Background: NPHP is a progressive tubulointestinal kidney condition that demonstrates an AR inheritance pattern. Up to now, more than 20 various genes have been detected for NPHP, with NPHP1 as the first one detected. XPNPEP3 mutation is related to NPHP-like 1 nephropathy and late onset NPHP. Methods: The proband (index patient) had polyuria, polydipsia and chronic kidney disease and was clinically suspected of NPHP. After the collection of blood sample from proband and her parents, WES was performed to identify the possible variants in the proband from a consanguineous marriage. The functional importance of variants was estimated by bioinformatic analysis. In the affected proband and her parents, Sanger sequencing was conducted for variants' confirmation and segregation analysis. Results: Clinical and paraclinical investigations of the patient was not informative. Using WES, we could detect a novel homozygous frameshift mutation in XPNPEP3 (NM_022098.2: c.719_720insA; p. Q241Tfs*13), and by Sanger sequencing, we demonstrated an insertion in XPNPEP3. Conclusion: The homozygous genotype of the novel p.Q241Tfs*31 variant in XPNPEP3 may cause NPHP in the early childhood age.

Background & Objective: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) known as a neurodevelopmental disorder showing communication impairments and unusual patterns of behavior .It seems that ASD frequency is on the increase. Therefore, diagnostic tools that help detect the disease in the early stages can be very useful in better management of the disease. Recent studies represent that miRNAs as novel biomarkers can be used to find out the process and etiology of ASD by regulating various genes of multiple pathways. However, ASD associated pathway targeted by miRNA is still in infancy. Methods: In this in-silico study taking into consideration the importance of miRNAs, we reviewed bioinformatics databases for finding possible pathways and potential miRNAs related to selected pathways. Results: The results displayed some prominent pathways involved in ASD, as well as some experimental and predicted miRNAs that may regulate targets associated with these pathways such as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, serotonergic synapse, calcium signaling pathway, cAMP Signaling Pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Conclusion: This study showed that the identified miRNAs may be involved in ASD-related pathways and may be considered as a new diagnostic tool and provide potential targets for the treatment of ASD.

Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia caused by small vessel thrombosis, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. The common cause of aHUS is a dysregulation in the alternative complement pathway. Mutations in none complement genes such as diacylglycerol kinase epsilon (DGKE) can also result in this syndrome. Case presentation: Here, we report on a 19-year-old female with the clinical diagnosis of aHUS, who has unaffected consanguineous parents and an older sibling who was deceased from aHUS when she was seven months old. We performed whole exome sequencing (WES) followed by evaluation of detected variants for functional significance, using several online prediction tools. Next, in order to confirm the detected pathogenic variant in proband and segregation analysis in her family, Sanger sequencing was done. The novel variant was analyzed in terms of its impact on the protein 3-dimensional structure by computational structural modeling. The results revealed that the proband carried a novel homozygous missense variant in DGKE located in exon 6 of the gene (NM_003647.3, c.942C > G [p.Asn314Lys]), and in silico analysis anticipated it as damaging. Protein computational study confirmed the influence of potential pathogenic variant on structural stability and protein function. Conclusion: We suggest that some variations in the catalytic domain of DGKE like p.Asn314Lys which can cause alterations in secondary and 3-D structure of protein, might lead to aHUS.

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