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Somatic mosaicism for copy number variation in differentiated human tissues
Author(s) -
Piotrowski Arkadiusz,
Bruder Carl E.G.,
Andersson Robin,
de Ståhl Teresita Diaz,
Menzel Uwe,
Sandgren Johanna,
Poplawski Andrzej,
von Tell Desiree,
Crasto Chiquito,
Bogdan Adam,
Bartoszewski Rafal,
Bebok Zsuzsa,
Krzyzanowski Maciej,
Jankowski Zbigniew,
Partridge E. Christopher,
Komorowski Jan,
Dumanski Jan P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
human mutation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1098-1004
pISSN - 1059-7794
DOI - 10.1002/humu.20815
Subject(s) - biology , copy number variation , somatic cell , genetics , germline , phenotype , germline mosaicism , single nucleotide polymorphism , gene , genetic variation , genotype , genome
Two major types of genetic variation are known: single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and a more recently discovered structural variation, involving changes in copy number (CNVs) of kilobase‐ to megabase‐sized chromosomal segments. It is unknown whether CNVs arise in somatic cells, but it is, however, generally assumed that normal cells are genetically identical. We tested 34 tissue samples from three subjects and, having analyzed for each tissue ≤10 –6 of all cells expected in an adult human, we observed at least six CNVs, affecting a single organ or one or more tissues of the same subject. The CNVs ranged from 82 to 176 kb, often encompassing known genes, potentially affecting gene function. Our results indicate that humans are commonly affected by somatic mosaicism for stochastic CNVs, which occur in a substantial fraction of cells. The majority of described CNVs were previously shown to be polymorphic between unrelated subjects, suggesting that some CNVs previously reported as germline might represent somatic events, since in most studies of this kind, only one tissue is typically examined and analysis of parents for the studied subjects is not routinely performed. A considerable number of human phenotypes are a consequence of a somatic process. Thus, our conclusions will be important for the delineation of genetic factors behind these phenotypes. Consequently, biobanks should consider sampling multiple tissues to better address mosaicism in the studies of somatic disorders. Hum Mutat 0,1–7, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.