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BAFopathies' DNA methylation epi-signatures demonstrate diagnostic utility and functional continuum of Coffin-Siris and Nicolaides-Baraitser syndromes.
Nature Communications
  • Erfan Aref-Eshghi, Western University
  • Eric G Bend
  • Rebecca L Hood
  • Laila C Schenkel, Western University
  • Deanna Alexis Carere, London Health Science Centre
  • Rana Chakrabarti, Children's Health Research Institute
  • Sandesh C S Nagamani
  • Sau Wai Cheung
  • Philippe M Campeau
  • Chitra Prasad, Children's Health Research Institute
  • Victoria Mok Siu, Children's Health Research Institute
  • Lauren Brady
  • Mark A Tarnopolsky
  • David J Callen
  • A Micheil Innes
  • Susan M White
  • Wendy S Meschino
  • Andrew Y Shuen, Children's Health Research Institute
  • Guillaume Paré
  • Dennis E Bulman
  • Peter J Ainsworth, Western University
  • Hanxin Lin, Western University
  • David I Rodenhiser, Western University
  • Raoul C Hennekam
  • Kym M Boycott
  • Charles E Schwartz
  • Bekim Sadikovic, Western University
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-20-2018
URL with Digital Object Identifier
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07193-y
Disciplines
Abstract

Coffin-Siris and Nicolaides-Baraitser syndromes (CSS and NCBRS) are Mendelian disorders caused by mutations in subunits of the BAF chromatin remodeling complex. We report overlapping peripheral blood DNA methylation epi-signatures in individuals with various subtypes of CSS (ARID1B, SMARCB1, and SMARCA4) and NCBRS (SMARCA2). We demonstrate that the degree of similarity in the epi-signatures of some CSS subtypes and NCBRS can be greater than that within CSS, indicating a link in the functional basis of the two syndromes. We show that chromosome 6q25 microdeletion syndrome, harboring ARID1B deletions, exhibits a similar CSS/NCBRS methylation profile. Specificity of this epi-signature was confirmed across a wide range of neurodevelopmental conditions including other chromatin remodeling and epigenetic machinery disorders. We demonstrate that a machine-learning model trained on this DNA methylation profile can resolve ambiguous clinical cases, reclassify those with variants of unknown significance, and identify previously undiagnosed subjects through targeted population screening.

Notes

Originally published in Nature Communications, Vol. 9(1)

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-07193-y

© 2018 The Author(s)

Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
Citation Information
Erfan Aref-Eshghi, Eric G Bend, Rebecca L Hood, Laila C Schenkel, et al.. "BAFopathies' DNA methylation epi-signatures demonstrate diagnostic utility and functional continuum of Coffin-Siris and Nicolaides-Baraitser syndromes." Nature Communications Vol. 9 Iss. 1 (2018) p. 4885 - 4885
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/bekim-sadikovic/9/