Krzysztof Piotrowski
DIAGEN co., Poland
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Qual Prim Care
Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most common malformations both as an isolated form and a part of genetic syndromes. Extraordinarily fast development of molecular genetics confirms that almost all CHD are genetically dependent in terms of microaberrations in different regions of a chromosome or single gene mutations. On the other hand, CHD are an important component of diverse genetic diseases, including monogenic, metabolic and mitochondrial disorders, most often as secondary cardiomyopathies. The genes participating therein are located nearly on each chromosome, mainly on pathways, along with ligand genes and co-factors, transcription factors or individually. Many mechanisms on heart development are based on the balance between apoptosis, proliferation and migration. Crucial genes controlling fetal development, including the creation of heart tube and the forming of left and right ventricular outflow is primary “homeobox” genes grouped in 4 clusters hox1-4. Other genes condition the forming of different structures.
The key process for activating consecutive genes is methylation. Methyl groups originate from the metabolic cycle of folic acid, where the main gene is MTHFR. Moreover, in numerous functional disorders, for example the Arrhythmia or block, the reason is also genetic, namely the mutation of ion-channel gene placed in 6 chromosomes. Now we have over 1500 mutations. Many genes of cardiogenesis were identified, thanks to the investigations of other genetic disorders, for example: PTPN11 gene in Noonan syndrome. The gene is also responsible for the development of pulmonary valves. TBX5 gene in Holt-Oram syndrome. Presently the most promising method is NGS technology, where we can perform hundreds of mutations at a time. Heart development is also affected by the imprinting (about 30 genes) and the inactivation of the X chromosome in day 21 stage of embryo. We propose, for e.g. a practical classification could refer to specific CHD characteristic of particular disorders, which might prove helpful in daily practice because in prenatal diagnosis CHD is often the sole syndrome confirmed by USG scan, which may depend on truly isolated nature or non-specific mild ultrasound co-markers.
Krzysztof Piotrowski is a Specialist in Clinical Genetics. He has completed his PhD with a dissertation on fetal echocardiography. Putting his knowledge into practice, he performs about 3500 USG investigations of gravidas annually for prenatal diagnosis. He has published many scientific papers and chapters covering prenatal diagnosis. For the last nine years he was the Manager of Cytogenetic Unit for Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland. Since 2012, he established a new and independent Genetic Center named as DIAGEN co., which includes Cytogenetic and Molecular laboratories. He was the Vice-President of the prenatal diagnosis section of the Polish Society of Human Genetics for six years. He also participated in many investigation programs.
E-mail: kjp@onet.pl
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