Biallelic loss-of-function variants in CACHD1 cause a novel neurodevelopmental syndrome with facial dysmorphism and multisystem congenital abnormalities
Marcello Scala, Kamal Khan, Claire Bénéteau, Rachel Fox, Sandra von Hardenberg, Ayaz Khan, Madeleine Joubert, Lorraine Fievet, Marie Denis Musquer, Claudine Le Vaillant, Julie Korda Holsclaw, Derek Lim, Ann-Cathrine Berking, Andrea Accogli, Thea Giacomini, Lino Nobili, Pasquale Striano, Federico Zara, Annalaura Torella, Vincenzo Nigro, Benjamin Cogné, Max R. Salick, Ajamete Kaykas, Kevin Eggan, Valeria Capra, Stéphane Bezieau, Erica E. Davis, Michael F. Wells
Abstract
PURPOSE: We established the genetic etiology of a syndromic neurodevelopmental condition characterized by variable cognitive impairment, recognizable facial dysmorphism, and a constellation of extra-neurological manifestations. METHODS: We performed phenotypic characterization of 6 participants from 4 unrelated families presenting with a neurodevelopmental syndrome and used exome sequencing to investigate the underlying genetic cause. To probe relevance to the neurodevelopmental phenotype and craniofacial dysmorphism, we established two- and three-dimensional human stem cell-derived neural models and generated a stable cachd1 zebrafish mutant on a transgenic cartilage reporter line. RESULTS: Affected individuals showed mild cognitive impairment, dysmorphism featuring oculo-auriculo abnormalities, and developmental defects involving genitourinary and digestive tracts. Exome sequencing revealed biallelic putative loss-of-function variants in CACHD1 segregating with disease in all pedigrees. RNA sequencing in CACHD1-depleted neural progenitors revealed abnormal expression of genes with key roles in Wnt signaling, neurodevelopment, and organ morphogenesis. CACHD1 depletion in neural progenitors resulted in reduced percentages of post-mitotic neurons and enlargement of 3D neurospheres. Homozygous cachd1 mutant larvae showed mandibular patterning defects mimicking human facial dysmorphism. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the role of loss-of-function variants in CACHD1 as the cause of a rare neurodevelopmental syndrome with facial dysmorphism and multisystem abnormalities.