Mutation spectrum of Tyrosinemia type I in Iran, A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type 1 (HT1) is a genetic disorder characterized by an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, caused by mutations in the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) gene, which results in a deficiency of fumarylacetoacetase. In our study, we identified a total of 15 mutations, including 12 newly discovered and 3 previously reported pathogenic mutations, in a cohort of 19 Iranian patients with the acute form of HT1. Out of the 12 novel variants identified, 11 were missense variants: p.Asp126His, p.Gln75Glu, p.Leu385Pro, p.Ser92Thr, p.Leu96Arg, p.Val167Glu, p.Ala94Asp, p.Gly353Trp, p.Ser164Pro, p.Glu86His and p.Ala163Pro. Additionally, there was one nonsense variant, p.Try244X, that had not been previously reported. Interestingly, the Arg237X variant was found to be particularly prevalent in this study. Notably, three exons, namely exons 9, 3, and 6, exhibited a higher frequency of mutations. All of the identified variants are presumed to result in loss of function, impacting the clinical signs, disease progression, increasing tyrosine level, and the specific location of the mutation. Our study has provided valuable insights into the mutation spectrum of variants associated with HT1 disease which is reported for the first time from Iran. This information can facilitate the development of targeted mutation screening protocols, focusing on the most prevalent mutations within specific regions or ethnic groups.