Loss of heterozygosity is present in SEC63 germline carriers with polycystic liver disease

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e50324. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050324. Epub 2012 Nov 28.

Abstract

Polycystic liver disease (PCLD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterised by multiple fluid filled cysts in the liver. This rare disease is caused by heterozygous germline mutations in PRKCSH and SEC63. We previously found that, in patients with a PRKCSH mutation, over 76% of the cysts acquired a somatic 'second-hit' mutation in the wild type PRKCSH allele. We hypothesise that somatic second-hit mutations are a general mechanism of cyst formation in PCLD which also plays a role in PCLD patients carrying a SEC63 germline mutation. We collected cyst epithelial cells from 52 liver cysts from three different SEC63 patients using laser microdissection. DNA samples were sequenced to identify loss of heterozygosity (LOH) mutations and other somatic mutations in cyst epithelial DNA. We discovered somatic SEC63 mutations in patient 3 (1/14 cysts), but not in patient 1 and 2 (38 cysts). Upon review we found that the germline mutation of patient 1 and 2 (SEC63 c.1703_1705delAAG) was present in the same frequency in DNA samples from healthy controls, suggesting that this variant is not causative of PCLD. In conclusion, as somatic second-hit mutations also play a role in cyst formation in patients with a SEC63 germline mutation, this appears to be a general mechanism of cyst formation in PCLD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cysts / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Heterozygote*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Liver Diseases / genetics*
  • Loss of Heterozygosity*
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Microdissection
  • Models, Statistical
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Mutation
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • SEC63 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Polycystic liver disease

Grants and funding

Funding for this study was provided by the Institute for Genetic and Metabolic Diseases (Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.