Atypical splicing variants in PKD1 explain most undiagnosed typical familial ADPKD

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hort, Yvonne;Sullivan, Patricia;Wedd, Laura;Fowles, Lindsay;Stevanovski, Igor;Deveson, Ira;Simons, Cas;Mallett, Andrew;Patel, Chirag;Furlong, Timothy;Cowley, Mark J.;Shine, John;Mallawaarachchi, Amali
Abstract

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common monogenic cause of kidney failure and is primarily associated with PKD1 or PKD2. Approximately 10% of patients remain undiagnosed after standard genetic testing. We aimed to utilise short and long-read genome sequencing and RNA studies to investigate undiagnosed families. Patients with typical ADPKD phenotype and undiagnosed after genetic diagnostics were recruited. Probands underwent short-read genome sequencing, PKD1 and PKD2 coding and non-coding analyses and then genome-wide analysis. Targeted RNA studies investigated variants suspected to impact splicing. Those undiagnosed then underwent Oxford Nanopore Technologies long-read genome sequencing. From over 172 probands, 9 met inclusion criteria and consented. A genetic diagnosis was made in 8 of 9 (89%) families undiagnosed on prior genetic testing. Six had variants impacting splicing, five in non-coding regions of PKD1. Short-read genome sequencing identified novel branchpoint, AG-exclusion zone and missense variants generating cryptic splice sites and a deletion causing critical intron shortening. Long-read sequencing confirmed the diagnosis in one family. Most undiagnosed families with typical ADPKD have splice-impacting variants in PKD1. We describe a pragmatic method for diagnostic laboratories to assess PKD1 and PKD2 non-coding regions and validate suspected splicing variants through targeted RNA studies.

Journal

npj Genomic Medicine

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

8

ISBN/ISSN

2056-7944

Edition

N/A

Issue

N/A

Pages Count

9

Location

N/A

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1038/s41525-023-00362-z