Mutations in C8orf37, encoding a ciliary protein, are associated with autosomal-recessive retinal dystrophies with early macular involvement

Alejandro Estrada-Cuzcano, Kornelia Neveling, Susanne Kohl, Eyal Banin, Ygal Rotenstreich, Dror Sharon, Tzipora C. Falik-Zaccai, Stephanie Hipp, Ronald Roepman, Bernd Wissinger, Stef J.F. Letteboer, Dorus A. Mans, Ellen A.W. Blokland, Michael P. Kwint, Sabine J. Gijsen, Ramon A.C. Van Huet, Rob W.J. Collin, H. Scheffer, Joris A. Veltman, Eberhart ZrennerAnneke I. Den Hollander, B. Jeroen Klevering, Frans P.M. Cremers*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

75 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cone-rod dystrophy (CRD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are clinically and genetically overlapping heterogeneous retinal dystrophies. By using homozygosity mapping in an individual with autosomal-recessive (ar) RP from a consanguineous family, we identified three sizeable homozygous regions, together encompassing 46 Mb. Next-generation sequencing of all exons, flanking intron sequences, microRNAs, and other highly conserved genomic elements in these three regions revealed a homozygous nonsense mutation (c.497T>A [p.Leu166]) in C8orf37, located on chromosome 8q22.1. This mutation was not present in 150 ethnically matched control individuals, single-nucleotide polymorphism databases, or the 1000 Genomes database. Immunohistochemical studies revealed C8orf37 localization at the base of the primary cilium of human retinal pigment epithelium cells and at the base of connecting cilia of mouse photoreceptors. C8orf37 sequence analysis of individuals who had retinal dystrophy and carried conspicuously large homozygous regions encompassing C8orf37 revealed a homozygous splice-site mutation (c.156-2A>G) in two siblings of a consanguineous family and homozygous missense mutations (c.529C>T [p.Arg177Trp]; c.545A>G [p.Gln182Arg]) in siblings of two other consanguineous families. The missense mutations affect highly conserved amino acids, and in silico analyses predicted that both variants are probably pathogenic. Clinical assessment revealed CRD in four individuals and RP with early macular involvement in two individuals. The two CRD siblings with the c.156-2A>G mutation also showed unilateral postaxial polydactyly. These results underline the importance of disrupted ciliary processes in the pathogenesis of retinal dystrophies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)102-109
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume90
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 13 Jan 2012

Funding

FundersFunder number
Stichting A.F. Deutman Oogheelkunde Researchfonds
Stichting Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Oogziekenhuis
European Commission
Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum
Gelderse Blinden Stichting
European Community's Seventh Framework Programs FP7/2007
Algemene Nederlandse Vereniging ter voorkoming van Blindheid
Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden
Rotterdamse Stichting Blindenbelangen
FP7/2009
Seventh Framework Programme223143, 241955
Foundation Fighting BlindnessBR-GE-0510-0489-RAD, BR-GE-0510-0490-HUJ
ZonMw917-66-363, 911-08-025

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