Pathogenetic basis of Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome: Electron microscopy study using platelets in patients and functional studies in a Caenorhabditis elegans model

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 14;9(1):4418. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40988-7.

Abstract

The combined phenotype of thrombocytopenia accompanied by intellectual disability in patients with a de novo heterozygous mutation, i.e., p.Tyr64Cys in CDC42, signifies a clinically recognizable novel syndrome that has been eponymized as "Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome" (OMIM #616737). In the present study, a detailed phenotypic analysis performed for a total of five patients with Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome revealed that intellectual disability, macrothrombocytopenia, camptodactyly, structural brain abnormalities with sensorineural deafness, hypothyroidism, and frequent infections comprise the cardinal features of this condition. A morphologic analysis of platelets derived from three affected individuals was performed using electron microscopy. The platelets of the three patients were large and spherical in shape. Furthermore, platelet α-granules were decreased, while vacuoles were increased. We further performed a functional analysis of p.Tyr64Cys in CDC42 through CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in a Caenorhabditis elegans model. This functional analysis suggested that the mutant allele has hypomorphic effects. Takenouchi-Kosaki syndrome is clinically recognizable by the combined phenotype of intellectual disability, macrothrombocytopenia, camptodactyly, structural brain abnormalities with sensorineural deafness, hypothyroidism, and frequent infections as well as the identification of a heterozygous de novo mutation in CDC42, i.e., p.Tyr64Cys.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Blood Platelets / pathology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / ultrastructure
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Electron / methods*
  • Mutation*
  • Phenotype
  • Takayasu Arteritis / pathology*
  • Young Adult
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / genetics
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism*

Substances

  • CDC42 protein, human
  • cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein