@article {549, title = {Global genetic insight contributed by consanguineous Pakistani families segregating hearing loss.}, journal = {Hum Mutat}, volume = {40}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 Jan}, pages = {53-72}, abstract = {

Consanguineous Pakistani pedigrees segregating deafness have contributed decisively to the discovery of 31 of the 68 genes associated with nonsyndromic autosomal recessive hearing loss (HL) worldwide. In this study, we utilized genome-wide genotyping, Sanger and exome sequencing to identify 163 DNA variants in 41 previously reported HL genes segregating in 321 Pakistani families. Of these, 70 (42.9\%) variants identified in 29 genes are novel. As expected from genetic studies of disorders segregating in consanguineous families, the majority of affected individuals (94.4\%) are homozygous for HL-associated variants, with the other variants being compound heterozygotes. The five most common HL genes in the Pakistani population are SLC26A4, MYO7A, GJB2, CIB2 and HGF, respectively. Our study provides a profile of the genetic etiology of HL in Pakistani families, which will allow for the development of more efficient genetic diagnostic tools, aid in accurate genetic counseling, and guide application of future gene-based therapies. These findings are also valuable in interpreting pathogenicity of variants that are potentially associated with HL in individuals of all ancestries. The Pakistani population, and its infrastructure for studying human genetics, will continue to be valuable to gene discovery for HL and other inherited disorders.

}, issn = {1098-1004}, doi = {10.1002/humu.23666}, author = {Richard, Elodie M and Santos-Cortez, Regie Lyn P and Faridi, Rabia and Rehman, Atteeq U and Lee, Kwanghyuk and Shahzad, Mohsin and Acharya, Anushree and Khan, Asma A and Imtiaz, Ayesha and Chakchouk, Imen and Takla, Christina and Abbe, Izoduwa and Rafeeq, Maria and Liaqat, Khurram and Chaudhry, Taimur and Bamshad, Michael J and Nickerson, Deborah A and Schrauwen, Isabelle and Khan, Shaheen N and Morell, Robert J and Zafar, Saba and Ansar, Muhammad and Ahmed, Zubair M and Ahmad, Wasim and Riazuddin, Sheikh and Friedman, Thomas B and Leal, Suzanne M and Riazuddin, Saima} } @article {89, title = {Autosomal-Recessive Hearing Impairment Due to Rare Missense Variants within S1PR2.}, journal = {Am J Hum Genet}, volume = {98}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Feb 04}, pages = {331-8}, abstract = {

The sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) are a well-studied class of transmembrane G protein-coupled sphingolipid receptors that mediate multiple cellular processes. However, S1PRs have not been previously reported to be involved in the genetic etiology of human traits. S1PR2 lies within the autosomal-recessive nonsyndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI) locus DFNB68 on 19p13.2. From exome sequence data we identified two pathogenic S1PR2 variants, c.323G>C (p.Arg108Pro) and c.419A>G (p.Tyr140Cys). Each of these variants co-segregates with congenital profound hearing impairment in consanguineous Pakistani families with maximum LOD scores of 6.4 for family DEM4154 and 3.3 for family PKDF1400. Neither S1PR2 missense variant was reported among \~{}120,000 chromosomes in the Exome Aggregation Consortium database, in 76 unrelated Pakistani exomes, or in 720 Pakistani control chromosomes. Both DNA variants affect highly conserved residues of S1PR2 and are predicted to be damaging by multiple bioinformatics tools. Molecular modeling predicts that these variants affect binding of sphingosine-1-phosphate (p.Arg108Pro) and G protein docking (p.Tyr140Cys). In the previously reported S1pr2(-/-) mice, stria vascularis abnormalities, organ of Corti degeneration, and profound hearing loss were~observed. Additionally, hair cell defects were seen in both knockout mice and morphant zebrafish. Family PKDF1400 presents with ARNSHI, which is consistent with the lack of gross malformations in S1pr2(-/-) mice, whereas family DEM4154 has lower limb malformations in addition to hearing loss. Our findings suggest the possibility of developing therapies against hair cell damage (e.g., from ototoxic drugs) through targeted stimulation of S1PR2.

}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Asian Continental Ancestry Group, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19, Exome, Genes, Recessive, Hearing Loss, Humans, Lod Score, Logistic Models, Lysophospholipids, Models, Molecular, Molecular Sequence Data, Mutation, Missense, Pedigree, Phenotype, Receptors, Lysosphingolipid, Sphingosine}, issn = {1537-6605}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.12.004}, author = {Santos-Cortez, Regie Lyn P and Faridi, Rabia and Rehman, Atteeq U and Lee, Kwanghyuk and Ansar, Muhammad and Wang, Xin and Morell, Robert J and Isaacson, Rivka and Belyantseva, Inna A and Dai, Hang and Acharya, Anushree and Qaiser, Tanveer A and Muhammad, Dost and Ali, Rana Amjad and Shams, Sulaiman and Hassan, Muhammad Jawad and Shahzad, Shaheen and Raza, Syed Irfan and Bashir, Zil-E-Huma and Smith, Joshua D and Nickerson, Deborah A and Bamshad, Michael J and Riazuddin, Sheikh and Ahmad, Wasim and Friedman, Thomas B and Leal, Suzanne M} } @article {42, title = {Mutational Spectrum of MYO15A and the Molecular Mechanisms of DFNB3 Human Deafness.}, journal = {Hum Mutat}, volume = {37}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 10}, pages = {991-1003}, abstract = {

Deafness in humans is a common neurosensory disorder and is genetically heterogeneous. Across diverse ethnic groups, mutations of MYO15A at the DFNB3 locus appear to be the third or fourth most common cause of autosomal-recessive, nonsyndromic deafness. In 49 of the 67 exons of MYO15A, there are currently 192 recessive mutations identified, including 14 novel mutations reported here. These mutations are distributed uniformly across MYO15A with one enigmatic exception; the alternatively spliced giant exon 2, encoding 1,233 residues, has 17 truncating mutations but no convincing deafness-causing missense mutations. MYO15A encodes three distinct isoform classes, one of which is 395 kDa (3,530 residues), the largest member of the myosin superfamily of molecular motors. Studies of Myo15 mouse models that recapitulate DFNB3 revealed two different pathogenic mechanisms of hearing loss. In the inner ear, myosin 15 is necessary both for the development and the long-term maintenance of stereocilia, mechanosensory sound-transducing organelles that extend from the apical surface of hair cells. The goal of this Mutation Update is to provide a comprehensive review of mutations and functions of MYO15A.

}, keywords = {Alternative Splicing, Animals, Deafness, Disease Models, Animal, Ear, Inner, Exons, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Humans, Mice, Mutation, Myosins, Stereocilia}, issn = {1098-1004}, doi = {10.1002/humu.23042}, author = {Rehman, Atteeq U and Bird, Jonathan E and Faridi, Rabia and Shahzad, Mohsin and Shah, Sujay and Lee, Kwanghyuk and Khan, Shaheen N and Imtiaz, Ayesha and Ahmed, Zubair M and Riazuddin, Saima and Santos-Cortez, Regie Lyn P and Ahmad, Wasim and Leal, Suzanne M and Riazuddin, Sheikh and Friedman, Thomas B} }