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Published on: June 11, 2017
Multisystem disorders, severe developmental delay and seizures in two affected siblings, expanding the phenotype of
Linda Pons1, Isabelle Sabatier2, Eudeline Alix3
1Service Génopsy, Pôle ADIS, Centre Hospitalier le Vinatier, France.
Insights
Mutations in the PIGC gene cause a severe developmental disorder. This study details a recognizable PIGC deficiency phenotype including multisystem disorders, developmental delay, and seizures.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Biochemistry
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- The PIGC gene encodes a protein essential for glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthesis.
- Mutations in PIGC have been linked to severe global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and seizures.
Observation:
- This study describes two siblings with severe psychomotor delay, seizures, organomegaly, cardiopulmonary anomalies, and facial dysmorphism.
- Exome sequencing identified a homozygous PIGC gene variant (c.12_13insTTGTGACTAACA) in both affected siblings.
Findings:
- The identified PIGC variant leads to a premature stop codon (p.(Gln4_Pro5insLeu*)).
- This genetic finding confirms PIGC deficiency as the cause of the observed multisystem disorder in these related patients.
Implications:
- PIGC deficiency can present with a recognizable, severe phenotype encompassing multisystem involvement, not just developmental delay and seizures.
- This expands the clinical spectrum of PIGC-related disorders and aids in diagnosing similar cases.
Abstract:
PIGC (OMIM 601730) encodes the PIGC protein, which is part of an enzyme complex involved in the biosynthesis of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol protein anchor. The other proteins in the complex include PIGA, PIGH, PIGQ, PIGY, PIGP and DPM2. Homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations in PIGC have recently been described to cause severe global developmental delay, intellectual disability, and seizures in two unrelated families, without indication of another system involvement or dysmorphism. Here we describe two siblings, born to second cousin parents, displaying severe psychomotor delay, seizures, organomegaly, cardiopulmonary anomalies, and similar facial dysmorphism. Exome sequencing in the boy revealed a homozygous variant in PIGC gene, c.12_13insTTGTGACTAACA leading to a premature stop codon p.(Gln4_Pro5insLeu*). His affected sister was also found to be homozygous, and their parents were found to be heterozygous. This is the first detailed clinical description of two related patients suggesting that PIGC deficiency can cause a severe recognisable phenotype including multisystem disorders, in association to previously reported severe developmental delay and seizures.
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