Highly restricted deletion of the SNORD116 region is implicated in Prader-Willi Syndrome

Eur J Hum Genet. 2015 Feb;23(2):252-5. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2014.103. Epub 2014 Jun 11.

Abstract

The SNORD116 locus lies in the 15q11-13 region of paternally expressed genes implicated in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS), a complex disease accompanied by obesity and severe neurobehavioural disturbances. Cases of PWS patients with a deletion encompassing the SNORD116 gene cluster, but preserving the expression of flanking genes, have been described. We report a 23-year-old woman who presented clinical criteria of PWS, including the behavioural and nutritional features, obesity, developmental delay and endocrine dysfunctions with hyperghrelinemia. We found a paternally transmitted highly restricted deletion of the SNORD116 gene cluster, the shortest described to date (118 kb). This deletion was also present in the father. This finding in a human case strongly supports the current hypothesis that lack of the paternal SNORD116 gene cluster has a determinant role in the pathogenesis of PWS. Moreover, targeted analysis of the SNORD116 gene cluster, complementary to SNRPN methylation analysis, should be carried out in subjects with a phenotype suggestive of PWS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Gene Deletion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Prader-Willi Syndrome / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / genetics*
  • RNA, Small Nucleolar / metabolism

Substances

  • RNA, Small Nucleolar
  • SNORD116 RNA, human