WNT10A variants: following the pattern of inheritance in tooth agenesis and self-reported family history of cancer

Objectives: The aim of this study was the analysis of WNT10A variants in seven families of probands with various forms of tooth agenesis and self-reported family history of cancer.

Materials and methods: We enrolled 60 young subjects (aged 13 to 17) from the Czech Republic with various forms of tooth agenesis. Dental phenotypes were assessed using Planmeca ProMax 3D (Planmeca Oy, Finland) with Planmeca Romexis software (version 2.9.2) together with oral examinations. After screening PAX9, MSX1, EDA, EDAR, AXIN2 and WNT10A genes on the Illumina MiSeq platform (Illumina, USA), we further analyzed the evolutionarily highly conserved WNT10A gene by capillary sequencing in the seven families.

Results: All the detected variants were heterozygous or compound heterozygous with various levels of phenotypic expression. The most severe phenotype (oligodontia) was found in a proband who was compound heterozygous for the previously identified WNT10A variant p.Phe228Ile and a newly discovered c.748G > A variant (p.Gly250Arg) of WNT10A. The newly identified variant causes substitution of hydrophobic glycine for hydrophilic arginine.

Conclusions: We suggest that the amino acid changes in otherwise highly conserved sequences significantly affect the dental phenotype. No relationship between the presence of WNT10A variants and a risk of cancer has been found.

Clinical relevance: Screening of PAX9, MSX1, EDA, EDAR, AXIN2 and WNT10A genes in hope to elucidate the pattern of inheritance in families.