Genetics - Musculoskeletal Block Flashcards
What is the simplified pathophysiology of tuberous sclerosis complex?
Mutation in genes coding for tumor suppressor proteins
–> potential mix of benign tumor growth in several organs
(e.g. kidneys, heart, liver, eyes, lungs, and skin)
Does tuberous sclerosis typically result in benign or malignant tumors?
Benign
What are some of the organs most commonly affected by tuberous sclerosis?
Skin, brain, kidney, heart, lung
85% of individuals with tuberous sclerosis will show a mutation in one of what two genes?
TSC2 (69%);
TSC1 (31%)
Name three skin lesions commonly associated with tuberous sclerosis.
Hypomelanotic (ash leaf) macules (87-100% of cases)
Facial angiofibromas (47-90% of cases)
Shagreen (coast of Maine) patches (20-80% of cases)
Name two brain lesions commonly associated with tuberous sclerosis.
Name two signs or symptoms of brain lesions commonly associated with tuberous sclerosis.
Subependymal nodules (SENs; 90% of cases)
Cortical tubers (70% of cases);
Seizures (80% of cases)
Intellectual Disability (50% of cases)
Tuberous sclerosis is associated with mutations in what two genes (85% of cases involving one of these genes)?
What two proteins are coded for by these two genes, respectively?
TSC1 - hamartin;
TSC2 - tuberin
What is the leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality in tuberous sclerosis?
What is the 2nd leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality in tuberous sclerosis?
CNS tumors / intellectual disability;
renal disease
What is the most common renal lesion in tuberous sclerosis?
What is the 2nd most common renal lesion in tuberous sclerosis?
Benign angiomyolipomas (70% of cases)
epithelial cysts (30% of cases)
True/False.
Tuberous sclerosis complex has a fairly high association with autism spectrum disorder?
True (~0.4)
What mode of inheritance does tuberous sclerosis show?
Autosomal dominant
(with variable expressivity)
What is the purpose of the proteins hamartin and tuberin?
What disease is associated with mutations in the genes coding for these proteins?
What are the genes?
Tumor suppression;
tuberous sclerosis;
TSC1 (hamartin) and TSC2 (tuberin)
The following list displays some of the major features of tuberous sclerosis that are present in the majority of cases (bolded).
Below are a few features that aren’t necessarily present in the majority of cases (italicized).
- Subependymal nodule (SEN) (90%)
- Hypomelanotic (ash leaf) macule (87-100%)
- Facial angiofibroma (47-90%)
- Cortical tuber (70%)
- Shagreen (coast of Maine) patch (connective tissue nevus) (20-80%)
- Cardiac rhabdomyoma (47-67%)
- Renal angiomyolipoma (typically benign)
- Multiple retinal hamartoma
- Lymphangiomyomatosi (LAM) (30%)
- Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma (SEGA) (6-14%)
What is a defining feature of tuberous sclerosis autosomal dominant inheritance?
Variable expressivity
What mode of inheritance does tuberous sclerosis display?
What may be responsible for its variable expressivity?
Autosomal dominant;
the ‘two-hit’ hypothesis / random nature of second hit (TSC1, TSC2 genes)
True/False.
The majority of cases of tuberous sclerorsis develop malignant renal angiomyolipomas.
False (<3%);
70% show benign renal angiomyolipomas
Define the medical term proband.
An individual who presents with a genetic disorder
(must warrant investigation of the individual’s family)
What percentage of tuberous sclerosis probands (new cases) have an affected parent?
What percentage do not?
1/3;
2/3 (de novo mutations)
An individual with tuberous sclerosis complex has what likelihood of passing it on to their progeny?
(Note: meaning the likelihood of a single birth where one parent is affected resulting in a child with the disease)
50%
(autosomal dominant)
A child is born with tuberous sclerosis. Neither of her parents are affected. What risk do her future siblings have?
1-2%
(possible germline mosaicism)
What dermatological lesion is here shown?
With what neurocutaneous disorder is it associated?
A shagreen patch;
tuberous sclerosis complex
What dermatological lesions are here shown?
With what neurocutaneous disorder is it associated?
Hypomelanotic macules;
tuberous sclerosis complex
What dermatological lesions are here shown?
With what neurocutaneous disorder is it associated?
Similar wart-like projects and bumps are sometimes associated with this disorder and found where on the body?
Facial angiofibromas;
tuberous sclerosis complex;
skin around nail folds (periungal fibromas)
A seven-year-old male is brought in by his concerned parents for your evaluation after experiencing a short seizure of undetermined type and origin.
Upon physical exam, you notice the child has several near-white macules on his hips, back, and shoulders. You also notice some roughened skin on his face in a malar distribution.
The child is mentally disabled.
What syndrome is at the top of your differential?
It is associated with mutations in what gene(s)?
Tuberous sclerosis;
TSC1 (hamartin protein), TSC2 (tuberin protein)
What is the treatment for a patient with tuberous sclerosis that has a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma?
What is the treatment for a patient with tuberous sclerosis that has a renal angiomyolipoma?
What is the treatment for a patient with tuberous sclerosis that is experiencing somewhat frequent seizures?
mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) inhibitors;
renal artery embolization / surgery (renal sparing);
normal epileptical / seizure control
What disorder has a similar pathophysiology as tuberous sclerosis complex (mutations in tumor suppressor genes/proteins) but is mainly characterized by benign tumors of the nervous system?
Neurofibromatosis
What are the two types of neurofibromatosis called?
Some sources include what as a third type?
Neurofibromatosis type I and type II;
Schwannomatosis
Neurofibromatosis type I is associated with what tumor suppressor gene on what chromosome? What is its inheritance pattern?
Neurofibromatosis type II is associated with what tumor suppressor gene on what chromosome? What is its inheritance pattern?
NF-1, chromosome 17, autosomal dominant;
NF-2, chromosome 22, autosomal dominant
Describe the inheritance pattern of both types of neurofibromatosis.
(E.g. inheritance type, expressivity, penetrance, mutation rate)
Autosomal dominant;
nearly 100% penetrant;
high level of variance in expressivity;
high mutation rate (50% of cases are new cases)
What is the hallmark feature of neurofibromatosis type I?
What is the hallmark feature of neurofibromatosis type II?
Cafe au lait spoits;
acoustic neuromas
What is the hallmark feature of neurofibromatosis type I?
Cafe au lait spots
What is the hallmark feature of neurofibromatosis type II?
Acoustic neuromas
Why is the diagnosis of neurofibromatosis so difficult?
High variance in expressivity
Dianosis of neurofibromatosis type I is made if a person has ____ of the following signs / symptoms:
≥ 6 café au lait spots (> 5 mm in diameter in pre-pubertal persons and > 15 mm in post-pubertals)
≥ 2 neurofibromas of any type
Freckling in the axillary or inguinal regions
Optic glioma
≥ 2 Lisch nodules
A distinct osseous lesion
A first degree relative with NF-1 (by the above criteria)
≥ 2
What is the most common CNS tumor of neurofibromatosis type I?
Optic gliomas
Chromosome 17 produces a protein that is involved in maintaining the balance between cell proliferation and differentiation.
What protein is it and a deficiency in it is associated what disease?
Neurofibromin;
neurofibromatosis type I
Diagnosis of neurofibromatosis type II requires 2 or more of what clinical features?
Either
Bilateral auditory canal masses;
OR
an affected first-degree relative and a unilateral auditory mass
What dermatological lesions are here shown?
This is indicative of what disorder?
It is associated with a mutation of what chromosome?
Cafe au Lait (also known as coast of Maine) spots;
neurofibromatosis type I;
chromosome 17
What is the pathophysiology of Huntington’s disease?
Neuronal death due to Huntingtin protein amyloidosis
What is the genetic cause of Huntington disease pathology?
CAG trinucleotide repeats on chromosome 4
Less than how many CAG repeats on chromosome 4 is normal?
Greater than how many CAG repeats on chromosome 4 is associated with severe Huntington’s disease?
< 26;
≥ 40
What is the inheritance pattern of Huntington’s disease?
It usually presents at what age?
Autosomal dominant’
30 - 40 (can be as low as 10 and as high as 60)
The increased severity of Huntington’s disease is associated with transmission from which parent?
Paternal transmission
Name the major signs and symptoms of Huntington’s disease.
Progressive chorea, rigidity, psychiatric symptoms, and dementia
What is the most common form of inherited cognitive impairment?
Fragile X syndrome
(spectrum of ADHD vs. mild impairment vs. autism vs. severe intellectual disability)
What disorder is associated with trinucleotide CGG repeats on the X chromosome?
What number of repeats is considered normal?
What number is considered pathological?
Fragile X syndrome;
5 - 44;
> 200
Fragile X syndrome is generally more severe in which sex?
Males
Some cells have 100s of _________.
Highly active cells can have 1000s of _________.
Mitochondria;
mitochondria
What organelle is the major source of reactive oxygen species (ROSs)?
What organelle regulates apoptosis?
Mitochondria;
mitochondria
What is homoplasmy?
What is heteroplasmy?
A cell contains only one type of mtDNA (DNAmitochondrial);
a cell contains both normal and mutant mtDNA
What is difficult about the pleiotropic nature of many disorders of the mitochondrial genome?
Different organs can be affected in different patients with the same mutation
Disorders of the mitochondrial genome are often pleitotropic and show variable ___________, making them difficult to both diagnose and also track through generations.
Expressivity
True/False.
A mutant gene must show effects on multiple phenotypic characteristics simultaneously in order to be considered an example of pleiotropy.
False.
(the same pleiotropic gene can show different effects in differing individuals)
If a woman is homoplasmic for a certain mutation, how many of her children are likely to receive that mutation?
If a man is homoplasmic for a certain mutation, how many of his children are likely to receive that mutation?
All of them;
none of them
A woman who is heteroplasmic for a point mutation or duplication will pass it on to how many of her children?
(What will the effect be like?)
All of them
(however, there will be varying severity of phenotypic manifestation as the fraction of mutant mitochondria in the offspring may vary significantly)
A woman who is heteroplasmic for a deletion will pass it on to how many of her children?
(What will the effect be like?)
Likely none of them
(Heteroplasmic deletions are not typically inherited)
What are a few factors that contribute to the wide variability in expressivity in disorders of the mitochondrial genome?
Pleiotropy;
heteroplasmy
(fraction of mutant mtDNA among varying individuals and even varying tissues means there is often a whole spectrum of disease manifestation)
True/False.
The fraction of mutant mtDNA among differing individuals and even differing tissues varies widely, meaning there is often a whole spectrum of disease manifestation.
Yes;
this explains part of the varying expressivity and pleiotropy of disorders of the mitochondrial genome
What are two examples of mitochondrial diseases that result from mutations in nuclear DNA?
(1 category and 1 disorder)
Disorders relating to the POLG gene (involved in mtDNA replication);
Leigh syndrome (75% of cases;
25% of cases come from deletions of mtDNA)
Mutations in the POLG gene often have what effect?
A significant drop in mtDNA in affected tissues
Describe the clinical manifestations of mitochondrial disorders regarding the following terms:
- Inheritance
- Symptoms
- Organ
- Time
- Scenario
- Diagnostics
- Progression
All extremely variable
(due in part to pleiotropy, heteroplasmy, and variable expressivity)
An individual has a significantly low number of mitochondria in each of her cells.
Mutations in what gene may be responsible?
Is there a typical phenotype for this disorder?
POLG (nuclear DNA);
no (highly variable)
Name five syndromes associated with mutations in mtDNA.
(the first two are acronyms)
(the last one (LS) is usually associated with mutations in nuclear DNA)
MELAS;
MERRF;
Kearne-Sayre syndrome;
Pearson syndrome;
Leigh syndrome (although most cases come from mutations in nuclear DNA)
MELAS is a disorder that results from mutations in mtDNA.
What does MELAS stand for?
Is it hetero- or homoplasmic?
(What are some of its signs and symptoms?)
Myopathy, mitochondrial Encephalomyopathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Stroke-like episodes’
heteroplasmic;
(weakness, ataxia, headache, seizures, dementia, vomiting, transient hemiparesis, lactic acidosis, deafness)
MERFF is a disorder that results from mutations in mtDNA.
What does MERFF stand for?
Is it hetero- or homoplasmic?
(What are some of its signs and symptoms?)
Myoclonic Epilepsy with Ragged Red Fiber;
heteroplasmic;
(Myopathy, ataxia, sensorineural deafness, dementia)
Kearne-Sayre syndrome is a disorder that results from mutations in mtDNA.
Is it caused by genetic duplications, deletions, or point mutations?
What are some of its signs and symptoms (don’t memorize, just be aware of some of these options)?
Deletion;
progressive external ophthalmoplegia of early onset, cardiomyopathy, heart block, ptosis, retinal pigmentation, ataxia, diabetes
Pearson’s syndrome is caused by what kind of genetic mutations?
What are two of its signs or symptoms?
Deletions in mtDNA;
sideroblactic anemia, exocrine pancreatic dysfunction
Leigh’s syndrome is caused by what kind of genetic mutations?
What are two of its signs or symptoms?
Deletions in mtDNA;
lesions in the basal ganglia and midline brain stem
Kearne-Sayre syndrome, Pearson’s syndrome, and Leigh’s syndrome are all caused by what sort of genetic mutation?
Deletions in mtDNA
How do lysosomal enzymes act upon macromolecules within the lysosome?
In a step-wise fashion
(one enzyme after the other in a specific order)
True/False.
If a single step in the normal lysosomal enzyme step-wise pathway is missing, all subsequent steps will likey not occur.
True.
Most lysosomal storage diseases follow what inheritance program?
Autosomal recessive
(mutations in single enzymes)
True/False.
Lysosomal storage diseases typically present in newborns.
False;
these are chronically progressive diseases that present with normal newborns
What are the five main categories of lysosomal storage disorder?
(note: they are categories named for the lysosomal substrate involved)
Mucopolysacharridoses;
sphingolipidoses;
glycogen storage;
glycoproteinoses;
mucolipidoses
(also membrane transporter defects)
How do amino acids, carbohydrate monomers, and small lipids leave lysosomes after being digested out of larger structures?
There are many specific transporters in the lysosomal membrane for these building block units
What disease is an example of a disorder resulting from lack of a certain amino acid transporter in the lysosomal membrane?
What amino acid is it that cannot leave and crystalizes / builds up in the cell?
What is the result?
Cystinosis;
cystine;
cell death
Lamellar, circular lysosomes are associated with what type of disorder?
Sphingolipidoses