Parallel deletion and duplication at 7q11.23 in a silent carrier for two reciprocal syndromic disorders

Abstract

Partial deletions at chromosome 7q11.23 are causative for the autosomal-dominant Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS), whereas the partial duplication of this region leads to the 7q11.23 duplication syndrome. Both syndromes are highly penetrant and occur with a frequency of 1:7500-10,000 (WBS) and 1:13,000-20,000 (7q11.23 duplication syndrome). They are associated with multiple organ defects, intellectual disability, and typical facial dysmorphisms showing broad phenotypic variability. The 7q11.23 region is susceptible to chromosomal rearrangements due to flanking segmental duplications and regions of long repetitive DNA segments. Here, we report on a family with two children affected by WBS and clinically unaffected parents. Interestingly, metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed a deletion on 7q11.23 in the father. Intensive genetic testing, using interphase FISH, whole genome sequencing and optical genome mapping led to the confirmation of a 1.5 Mb deletion at one 7q11.23 allele and the identification of a reciprocal 1.8 Mb duplication at the other allele. This finding is highly important regarding genetic counseling in this family. The father is a silent carrier for two syndromic disorders, thus his risk to transmit a disease-causing allele is 100%. To the best of our knowledge we, here, report on the first case in which the phenotype of a microdeletion/microduplication syndrome was compensated by its reciprocal counterpart.