Abstract
The genetics of many congenital heart diseases (CHDs) can only unsatisfactorily be explained by known chromosomal or Mendelian syndromes. Here, we present sequencing data of a family with a potentially multigenic origin of CHD. Twelve of nineteen family members carry a familial mutation [NM_004329.2:c.1328 G > A (p.R443H)] which encodes a predicted deleterious variant of BMPR1A. This mutation co-segregates with a linkage region on chromosome 1 that associates with the emergence of severe CHDs including Ebstein’s anomaly, atrioventricular septal defect, and others. We show that the continuous overexpression of the zebrafish homologous mutation bmpr1aa p.R438H within endocardium causes a reduced AV valve area, a downregulation of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling at the AV canal, and growth of additional tissue mass in adult zebrafish hearts. This finding opens the possibility of testing genetic interactions between BMPR1A and other candidate genes within linkage region 1 which may provide a first step towards unravelling more complex genetic patterns in cardiovascular disease aetiology.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2959 |
| Journal | Scientific Reports |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| ISSN | 2045-2322 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 01.12.2019 |
Funding
We thank R. Aherrahrou, S. Wrobel, C. Otten, V. Lombardo, A.-C. Dietrich, S. Donat, J. Richter, and S. Kraft for their advice on experimental protocols and for providing fish stocks, reagents or other support. Thanks to A. Tafazzoli and M. Wehle for their help in blinding our studies. We also thank Dr. Reinhard Vonthein (Institut für Biometrie und Statistik, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany) and Dr. Maren Vens (Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany) for their advice on the statistical analysis of our studies. We thank Lisanne Maibücher for proofreading of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Excellence cluster REBIRTH and the DZHK (Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V.). T.D. was supported by the Kaltenbach grant of the Deutsche Herzstiftung e.V., the scholarship “Lübecker Exzellenzmedizin” of the University of Lübeck, and a travel grant of the mobility program of the DZHK. M.H. was supported by a fellowship of the Excellence cluster REBIRTH and by a fellowship by the Joachim Herz foundation. S.A.-S. was supported by the Excellence cluster REBIRTH, SFB958, and by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) projects SE2016/7-2 and SE2016/10-1.
Research Areas and Centers
- Research Area: Medical Genetics
