Characterization of cryptic splicing in germline PTEN intronic variants in Cowden syndrome

ABSTRACT

Germline mutations in the tumor suppressor gene PTEN predispose to subsets of Cowden syndrome, Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome and autism. Evidence-based classification of PTEN variants as either deleterious or benign is urgently needed for accurate molecular diagnosis and gene-informed genetic counseling. We studied 34 different germline PTEN intronic variants from 61 Cowden syndrome patients, characterized their PTEN mRNA processing and analyzed PTEN expression and downstream readouts of P-AKT and P-ERK1/2. While we found that many mutations near splice junctions result in exon skipping, we also identified the presence of cyptic splicing that resulted in premature termination or a shift in isoform usage. PTEN protein expression is significantly lower in the group with splicing changes while P-AKT, but not P-ERK1/2, is significantly increased. Our observations of these PTEN intronic variants should contribute to the determination of pathogenicity of PTEN intronic variants and aid in genetic counseling.

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