Wolman disease is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the LIPA gene (10q23.31). The LIPA gene encodes lysosomal acid lipase (LAL), which plays a key role in hydrolysis of the cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. Two unrelated families from Bulgaria were referred for genetic testing with clinical diagnosis Wolman disease. Sanger sequencing of all coding exons and exon-intron boundaries of the LIPA gene was performed. The index patients were found to be homozygous for two different mutations in the LIPA gene: a missense mutation, c.260G > T, p.Gly87Val, which affects the enzyme active site and a splice-site change, c.822+1G > A, which most probably destroys the enzyme polypeptide chain. These two completely different types of mutations along the LIPA gene resulted in a very similar phenotype involving liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, muscle and blood disturbances. As consanguinity is not typical for the Bulgarian population, a possible explanation of the homozygosity could be presence of endemic regions for given mutations. To check this hypothesis, selective screening for these mutations was performed in two presumable endemic regions in Bulgaria. Altogether, 100 newborns were screened for p.Gly87Val mutation and the detected carrier frequency was about 1% (1/100), while in the group of 100 newborns screened for the c.822 + 1G > A mutation the detected carrier frequency was 2% (2/100). The results indicate a high recurrence risk of Wolman disease in these particular Bulgarian regions of about 1:10000. These findings are from crucial importance for the inhabitants of the corresponding parts of Bulgaria. They may benefit from early genetic testing and adequate genetic counselling during family planning.
Wolman disease (WD MIM# 278000) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. It belongs to the group of lysosomal diseases and affects 1 in 100,000 newborn. The disease is associated with accumulation of cholesterol esters and enzyme deficit. Wolman disease is manifested with hepatosplenomegaly, abdominal distention, and adrenal calcification. Massive intracellular storage of both cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols is observed in liver, adrenal gland, and intestine. The affected patients usually die within the first year of life [
Recently, various types of therapies for lysosomal acid lipase deficiency have been reported [
Here we report our results from molecular genetic diagnostics of the first unrelated Bulgarian families with Wolman disease. Both index patients were positive for LIPA gene mutations in homozygous state. As consanguinity is not typical for the Bulgarian population, a possible explanation of the homozygosity could be presence of endemic regions for given mutations. Based on our preliminary results, we performed selective newborn screening for particular LIPA gene mutations in two presumable endemic regions in Bulgaria.
Two unrelated families from Bulgarian origin were referred for genetic testing of the LIPA gene, because of the clinical diagnosis of Wolman disease. Two symptomatic unrelated patients and their asymptomatic parents were examined. Both families originated from two different geographical regions Kostenets (western Bulgaria) and Bansko (southwestern Bulgaria) (
Selective screening for particular mutations in the LIPA gene was performed in two presumable endemic regions: Kostenets (western Bulgaria) and Bansko (southwestern Bulgaria) (
DNA was extracted from peripheral blood by standard salting-out procedure. The screening for mutations in the LIPA gene was performed by Sanger sequencing of all coding exons and exon-intron boundaries, using specifically designed primers (the primer sequence is available upon request).
The cDNA reference sequence was based on information available from Ref- Seq (Accession number): Human LIPA, NM_000235. The sequencing reaction was performed by BigDye®Terminator cycle sequencing kit v.3.1 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA), which includes Thermo Sequenase II DNA polymerase and fluorescently labeled nucleotides. The electrophoretic separation was performed on ABI3130 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The sequencing profiles were interpreted by the software Sequencing Analysis v5.1.1.
The selective screening for particular mutations in exons 4 and 7 of the LIPA gene was performed by direct PCR amplification of these exons on dry blood spots from Guthrie cards [
Angelina Mandadzhieva―Performed the genetic tests in the affected families and conducted the selective screening on dry blood spots; manuscript preparation.
Daniela Avdzhieva-Tzavella―Physician, who pointed the clinical diagnosis.
Tihomir Todorov―Planned the screening program, supervised the results from genetic testing and conducted the genetic verification of the diagnosis in both families; reporting of the results and patients counseling.
Savina Tincheva―Critical reading and writing of the manuscript.
Vanya Sinigerska, Marya Ivanova―Performed the metabolic analysis.
Alexey Savov―Head of the National Genetic Laboratory, provided access to the Guthrie cards.
Vanyo Mitev―Financial support of the study.
Albena Todorova―Head of the Genetic Medico-Diagnostic Laboratory “Genica”, planning and design of the study, supervisor of the performed genetic and screening tests, critical reading and revision of the manuscript.
Two unrelated patients aged 3 and 5 months were referred for genetic testing of the LIPA gene due to the clinical symptoms compatible with Wolman disease. The parents claim not to have any consanguinity. No other affected relatives were reported. Both children expressed severe anemia, muscle hypotrophy and low weight gain. Liver problems like hepatosplenomegaly and hepatocytolysis were also present. Gastrointestinal dysfunction includes difficulties in bowel movement and appearance of watery stools with the disease progression. Kidneys are affected by adrenal glands calcification.
The enzyme levels of acid lipase were reduced―12.8 nmolMU/h/mg and 38 nmolMU/h/mg, at reference values 210-530.
DNA sequencing revealed two different mutations. The first mutation noted in our patient is a previously well-known disease-causing missense mutation, c.260G > T; p.Gly87Val in exon 4 of the LIPA gene [
The second mutation is a splice-site change, c.822+1G > A in exon 7 of the LIPA gene, which affects donor consensus splice nucleotide guanine, resulting in altered mRNA splicing. This splice-site mutation was reported once in a patient from United States [
It is worth mentioning that both point mutations substitute the same purine nucleotide guanine (G). A possible explanation for the higher mutability at G nucleotide is that during replication guanine may undergo a tautomeric shift to its rare enol form, which pairs with thymine (T) [
In respect to the genotype-phenotype correlations it is interesting to mention that genetic heterogeneity may be associated with very uniform disease manifestation. We found two completely different types of mutations along the LIPA gene: aminoacid substitution affecting the enzyme active-site and splicing defect, which most probably destroys the enzyme polypeptide chain, but both genetic variants resulted in very similar phenotype involving liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, muscle and blood disturbances.
Considering the high genetic heterogeneity of the Bulgarian population, it is extremely atypical to detect homozygous mutations in rare recessive conditions. A possible explanation could be consanguineous marriages, which are not typical for the Bulgarian population. On the other hand we may hypothesize higher mutation frequency of particular LIPA variants in defined geographic regions which may lead to homozygous affected offspring due to endogamous marriages. To check this hypothesis we further screened for these particular mutations newborn samples originating from the native regions of both patients.
Knowing the result from the molecular genetic testing of the first family (homozygous for the c.260G > T, p.Gly87Val mutation), we supposed the region of Kostenets could be endemic for this given mutation. We performed selective screening for the mutation p.Gly87Val in this part of the country. Altogether, 100 newborns originating from the corresponding region were tested for the p.Gly87Val mutation. Our results showed one heterozygous carrier, which represents a carrier frequency in this subpopulation of about 1% (1/100).
The second geographic region of interest in the context of Wolman disease turned out to be the region of Bansko situated in the southwest part of the country, where the second LIPA gene positive family originated from. We screened 100 newborns from the corresponding region, for the presence of c.822+1G > A mutation in the LIPA gene. Surprisingly, the molecular genetic testing in this region showed even higher carrier frequency of 2% (2/100). The results from the screening are provided in
In conclusion, the performed selective screening for mutations in the LIPA gene aimed to search for particular gene variants p.Gly87Val and c.822+1G > A in two targeted geographic regions-Kostenets and Bansko. The obtained results showed high carrier frequency of 1% and 2%, respectively. Our results indicate a
LIPA gene | Guthrie samples | Heterozygous carriers | Heterozygosity | Mutant allele frequency* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Exon 4 | 100 | 1 | 1% | 0.5% |
Exon 7 | 100 | 2 | 2% | 1% |
**Both alleles of the LIPA gene for each of the 100 samples (altogether 200 alleles) were considered in the calculations.
high recurrence risk of Wolman disease in these particular Bulgarian regions of about 1:10000, which presumes the disease might be much more frequent than expected for the general population. These findings are from crucial importance for the inhabitants of the corresponding parts of Bulgaria. They may benefit from early genetic testing and adequate genetic counselling during family planning.
The dried blood spots from Guthrie cards of newborns were kindly provided by the National Genetic Laboratory, Sofia.
Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Mandadzhieva, A., Avdzhieva-Tzavella, D., Todorov, T., Tincheva, S., Sinigerska, V., Ivanova, M., Savov, A., Mitev, V. and Todorova, A. (2017) Wolman Disease in Bulgarian Patients: Selective Genetic Screening in Two Presumable Endemic Regions. American Journal of Molecular Biology, 7, 169-175. https://doi.org/10.4236/ajmb.2017.74013