The nuclear lamina provides structural support to the nucleus and has a central role in nuclear organization and gene regulation. Defects in its constituents, the lamins, lead to a class of genetic diseases collectively referred to as laminopathies. Using live cell imaging, we observed the occurrence of intermittent, non-lethal ruptures of the nuclear envelope in dermal fibroblast cultures of patients with different mutations of lamin A/C. These ruptures, which were absent in normal fibroblasts, could be mimicked by selective knockdown as well as knockout of LMNA and were accompanied by the loss of cellular compartmentalization. This was demonstrated by the influx of cytoplasmic transcription factor RelA and regulatory protein Cyclin B1 into the nucleus, and efflux of nuclear transcription factor OCT1 and nuclear structures containing the promyelocytic leukemia (PML) tumour suppressor protein to the cytoplasm. While recovery of enhanced yellow fluorescent protein-tagged nuclear localization signal in the nucleus demonstrated restoration of nuclear membrane integrity, part of the mobile PML structures became permanently translocated to the cytoplasm. These satellite PML structures were devoid of the typical PML body components, such as DAXX, SP100 or SUMO1. Our data suggest that nuclear rupture and loss of compartmentalization may add to cellular dysfunction and disease development in various laminopathies.

Segregation analysis indicated three possible digenic segregation models: (i) autosomal inheritance with mutations on different chromosomes, resembling recessive inheritance (five families); (ii) autosomal inheritance with mutations on the same chromosome resembling dominant inheritance (two families) and (iii) unlinked autosomal and X-linked inheritance having a peculiar segregation (four families). This pedigree analysis provides evidence for digenic inheritance of Alport syndrome. Clinical geneticists and nephrologists should be aware of this possibility in order to more accurately assess inheritance probabilities, predict prognosis and identify other family members at risk.

Background-Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease with incomplete penetrance and variable expression. Causative mutations in genes encoding 5 desmosomal proteins are found in Ϸ50% of ARVD/C index patients. Previous genotype-phenotype relation studies involved mainly overt ARVD/C index patients, so follow-up data on relatives are scarce. Methods and Results-One hundred forty-nine ARVD/C index patients (111 male patients; age, 49Ϯ13 years) according to 2010 Task Force criteria and 302 relatives from 93 families (282 asymptomatic; 135 male patients; age, 44Ϯ13 years) were clinically and genetically characterized. DNA analysis comprised sequencing of plakophilin-2 (PKP2), desmocollin-2, desmoglein-2, desmoplakin, and plakoglobin and multiplex ligationdependent probe amplification to identify large deletions in PKP2. Pathogenic mutations were found in 87 index patients (58%), mainly truncating PKP2 mutations, including 3 cases with multiple mutations. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed 3 PKP2 exon deletions. ARVD/C was diagnosed in 31% of initially asymptomatic mutation-carrying relatives and 5% of initially asymptomatic relatives of index patients without mutation. Prolonged terminal activation duration was observed more than negative T waves in V 1 to V 3 , especially in mutation-carrying relatives Ͻ20 years of age. In 45% of screened families, Ն1 affected relatives were identified (90% with mutations). Conclusions-Pathogenic desmosomal gene mutations, mainly truncating PKP2 mutations, underlie ARVD/C in the majority (58%) of Dutch index patients and even 90% of familial cases. Additional multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis contributed to discovering pathogenic mutations underlying ARVD/C. Discovering pathogenic mutations in index patients enables those relatives who have a 6-fold increased risk of ARVD/C diagnosis to be identified. Prolonged terminal activation duration seems to be a first sign of ARVD/C in young asymptomatic relatives. A rrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) is histopathologically characterized by progressive fibrofatty replacement of myocardium, primarily of the right ventricle (RV). 1-3 Although familial occurrence was recognized in the first report, only in the last decade has the genetic substrate been identified in genes encoding desmosomal proteins. 1,4 -9 Desmosomes are protein complexes in the intercalated disk, among others responsible for mechanical coupling of cardiac myocytes. Their impairment leads to both mechanical and electric uncoupling of cardiomyocytes, followed by cell death with fibrofatty replacement. 10 -13 Both uncoupling and altered architecture result in activation delay, which is the pivotal mechanism for reentry and thus ventricular tachycardia (VT). 14 -16 Editorial see p 2661 Clinical Perspective on p 2700Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy usually shows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, w...

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods are being adopted by genome diagnostics laboratories worldwide. However, implementing NGS-based tests according to diagnostic standards is a challenge for individual laboratories. To facilitate the implementation of NGS in Dutch laboratories, the Dutch Society for Clinical Genetic Laboratory Diagnostics (VKGL) set up a working group in 2012. The results of their discussions are presented here. We provide best practice guidelines and criteria for implementing and validating NGS applications in a clinical setting. We introduce the concept of "diagnostic yield" as the main performance characteristic for evaluating diagnostic tests. We recommend that the laboratory procedures, including the tested genes, should be recorded in a publicly available document describing the complete "diagnostic routing." We also propose that laboratories should use a list of "core disease genes" for specific genetic diseases. This core list contains the essential genes for each disease, and they should all be included in a diagnostic test to establish a reliable and accurate molecular diagnosis. The guidelines will ensure a clear and standardized quality of care provided by genetic diagnostic laboratories. The best practice guidelines and criteria that are presented here were adopted by the VKGL in