Two novel mutations of PAX3 and SOX10 were characterized as genetic causes of Waardenburg Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic causes of two probands diagnosed as Waardenburg syndrome (WS type I and IV) from two unrelated Chinese families.

METHODS: PAX3 and SOX10 were the main pathogenic genes for WS type I (WS I) and IV (WS IV), respectively; all coding exons of these genes were sequenced on the two probands and their family members. Luciferase reporter assay and co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP) were conducted to verify potential functional outcomes of the novel mutations.

RESULTS: The first proband is a 9 years old girl diagnosed with WS I. A novel PAX3 heterozygous mutation of c.372-373delGA (p.N125fs) was identified, which results in a frameshift and truncation of PAX3 protein. In family II, a 2 years old girl was diagnosed with WS IV, and Sanger sequencing revealed a de novo SOX10 mutation of c.1114insTGGGGCCCCCACACTACACCGAC (p.Q372fs), a frameshift mutation that extends the amino acid chain of SOX10 protein. Functional studies indicated that the novel mutation of SOX10 had no effects on the interaction of SOX10 and PAX3, but reduced transactivate capacity of melanocyte inducing transcription factor (MITF) promoter. Both PAX3 and SOX10 mutation-induced defects of MITF transcription might contribute to the WS pathogenesis.

CONCLUSION: We revealed a novel mutation in PAX3 and a de novo mutation in SOX10, which might account for the underlying pathogenesis of WS. This study expands the database of both PAX10 and PAX3 mutations and improves our understanding of the causes of WS.