Identification of a Disease-Causing Mutation in a Chinese Patient with Retinitis Pigmentosa by Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing

PURPOSE: To identify disease-causing mutations in a Chinese patient with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). METHODS: A detailed clinical examination was performed on the proband. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) combined with bioinformatics analysis was performed on the proband to detect candidate disease-causing mutations. Sanger sequencing was performed on all subjects to confirm the candidate mutations and assess cosegregation within the family. RESULTS: Clinical examinations of the proband showed typical characteristics of RP. Three candidate heterozygous mutations in 3 genes associated with RP were detected in the proband by targeted NGS. The 3 mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and the deletion (c.357_358delAA) in PRPF31 was shown to cosegregate with RP phenotype in 7 affected family members, but not in 3 unaffected family members. CONCLUSIONS: The deletion (c.357_358delAA) in PRPF31 was the disease-causing mutation for the proband and his affected family members with RP. To our knowledge, this is the second report of the deletion and the first report of the other 2 mutations in the Chinese population. Targeted NGS combined with bioinformatics analysis proved to be an effective molecular diagnostic tool for RP.