EIF2AK4 mutations cause pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, a recessive form of pulmonary hypertension.

Abstract

Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD) is a rare and devastating cause of pulmonary hypertension that is characterized histologically by widespread fibrous intimal proliferation of septal veins and preseptal venules and is frequently associated with pulmonary capillary dilatation and proliferation. PVOD is categorized into a separate pulmonary arterial hypertension-related group in the current classification of pulmonary hypertension. PVOD presents either sporadically or as familial cases with a seemingly recessive mode of transmission. Using whole-exome sequencing, we detected recessive mutations in EIF2AK4 (also called GCN2) that cosegregated with PVOD in all 13 families studied. We also found biallelic EIF2AK4 mutations in 5 of 20 histologically confirmed sporadic cases of PVOD. All mutations, either in a homozygous or compound-heterozygous state, disrupted the function of the gene. These findings point to EIF2AK4 as the major gene that is linked to PVOD development and contribute toward an understanding of the complex genetic architecture of pulmonary hypertension.

• Authors: Mélanie Eyries, David Montani, Barbara Girerd, Claire Perret, Anne Leroy, Christine Lonjou, Nadjim Chelghoum, Florence Coulet, Damien Bonnet, Peter Dorfmüller, Elie Fadel, Olivier Sitbon, Gérald Simonneau, David-Alexandre Tregouët, Marc Humbert, Florent Soubrier
• Journal: Nature genetics (Nat Genet) Vol. 46 Issue 1 Pg. 65-9 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1546-1718 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24292273 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• EIF2AK4 protein, human
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases

Topics

• Adult
• Chromosome Mapping
• Female
• Homozygote
• Humans
• Hypertension, Pulmonary (physiopathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mutation
• Pedigree
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (genetics, metabolism)
• Pulmonary Veno-Occlusive Disease (genetics, physiopathology)
• Young Adult