Broadening the clinical spectrum of ALGS: an Egyptian cohort with five novel mutations in JAG1 gene

Background Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a rare autosomal dominant multisystem disorder that affects the liver, heart, eyes, vertebrae, and kidneys and is associated with characteristic facies. This work aimed to study the spectrum of the clinical features of ALGS in an Egyptian cohort of patients in conjunction with partial sequencing of the JAG1 gene. Methods This study included 17 pediatric ALGS patients diagnosed on clinical grounds: facial features, cholestatic liver disease, and cardiac, vertebral, and ocular findings. Molecular analysis was conducted in 10 selected exons of the JAG1 gene. Results The clinical features of ALGS included cholestatic liver disease (100%), facial dysmorphism (100%), cardiac abnormalities (88.2%), butterfly vertebrae (64.7%), posterior embryotoxon (35.2%), poor growth (41%), xanthomata (11.8%), and hiatus hernia (11.8%). Five novel pathogenic JAG1 mutations were identified in this study, including two nonsense mutations, one splicing mutation, one frameshift insertion, and one frameshift deletion. In two patients, the mutations were confirmed to be de novo, as the mutations could not be detected in both parents. Conclusion Five novel JAG1 pathogenic variants were identified in this study. This is the first molecular study to report pathogenic mutations in the JAG1 gene within an Egyptian cohort of children with ALGS.

Automated summary

This study investigated the clinical features of ALGS in 17 pediatric patients from Egypt and identified five novel pathogenic variations in the JAG1 gene. The findings provide insights into the genetic basis of ALGS in the Egyptian population and highlight the importance of molecular studies in understanding rare genetic disorders.