Genetic Analyses of a Three Generation Family Segregating Hirschsprung Disease and Iris Heterochromia

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 26;8(6):e66631. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0066631. Print 2013.

Abstract

We present the genetic analyses conducted on a three-generation family (14 individuals) with three members affected with isolated-Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) and one with HSCR and heterochromia iridum (syndromic-HSCR), a phenotype reminiscent of Waardenburg-Shah syndrome (WS4). WS4 is characterized by pigmentary abnormalities of the skin, eyes and/or hair, sensorineural deafness and HSCR. None of the members had sensorineural deafness. The family was screened for copy number variations (CNVs) using Illumina-HumanOmni2.5-Beadchip and for coding sequence mutations in WS4 genes (EDN3, EDNRB, or SOX10) and in the main HSCR gene (RET). Confocal microscopy and immunoblotting were used to assess the functional impact of the mutations. A heterozygous A/G transition in EDNRB was identified in 4 affected and 3 unaffected individuals. While in EDNRB isoforms 1 and 2 (cellular receptor) the transition results in the abolishment of translation initiation (M1V), in isoform 3 (only in the cytosol) the replacement occurs at Met91 (M91V) and is predicted benign. Another heterozygous transition (c.-248G/A; -predicted to affect translation efficiency-) in the 5'-untranslated region of EDN3 (EDNRB ligand) was detected in all affected individuals but not in healthy carriers of the EDNRB mutation. Also, a de novo CNVs encompassing DACH1 was identified in the patient with heterochromia iridum and HSCR Since the EDNRB and EDN3 variants only coexist in affected individuals, HSCR could be due to the joint effect of mutations in genes of the same pathway. Iris heterochromia could be due to an independent genetic event and would account for the additional phenotype within the family.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Endothelin-3 / genetics
  • Female
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Hirschsprung Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Inheritance Patterns
  • Iris Diseases / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Pedigree
  • Pigmentation Disorders / genetics*
  • Receptor, Endothelin B / genetics
  • SOXE Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • EDN3 protein, human
  • EDNRB protein, human
  • Endothelin-3
  • Receptor, Endothelin B
  • SOX10 protein, human
  • SOXE Transcription Factors

Supplementary concepts

  • Heterochromia iridis

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the HKU seed funding programme for basic research 201109159019 to MMGB. Support was also received from the University of Hong Kong Strategic Research Theme on Genomics. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.