Partial 5p monosomy or trisomy in 11 patients from a family with a t(5;15)(p13.3;p12) translocation

A family with six alive patients with partial monosomy 5p and five with partial trisomy 5p due to a t(5;15)(p13.3;p12) translocation is reported. The translocation was present in four generations with eight balanced carriers. This is the first molecular-cytogenetic and clinical study with both syndromes present in the same family. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) probes, the breakpoint was mapped to 5p13.3, in the interval corresponding to the BAC clone RP11-1079N14, thereof resulting a 5pter-5p13.3 deletion or duplication of ~32 Mb. These chromosome imbalances can be considered pure, since the other imbalance produced involving chromosome 15p has no phenotypic effect. The presence of several individuals with 5p monosomy and 5p trisomy in the same family is valuable for a better delineation of both syndromes.     

Structural differences in pericentric inversions. Application to a model of risk of recombinants

Summary The potential chromosomal imbalance in offspring of pericentric inversion heterozygotes can be evaluated by measuring (% of haploid autosomal length, % HAL) the chromosomal segments distal to the breakpoints in the inversion. These distal segments were measured in presently reported and published cases of pericentric inversions, divided into two ascertainment groups: (I) those ascertained through recombinant offspring and (II) those ascertained through balanced heterozygotes. The distal segments in group II inversions were significantly larger than those of group I, i.e., the potentially larger chromosomal imbalances were not observed in full-term offspring. These results are discussed in relation to the model of risk of abnormal offspring in the progeny of heterozygotes for structural rearrangements (the chromosome imbalance size-viability model). The mean distal segment sizes for group I and group II pericentric inversions were respectively not significantly different from the mean interchange segment size for a sample of reciprocal translocations divided into the same two ascertainment groups. It was concluded that the restrictions on the size (% HAL) of chromosomal imbalance in offspring surviving until term are similar whether this imbalance arises from reciprocal translocations or pericentric inversions.     

Interchange trisomy 21 by t(1;21)(p22;q22)mat

Interchange trisomy 21 by t(1:21)(p22:q22)mat: Interchange trisomy 21 by t(1;21)(p22;q22)mat was identified in a sporadic patient with Down syndrome. With a 21q22 specific probe, we observed signals on both normal 21 chromosomes and on the der. We reviewed the 23 published reports of families with reciprocal translocations leading to viable offspring with interchange trisomy 21. The breakpoints in chromosome 21 were mainly located in 21q (19/24 instances, including the present report) and in 19/23 cases the other chromosome involved in the translocation was (pairs 1-12). The underlying 3:1 segregation occurred mainly in carrier mothers; only one patient presented a de novo imbalance and in another case the father was the carrier. In addition, there were 4 instances of concurrence with another unbalanced segregation (adjacent-1 or tertiary trisomy) and 3 families with recurrence of interchange trisomy 21. The mean age of 14 female carriers at birth of interchange trisomy 21 offspring (24.8 yr) was lower that the mean (28.3 yr) found in a larger sample of mothers of unbalanced offspring due to 3:1 segregation (mostly tertiary trisomics) and was not increased with respect to the general population average. Overall, these data agree with previous estimates regarding recurrence risk (9-15%) and abortion rate (about 28%) in female carriers ascertained through an interchange trisomic 21 child.     

A novel family-specific translocation t(2;20)(p24.1;q13.1) associated with recurrent abortions: molecular characterization and segregation analysis in male meiosis

In the present study, we present a novel reciprocal translocation t(2;20)(p24.1;q13.1) and its segregation in a three generation family. The rate of miscarriages (50%) in pregnancies from male translocation carriers could be explained by unbalanced translocation-bearing spermatozoa found with a frequency of approximately 55% in the entire sperm population of a t(2;20)(p24.1;q13.1) carrier. These imbalanced spermatozoa mainly present as 2, der(20) and der(2), 20 missegregated (approximately 46%) while adjacent 2 and 3:1 segregation patterns account for approximately 5% and 4% of imbalances, respectively. While the translocation is associated clearly with an increased risk of early abortions (7/12) in both male and female carriers, no malformed livebirths were observed. Our results suggest complete embryonic lethality of imbalanced offspring. With respect to a high rate of segregation to 2, der(20) and to der(2), 20 imbalanced spermatozoa in male translocation carriers and with respect to known cases of partial trisomy 2p and 20q we consider that their corresponding monosomies result in fetal loss. This is the first study reporting multiple abortions associated with partial monosomy 20q13.1-->qter and 2pter-->p24.1 and the first report on the frequency of chromosomal imbalances in gametes of a male t(2;20)(p24.1;q13.1) heterozygote.     

A rare case of aniridia and balanced translocation (5;11) (p15.3;q22) arising in the same subject: a challenge for genetic counseling

The authors report on a case of isolated aniridia caused by haploinsufficiency of the PAX6 gene, which is located on 11p13, and a balanced translocation t(5;l1)(p15.3;q22) inherited respectively from his father and his mother. Due to the coincidence of two abnormalities in the same chromosome, the segregation of the mutant allele leading to aniridia and of the chromosomes involved in the translocation are not independent events. Considering that both monosomy and trisomy for 11q22-qter are unviable, his offspring may inherit either the PAX6 mutation or the balanced translocation. However, depending on the occurrence of crossing over, there is a possibility for him to have normal offspring; on the other hand, he may also father children with both anomalies. This unusual case, in which the proband has a presumably very low chance of completely normal offspring, turned to be a challenge for genetic counseling.     

Familial translocation t(10;21)(q22;q22)

Summary A family is described with a translocation t(10;21)(q22;q22) transmitted through three generations. This family was studied for the apparition of several miscarriages and two sisters with multiple malformations. Both children had a probably partial trisomy of chromosome 10 and a monosomy of chromosome 21 due to a maternal adjacent-2 meiotic segregation.     

Maternal age-specific rates of numerical chromosome abnormalities with special reference to trisomy

Summary The effect of maternal age on the incidence of chromosomally normal spontaneous abortion and different categories of chromosome abnormality among all clinically recognized human pregnancies was evaluated. The results provide no evidence for a significant association of age with sex chromosome monosomy or polyploidy, but clearly demonstrate an effect of age on the frequency of trisomy and chromosomally normal spontaneous abortions. Estimated maternal age-specific rates of trisomy among all recognized pregnancies were calculated and suggest that a majority of oocytes of women aged 40 years and older may be aneuploid.     

A complex chromosomal rearrangement with a translocation 4;10;14 in a fertile male carrier: ascertainment through an offspring with partial trisomy 14q13-->q24.1 and partial monosomy 4q27-->q28 [corrected

Complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCRs) are usually associated with infertility or subfertility in male carriers. If fertility is maintained, there is a high risk of abnormal pregnancy outcome. Few male carriers have been identified by children presenting with mental retardation/congenital malformations (MR/CM) or by spontaneous abortions of the spouses. We report a de novo CCR with five breakpoints involving chromosomes 4, 10 and 14 in a male carrier who was ascertained through a son presenting with MR/CM due to an unbalanced karyotype with partial trisomy 14 and partial monosomy 4. The child has a healthy elder brother. In the family history no abortions were reported. No fertility treatment was necessary. Cytogenetic analysis from the affected son showed a reciprocal translocation t(4;10) with additional chromosomal material inserted between the translocation junctions in the derivative chromosome 10. The father showed the same derivative chromosome 10 but had additionally one aberrant chromosome 14. Further molecular cytogenetic analyses determined the inserted material in the aberrant chromosome 10 as derived from chromosome 14 and revealed a small translocation with material of chromosome 4 inserted into the derivative chromosome 14. Thus the phenotype of the son is supposed to be associated with a partial duplication 14q13-->q24.1 and a partial monosomy 4q27-->q28. Including our case we are aware of eleven CCR cases with fertile male carriers. In eight of these families normal offspring have been reported. We propose that exceptional CCRs in fertile male carriers might form comparatively simple pachytene configurations increasing the chance of healthy offspring.     

Two reciprocal translocations t(9p+;13q−) and t(13q−;21q+)

Summary Two reciprocal balanced translocations 46,XY,t(9;13)(p23;q21) and 46,XX,t(13;21)(q21;q21), identified by RFA- and GTG-banding, are presented along with a complete study of both families.In the second case a 3:1 segregation is associated with an unbalanced 2:2 segregation, as demonstrated in the two surviving sons: one with interchange trisomy 21 and the other with partial trisomy 13 and partial monosomy 21. This suggests that the presence of this translocation, and possibly of other translocations involving morphologically similar chromosomes, could signify a high risk of having chromosomal disorders in offspring.     

Trisomy/partial monosomy 13 mosaicism associated with relatively mild clinical malformation.

A female fetus with a rare de novo chromosome abnormality involving mosaicism with two cell lines with trisomy 13 and presumptive partial monosomy 13 due to a Robertsonian translocation and ring chromosome, respectively, was prenatally diagnosed. On termination this case, together with apparently the only other three reported cytogenetically similar cases, was found to have much less severe clinical abnormalities than might have been predicted. The possibility in these cases that the effects of the trisomy and monosomy for the common segment of chromosome 13 may have counterbalanced each other at the tissue level in embryogenesis thereby resulting in less disturbance of morphogenesis than would be expected for each type of imbalance acting in isolation is considered.     

Mating between two balanced translocation carriers in two unrelated families

Partial trisomy 9p and a 13/14 translocation occurred in the daughter of a t(5;9)(p15;p12) mother and a t(13;14)(p11;q11) father. Two additional offspring displayed a normal karyotype and a translocation trisomy 13 respectively. Two first cousins, selected for chromosome analysis because of a spontaneous abortion, were found to have an identical translocation t(14;21)(p11;q11). Their second pregnancy was monitored by midtrimester amniocentesis and disclosed a balanced fetus. The different zygotic chromosome constitutions and the counselling problems in the marriages between two balanced translocation carriers are discussed.     

Partial trisomy 17q and monosomy 9p due to a familial translocation.

Described is an infant with partial trisomy 17q and monosomy 9p [46,XX,-9,+der(9)t(9;17)(p21;q23)] due to adjacent-1 segregation of a maternal balanced reciprocal translocation. Characteristic clinical features of both partial 17q trisomy and monosomy 9p are present, but the former syndrome is less recognisable in this infant than in previously reported cases due to the concomitant 9p monosomy.     

Reciprocal syndromes caused by deficiency duplication resulting from maternal t(10;18)(p12;q22) translocation

The detection of a familial translocation, t(10;18)(p12;q22), has made possible the observation in type and countertype of two related persons with opposite chromosomal imbalance: trisomy 18q22----18qter with monosomy 10p12----10pter in one of the two and monosomy 18q22----10pter in the other. In each case the abnormalities attributable to monosomy overrule those attributable to monosomy overrule those attributable to the associated trisomy.     

Clinical and molecular characterization of a combined 17p13.3 microdeletion with partial monosomy 21q21.3 in a 26-year-old man

We led a clinical and molecular characterization of a patient with mild mental delay and dysmorphic features initially referred for cytogenetic exploration of an azoospermia. We employed FISH and array CGH techniques for a better definition and refinement of a double chromosome aberration associating a 17p microdeletion with partial monosomy 21q due to 1:3 meiotic segregation of a maternal reciprocal translocation t(17;21)(p13.3;q21.2) revealed after banding analysis. Brain MRI depicted partial callosal and mild diffuse cerebral atrophies, but without expected signs of lissencephaly. The patient's karyotype formula was: 45,XY,der(17)t(17;21)(p13.3;q21.2)mat,-21. FISH study confirmed these rearrangements and array CGH analysis estimated the loss sizes to at least 635 kb on chromosome 17 and to 15.6 Mb on chromosome 21. The absence of lissencephaly and major brain malformations often associated with 17p terminal deletions could be attributed to the retention of PAFAH1B1, YWHAE and CRK genes. Dysmorphic features, moderate mental impairment and minor brain malformations could result from the 21q monosomy and particularly the partial deletion of the APP-SOD1 region. Azoospermia should result from gamete apoptosis induced by a control mechanism triggered in response to chromosome imbalances. Our study provides an additional case for better understanding and delineating both 17p and 21q deletions.     

A family with segregation of an unbalanced translocation (7;13) (q36;q32) in three patients with severe mental retardation, microcephaly and dysmorphic features, detected by subtelomere FISH: genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis

We report a Sardinian family in which three members showed a mental-retardation-microcephaly-multiple malformations syndrome resulting from an unbalanced translocation (7;13)(q36;q32) which led to subtelomeric trisomy 7q36qter and partial monosomy 13q32qter. The unbalanced translocation was transmitted by alternate segregation from a female and a male carriers of the balanced translocation. The three patients had severe mental retardation, microcephaly and multiple minor facial and fingers anomalies. Neuroimages showed brain atrophy, associated in two patients with partial agenesis of the corpus callosum. FISH with chromosome 13 and 7 specific painting probes and subtelomere specific probes was instrumental for defining and characterizing the chromosomal translocation. Extensive genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis has been offered to all the members of the family.     

Abnormal genetic segregation associated with the presence of a Y. w+ chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster

We have observed an abnormal genetic segregation in the progeny of crosses between males of the F71 (y wa/Y.w+) strain and females of various strains carrying marker mutations on their chromosome 2. The Y.w+ chromosome, previously described as possibly being associated with a translocation of the 22D region of chromosome 2, was shown to carry the 21A1-22E4 tip of the 2L chromosome. One chromosome 2 of F71 had a deletion of this region. The abnormal genetic segregation observed in the progeny of different crosses can be explained both by the partial lethality (which becomes severe in some homogeneous genetic backgrounds) due to trisomy of the 21A1-22E4 chromosome 2 fragment and by the lethality associated with monosomy of this 21A1-22E4 segment.     

Tertiary trisomy of 10p15.pter and 14pter.ql3 due to maternal translocation t(10;14)(p15;q13)

Double partial trisomy resulting from 3:1 segregation of the respective chromosomal segments of the chromosomes involved in a balanced translocation in meiosis is rarely reported in the literature. We present here a first patient with multiple congenital malformations associated with double partial trisomy of 10pter-p15 and 14pter-q13 resulting from 3:1 segregation of maternal balanced translocation t(10;14)(p15;q13). Proximal partial trisomy of chromosome 14 and subterminal trisomy of the short arm of the chromosome 10 are rare. The present case is the first case with double partial trisomy of these segments resulting from 3:1 segregation of a maternal balanced translocation.     

Trisomy 16q23→qter arising from a maternal t(13;16)(p12;q23): case report and evidence of the reciprocal balanced maternal rearrangement by the Ag-NOR technique

Summary We describe a female new-born with partial trisomy of the long arm of chromosome 16. The chromosome anomaly was the result of an unbalanced segregation of a maternal translocation t(13;16)(p12;q23). Dynamic (RBG, GBG) banding and the Ag-NOR technique ascertained the reciprocal balanced maternal translocation between the 16q23qter and 13q12pter segments because nucleolar organizers were present on the tip of long arms of the derivative 16 maternal chromosome. As monosomy 13p has little or no deleterious effect we consider our case as exhibiting the phenotype of trisomy 16q23qter free from any monosomic feature. Clinical effects are of less consequence as compared with previously published cases of partial trisomy 16q.     

To err (meiotically) is human: the genesis of human aneuploidy

Aneuploidy (trisomy or monosomy) is the most commonly identified chromosome abnormality in humans, occurring in at least 5% of all clinically recognized pregnancies. Most aneuploid conceptuses perish in utero, which makes this the leading genetic cause of pregnancy loss. However, some aneuploid fetuses survive to term and, as a class, aneuploidy is the most common known cause of mental retardation. Despite the devastating clinical consequences of aneuploidy, relatively little is known of how trisomy and monosomy originate in humans. However, recent molecular and cytogenetic approaches are now beginning to shed light on the non-disjunctional processes that lead to aneuploidy.