Carrier screening of RTEL1 mutations in the Ashkenazi Jewish population

Clin Genet. 2015 Aug;88(2):177-81. doi: 10.1111/cge.12459. Epub 2014 Sep 5.

Abstract

Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HH) is a clinically severe variant of dyskeratosis congenita (DC), characterized by cerebellar hypoplasia, microcephaly, intrauterine growth retardation, and severe immunodeficiency in addition to features of DC. Germline mutations in the RTEL1 gene have recently been identified as causative of HH. In this study, the carrier frequency for five RTEL1 mutations that occurred in individuals of Ashkenazi Jewish descent was investigated in order to advise on including them in existing clinical mutation panels for this population. Our screening showed that the carrier frequency for c.3791G>A (p.R1264H) was higher than expected, 1% in the Ashkenazi Orthodox and 0.45% in the general Ashkenazi Jewish population. Haplotype analyses suggested the presence of a common founder. We recommend that the c.3791G>A RTEL1 mutation be considered for inclusion in carrier screening panels in the Ashkenazi population.

Keywords: Ashkenazi Jewish; Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome; RTEL1; carrier screening; dyskeratosis congenita.

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Helicases / genetics*
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / diagnosis*
  • Dyskeratosis Congenita / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / diagnosis*
  • Fetal Growth Retardation / genetics*
  • Genetic Carrier Screening / methods*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Haplotypes / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / genetics
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnosis*
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Jews / genetics*
  • Male
  • Microcephaly / diagnosis*
  • Microcephaly / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • RTEL1 protein, human
  • DNA Helicases

Supplementary concepts

  • Hoyeraal Hreidarsson syndrome