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BMC Medical Genomics logoLink to BMC Medical Genomics
. 2021 Mar 6;14:71. doi: 10.1186/s12920-021-00922-1

Analysis of long-term observations of the large group of Russian patients with Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II)

Alla Nikolaevna Semyachkina 1,✉,#, Elena Yurievna Voskoboeva 2,#, Ekaterina Alexandrovna Nikolaeva 1, Ekaterina Yurievna Zakharova 2
PMCID: PMC7937197  PMID: 33676511

Abstract

Background

This article presents the results of long-term observations and comparative analysis of genotype–phenotype features in a large group of patients (227 males and one female) with a severe, intermediate and mild form of Hunter syndrome, evaluating the quality and span of their lives, as well as their ability to social adaptation.

Methods

We used electrophoresis of glycosaminoglycans of urine, determination of the activity of lysosomal enzymes in plasma, in dried blood spots according to the generally accepted method and DNA analysis.

Results

The clinical symptomatology of 228 patients with Hunter syndrome was characterized by growth retardation, lesions of the bronchopulmonary, cardiovascular, nervous systems, etc. Thirty-five patients had an attenuated form of the disease. DNA was available from all patients. 19 patients from 10 families had a mild form of the disease. 42 patients from 41 families had an intermediate form of the disease. All other patients had a severe form of the disease. We provide brief clinical examples of some patients with a mild form of Hunter syndrome. Currently, 113 patients with Hunter syndrome receive enzyme replacement therapy (idursulfase or idursulfase beta).

Conclusion

The long-term study of the large number of patients with Hunter syndrome helped identify disease-associated variants leading to severe and mild forms of the disease. The treatment effect and successful social adaptation of patients with a mild form of Hunter syndrome were revealed.

Keywords: Mucopolysaccharidosis, Hunter syndrome, Clinical and genetic analysis, Social adaptation

Background

Hunter syndrome or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is a rare disease with frequency ranges from 1:100,000 to 1:170,000 newborn boys [14].

Hunter syndrome is the only type of mucopolysaccharidoses that inherited as X-linked recessive trait. Hence, the majority of patients with Hunter syndrome are male. However, few cases of the disease in girls were described. Most of them are associated with structural abnormalities, inactivation disorders, or monosomy of chromosome X [57].

The clinical symptoms of Hunter syndrome usually become noticeable during the first two years of life. The disease is characterized by the progressive course. Clinical manifestations include rough facial features, sunken nose, full lips, hypertelorism, large tongue, corneal clouding, megalocephaly, thick coarse hair, short neck, brachidactyly of the hands and feet, contractures of joints, short stature, diffuse muscle hypotension, hepatosplenomegaly, umbilical and inguinal hernias, cardiomyopathy and gross delay in psycho-speech and motor development for most patients. After the first phenotype descriptions, two clinically different forms of Hunter syndrome were identified: a classical, severe form with severe somatic sings, progressive mental retardation, death at the age of 20 years or earlier; and a mild form characterized by longer life expectancy, fertility and minimal reduced intellect [8]. Later, it was suggested considering MPS II as a continuum between two extremes (severe and attenuated) [9].

The disease is caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (I2S) [10]. This defect is a result of different nucleotide variants in the IDS gene. The IDS gene is located on the locus Xq28 and consists of 9 exons [11]. At present, over 600 nucleotide variants in the IDS gene have been identified. Most of them are point changes (missense or nonsense variants), 28% are minor deletions and insertions, and 9% are splicing substitutions. Gross rearrangements account for 11%, among which 7% are partial or complete deletions of the IDS gene [12].

The I2S deficiency leads to the accumulation in different tissues of two types of glycosaminoglycans (GAG), i.e. heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate resulting in the formation of multisystem pathology [13, 14].

The diagnosis of Hunter syndrome in Russia is carried out in several stages. The first stage is based on the identification and assessment of phenotype signs. The second stage consists of determination of urinary GAG level and of their fractions, primarily heparan and dermatan sulfates. At the third stage, the activity of the lysosomal enzyme I2S is measured in plasma or in dry blood spots. The fourth and the final stage is the molecular genetic analysis of the IDS gene.

A prerequisite is also the DNA analysis of the child’s mother to confirm the carrier of the pathogenic variant of the IDS gene. In Russia, the results of the final stage are necessary for the reasonable appointment of enzyme replacement therapy to the patient and successful family genetic counseling.

The purpose of this article is to present results of the comparative analysis of genotype–phenotype features in a large group of patients with Hunter syndrome, to assess the quality and duration of their life, as well as the social adaptability of patients with a mild form of the disease. We focused on describing patients with a mild form of disease, which is important for us since there are not many patients with this form of the disease. Moreover, perhaps physicians should be more thoughtful to identify patients for timely treatment.

Methods

Over the last 30 years (1989–2019), we have observed 228 patients with Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis type II): 227 male and one 4-year old girl. The age of patients ranged from two to 65 years. First, all the patients were presumably diagnosed with Hunter syndrome based on the clinical data.

To confirm the disease, we determined the urinary GAG level and measured the I2S activity. As the final step, the DNA analysis of the IDS gene was carried out.

We used the following materials and methods:

  1. Electrophoresis of urinary GAG.

Extraction of GAG from urine and electrophoresis of urinary GAG was carried out exactly according to a standard method that has been described previously [15].

  • 2.

    Biochemical assay.

The I2S activity was measured in plasma, as was described in the literature [16]. In brief, to 10 μl 5 × diluted in 0.2%BSA plasma 20 μl substrate (1.25 mM MU-alphaIdoA-2S) was added and the mixture was incubated for 4 h at 37 °C. Then 20 μl PiCi buffer and 10 μl LEBT solution (lysosomal enzymes purified from bovine testis) was added with subsequent incubation for 24 h at 37 °C. After adding 200 μl, stop-buffer fluorescence of MU was read. The normal range of the I2S activity was 297–705 nmol/4h/ml. Since 2019, the I2S activity was measured in dried blood spots by MS/MS methods, using the commercial kit [17]. Measuring was performed according to the manufacturer’s protocol.

  • 3.

    DNA analysis.

The DNA extraction was carried out according to the manufacturer’s protocol using the DIAtomt DNA Prep100 kit (Isogene Lab. Ltd., Russia). The nine exons and exon–intron boundaries of the IDS gene were amplified from DNA samples with primers sets designed according to the reference sequence NC_000023.11. PCR conditions and primers were available upon request. Sequencing was performed according to the manufacturer’s protocol on an ABI Prism 3500XL (Applied Biosystems). To detect gene-pseudogene recombination, two pair primers were used as described in the literature [18]. Gross deletion of the IDS gene was detected only on the genomic DNA level. Break-point of the deletion and inversion IDS/IDS2 were not revealed in this study.

Results

The clinical symptoms of mucopolysaccharidosis type II in the patients observed are presented in Table 1. The symptoms included growth retardation, lesion of the bronchopulmonary system, heart and blood vessels, central nervous system, and hearing organ.

Table 1.

Panel of clinical symptoms in patients with Hunter syndrome (n = 228)

Clinical symptoms Number of criteria, %
Changes in facial features by «gargoylism» type 100
Short stature 95
Skeletal anomalies (dysostosis multiplex) 100
Pathologies of the cardiovascular system 100
 Cardiomyopathy 35
 Anomalies of the heart valves 100
 Narrowing of coronary arteries 10
 Rhythm disturbance 20
Obstructive conditions of the respiratory tract 100
 Obstructive sleep apnea 55
 Decrease in lung capacity 100
Hepatosplenomegaly 100
Stiffness of major and small joints 100
Umbilical or inguinal and inguinal-scrotal hernia 83
Papular eruption on the skin 5
Retinitis pigmentosa 5
Progressive conductive or neurosensory hearing loss 85
Impairments of the nervous system 85
 Mental retardation 75
 Tonic–clonic convulsions 55

Approximately, 1/5 of the patients had a papular rash with papules filled with glycolipid complexes and localized on the lateral and posterior surfaces of the thighs, shoulders and shoulder blades. This symptom is characteristic of Hunter syndrome which does not occur in patients with other types of mucopolysaccharidosis.

All patients demonstrated high excretion of dermatan sulfate and heparan sulfate in urine and low residual IDS activity in plasma or in dried blood spots.

228 patients from 207 families were completely genotyped. 122 different nucleotide variants were detected: 50 missense, 16 nonsense, 11 splicing substitutions, 27 small deletion, 5 small insertions/duplications, 3 small indels, and 10 gross deletions and complex rearrangements. Some nucleotide variants have been found multiple times in different patients from different families (Table 2). Many disease-associated variants found have been previously described (www.hgmd.cf.ac.uk). From 50 missense substitutions, 12 were not detected before. To evaluate their pathogenic influence, three different programs for impact prediction of nucleotide changes were used. All programs revealed probably deleterious effect of nucleotide variants for all except one change found. For nucleotide variant c.103G>C both programs PolyPhen-2 and PMUT Pathogenic mutation prediction revealed a possibly damaging effect. (Table 3). Additional analysis of nucleotide variant c.103G>C with the program Human Splicing Finder interpreted this variant as the most probably affecting splicing due to Broken WT Donor Site (data not showed). Two different nucleotide variants c.1411G>C and c.1418C>T had been detected in one patient (#43). Both nucleotide variants were novel ones. According to the prediction of pathogenicity, both nucleotide substitutions were probably pathogenic (Table 3). Moreover, five new nonsense substitutions, 19 novel small deletions, 2 novel splicing substitutions, 5 novel small insertion/duplications and 3 novel small indels were found. All small deletions, except the two, all small insertions and one small indel were leading to frame shift and premature stop codon. Two other small indels may have affected splicing. As can be seen from Table 2, the largest number of nucleotide variants was registered in exons 3, 5, 7 and 9. The analysis of nucleotide variants showed that the largest share was represented by point changes (missense or nonsense). Gross rearrangements and major deletions accounted for 14.4%, and 9.6% were splicing substitutions. The nucleotide variants c.253G>A, c.257C>T, c.263G>A, c.263G>T, c.514C>T, c.998C>T, c.1327C>T, c.1402C>T; c.1403G>A and the splicing substitution c.1122C>T were detected more than twice in patients from different families. All these point variants involve CpG sites of the IDS gene. The data were consistent with previous studies [19]. The small deletion c.596_599delAACA was detected in five patients from five families. The IDS/IDSP1 inversion has been described in detail [18] and was found in 17 patients from 16 families (see Table 4).

Table 2.

Nucleotide variants found in the IDS gene

Nucleotide change number Nucleotide; protein change found Type of nucleotide change Exons of IDS gene HGMD accession Allele frequency (%) in presented cohort Comments
1 c.103G>C; p.Asp35His Missense 1 None 0.88

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149505035C>G)

ClinVar accession SCV001450592

2 c.136G>T; p.Asp46Tyr Missense 2 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149504261C>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450595

one another described in the same codon

3 c.136G>A; p.Asp46Asn Missense 2 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149504261C>T)

ClinVar accession SCV001450596

one another described in the same codon

4 c.160T>G; p.Tyr54Asp Missense 2 CM981010 0.44
5 c.187A>G; p.Asn63Asp Missense 2 CM960853 1.3
6 c.236C>A; p.Ala79Glu Missense 2 CM981012 0.88
7 c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr Missense 3 CM960855 2.2
8 c.253G>T; p.Ala85Ser Missense 3 CM981013 0.44
9 c.257C>T; p.Pro86Leu Missense 3 CM950659 1.3
10 c.257C>G; p.Pro86Arg Missense 3 CM930414 0.44
11 c.263G>A; p.Arg88His Missense 3 CM960857 2.65
12 c.262C>T; p.Arg88Cys Missense 3 CM950661 1.76
13 c.263G>T; p.Arg88Leu Missense 3 CM981014 0.44
14 c.263G>C; p.Arg88Pro Missense 3 CM970749 0.44
15 c.283A>T; p.Arg95Trp Missense 3 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503447T>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450598

three other described in the same codon

16 c.305T>G; p.Leu102Arg Missense 3 CM981017 0.88
17 c.307T>G; p.Tyr103Asp Missense 3 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503423A>C)

ClinVar accession SCV001450601

two other described in the same codon

18 c.325T>C; p.Trp109Arg Missense 3 CM128183 0.88
19 c.359C>G; p.Pro120Arg Missense 3 CM930417 0.44
20 c.395C>G; p.Ser132Trp Missense 3 CM950663 0.88
21 c.403A>G; p.Lys135Glu Missense 3 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503327T>C)

ClinVar accession SCV001450599

two other described in the same codon

22 c.476A>C; p.His159Pro Missense 4 CM981026 0.44
23 c.512G>A; p.Cys171Tyr Missense 5 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149498303C>T)

ClinVar accession SCV001450602

one another described in the same codon

24 c.545T>C; p.Leu182Pro Missense 5 CM981027 0.44
25 c.551G>T; p.Cys184Phe Missense 5 CM960862 0.44
26 c.587T>C; p.Leu196Ser Missense 5 CM981029 0.88
27 c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu Missense 5 None 1.76

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149498225G>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450603

28 c.593A>G; p.Asp198Gly Missense 5 CM981030 0.44
29 c.671G>A; p.Gly224Glu Missense 5 CM981031 0.44
30 c.697A>G; p.Arg233Gly Missense 5 CM146285 1.3
31 c.776T>C; p.Leu259Pro Missense 6 CM030889 0.44
32 c.795C>A; p.Asn265Lys Missense 6 CM128190 0.88
33 c.795C>G; p.Asn265Lys Missense 6 CM141180 0.44
34 c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu Missense 7 CM920367 3.09
35 c.1004A>G; p.His335Arg Missense 7 CM981045 0.44
36 c.1006G>C; p.Gly336Arg Missense 8 CM970753 0.44
37 c.1019G>A; p.Gly340Asp Missense 8 CM981048 1.3
38 c.1028G>A; p.Gly343Glu Missense 8 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149487077C>T)

ClinVar accession SCV001450616

39 c.1035G>C, p.Trp345Cys Missense 8 CM950668 0.44
40 c.1034G>C; p.Trp345Ser Missense 8 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149487071C>G)

ClinVar accession SCV001450617

four other described in the same codon

41 p.1037C>T; p.Ala346Val Missense 8 CM950669 1.3
42 c.1204G>A; p.Glu402Lys Missense 9 CM167391 0.88
43 c.1295G>A; p.Cys432Tyr Missense 9 CM981052 0.88
44 c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp Missense 9 CM920369 2.2
45 c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln Missense 9 CM930422 4.4
46

c.1411G>C; p.Asp471His

c.1418C>T; p.Pro473Leu

Missense 9 None 0.44

Novel

Novel

(NC_000023.11:g.[149482988C>G;149482981G>A]) ClinVar accession SCV001450627

47 c.1432G>T; p.Asp478Tyr Missense 9 CM981054 0.44
48 c.1432G>A; p.Asp478Asn Missense 9 BM1234454 0.44
49 c.1454T>G; p.Ileu485Arg Missense 9 CM940967 0.88
50 c.1565T>C; p.Leu522Pro Missense 9 HM971766 0.44
51 c.196C>T; p.Gln66Term Nonsense 2 CM068304 0.44
52 c.361C>T; p.Gln121Term Nonsense 3 CM128174 0.44
53 c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term Nonsense 5 CM920366 2.65
54 c.598C>T p.Gln200Term Nonsense 6 CM146284 0.88
55 c.800G>A; p.Trp267Term Nonsense 6 CM050243 0.44
56 c.814C>T; p.Gln272Term Nonsense 6 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496411G>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450612

57 c.829C>T; p.Gln277Term Nonsense 6 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496396G>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450613

58 c.998C>A; p.Ser333Term Nonsense 7 None 0.88

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149490322G>T)

ClinVar accession SCV001450615

two other described in the same codon

59 c.1010G>A; p.Trp337Term Nonsense 8 CM128194 0.88
60 c.1234G>T; p.Gly412Term Nonsense 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483165C>A)

ClinVar accession SCV001450623

61 c.1288G>T; p.Glu430Term Nonsense 9 CM146287 0.44
62 c.1327C>T; p.Arg443Term Nonsense 9 CM920368 1.3
63 c.1340T>A; p.Leu447Term Nonsense 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483059A>T)

ClinVar accession SCV001450625

64 c.1375G>T; p.Glu459Term Nonsense 9 CM1719915 0.44
65 c.1445T>G; p.Leu482Term Nonsense 9 CM981058 0.44
66 c.1608T>A; p.Tyr536Term Nonsense 9 CM141189 0.44
67 IVS1 as A-G -2; c.104-2A>G Splicing substitutions CS982224 0.44
68 IVS2 ds G-C +1; c.240+1G>C Splicing substitutions CS050391 0.44
69 IVS2 ds G-T +1; c.240+1G>T Splicing substitutions CS982227 0.44
70 IVS2 as C-G -9; c.241-9C>G Splicing substitutions None 0.88

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503498G>C)

ClinVar accession SCV001450634

71 IVS4 ds G-A +1; c.507+1G>A Splicing substitutions CS982228 0.88
72 IVS6 ds G-A +1; c.879+1G>A Splicing substitutions CS982229 0.44
73 IVS6 as A-G -2; c.880-2A>G Splicing substitutions CS930833 0.44
74 IVS7 ds T-G +2 c.1006+2T>G Splicing substitutions None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149490312A>C)

ClinVar accession SCV001450635

75 IVS7 as G-A -1; c.1007-1G>A Splicing substitutions CS120471 0.44
76 IVS8 as C-A -15; c.1181-15C>A Splicing substitutions CS013824 0.44
77 IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T Splicing substitutions CS963080 5.75
78 c.118_120delCTT; p.Leu40del Small deletion 2 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149504277_149504279delAAG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450593

79 c.121_123delCTC p.Leu41del Small deletion 2 CD941707 0.44
80 c.133delG; p.Asp45Metfs Small deletion 2 None 0.44

Novel

(NC_000023.11:g.149504264delC)

ClinVar accession SCV001450594

81 c.248delT; p.Val83Glyfs Small deletion 3 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503482delA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450597

82 c.305delT; p.Leu102Argfs Small deletion 3 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149503425delA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450600

83 c.404_405delAA; p.Lys135Serfs Small deletion 3 None 0.44

Described

ClinVar accession VCV000499561.1

84 c.410_411delTT p.Phe137Serfs Small deletion 3 CD012530 0.44
85 c.596_599delAACA; p.Lys199Argfs Small deletion 5 CD941708 2.21
86 c.613delG; p.Ala205Profs Small deletion 5 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149498202delC)

ClinVar accession SCV001450604

87 c.625_627del TTG; p.Leu209del Small deletion 5 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149498188_149498190delCAA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450605

88 c.667_683del17; p.Val223Thrfs Small deletion 5 CD982702 0.44
89 c.687delC; p.His229Glnfs Small deletion 5 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149498128delG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450606

90 c.715_721del7; p.Gln239Cysfs Small deletion 6 None 0.44 Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496504_149496510delACTTCTG) ClinVar accession SCV001450607
91 c.782delC; p.Pro261Leufs Small deletion 6 CD982703 0.44
92 c.800_801delGG; p.Trp267Tyrfs Small deletion 6 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496424_149496425delCC)

ClinVar accession SCV001450611

93 c.899_900delAC; p.Tyr300Phefs Small deletion 7 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149490420_149490421delGT)

ClinVar accession SCV001450614

94 c.908_909delCT; p.Ser303Cysfs Small deletion 7 CD1412401 0.44
95 c.1077delG; p.Ile360Tyrfs Small deletion 8 CD146296 0.44
96 c.1129delC; p.Leu377Phefs Small deletion 8 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149486976delG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450618

97 c.1191delC; p.Met398Trpfs Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483208delG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450620

98 c.1214_1220del7; p.Ser405Phefs Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483179_149483185delAAAAGAG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450621

99 c.1221delT; p.Ser409Argfs Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483178delA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450622

100 c.1353_1357delGTACC; p.Tyr452Profs Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g. 149483042_149483046delGGTAC)

ClinVar accession SCV001450626

101 c.1426_1437 del12 p.476_479delAsnSerAspLys Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149482962_149482973delCTTGTCAGAATT)

ClinVar accession SCV001450629

102 c.1431delT; p.Asp478Thrfs Small deletion 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149482968delA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450628

103 c.1438_1442delCCGAG;p.Pro480Phefs Small deletion 9 None 0.44 Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149482957_149482961delCTCGG) ClinVar accession SCV001450630
104 c.1466delG p.Val489Alafs Small deletion 9 CD146297 0.44
105 c.776_777dupTA; p.Pro260Tyrfs Small insertions/duplications 6 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496448_149496449dupTA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450608

106 c.801_802insG; p.Met268Aspfs Small insertions/duplications 6 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496423_149496424insC)

ClinVar accession SCV001450610

107 c.1151_1152 insTGCGACCCTTT; p.Phe384Leufs Small insertions/duplications 8 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149486954_149486955 insTGCGACCCTTT)

ClinVar accession SCV001450619

108 c.1239_c.1240insCT; p.Ala414Leufs Small insertions/duplications 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149483159_149483160insAG)

ClinVar accession SCV001450624

109 c.1491_1492dupTA; p.Arg498Ileufs Small insertions/duplications 9 None 0.44

Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149482909_149482910dupTA)

ClinVar accession SCV001450631

110 c.104-1_104delGAinsT Small indels 2 None 0.44 Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149504293_149504294delTCinsA) ClinVar accession SCV001450632
111 c.240 +2_c.240+3insTCCCAGA Small indels Intron 2 None 0.44 Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149504154_149504155insTCCCAGA) ClinVar accession SCV001450633
112 c.786_787delGGinsC; p.Ala263Profs Small indels 6 None 0.44 Novel (NC_000023.11:g.149496438_149496439delCCinsG) ClinVar accession SCV001450609
113 gDNA level exons 1–3 deletion Gross deletions 0.88
114 gDNA level exons 1–4 deletion Gross deletions 0.44
115 gDNA level exons 1–7 deletion Gross deletions 0.44
116 gDNA level exons 1–7 deletion Gross deletions 0.44
117 gDNA level exon 4 deletion Gross deletions 0.44
118 cDNA level del incl. ex 5–6 Gross deletions CG984375 0.44
119 gDNA level exon 7 deletion Gross deletions 0.44
120 Complete IDS del Gross deletions 3.5
121 Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS-2 without exons deletion Complex rearrangements CP973598 6.19
122 Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS-2 with 4–7 exons deletion Complex rearrangements 1.32

Table 3.

Prediction of functional effects of 12 missense substitutions found

Nucleotide changes number Nucleotide/protein change Programs for prediction of nucleotide changes
PolyPhen-2 PMUT pathogenic mutation prediction Mutation tester
1 c.103G>C; p.Asp35His Possibly damaging with a score of 0.710 0.47 (83%) Neutral Disease causing
2 c.136G>T; p.Asp46Tyr Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.94 (94%) Disease Disease causing
3 c.136G>A; p.Asp46Asn Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.89 (92%) Disease Disease causing
4 c.283A>T; p.Arg95Trp Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.79 (88%) Disease Disease causing
5 c.307T>G; Tyr103Asp Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.82 (90%) Disease Disease causing
6 c.403A>G; p.Lys135Glu Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.94 (94%) Disease Disease causing
7 c.512G>A; p.Cys171Tyr Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.53 (80%) Disease Disease causing
8 c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu Probably damaging with a score of 0.996 0.69 (86%) Disease Disease causing
9 c.1028G>A; p.Gly343Glu Probably damaging with a score of 0.996 0.83 (90%) Disease Disease causing
10 c.1034G>C; p.Trp345Ser Probably damaging with a score of 1.000 0.89 (92%) Disease Disease causing
11 c.1411G>C; p.Asp471His Probably damaging with a score of 0.999 0.81 (89%) Disease Disease causing
12 c.1418C>T; p.Pro473Leu Probably damaging with a score of 0.976 0.72 (86%) Disease Disease causing

Table 4.

Mutation spectrum in the IDS gene in patients with MPS II

Family number Patient number Age at diagnosis Enzyme activity in plasma
(N = 297–705 nmol/4h/ml)
Enzyme activity in dried blood spots
(N = 2.5–50 μmM/l/h)
Phenotype Nucleotide/protein change in IDS gene
1 1 7 16.2 Mild c.187A>G; p.Aspn63Asp
2 2 31 21.1 Mild c.187A>G; p.Aspn63Asp
3 32 18.2 Mild c.187A>G; p.Aspn63Asp
3 4 8 1.2 Mild c.236C>A; p.Ala79Glu
5 10 8.4 Mild c.236C>A; p.Ala79Glu
4 6 11 7.4 Mild c.305T>G; p.Leu102Arg
7 9 8.1 Mild c.305T>G; p.Leu102Arg
5 8 55 0.01 Mild c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu
9 12 0.01 Mild c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu
10 5 0.01 Mild c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu
11 11 0.01 Mild c.590C>T; p.Pro197Leu
6 12 16 14.7 Mild c.593A>G; p.Asp198Gly
7 13 23 8.4 Mild c.1019G>A; p.Gly340Asp
14 19 6.1 Mild c.1019G>A; p.Gly340Asp
8 15 33 11.7 Mild c.1019G>A; p.Gly340Asp
9 16 35 0.01 Mild p.1037C>T; p.Ala346Val
17 23 0.05 Mild p.1037C>T; p.Ala346Val
18 18 0.07 Mild p.1037C>T; p.Ala346Val
10 19 15 3.6 Mild c.1234G>T; p.Gly412Term
11 20 11 9.4 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr
12 21 9 10.4 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr
13 22 6 18.6 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr
14 23 9 14.4 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr
15 24 13 0.01 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>A; p.Ala85Thr
16 25 8 0.02 Mild -> intermediate c.253G>T; p.Ala85Ser
17 26 13 11.3 Mild -> intermediate c.587T>C; p.Leu196Ser
18 27 5 4.7 Mild -> intermediate c.587T>C; p.Leu196Ser
19 28 2 2.1 Mild -> intermediate c.1204G>A; p.Glu402Lys
20 29 3 1.4 Mild -> intermediate c.1204G>A; p.Glu402Lys
21 30 4 0.01 Mild -> intermediate c.1438_1442delCCGAG; p.Pro480Phefs
22 31 28 14.8 Mild -> intermediate c.1028G>A; p.Gly343Glu
23 32 11 7.4 Mild -> intermediate c.1034G>C; p.Trp345Ser
24 33 25 4.8 Mild -> intermediate c.1035G>C, p.Trp345Cys
25 34 8 5.1 Mild -> intermediate IVS2 as C-G -9; c.241-9C>G
35 10 5.2 Mild -> intermediate IVS2 as C-G -9; c.241-9C>G
26 36 7 0.1 Intermediate -> severe c.283A>T; p.Arg95Trp
27 37 7 0.01 Intermediate -> severe c.512G>A; p.Cys171Tyr
28 38 5 8.4 Intermediate -> severe c.545T>C; p.Leu182Pro
29 39 6 2.3 Intermediate -> severe c.551G>T; p.Cys184Phe
30 40 6 2.7 Intermediate -> severe c.1327C>T; p.Arg443Term
31 41 7 3.18 Intermediate -> severe c.1327C>T; p.Arg443Term
32 42 2 0.01 Intermediate -> severe c.1327C>T; p.Arg443Term
33 43 13 21.6 Intermediate -> severe

c.1411G>C; p.Asp471His

c.1418C>T; p.Pro473Leu

34 44 14 2.2 Intermediate -> severe IVS6 ds G-A +1; c.879+1G>A
35 45 11 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
36 46 11 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
37 47 6 0.02 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
38 48 8 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
39 49 4 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
40 50 5 2.2 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
41 51 3 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
42 52 7 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
43 53 18 0.01 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
44 54 4 4.9 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
45 55 7 2.3 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
46 56 4 7.2 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
47 57 5 Intermediate -> severe IVS8 ds C-T -59; c.1122C>T
48 58 3 4.9 Intermediate -> severe c.118_120delCTC; p.Leu40del
49 59 4 21.4 Intermediate -> severe c.121_123delCTC p.Leu41del
50 60 6 0.01 Intermediate -> severe c.625_627del TTG p.Leu209del
51 61 9 4.4 Intermediate -> severe c.1426_1437 del12; p.476_479delAsnSerAspLys
52 62 6 8.3 Severe c.103G>C; p.Asp35His
63 4 10.4 Severe c.103G>C; p.Asp35His
53 64 3 0.35 Severe c.136G>T; p.Asp46Tyr
54 65 3 0.01 Severe c.136G>A; p.Asp46Asn
55 66 4 0.1 Severe c.160T>G; p.Tyr54Asp
56 67 4 4.6 Severe c.257C>T; p. Pro86Leu
57 68 5 5.1 Severe c.257C>T; p. Pro86Leu
58 69 2 3.5 Severe c.257C>T; p. Pro86Leu
59 70 10 11.8 Severe c.257C>G; p. Pro86Arg
60 71 6 0.01 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
72 3 0.01 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
61 73 3 0.7 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
74 4 0.8 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
62 75 7 0.01 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
63 76 3 0.01 Severe c.263G>A; p.Arg88His
64 77 5 0.01 Severe c.263G>T; p.Arg88Leu
65 78 4 0.02 Severe c.262C>T; p.Arg88Cys
66 79 5 0.01 Severe c.262C>T; p.Arg88Cys
67 80 4 0.01 Severe c.262C>T; p.Arg88Cys
68 81 3 0.01 Severe c.262C>T; p.Arg88Cys
69 82 4 3.2 Severe c.263G>C; p.Arg88Pro
70 83 8 0.01 Severe c.307T>G; p.Tyr103Asp
71 84 5 4.8 Severe c.325T>C; p.Trp109Arg
72 85 6 1.37 Severe c.325T>C; p.Trp109Arg
73 86 1 0.01 Severe c.359C>G; p.Pro120Arg
74 87 4 0.01 Severe c.395C>G; p.Ser132Trp
75 88 9 0.01 Severe c.395C>G; p.Ser132Trp
76 89 3 0.01 Severe c.403A>G; p.Lys135Glu
77 90 10 0.1 Severe c.476A>C; p.His159Pro
78 91 5 0.01 Severe c.671G>A; p.Gly224Glu
79 92 5 1.2 Severe c.697A>G; p.Arg233Gly
93 2 1.59 Severe c.697A>G; p.Arg233Gly
80 94 1.5 0.01 Severe c.697A>G; p.Arg233Gly
81 95 15 4.1 Severe c.776T>C; p.Leu259Pro
82 96 3 0.15 Severe c.795C>A; p.Asn265Lys
83 97 3 0.49 Severe c.795C>A; p.Asn265Lys
84 98 3 10.8 Severe c.795C>G; p.Asn265Lys
85 99 10 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
86 100 7 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
87 101 6 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
88 102 7 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
89 103 5 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
90 104 7 0.01 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
91 105 1 3.5 Severe c.998C>T; p.Ser333Leu
92 106 2 0.01 Severe c.1004A>G; p.His335Arg
93 107 5 2.7 Severe c.1006G>C; p.Gly336Arg
94 108 10 0.1 Severe c.1295G>A; p.Cys432Tyr
95 109 4 0.01 Severe c.1295G>A; p.Cys432Tyr
96 110 4 5.4 Severe c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp
97 111 2 0.1 Severe c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp
98 112 3 0.01 Severe c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp
99 113 5 0.1 Severe c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp
100 114 3 0.01 Severe c.1402C>T; p.Arg468Trp
101 115 3 0.01 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
102 116 3 0.9 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
117 3 0.01 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
103 118 5 1.4 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
104 119 2 0.01 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
105 120 2 6.3 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
121 4 2.8 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
106 122 3 10.8 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
107 123 4 0.01 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
108 124 2 3.12 Severe c.1403G>A; p.Arg468Gln
109 125 4 0.01 Severe c.1432G>T; p.Asp478Tyr
110 126 7 0.1 Severe c.1432G>A; p.Asp478Asn
111 127 6 0.01 Severe c.1454T>G; p.Ileu485Arg
112 128 6 0.01 Severe c.1454T>G; p.Ileu485Arg
113 129 8 0.01 Severe c.1565T>C; p.Leu522Pro
114 130 3 0.15 Severe c.196C>T; p.Gln66Term
115 131 2 0.01 Severe c.361C>T; p.Gln121Term
116 132 3 4.5 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
117 133 4 2.7 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
118 134 2 7.8 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
119 135 4 4.32 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
120 136 4 8.4 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
121 137 2 0.01 Severe c.514C>T; p.Arg172Term
122 138 6 0.01 Severe c.598C>T p.Gln200Term
123 139 2 2.1 Severe c.598C>T p.Gln200Term
124 140 12 0.9 Severe c.800G>A; p.Trp267Term
125 141 5 0.01 Severe c.814C>T; p.Gln272Term
126 142 4 2.1 Severe c.829C>T; Gln277Term
127 143 8 18 Severe c.998C>A; p.Ser333Term
144 2 10.1 Severe c.998C>A; p.Ser333Term
128 145 3 0.18 Severe c.1010G>A; p.Trp337Term
129 146 3 4.4 Severe c.1010G>A; p.Trp337Term
130 147 1 0.07 Severe c.1288G>T; p.Glu430Term
131 148 6 0.01 Severe c.1340T>A; p.Leu447Term
132 149 3 0.01 Severe c.1375G>T; p.Glu459Term
133 150 3.5 0.01 Severe c.1445T>G; p.Leu482Term
134 151 6 0.01 Severe c.1608T>A;p.Tyr536Term
135 152 4 0.01 Severe IVS1 as A-G -2; c.104-2A>G
136 153 4 0.01 Severe IVS2 ds G-C +1; c.240+1G>C
137 154 4 4.8 Severe IVS2 ds G-T +1; c.240+1G>T
138 155 7 0.01 Severe IVS4 ds G-A +1; c.507+1G>A
139 156 16 3.96 Severe IVS4 ds G-A +1; c.507+1G>A
140 157 9 3.6 Severe IVS6 as A-G -2; c.880-2A>G
141 158 4 1.14 Severe IVS7 ds T-G +2c.1006+2T>G
142 159 5 0.01 Severe IVS7 as G-A -1; c.1007-1G>A
143 160 5 0.01 Severe IVS8 as C-A -15; c.1181-15C>A
144 162 6 2.1 Severe c.133delG p.Asp45Metfs
145 163 1.5 0.12 Severe c.248delT; p.Val83Glyfs
146 164 3 0.01 Severe c.305delT; p.Leu102Argfs
147 165 2 1.4 Severe c.404_405delAA; p.Lys135Serfs
148 166 2 2.52 Severe c.410_411delTT p.Phe137Sfs
149 167 6 4.2 Severe c.596_599delAACA;p.(Lys199Argfs)
150 168 9 0.58 Severe c.596_599delAACA;p.(Lys199Argfs)
151 169 7 1.2 Severe c.596_599delAACA;p.(Lys199Argfs)
152 170 5 9.1 Severe c.596_599delAACA;p.(Lys199Argfs)
153 171 4 0.7 Severe c.596_599delAACA;p.(Lys199Argfs)
154 172 3 18.1 Severe c.613delG; p.Ala205Profs
155 173 9 0.01 Severe c.667-683del17; p.Val223Thrfs
156 174 5 0.01 Severe c.687delC; p.His229Glnfs
157 175 6 2.3 Severe c.715_721del7; p.Gln239Cysfs
158 176 2 0.01 Severe c.782delC p.Pro261Lfs
159 177 13 0.66 Severe c.800_801delGG; p.Trp267Tyrfs
160 178 4 0.01 Severe c.899_900delAC; p.Tyr300Phefs
161 179 8 8.04 Severe c.908_909delCT; p.Ser303Cysfs
162 180 1 0.43 Severe c.1077delG; p.Ile360Tyrfs
163 181 12 12.6 Severe c.1129delC p.Leu377Phefs
164 182 4 0.01 Severe c.1191delC p.Met398Trpfs
165 183 6 0.01 Severe c.1214_1220del7 p.Leu406Hisfs
166 184 3 2.3 Severe c.1221delT p.Cys409Arg fs
167 185 16 0.79 Severe c.1353_1357delGTACCp.Tyr452Profs
168 186 3 2.4 Severe c.1431delT; p.Asp478Thrfs
169 187 3 1.9 Severe c.1466delG p.Val489Alafs
170 188 3 0.01 Severe c.776_777dupTA; p.Pro260Tyrfs
171 189 5 0.01 Severe c.801_802insG; p.Met268Aspfs
172 190 4 1.3 Severe c.1151_1152 ins11; p.Phe384Leufs
173 191 9 6.6 Severe c.1239_1240insCT; p.Ala414Leufs
174 192 5 0.01 Severe c.1491_1492dupTA; p.Arg498Ileufs
175 193 4 2.64 Severe del c.104-1_104delGAinsT
176 194 8 0.01 Severe c.240+2_240+3 insTCCCAGA (intron 2)
177 195 4 0.48 Severe c.786-787delGGinsC; p.Ala263Profs
178 196 2 0.01 Severe gDNA level exons 1–3 deletion
179 197 3 0.01 Severe gDNA level exons 1–3 deletion
180 198 7 1.9 Severe gDNA level exons 1–4 deletion
181 199 4 0.01 Severe gDNA level exons 1–7 deletion
200 1 0.01 Severe gDNA level exons 1–7 deletion
182 201 2 4.2 Severe gDNA level exon 4 deletion
183 202 5 0.01 Severe cDNA level del incl. ex 5–6
184 203 2 9.6 Severe gDNA level exon 7 deletion
185 204 5 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
205 3 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
186 206 2 1.3 Severe Complete IDS del
187 207 3 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
188 208 7 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
189 209 10 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
190 210 3 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
191 211 2 0.01 Severe Complete IDS del
192 212 5 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS-2 without exons deletion
193 213 2 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
194 214 3 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
195 215 6 2.5 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
196 216 6 7.2 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
197 217 6 0.43 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
198 218 3 2.4 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
199 219 3 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
220 13 3.6 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
200 221 5 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
201 222 2 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
202 223 1 5.1 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
203 224 5 2.3 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
204 225 1 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS without exons deletion
205 226 3 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS with 3–7 exons deletion
206 227 2 0.01 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS with 3–7 exons deletion
207 228 3 0.12 Severe Recomb. between in. 7 and seq. distal of ex. 3 in IDS with 3–7 exons deletion

The comparative analysis of the severity of clinical symptoms with the results of nucleotide variants detected in the IDS gene are illustrated in Table 4. It demonstrates that most of nucleotide variants found caused the development of severe forms of the disease characterized by early (from the first months of life) manifestation of the disease, severe damage to vital organs and body systems, severely reduced intelligence and shorter life expectancy.

The protein changes p.Aspn63Asp (three patients; two families), p.Ala79Glu, (two patients; one family), p.Ala85Thr, p.Leu102Arg (two patients; one family), p.Asp198Gly, p.Gly412Term, p.Pro197Leu (four patients; one family), p.Gly340Asp, p.Ala346Val (three patients; one family), p.Arg443Term, the small deletion without frame shift and site-splicing substitution IVS2-9 c->g led to the development of less severe cases with later symptom manifestations, milder symptoms and higher IQ scores. Our data are consistent with the studies of other researchers who analyzed the influence of amino acid substitution on the IDS structure [20, 21].

A brief summary of some patients with a mild form of Hunter syndrome is presented in Table 5.

Table 5.

Summary of some patients with a mild form and a mild -> intermediate form of Hunter syndrome

Family # Patient # Age at diagnosis Enzyme activity in plasma
(N = 297–705 nmol/4h/ml)
Nucleotide variant in IDS gene Education Profession Date of death Comment
3 4 10 1.2 c.236C>A (p.Ala79Glu) University Teacher 43
5 8 8.4 c.236C>A (p.Ala79Glu) University

Economist

(38 years old)

Active life
4 6 11 7.4 c.305T>G (p.Leu102Pro) University

Economist

35 years old)

Active life
7 9 8.1 c.305T>G (p.Leu102Pro) University

Economist

(33 years old)

Active life
10 19 15 3.6 c.1234G>T (p.Gly412Term) University

Lawyer

(32 years old)

Active life
20 29 3 1.4 c.1204G>A (p.Glu402Lys) University Lawyer 23 The cause of death is unprofessional tracheal intubation, carried out with the aim of removing the patient from the epileptic status
15 24 13 0.01 c.253G>A (p.Ala85Thr) historic Historian 29 Sudden death from acute cardiovascular failure

Clinical case

A 12-year old male (#9) was admitted to the genetics department with complaints about rough facial features and stiffness of major and small joints (Fig. 1). While collecting the genealogical history, it was found that the proband’s grandfather on the maternal line exhibits identical symptoms (Fig. 1a—I, 1). The grandfather was 55 years old at the time. The man had a disability and was observed by physicians at the place of residence. The diagnoses he was given were rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, osteochondrosis, and hypochondroplasia. The proband’s 3-year-old younger brother (Fig. 1a—III, 2) and 4- and 2-year old male cousins (Fig. 1a—III, 3 and III, 4) were considered healthy. Based on the genealogical history and clinical features, the proband was suspected to have mucopolysaccharidosis type II. Examination revealed high rates of renal excretion of heparansulfate and dermatansulfate, a decrease in the activity of I2S in dried blood spots (0.1 μmM/l/h, with the norm being 2.5–50 μmM/l/h) and a missense variant c.590C>T (p.Pro197Leu) in exon 5 of the IDS gene was found; so the diagnosis was confirmed. This nucleotide variant was not described before. The examination of men in this family allowed us to diagnose Hunter syndrome in the grandfather (I, 1), the sibling (III, 2) and the cousin (III, 3) of the proband. Ten years of observation of affected members of this family showed a good social adaptation of patients and long life expectancy of the grandfather. The proband successfully completed a technical college. His sibling and cousin are community college students. All affected family members voluntarily refused to receive enzyme replacement therapy. The clinical observation of the family continues.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

a A fragment of the pedigree of patient #16 with a mild form of Hunter syndrome; b a 12-year old patient #16 with a mild form of Hunter syndrome

The rare case of Hunter syndrome in girls observed by the authors is due to a disease-associated variant in the IDS gene inherited from the mother and a deletion in the long arm of the X chromosome of paternal origin. The diagnosis was confirmed based on the detection of the absence of enzyme activity of iduronate-2-sulfatase and results of cytogenetic, molecular cytogenetic and molecular genetic examination [22].

Discussion

We present the results of the clinical observation of 228 Russian patients with Hunter syndrome. The diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter syndrome) consisted of four consecutive stages: 1—Assessment of phenotypic characters; 2—Determination of indicators of excretion of urinary glycosaminoglycans and their fractions, primarily heparan and dermatan sulfates; 3—Measurement of the activity of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase; 4—DNA diagnostics, including the search for nucleotide substitutions in the IDS gene with an estimate of its frequency and pathogenicity according to the International HMGD Database.

According to the latest concept that MPS II is a continuum between the mild and severe form of the disease, we divided all patients into four groups. Group 1 includes 166 patients with a severe form of the disease, Group 2—patients with a moderate form of the disease, which was subdivided into Group 2a—26 patients with an intermediate -> severe (rather severe) and Group 2b—16 patients with a mild -> intermediate (rather a mild form). Group 3 includes 19 patients with a mild form of Hunter syndrome.

The clinical symptoms of patients with a severe form of mucopolysaccharidosis type II were characterized by an early manifestation of the disease (first months of life), rapid progression of clinical symptoms with the severe damage to the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and bronchopulmonary systems, parenchymal organs, hearing, and the formation of rapidly progressing umbilical, inguinal and inguinal-scrotal hernias requiring urgent surgical intervention. These patients completely lacked the ability to move independently and communicate with others; their IQ did not exceed 10–15 points, and life expectancy was short.

The residual activity of I2S in plasma varied from undetectable values to 11.8 nmol/4h/ml. No residual activity in dried blood spots was determined.

Complete deletions of the IDS gene, deletions of several exons, site splicing disease-associated variants, nonsense and missense nucleotide substitutions have been detected in patients with a severe form of the disease (Table 4). Many missense nucleotide variants found in patients with a severe form of the disease have been already described (Table 2). The data of other researchers regarding genotype–phenotype correlations are consistent with our findings [20, 21, 2327]. Five undescribed missense variants were found in patients with a severe form (c.103G>C; c.136G>T; c.136G>A; c.307T>G; c.403A>G). Some nucleotide substitutions were in the same codon where other changes were found. According to the software analysis for impact prediction of nucleotide changes c.136G>T; c.136G>A; c.307T>G; c.403A>G were probably damaging. For the nucleotide change c.103G>C, PolyPhen-2 and PMUT Pathogenic mutation prediction programs showed a possibly damaging effect. However, this nucleotide variant was predicted as most probably affecting splicing by the Human Splicing Finder software. This seems to us to be a more truthful interpretation since patients had a severe form of the disease. Of course, for complete understanding of the damaging effect of nucleotide variants found additional molecular genetic studies are required. Four novel nonsense variants: c.814C>T; c.829C>T; c.998C>A; c.1340T>A and one new site splicing substitution c.1006+2T>G have been found in patients with a severe form of the disease. All previously undescribed small deletions, small insertions and small indels found in the patients with a severe form resulted in the frame shift and premature stop codon, which is expected to lead to the development of a severe form of the disease. It was established that as a result of extended deletions, the synthesis of the truncated protein occurs, which leads to the violation of its full function, and, thus, to the formation of severe clinical symptoms.

The 2a group of patients with an intermediate -> severe (rather severe) form was characterized by a late formation of the main clinical symptoms of the disease: the first external signs of the disease became evident at 5–6 months of life, heart murmurs were heard at 7–8 months, at the same age hepatosplenomegaly was diagnosed. After six months of life, the child experienced a delay in psychomotor development. However, the children of the second group were capable of independent movement, phrasal speech with limited vocabulary and successful communication. These patients were distinguished by disinhibition, restlessness, quick exhaustion, and lack of concentration. The IQ of the second group of patients did not exceed 45–55 points, and life expectancy, as a rule, was no more than 15–20 years.

The residual activity of I2S in plasma varied from undetectable values to 21.6 nmol/4h/ml. No residual activity in dried blood spots was determined.

The most common nucleotide variants in this group of patients was splicing site substitution c.1122C>T.

Three novel missense variant have been found in these patients: c.283A>T; c.512G>A; [c.1411G>C;1418C>T]. According to the prediction of damaging effect, all these nucleotide variants were disease causing ones (Table 3). Two different nucleotide variants [c.1411G>C;1418C>T] had been detected in one patient. First, it was assumed that one of these nucleotide variants was a nonpathogenic polymorphic one. However, both substitutions had been predicted as nucleotide variants with a potential damaging effect on the protein. For this case, it would be interesting to perform mutagenesis in vitro studies to assess the pathogenic effect of each of the substitutions. Two novel small deletions c.118_120delCTT; p.Leu40del and c.1426_1437 del12 p.476_479delAsnSerAspLys result in only loss of some amino acids without frame shift.

The clinical phenotype of the patients from Group 2b (a mild ->  an intermediate form (rather mild)) was between phenotypes of patients from Group 2a and Group 3. The residual activity of I2S in plasma varied from undetectable values to 21.6 nmol/4h/ml. No residual activity in dried blood spots was determined.

The nucleotide variant c.253G>A has been found in five patients from Group 2b. Nucleotide variants c.587T>C and c.1204G>A have been detected twice. Two missense variants c.1028G>A; c.1035G>C, site splicing substitution c.241-9C>G and c.1438_1442delCCGAG; p.Pro480Phefs were novel ones.

The third group of probands with a mild form of the disease was characterized by even a later formation (2–4 years of life) of clinical symptoms. These patients were distinguished by higher body length, less severe changes in the musculoskeletal system and internal organs, a rare formation of hernias or their complete absence, normal intelligence, allowing probands to study in primary, secondary and even professionally oriented schools, successfully graduate and even work in their chosen field, often climbing the corporate ladder to senior level positions. Many of them successfully married and had a healthy offspring. The life expectancy of these patients was the highest and could reach 60 years and above.

The residual activity of I2S in plasma varied from undetectable values to 21.1 nmol/4 h/ml. No residual activity in dried blood spots was determined.

 Two variants (c.187A>G, p.1037C>T) were described elsewhere also in a patient with an attenuated form of the disease [2427]. The four missense variants found in patients with a mild form of Hunter disease (c.236C>A; c.305T>G; c.593A>G; c.1019G>A) were described by authors in their first study of the Russian patient group with MPS II [28]. The nucleotide variants c.590C>T and c.1234G>T were first described in this study.

For all patients the values of the residual activity of I2S in plasma ranged from 0 to 21.6 nmol/4h/ml regardless of age and severity of the disease. For all patients, regardless of age and severity of the disease no residual activity in dried blood spots was determined. Thus, no correlation between the residual activity of enzyme and severity of the disease was observed (Table 4).

Conclusion

In all groups of patients, a different type of nucleotide variant in the IDS gene has been found. It is assumed that the relationship of missense substitution with a severe form of Hunter syndrome, in some cases, can be explained by the pathological role of the replaced amino acid. On the other hand, two nonsense variants: c.1234G>T; p.Gly412Term and c.1438_1442delCCGAG; p.Pro480Phefs, despite the formation of the premature stop codon led to the development of a mild form or a mild -> intermediate form of Hunter syndrome. That suggests that a break in the amino acid chain at a certain position does not always cause several functional damages to the protein. Thus, in authors’ opinion, in order to understand the effect of missense and even nonsense substitutions, specific functional studies are required.

Several point variants (c.253G>A, c.257C>T, c.263G>A, c.263G>T, c.514C>T, c.998C>T, c.1327C>T, c.1402C>T; c.1403G>A, c.1122C>T), a small deletion c.596_599delAACA and recombination between intron 7 in the IDS and exon 3 in IDS2 were detected more than twice in patients from different families. The frequency of these substitutions in the presented cohort of patients varies from 2 to 6%. Thus, these replacements could be relatively common. Probably these point variants that involved CpG sites of the IDS gene, the locus of c.596_599delAACA deletion and recombination region between the IDS and IDS2 are mutagenesis hotspots in the IDS gene [18, 19].

The enzyme replacement therapy with Elaprase has become available in Russia since 2008. According to the Russian public health law, Elaprase was purchased by regional health authorities, which do not always afford the drug due to its high cost. Therefore, not all patients with Hunter syndrome received enzyme replacement therapy. Since 2019, federal authorities started purchasing Elaprase at the expense of the federal budget to provide all patients with mucopolysaccharidosis type II with this enzyme replacing drug.

In 2018, a second enzyme-replacing drug was registered in Russia for the treatment of patients with Hunter syndrome, called idursulfase beta (Hunterase). The drug was developed and successfully tested by Korean researchers.

To date, 113 patients with Hunter syndrome are receiving enzyme replacement therapy in Russia, including 16 adult patients. Enzyme replacement therapy undoubtedly improves the quality and life expectancy of patients with Hunter syndrome, especially patients with a mild form of the disease. In patients with severe (Group 1) and intermediate (Group 2a) forms of the disease, the improvement relates mainly to the state of internal organs (reduction in size liver and spleen, decreased left ventricular mass), increased weight and growth parameters, mainly body length, improved emotional tone, increased step test (if not independent movement of patients), and decreased renal excretion of heparan and dermatan.

No growth in intellectual development (IQ) was observed due to the inability of enzyme replacing drugs to penetrate the blood–brain barrier.

During treatment, patients with a mild form of the disease had more positive changes and a notable increase in tolerance to physical and mental stress.

Acknowledgements

Not applicable

Abbreviations

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

GAG

Glycosaminoglycans

I2S

Iduronate-2-sulfatase

MPS II

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II

Authors' contributions

AS established a clinical diagnosis, performed a final analysis of the results obtained, designed the article and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. EV performed the DNA diagnostics to search for a disease-associated variant in the IDS gene and interpreted the data received. EN provided a comparative analysis of all clinical data and laboratory results and consulted the patients and their families. EZ determined the activity of lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase in dry blood spots, analyzed all laboratory data obtained and organized a discussion. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Government Assignment of the Russian Ministry of Health, Assignment No. 2 00 079 056. The funders had no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available in the Human Gene Mutation Database www.hgmd.cf.ac.uk/ (information about nucleotide changes described before) and ClinVar at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/clinvar/ (information about novel nucleotide changes), ClinVar accession numbers SCV001450592-SCV001450635 (see also Table 2). The information about the IDS gene sequencing is available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/gdv/ (NC_000023.11).

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ethics committee of the Research and Clinical Institute of Pediatrics named after Yuri Veltischev of the Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. A written informed consent was obtained from the participants and parents of participants under the age of 18 to take part in the study. The study was done in accordance with the principles outlined in the Helsinki Declaration (1964).

Consent for publication

A written informed consent for the publication of this manuscript including identifying images and other personal and clinical details was obtained from the participants and parents or legal guardians of all participants under the age of 18.

Competing interests

None of the authors has any competing interests in the manuscript.

Footnotes

Publisher's Note

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Alla Nikolaevna Semyachkina and ElenaYurievna Voskoboeva contributed equally to this study and share first authorship

Contributor Information

Alla Nikolaevna Semyachkina, Email: gokhramenko@pedklin.ru.

Elena Yurievna Voskoboeva, Email: e_voskoboeva@mail.ru.

Ekaterina Alexandrovna Nikolaeva, Email: kate_nikolaeva09@mail.ru.

Ekaterina Yurievna Zakharova, Email: labnbo@yandex.ru.

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Associated Data

This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available in the Human Gene Mutation Database www.hgmd.cf.ac.uk/ (information about nucleotide changes described before) and ClinVar at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/clinvar/ (information about novel nucleotide changes), ClinVar accession numbers SCV001450592-SCV001450635 (see also Table 2). The information about the IDS gene sequencing is available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/gdv/ (NC_000023.11).


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