CMS are rare disorders caused by a defect in the structure and the function of neuromuscular junctions. Many genes were found to be reported associated with CMS using next-generation DNA sequencing for which the cost has been considerably decreasing these last few years. Most of the mutations found are in the CHRNE gene resulting in a loss of function and defects of the AChR at the endplate. Other genes commonly leading to CMS are DOK7, COLQ, and RAPSN19.
A previous study identified a single truncating mutation (c.1293insG) in the acetylcholine receptor epsilon subunit gene (CHRNE) that was the most often identified in CMS families originating from North Africa with a possibly founder effect in this population20. The homozygous mutation p.Gly240* in COLQ encoding the collagen tail of acetylcholinesterase, has been reported in several Palestinian Arab patients and an Iraqi Jewish patient, also suggesting a founder effect in the Middle East population for this COLQ mutation21.
In this study, we report a patient, presenting with clinical features and a neuromuscular phenotype suggestive of CMS who was initially analyzed with a gene-by-gene strategy. The lack of categorical molecular diagnosis with this initial analysis led us to explore a wider spectrum of genes associated with NMD using a high-throughput sequencing gene panel approach.
Next-generation sequencing has transformed the paradigm of clinical genetic testing. Now there are various molecular tests available, including gene panels that provide a comprehensive and feasible approach for heterogeneous genetic disorders22. Thus, the gene panel approach is appropriate for efficient molecular diagnosis. This NGS approach is perfectly suited for disorders associated with significant phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity such as neuromuscular disorders (NMD)23. Using a panel of 306 neuromuscular genes, we were able to identify a novel COLQ homozygous variant in the index case, thus, describing the first patient presenting with Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome-5 in Morocco and North Africa. Indeed, the c.1193T>A (p.(Ile398Asn) mutation was suggested to impact the function of the protein COLQ (Acetylcholinesterase - Associated Collagen) associated with Myasthenic Syndrome, Congenital, 5 in the first IC.
VarAFT software interactive filtration features allow us the progressive reduction of the list of candidate mutations by combining the various annotations, as well as OMIM who provided detailed clinical features about such disorders to compare with the phenotype information available for our patient. The patient had been analyzed with a gene-by-gene strategy for the SGCG (SarcoGlyCan Gamma; * 608896) gene (mutation c.del525T14), and the test attested a negative yield. This 12 years old boy had walking difficulties and the electromyogram showed myogenic impairment.
By referring to the VarAFT prioritization of causative variants, applying several filters provided by this software, using data from the variant annotation and the phenotype layers, we excluded all variant types except splicing and exonic, and also removed variants with frequency >1% in the GnomAD database. In addition, supposedly polymorphisms and probable polymorphisms were also excluded based on multiple pathogenicity prediction softwares. After bioinformatic filtration, the remaining COLQ homozygous variant, consistent with the reported consanguinity in the family, correlating with the CMS phenotype of the patient, was retained as a probable molecular diagnostic.
Finally, targeted COLQ exon 15 Sanger sequencing confirmed the unaffected parents heterozygous status for the variant. Further, this variant has never been reported neither in the gnomAD database, or scientific literature.
The missense variant identified in this study is located in the conserved C-terminal domain. Other missense variants in this region have been shown to alter bond of collagen-tailed AChE to the NMJ24. Further Functional studies are necessary to confirm the pathogenicity of c.1193T>A p.(Ile398Asn) variant.
In conclusion, CMS are rare but important neuromuscular disorders, and most of them are responding to medication25. Many proteins are crucial to maintain the function or the structure of the NMJ, the multifunctional protein collagenic tail of endplate acetylcholinesterase protein is encoded by the COLQ gene, its function is essential for securing AChE to the basal lamina and gathering AChE at the NMJ5, COLQ variants may alter the essential function of this protein. Recent studies have highlighted the potential of NGS in mutation detection and are being used increasingly as the initial molecular analysis for heterogeneous genetic disorders. Our study demonstrated the efficacy of the NGS targeted approach by implementing a high-throughput gene panel for the identification of variants involved in heterogeneous genetic disorders. The main panel’s limitation is requiring a targeted Sanger sequencing for test fulfillment. However, the NGS panel approach has higher clinical yield compared to a sequential Sanger sequencing approach. Clinical NMD NGS panels allow cost-effective and more accelerated turn-around molecular diagnostic testing than the conventional sequential Sanger sequencing of associated genes26.
To date, mutations in the COLQ gene leading to the CMS-5 have never been reported in Morocco or in North Africa before, revealing a probable underdiagnosed condition. The high rate of consanguinity in this region is responsible for the diversity of genetic diseases, hence the need to implement a targeted and efficient diagnosis. Thus, NGS approach systematization in the near future, suited for genetic diagnosis of heterogeneous disorders, could be an efficient solution for this problem, especially in the context of NMD that may benefit from an appropriate therapeutic option and treatment.