Identification of a Novel WFS1 Mutation Using the Whole Exome Sequencing in an Iranian Pedigree with Autosomal Dominant Hearing Loss

INTRODUCTION: Sensorineural hearing loss is the most frequent type of hearing impairment in the human population. Genetic factors account for over 60% of hearing loss in patients. This is a genetically heterogeneous sensorineural disorder. CASE REPORT: We carried out whole exome sequencing (WES) to screen hearing loss candidate genes in a member of an Iranian family with hearing loss. The Sanger process was used to sequencing the variant in the family members. A novel mutation (c. 559C > T) was found in the WFS1 gene (in exon 5) in the patient leading to a heterozygous missense mutation (p.L187F). Furthermore, it co-segregated with HL in the family. All affected individuals in the family had severe-to-profound HL. CONCLUSION: This survey is the first to describe WFS1 related HL in the Iranian population. Our data propose that the WFS1-p.L187F mutation is the pathogenic variant for autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss. Our results extend the range of the WFS1 gene mutations.