OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of a Chinese pedigree with recurrent Joubert syndrome with negative results by whole-exome sequencing in the prior proband. METHODS: Chinese pedigree which opted elective abortion at the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University in December 2024 was selected as the study subject. Whole-genome sequencing was carried out on fetal tissue after termination of pregnancy. Candidate variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and interpreted, while non-coding variant was analyzed using in silico prediction tools. RNA sequencing and cDNA sequencing were conducted on fetal brain tissue. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Hospital (Ethics No.2024YL045-02). RESULTS: Both the fetus and the affected child were found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the CEP290 gene, namely c.7341dup (p.Leu2448fs*8) (pathogenic, maternally inherited) and c.1523-408G>A (likely pathogenic, paternally inherited). Both in silico analysis and fetal brain RNA sequencing confirmed aberrant RNA splicing caused by the intronic variant. CONCLUSION This case has highlighted the value of combining whole-genome sequencing with RNA functional validation. Above results not only enriched the spectrum of CEP290 gene mutations but also underscored its diagnostic value in resolving complex prenatal cases, providing critical clues for the prenatal diagnosis and recurrence risk assessment in genetic counseling.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics* ; Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics* ; Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics* ; Cerebellum/abnormalities* ; Cytoskeletal Proteins/genetics* ; Eye Abnormalities/genetics* ; Introns/genetics* ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic/diagnosis* ; Pedigree ; Retina/abnormalities* ; Sequence Analysis, RNA/methods* ; Whole Genome Sequencing/methods* ; Child

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical characteristics and genetic basis of two Chinese pedigrees affected with Joubert syndrome. METHODS: Clinical data of the two pedigrees was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples and subjected to high-throughput sequencing. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out for a high-risk fetus from pedigree 2. RESULTS: The proband of pedigree 1 was a fetus at 23⁺⁵ weeks gestation, for which both ultrasound and MRI showed "cerebellar vermis malformation" and "molar tooth sign". No apparent abnormality was noted in the fetus after elected abortion. The fetus was found to harbor c.812+3G>T and c.1828G>C compound heterozygous variants of the INPP5E gene, which have been associated with Joubert syndrome type 1. The proband from pedigree 2 had growth retardation, mental deficiency, peculiar facial features, low muscle tone and postaxial polydactyly of right foot. MRI also revealed "cerebellar dysplasia" and "molar tooth sign". The proband was found to harbor c.485C>G and c.1878+1G>A compound heterozygous variants of the ARMC9 gene, which have been associated with Joubert syndrome type 30. Prenatal diagnosis found that the fetus only carried the c.485C>G variant. A healthy infant was born, and no anomalies was found during the follow-up. CONCLUSION The compound heterozygous variants of the INPP5E and ARMC9 genes probably underlay the disease in the two pedigrees. Above finding has expanded the spectrum of pathogenic variants underlying Joubert syndrome and provided a basis for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis.
Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pedigree ; Cerebellum/abnormalities* ; Abnormalities, Multiple/diagnosis* ; Eye Abnormalities/diagnosis* ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic/diagnosis* ; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases/genetics* ; Retina/abnormalities* ; East Asian People ; Mutation

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic etiology of two fetuses with 17q12 microdeletion syndrome. METHODS: Chromosomal karyotype analysis, whole exome sequencing (WES) and chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) were carried out for the fetuses. Relevant literature was searched in databases such as CNKI, Wanfang and PubMed to summarize the prenatal ultrasound finding, pregnancy outcome and clinical phenotype of the syndrome. RESULTS: Both fetuses were found have renal parenchymal echo enhancement, accompanied by presence of renal cysts or hydramnios. Both were found to have a normal chromosomal karyotype, but had a 17q12 microdeletion by WES and CMA analysis. A total of 433 cases of 17q12 microdeletion syndromes have been reported in the literature, with renal cysts and diabetes as the most common phenotypes. Among 240 fetuses diagnosed with this syndrome, 72.9% showed unilateral or bilateral renal parenchymal echo enhancement, and 23.3% showed unilateral or bilateral renal cysts. Among these, 68 had reported the pregnancy outcome, for which 70.5% of pregnant women had opted termination of the pregnancy. CONCLUSION WES and CMA can effectively detect 17q12 microdeletion. The clinical manifestations of this syndrome mainly include enhanced renal parenchymal echo, renal cyst, kidney disease and early-onset diabetes. Upon prenatal consultation, the prognosis of the fetus should be fully informed, and advice should be provided in combination with the preference of the couple, pregnancy history, family condition and other aspects.
Chromosome Disorders/diagnosis* ; Female ; Fetus ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; Microarray Analysis ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To identify pathogenic variants in two families with patients suspected for Joubert syndrome(UBST) by cerebellar vermis hypoplasia. METHODS: Clinical data and peripheral venous blood and skin tissue samples were collected for the extraction of genomic DNA. Potential variants were screened by using targeted capture and next generation sequencing. Suspected variants were validated by PCR and Sanger sequencing. The frequency of the variants in the population was calculated. Pathogenicity of the variants was predicted by following the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Prenatal diagnosis was provided to these families upon subsequent pregnancy. RESULTS: The proband of family 1 was found to harbor homozygous c.2072delT (p.F691S*fs19) frameshift variant of the AHI1 gene, which may cause premature termination of translation of the Abelson helper integration site 1 after the 691st amino acid. The proband of family 2 was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants of the CPLANE1 gene, namely c.7243dupA (p.T2415Nfs*7) and c.8001delG (p.K2667Nfs*31), which can respectively lead to premature termination of translation of ciliogenesis and planar polarity effector 1 after the 2145th and 2667th amino acids. All of the three variants were previously unreported, and were predicted to be pathogenic by bioinformatic analysis. CONCLUSION The AHI1 c.2072delT and CPLANE1 c.7243dupA and c.8001delG variants probably underlay JBTS3 in family 1 and JBTS17 in family 2, respectively. Based on above results, prenatal diagnosis may be offered to the affected families upon their subsequent pregnancies.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport ; genetics ; Cerebellum ; abnormalities ; Eye Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Genetic Variation ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retina ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVE: To explore the pathogenesis of two fetuses from one family affected with Joubert syndrome (JS). METHODS: Whole exome sequencing was employed to screen potential mutations in both fetuses. Suspected mutations were verified by Sanger sequencing. Impact of intronic mutations on DNA transcription was validated by cDNA analysis. RESULTS: Two novel TCTN1 mutations, c.342-8A>G and c.1494+1G>A, were identified in exons 2 and 12, respectively.cDNA analysis confirmed the pathogenic nature of both mutations with interference of normal splicing resulting in production of truncated proteins. CONCLUSION The genetic etiology of the family affected with JS has been identified.Above findings have enriched the mutation spectrum of TCTN1gene and facilitated understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of JS.
Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Cerebellum ; abnormalities ; Eye Abnormalities ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Retina ; abnormalities ; Whole Exome Sequencing

OBJECTIVETo study the CT findings of cystic nephroma (CN) and multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC) and to improve the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis of these two diseases.

METHODSThe CT findings of nine CN cases and 19 MCRCC cases confirmed by pathology were blindly reviewed and compared with their pathological results. Fisher's exact test and independent-samples T test were applied to statistically analyze some of the CT features of the CN and MCRCC lesions.

RESULTSThe thickness of cystic walls and partitions in the nine CN cases ranged from 0.5 to 5 mm. Cystic walls and partitions were slightly thicker in some parts without visible mural nodules. Varying amounts of solid tissue could be found in all the 19 MCRCC tumors, and the cystic walls and partitions were found partially thickened ranging from 3 mm to 13 mm. Eight cases were with mural nodules (nodule diameter: 4.5-16 mm). Nine cases of CN tumors were lobulated and 7 protruded into the renal sinus. Three out of the 19 MCRCC presented shallow lobulation, and 7 tumors protruded into the renal sinus. The CT contrast-enhancement scanning displayed moderate delayed enhancement in the cystic walls and partitions in 8 cases. The enhanced scanning revealed that all the nine cases showed enhancement of the cystic walls and partitions, while 8 cases of them had mild to moderate delayed enhancement. The cystic walls, partitions and nodules were enhanced in 19 MRCC cases, among them 17 cases displayed obvious enhancement in the cortical phase. Among the differences of CT findings between MC and MRCC, the shallow lobulation, protruding into the renal sinus, mural nodules, cystic wall and partition thickness, and net growth in the cortical and nephrographic phase were statistically significantly different (P<0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONSCT scan can provide significant evidence for CN and MCRCC diagnosis. CN cases usually present relatively thin and even cystic walls and partitions without mural nodules and with shallow lobulation and protruding into the renal sinus. The enhancement is mild to moderate, dynamic and delayed, while the opposite CT findings may indicate a higher possibility of MCRCC.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Kidney ; diagnostic imaging ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnostic imaging ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo confirm the genetic diagnosis for providing services for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis, we analyzed the clinical and genetic data of a pedigree which is clinically diagnosed as Joubert syndrome.

METHODA Joubert syndrome pedigree was enrolled as subject of this study from our hospital's outpatients in 2013. Following the medical history collection of the proband and the suffering fetus, target sequence capture and the next-generation sequencing technology were used for the proband and the suffering fetus to find the causative genes and sanger sequencing for the members of the pedigree to check and verify if the inherited mutations are in accordance with the Mendelian inheritance. Combining the clinical symptoms and signs with the total testing results, we analyzed the Joubert syndrome pedigree clinically and genetically.

RESULTThe proband showed abnormal respiratory patterns (neonatal tachypnea) and hypertonia without abnormal eye movements, and reflected the molar tooth sign on the magnetic resonance imaging. And afterwards the patient developed hypotonia, ataxia, growth and intellectual disability accompanied by congenital blepharoptosis. There were no any symptoms and signs of liver, kidney and eyesight abnormalities so far. The affected fetus showed hydrocephalus by the auxiliary examination during the second trimesters of pregnancy without any appearance deformities. Both the proband and the affected fetus carried a missense mutation of CC2D2A gene c.2999A > T (p.Glu1000Val) from their father and carried the deletion of exon 20-21 on the same gene. Both variations were confirmed to be the Mendelian genetic compound heterozygous pattern. Whereas, the missense mutations c.2999A > T (p.Glu1000Val) on the CC2D2A gene have been proved to be inherited from the proband's father and the proband as well as the affected fetus. However, the proband's mother was normal at this locus of CC2D2A gene. The missense mutations c.2999A >T (p.Glu1000Val) have been confirmed to accord with Mendelian inheritance.

CONCLUSIONThe Joubert syndrome patient may show hypertonia in the early postnatal days as a result of hydrocephalus during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy besides manifesting hypotonia, ataxia, growth and intellectual disability markedly with age accompanied by the congenital blepharoptosis and revealing the molar tooth sign on the magnetic resonance imaging, considering the medical history and the whole testing results, the compound heterozygous mutations of c.2999A > T (p.Glu1000Val) and deletion of exon 20-21 of CC2D2A gene in the pedigree may be the causal gene mutations.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; genetics ; Cerebellar Diseases ; Cerebellum ; abnormalities ; Exons ; Eye Abnormalities ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Proteins ; genetics ; Retina ; abnormalities

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and the diagnosis of multilocular cystic renal cell carcinoma (MCRCC).

METHODSThe clinicopathological data of 19 MCRCC cases were collected and immunohistochemical staining assays were carried out. Forty-six cases of other cystic kidney lesions within the same period were collected as controls, including extensively cystic clear cell RCC (12 cases), clear cell tubulopapillary renal cell carcinoma (6 cases), tubulocystic carcinoma (2 cases), simple cortical cysts (22 cases), multilocular cystic nephroma (1 cases) and multicystic kidney (3 cases).

RESULTSThe patients included 14 males and 5 females. The ages ranged from 31 to 66 years (median age = 50 years). Most of the MCRCC cases were detected incidentally in physical examination, occasionally accompanied with hematuria, back pain or other symptoms. The follow-up period of 17 patients ranged from 6 to 170 months. All patients were alive without evidence of tumor recurrence or metastasis. Pathological findings showed that macroscopically, tumor size ranges from 1.5 to 7.0 cm in the maximum diameter, generally a entirely of various sized. The cysts contain serous, hemorrhagic or turbid fluid. Solid areas or substantially discernible mural nodules were absent; histologicallly, single layer of cuboidal and flattened epithelial tumor cells were lined in the cysts, described as clear cytoplasm, small nuclear, no nucleoli and low Fuhrman nuclear grade (I or II). Multilayer tumor cells could be observed in a few cysts, with granular cytoplasm and small intracystic papillae formed. The clear tumor cell clusters, similar as cystic lined tumor cells, were seen within pathological fibrous in almost all cases, and significant myofibroblastic proliferation was found in 14 cases. Immunohistochemically, the cysts lined epithelial cells and the clear tumor cell clusters were positive for epithelium markers, including CKpan(19/19), EMA(16/19) and CK7 (15/19); higher percentage of CAIX (17/19) and PAX8(15/19) than control groups, but lower percentage of CD10 (7/19), RCC (6/19) and AMACR(2/19); and all were negative for 34βE12, CD117 and CD68.

CONCLUSIONSMultilocular cysts, clear cells clusters of low Fuhrman grade within fibrous septa and capillary vessel proliferation under epithelium are important features of MCRCC. The united using of CAIX, CK7, CD10 and RCC is helpful for differentiating variable cystic renal tumor. MCRCC usually has an excellent prognosis, nephron sparing surgery is first recommended as a therapeutic strategy.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Biomarkers ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cysts ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Prognosis ; Racemases and Epimerases ; metabolism

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic

PURPOSE: To identify size criteria for complex cystic renal masses that can distinguish renal cell carcinoma from benign cysts supplementing the Bosniak classification. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 97 patients who underwent surgery for complex cystic renal masses from January 2001 to April 2010. The pathological results were compared with the lesion sizes measured by preoperative computed tomography and other radiological features (contrast enhancement, irregularities of cyst walls and septa, and calcification) were also obtained for categorization according to the Bosniak renal cyst classification. RESULTS: Malignancy was significantly associated with cyst size (>2 cm), male gender, and younger patient age (<50 years). According to the Bosniak classification, there was no category I cyst, and all 8 category II cysts were benign. However, 3 of 18 (17%) category IIF cysts, 21 of 39 (54%) category III cysts, and 29 of 32 (90%) category IV cysts were malignant. All category IIF cysts were benign in patients older than 50 years of age. CONCLUSION: Many complex cystic renal masses smaller than 2 cm were benign. We suggest that lesion size should be taken into account when formulating treatment plans for complex cystic renal masses.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis/radiography ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; *Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic/*diagnosis/radiography ; Kidney Neoplasms/*diagnosis/radiography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sex Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult