A large view of CYP21 locus among Sicilians and other populations: identification of a novel CYP21A2 variant in Sicily.

BACKGROUND

Several mutations in CYP21 locus cause 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD). The most common mutations are widespread among different geographic areas and their frequencies have been also reported to differ among certain populations.

AIM

To obtain a large view on the frequencies of the most common mutations in the CYP21 locus, in Sicily, in the Mediterranean and other major geographic areas worldwide.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Three hundred and eight unrelated CYP21A2 alleles leading 21-OHD in Sicily were genetically typed and compared with other series previously reported in Sicily and in surrounding regions. An analysis of the frequencies of the different geographic areas was also carried out. CYP21A2 typing was carried out using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), for the detection of the CYP21A2 deletion, while sequencing analysis was performed to evaluate all the missense/non-sense mutations.

RESULTS

Our study revealed that p.V281L (44.4%), I2splice (21.6%) and p.P30L (11.2%) were very frequent alleles, del8bp (0.4%) was found very rarely in Sicily and a novel mutation leading to non-classical phenotype, p.L198F, was also discovered in this population. Allele frequencies were found to be significantly different from previously observed frequencies in Sicily. In addition, here we present the most significant frequency modifications among different geographic areas worldwide.

CONCLUSIONS

As the distribution of the disease CYP21A2 alleles is heterogeneous around the world, the knowledge of the relative distributions allows a better management of 21-OHD for fetuses and newborns in different geographic areas.