Rare Single Nucleotide and Copy Number Variants and the Etiology of Congenital Obstructive Uropathy: Implications for Genetic Diagnosis
Authors: Ahram Dina F. , Lim Tze Y. , Ke Juntao , Jin Gina , Verbitsky Miguel , Bodria Monica , Kil Byum Hee , Chatterjee Debanjana , Piva Stacy E. , Marasa Maddalena , Zhang Jun Y. , Cocchi Enrico , Caridi Gianluca , Gucev Zoran , Lozanovski Vladimir J. , Pisani Isabella , Izzi Claudia , Savoldi Gianfranco , Gnutti Barbara , Capone Valentina P. , Morello William , Guarino Stefano , Esposito Pasquale , Lambert Sarah , Radhakrishnan Jai , Appel Gerald B. , Uy Natalie S. , Rao Maya K. , Canetta Pietro A. , Bomback Andrew S. , Nestor Jordan G. , Hays Thomas , Cohen David J. , Finale Carolina , Wijk Joanna A.E. van , La Scola Claudio , Baraldi Olga , Tondolo Francesco , Di Renzo Dacia , Jamry-Dziurla Anna , Pezzutto Alessandro , Manca Valeria , Mitrotti Adele , Santoro Domenico , Conti Giovanni , Martino Marida , Giordano Mario , Gesualdo Loreto , Zibar Lada , Masnata Giuseppe , Bonomini Mario , Alberti Daniele , La Manna Gaetano , Caliskan Yasar , Ranghino Andrea , Marzuillo Pierluigi , Kiryluk Krzysztof , Krzemień Grażyna , Miklaszewska Monika , Lin Fangming , Montini Giovanni , Scolari Francesco , Fiaccadori Enrico , Arapović Adela , Saraga Marijan , McKiernan James , Alam Shumyle , Zaniew Marcin , Szczepańska Maria , Szmigielska Agnieszka , Sikora Przemysław , Drożdż Dorota , Mizerska-Wasiak Malgorzata , Mane Shrikant , Lifton Richard P. , Tasic Velibor , Latos-Bielenska Anna , Gharavi Ali G. , Ghiggeri Gian Marco , Materna-Kiryluk Anna , Westland Rik , Sanna-Cherchi Simone 
Published: March 2023

Significance Statement

Congenital obstructive uropathy (COU) is a prevalent human developmental defect with highly heterogeneous clinical presentations and outcomes. Genetics may refine diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment, but the genomic architecture of COU is largely unknown. Comprehensive genomic screening study of 733 cases with three distinct COU subphenotypes revealed disease etiology in 10.0% of them. We detected no significant differences in the overall diagnostic yield among COU subphenotypes, with characteristic variable expressivity of several mutant genes. Our findings therefore may legitimize a genetic first diagnostic approach for COU, especially when burdening clinical and imaging characterization is not complete or available.

Background

Congenital obstructive uropathy (COU) is a common cause of developmental defects of the urinary tract, with heterogeneous clinical presentation and outcome. Genetic analysis has the potential to elucidate the underlying diagnosis and help risk stratification.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive genomic screen of 733 independent COU cases, which consisted of individuals with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (n=321), ureterovesical junction obstruction/congenital megaureter (n=178), and COU not otherwise specified (COU-NOS; n=234).

Results

We identified pathogenic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 53 (7.2%) cases and genomic disorders (GDs) in 23 (3.1%) cases. We detected no significant differences in the overall diagnostic yield between COU sub-phenotypes, and pathogenic SNVs in several genes were associated to any of the three categories. Hence, although COU may appear phenotypically heterogeneous, COU phenotypes are likely to share common molecular bases. On the other hand, mutations in TNXB were more often identified in COU-NOS cases, demonstrating the diagnostic challenge in discriminating COU from hydronephrosis secondary to vesicoureteral reflux, particularly when diagnostic imaging is incomplete. Pathogenic SNVs in only six genes were found in more than one individual, supporting high genetic heterogeneity. Finally, convergence between data on SNVs and GDs suggest MYH11 as a dosage-sensitive gene possibly correlating with severity of COU.

Conclusions

We established a genomic diagnosis in 10.0% of COU individuals. The findings underscore the urgent need to identify novel genetic susceptibility factors to COU to better define the natural history of the remaining 90% of cases without a molecular diagnosis.