A novel nonsense variant in REEP6 is involved in a sporadic rod-cone dystrophy case

Rod-cone dystrophy (RCD), also called retinitis pigmentosa, is the most common form of progressive inherited retinal disorders secondary to photoreceptor degeneration. It is a genetically heterogeneous disease characterized by night blindness, followed by visual field constriction and, in most severe cases, total blindness. The aim of our study was to identify the underlying gene defect leading to severe RCD in a 60-year-old woman. The patient's DNA was investigated by targeted next generation sequencing followed by whole exome sequencing. A novel nonsense variant, c.267G>A p.(Trp89*), was identified at a homozygous state in the proband in REEP6 gene, recently reported mutated in seven unrelated families with RCD. Further functional studies will help to understand the physiopathology associated with REEP6 mutations that may be linked to a protein trafficking defect.

This second report of REEP6 varients associated with rod-cone dystrophy provides further evidence that REEP6 must be investigated in rod-cone dystrophy cases.

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