Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of nine candidate genes with custom AmpliSeq in patients and a cardiomyopathy risk group.

BACKGROUND Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common genetic cardiac disease. Prevention and early diagnosis of this disease are very important. Because of the large number of causative genes and the high rate of mutations involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, traditional methods of early diagnosis are ineffective. METHODS We developed a custom AmpliSeq panel for NGS sequencing of the coding sequences of ACTC1, MYBPC3, MYH7, MYL2, MYL3, TNNI3, TNNT2, TPM1, and CASQ2. A genetic analysis of student cohorts (with and without cardiomyopathy risk in their medical histories) and patients with cardiomyopathies was performed. For the statistical and bioinformatics analysis, Polyphen2, SIFT, SnpSift and PLINK software were used. To select genetic markers in the patients with cardiomyopathy and in the students of the high risk group, four additive models were applied. RESULTS Our AmpliSeq custom panel allowed us to efficiently explore targeted sequences. Based on the score analysis, we detected three substitutions in the MYBPC3 and CASQ2 genes and six combinations between loci in the MYBPC3, MYH7 and CASQ2 genes that were responsible for cardiomyopathy risk in our cohorts. We also detected substitutions in the TNNT2 gene that can be considered as protective against cardiomyopathy. CONCLUSION We used NGS with AmpliSeq libraries and Ion PGM sequencing to develop improved predictive information for patients at risk of cardiomyopathy.