Elevated basal serum tryptase identifies a multisystem disorder associated with increased TPSAB1 copy number

Nat Genet. 2016 Dec;48(12):1564-1569. doi: 10.1038/ng.3696. Epub 2016 Oct 17.

Abstract

Elevated basal serum tryptase levels are present in 4-6% of the general population, but the cause and relevance of such increases are unknown. Previously, we described subjects with dominantly inherited elevated basal serum tryptase levels associated with multisystem complaints including cutaneous flushing and pruritus, dysautonomia, functional gastrointestinal symptoms, chronic pain, and connective tissue abnormalities, including joint hypermobility. Here we report the identification of germline duplications and triplications in the TPSAB1 gene encoding α-tryptase that segregate with inherited increases in basal serum tryptase levels in 35 families presenting with associated multisystem complaints. Individuals harboring alleles encoding three copies of α-tryptase had higher basal serum levels of tryptase and were more symptomatic than those with alleles encoding two copies, suggesting a gene-dose effect. Further, we found in two additional cohorts (172 individuals) that elevated basal serum tryptase levels were exclusively associated with duplication of α-tryptase-encoding sequence in TPSAB1, and affected individuals reported symptom complexes seen in our initial familial cohort. Thus, our findings link duplications in TPSAB1 with irritable bowel syndrome, cutaneous complaints, connective tissue abnormalities, and dysautonomia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Child
  • Chronic Pain / blood
  • Chronic Pain / enzymology
  • Chronic Pain / genetics*
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / blood
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / enzymology
  • Connective Tissue Diseases / genetics*
  • DNA Copy Number Variations / genetics*
  • Dysautonomia, Familial / blood
  • Dysautonomia, Familial / enzymology
  • Dysautonomia, Familial / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / blood
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / enzymology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pruritus / blood
  • Pruritus / enzymology
  • Pruritus / genetics*
  • Skin Diseases / blood
  • Skin Diseases / enzymology
  • Skin Diseases / genetics*
  • Tryptases / blood*
  • Tryptases / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • TPSAB1 protein, human
  • Tryptases