Validation and Classification of Atypical Splicing Variants Associated With Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Crispr-Based Editing of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells for Disease Modeling

The CRISPR system, as an effective genome editing technology, has been extensively utilized for the construction of disease models in human pluripotent stem cells. Establishment of a gene mutant or knockout stem cell line typically relies on Cas nuclease-generated double-stranded DNA breaks and exogenous templates, which can produce uncontrollable editing byproducts and toxicity. The recently developed adenine base editors (ABE) have greatly facilitated related research by introducing A/T > G/C mutations in the coding regions or splitting sites (AG-GT) of genes, enabling mutant gene knock-in or knock-out without introducing DNA breaks. In this study, we edit the AG bases in exons anterior to achieve gene knockout via the ABE8e-SpRY, which recognizes most expanded protospacer adjacent motif to target the genome. Except for gene-knockout, ABE8e-SpRY can also efficiently establish disease-related A/T-to-G/C variation cell lines by targeting coding sequences. The method we generated is simple and time-saving, and it only takes two weeks to obtain the desired cell line. This protocol provides operating instructions step-by-step for constructing knockout and point mutation cell lines.

COL1A1 novel splice variant in osteogenesis imperfecta and splicing variants review: A case report

Background

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare heterogeneous genetic disorder commonly autosomal dominant with variants in the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes. It is characterized by bone fragility and deformity, recurrent fractures, blue sclera, dentinogenesis imperfecta, short stature, and progressive deafness.

Case presentation

We present a novel splicing mutation in the COL1A1 gene (c.2398-1G > C) in a 6-year-old Ecuadorian girl with fractures after light pressure and blue sclera. We identified the pathogenic variant, performed a literature review of splice variants, and recognized their location in the COL1A1 functional domains.

Conclusion

We describe the first clinical description of a patient with OI type 1 caused by a splice variant in intron 34 of COL1A1 gene and identify that most of them are localized in the triple-helical region domain. We suggest that the splice variant in signal peptide, von Willebrand factor type C, and nonhelical regions maintain their functionality or that individuals affected with severe cases die early in development and are not reported.

Perthes Disease in a Child With Osteogenesis Imperfecta From a Rare Genetic Variant: A Case Report

Background: Although certain genetic components have been reported as contributing factors for Perthes disease, its etiology remains unclear. We present a rare case of Perthes disease in a child with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) caused by a mutation in the COL1A1 gene (NM_000088):exon25:c.1726C>T, (p.Gln576X).

Case presentations: A 7-year-old boy was initially treated at our medical facility in March 2016 with a history of chronic pain in right hip joint and limping for a year. He was diagnosed as Perthes disease in the right hip joint. He underwent acetabular osteotomy and ipsilateral proximal femoral varus osteotomy for better containment. During the follow-ups, the right hip demonstrated a normal range of motion without pain, and the pelvic X-ray demonstrated Stulberg Type II hip joint with a round femoral head. In the latest admission in 2022, he suffered from a right femoral shaft fracture after petty violence. After reviewing his medical history, he was suspected of having OI. The whole exome sequencing demonstrated a gene mutation in COL1A1 (OMIM 166200) and confirmed the diagnosis of OI. Telescopic nailing was used to treat the femoral shaft fracture. After the nailing of the right femur, the appearance of the lower extremity seemed normal and symmetrical.

Conclusion: This study revealed that there might be an association between OI and Perthes disease. Our case report enriches the phenotypes of osteogenesis imperfecta and provides insight into the pathogenesis of LCPD.

Novel De Novo TBL1XR1 Variant Causing PIERPONT Syndrome in an Indian Child: A Case Report and Genotype–Phenotype Review of Reported Patients

The transducin β-like-1 X-linked-receptor-1 gene (TBL1XR1) encodes for the TBL1XR1 protein which is involved in transcription. Single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the TBL1XR1 gene have been reported to be associated with Pierpont's syndrome (PS) which exhibits numerous features including global developmental delay (GDD), intellectual disability (ID), varying neurobehavioral and psychiatric manifestations with/without autism spectrum disorder (ASD), abnormal fat distribution in the distal extremities, short stature (SS), head circumference abnormalities, hearing loss (HL), and facial dysmorphisms. Eight PS patients, having a de novo mutation resulting in p.Tyr446Cys, showed no manifestations of ASD. The three other PS patients, having mutations resulting in p.Tyr446His, p.Cys325Tyr and p.Gly237Asp, respectively, and without the p.Tyr446Cys alteration, were in addition associated with neurobehavioral abnormalities, including ASD, hyperactivity, and self-mutilation tendencies. Here, via trio whole exome sequencing, we describe a 12th PS patient, the first from the Indian subcontinent, reflecting a novel TBL1XR1 p.His348Arg alteration. The proband is a 4.5-year-old male having GDD, speech delay, facial dysmorphisms, abnormal digital fat pads, hypotonia, microcephaly, patent ductus arteriosus, and ASD features. Our report strengthens the hypothesis that TBL1XR1 variants coding for the TBL1XR1 protein other than p.Tyr446Cys might be more commonly associated with a neurobehavioral phenotype and autistic tendencies.

Case Report: Complete Maternal Uniparental Disomy of Chromosome 2 With a Novel UNC80 Splicing Variant c.5609-4G> A in a Chinese Patient With Infantile Hypotonia With Psychomotor Retardation and Characteristic Facies 2

Background: Infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies 2 (IHPRF2) is a rare autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the UNC80 gene. It is characterized by severe global developmental delay, poor or absent speech and absent or limited walking abilities. The current study explored a case of a Chinese patient with IHPRF2 caused by a novel splicing variant of UNC80.

Case Report: The proband is a 8-year-old Chinese male manifested with global developmental delay, severe truncal hypotonia, absent speech and intellectual disability. SNP array analysis revealed a uniparental isodisomy of the entire chromosome 2 [UPD(2)] in the proband. Whole exome sequencing (WES) subsequently identified a novel mutation c.5609-4G>A in the UNC80 gene, which was inherited from his mother and was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, indicating that UPD(2) was of maternal origin.

Conclusion: A novel UNC80 homozygous splicing variant c.5609-4G>A associated with maternal UPD(2) was identified. These findings indicate that UPD poses a high risk of autosomal recessive diseases, and provides information on the variant spectrum for UNC80. Our findings elucidate on understanding of the genotype-phenotype associations that occur in IHPRF2 patients.

Role of rs193922155 in the etiopathogenesis of osteogenesis imperfecta with description of the phenotype: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a disorder of the connective tissue that mainly causes the bones to become excessively brittle. The vast majority of OI cases are associated with mutations in the genes encoding the I alpha.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 57-year-old woman office worker was admitted because of severe, long-lasting pain in the thoracic spine while bending down. She and her daughter have a history of multiple atraumatic fractures form early childhood.

DIAGNOSIS

Both women were pre-diagnosed with OI based on their phenotype. The genetic testing has shown single nucleotide polymorphism (rs193922155) in the gene encoding the collagen type I alpha 1 which until now was only likely pathogenic.

INTERVENTIONS

Bone mineral density measurement revealed osteoporosis. The mother was prescribed with Vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation, but the daughter does not take any medication. The mother had vertebroplasty performed because of Th 9-12 vertebral body compression fractures. The cardiovascular diseases, spontaneous hematomas, joint dislocations were excluded.

OUTCOMES

For mother postoperative pain reduction was achieved.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first publication that confirms the pathogenic effect of this mutation and describes the phenotype.

Genetic analysis in Japanese patients with osteogenesis imperfecta: Genotype and phenotype spectra in 96 probands

BACKGROUND

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a rare connective-tissue disorder characterized by bone fragility. Approximately 90% of all OI cases are caused by variants in COL1A1 or COL1A2. Additionally, IFITM5 variants are responsible for the unique OI type 5. We previously analyzed COL1A1/2 variants in 22 Japanese families with OI through denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography screening, but our detection rate was low (41%).

METHODS

To expand the genotype-phenotype correlations, we performed a genetic analysis of COL1A1/2 and IFITM5 in 96 non-consanguineous Japanese OI probands by Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

Of these individuals, 54, 41, and 1 had type 1 (mild), type 2-4 (moderate-to-severe), and type 5 phenotypes, respectively. In the mild group, COL1A1 nonsense and splice-site variants were prevalent (n = 30 and 20, respectively), but there were also COL1A1 and COL1A2 triple-helical glycine substitutions (n = 2 and 1, respectively). In the moderate-to-severe group, although COL1A1 and COL1A2 glycine substitutions were common (n = 14 and 18, respectively), other variants were also detected. The single case of type 5 had the characteristic c.-14C>T variant in IFITM5.

CONCLUSION

These results increase our previous detection rate for COL1A1/2 variants to 99% and provide insight into the genotype-phenotype correlations in OI.

A novel splicing pathogenic variant in COL1A1 causing osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type I in a Chinese family

Background

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a rare autosomal inheritable disorder characterized by bone fragility and skeletal deformity, is caused by pathogenic variants in genes impairing the synthesis and processing of extracellular matrix protein collagen type I. With the use of next‐generation sequencing and panels approaches, an increasing number of OI patients can be confirmed and new pathogenic variants can be discovered. This study sought to identify pathogenic gene variants in a Chinese family with OI I.

Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing was used to identify pathogenic variants in the proband, which is confirmed by Sanger sequencing and cosegregation analysis; MES, HSF, and Spliceman were used to analyze this splicing variant；qRT‐PCR was performed to identify the mRNA expression level of COL1A1 in patient peripheral blood samples; Minigene splicing assay was performed to mimic the splicing process of COL1A1 variants in vitro; Analysis of evolutionary conservation of amino acid residues and structure prediction of the mutant protein.

Results

A novel splicing pathogenic variant (c.3814+1G>T) was identified in this OI family by using whole‐exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and cosegregation analysis. Sequencing of RT‐PCR products from the COL1A1 minigene variant reveals a 132‐nucleotide (nt) insertion exists at the junction between exons 48 and exon 49 of the COL1A1 cDNA. Splicing assay indicates that the mutated minigene produces an alternatively spliced transcript which may cause a frameshift resulting in early termination of protein expression. The molecular analysis suggested that the altered amino acid is located at the C‐terminus of type I procollagen.

Conclusion

Our study reveals the pathogenesis of a novel COL1A1 splicing pathogenic variant c.3814+1G>T in a Chinese family with OI I.