OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinical and genetic characteristics of a child with 46,XX Ovotesticular disorder of sex development (46,XX OTDSD) due to copy number variation of SOX3 gene. METHODS: A 46,XX male patient presented at the Capital Center for Children's Health, Capital Medical University in November 2024 was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child was collected. Peripheral blood samples were taken from the child and his parents and subjected to trio whole-genome sequencing. Skewed X-chromosome inactivation was tested in the child and his mother. A literature review was carried out on 46,XX males associated with mutations of the SOX3 gene. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.: SHERLL2025056). RESULTS: The 10-year-old boy presented with hypospadias and cryptorchidism at birth. Chromosome analysis at one year and a half revealed a 46,XX karyotype. Gonadal biopsy showed testicular tissue, while ultrasound at the age of 10 detected ovotesticular tissue. Whole-genome sequencing identified a 660 kb duplication in the Xq27.1 region, which was derived from his mother. X-chromosome inactivation testing showed random inactivation in the child and mild non-random inactivation in the mother. Literature review has found 11 publications involving 15 patients (including our case), among whom 14 had a male social gender. They had primarily presented with hypospadias at birth but had no significant endocrine abnormalities. Most patients had experienced testicular failure after puberty. SOX3 related 46,XX males are mainly caused by de novo duplications, although a few maternal carriers had been discovered. CONCLUSION Duplication of the SOX3 gene probably underlay the pathogenesis is this 46,XX male. Individuals with 46,XX SRY negative male phenotypes should be routinely screened for SOX3 gene variants. Structural variations of the SOX3 gene can lead to complete or partial sex reversal in 46,XX individuals with minimal impact on intellectual and motor development, as well as other endocrine hormones.
Child ; Humans ; Male ; 46, XX Disorders of Sex Development/genetics* ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Gene Duplication ; Phenotype ; SOXB1 Transcription Factors/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To report on a case with severe hemophilia A (HA) due to a large duplication of F8 gene. METHODS: Inversion detection, Sanger sequencing, and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) were used to detect the mutation in the proband and his mother. RESULTS: The patient, a 7-year-old boy, was diagnosed with severe HA at 8 months. No inhibitor was developed over 150 exposure days. Intronic inversion detection and Sanger sequencing have failed to identify pathogenic variants, while MLPA revealed a large duplication [Ex 1_22 dup (2 copies)] in the proband, for which his mother was a carrier [Ex 1_22 dup (3 copies)]. Large duplications of the F8 gene have so far been found in 24 HA patients, all of whom had a severe phenotype, only one had a history of inhibitors. CONCLUSION Large duplications of F8 gene are associated with severe HA. The diagnostic rate for HA may be increased by MLPA.
Child ; Factor VIII/genetics* ; Gene Duplication ; Hemophilia A/genetics* ; Humans ; Introns ; Male ; Mutation ; Phenotype

Humans ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked/genetics* ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2/genetics* ; Gene Duplication

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical symptom and parental origin of patients with MECP2 duplication syndrome in order to provide a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis. METHODS: Clinical symptoms of four patients who were diagnosed with MECP2 duplication syndrome by copy number variation sequencing (CNV-Seq) were reviewed. The maternal origin of the duplications were verified. RESULTS: All patients were males, and CNV-Seq revealed that they have all harbored a duplication in the Xq28 region spanning 0.32 ~ 0.86 Mb, which were derived from asymptomatic mothers. The clinical symptoms of three patients with three copies included delayed speech, intellectual disability, and muscular hypotonia, while the patient with four copies had died at 6 months after birth, with clinical symptoms including recurrent infections, seizures, and spasticity. CONCLUSION The four cases of MECP2 duplication syndrome have shown complete penetrance and have all derived from asymptomatic mothers. As a stable and reliable method, CNV-Seq can accurately detect the MECP2 duplication syndrome.
Chromosomes, Human, X ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Retardation, X-Linked ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2/genetics* ; Phenotype

Factor VIII/genetics* ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Male ; Thrombosis/genetics*

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) are caused by mutations in the DMD gene. The aim of this study is to identify pathogenic DMD variants in probands and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease in affected families. Variations in 100 unrelated DMD/BMD patients were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Pathogenic variants in DMD were successfully identified in all cases, and 11 of them were novel. The most common mutations were intragenic deletions (69%), with two hotspots located in the 5' end (exons 2-19) and the central of the DMD gene (exons 45-55), while point mutations were observed in 22% patients. Further, c.1149+1G>A and c.1150-2A>G were confirmed by hybrid minigene splicing assay (HMSA). This two splice site mutations would lead to two aberrant DMD isoforms which give rise to severely truncated protein. Therefore, the clinical use of MLPA, NGS, and HMSA is an effective strategy to identify variants. Importantly, eight embryos were terminated pregnancies according to prenatal diagnosis and a healthy boy was successfully delivered by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). Early and accurate genetic diagnosis is essential for prenatal diagnosis/PGD to reduce the risk of recurrence of DMD in affected families.
Alternative Splicing ; Binding Sites ; Biopsy ; Creatine Kinase/blood* ; Exons ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Variation ; Heterozygote ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ; Humans ; Male ; Mothers ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics* ; Phenotype ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of a 46,XY female with sex reversal. METHODS: Peripheral blood lymphocytes of the patient were subjected to G-banding karyotype analysis. Sex chromosomes were analyzed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). SRY gene was analyzed by Sanger sequencing. The whole exome of the patient was subjected to next generation sequencing. Copy number variations (CNVs) of the NR0B1, SF1, SRY, SOX9 and WNT4 genes were validated by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). RESULTS: The patient had a 46,XY karyotype. FISH analysis showed that her sex chromosomes were X and Y. No mutation was found in the SRY gene, and no pathogenic mutation was detected in her exome. However, a duplication spanning approximately 67.31 kb encompassing the MAGEB1, MAGEB3, MAGEB4 and NR0B1 genes at Xp21, was predicted by software analysis. MLPA confirmed duplication of the NR0B1 gene in the patient and her mother. CONCLUSION A duplication fragment of Xp21 encompassing the NR0B1 gene in the 46,XY female with sex reversal is transmitted from her asymptomatic carrier mother. Attention should be paid towards the insidious nature and high morbidity of this duplication.
DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Female ; Gene Duplication ; Genes, sry ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence

OBJECTIVETo determine the type and frequency of SCN1A deletions and duplications among patients with Dravet syndrome (DS).

METHODSFor DS patients in which no mutations of the SCN1A gene were detected by PCR-DNA sequencing, SCN1A deletions and duplications were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA).

RESULTSIn 680 DS patients, 489 had SCN1A mutations identified by PCR-DNA sequencing. In 191 patients who were negative for the SCN1A PCR-DNA sequencing, 15 (15/191, 7.9%) were detected with heterozygous SCN1A deletions or duplications, which included 14 (14/15, 93.3%) SCN1A deletions and 1 SCN1A duplication. There were 13 types of mutations, including whole SCN1A deletions in 3 patients, partial SCN1A deletions in 11 patients and partial SCN1A duplications in one patient. By testing the parents, 14 mutations were found to be de novo. For the remaining case, no SCN1A deletion or duplication was found in the mother, while the father was not available.

CONCLUSIONApproximately 8% of Chinese patients who were negative for SCN1A mutation by PCR-sequencing have SCN1A deletions or duplications. The MLPA analysis should be considered as an important strategy for such patients. SCN1A deletions are more common than SCN1A duplications among DS patients, and the most common types are whole SCN1A deletions. The majority of SCN1A deletions or duplications are de novo.

Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Duplication ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel ; genetics

Seven transmembrane receptors (7TMRs), also known as G protein-coupled receptors, are popular targets of drug development, particularly 7TMR systems that are activated by peptide ligands. Although many pharmaceutical drugs have been discovered via conventional bulk analysis techniques the increasing availability of structural and evolutionary data are facilitating change to rational, targeted drug design. This article discusses the appeal of neuropeptide-7TMR systems as drug targets and provides an overview of concepts in the evolution of vertebrate genomes and gene families. Subsequently, methods that use evolutionary concepts and comparative analysis techniques to aid in gene discovery, gene function identification, and novel drug design are provided along with case study examples.
Drug Design* ; Gene Duplication ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genome ; Genomics* ; Humans ; Ligands ; Neuropeptides* ; Vertebrates

OBJECTIVETo perform prenatal diagnosis for a fetus with multiple malformations.

METHODSThe fetus was subjected to routine karyotyping and whole genome microarray analysis. The parents were subjected to high-resolution chromosome analysis.

RESULTSFetal ultrasound at 28+4 weeks has indicated intrauterine growth restriction, left kidney agenesis, right kidney dysplasia, ventricular septal defect, and polyhydramnios. Chromosomal analysis showed that the fetus has a karyotype of 46,XY,der(2),der(20), t(2;20)(q37.3;p12.2), t(5;15) (q12.2;q25) pat. SNP array analysis confirmed that the fetus has a 5.283 Mb deletion at 2q37.3 and a 11.641 Mb duplication at 20p13p12.2. High-resolution chromosome analysis suggested that the father has a karyotype of 46,XY,t(2;20)(q37.3;p12.2),t(5;15)(q12.2;q25), while the mother has a normal karyotype.

CONCLUSIONThe abnormal phenotype of the fetus may be attributed to a 2q37.3 microdeletion and a 20p13p12.2 microduplication. The father has carried a complex translocation involving four chromosomes. To increase the chance for successful pregnancy, genetic diagnosis and/or assisted reproductive technology are warranted.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; genetics ; Adult ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosomes ; genetics ; Female ; Fetus ; abnormalities ; Gene Duplication ; genetics ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; methods ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods