A Novel HRAS Mutation Independently Contributes to Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in a Family with a Known MYH7 Mutation

PLoS One. 2016 Dec 21;11(12):e0168501. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168501. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Several genetic conditions can lead to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Among them, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), caused by mutations in sarcomere genes, is the most common inherited cardiac disease. Instead, RASopathies, a rare class of disorders characterized by neuro-cardio-facial-cutaneous abnormalities and sometimes presenting with LVH, are caused by mutations in the RAS-MAPK pathway. We report on a 62-years-old male who presented isolated severe obstructive LVH but did not carry the sarcomere mutation previously identified in his affected relatives. By exome sequencing, we detected a novel mutation in HRAS gene (NM_005343.2:p.Arg68Trp), present also in the proband's daughter, who showed mild LVH and severe intellectual disability. The cardiac phenotype was indistinguishable between family members carrying either mutation. In silico studies suggested that the mutated HRAS protein is constitutionally activated. Consistently, functional characterization in vitro confirmed elevated HRAS-GTP accumulation and downstream RAS-MAPK pathway activation that are known to drive cell proliferation in LVH. Our study emphasizes the role of RAS signaling in cardiac hypertrophy and highlights the complexity in differential diagnosis of RASopathies. In fact, the mild features of RASopathy and the recurrence of sarcomeric HCM in this family delayed the correct diagnosis until comprehensive genetic testing was performed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cardiac Myosins / chemistry
  • Cardiac Myosins / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • HEK293 Cells
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / genetics*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation
  • Myocardium / pathology
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / chemistry
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • ras Proteins / chemistry
  • ras Proteins / genetics*
  • ras Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • MYH7 protein, human
  • Cardiac Myosins
  • Myosin Heavy Chains
  • ras Proteins

Grants and funding

Support was provided by Fondazione per la Ricerca Ospedale Maggiore (FROM) to MES (fellowship for data collection and bioinformatic data management of sequencing data, statistical analysis) and IU Biomedical Research Grant to LAQ (for functional validation studies).