| Literature DB >> 29970384 |
Queenie K-G Tan1, Heidi Cope1, Rebecca C Spillmann1, Nicholas Stong2, Yong-Hui Jiang1, Marie T McDonald1, Jennifer A Rothman3, Megan W Butler4, Donald P Frush5, Ralph S Lachman6, Brendan Lee7, Carlos A Bacino7, Melanie J Bonner8, Chad M McCall9, Avani A Pendse9, Nicole Walley1, Vandana Shashi1, Loren D M Pena10,11.
Abstract
Recent evidence has implicated EFL1 in a phenotype overlapping Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS), with the functional interplay between EFL1 and the previously known causative gene SBDS accounting for the similarity in clinical features. Relatively little is known about the phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in the EFL1 gene, but the initial indication was that phenotypes may be more severe, when compared with SDS. We report a pediatric patient who presented with a metaphyseal dysplasia and was found to have biallelic variants in EFL1 on reanalysis of trio whole-exome sequencing data. The variant had not been initially reported because of the research laboratory's focus on de novo variants. Subsequent phenotyping revealed variability in her manifestations. Although her metaphyseal abnormalities were more severe than in the original reported cohort with EFL1 variants, the bone marrow abnormalities were generally mild, and there was equivocal evidence for pancreatic insufficiency. Despite the limited number of reported patients, variants in EFL1 appear to cause a broader spectrum of symptoms that overlap with those seen in SDS. Our report adds to the evidence of EFL1 being associated with an SDS-like phenotype and provides information adding to our understanding of the phenotypic variability of this disorder. Our report also highlights the value of exome data reanalysis when a diagnosis is not initially apparent.Entities:
Keywords: congenital thrombocytopenia; exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; hepatic bridging fibrosis; hypercalciuria; intellectual disability, mild; portal fibrosis; short stature; spondylometaphyseal dysplasia
Mesh:
Substances:
Year: 2018 PMID: 29970384 PMCID: PMC6169826 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a003046
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud ISSN: 2373-2873
Figure 1.Liver biopsy showing decrease in liver fibrosis with age. Liver biopsy obtained at age 2 yr stained with (A) hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and (B) Masson trichrome stain, and a liver needle biopsy obtained at age 14 yr stained with (C) H&E and (D) Masson trichrome stain. All 100× magnification.
Figure 2.Skeletal anomalies on radiography. The three images on the top row were obtained at age 6 yr, and the three images on the lower row were obtained at age 14 yr. (A) Arrows show vertebrae with irregularity and scalloping subjacent to the disc spaces that are more pronounced in the radiograph (D) obtained at age 14 yr. (B) There is bilateral coxa vara and arrows demonstrate metaphyseal abnormalities of bilateral proximal femurs of mixed sclerosis and lucency. (E) Hip imaging at age 14 yr shows abnormal configuration (flattening) of the femoral heads, with continued metaphyseal heterogeneity in proximal and distal femurs (arrows). (C) Arrow on left proximal humerus shows heterogeneity in the ossification in the metaphysis (right humerus was normal; not shown). (F) Similar abnormal mixed sclerosis and lucency found in both humeri at age 14 yr (arrows).
Figure 3.Bone marrow biopsy at age 14 yr. Hypocellular bone marrow (50%) at (A) 40× and (B) 200× magnification, showing trilineage hematopoiesis (H&E stain). (C) Touch preparation showing normal maturation of the myeloid and erythroid lineages (500× magnification, Wright–Giemsa stain).
EFL1 variant information
| Gene | Chr: position GRCh37(hg19) | HGVS DNA reference | HGVS protein reference | Variant type | Predicted effect | Genotype | ClinVar accession | Inheritance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chr15: 82532896 | NM_024580.5 c.379A>G | p.Thr127Ala | Substitution | Missense | Homozygous | SCV000746595.2 | Maternal and paternal |
Figure 4.Schematic of the EFL1 protein highlighting the GTP-binding domain (domain 1) (Finch et al. 2011) in the amino terminus and the variants associated with human disease, as reported by the referenced articles. Numbers refer to amino acid position. G1–G5 refer to conserved motifs important for GTP binding (Wittinghofer and Vetter 2011) (domains labeled according to Asano et al. [2014]).
Clinical features associated with ELF1 variants
| Stepensky et al. case series | Duke case | |
|---|---|---|
| Stature | −2.6 to −4.8 SD | −3.7 SD |
| Head circumference | Normal in 2/6 patients (other 4 were from consanguineous families) | Normal |
| Radiologic findings | Metaphyseal irregularities in proximal and distal femurs, fibulae, and humeri; anterior rib cupping | Metaphyseal irregularities in proximal and distal femurs, tibia, fibulae, humeri; flattening of hip epiphyses; iliac crest apophyseal irregularity; vertebral body endplate irregularities; scoliosis |
| Pancreatic insufficiency | 6/6 patients (5/6 with diarrhea) | No diarrhea; equivocal pancreatic laboratory results |
| Liver disease | 1 patient with mild hepatomegaly | Transaminitis (ages 2–4 yr) (AST 64–169 U/l; ALT 73–238 U/l)a; moderate portal, periportal bridging, and centrilobular fibrosis (age 2 yr) |
| Anemia | 4/5 patients | Absent; hemoglobin 11.1–12.1 g/dlb,c |
| Neutropenia | 4/5 patients | Absent; ANC 1353–14874 cells/µlc |
| Thrombocytopenia | 4/5 patients | Present; chronic since age 6 yr (platelets 96–136 × 109/l)c,d |
| Development | 6/6 developmental delay | Learning disabilities in school |
| Outcome | 3/6 deceased (ages 7 mo–15 mo); 3/6 alive (ages 15 mo to 6 yr) | Alive (age 14 yr) |
SD, standard deviation; AST, aspartate transaminase; ALT, alanine transaminase; ANC, absolute neutrophil count.
aReference ranges for AST: 10–60 U/l; ALT: 10–45 U/l.
bReference ranges for hemoglobin: normal 11.5–13.5 g/dl ages 2–5 yr; 11.5–15.5 g/dl ages 6–11 yr; 12.0–16.0 g/dl ages 12–17 yr.
cExcluding blood counts obtained during episode of pancytopenia (see text).
dReference range for platelet counts: normal 150–400 × 109/l.