The genotype-phenotype correlation analysis and genetic counseling of hearing loss patients with novel KCNQ4 mutations

Abstract

Objective:To provide accurate genetic counseling, the genotype-phenotype correlation of the patients with KCNQ4mutations was analyzed. Methods:Two hearing loss families, 1807956（a five-generation family with 34 members） and 1707806（a three-generation family with 12 members） were recruited. The candidate variants were detected by next generation sequencing technology. Sanger sequencing was performed to verify the co-segregation of the phenotype in the recruited family members. According to American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics（ACMG） guideline, combined with clinical data, genetic testing, bioinformatic analysis and electrophysiological experiments, the pathogenicity of mutations was analyzed and genetic counseling was provided for family members. Results:The proband of family 1807956 was a pregnant woman, who carried KCNQ4 c.808T>G p.Y270D and developed hearing loss at the age of 15 years old, she had profound hearing loss in both ears, with middle-frequency highly affected. The proband of family 1707806 was an adolescent whose onset age was 11 years old, carrying KCNQ4 c.733G>A p.G245R, he presented with bilateral moderately severe hearing loss. The inheritance pattern of these two families were autosomal dominant inheritance. The two variants were missense mutations that were co-segregation in the two families and were not found in normal population. The mutations predicted by bioinformatic analysis tools were damaging and highly conserved in different species. Electrophysiological experiments showed that the function of the mutant ion channels was impaired. According to ACMG guideline, KCNQ4 c.808T>G was pathogenic, and KCNQ4 c.733G>A was likely pathogenic. Conclusion:The two mutations in this research were reported for the first time. The hearing loss of the patients showed heterogeneity, enriching the variation spectrum and clinical phenotype of KCNQ4.