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Li RK, Li H, Tian MQ, Li Y, Luo S, Liang XY, Liu WH, Li BM, Shi XQ, Li J, Li B, Shu XM. Investigation of FRMPD4 variants associated with X-linked epilepsy. Seizure 2024; 116:45-50. [PMID: 37330374 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of unexplained epilepsy in most patients remains unclear. Variants of FRMPD4 are suggested to be associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Therefore, we screened for disease-causing FRMPD4 variants in patients with epilepsy. METHODS Trios-based whole-exome sequencing was conducted on a cohort of 85 patients with unexplained epilepsy, their parents, and extended family members. Additional cases with FRMPD4 variants were identified from the China Epilepsy Gene Matching Platform V.1.0. The frequency of variants was analyzed, and their subregional effects were predicted using in silico tools. The genotype-phenotype correlation of the newly defined causative genes and protein stability were analyzed using I-Mutant V.3.0 and Grantham scores. RESULTS Two novel missense variants of FRMPD4 were identified in two families. Using the gene matching platform, we identified three additional novel missense variants. These variants presented at low or no allele frequencies in the gnomAD database. All the variants were located outside the three FRMPD4 main domains (WW, PDZ, and FERM). In silico analyses revealed that the variants were damaging and were predicted to be the least stable. All patients eventually became seizure-free. Eight of the 21 patients with FRMPD4 variants had epilepsy, of which five (63%) had missense variants located outside the domains, two had deletions involving exon 2, and one had a frameshift variant located outside the domains. Patients with epilepsy caused by missense variants were often free of intellectual disabilities (4/5), whereas patients with epilepsy caused by truncated variants had intellectual disabilities and structural brain abnormalities (3/3). CONCLUSIONS The FRMPD4 gene is potentially associated with epilepsy. The genotype-phenotype correlation of FRMPD4 variants indicated that differences in variant types and locations of FRMPD4 may explain their phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ren-Ke Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Children's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Huan Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Mao-Qiang Tian
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Children's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Brain Function and Neuroelectrophysiology, the Affiliated Nanhua Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421002, China
| | - Sheng Luo
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Xiao-Yu Liang
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Wen-Hui Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Bin-Mei Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Xiao-Qi Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Children's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Children's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563003, China
| | - Bin Li
- Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Neurology of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Key Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Channelopathies of Guangdong Province and the Ministry of Education of China, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Xiao-Mei Shu
- Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Children's Hospital of Guizhou Province, Zunyi 563003, China.
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Luzzatto L. A Journey from Blood Cells to Genes and Back. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2023; 24:1-33. [PMID: 37217201 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-101022-105018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
I was attracted to hematology because by combining clinical findings with the use of a microscope and simple laboratory tests, one could often make a diagnosis. I was attracted to genetics when I learned about inherited blood disorders, at a time when we had only hints that somatic mutations were also important. It seemed clear that if we understood not only what genetic changes caused what diseases but also the mechanisms through which those genetic changes contribute to cause disease, we could improve management. Thus, I investigated many aspects of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase system, including cloning of the gene, and in the study of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), I found that it is a clonal disorder; subsequently, we were able to explain how a nonmalignant clone can expand, and I was involved in the first trial of PNH treatment by complement inhibition. I was fortunate to do clinical and research hematology in five countries; in all of them, I learned from mentors, from colleagues, and from patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Luzzatto
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania
- University of Florence, Florence, Italy;
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Abstract
To embrace the prospects of accurately diagnosing thousands of monogenic conditions, predicting disease risks for complex traits or diseases, tailoring treatment to individuals' pharmacogenetic profiles, and potentially curing some diseases, research into African genomic variation is a scientific imperative. African genomes harbor millions of uncaptured variants accumulated over 300,000 years of modern humans' evolutionary history, with successive waves of admixture, migration, and natural selection combining with extensive ecological diversity to create a broad and exceptional genomic complexity. Harnessing African genomic complexity, therefore, will require sustained commitment and equitable collaboration from the scientific community and funding agencies. African governments must support academic public research and industrial partnerships that build the necessary genetic medicine workforce, utilize the emerging genomic big data to develop expertise in computer science and bioinformatics, and evolve national and global governance frameworks that recognize the ethical implications of data-driven genomic research and empower its application in African social, cultural, economic, and religious contexts. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, Volume 23 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; , , .,Current affiliation: McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA;
| | - Nchangwi S Munung
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; , ,
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; , ,
| | - Kevin K Esoh
- Division of Human Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; , ,
| | - Neil A Hanchard
- Center for Precision Health Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Guida Landoure
- Faculty of Medicine and Odontostomatology, University of Sciences, Techniques, and Technology of Bamako, Bamako, Mali;
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Tutuba HJ, Jonathan A, Lloyd W, Luoga F, Marco E, Ndunguru J, Kidenya BR, Makani J, Ruggajo P, Minja IK, Balandya E. Prevalence of Hemoglobin-S and Baseline Level of Knowledge on Sickle Cell Disease Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania. Front Genet 2022; 13:805709. [PMID: 35480324 PMCID: PMC9035883 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.805709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the single most important genetic cause of childhood mortality globally. Newborn screening (NBS) is the recommended intervention aimed at early identification of babies with SCD and their linkage to care. To ensure success of NBS, pregnant women need to have the required knowledge on SCD and therefore motivation to screen their babies. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hemoglobin-S and assess the baseline level of knowledge on SCD among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in urban settings in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2020 and February 2021, involving 600 pregnant women at 20-28 weeks of gestation attending antenatal clinics at Buguruni Health Center, Mbagala Hospital, and Sinza Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. We administered a structured questionnaire to all participants to assess socio-demographic characteristics and baseline level of knowledge on SCD, where those scoring 7 or higher out of 10 questions were considered to have good knowledge. We screened for SCD a total of 300 participants from two centers (Buguruni Health Center and Mbagala Hospital) by using Sickle SCAN point-of-care test (BioMedomics Inc., United States). We used SPSS version 23 to analyze the data. On determining the association between level of knowledge and socio-demographic factors, we used Pearson's Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression in ascertaining the strength of associations. Results: Of the 600 participants, the majority were of the age between 26 and 35 years (51%), with the parity of 1-3 children (55.8%) and secondary level of education (43%), while 56% were self-employed. Only 14.7% had good knowledge on SCD. The majority of the participants had ever heard of SCD (81.3%), most of them heard from the streets (42.4%), and only 2.4% heard from hospitals. Of all 600 study participants, only 2 (0.3%) knew their SCD status while 7.7% declared having a family history of SCD. A proficient level of knowledge on SCD is associated with a high level of education, occupation, and knowing personal status of SCD. Among 300 participants who were screened for SCD, 252 were Hb-AA (84%), 47 were Hb-AS (15.7%), and 1 (0.3%) was Hb-SS. Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of hemoglobin-S among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in urban settings in Tanzania, there is a poor level of knowledge on SCD and personal knowledge of SCD status. Maternal screening and health education on SCD should be included as part of the comprehensive package for health promotion at antenatal clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilda J. Tutuba
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Department of Physiology, MUHAS, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,*Correspondence: Hilda J. Tutuba,
| | - Agnes Jonathan
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - William Lloyd
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fredrick Luoga
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emanuela Marco
- Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Joyce Ndunguru
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Benson R. Kidenya
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences- Bugando, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Julie Makani
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Sickle Cell Program, Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Paschal Ruggajo
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Department of Internal Medicine, MUHAS, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Irene K. Minja
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Department of Restorative Dentistry, MUHAS, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Emmanuel Balandya
- Sickle Pan-African Research Consortium (SPARCO), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania,Department of Physiology, MUHAS, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
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Esoh K, Wonkam-Tingang E, Wonkam A. Sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa: transferable strategies for prevention and care. Lancet Haematol 2021; 8:e744-e755. [PMID: 34481550 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3026(21)00191-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease can be life-threatening or chronically debilitating for both children and adults. Worldwide, more than 300 000 children are born with sickle cell disease every year, over 75% of whom in sub-Saharan Africa. Increased awareness and early interventions, such as neonate screening and comprehensive care, have led to considerable reductions in mortality in children younger than 5 years in high-income countries. However, sickle cell disease prevention and care have largely been neglected in Africa. Without intervention, 50-90% of affected children in many sub-Saharan African countries die before their fifth birthday. Fortunately, increasing initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa are piloting interventions such as neonate screening and comprehensive care, and as mortality declines, quality of life and increased life expectancy become major targets for interventions. Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide) and haematopoietic stem-cell transplantation have already been shown to be effective therapies in high-income countries, but are either not widely accessible or too expensive for most African populations. These challenges are being alleviated by numerous networks evolving through international collaborations that are positively changing the outlook of sickle cell disease management in sub-Saharan Africa. In this Series paper, we describe the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinicobiological profile, and psychosocial effects of sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa. We highlight transferable strategies already used for the successful management of the condition and key strategies and recommendations for affordable and comprehensive care on the continent. TRANSLATION: For the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Esoh
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edmond Wonkam-Tingang
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Esoh K, Wonkam A. Evolutionary history of sickle-cell mutation: implications for global genetic medicine. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:R119-R128. [PMID: 33461216 PMCID: PMC8117455 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance afforded by the sickle-cell trait against severe malaria has led to high frequencies of the sickle-cell mutation [HBB; c.20T>A, p.Glu6Val; OMIM: 141900 (HBB-βS)] in most parts of Africa. High-coverage sequencing and genotype data have now confirmed the single African origin of the sickle-cell gene variant [HBB; c.20T>A, p.Glu6Val; OMIM: 141900 (HBB-βS)]. Nevertheless, the classical HBB-like genes cluster haplotypes remain a rich source of HBB-βS evolutionary information. The overlapping distribution of HBB-βS and other disease-associated variants means that their evolutionary genetics must be investigated concurrently. In this review: (1) we explore the evolutionary history of HBB-βS and its implications in understanding human migration within and out of Africa: e.g. HBB haplotypes and recent migration paths of the Bantu expansion, occurrence of ~7% of the Senegal haplotype in Angola reflecting changes in population/SCD dynamics, and existence of all five classical HBB haplotype in Cameroon and Egypt suggesting a much longer presence of HBB-βS in these regions; (2) we discuss the time estimates of the emergence of HBB-βS in Africa and finally, (3) we discuss implications for genetic medicine in understanding complex epistatic interactions between HBB-βS and other gene variants selected under environmental pressure in Africa e.g. variants in HBB, HBA, G6PD, APOL1, APOE, OSBPL10 and RXRA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Esoh
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambroise Wonkam
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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