A homozygous nonsense mutation in DCBLD2 is a candidate cause of developmental delay, dysmorphic features and restrictive cardiomyopathy

Sci Rep. 2021 Jun 18;11(1):12861. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92026-0.

Abstract

DCBLD2 encodes discodin, CUB and LCCL domain-containing protein 2, a type-I transmembrane receptor that is involved in intracellular receptor signalling pathways and the regulation of cell growth. In this report, we describe a 5-year-old female who presented severe clinical features, including restrictive cardiomyopathy, developmental delay, spasticity and dysmorphic features. Trio-whole-exome sequencing and segregation analysis were performed to identify the genetic cause of the disease within the family. A novel homozygous nonsense variant in the DCBLD2 gene (c.80G > A, p.W27*) was identified as the most likely cause of the patient's phenotype. This nonsense variant falls in the extracellular N-terminus of DCBLD2 and thus might affect proper protein function of the transmembrane receptor. A number of in vitro investigations were performed on the proband's skin fibroblasts compared to normal fibroblasts, which allowed a comprehensive assessment resulting in the functional characterization of the identified DCBLD2 nonsense variant in different cellular processes. Our data propose a significant association between the identified variant and the observed reduction in cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, intracellular ROS, and Ca2 + levels, which would likely explain the phenotypic presentation of the patient as associated with lethal restrictive cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / diagnosis
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics*
  • Alleles
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / diagnosis
  • Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / genetics*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive / metabolism
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • Child, Preschool
  • Codon, Nonsense*
  • Consanguinity
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics*
  • Developmental Disabilities / metabolism
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Facies
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies / methods
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genome, Mitochondrial
  • Genomics / methods
  • Homozygote*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Codon, Nonsense
  • DCBLD2 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Calcium