Homozygosity Haplotype and Whole-Exome Sequencing Analysis to Identify Potentially Functional Rare Variants Involved in Multiple Sclerosis among Sardinian Families

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex multifactorial autoimmune disease, whose sex- and age-adjusted prevalence in Sardinia (Italy) is among the highest worldwide. To date, 233 loci were associated with MS and almost 20% of risk heritability is attributable to common genetic variants, but many low-fr...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Teresa Fazia, Daria Marzanati, Anna Laura Carotenuto, Ashley Beecham, Athena Hadjixenofontos, Jacob L. McCauley, Valeria Saddi, Marialuisa Piras, Luisa Bernardinelli, Davide Gentilini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Current Issues in Molecular Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/43/3/125
Description
Summary:Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex multifactorial autoimmune disease, whose sex- and age-adjusted prevalence in Sardinia (Italy) is among the highest worldwide. To date, 233 loci were associated with MS and almost 20% of risk heritability is attributable to common genetic variants, but many low-frequency and rare variants remain to be discovered. Here, we aimed to contribute to the understanding of the genetic basis of MS by investigating potentially functional rare variants. To this end, we analyzed thirteen multiplex Sardinian families with Immunochip genotyping data. For five families, Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) data were also available. Firstly, we performed a non-parametric Homozygosity Haplotype analysis for identifying the Region from Common Ancestor (RCA). Then, on these potential disease-linked RCA, we searched for the presence of rare variants shared by the affected individuals by analyzing WES data. We found: (<i>i</i>) a variant (43181034 T > G) in the splicing region on exon 27 of <i>CUL9</i>; (<i>ii</i>) a variant (50245517 A > C) in the splicing region on exon 16 of <i>ATP9A</i>; (<i>iii</i>) a non-synonymous variant (43223539 A > C), on exon 9 of <i>TTBK1</i>; (<i>iv</i>) a non-synonymous variant (42976917 A > C) on exon 9 of <i>PPP2R5D</i>; and <i>v</i>) a variant (109859349-109859354) in 3′UTR of <i>MYO16.</i>
ISSN:1467-3037
1467-3045