Age-dependent phenotypic and molecular evolution of pediatric MDS arising from GATA2 deficiency.

GATA2 deficiency is an autosomal dominant transcriptopathy disorder with high risk for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). To elucidate genotype-phenotype associations and identify new genetic risk factors for MDS, we analyzed 218 individuals with germline heterozygous GATA2 variants. We observed striking age-dependent incidence patterns in GATA2-related MDS (GATA2-MDS), with MDS being absent in infants, rare before age 6 years, and steeply increasing in older children.

Gain-of-function mutations in RPA1 cause a syndrome with short telomeres and somatic genetic rescue.

Human telomere biology disorders (TBD)/short telomere syndromes (STS) are heterogeneous disorders caused by inherited loss-of-function mutations in telomere-associated genes. Here, we identify 3 germline heterozygous missense variants in the RPA1 gene in 4 unrelated probands presenting with short telomeres and varying clinical features of TBD/STS, including bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndrome, T- and B-cell lymphopenia, pulmonary fibrosis, or skin manifestations. All variants cluster to DNA-binding domain A of RPA1 protein.

Synonymous GATA2 mutations result in selective loss of mutated RNA and are common in patients with GATA2 deficiency.

Deficiency of the transcription factor GATA2 is a highly penetrant genetic disorder predisposing to myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and immunodeficiency. It has been recognized as the most common cause underlying primary MDS in children. Triggered by the discovery of a recurrent synonymous GATA2 variant, we systematically investigated 911 patients with phenotype of pediatric MDS or cellular deficiencies for the presence of synonymous alterations in GATA2.

Constitutional mutations cause familial myelodysplastic syndrome and transient monosomy 7.

Familial myelodysplastic syndromes arise from haploinsufficiency of genes involved in hematopoiesis and are primarily associated with early-onset disease. Here we describe a familial syndrome in seven patients from four unrelated pedigrees presenting with myelodysplastic syndrome and loss of chromosome 7/7q. Their median age at diagnosis was 2.