A HGF Mutation in the Familial Case of Primary Lymphedema: A Report

Abstract

Lymphedema is a disorder that leads to excessive swelling due to lymphatic insufficiency, resulting in the accumulation of protein-rich interstitial fluid. Primary lymphedema predominantly impacts the lower extremities and is frequently linked to hereditary factors. This condition is known to be associated with variants in several genes, such as FOXC2, FLT4, and SOX18. However, many cases remain unexplained, suggesting undiscovered gene associations. This study describes a novel mutation in the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene, a previously hypothesized candidate for lymphedema pathogenesis. This mutation was identified in affected members of a multigenerational family presenting with primary leg lymphedema, consistent with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern.

1. Introduction

Lymphedema is a type of edema (or swelling) that is caused by lymphatic dysfunction. It is categorized into two types: primary lymphedema, which is thought to be a hereditary condition, and secondary lymphedema, which arises from injury or obstruction of lymphatic nodes or, more rarely, lymphatic collectors.

Primary lymphedema can be an indicator of various complex hereditary syndromes, such as Noonan syndrome (associated with the PTPN11 gene) [1], lymphedema–distichiasis syndrome (FOXC2) [2], and hypotrichosis–lymphedema–telangiectasia syndrome (SOX18) [3]. Another common lymphedema condition is Milroy disease (FLT4) [4], characterized as congenital onset lymphedema, mostly affecting the legs [5]. However, not all lymphedema disorders have a clear genetic link. One such case is Meige disease, a form of late-onset primary lymphedema typically presenting with isolated lesions in the lower limbs. While mutations in the GJC2 gene have been observed in some familial cases of Meige disease [5], a significant proportion of cases do not have a known gene association, highlighting the need for further genetic research in the area.

Generally, it is estimated that identifiable genetic variants are present in only about 30% of primary lymphedema cases [6]. Because of this, there is an ongoing search for novel gene associations. Among the potential candidates, mutations in the HGF (hepatocyte growth factor) gene are particularly noteworthy.

HGF encodes a protein that binds to the hepatocyte growth factor receptor, playing a role in regulating cell growth. Previous research, including in vitro studies and in vivo experiments on mice, has demonstrated that HGF protein binding promotes lymphangiogenesis, a critical process in the development of the lymphatic system [7]. Another study showed that HGF expression via plasmid transfer ameliorates secondary lymphedema in the rat tail injury model [8].

HGF is also linked to other genes integral to lymphedema’s molecular–genetic mechanisms, for example, VEGFR-2, which is known for activating angiogenesis [9]. Additionally, genes such as KDR, BMPR2, SERPINE1, IL10, and CCL2, which have been identified as possible candidates for lymphedema through the Associative Network Discovery System, are associated with HGF [10].

Various mutations in the HGF gene have been documented in lymphedema patients (all reported variants are summarized in

Table 1. A list of HGF variants reported in previous studies, complete with an associated condition and family segregation data.

HGF Mutation	Associated Condition	Segregation in the Family	Reported by
p.(Cys288*)	primary lymphedema	no data	Finegold et al. [11]
p.(Arg630*)	lymphedema and lymphangiectasia	no data
p.(Val631Met)	primary lymphedema	found in at least one affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.(Leu634Phe)	primary lymphedema	found in at least one affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.(Arg178*)	primary lymphedema	no data	Michelini et al. [12]
p.(Arg424Cys)	primary lymphedema	no data
p.(Trp451Arg)	primary lymphedema	no data
p.(Lys491Asnfs*6)	primary lymphedema	no data
p.Cys96*	primary lymphedema	no data	Mengeot [13]
p.Met385Asnfs*	primary lymphedema	no data
p.Arg502*	primary lymphedema	found in one non-affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.Gly557*	primary lymphedema	no data
p.Gly618Alafs*	primary lymphedema	no data
c.1444+1G>A	primary lymphedema	found in one affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.Pro187Thr	primary lymphedema	no data
p.Val509Ile	primary lymphedema	not found in one non-affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.Thr605Arg	primary lymphedema	found in one non-affected first-degree relative of the proband
p.Asn624Lys	primary lymphedema	located in trans; non-affected parents carry different variants
p.Gly627Asp
p.Lys649Asn	primary lymphedema	found in one non-affected first-degree relative of the proband

). One study [11] reported four cases, with three involving primary lymphedema patients and one with lymphedema and lymphangiectasia. Another study [12] described four additional cases in patients presenting with congenital or late-onset lymphedema in sporadic and familial cases. However, these studies provided limited information on the clinical manifestations of the disease. Later research [13] reported 12 variants in 11 patients who presented with primary lymphedema, mostly of the lower extremities, with a variable age of onset and no additional dysmorphic features. The HGF mutations identified were predominantly loss-of-function or missense variants affecting the HGF SP domain, crucial for receptor interaction [14]. Interestingly, it was noticed [13] that loss-of-function mutations tended to result in a more severe phenotype. However, none of these reports provide sufficient details to unambiguously confirm the causative role of HGF mutations in lymphedema development. Nevertheless, the growing number of cases has led some clinics to include HGF mutation screening in their diagnostic protocols [15].

To contribute to this area of study, in this report, we describe a novel loss-of-function HGF mutation identified in a multigenerational family with primary lymphedema.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Patients

A family with a history of primary lymphedema was consulted at the clinic of the Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology—Branch Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS Novosibirsk, Russia (Figure 1A; affected members are shown in black).

2.2. Whole-Exome Sequencing

Genetic testing was performed on germline DNA extracted from blood. NGS data for patient P116 was obtained using the exome sequencing protocol with the Roche HyperExome panel.

For our analysis, we primarily searched for variants in the following list of genes associated with lymphedema and lymphatic disease [16]:

• ACVRL1, AKT1, ARAF, ARHGAP31, BRAF, CBL, CCBE1, CCM2, CELSR1, CTNNB1, DCHS1, ELMO2, ENG, EPHB4, FAT4, FGFR1, FLT4, FOXC2, GATA2, GDF2, GJC2, GLMN, GNA11, GNA14, GNAQ, HGF, HRAS, IDH1, IDH2, KIF11, KRAS, KRIT1, MAP2K1, MAP2K2, MAP3K1, MAP3K3, MAPK1, MAPK14, MAPK3, MET, MTOR, NRAS, PDCD10, PDGFRB, PIEZO1, PIK3CA, PTEN, PTPN11, PTPN14, RAF1, RASA1, RIT1, SHOC2, SMAD4, SOS1, SOX18, STAMBP, TEK, TP53, and VEGFC.

2.3. Segregation Analysis

For the segregation analysis of the variant in the HGF gene identified through NGS, a specific strategy was employed. Primers were selected to amplify the 591 bp segment of the HGF gene, which included the variant. Then, a restriction analysis was performed using the FaeI enzyme.

The variant of interest introduces a recognition site for the FaeI enzyme, resulting in distinguishable digestion products with lengths of 341 and 250 bp. In contrast, the reference allele does not have a FaeI site and thus presents as a single band of 591 bp after digestion.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Clinical Manifestations of the Familial Lymphedema Case

We performed a genetic analysis of the primary lymphedema patient, P116.

P116 is a 75-year-old woman presenting with primary bilateral leg lymphedema, classified as Stage III according to the International Society of Lymphology staging system (Figure 1B). She has been affected since the age of 9, when she first received the diagnosis of lymphedema.

Her medical history includes multiple interventions and comorbidities. At the age of 17, the patient underwent the Charles procedure on the right tibia and foot and later the excision of papillomas on the right foot at the age of 49. Additionally, she has been diagnosed with left-sided gonarthrosis, morbid obesity (with a body mass undex of 41.6 kg/m²), hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, dyslipidemia, ischemic heart disease, subclinical hypothyroidism, nephroangiosclerosis, and stage 2 chronic kidney disease (as indicated by a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration score of 56 and a Cockcroft–Gault calculation of 67 mL/min/1.73 m²). She also has a history of chronic calculous cholecystitis, which is currently in remission.

P116 has a family history of lymphedema with multiple affected relatives (see Figure 1A for a pedigree).

As evident from Figure 1A, the pattern of inheritance in the family is autosomal dominant. Common clinical features of all affected patients in the family include recurrent erysipelas of the lower extremities and limited swelling of the legs. This swelling is typically confined to the area below the knee, including the feet, and can be asymmetrical in nature. None of the affected individuals have distichiasis, hair, skin, or any additional vascular abnormalities.

Affected relatives that we have more data on include P156 and P155, a brother and a niece of P116. They developed lymphedema of both lower limbs at the ages of 12 and 17, respectively. However, their clinical manifestations vary. P155 exhibits less pronounced symptoms compared to P116 and P156 (see Figure 1B–E). Her condition has remained relatively stable without the need for complex decongestive therapy (CDT), relying instead on compression hosiery and weight management. This stability might be attributed to better medical care and early intervention. Still, recent lymphoscintigraphy of the legs performed on P155 showed severe lymphatic drainage dysfunction of the lower limbs, despite the fact that she underwent microsurgical interventions involving anastomosis between transected inguinal lymph nodes and a large vein [17]. A similar lymphatic drainage impairment is observed in her father, P156, as evident from the lymphoscintigram of his lower limbs (Figure 1F,G).

3.2. Identification of the HGF Variant in the Familial Lymphedema Case

For the genetic analysis of this family, we sequenced the exome of patient P116. We specifically looked for variation in the genes associated with lymphedema and lymphatic disease, including the most well-researched ones like FOXC2, SOX18, and FLT4.

We identified a heterozygous mutation, HGF:p.(Arg533Ter). This mutation is a single nucleotide substitution (chr7:81707309G>A, hg19) that introduces a premature STOP codon, causing a truncation of the protein. It is located in the SP domain of the HGF protein, which is the domain responsible for binding to the HGF receptor [18]. This is consistent with previous reports that mostly describe mutations perturbing HGF domains important for interaction with the receptor [11,12,13]. Still, by ACMG/AMP guidelines, the variant is not considered pathogenic. Franklin [19] gives it an automatic rating of VUS (leaning LP).

After identifying HGF:p.(Arg533Ter) in patient P116 through NGS data, we performed a segregation analysis on the patient’s family members in an attempt to confirm the variant’s significance. We observed that the variant cosegregated with the disease (Figure 1A and Scheme S1), which further supports the connection between HGF:p.(Arg533Ter) and lymphedema.

Interestingly, other studies also show a connection between HGF and erysipelas, which is a recurrent feature in the affected individuals in this family. It was demonstrated [20] that patients carrying the SOD2 C2734T mutation, which is associated with an increased susceptibility to erysipelas, had lower serum HGF levels compared to those with the wild-type SOD2 gene. This may hint at the link between HGF and erysipelas, but a lot more data is needed to support that link.

In conclusion, the association between the HGF gene and primary lymphedema is gaining more support with emerging case studies like the one we are reporting. This particular case is notable for several reasons. It is the first one describing the HGF:p.(Arg533Ter) mutation and also the first one to include a large multigenerational family with the HGF mutation, as opposed to the cases reported previously [11,13], where only first-degree relatives of the patients were tested. Another important aspect of this case study is the comprehensive description of the clinical manifestations of lymphedema in the affected individuals. Providing such detailed clinical profiles is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the variable presentations of lymphedema and its impact on patients.

Still, it is important to note that there is no definitive proof for the causative role of HGF variants (and HGF:p.(Arg533Ter) specifically) in primary lymphedema, as no functional studies have been conducted. The accumulating cases, however, do suggest a possible connection, highlighting the need for further research. Future studies, especially those involving functional analyses and larger patient cohorts, will be critical in determining the role of HGF in primary lymphedema and potentially guiding targeted therapeutic approaches.