GJB2 and GJB6 genes mutations in children with non-syndromic hearing loss (original) (raw)

Non-Syndromic Hearing Loss in a Romanian Population: Carrier Status and Frequent Variants in the GJB2 Gene

Genes

The genetic causes of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) are heterogeneous and highly ethnic-specific. We describe GJB2 (connexin 26) variants and carrier frequencies as part of our study and summarize previously reported ones for the Romanian population. In total, 284 unrelated children with bilateral congenital NSHL were enrolled between 2009 and 2018 in northwestern Romania. A tiered diagnostic approach was used: all subjects were tested for c.35delG, c.71G>A and deletions in GJB6 (connexin 30) using PCR-based methods. Furthermore, 124 cases undiagnosed at this stage were analyzed by multiplex-ligation-dependent probe amplifications (MLPA), probe mix P163, and sequencing of GJB2 exon 2. Targeted allele-specific PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) established definite ethio-pathogenical diagnosis for 72/284 (25.35%) of the cohort. Out of the 124 further analyzed, in 12 cases (9.67%), we found compound heterozygous point mutations in GJB2. We ...

Prevalence of GJB2 gene mutations correlated to presence of clinical and environmental risk factors in the etiology of congenital sensorineural hearing loss of the Romanian population

2021

Although etiologically heterogeneous at least 50% of all early on-set hearing losses have a genetic cause and of these, the large majority, 75-80% are most probably autosomal recessive and 70% are non-syndromic. The rest of the congenital hearing losses are determined by clinical and environmental factors such as ototoxic medication, prematurity, and complications at birth. During the last decade it became clear that 50-80% of all such afflictions result from mutations in a single gene, GJB2, which encodes the protein Connexin 26. In order to, at least partially clarify this problem, especially in an emerging country such as Romania, where the problem is not studied adequately, we developed a comprehensive study of genetic, clinical and environmental risk factors for congenital hearing loss. The two most common variations of this gene, 35delG and W24X in children with positive diagnosis of bilateral severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss were investigated. A cohort of 34 chil...

GJB2 Gene Testing, Etiologic Diagnosis and Genetic Counseling in Romanian Persons With Prelingual Hearing Loss

International Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 2015

Background: Nowadays, molecular genetic tests provide insights into the etiologic diagnosis of hearing loss (HL). Specific gene mutations are known to cause sensorineural HL of early onset. Previously published studies showed the allelic heterogeneity of GJB2 gene as main genetic cause of isolated congenital HL. The aims of the present study were to provide an extended and updated spectrum of mutations in GJB2 gene and to identify the most prevalent mutations in the Romanian population for testing prevention strategy in people with sensorineural HL of early onset. Methods: To overcome our aims, we used clinical data from 125 unrelated persons with congenital HL and performed ARMS-PCR and DNA sequencing techniques for detection of known mutations or identification of mutations within GJB2 gene. Results: The most prevalent mutation was c.35delG found in both homozygotic and heterozygotic forms. The second mutant allele was c.71G>A (p.W24X) found in homo-or heterozygotic forms as well, followed by c.-23+1G>A and c.380G>A (p.R127H) mutations with lower frequencies. Conclusion: The study reveals the c.35delG mutation as having the highest prevalence, further highlights the genetic background of congenital HL in a local population, and supports improvement of genetic testing such as newborn and carrier screening on which to base genetic counseling services.

Prevalence of the 35delG Mutation in the GJB2 Gene of Patients with Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss from Croatia

Genetic Testing, 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the allelic frequency of 35delG mutation in patients with recessive, nonsyndromic hearing loss (NSHL) compared to normal hearing individuals in the Croatian population. For this purpose, we analyzed 27 unrelated individuals with nonsyndromic hearing loss and 342 healthy individuals. The method we used is based on the principle of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated, site-directed mutagenesis, followed by a BsiYI digestion. Among patients with NSHL, the 35delG mutation was found on 51.85% alleles. Carrier frequency among healthy control individuals was 1 in 68.4 (1.5%). The patients, found to be wild-type, either in heterozygous or homozygous form, were further tested by direct sequencing. Among them, two different mutations were observed, W24X and 313del14. Relatively high prevalence of 35delG mutation among patients with NSHL indicate that it is an important cause of NSHL in Croatia. Early diagnosis by identification of the 35delG mutation would greatly improve genetic counseling, as well as treatment and management of deafness in Croatia.

Prevalence of GBJ2 mutations in patients with severe to profound congenital nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Bulgarian population

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 2012

Objective of the study is to assess the prevalence of Connexin 26 (GJB2) mutation in patients with congenital nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in Bulgarian population. Study design is done prospectively. Patient inclusion criteria for this study were diagnosis of congenital nonsyndromic hearing loss, and absence of potential sibling relationships between patients included in the study (anamnestic pedigree for at least three generations). Patients were excluded from the study group if one of the following conditions were present: secondary hearing loss (cytomegalovirus, rubella, meningo-encephalitis, mastoiditis, other infections, posterior fossa tumors, etc.), exposure to drugs or other prenatal or perinatal etiology of deafness, and congenital syndromic hearing loss. Genomic DNA samples from whole blood were tested with sequence analysis for mutations in the coding region of the GJB2. Results state that 51 patients were analyzed for GJB2 mutations. Twenty of the patients (39%) with mutant alleles were homozygous for the c.35delG mutation (c.35delG/c.35delG) and four patients (8%) presented as heterozygotes (c.35delG/WT). In one patient, who carried a heterozygous mutation c.35delG, a second mutation was found-312del114. Additionally, in two other patients were discovered the mutations Trp24X (W24X) and, respectively, Arg127His(R127H), both in heterozygous states. From the whole study group there was only one patient with compound heterozygous genotypep.Leu90Pro(L90P)/p.Ile121Asn. The latter one has never been reported in the literature so far. In conclusion, this study determines the importance of connexin 26 mutations in Bulgarian children with severe to profound congenital nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss, the prevalence of the different mutation variants and their relationship with the ethnical background of the patients. In addition, we report for the first time a novel mutation in the GJB2 gene.

Evaluation of GJB 2 and GJB 6 Mutations in Patients Afflicted with Non-syndromic Hearing Loss

2018

Background Non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is assumed as one of the highly prevalent congenital defects in the world. In this regard, gap junction protein beta 2(GJB2), and gap junction protein beta 6(GJB6) mutations are considered as the leading congenital causes of deafness. The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of GJB2 and GJB6 mutations in NSHL cases. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was implemented from Jan. 2015 to Sep. 2017 at Alzahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). 46 patients afflicted with NSHL were recognized and recruited by physicians. Heparinized blood was collected and DNA of each participant was extracted. Genetic analysis of GJB2 and GJB6 genes was performed using PCR and GAP-PCR methods respectively. Results: 35delG mutation had the highest prevalence with allelic frequency of 6.12%. The allelic frequencies of 35delG, and delE120 were 6(6.12%), and 3(3.06%), respectively. Allelic frequency of W77R, Y65H, G160, and R127H was 2(2.04%) for each ...

GJB2 Mutations in Non Syndromic Hearing Loss in the Republic of Macedonia

Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics, 2000

Hearing impairment is a common sensori-neural disorder with the incidence of profound deafness in one per 1,000 births. Non syndromic recessive deafness (NSHL), accounts for approximately 80% of cases of hereditary deafness. It is extremely heterogeneous genetically with over 130 gene loci. Mutations in the GJB2 and GJB6 genes for DFNB1 locus (13q12) are responsible for about half of all cases of autosomal recessive prelingual hearing loss.

GJB2 Mutations in Patients with Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss from Croatia

Genetic Testing and Molecular Biomarkers, 2009

The aim of the study was to determine (1) the frequency and type of mutations in the coding region of the GJB2 gene (sequencing), (2) the frequency of splice site mutation IVS1 + 1G > A in the GJB2 gene (multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis), (3) possible copy number changes in the GJB2, GJB3, GJB6, and WFS1 genes (multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis), and (4) the frequency of del(GJB6-D13S1830) in the GJB6 gene in 58 unrelated patients with nonsyndromic hearing loss from Croatia. About 44.8% of our patients presented with mutation in the GJB2 gene. We identified seven sequence variations. Six of them had previously been reported as disease related (35delG, W24X, V37I, L90P, 313del14, and IVS1 + 1G > A), and we report here for the first time one novel variant, -24A > C. We detected the greatest frequency of 35delG allele compared to the other alleles (35.3%). Allelic frequencies of other common mutations accounted for 2.6-0.9% of analyzed chromosomes. Neither GJB6 deletion nor copy number changes in the GJB2, GJB3, GJB6, and WFS1 genes were found. The 35delG/35delG genotype was associated with severe to profound hearing loss in 94% of 35delG homozygotes. High mutation rate (44%) indicates that testing of the GJB2 gene will clarify the genetic cause in almost half of the cases of recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss in Croatia.

Mutation analysis of GJB2 and GJB6 genes in Southeastern Brazilians with hereditary nonsyndromic deafness

Molecular Biology Reports, 2011

In developed countries deafness has a genetic cause in over 60% of the cases. Contrastingly, in Brazil, it is estimated that only 16% of all deafnesses are caused by genetic factors. Among hereditary hearing deficiencies, approximately half is caused by mutations in the Gap Junction Protein Beta-2 (GJB2) gene, which encodes the protein Connexin 26 (Cx26). There are four mutations in this gene that present high prevalence in specific ethnical groups, namely, 35delG, 167delT, 235delC, and W24X. The 35delG mutation is the most frequent one, occurring in homozygosity or in compound heterozygosity with mutations in the GJB2 and GJB6 genes. This study aims to determine the prevalence of GJB2-35delG, GJB2-167delT, GJB2-235delC, GJB2-W24X, del (GJB6-D13S1830), and del (GJB6-D13S1854) mutations in patients with nonsyndromic deafness in the Espirito Santo State, Brazil. A total of 77 individuals were evaluated, from which 88.3% presented normal genotypes for all analyzed mutations, 1.3% were compound heterozygotes for 35delG-GJB2/ D13S1830-GJB6, 1.3% were compound heterozygotes for 35delG/D13S1854-GJB6, 3.9% were homozygotes for the 35delG mutation and 5.2% were heterozygotes for 35delG/ GJB2. The frequency of mutant alleles 35delG/GJB2, del (D13S1830/GJB6), and del (D13S1854/GJB6) was 7.8, 0.65, and 0.65%, respectively. Mutations 167delT, 235delC, and W24X were not detected. Determining the prevalence of specific mutations related to inherited deafness in a population can contribute to the development of more efficient and affordable molecular diagnostic protocols, and help in the genetic counseling of patients and their families.