M Cossée

CHRU de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, Alsace, France

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Publications (24)186.32 Total impact

  • Article: Homozygous SMN1 exons 1-6 deletion: pitfalls in genetic counseling and general recommendations for spinal muscular atrophy molecular diagnosis.
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    ABSTRACT: We report on a rare homozygous intragenic deletion encompassing exons 1-6 of the SMN1 gene in a patient with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) born into a consanguineous family. This exceptional configuration induced misinterpretation of the molecular defect involved in this patient, who was first reported as having a classic SMN1 exon 7 deletion. This case points out the possible pitfalls in molecular diagnosis of SMA in affected patients and their relatives: exploration of the SMN1 exon 7 (c.840C/T alleles) may be disturbed by several non-pathological or pathological variants around the SMN1 exon 7. In order to accurately describe the molecular defect in an SMA-affected patient, we propose to apply the Human Genome Variation Society nomenclature. This widely accepted nomenclature would improve the reporting of the molecular defect observed in SMA patients and thus would avoid the commonly used but imprecise terminology "absence of SMN1 exon 7."
    American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A 06/2012; 158A(7):1735-41. · 2.39 Impact Factor
  • Article: Identification of 28 novel mutations in the Bardet-Biedl syndrome genes: the burden of private mutations in an extensively heterogeneous disease.
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    ABSTRACT: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), an emblematic disease in the rapidly evolving field of ciliopathies, is characterized by pleiotropic clinical features and extensive genetic heterogeneity. To date, 14 BBS genes have been identified, 3 of which have been found mutated only in a single BBS family each (BBS11/TRIM32, BBS13/MKS1 and BBS14/MKS4/NPHP6). Previous reports of systematic mutation detection in large cohorts of BBS families (n > 90) have dealt only with a single gene, or at most small subsets of the known BBS genes. Here we report extensive analysis of a cohort of 174 BBS families for 12/14 genes, leading to the identification of 28 novel mutations. Two pathogenic mutations in a single gene have been found in 117 families, and a single heterozygous mutation in 17 families (of which 8 involve the BBS1 recurrent mutation, M390R). We confirm that BBS1 and BBS10 are the most frequently mutated genes, followed by BBS12. No mutations have been found in BBS11/TRIM32, the identification of which as a BBS gene only relies on a single missense mutation in a single consanguineous family. While a third variant allele has been observed in a few families, they are in most cases missenses of uncertain pathogenicity, contrasting with the type of mutations observed as two alleles in a single gene. We discuss the various strategies for diagnostic mutation detection, including homozygosity mapping and targeted arrays for the detection of previously reported mutations.
    Human Genetics 02/2010; 127(5):583-93. · 5.07 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Unilateral presentation of X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM) in two out of three female carriers in a family with no affected male].
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    ABSTRACT: X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), a recessive disorder, is caused by mutations affecting the myotubulatin (MTM1) gene located on the X chromosome. Most of the affected males die in the early postnatal period whereas female carriers are usually asymptomatic. We report a family in which two females (45 and 27 years old) in two different generations, presented unilateral weakness which had worsened since adolescence, and one 48-year-old woman presented minimal symptoms. In agreement with the computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings, the EMG was compatible with myopathy. Serum creatine kinase was elevated in the second patient. The histological study showed centronuclear myopathy aspects, more severe in the second patient. Both presented c.1420C>T, p.Arg474X in exon 13 of the MTM1 gene, whereas the third patients with less pronounced manifestation, had a skewed pattern of X chromosome inactivation. Symptomatic female carriers of XLMTM can present with asymmetric malformations, which must be distinguished from an autosomal-dominant centronuclear myopathy. Unilateral presentation of weakness cannot rule out a diagnosis of myopathy. Detection of symptomatic female carriers of an X linked recessive disease, with a severe presentation in males, is important for genetic counselling.
    Revue Neurologique 02/2008; 164(2):169-76. · 0.49 Impact Factor
  • Article: Phenotype in X chromosome rearrangements: pitfalls of X inactivation study.
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    ABSTRACT: X inactivation pattern in X chromosome rearrangements usually favor the less unbalanced cells. It is correlated to a normal phenotype, small size or infertility. We studied the correlation between phenotype and X inactivation ratio in patients with X structural anomalies. During the 1999-2005 period, 12 X chromosome rearrangements, including three prenatal cases, were diagnosed in the Laboratoire de Cytogénétique of Strasbourg. In seven cases, X inactivation ratio could be assessed by late replication or methylation assay. In three of seven cases (del Xp, dup Xp, t(X;A)), X inactivation ratio and phenotype were consistent. The four other cases showed discrepancies between phenotype and X inactivation pattern: mental retardation and dysmorphism in a case of balanced X-autosome translocation, schizophrenia and autism in two cases of XX maleness and MLS syndrome (microphthalmia with linear skin defects) in a case of Xp(21.3-pter) deletion. Discrepancies between X inactivation ratio and phenotype are not rare and can be due to gene disruption, position effect, complex microrearrangements, variable pattern of X inactivation in different tissues or fortuitous association. In this context, the prognostic value of X inactivation study in prenatal diagnosis will be discussed.
    Pathologie Biologie 03/2007; 55(1):29-36. · 1.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Clinical, molecular, and genotype-phenotype correlation studies from 25 cases of oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1: a French and Belgian collaborative study.
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    ABSTRACT: Oral-facial-digital syndrome type 1 (OFD1) is characterised by an X linked dominant mode of inheritance with lethality in males. Clinical features include facial dysmorphism with oral, tooth, and distal abnormalities, polycystic kidney disease, and central nervous system malformations. Large interfamilial and intrafamilial clinical variability has been widely reported, and 18 distinct mutations have been previously reported within OFD1. A French and Belgian collaborative study collected 25 cases from 16 families. OFD1 was analysed using direct sequencing and phenotype-genotype correlation was performed using chi2 test. X inactivation studies were performed on blood lymphocytes. In 11 families, 11 novel mutations, including nine frameshift, one nonsense, and one missense mutation were identified, which spanned nine different exons. A combination of our results with previously reported cases showed that the majority of mutations (65.5%) was located in exons 3, 8, 9, 13, and 16. There was phenotype-genotype correlation between (a) polycystic kidney disease and splice mutations; (b) mental retardation and mutations located in exons 3, 8, 9, 13, and 16; and (c) tooth abnormalities and mutations located in coiled coil domains. Comparing the phenotype of the families with a pathogenic mutation to families with absence of OFD1 mutation, polycystic kidneys and short stature were significantly more frequent in the group with no OFD1 mutation, whereas lingual hamartomas were significantly more frequent in the group with OFD1 mutation. Finally, an X inactivation study showed non-random X inactivation in a third of the samples. Differential X inactivation between mothers and daughters in two families with high intrafamilial variability was of particular interest. Slight phenotype-genotype correlations were established, and X inactivation study showed that skewed X inactivation could be partially involved in the pathogenesis of intrafamilial clinical variability.
    Journal of Medical Genetics 02/2006; 43(1):54-61. · 6.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Update on Bardet-Biedl syndrome].
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    ABSTRACT: Until recently, Bardet-Biedl syndrome was considered as a classic autosomal recessive condition. The disorder is defined by the association of the following clinical features: retinitis pigmentosa, polydactyly, obesity, hypogonadism, and possible mental retardation. This syndrome leads to multiple handicaps (visual impairment, complications of obesity, kidney failure, endocrine dysfunction). This condition, apparently clearly defined from a clinical point of view, appears to be genetically heterogenous. To date, six different genes have been identified: BBS1, BBS2, BBS4, BBS6, BBS7 and BBS8. Interestingly, this condition has recently been linked to a failure of cellular ciliogenesis. Moreover, this disorder is characterized by an additional degree of complexity, as it is the first example of triallelic inheritance described in human beings. However, this new finding appears to be less frequent than expected in this syndrome.
    Journal Français d Ophtalmologie 02/2005; 28(1):106-12. · 0.51 Impact Factor
  • Article: Rescue of the Friedreich's ataxia knockout mouse by human YAC transgenesis.
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    ABSTRACT: We have generated and characterised transgenic mice that contain the entire Friedreich's ataxia gene (FRDA) within a human YAC clone of 370 kb. In an effort to overcome the embryonic lethality of homozygous Frda knockout mice and to study the behaviour of human frataxin in a mouse cellular environment, we bred the FRDA YAC transgene onto the null mouse background. Phenotypically normal offspring that express only YAC-derived human frataxin were identified. The human frataxin was expressed in the appropriate tissues at levels comparable to the endogenous mouse frataxin, and it was correctly processed and localised to mitochondria. Biochemical analysis of heart tissue demonstrated preservation of mitochondrial respiratory chain function, together with some increase in citrate synthase and aconitase activities. Thus, we have demonstrated that human frataxin can effectively substitute for endogenous murine frataxin in the null mutant. Our studies are of immediate consequence for the generation of Friedreich's ataxia transgenic mouse models, and further contribute to the accumulating knowledge of human-mouse functional gene replacement systems.
    Neurogenetics 11/2001; 3(4):185-93. · 3.35 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mouse models for Friedreich ataxia exhibit cardiomyopathy, sensory nerve defect and Fe-S enzyme deficiency followed by intramitochondrial iron deposits.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), the most common autosomal recessive ataxia, is characterized by degeneration of the large sensory neurons and spinocerebellar tracts, cardiomyopathy and increased incidence in diabetes. FRDA is caused by severely reduced levels of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein of unknown function. Yeast knockout models as well as histological and biochemical data from heart biopsies or autopsies of FRDA patients have shown that frataxin defects cause a specific iron-sulfur protein deficiency and intramitochondrial iron accumulation. We have recently shown that complete absence of frataxin in the mouse leads to early embryonic lethality, demonstrating an important role for frataxin during mouse development. Through a conditional gene-targeting approach, we have generated in parallel a striated muscle frataxin-deficient line and a neuron/cardiac muscle frataxin-deficient line, which together reproduce important progressive pathophysiological and biochemical features of the human disease: cardiac hypertrophy without skeletal muscle involvement, large sensory neuron dysfunction without alteration of the small sensory and motor neurons, and deficient activities of complexes I-III of the respiratory chain and of the aconitases. Our models demonstrate time-dependent intramitochondrial iron accumulation in a frataxin-deficient mammal, which occurs after onset of the pathology and after inactivation of the Fe-S-dependent enzymes. These mutant mice represent the first mammalian models to evaluate treatment strategies for the human disease.
    Nature Genetics 03/2001; 27(2):181-6. · 35.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: Inactivation of the Friedreich ataxia mouse gene leads to early embryonic lethality without iron accumulation.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), the most common autosomal recessive ataxia, is caused in almost all cases by homozygous intronic expansions resulting in the loss of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein conserved through evolution, and involved in mitochondrial iron homeostasis. Yeast knockout models, and histological and biochemical data from patient heart biopsies or autopsies indicate that the frataxin defect causes a specific iron-sulfur protein deficiency and mitochondrial iron accumulation leading to the pathological changes. Affected human tissues are rarely available to further examine this hypothesis. To study the mechanism of the disease, we generated a mouse model by deletion of exon 4 leading to inactivation of the Frda gene product. We show that homozygous deletions cause embryonic lethality a few days after implantation, demonstrating an important role for frataxin during early development. These results suggest that the milder phenotype in humans is due to residual frataxin expression associated with the expansion mutations. Surprisingly, in the frataxin knockout mouse, no iron accumulation was observed during embryonic resorption, suggesting that cell death could be due to a mechanism independent of iron accumulation.
    Human Molecular Genetics 06/2000; 9(8):1219-26. · 7.64 Impact Factor
  • Article: G130V, a common FRDA point mutation, appears to have arisen from a common founder.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is the most common inherited ataxia. About 98% of mutant alleles have an expansion of a GAA trinucleotide repeat in intron 1 of the affected gene, FRDA. The other 2% are point mutations. Of the 17 point mutations so far described, three appear to be more common. One of these is the G130V mutation in exon 4 of FRDA. G130V, when present with an expanded GAA repeat on the other allele, is associated with an atypical FRDA phenotype. Haplotype analysis was undertaken on the four families who have been described with this mutation. The results suggest a common founder for this mutation. Although marked differences in extragenic marker haplotypes were seen in one family, similar intragenic haplotyping suggests the same mutation founder for this family with the differences explicable by two recombination events.
    Human Genetics 11/1999; 105(4):343-6. · 5.07 Impact Factor
  • Article: G130V, a common FRDA point mutation, appears to have arisen from a common founder
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is the most common inherited ataxia. About 98% of mutant alleles have an expansion of a GAA trinucleotide repeat in intron 1 of the affected gene, FRDA. The other 2% are point mutations. Of the 17 point mutations so far described, three appear to be more common. One of these is the G130V mutation in exon 4 of FRDA. G130V, when present with an expanded GAA repeat on the other allele, is associated with an atypical FRDA phenotype. Haplotype analysis was undertaken on the four families who have been described with this mutation. The results suggest a common founder for this mutation. Although marked differences in extragenic marker haplotypes were seen in one family, similar intragenic haplotyping suggests the same mutation founder for this family with the differences explicable by two recombination events.
    Human Genetics 09/1999; 105(4):343-346. · 5.07 Impact Factor
  • Article: Friedreich's ataxia: point mutations and clinical presentation of compound heterozygotes.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich's ataxia is the most common inherited ataxia. Ninety-six percent of patients are homozygous for GAA trinucleotide repeat expansions in the first intron of the frataxin gene. The remaining cases are compound heterozygotes for a GAA expansion and a frataxin point mutation. We report here the identification of 10 novel frataxin point mutations, and the detection of a previously described mutation (G130V) in two additional families. Most truncating mutations were in exon 1. All missense mutations were in the last three exons coding for the mature frataxin protein. The clinical features of 25 patients with identified frataxin point mutations were compared with those of 196 patients homozygous for the GAA expansion. A similar phenotype resulted from truncating mutations and from missense mutations in the carboxy-terminal half of mature frataxin, suggesting that they cause a comparable loss of function. In contrast, the only two missense mutations located in the amino-terminal half of mature frataxin (D122Y and G130V) cause an atypical and milder clinical presentation (early-onset spastic gait with slow disease progression, absence of dysarthria, retained or brisk tendon reflexes, and mild or no cerebellar ataxia), suggesting that they only partially affect frataxin function. The incidence of optic disk pallor was higher in compound heterozygotes than in expansion homozygotes, which might correlate with a very low residual level of normal frataxin produced from the expanded allele.
    Annals of Neurology 03/1999; 45(2):200-6. · 11.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Mutation of the start codon in the FRDA1 gene: linkage analysis of three pedigrees with the ATG to ATT transversion points to a unique common ancestor.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the gene encoding frataxin. Most patients with FRDA have trinucleotide repeat expansions in both alleles of the FRDA 1 gene. In patients heterozygous for the expansion the second allele may be inactivated by a point mutation. We identified the ATG-->ATT (M11) mutation of the start codon in three independent families. Individuals with symptoms of FRDA in these families are compound heterozygous for the repeat expansion and the ATG mutation. To look for a common founder of the M11 mutation, a detailed linkage analysis employing six polymorphic chromosome 9 markers was performed. We found complete haplotype identity for two of the three chromosomes with the point mutation. The third case shows partial conformity and may be the result of a single recombination event.
    Human Genetics 08/1998; 103(1):102-5. · 5.07 Impact Factor
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    Article: Evolution of the Friedreich's ataxia trinucleotide repeat expansion: founder effect and premutations.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich's ataxia, the most frequent inherited ataxia, is caused, in the vast majority of cases, by large GAA repeat expansions in the first intron of the frataxin gene. The normal sequence corresponds to a moderately polymorphic trinucleotide repeat with bimodal size distribution. Small normal alleles have approximately eight to nine repeats whereas a more heterogeneous mode of large normal alleles ranges from 16 to 34 GAA. The latter class accounts for approximately 17% of normal alleles. To identify the origin of the expansion mutation, we analyzed linkage disequilibrium between expansion mutations or normal alleles and a haplotype of five polymorphic markers within or close to the frataxin gene; 51% of the expansions were associated with a single haplotype, and the other expansions were associated with haplotypes that could be related to the major one by mutation at a polymorphic marker or by ancient recombination. Of interest, the major haplotype associated with expansion is also the major haplotype associated with the larger alleles in the normal size range and was almost never found associated with the smaller normal alleles. The results indicate that most if not all large normal alleles derive from a single founder chromosome and that they represent a reservoir for larger expansion events, possibly through "premutation" intermediates. Indeed, we found two such alleles (42 and 60 GAA) that underwent cataclysmic expansion to pathological range in a single generation. This stepwise evolution to large trinucleotide expansions already was suggested for myotonic dystrophy and fragile X syndrome and may relate to a common mutational mechanism, despite sequence motif differences.
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 08/1997; 94(14):7452-7. · 9.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Correlation between left ventricular hypertrophy and GAA trinucleotide repeat length in Friedreich's ataxia.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich's ataxia (FA), the most common inherited ataxia, is associated frequently with cardiac hypertrophy, and death is often cardiac related. Recently, the disease has been associated with a mutation that consists of an unstable expansion of GAA repeats in the first intron of the gene encoding frataxin on chromosome 9. We studied 44 consecutive patients with FA, determined the size of GAA expansions in the frataxin gene, and examined the relation between the genotype and cardiac phenotype assessed by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography. All the patients were homozygous for the mutation. The size of the GAA expansion on the smaller allele varied from 270 to 1200. We found a correlation between the size of GAA expansion and the left ventricular wall thickness (r = .51, P < .001) and the left ventricular mass index (r = .45, P = .002). Left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 81% of patients with a number of GAA repeats above the median value of 770 compared with only 14% in the other group (P = .002). These data demonstrate that in FA, the severity of left ventricular hypertrophy is related to the number of GAA repeats. These results suggest that abnormalities of the gene encoding frataxin, a protein of unknown function highly expressed in the normal heart, may play an important role in the modulation of cardiac hypertrophy.
    Circulation 05/1997; 95(9):2247-9. · 14.74 Impact Factor
  • Article: Frataxin fracas.
    Nature Genetics 05/1997; 15(4):337-8. · 35.53 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Fragile X syndrome is still unrecognized: efficacy of molecular diagnosis in mentally retarded probands].
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    ABSTRACT: The fragile X mental retardation syndrome is the most common cause of inherited mental retardation. Identification of the unstable mutation responsible for the disease has allowed the design of a fully reliable molecular test for the diagnosis of the disease and for genetic counselling (identification of clinically normal carriers and prenatal diagnosis). We started in July 1991 to search for the mutation in mentally retarded probands, with no known cause for their phenotype. We present the results of a 42-month experience. One thousand and one hundred fourty-nine probands were analysed. In case of a positive diagnosis, an extension of the molecular study to relatives was proposed. DNA samples were studied by Southern blot following EcoRI or EcoRI + EagI digestion. Clinical data were collected from referring clinicians. Seventy-three carriers of a full mutation were identified, belonging to 52 families. The mean age of the fragile X probands was 16 +/- 14 years, which is very surprising for a disease that causes significant manifestations by the age of 2 to 3 years. This indicates an insufficient knowledge about this disease in France. Most of the demands for the test were from clinical geneticists. This diagnosis is of major importance for genetic counselling, as illustrated by the following study of 108 women at risk in these families. The importance of an early diagnosis followed by an extended family study, for carrier screening and prevention of this severe disease, justifies molecular testing on any child with mental retardation or significant language delay of unknown cause, in the absence of clinical signs formally excluding a fragile X diagnosis.
    Archives de Pédiatrie 04/1997; 4(3):227-36. · 0.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Friedreich's ataxia: autosomal recessive disease caused by an intronic GAA triplet repeat expansion.
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    ABSTRACT: Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive, degenerative disease that involves the central and peripheral nervous systems and the heart. A gene, X25, was identified in the critical region for the FRDA locus on chromosome 9q13. This gene encodes a 210-amino acid protein, frataxin, that has homologs in distant species such as Caenorhabditis elegans and yeast. A few FRDA patients were found to have point mutations in X25, but the majority were homozygous for an unstable GAA trinucleotide expansion in the first X25 intron.
    Science 04/1996; 271(5254):1423-7. · 31.20 Impact Factor
  • Article: [Mental retardation in fragile X syndrome].
    Archives de Pédiatrie 02/1996; 3 Suppl 1:349s-350s. · 0.30 Impact Factor
  • Article: Evidence for a common origin of most Friedreich ataxia chromosomes in the Spanish population.
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    ABSTRACT: Haplotype analysis is a powerful approach to understand the spectrum of mutations accounting for a disease in a homogeneous population. We show that haplotype variation for 10 markers linked to the Friedreich ataxia locus (FRDA) argues in favor of an important mutation homogeneity in the Spanish population, and positions the FRDA locus in the region where it has been recently isolated. We also report the finding of a new single nucleotide polymorphism called FAD1. The new marker shows a very strong linkage disequilibrium with Friedreich ataxia (FA) in both the Spanish and French populations. suggesting the existence of an ancient and widespread FRDA mutations. Inclusion of FAD1 in the extended haplotype analysis has allowed to postulate that this main FRDA mutation could account for 50-90% of the disease chromosomes. The results indicate that FA, despite clinical heterogeneity, could have originated from a few initial mutations.
    European Journal of HumanGenetics 02/1996; 4(4):191-8. · 4.40 Impact Factor