Identification of a PKP2 gene deletion in a family with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Eur J Hum Genet. 2013 Nov;21(11):1226-31. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2013.39. Epub 2013 Mar 13.

Abstract

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a primary heart muscle disease characterized by progressive myocardial loss, with fibro-fatty replacement, and high frequency of ventricular arrhythmias that can lead to sudden cardiac death. ARVC is a genetically determined disorder, usually caused by point mutations in components of the cardiac desmosome. Conventional mutation screening of ARVC genes fails to detect causative mutations in about 50% of index cases, suggesting a further genetic heterogeneity. We performed a genome-wide linkage study and a copy number variations (CNVs) analysis, using high-density SNP arrays, in an ARVC family showing no mutations in any of the desmosomal genes. The CNVs analysis identified a heterozygous deletion of about 122 kb on chromosome 12p11.21, including the entire plakophilin-2 gene and shared by all affected family members. It was not listed on any of available public CNVs databases and was confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. This is the first SNP array-based genome-wide study leading to the identification of a CNV segregating with the disease phenotype in an ARVC family. This result underscores the importance of performing additional analysis for possible genomic deletions/duplications in ARVC patients without point mutations in known disease genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / genetics*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 12 / genetics
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Family
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Gene Dosage / genetics
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree
  • Plakophilins / genetics*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Ultrasonography
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • PKP2 protein, human
  • Plakophilins