Heterozygous CTNNB1 and TBX4 variants in a patient with abnormal lung growth, pulmonary hypertension, microcephaly, and spasticity.

TitleHeterozygous CTNNB1 and TBX4 variants in a patient with abnormal lung growth, pulmonary hypertension, microcephaly, and spasticity.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsKarolak, JA, Szafranski, P, Kilner, D, Patel, C, Scurry, B, Kinning, E, Chandler, K, Jhangiani, SN, Akdemir, ZHCoban, Lupski, JR, Popek, E, Stankiewicz, P
JournalClin Genet
Volume96
Issue4
Pagination366-370
Date Published2019 Oct
ISSN1399-0004
KeywordsAlleles, beta Catenin, DNA Mutational Analysis, Exome Sequencing, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Variation, Heterozygote, Humans, Hypertension, Pulmonary, Immunohistochemistry, Microcephaly, Muscle Spasticity, Mutation, Phenotype, T-Box Domain Proteins
Abstract

The canonical wingless (Wnt) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways involving CTNNB1 and TBX4, respectively, are crucial for the regulation of human development. Perturbations of these pathways and disruptions from biological homeostasis have been associated with abnormal morphogenesis of multiple organs, including the lung. The aim of this study was to identify the underlying genetic cause of abnormal lung growth, pulmonary hypertension (PAH), severe microcephaly, and muscle spasticity in a full-term newborn, who died at 4 months of age due to progressively worsening PAH and respiratory failure. Family trio exome sequencing showed a de novo heterozygous nonsense c.1603C>T (p.Arg535*) variant in CTNNB1 and a paternally inherited heterozygous missense c.1198G>A (p.Glu400Lys) variant in TBX4, both predicted to be likely deleterious. We expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with CTNNB1 and TBX4 variants and indicate that they could act synergistically to produce a distinct more severe phenotype. Our findings further support a recently proposed complex compound inheritance model in lethal lung developmental diseases and the contention that dual molecular diagnoses can parsimoniously explain blended phenotypes.

DOI10.1111/cge.13605
Alternate JournalClin Genet
PubMed ID31309540
PubMed Central IDPMC6953252
Grant ListUM1 HG006542 / HG / NHGRI NIH HHS / United States
R35 NS105078 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL137203 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States

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