ectopic expression of intact, but not mutant, human BCL11B. Conclusions: Newborn screening facilitated treatment and identification of a novel etiology for human SCID. Coupling exome sequencing with candidate gene evaluation in human HSC and in zebrafish revealed that a constitutional BCL11B mutation causes human multisystem anomalies with SCID, while also revealing a novel, pre-thymic role for Bcl11b in hematopoietic progenitors. 3 samples were analyzed in duplicate, Sample 1 was human HSC transduced with GFP only lentivirus which served as controls, Sample 2 was human HSC transduced with lentivirus expressing FLAG-tagged WT BCL11B and GFP, Sample 3 was human HSC transduced with lentivirus expressing FLAG-tagged mutant BCL11B and GFP
