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Rare variants found in multiplex families with orofacial clefts: Does expanding the phenotype make a difference?

Rare variants found in multiplex families with orofacial clefts: Does expanding the phenotype make a difference?

Authors :
Perez KKD
Chung S
Head ST
Epstein MP
Hecht JT
Wehby GL
Weinberg SM
Murray JC
Marazita ML
Leslie EJ
Source :
MedRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences [medRxiv] 2023 Feb 07. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Feb 07.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is now a relatively straightforward process to identify causal variants in Mendelian disorders. However, the same is not true for WES in families where the inheritance patterns are less clear, and a complex etiology is suspected. Orofacial clefts (OFCs) are highly heritable birth defects with both Mendelian and complex etiologies. The phenotypic spectrum of OFCs may include overt clefts and several subclinical phenotypes, such as discontinuities in the orbicularis oris muscle (OOM) in the upper lip, velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI), microform clefts or bifid uvulas. We hypothesize that expanding the OFC phenotype to include these phenotypes can clarify inheritance patterns in multiplex families, making them appear more Mendelian. We performed whole-exome sequencing to find rare, likely causal genetic variants in 31 multiplex OFC families, which included families with multiple individuals with OFCs and individuals with subclinical phenotypes. We identified likely causal variants in COL11A2, IRF6, KLF4, SHROOM3, SMC3, TP63 , and TBX3 in seven families. Although we did not find clear evidence supporting the subclinical phenotype hypothesis, our findings support a role for rare variants in the etiology of OFCs.

Details

Language :
English
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
MedRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences
Accession number :
36798250
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.02.01.23285340