DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) copy number variations (CNVs) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their association with craniofacial abnormalities. Methods A total of 1,457 children who visited the Child Health Department of our hospital...

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Main Authors: Dandan Wu, Ran Chen, Jerry Zhang, Wu Yan, Mengyin Chen, Dongqing Xia, Xiaonan Li, Yanyan Dai, Yinhua Chen, Rong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Italian Journal of Pediatrics
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01839-6
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author Dandan Wu
Ran Chen
Jerry Zhang
Wu Yan
Mengyin Chen
Dongqing Xia
Xiaonan Li
Yanyan Dai
Yinhua Chen
Rong Li
author_facet Dandan Wu
Ran Chen
Jerry Zhang
Wu Yan
Mengyin Chen
Dongqing Xia
Xiaonan Li
Yanyan Dai
Yinhua Chen
Rong Li
author_sort Dandan Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) copy number variations (CNVs) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their association with craniofacial abnormalities. Methods A total of 1,457 children who visited the Child Health Department of our hospital for unexplained Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) between November 2019 and December 2022 were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood samples (2 mL) were collected from the children and their parents for whole-exome sequencing. Positive results were verified through Sanger sequencing for locus and pedigree validation. Simultaneously, a specific sign-scoring scale was created to evaluate characteristics related to the developments of eyes, nose, ears, eyebrows, head, mouth, face, trunk, limbs, and reproductive, urinary, and cardiovascular systems. Results A total of 536 children (36.78%, 536/1,457) were found to have genetic variations, with 379 (70.71%, 379/536) exhibiting pathogenic monogenic mutations. Furthermore, 157 children (29.29%, 157/536) harbored DNA copy number variants, encompassing microdeletions (68.15%, 107/157) and microduplications (31.85%, 50/157). Regarding the pathogenicity of CNVs, 91 (57.96%, 91/157) were identified as pathogenic, 28 (17.83%, 28/157) as variants of uncertain clinical significance (VOUS), and 38 (24.20%, 38/157) as benign according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).Using a specific sign-scoring scale, the proportion of pathogenic CNVs in children graded 1 point or higher (64%, 58/91) was significantly higher than that of non-pathogenic CNVs (43%, 29/66) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of microdeletions in children graded 1 point or higher (60.75%, 65/107) was significantly higher than those carrying microduplications (44%, 22/50) (P < 0.05). The proportion of pathogenic microdeletions in children graded 1 point or higher (73.43%,47/64) was significantly higher than those carrying pathogenic microduplications (40.74%, 11/27) (P < 0.05). Conclusion The positive rate of whole-exome sequencing for children with combined craniofacial abnormalities and NDDs exceeds the international average in our study cohort. Thus, whole-exome sequencing may be recommended for precise diagnosis of neurogenetic diseases in such cases.
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spelling doaj-art-9956c92236d947e4a7d50b2d8e3a62302025-01-26T12:45:14ZengBMCItalian Journal of Pediatrics1824-72882025-01-015111910.1186/s13052-025-01839-6DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disordersDandan Wu0Ran Chen1Jerry Zhang2Wu Yan3Mengyin Chen4Dongqing Xia5Xiaonan Li6Yanyan Dai7Yinhua Chen8Rong Li9Child Mental Health Deparment, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityBasis International School NanjingChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityChild Healthcare Department, Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityAbstract Background This study aimed to investigate deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) copy number variations (CNVs) in children with neurodevelopmental disorders and their association with craniofacial abnormalities. Methods A total of 1,457 children who visited the Child Health Department of our hospital for unexplained Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) between November 2019 and December 2022 were enrolled. Peripheral venous blood samples (2 mL) were collected from the children and their parents for whole-exome sequencing. Positive results were verified through Sanger sequencing for locus and pedigree validation. Simultaneously, a specific sign-scoring scale was created to evaluate characteristics related to the developments of eyes, nose, ears, eyebrows, head, mouth, face, trunk, limbs, and reproductive, urinary, and cardiovascular systems. Results A total of 536 children (36.78%, 536/1,457) were found to have genetic variations, with 379 (70.71%, 379/536) exhibiting pathogenic monogenic mutations. Furthermore, 157 children (29.29%, 157/536) harbored DNA copy number variants, encompassing microdeletions (68.15%, 107/157) and microduplications (31.85%, 50/157). Regarding the pathogenicity of CNVs, 91 (57.96%, 91/157) were identified as pathogenic, 28 (17.83%, 28/157) as variants of uncertain clinical significance (VOUS), and 38 (24.20%, 38/157) as benign according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG).Using a specific sign-scoring scale, the proportion of pathogenic CNVs in children graded 1 point or higher (64%, 58/91) was significantly higher than that of non-pathogenic CNVs (43%, 29/66) (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the proportion of microdeletions in children graded 1 point or higher (60.75%, 65/107) was significantly higher than those carrying microduplications (44%, 22/50) (P < 0.05). The proportion of pathogenic microdeletions in children graded 1 point or higher (73.43%,47/64) was significantly higher than those carrying pathogenic microduplications (40.74%, 11/27) (P < 0.05). Conclusion The positive rate of whole-exome sequencing for children with combined craniofacial abnormalities and NDDs exceeds the international average in our study cohort. Thus, whole-exome sequencing may be recommended for precise diagnosis of neurogenetic diseases in such cases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01839-6ChildrenCopy-number variationMicrodeletionsMicroduplicationsNeurodevelopmental disordersWhole-exome sequencing
spellingShingle Dandan Wu
Ran Chen
Jerry Zhang
Wu Yan
Mengyin Chen
Dongqing Xia
Xiaonan Li
Yanyan Dai
Yinhua Chen
Rong Li
DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
Italian Journal of Pediatrics
Children
Copy-number variation
Microdeletions
Microduplications
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Whole-exome sequencing
title DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
title_full DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
title_fullStr DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
title_full_unstemmed DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
title_short DNA copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1,457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
title_sort dna copy number variations and craniofacial abnormalities in 1 457 children with neurodevelopmental disorders
topic Children
Copy-number variation
Microdeletions
Microduplications
Neurodevelopmental disorders
Whole-exome sequencing
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-025-01839-6
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