Research article

A novel mutation in the WFS1 gene identified in a Taiwanese family with low-frequency hearing impairment

Hsun-Tien Tsai^1,2,3 , Ying-Piao Wang¹ , Shing-Fang Chung² , Hung-Ching Lin^1,3 , Guan-Min Ho¹ and Min-Tsan Shu¹

¹Department of Otolaryngology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Section 2, Chungshan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

²Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 45, Minsheng Road, Tamshui, Taipei, Taiwan

³Department of Speech and Hearing Disorders and Sciences, National Taipei College of Nursing, 89 Nei-Chiang Street, Wanhua, Taipei, Taiwan

author email corresponding author email

BMC Medical Genetics 2007, 8:26doi:10.1186/1471-2350-8-26

Published:	22 May 2007

Abstract

Background

Wolfram syndrome gene 1 (WFS1) accounts for most of the familial nonsyndromic low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (LFSNHL) which is characterized by sensorineural hearing losses equal to and below 2000 Hz. The current study aimed to contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis of LFSNHL in an affected Taiwanese family.

Methods

The Taiwanese family with LFSNHL was phenotypically characterized using audiologic examination and pedigree analysis. Genetic characterization was performed by direct sequencing of WFS1 and mutation analysis.

Results

Pure tone audiometry confirmed that the family members affected with LFSNHL had a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss equal to or below 2000 Hz. The hearing loss threshold of the affected members showed no progression, a characteristic that was consistent with a mutation in the WFS1 gene located in the DFNA6/14/38 locus. Pedigree analysis showed a hereditarily autosomal dominant pattern characterized by a full penetrance. Among several polymorphisms, a missense mutation Y669H (2005T>C) in exon 8 of WFS1 was identified in members of a Taiwanese family diagnosed with LFSNHL but not in any of the control subjects.

Conclusion

We discovered a novel heterozygous missense mutation in exon 8 of WFS1 (i.e., Y669H) which is likely responsible for the LFSNHL phenotype in this particular Taiwanese family.