Screening of targeted panel genes in Brazilian patients with primary ovarian insufficiency

PLoS One. 2020 Oct 23;15(10):e0240795. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240795. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a heterogeneous disorder associated with several genes. The majority of cases are still unsolved. Our aim was to identify the molecular diagnosis of a Brazilian cohort with POI. Genetic analysis was performed using a customized panel of targeted massively parallel sequencing (TMPS) and the candidate variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Additional copy number variation (CNV) analysis of TMPS samples was performed by CONTRA. Fifty women with POI (29 primary amenorrhea and 21 secondary amenorrhea) of unknown molecular diagnosis were included in this study, which was conducted in a tertiary referral center of clinical endocrinology. A genetic defect was obtained in 70% women with POI using the customized TMPS panel. Twenty-four pathogenic variants and two CNVs were found in 48% of POI women. Of these variants, 16 genes were identified as BMP8B, CPEB1, INSL3, MCM9, GDF9, UBR2, ATM, STAG3, BMP15, BMPR2, DAZL, PRDM1, FSHR, EIF4ENIF1, NOBOX, and GATA4. Moreover, a microdeletion and microduplication in the CPEB1 and SYCE1 genes, respectively, were also identified in two distinct patients. The genetic analysis of eleven patients was classified as variants of uncertain clinical significance whereas this group of patients harbored at least two variants in different genes. Thirteen patients had benign or no rare variants, and therefore the genetic etiology remained unclear. In conclusion, next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a highly effective approach to identify the genetic diagnoses of heterogenous disorders, such as POI. A molecular etiology allowed us to improve the disease knowledge, guide decisions about prevention or treatment, and allow familial counseling avoiding future comorbidities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Brazil
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing*
  • Humans
  • Inheritance Patterns / genetics
  • Patients*
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The authors received the following funding in support of this study: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, 2014/14231-0 to Dr. Monica M França; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, 2013/02162-8 to Berenice B. Mendonca; Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, 303002/2016-6 to Berenice B. Mendonca; and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, 2014/50137-5.