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Histopathology of recurrent Steel syndrome in fetuses caused by novel variants of COL27A1 gene

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Abstract

Steel syndrome (STLS) encompasses characteristic facies, dwarfness, irreducible bilateral hip and radial head dislocation, and carpal bone coalition due to COL27A1 mutations. Two consecutive pregnancies in a non-consanguineous couple were terminated because of severe fetal anomalies. Complete autopsies with microscopic exam were performed on both fetuses. Next-generation-based clinical exome sequencing was applied to the first fetus. Exome sequencing results, parental segregation, and affection of the second fetus were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Both fetuses had signs consistent with STLS. Bilateral capitulum humeri absence explained radial head dislocation in STLS. Metaphyseal cartilage showed severe disorganization. Resting cartilage was hypercellular, organized in irregular nests limited by acellular matrix. Two variants in COL27A1 (c.2548G>A -p.Gly850Arg- and c.3249+1G> T) were found in both fetuses in compound heterozygosity with parental Mendelian segregation. This is the first report to include histology of STLS. The COL27A1 variants here described increase the number of mutations associated with STLS.

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Funding

This study was partly supported by grant from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (grant number PI17/01153), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad, Spain.

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Authors

Contributions

Gerard Frigola contributed to data acquisition, data analysis, and manuscript redaction.

Olga Gómez del Rincón contributed to data acquisition.

Virginia Borobio Florián contributed to data acquisition.

Anna Vallmajó Fita contributed to data acquisition and data analysis.

Berta Campos contributed to data acquisition, data analysis, and manuscript redaction.

Montse Pauta contributed to data analysis.

Maria Segura Puimedon contributed to data analysis and manuscript redaction.

Rafael Oliva contributed to data acquisition and manuscript redaction.

Antoni Borrell contributed to data analysis and manuscript redaction.

Alfons Nadal contributed to data acquisition, data analysis, and manuscript redaction.

All authors have read, contributed, and approved the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Alfons Nadal.

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Informed consent was obtained for all performed procedures

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Frigola, G., del Rincón, O.G., Florián, V.B. et al. Histopathology of recurrent Steel syndrome in fetuses caused by novel variants of COL27A1 gene. Virchows Arch 479, 413–418 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02979-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02979-2

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