评估血液转录组分析对先前已通过基因组测序评估的儿科队列的诊断影响。
Assessing the diagnostic impact of blood transcriptome profiling in a pediatric cohort previously assessed by genome sequencing.
作者信息
Hou Huayun, Yuki Kyoko E, Costain Gregory, Szuto Anna, Barnes Sierra, Ramani Arun K, Celik Alper, Braga Michael, Gloven-Brown Meagan, Stavropoulos Dimitri J, Bowdin Sarah, Cohn Ronald D, Mendoza-Londono Roberto, Scherer Stephen W, Brudno Michael, Marshall Christian R, Stephen Meyn M, Shlien Adam, Dowling James J, Wilson Michael D, Kyriakopoulou Lianna
机构信息
Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, SickKids Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Division of Genome Diagnostics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.
出版信息
NPJ Genom Med. 2025 Jul 1;10(1):51. doi: 10.1038/s41525-025-00505-4.
Despite advances in genome sequencing, many individuals with rare genetic disorders remain undiagnosed. Transcriptional profiling via RNA-seq can reveal functional impacts of DNA variants and improve diagnosis. We assessed blood-derived RNA-seq in the largely undiagnosed SickKids Genome Clinic cohort (n = 134), which has been subjected to multiple analyses benchmarking the utility of genome sequencing. Our RNA-centric analysis identifies gene expression outliers, aberrant splicing, and allele-specific expression. In one-third of diagnosed individuals (20/61), RNA-seq reinforced DNA-based findings. In 2/61 cases, RNA-seq revised diagnoses (EPG5 to LZTR1 in an individual with a Noonan syndrome-like disorder) and discovered an additional relevant gene (CEP120 in addition to SON in an individual with ZTTK syndrome). Additionally, ~7% (5/73) of undiagnosed cases had at least one plausible candidate gene identified. This study highlights both the benefits and limitations of whole-blood RNA profiling in refining genetic diagnoses and uncovering novel disease mechanisms.
尽管基因组测序取得了进展,但许多患有罕见遗传疾病的个体仍未得到诊断。通过RNA测序进行转录谱分析可以揭示DNA变异的功能影响并改善诊断。我们在很大程度上未得到诊断的 SickKids 基因组诊所队列(n = 134)中评估了血液来源的RNA测序,该队列已经过多次分析以评估基因组测序的效用。我们以RNA为中心的分析确定了基因表达异常值、异常剪接和等位基因特异性表达。在三分之一的已诊断个体(20/61)中,RNA测序强化了基于DNA的发现。在2/61的病例中,RNA测序修正了诊断结果(在一名患有努南综合征样疾病的个体中从EPG5修正为LZTR1),并发现了另一个相关基因(在一名患有ZTTK综合征的个体中除了SON之外还发现了CEP120)。此外,约7%(5/73)的未诊断病例至少确定了一个合理的候选基因。这项研究突出了全血RNA分析在完善遗传诊断和揭示新的疾病机制方面的益处和局限性。