Background: Segmental progeroid syndromes are a heterogeneous group of rare and often severe genetic disorders that have been studied since the twentieth century. These progeroid syndromes are defined as segmental because only some of the features observed during natural aging are accelerated. Methods: Since 2015, the Molecular Genetics Laboratory in Marseille La Timone Hospital proposes molecular diagnosis of premature aging syndromes including laminopathies and related disorders upon NGS sequencing of a panel of 82 genes involved in these syndromes. We analyzed the results obtained in 4 years on 66 patients issued from France and abroad. Results: Globally, pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants (ACMG class 5 or 4) were identified in about 1/4 of the cases; among these, 9 pathogenic variants were novel. On the other hand, the diagnostic yield of our panel was over 60% when the patients were addressed upon a nosologically specific clinical suspicion, excepted for connective tissue disorders, for which clinical diagnosis may be more challenging. Prenatal testing was proposed to 3 families. We additionally detected 16 variants of uncertain significance and reclassified 3 of them as benign upon segregation analysis in first degree relatives. Conclusions: High throughput sequencing using the Laminopathies/ Premature Aging disorders panel allowed molecular diagnosis of rare disorders associated with premature aging features and genetic counseling for families, representing an interesting first-level analysis before whole genome sequencing may be proposed, as a future second step, by the National high throughput sequencing platforms (“Medicine France Genomics 2025” Plan), in families without molecular diagnosis.

Background: Hypercalciuria is one of the most frequent metabolic disorders associated with nephrolithiasis and/or nephrocalcinosis possibly leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and bone complications in adults. Orphan diseases with different underlying primary pathophysiology share inappropriately increased 1,25(OH)₂D levels and hypercalciuria, e.g., hypersensitivity to vitamin D and renal phosphate wasting. Their management is challenging, typically based on hyperhydration and dietary advice. The antifungal azoles are known to inhibit the 1α-hydroxylase and therefore decrease 1,25(OH)₂D levels; they are commonly used, with well described pharmacokinetic and tolerability data. Fluconazole has been successfully reported to reduce calciuria in patients with CYP24A1 or SLC34A3 mutations, with no safety warnings. Thus, based on these case reports, we hypothesize that fluconazole is effective to decrease and normalize calciuria in patients with hypercalciuria and increased 1,25(OH)₂D levels. Methods: The FLUCOLITH trial is a prospective, interventional, randomized in parallel groups (1:1), placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. A total of 60 patients (10–60 years) with nephrolithiasis and/or nephrocalcinosis history, hypercalciuria (> 0.1 mmol/kg/day), increased 1,25(OH)₂D levels (> 150 pmol/L), and 25-OH-D levels >20 nmol/L will be included. Inclusions will be performed only from mid-September to the beginning of February to avoid bias due to sunlight-induced vitamin D synthesis. The primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients with normalization of 24-h calciuria between baseline and 16 weeks, or with a relative decrease of at least 30% of 24-h calciuria in patients who still display at W16 a 24-h hypercalciuria. Discussion: The current challenge is to propose an efficient treatment to patients with hypercalciuria and increased 1,25(OH)₂D levels in order to prevent later complications and notably CKD that can ultimately lead to end-stage renal disease. Based on improvement of knowledge in phosphate/calcium metabolism, pathophysiology and genetics, the “off-label” use of fluconazole was recently reported to be useful in hypercalciuric patients with increased 1,25(OH)₂D levels. Thus, the FLUCOLITH study is a unique opportunity to develop a new indication of a well-known and not expensive drug in orphan renal diseases, the ultimate objective being the secondary prevention of CKD worsening in these patients. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04495608. Registered on July 23, 2020.

Achondroplasia, the most prevalent short-stature disorder, is caused by missense variants overactivating the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3). As current surgical and pharmaceutical treatments only partially improve some disease features, we sought to explore a genetic approach. We show that an enhancer located 29 kb upstream of mouse Fgfr3 ( –29E ) is sufficient to confer a transgenic mouse reporter with a domain of expression in cartilage matching that of Fgfr3 . Its CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion in otherwise WT mice reduced Fgfr3 expression in this domain by half without causing adverse phenotypes. Importantly, its deletion in mice harboring the ortholog of the most common human achondroplasia variant largely normalized long bone and vertebral body growth, markedly reduced spinal canal and foramen magnum stenosis, and improved craniofacial defects. Consequently, mouse achondroplasia is no longer lethal, and adults are overall healthy. These findings, together with high conservation of –29E in humans, open a path to develop genetic therapies for people with achondroplasia.