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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Giorgio TascaORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.In this study, we investigated the sequence of (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes flexible Hinge Domain containing 1) SMCHD1 gene in a cohort of clinically defined FSHD (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy) patients in order to assess the distribution of SMCHD1 variants, considering the D4Z4 fragment size in terms of repeated units (RUs; short fragment: 1–7 RU, borderline: 8-10RU and normal fragment: >11RU). The analysis of SMCHD1 revealed the presence of 82 variants scattered throughout the introns, exons and 3’untranslated region (3UTR) of the gene. Among them, 64 were classified as benign polymorphisms and 6 as VUS (variants of uncertain significance). Interestingly, seven pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants were identified in patients carrying a borderline or normal D4Z4 fragment size, namely c.182_183dupGT (p.Q62Vfs∗48), c.2129dupC (p.A711Cfs∗11), c.3469G>T (p.G1157∗), c.5150_5151delAA (p.K1717Rfs∗16) and c.1131+2_1131+5delTAAG, c.3010A>T (p.K1004∗), c.853G>C (p.G285R). All of them were predicted to disrupt the structure and conformation of SMCHD1, resulting in the loss of GHKL-ATPase and SMC hinge essential domains. These results are consistent with the FSHD symptomatology and the Clinical Severity Score (CSS) of patients. In addition, five variants (c.∗1376A>C, rs7238459; c.∗1579G>A, rs559994; c.∗1397A>G, rs150573037; c.∗1631C>T, rs193227855; c.∗1889G>C, rs149259359) were identified in the 3UTR region of SMCHD1, suggesting a possible miRNA-dependent regulatory effect on FSHD-related pathways. The present study highlights the clinical utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms for the molecular diagnosis of FSHD and the importance of integrating molecular findings and clinical data in order to improve the accuracy of genotype–phenotype correlations.
Author(s): Strafella C, Caputo V, Galota RM, Campoli G, Bax C, Colantoni L, Minozzi G, Orsini C, Politano L, Tasca G, Novelli G, Ricci E, Giardina E, Cascella R
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Human Molecular Genetics
Year: 2019
Volume: 28
Issue: 23
Pages: 3912-3920
Print publication date: 01/12/2019
Online publication date: 10/10/2019
Acceptance date: 12/09/2019
Date deposited: 01/03/2023
ISSN (print): 0964-6906
ISSN (electronic): 1460-2083
Publisher: Oxford University Press
URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddz239
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz239
PubMed id: 31600781
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