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(Circulation. 2007;116:1569-1576.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.
Molecular Cardiology |
From the Department of Clinical Genetics (Z.A.B., M.A., I.v.L., M.M.A.M.M.), and Heart Failure Research Center (A.V.P., A.A.M.W.), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Departments of Cardiology (M.P.v.d.B., A.C.P.W.), Clinical Genetics (J.P.v.T.), and Pediatric Cardiology (M.T.E.B.-B.), University Medical Center, University of Groningen, The Netherlands, and Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of The Netherlands (M.P.v.d.B., A.A.M.W.).
Correspondence to Dr Zahurul A. Bhuiyan, Department of Clinical Genetics, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. E-mail z.a.bhuiyan{at}amc.uva.nl
Received April 26, 2007; accepted July 20, 2007.
| Abstract |
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Methods and Results— Sixteen members from 2 separate families have been clinically evaluated and followed over the last 15 years. In addition to exercise-related ventricular arrhythmias, they showed abnormalities in sinoatrial node function, as well as atrioventricular nodal function, atrial fibrillation, and atrial standstill. Left ventricular dysfunction and dilatation was present in several affected individuals. Linkage analysis mapped the disease phenotype to a 4-cM region on chromosome 1q42-q43. Conventional polymerase chain reaction–based screening did not reveal a mutation in either the Ryanodine receptor 2 gene (RYR2) or ACTN2, the most plausible candidate genes in the region of interest. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and long-range polymerase chain reaction identified a genomic deletion that involved RYR2 exon-3, segregated in all the affected family members (n=16) in these 2 unlinked families. Further investigation revealed that the genomic deletion occurred in both families as a result of Alu repeat–mediated polymerase slippage.
Conclusions— This is the first report on a large genomic deletion in RYR2, which leads to extended clinical phenotypes (eg, sinoatrial node and atrioventricular node dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, atrial standstill, and dilated cardiomyopathy). These features have not previously been linked to RYR2.
Key Words: arrhythmia cardiomyopathy gene mapping genetics
| Introduction |
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Clinical Perspective p 1576
Clinical penetrance in this disease ranges from 25 to 100%, with an average of 70 to 80%. Syncope appears to be the first symptom in more than half of the patients. When untreated, the mortality from CPVT is high, reaching 30 to 50% by the age of 30 years.11 β-Blockers without sympathomimetic activity are clinically effective in the reduction of syncope,2,5 but implantation of an automatic internal defibrillator is occasionally needed in these patients.3
The gene locus that corresponds to CPVT inherited as an autosomal dominant trait was mapped to chromosome 1q42-q43 in 2 large Finnish families, and thereafter several groups reported various missense mutations in the RYR2 gene located in this locus.3–5,11 Clinical features of the probands and families examined by various groups were compatible with the CPVT phenotype,2–5 whereas those reported by Tiso et al8 were judged to have arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia features. It is a matter of debate whether CPVT and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia features represent 2 separate entities or are partly overlapping forms of the same disease, in particular because the causative mutations cluster in the same regions of the RYR2 gene.
In the present study, detailed clinical and genetic investigations were performed in 2 families with CPVT combined with additional features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), progressive atrioventricular (AV) block, sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction, atrial fibrillation (AF), and atrial standstill. Clinical evaluation of 16 family members was conducted over a period of 15 years. We have shown a genomic RYR2 deletion causal to the extended clinical phenotype. This is the first deletion reported for RYR2, and it occurs as a result of polymerase slippage during replication. Analysis of the nucleotide sequences that surround the deleted region suggested that the Alu-repeat sequences were involved in the deletion event, which was recapitulated in the present in vitro study.
| Methods |
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1 occasions when inappropriate for the physiological circumstances: sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, or sinoatrial exit block. Chronotropic incompetence, defined as a maximum heart rate <85% during exercise testing that predicted for age and gender, was also taken to indicate SAN dysfunction. Atrial standstill was defined as the absence of any discernible atrial activity on the ECG (no p-waves, no f-waves) or during pacemaker implant. With the use of ergometry and Holter-recording, special attention was given to the occurrence of arrhythmias during physical or mental stress. DCM was diagnosed in the case of unexplained left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (as evidenced by ejection fraction <0.45 and/or fractional shortening <0.25) in combination with LV dilatation (as evidenced by end-diastolic dimension >117% of the predicted value corrected for age and body surface area).13 LV function was considered depressed in the case of decreased systolic function and/or dilatation that did not qualify for DCM. After they gave written informed consent, blood was drawn from all eligible family members for genetic analysis.
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The second family (Figure 1B) was identified in 2002 when a brother of the proband died suddenly while giving a speech at 50 years of age. Detailed clinical investigations were also performed in this family.
Linkage Analysis
A genome-wide scan was performed to map the causative gene with microsatellite repeat polymorphic markers from ABI-Prism for chromosomes 1 to 22 (ABI Prism Linkage Mapping Set; Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif). Fine mapping was performed with additional markers (D1S103, D1S179, D1S163, D1S2850, D1S2678, and D1S102). Phenotype and genotype data as well as pedigree information were used for pair-wise linkage analysis with the Fastlink software package (Fastlink Software, Anthem, Ariz). Two-point linkage analysis was performed with the assumption of an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, a disease-allele frequency of 0.001, and a penetrance of 0 for noncarriers and 0.99 for heterozygous affected individuals. Gene frequency was assumed to be equal between males and females.
RYR2 and ACTN2 Mutational Analysis
Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes (Gentra Systems, Minneapolis, Minn). The entire RYR2 coding region (exons 1 to 105), the ACTN2 coding region (exons 1 to 21), and their exon-intron junctions were screened for mutations. Primer sequences and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conditions are available on request. Mutational analysis of the amplimers was performed by bidirectional sequencing on an ABI 377 sequencer (Perkin Elmer, Foster City, Calif). RNA or protein analysis could not be performed because of limited access to materials.
Multiplex Ligation-Dependent Probe Amplification
Probes for multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis of RYR2 exons 3, 97, and 105 (SALSA MLPA Kit P168) were purchased from MRC Holland (Amsterdam, the Netherlands). MLPA was performed according to the manufacturer instructions. For fine mapping of the deletion region in RYR2, we designed several MLPA probes specific for exons 1, 2, 4 to 8, 10, 20, 36 (Table I, online-only Data Supplement) and also several intronic probes in intron 2 and intron 3 (Supplementary Table I, online-only Data Supplement).
Confirmation and Analysis of the Exonic Deletion in RYR2 by PCR
To confirm the deletion in RYR2, estimate the size of the deleted fragment, and locate its boundaries, we performed PCR with the following primer combination: 5'-CACAGAACAGGACCAAGT-TAGAGGC-3' (forward), located in intron 2, and 5'- CATTAC-CTTCCTGACACACTTCATCCTAG-3' (reverse), located in intron 3. Sequence primers used for precise deletion mapping were 5'-AATCCATAAATACAATAGA-3', 5'-GAGGAGATCCAGAAAT-TCTA-3', 5'-ATAAGCTGCATGACACT-3', 5'-GTGGCAGGAG-CCTGTAGTCC-3', and 5'-CACTATGTTGGCCAGGCT-3'.
Histology
Cardiac tissue samples (family 1: III:4) (Figure 1A) obtained on autopsy were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin. Sections (4 µm thick) were stained with hematoxylin & eosin and a Masson trichrome stain.
The authors had full access to and take full responsibility for the integrity of the data. All authors have read and agree to the manuscript as written.
| Results |
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Clinical Features of Family 2
The proband of the second family was evaluated at 45 years of age (patient II:2) (Figure 1B). Only atrial premature beats were found. Later, after the sudden death of one of her brothers (patient II:3, 50 years old) (Figure 1B), she still had a normal baseline ECG but developed ventricular arrhythmias during exercise-testing. Echocardiography revealed normal left and right ventricular function. Her father (patient I:1) (Figure 1B) needed a pacemaker but refused to have one; he died at the age of 78 years. No additional data were available.
The probands oldest brother (patient II:1, 48 years old) (Figure 1B) suffered from a sick sinus syndrome, paroxysmal AF (for which he received a pacemaker), and ultimately permanent AF with virtually indiscernible atrial activity. Over the years LV dimensions increased (LV end-diastolic diameter and end-systolic diameter, 59 mm and 47 mm, respectively) and LVEF decreased. Her younger brother (patient II:3) (Figure 1B) was known to have a non–Q-wave myocardial infarction, AV block, atrial standstill, and depressed LV function; he was given a pacemaker at age 49, but died suddenly at age 50 (Figure 1B).
Histology
Light microscopy of the right ventricular endomyocardial biopsy obtained from patient III:4 (family 1) (Figure 1A) showed no inflammatory changes and no fibrolipomatous changes indicative of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia features (not shown). Myocardial biopsy of the left interventricular septum showed enlarged irregular hyperchromatic nuclei indicative of myocyte hypertrophy as well as a slight increase in fibrillar collagen between myocytes indicative of interstitial fibrosis (Figure 4).
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Genotype Analysis
Linkage analysis in family 1 identified a single disease locus on chromosome 1, flanked distally by marker D1S2785 and proximally by D1S2850, which showed cosegregation with the disease phenotype (2-point log-of-the-odds [LOD] score, 4.5). In 1 subject (patient III:10) a recombination existed at marker D1S2785. Screening of all the coding exons of RYR2 and ACTN2 in this locus revealed no mutation.
MLPA Analysis revealed an aberrant exon copy number in the proband. After quantification, the copy number of RYR2 exon 3 turned out to be 1.0 (Figure 5; Figure I, online-only Data Supplement), which indicated that exon 3 of one of the alleles was deleted. PCR Amplification with the intron 2 and intron 3 primers confirmed this finding and revealed that the region deleted was
1.1 kb (Figure 6A). Sequencing of the deleted fragment showed the deletion comprises exon 3, part of intron 2, and also part of intron 3 (c.161-236_c.272+781del1126). This deletion of the complete exon 3 (c.161 to c.272) is expected to make an RYR2 protein with an in-frame deletion of 35 amino acids p.Asn57_Gly91 (NM_001035).
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Structural Characteristics of the Genomic Deletion
To delineate the extent of the putative deletion mutation, fine mapping MLPA analyses were done with the probes spread over intron 2, exon 3, and intron 3 (Table I, online-only Data Supplement). MLPA probes int2fr6 and int3fr1 (Figure 6C; Table I, online-only Data Supplement) were located upstream and downstream, respectively, to Alu-1. MLPA probe int3fr1 is just upstream of Alu-2. The findings suggest that the deletion, which clearly affects exon 3, does not extend beyond the Alu-1 and Alu-2 sequences (Figures 6, B and C). This genomic deletion involves part of intron 2 (198 bp upstream of exon 3), exon 3, and part of intron 3 (819 bp downstream of exon 3). This deletion was found in all the affected genotyped patients in both families. An intragenic nucleotide variation (SNP) and also an independent genealogy study were performed to see whether this deletion mutation was the result of a founder effect or had occurred in 2 independent events. Both studies showed that the 2 families are not linked (data not shown).
Analysis of the Deletion Mechanism
We observed that long-range PCR for precise delineation of the breakpoint region also resulted in a faint band in the controls (Figure 6A), similar in size to the patients, whereas MLPA showed no aberration. Sequencing of this faint PCR product (marked by the asterisk in Figure 6A) revealed that this faint/shadow band comprised the same breakpoint that was detected in the patients. This deletion is a Taq polymerase–mediated artifact that recapitulates the polymerase slippage in vivo in an ancestor of the patients.
| Discussion |
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The majority of previous investigators have linked RYR2 mutations to an electrical phenotype (ie, catecholamine-induced (supra) ventricular arrhythmias in a structurally normal heart). A single group has proposed that RYR2 is also the gene for arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia features.8 Our results are significantly different from previously published reports.2–5 First, our patients have a large genomic deletion, whereas previous reports were all of missense mutations. Second, the clinical presentations of our patients who carry this deletion expand the CPVT phenotypes, with progressive AV block and SAN dysfunction, AF, atrial standstill, and depressed LV function to DCM. We also observed arrhythmias that were apparently unrelated to stress (Figure 3). Several patients are being successfully treated with β-blocker and pacemaker therapy. Later, after the sudden death at 30 years of age of an affected female patient with severe LV dysfunction (patient III:4), prophylactic implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy was installed in patients III:5 and III:13.
Although most patients with missense RYR2 mutations respond well to β-blocker therapy, some of our patients thus required more aggressive intervention (pacemaker and/or implantable cardiac defibrillator). Actually, bichamber implantable cardiac defibrillator treatment might be the preferred treatment in affected individuals.5
At the moment, a wide debate exists about the regulatory mechanism of RYR2 in calcium ion handling.14–20 It centers around the question whether a mutation in RYR2 alters the affinity for the stabilizing molecule FKBP12.6.18–20 Despite this debate about the role of FKBP12.6 in RYR2 handling, it is commonly agreed from various functional studies that RYR2 mutations lead to a gain of function that sensitizes the RYR2 to a premature release of calcium from the intracellular stores.18–20 All of the previous functional studies were performed with various missense mutations in which drastic changes in the conformation of RYR2 were not expected. This conformation is more likely to be distorted when a large chunk of RYR2 is deleted, as found in the present study. Functional studies with our reported RYR2 deletion might provide clear insight into the role of the FKBP12.6 in RYR2 handling. Interestingly, despite divergence in clinical phenotypes, CPVT is the common phenotype between all of the described phenotypes. An intriguing question is how this deletion of 35 peptides in RYR2 leads to the pathogenesis of extra features like DCM, SAN, AF, and atrial standstill. Is it only a defect in calcium ion handling or does it involve any other interacting partners in the complex to elicit the divergence in clinical phenotypes?
Alu repeat–mediated genomic deletion that causes different diseases has already been described.21–22 However, no such deletion has been reported in any ion channel genes, which could well be possible as Alu exons are interspersed elements in the whole genome. Our in vitro experiment elucidated that the short 35-nucleotide direct repeats at the end of the upstream and downstream Alu elements caused polymerase slippage during chromosomal replication, which deleted the region in between, in this case RYR2 exon 3. The present finding is novel in that it elucidates and recapitulates the Alu-mediated deletion that occurred in real life in an ancestor of the affected individuals.
In conclusion, an N-terminal in-frame deletion of RYR2 elicits a divergence in phenotype that includes DCM, SAN, AF, and atrial standstill combined with CPVT. Furthermore, MLPA testing in RYR2 is currently not routine practice in a diagnostic setting, but the importance of identification of the causative mutation in individual patients and their relatives pleads for inclusion of MLPA analysis in the routine genetic testing of those individuals in whom a mutation has been excluded by the current exon-scanning methods.
| Acknowledgments |
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Sources of Funding
Drs Wilde and van den Berg are supported by The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute of the Netherlands Project 27.
Disclosures
None.
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