Monogenic causes of autoimmunity give key insights to the complex regulation of the immune system. We report a new monogenic cause of autoimmunity resulting from de novo germline activating STAT3 mutations in 5 individuals with a spectrum of early-onset autoimmune disease including type 1 diabetes. These findings emphasise the critical role of STAT3 in autoimmune disease and contrast with the germline inactivating STAT3 mutations that result in Hyper IgE syndrome.

The contribution of cis-regulatory mutations to human disease remains poorly understood. Whole genome sequencing can identify all non-coding variants, yet discrimination of causal regulatory mutations represents a formidable challenge. We used epigenomic annotation in hESC-derived embryonic pancreatic progenitor cells to guide the interpretation of whole genome sequences from patients with isolated pancreatic agenesis. This uncovered six different recessive mutations in a previously uncharacterized ~400bp sequence located 25kb downstream of PTF1A (pancreas-specific transcription factor 1a) in ten families with pancreatic agenesis. We show that this region acts as a developmental enhancer of PTF1A and that the mutations abolish enhancer activity. These mutations are the most common cause of isolated pancreatic agenesis. Integrating genome sequencing and epigenomic annotation in a disease-relevant cell type can uncover novel non-coding elements underlying human development and disease.

Aims/hypothesisCurrent genetic tests for diagnosing monogenic diabetes rely on selection of the appropriate gene for analysis according to the patient’s phenotype. Next-generation sequencing enables the simultaneous analysis of multiple genes in a single test. Our aim was to develop a targeted next-generation sequencing assay to detect mutations in all known MODY and neonatal diabetes genes.MethodsWe selected 29 genes in which mutations have been reported to cause neonatal diabetes, MODY, maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) or familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD). An exon-capture assay was designed to include coding regions and splice sites. A total of 114 patient samples were tested—32 with known mutations and 82 previously tested for MODY (n = 33) or neonatal diabetes (n = 49) but in whom a mutation had not been found. Sequence data were analysed for the presence of base substitutions, small insertions or deletions (indels) and exonic deletions or duplications.ResultsIn the 32 positive controls we detected all previously identified variants (34 mutations and 36 polymorphisms), including 55 base substitutions, ten small insertions or deletions and five partial/whole gene deletions/duplications. Previously unidentified mutations were found in five patients with MODY (15%) and nine with neonatal diabetes (18%). Most of these patients (12/14) had mutations in genes that had not previously been tested.Conclusions/interpretationOur novel targeted next-generation sequencing assay provides a highly sensitive method for simultaneous analysis of all monogenic diabetes genes. This single test can detect mutations previously identified by Sanger sequencing or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification dosage analysis. The increased number of genes tested led to a higher mutation detection rate.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00125-013-2962-5) contains peer-reviewed but unedited supplementary material, which is available to authorised users.

Understanding the regulation of pancreatic development is key for efforts to develop new regenerative therapeutic approaches for diabetes. Rare mutations in PDX1 and PTF1A can cause pancreatic agenesis, however, most instances of this disorder are of unknown origin. We report de novo heterozygous inactivating mutations in GATA6 in 15/27 (56%) individuals with pancreatic agenesis. These findings define the most common cause of human pancreatic agenesis and establish a key role for the transcription factor GATA6 in human pancreatic development.The genetic basis for most instances of pancreatic agenesis is unknown; mutations in PDX1 (MIM#260 370) and PTF1A (MIM#609 069) have been reported in only five families 1-3 . We studied a cohort of 27 individuals with pancreatic agenesis, defined as neonatal diabetes requiring insulin treatment and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency requiring enzyme replacement therapy, born to non diabetic parents. In all subjects for whom pancreatic imaging was performed (n=21), there was a complete absence (n=16) or marked hypoplasia of the pancreas. We found one affected subject to have a homozygous PTF1A splice site mutation, but we identified no mutations in PDX1 in this cohort. A common recessive

The 86 kDa immediate early IE2 protein of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can activate transcription of both viral and cellular genes and can repress transcription from its own promoter. Using two in vivo assays, we provide evidence of a functional interaction between IE2 and the retinoblastoma (RB) protein: IE2 alleviates RB‐induced repression of a promoter bearing E2F binding sites and RB alleviates IE2‐mediated repression of its own promoter. These functional effects are likely to be a result of a direct contact between IE2 and RB, which we can demonstrate both in vitro and in HCMV‐infected cells. The interaction between IE2 and RB shows similar characteristics to the interaction between RB and E1A. First, binding to IE2 requires an intact RB pocket domain. Secondly, the binding is sensitive to the phosphorylation state of RB, because cyclin A‐CDK‐induced phosphorylation of RB diminishes IE2 binding. Thirdly, the IE2 domain required for RB binding is separate to the domains necessary for TBP and TFIIB binding. Our results demonstrate that large and small DNA viruses have a common interface with the host cell, namely the association with the RB tumour suppressor protein.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration with distal sensory loss and weakness, deep-tendon-reflex abnormalities, and skeletal deformities. It is caused by mutations in more than 40 genes. We investigated a four-generation family with 23 members affected by the axonal form (type 2), for which the common causes had been excluded by Sanger sequencing. Exome sequencing of three affected individuals separated by eight meioses identified a single shared novel heterozygous variant, c.917A>G, in DYNC1H1, which encodes the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain 1 (here, novel refers to a variant that has not been seen in dbSNP131or the August 2010 release of the 1000 Genomes project). Testing of six additional affected family members showed cosegregation and a maximum LOD score of 3.6. The shared DYNC1H1 gene variant is a missense substitution, p.His306Arg, at a highly conserved residue within the homodimerization domain. Three mouse models with different mutations within this domain have previously been reported with age-related progressive loss of muscle bulk and locomotor ability. Cytoplasmic dynein is a large multisubunit motor protein complex and has a key role in retrograde axonal transport in neurons. Our results highlight the importance of dynein and retrograde axonal transport in neuronal function in humans.

DNA polymerase delta, whose catalytic subunit is encoded by POLD1, is responsible for lagging strand DNA synthesis during DNA replication1. It achieves this with high fidelity due to its intrinsic 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity, which confers proofreading ability. Missense mutations in the exonuclease domain of POLD1 have recently been shown to predispose to colorectal and endometrial cancer2. Here we report a recurring heterozygous single amino acid deletion at the polymerase active site of POLD1 that abolishes DNA polymerase activity but only mildly impairs 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity. This mutation causes a distinct multisystem disorder that includes subcutaneous lipodystrophy, deafness, mandibular hypoplasia and hypogonadism in males. This suggests that perturbation of function of the ubiquitously expressed POLD1 polymerase has surprisingly tissue-specific effects in man, and argues for an important role for POLD1 function in adipose tissue homeostasis.

Non-syndromic pituitary gigantism can result from AIP mutations or the recently identified Xq26.3 microduplication causing X-linked acrogigantism (XLAG). Within Xq26.3, GPR101 is believed to be the causative gene, and the c.924G > C (p.E308D) variant in this orphan G protein-coupled receptor has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of acromegaly.We studied 153 patients (58 females and 95 males) with pituitary gigantism. AIP mutation-negative cases were screened for GPR101 duplication through copy number variation droplet digital PCR and high-density aCGH. The genetic, clinical and histopathological features of XLAG patients were studied in detail. 395 peripheral blood and 193 pituitary tumor DNA samples from acromegaly patients were tested for GPR101 variants.We identified 12 patients (10 females and 2 males; 7.8 %) with XLAG. In one subject, the duplicated region only contained GPR101, but not the other three genes in found to be duplicated in the previously reported patients, defining a new smallest region of overlap of duplications. While females presented with germline mutations, the two male patients harbored the mutation in a mosaic state. Nine patients had pituitary adenomas, while three had hyperplasia. The comparison of the features of XLAG, AIP-positive and GPR101&AIP-negative patients revealed significant differences in sex distribution, age at onset, height, prolactin co-secretion and histological features. The pathological features of XLAG-related adenomas were remarkably similar. These tumors had a sinusoidal and lobular architecture. Sparsely and densely granulated somatotrophs were admixed with lactotrophs; follicle-like structures and calcifications were commonly observed. Patients with sporadic of familial acromegaly did not have an increased prevalence of the c.924G > C (p.E308D) GPR101 variant compared to public databases.In conclusion, XLAG can result from germline or somatic duplication of GPR101. Duplication of GPR101 alone is sufficient for the development of XLAG, implicating it as the causative gene within the Xq26.3 region. The pathological features of XLAG-associated pituitary adenomas are typical and, together with the clinical phenotype, should prompt genetic testing.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40478-016-0328-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.