Topological data analysis reveals genotype-phenotype relationships in primary ciliary dyskinesia

Amelia Shoemark, Bruna Rubbo, Marie Legendre, Mahmood R. Fassad, Eric G. Haarman, Sunayna Best, Irma C. M. Bon, Joost Brandsma, Pierre-Regis Burgel, Gunnar Carlsson, Siobhan B. Carr, Mary Carroll, Matt Edwards, Estelle Escudier, Isabelle Honoré, David Hunt, Gregory Jouvion, Michel R. Loebinger, Bernard Maitre, Deborah Morris-RosendahlJean-Francois Papon, Camille M. Parsons, Mitali P. Patel, Simon N. Thomas, Guillaume Thouvenin, Woolf T. Walker, Robert Wilson, Claire Hogg, Hannah M. Mitchison, Jane S. Lucas (Lead / Corresponding author)

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    Abstract

    Background: Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a heterogeneous inherited disorder caused by mutations in approximately 50 cilia-related genes. PCD genotype-phenotype relationships have mostly arisen from small case series because existing statistical approaches to investigating relationships have been unsuitable for rare diseases.

    Methods: We applied a topological data analysis (TDA) approach to investigate genotype-phenotype relationships in PCD. Data from separate training and validation cohorts included 396 genetically defined individuals carrying pathogenic variants in PCD genes. To develop the TDA models, 12 clinical and diagnostic variables were included. TDA-driven hypotheses were subsequently tested using traditional statistics.

    Results: Disease severity at diagnosis, measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) z-score, was significantly worse in individuals with CCDC39 mutations (compared to other gene mutations) and better in those with DNAH11 mutations; the latter also reported less neonatal respiratory distress. Patients without neonatal respiratory distress had better preserved FEV 1 at diagnosis. Individuals with DNAH5 mutations were phenotypically diverse. Cilia ultrastructure and beat pattern defects correlated closely to specific causative gene groups, confirming these tests can be used to support a genetic diagnosis.

    Conclusions: This large scale, multi-national study presents PCD as a syndrome with overlapping symptoms and variations in phenotype according to genotype. TDA modelling confirmed genotype-phenotype relationships reported by smaller studies (e.g. FEV 1 worse with CCDC39 mutation) and identified new relationships, including FEV 1 preservation with DNAH11 mutations and diversity of severity with DNAH5 mutations.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number2002359
    JournalEuropean Respiratory Journal
    Volume58
    Issue number2
    Early online date21 Jan 2021
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2021

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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