Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients

BackgroundDevelopmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID) are prevalent in children and often have genetic causes, particularly copy number variations (CNVs). Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) are key diagnostic tools for identifying genetic contributio...

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Main Authors: Yilun Tao, Hongzhi Guo, Dong Han, Miao Yang, Ting Lun, Lihong Wang, Wenxia Song, Haiwei Wang, Xiaoze Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Genetics
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1539902/full
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author Yilun Tao
Yilun Tao
Hongzhi Guo
Dong Han
Miao Yang
Ting Lun
Lihong Wang
Wenxia Song
Haiwei Wang
Xiaoze Li
author_facet Yilun Tao
Yilun Tao
Hongzhi Guo
Dong Han
Miao Yang
Ting Lun
Lihong Wang
Wenxia Song
Haiwei Wang
Xiaoze Li
author_sort Yilun Tao
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDevelopmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID) are prevalent in children and often have genetic causes, particularly copy number variations (CNVs). Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) are key diagnostic tools for identifying genetic contributions to these disorders. This study assesses the prevalence and clinical impact of CNVs in pediatric DD and ID patients.MethodsNinety-nine pediatric patients with DD or ID underwent CMA or WES. Of these, 82 received SNP array analysis, while 17 had WES. CNV pathogenicity was assessed using established databases and ACMG guidelines, with inheritance patterns determined where possible.ResultsAcross the 99 patients, 43 CNVs were identified in 40 individuals, with 32 classified as clinically significant, resulting in a diagnostic rate of 30.3%. These findings included 24 deletions (75%), 7 duplications (22%), and 1 instance of loss of heterozygosity (3%). Of the CNVs with known inheritance, 65.2% were de novo. Recurrent CNVs made up 36.4% of the total, especially in regions 15q11.2-q13.1, 16p11.2, and 22q11.2. Additionally, 11 CNVs were categorized as variants of uncertain significance (VOUS).ConclusionThis study supports CMA as an effective diagnostic tool for DD and ID, highlighting the importance of family-based CNV testing for genetic counseling. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive genetic testing to improve diagnostic accuracy, with future multi-omics approaches potentially clarifying VOUS mechanisms and CNV variability in neurodevelopmental disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-4c10d208e3924a30aef44f520f40ebd12025-08-20T03:16:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212025-06-011610.3389/fgene.2025.15399021539902Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patientsYilun Tao0Yilun Tao1Hongzhi Guo2Dong Han3Miao Yang4Ting Lun5Lihong Wang6Wenxia Song7Haiwei Wang8Xiaoze Li9Medical Genetic Center, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaPrecision Medicine Research Division, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Child rehabilitation, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaMedical Genetic Center, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Child rehabilitation, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Child rehabilitation, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaMedical Genetic Center, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaScience and Education Division, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaMedical Genetic Center, Changzhi Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhi, Shanxi, ChinaBackgroundDevelopmental delay (DD) and intellectual disability (ID) are prevalent in children and often have genetic causes, particularly copy number variations (CNVs). Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) are key diagnostic tools for identifying genetic contributions to these disorders. This study assesses the prevalence and clinical impact of CNVs in pediatric DD and ID patients.MethodsNinety-nine pediatric patients with DD or ID underwent CMA or WES. Of these, 82 received SNP array analysis, while 17 had WES. CNV pathogenicity was assessed using established databases and ACMG guidelines, with inheritance patterns determined where possible.ResultsAcross the 99 patients, 43 CNVs were identified in 40 individuals, with 32 classified as clinically significant, resulting in a diagnostic rate of 30.3%. These findings included 24 deletions (75%), 7 duplications (22%), and 1 instance of loss of heterozygosity (3%). Of the CNVs with known inheritance, 65.2% were de novo. Recurrent CNVs made up 36.4% of the total, especially in regions 15q11.2-q13.1, 16p11.2, and 22q11.2. Additionally, 11 CNVs were categorized as variants of uncertain significance (VOUS).ConclusionThis study supports CMA as an effective diagnostic tool for DD and ID, highlighting the importance of family-based CNV testing for genetic counseling. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive genetic testing to improve diagnostic accuracy, with future multi-omics approaches potentially clarifying VOUS mechanisms and CNV variability in neurodevelopmental disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1539902/fullcopy number variationsSNP arrayWESdevelopmental delayintellectual disability
spellingShingle Yilun Tao
Yilun Tao
Hongzhi Guo
Dong Han
Miao Yang
Ting Lun
Lihong Wang
Wenxia Song
Haiwei Wang
Xiaoze Li
Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
Frontiers in Genetics
copy number variations
SNP array
WES
developmental delay
intellectual disability
title Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
title_full Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
title_fullStr Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
title_full_unstemmed Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
title_short Uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability: a focus on CNVs in pediatric patients
title_sort uncovering genetic contributors to developmental delay and intellectual disability a focus on cnvs in pediatric patients
topic copy number variations
SNP array
WES
developmental delay
intellectual disability
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2025.1539902/full
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