Identification of a novel FOXL2 mutation in a fourth-generation Chinese family with blepharophimosis-ptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome

AIM:To characterize the genetic causes and clinical features in a four-generation Chinese family with blepharophimosisptosis-epicanthus inversus syndrome(BPES).METHODS:Thirteen patients with BPES and eight healthy family members were included in this study.All participants received routine ophthalmic examinations.The target next-generation sequencing(NGS)was performed to determine the causative mutation for this family.The silico analysis was also applied to predict the pathogenesis of identified mutations.RESULTS:All patients had severe ptosis,normal intelligence,female patients have normal fertility.Genetic assessments revealed a heterozygous insertion variation in FOXL2 gene,c.672_701 ins GCGGCTGCCGC CGCAGCTGCTG CAGGCGCT(p.Ala234_Gly235 lins AAAAAAAAGA),carried by 13 patient but absent in all unaffected members.In silico analysis supported the pathogenic nature of this highly conserved variant.This mutation resulted in the insertion of 10 amino acids into the encoded polyala nine chain,which increased the number of original polyalanine chains from 14 to 24,resulting in an extended protein.CONCLUSION:A novel FOXL2 mutation c.672_701 ins GCGGCTGCCGCCGCAGCTGCTGC AGGCGCT(p.Ala234_Gly235 lins AAAAAAAAGA)was identified in a large Chinese family with BPES.This study amplified the genotypic spectrum of FOXL2-BPES and better illustrates its genotype-phenotypecorrelations,which provided a basis for elucidating the pathogenesis of BPES and genetic counseling.

Identification and functional analyses of a novel FOXL2 pathogenic variant causing blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome

AIM: To discover the molecular pathogenic basis of the blepharophimosis, ptosis, and epicanthus inversus syndrome(BPES), and to predict the clinical subtype according to in vitro experiments, which is significant to the prognosis.METHODS: A 3-year-old sporadic female patient with typical clinical manifestations of BPES was enrolled. The coding region of forkhead box L2(FOXL2) gene was sequenced, and the functional assays were performed in vitro by Western blotting, subcellular localization experiment, luciferase reporter assay, and quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS: A novel FOXL2 point pathogenic variant(c.274G>T) was detected, resulting in a truncated protein(p.E92*). Functional studies demonstrated that the FOXL2 pathogenic variant induced the subcellular mislocalization and the abnormal transcriptional activity on promoters of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein(StAR or STARD1) gene and the odd-skipped related 2 transcription factor(OSR2) gene.CONCLUSION: A novel pathogenic variant is identified to expand the spectrum of the known FOXL2 mutations. The in vitro experiments provide reference data and more insights to the molecular pathogenesis of BPES. The predicted high risk of ovarian insufficiency makes it significant for the patient enrolled to have further follow-up and therapy concerning female endocrinology.

小睑裂综合征的联合手术方法

目的探讨小睑裂综合征的联合手术方法。方法小睑裂综合征13例26眼，采用三联手术，即上睑提肌缩短术、上睑提肌缩短加横韧带悬吊术、额肌腱膜悬吊术或额肌悬吊术治疗上睑下垂；Spaeth双“Z”成形术和“Y-V”成形术治疗内眦赘皮；并进行外眦开大术以扩大睑裂，3项手术一次完成。结果术后外观有明显改善，睑裂长度和高度显著增加，内眦间距显著缩短。术前睑裂长度19—24mm，平均（21．0±1．4）mm，睑裂高度：1—4mm，平均（2．3±1．1）mm。内眦间距35—40mm，平均（37．0±1．6）mm，术后睑裂长度25—30mm，平均（27．4±1．3）mm。睑裂高度：5—8mm，平均（6．2±0．9）mm。内眦间距30—35mm，平均（32．7±1．3）mm，各相应组两两比较差异均有统计学意义（P=0．000）。结论三联手术治疗小睑裂综合征取得良好效果。