Discordant phenotypes in twins with infantile nystagmus

Sci Rep. 2021 Feb 2;11(1):2826. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-82368-0.

Abstract

Infantile nystagmus (IN) may result from aetiologies including albinism and FRMD7 mutations. IN has low prevalence, and twins with IN are rare. Whilst discordant presentation has been previously reported for IN, we present for the first time the comprehensive assessment of diagnostically discordant monozygotic twins. From a cohort of over 2000 patients, we identified twins and triplets discordant for nystagmus. Using next-generation sequencing, high-resolution infra-red pupil tracking and optical coherence tomography, we characterised differences in genotype and phenotype. Monozygotic twins (n = 1), dizygotic twins (n = 3) and triplets (n = 1) were included. The monozygotic twins had concordant TYR variants. No causative variants were identified in the triplets. Dizygotic twins had discordant variants in TYR, OCA2 and FRMD7. One unaffected co-twin demonstrated sub-clinical nystagmus. Foveal hypoplasia (FH) was noted in four of five probands. Both co-twins of the monozygotic pair and triplets displayed FH. In three families, at least one parent had FH without nystagmus. FH alone may be insufficient to develop nystagmus. Whilst arrested optokinetic reflex pathway development is implicated in IN, discordant twins raise questions regarding where differences in development have arisen. In unaffected monozygotes therefore, genetic variants may predispose to oculomotor instability, with variable expressivity possibly responsible for the discordance observed.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Diseases in Twins / diagnosis
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Eye-Tracking Technology
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase / genetics
  • Mutation
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / diagnosis
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / genetics*
  • Pedigree
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Twins, Dizygotic / genetics
  • Twins, Monozygotic / genetics

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • FRMD7 protein, human
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • OCA2 protein, human
  • Monophenol Monooxygenase