3 M syndrome is a well-known autosomal recessive skeletal genetic disorder caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC8 genes. Affected individuals exhibit profound pre- and postnatal growth retardation, distinctive facial features with normal intelligence. This study aims to provide insight into the comprehensive evaluation of clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, expand the mutational spectrum of the disease, and establish a genotype-phenotype correlation in the present cases. A total of 25 patients from 19 unrelated families were included in the study. Genetic etiology was determined in probands through the utilization of Sanger sequencing and/or targeted gene panel analysis. The clinical, laboratory, and genetic features of all patients at admission and during follow-up were documented. Genotype-phenotype correlation was carried out in the CUL7 and OBSL1 groups. The genetic etiology was established in all patients (n = 25/25, 100%). We identified 15 distinct variants in CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC8 genes, with eleven being novel. CUL7 variants were present in 13 patients (n = 13/25, 52%), while OBSL1 variants were found in 11 patients (n = 11/25, 44%). No notable distinctions were found in mean birth weight, height, and standard deviation scores between the CUL7 and OBSL1 mutation groups (p > 0.05). Patients with CUL7 variants exhibited significantly lower height standard deviation scores both at admission and at the last examination, as well as lower weight standard deviation scores at the last examination, compared to those with OBSL1 variants (p < 0.05).

To date, genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified in a limited number of studies. Further research involving larger cohorts is necessary to solidify these correlations.

• 3M syndrome is a well-known skeletal dysplasia caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in CUL7, OBSL1, and CCDC8 genes. • Despite genetic heterogeneity, clinical, and radiologic features show homogeneity in affected individuals.

• Genotype-phenotype correlations have been established in limited studies. • The CUL7 group exhibited significantly lower height SDS at both admission and the final evaluation and lower weight SDS at the final examination compared to the OBSL1 group. • The frequency of variants in the OBSL1 gene among Turkish patients exceeds the rates reported in the literature. • Gradenigo syndrome is being reported for the first time in a patient with 3M syndrome.

3M syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by short stature and skeletal developmental abnormalities. A Chinese girl with 3M syndrome and a novel OBSL1 (obscurin-like 1 gene) variant is presented. The patient is a 2-year-old girl who presented with short stature and had intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. Gene analysis revealed compound heterozygote mutations in the OBSL1 gene: c.458dupG (p.L154Pfs*100) and c.427dupG (p.A143Gfs*111). The c.427dupG mutation is novel. The c.458dupG mutation has been documented in five cases, occurring only in Chinese individuals, suggesting ethnic specificity. In cases of children with short stature presenting with intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, and skeletal developmental abnormalities, 3M syndrome should be considered. The c.458dupG mutation may be a hotspot mutation in the Chinese population.

3 M syndrome is first reported in 1975，which characterized by severe pre- and postnatal growth retardation, skeletal malformation and facial dysmorphism. These three genes (CUL7, OBSL1 and CCDC8) have been identified to be respond for 3 M syndrome, of which CUL7 is accounting for approximately 70%. To date, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of 3 M syndrome remains poorly understood. Previous studies showed that no Cul7-/- mice could survive after birth, because of growth retardation at late gestational stage and respiratory distress after birth. The establishment of the animal model of cartilage specific Cul7 knockout mice (Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice) has confirmed that Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice can be selective in a time- and tissue-dependent manner, which can provide an experimental basis for further research on severe genetic diseases related to growth plates.

To establish a model of Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice based on Cre/LoxP system, and to further observe its phenotype and morphological changes in growth plate.

The Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice were taken as the experimental group, while the genotype of Cul7fl/+;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice were used as the control group. The gross morphological features and X-ray films of limbs in the two groups were observed every week for 3-6 consecutive weeks, and the length of the mice from nose to the tail, the length of femur and tibia were recorded. In the meantime, The histological morphology of tibial growth plates was compared between the two groups.

A preliminary model of Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice was established. The Cul7fl/fl;Col2a1-CreERT2 mice had abnormally short and deformed limbs (P<0.05), increased thickness of growth plate, the disorderly arranged chondrocyte columns, decreased number of cells in the proliferation zone, changes in the shape from flat to round, obviously expanded extracellular matrix, and disordered arrangement, thickening and loosening of bone trabecula at the proximal metaphysis of the femur.

The knockout of Cul7 gene may affect both the proliferation of chondrocytes and the endochondral osteogenesis, confirming that Cul7 is essential for the normal development of bone in the body.

A rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder, 3M syndrome, is characterized by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation. Children with 3M syndrome typically exhibit short stature, facial deformities, long tubular bones, and high vertebral bodies but generally lack mental abnormalities or other organ damage. Pathogenic genes associated with 3M syndrome include CUL7, OBSL1 and CCDC8. The clinical and molecular characteristics of patient with 3M syndrome are unique and serve as important diagnostic indicators.

In this case, the patient displayed square shoulders, scoliosis, long slender tubular bones, and normal neurological development. Notably, the patient did not exhibit the typical dysmorphic facial features, relative macrocephaly, or growth retardation commonly observed in individuals with 3M syndrome. Whole exon sequencing revealed a novel heterozygous c.56681+1G>C (Splice-3) variant and a previously reported nonsense heterozygous c.3341G>A (p.Trp1114Ter) variant of OBSL1. Therefore, it is important to note that the clinical features of 3M syndrome may not always be observable, and genetic confirmation is often required. Additionally, the identification of the c.5683+1G>C variant in OBSL1 is noteworthy because it has not been previously reported in public databases.

Our study identified a new variant (c.5683+1G>C) of OBSL1 that contributes to expanding the molecular profile of 3M syndrome.

Intrauterine onset syndromic short stature constitutes a group of diseases that pose challenges in differential diagnosis due to their rarity and clinical as well as molecular heterogeneity. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of (epi)genetic causes in children born small for gestational age (SGA) and manifesting clinically undiagnosed syndromic short stature. The study group comprised twenty-nine cases selected from the syndromic SGA cohort. Various analyses were performed, including chromosomal microarray (CMA), methylation-specific-multiple ligation probe amplification for chromosomes 6,14 and 20, and whole exome sequencing (WES). Pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) on chromosomes 2q13, 22q11.3, Xp22.33, 17q21.31, 19p13.13 and 4p16.31 causing syndromic growth disturbance were detected in six patients. Maternal uniparental disomy 14 was identified in a patient. WES was performed in the remaining 22 patients, revealing pathogenic variants in nine cases; six were monoallelic (ACAN, ARID2, NIPBL, PIK3R1, SMAD4, BRIP1), two were biallelic (BRCA2, RFWD3) and one was hemizygous (HUWE1). Seven of these were novel. Craniofacial dysmorphism, which is an important clue for the diagnosis of syndromes, was very mild in all patients. This study unveiled, for the first time, that ARID2 mutatios can cause syndromic SGA. In conclusion, a high (55.2%) diagnosis rate was achieved through the utilization of CMA, epigenetic and WES analyzes; 15 rare syndromes were defined, who were born with SGA and had atypical and/or mild dysmorphic findings. This study not only drew attention to the association of some rare syndromes with SGA, but also introduced novel genes and CNVs as potential contributors to syndromic SGA.

Background: 3M syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disease, characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, facial dysmorphism, large head circumference, and skeletal changes, has rarely been reported in the Chinese population. Methods: We describe the clinical manifestations and gene variants in four sporadic cases of 3M syndrome in Chinese individuals from different families. Results: All cases had significant growth retardation, relative macrocephaly, and typical facial features. Exome sequencing revealed that two patients with 3M syndrome had homozygous variants of the CUL7 gene: one novel pathogenic variant and one previously reported pathogenic variant; the other two patients were heterozygous for variants in OBSL1, one of which had not been reported previously. Clinical evaluation indicated that these Chinese patients with 3M syndrome shared similar recognizable features with those reported in patients of other ethnic backgrounds, but not all patients with 3M syndrome in this study had normal development milestones. Two patients underwent recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy and showed accelerated growth in the first 2 years; however, the growth rate slowed in the third year in one case. There were no obvious adverse reactions during rhGH treatment. Conclusion: We report one novel CUL7 and one novel OBSL1 mutation in patients with 3M syndrome. Children with short stature, specific facial features, and physical symptoms should be referred for genetic testing to obtain precise diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The effects of rhGH treatment on adult height requires long-term observation and study in a large sample.