Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40436861›Full record

ArticleNPJ genomic medicine2025

Cracking rare disorders: a new minimally invasive RNA-seq protocol.

Laurenz De Cock, Erika D'haenens, Lies Vantomme, Lynn Backers, Aude Beyens, Kathleen Bm Claes, Griet De Clercq, Robin de Putter, Candy Kumps, Nika Schuermans and 11 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in NPJ genomic medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. RNA Sequencing Resolves Cryptic Pathogenic Variants in Mitochondrial Disease.Annals of clinical and translational neurology · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Benchmarking RNA-seq Tools for Real-World Diagnostic Applications.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

21 authors.

Laurenz De Cock *Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Erika D'haenens *Center for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Lies VantommeDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Lynn BackersDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Aude BeyensDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Kathleen Bm ClaesDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Griet De ClercqDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Robin de PutterCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Candy KumpsCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Nika SchuermansCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Jo SourbronCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Hannes SyrynDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Simon TavernierCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Eva VanbelleghemDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Olivier VanakkerDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Bart VandekerckhoveCancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
Tim Van DammeCenter for Medical Genetics Ghent, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Bert CallewaertDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Annelies DheedeneDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Sarah VergultDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. sarah.vergult@ugent.be.
Björn MentenDepartment of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. bjorn.menten@ugent.be.

Funding

Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent BOF20/GOA/023Bijzonder Onderzoeksfonds UGent BOF/STA/201909/009Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek G055422NFonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek T003819N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) has become key to complementing exome and genome sequencing for variant interpretation. We present a minimally invasive RNA-seq protocol using short-term cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with and without cycloheximide treatment, enabling detection of transcripts subject to nonsense-mediated decay. While broadly applicable, this protocol is particularly suited for neurodevelopmental disorders, as up to 80% of the genes in our intellectual disability and epilepsy gene panel are expressed in PBMCs. Applied to 46 affected individuals and 15 parents, RNA-seq revealed splicing defects in six of nine individuals with splice variants, allowing reclassification of seven variants. Targeted cDNA analysis confirmed aberrant splicing in four individuals but missed intron retention in two. Global analyses (FRASER, OUTRIDER, and monoallelic expression) supported findings but did not yield new diagnoses. We propose a flowchart integrating RNA-seq into diagnostic workflows. Overall, our protocol is easily implementable, captures complex splicing events, and enhances variant classification.

Identifiers

PMID40436861
PMCPMC12120114

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.