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Di Micco V, Affronte L, Khinchi MS, Rønde G, Miranda MJ, Hammer TB, Specchio N, Beniczky S, Olofsson K, Møller RS, Gardella E. Seizure and movement disorder in CACNA1E developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: Two sides of the same coin or same side of two different coins? Epileptic Disord 2024. [PMID: 38780451 DOI: 10.1002/epd2.20242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic variants in CACNA1E are associated with early-onset epileptic and developmental encephalopathy (DEE). Severe to profound global developmental delay, early-onset refractory seizures, severe hypotonia, and macrocephaly are the main clinical features. Patients harboring the recurrent CACNA1E variant p.(Gly352Arg) typically present with the combination of early-onset DEE, dystonia/dyskinesia, and contractures. We describe a 2-year-and-11-month-old girl carrying the p.(Gly352Arg) CACNA1E variant. She has a severe DEE with very frequent drug-resistant seizures, profound hypotonia, and episodes of dystonia and dyskinesia. Long-term video-EEG-monitoring documented subsequent tonic asymmetric seizures during wakefulness and mild paroxysmal dyskinesias of the trunk out of sleep which were thought to be a movement disorder and instead turned out to be focal hyperkinetic seizures. This is the first documented description of the EEG findings in this disorder. Our report highlights a possible overlap between cortical and subcortical phenomena in CACNA1E-DEE. We also underline how a careful electro-clinical evaluation might be necessary for a correct discernment between the two disorders, playing a fundamental role in the clinical assessment and proper management of children with CACNA1E-DEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Di Micco
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Epilepsy and Movement Disorders, Neurology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE
| | - Leonardo Affronte
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Child Neuropsychiatry, IRCCS, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Gitte Rønde
- Department of Pediatrics, Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Jose Miranda
- Department of Pediatrics, Herlev and Gentofte University Hospital, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Trine Bjørg Hammer
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Nicola Specchio
- Epilepsy and Movement Disorders, Neurology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
- Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE
| | - Sándor Beniczky
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kern Olofsson
- Department of Child Neurology, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Rikke S Møller
- Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Precision Treatment, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
| | - Elena Gardella
- Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Member of the European Reference Network EpiCARE
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Precision Treatment, Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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Afsar T, Fu H, Khan H, Ali Z, Zehri Z, Zaman G, Abbas S, Mahmood A, Alam Q, Hu J, Razak S, Umair M. Loss-of-function variant in the LRR domain of SLITRK2 implicated in a neurodevelopmental disorder. Front Genet 2024; 14:1308116. [PMID: 38283150 PMCID: PMC10813200 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1308116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by different combinations of intellectual disability (ID), communication and social skills deficits, and delays in achieving motor or language milestones. SLITRK2 is a postsynaptic cell-adhesion molecule that promotes neurite outgrowth and excitatory synapse development. Methods and Results: In the present study, we investigated a single patient segregating Neurodevelopmental disorder. SLITRK2 associated significant neuropsychological issues inherited in a rare X-linked fashion have recently been reported. Whole-exome sequencing and data analysis revealed a novel nonsense variant [c.789T>A; p.(Cys263*); NM_032539.5; NP_115928.1] in exon 5 of the SLITRK2 gene (MIM# 300561). Three-dimensional protein modeling revealed substantial changes in the mutated SLITRK2 protein, which might lead to nonsense-medicated decay. Conclusion: This study confirms the role of SLITRK2 in neuronal development and highlights the importance of including the SLITRK2 gene in the screening of individuals presenting neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayyaba Afsar
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hongxia Fu
- Department of Neurology, Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Hammal Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Zain Ali
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Zamrud Zehri
- Department of Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Gohar Zaman
- Department of Computer Science, Abbottabad University of Science and Technology, Havelian, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Safdar Abbas
- Department of Biological Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Arif Mahmood
- Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qamre Alam
- Molecular Genomics and Precision Department, ExpressMed Diagnostics and Research, Zinj, Bahrain
| | - Junjian Hu
- Department of Central Laboratory, Dongguan Songshan Lake Central Hospital, Dongguan, China
| | - Suhail Razak
- Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Umair
- King Salman Center for Disability Research, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Felício D, du Mérac TR, Amorim A, Martins S. Functional implications of paralog genes in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1651-1676. [PMID: 37845370 PMCID: PMC10676324 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise a group of autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders caused by (CAG/CAA)n expansions. The elongated stretches of adjacent glutamines alter the conformation of the native proteins inducing neurotoxicity, and subsequent motor and neurological symptoms. Although the etiology and neuropathology of most polyQ SCAs have been extensively studied, only a limited selection of therapies is available. Previous studies on SCA1 demonstrated that ATXN1L, a human duplicated gene of the disease-associated ATXN1, alleviated neuropathology in mice models. Other SCA-associated genes have paralogs (i.e., copies at different chromosomal locations derived from duplication of the parental gene), but their functional relevance and potential role in disease pathogenesis remain unexplored. Here, we review the protein homology, expression pattern, and molecular functions of paralogs in seven polyQ dominant ataxias-SCA1, SCA2, MJD/SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA17, and DRPLA. Besides ATXN1L, we highlight ATXN2L, ATXN3L, CACNA1B, ATXN7L1, ATXN7L2, TBPL2, and RERE as promising functional candidates to play a role in the neuropathology of the respective SCA, along with the parental gene. Although most of these duplicates lack the (CAG/CAA)n region, if functionally redundant, they may compensate for a partial loss-of-function or dysfunction of the wild-type genes in SCAs. We aim to draw attention to the hypothesis that paralogs of disease-associated genes may underlie the complex neuropathology of dominant ataxias and potentiate new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Felício
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tanguy Rubat du Mérac
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - António Amorim
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Martins
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
- Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
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Lauerer RJ, Lerche H. Voltage-gated calcium channels in genetic epilepsies. J Neurochem 2023. [PMID: 37822150 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) are abundant in the central nervous system and serve a broad spectrum of functions, either directly in cellular excitability or indirectly to regulate Ca2+ homeostasis. Ca2+ ions act as one of the main connections in excitation-transcription coupling, muscle contraction and excitation-exocytosis coupling, including synaptic transmission. In recent years, many genes encoding VGCCs main α or additional auxiliary subunits have been associated with epilepsy. This review sums up the current state of knowledge on disease mechanisms and provides guidance on disease-specific therapies where applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Lauerer
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University and University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Holger Lerche
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University and University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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Kipkemoi P, Kim HA, Christ B, O'Heir E, Allen J, Austin-Tse C, Baxter S, Brand H, Bryant S, Buser N, de Menil V, Eastman E, Murugasen S, Galvin A, Kombe M, Ngombo A, Mkubwa B, Mwangi P, Kipkoech C, Lovgren A, MacArthur DG, Melly B, Mwangasha K, Martin A, Nkambule LL, Sanchis-Juan A, Singer-Berk M, Talkowski ME, VanNoy G, van der Merwe C, Newton C, O'Donnell-Luria A, Abubakar A, Donald KA, Robinson EB. Phenotype and genetic analysis of data collected within the first year of NeuroDev. Neuron 2023; 111:2800-2810.e5. [PMID: 37463579 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Genetic association studies have made significant contributions to our understanding of the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). However, these studies rarely focused on the African continent. The NeuroDev Project aims to address this diversity gap through detailed phenotypic and genetic characterization of children with NDDs from Kenya and South Africa. We present results from NeuroDev's first year of data collection, including phenotype data from 206 cases and clinical genetic analyses of 99 parent-child trios. Most cases met criteria for global developmental delay/intellectual disability (GDD/ID, 80.3%). Approximately half of the children with GDD/ID also met criteria for autism. Analysis of exome-sequencing data identified a pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in 13 (17%) of the 75 cases from South Africa and 9 (38%) of the 24 cases from Kenya. Data from the trio pilot are publicly available, and the NeuroDev Project will continue to develop resources for the global genetics community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Kipkemoi
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya; Complex Trait Genetics Department, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Heesu Ally Kim
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bjorn Christ
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, 4th Floor ICH Building, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Emily O'Heir
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jake Allen
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christina Austin-Tse
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Harrison Brand
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sam Bryant
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nick Buser
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Victoria de Menil
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emma Eastman
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, 4th Floor ICH Building, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Serini Murugasen
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, 4th Floor ICH Building, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Alice Galvin
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martha Kombe
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Alfred Ngombo
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Beatrice Mkubwa
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Paul Mwangi
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Collins Kipkoech
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Alysia Lovgren
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Brigitte Melly
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, 4th Floor ICH Building, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Katini Mwangasha
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Alicia Martin
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lethukuthula L Nkambule
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alba Sanchis-Juan
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Michael E Talkowski
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Grace VanNoy
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Charles Newton
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, London, UK; Institute of Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anne O'Donnell-Luria
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amina Abubakar
- Neuroscience Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Center for Geographic Medicine Research Coast, Kilifi, Kenya; Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford, London, UK; Institute of Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Kirsten A Donald
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, 4th Floor ICH Building, Rondebosch, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Elise B Robinson
- The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Mangano GD, Capizzi MR, Mantuano E, Veneziano L, Santangelo G, Quatrosi G, Nardello R, Raieli V. Familial hemiplegic migraine in pediatric patients: A genetic, clinical, and follow-up study. Headache 2023. [PMID: 37326332 DOI: 10.1111/head.14582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe a cohort of pediatric patients with genetically confirmed familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM). The knowledge of genotype-phenotype correlations may suggest prognostic factors associated with severe phenotypes. BACKGROUND Hemiplegic migraine is a rare disease and data concerning the pediatric population are even more rare as they are often extrapolated from mixed cohorts. METHODS We selected patients who met International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition criteria for FHM, who had a molecular diagnosis, and whose first attack occurred under the age of 18 years. RESULTS We enrolled nine patients (seven males and two females) first referred to our three centers. Three of the nine (33%) patients had calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 A (CACNA1A) mutations, five (55%) had ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 2 (ATP1A2) mutations, and one had both genetic mutations. The patients experienced at least one aura feature other than hemiplegia during the first attack. The mean (SD) duration of HM attacks in the sample was 11.3 (17.1) h; 3.8 (6.1) h in the ATP1A2 group, and 24.3 (23.5) h in the CACNA1A group. The mean (SD, range) duration of follow-up was 7.4 (2.2, 3-10) years. During the first year from the disorder's onset, only four patients had additional attacks. Over the course of follow-up, the attack frequency overall was 0.4 attacks/year without a difference between the two groups (CACNA1A and ATP1A2). CONCLUSION The study data show that most of our patients with early-onset FHM experienced infrequent and non-severe attacks, which improved over time. Furthermore, the clinical course revealed neither the appearance of novel neurological disorders or a deterioration of basic neurological or cognitive functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Donato Mangano
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Capizzi
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical, Specialities "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Elide Mantuano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Liana Veneziano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Santangelo
- Child Neuropsychiatry Department, P.O. Di Cristina, ARNAS Civico, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Quatrosi
- Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Rosaria Nardello
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical, Specialities "G. D'Alessandro", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Raieli
- Child Neuropsychiatry Department, P.O. Di Cristina, ARNAS Civico, Palermo, Italy
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Loss of the Immunomodulatory Transcription Factor BATF2 in Humans Is Associated with a Neurological Phenotype. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020227. [PMID: 36672163 PMCID: PMC9856319 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy and mental retardation are known to be associated with pathogenic mutations in a broad range of genes that are expressed in the brain and have a role in neurodevelopment. Here, we report on a family with three affected individuals whose clinical symptoms closely resemble a neurodevelopmental disorder. Whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous stop-gain mutation, p.Gln19*, in the BATF2 gene in the patients. The BATF2 transcription factor is predominantly expressed in macrophages and monocytes and has been reported to modulate AP-1 transcription factor-mediated pro-inflammatory responses. Transcriptome analysis showed altered base-level expression of interferon-stimulated genes in the patients' blood, typical for type I interferonopathies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all three patients demonstrated elevated responses to innate immune stimuli, which could be reproduced in CRISPR-Cas9-generated BATF2-/- human monocytic cell lines. BATF2 is, therefore, a novel disease-associated gene candidate for severe epilepsy and mental retardation related to dysregulation of immune responses, which underscores the relevance of neuroinflammation for epilepsy.
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Waqas A, Liaqat R, Shaheen S, Khan AZ, Habib AH, Binothman N, Aljadani M, Zehri Z, Shaheen S, Alkathiri A, Naz R, Umair M, Abbas S. A novel homozygous truncating variant in PPFIBP1 further delineates PPFIBP1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 83:191-200. [PMID: 36527195 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are classified as a group of disorders affecting function and development of the brain and having wide clinical variability. Herein, we describe two affected individuals segregating a recessive NDD. The affected individuals exhibited phenotypes such as global developmental delay (GDD), intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly and speech delay. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) followed by bidirectional Sanger sequencing techniques identified a homozygous nonsense variant (c.466C > T; p.Gln156*) in the PPFIBP1 gene (NM_003622.4) that segregated with the disease phenotype. Further, to elucidate the effect of the variant on protein structure, 3D protein modelling was performed for the mutant and normal protein that suggested substantial reduction of the mutant protein. Our data support the evidence that PPFIBP1 has a pivotal role in neurodevelopment in humans, and loss-of-function variants cause clinically variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Waqas
- Department Zoology, Division of Science and Technology, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Romana Liaqat
- Institute of Chemical Science, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sidrah Shaheen
- Department of Higher Education, Government Girls degree College No. 1, Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ali Zaman Khan
- Department of Surgery, Surgical Ward 'A', Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Alaa Hamed Habib
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Najat Binothman
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majidah Aljadani
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zamrud Zehri
- Shaheed Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Memorial Hospital, Mastung, Balochistan, Pakistan
| | - Shabnam Shaheen
- Department of Higher Education, Government Girls Degree College, Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Afnan Alkathiri
- Medical Genetics, Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Albaha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rubina Naz
- Institute of Chemical Science, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umair
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Science, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
- Medical Genomics Research Department, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Safdar Abbas
- Department of Biological Science, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
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Autism associated mutations in β 2 subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels constitutively activate gene expression. Cell Calcium 2022; 108:102672. [PMID: 36427431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2022.102672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Membrane depolarization triggers gene expression through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) in a process called Excitation-transcription (ET) coupling. Mutations in the channel subunits α11.2, or β2d, are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders such as ASD. Here, we found that two mutations S143F and G113S within the rat Cavβ2a corresponding to autistic related mutations Cavβ2dS197F and Cavβ2dG167S in the human Cavβ2d, activate ET-coupling via the RAS/ERK/CREB pathway. Membrane depolarization of HEK293 cells co-expressing α11.2 and α2δ with Cavβ2aS143F or Cavβ2aG113S triggers constitutive transcriptional activation, which is correlated with facilitated channel activity. Similar to the Timothy-associated autistic mutation α11.2G406R, constitutive gene activation is attributed to a hyperpolarizing shift in the activation kinetics of Cav1.2. Pulldown of RasGRF2 and RhoGEF by wt and the Cavβ2a autistic mutants is consistent with Cavβ2/Ras activation in ET coupling and implicates Rho signaling as yet another molecular pathway activated by Cavα11.2/Cavβ2 . Facilitated spontaneous channel activity preceding enhanced gene activation via the Ras/ERK/CREB pathway, appears a general molecular mechanism for Ca2+ channel mediated ASD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Network-Based Data Analysis Reveals Ion Channel-Related Gene Features in COVID-19: A Bioinformatic Approach. Biochem Genet 2022; 61:471-505. [PMID: 36104591 PMCID: PMC9473477 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-022-10280-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) seriously threatens human health and has been disseminated worldwide. Although there are several treatments for COVID-19, its control is currently suboptimal. Therefore, the development of novel strategies to treat COVID-19 is necessary. Ion channels are located on the membranes of all excitable cells and many intracellular organelles and are key components involved in various biological processes. They are a target of interest when searching for drug targets. This study aimed to reveal the relevant molecular features of ion channel genes in COVID-19 based on bioinformatic analyses. The RNA-sequencing data of patients with COVID-19 and healthy subjects (GSE152418 and GSE171110 datasets) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Ion channel genes were selected from the Hugo Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) database. The RStudio software was used to process the data based on the corresponding R language package to identify ion channel-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Based on the DEGs, Gene Ontology (GO) functional and pathway enrichment analyses were performed using the Enrichr web tool. The STRING database was used to generate a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the Cytoscape software was used to screen for hub genes in the PPI network based on the cytoHubba plug-in. Transcription factors (TF)-DEG, DEG-microRNA (miRNA) and DEG-disease association networks were constructed using the NetworkAnalyst web tool. Finally, the screened hub genes as drug targets were subjected to enrichment analysis based on the DSigDB using the Enrichr web tool to identify potential therapeutic agents for COVID-19. A total of 29 ion channel-associated DEGs were identified. GO functional analysis showed that the DEGs were integral components of the plasma membrane and were mainly involved in inorganic cation transmembrane transport and ion channel activity functions. Pathway analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly involved in nicotine addiction, calcium regulation in the cardiac cell and neuronal system pathways. The top 10 hub genes screened based on the PPI network included KCNA2, KCNJ4, CACNA1A, CACNA1E, NALCN, KCNA5, CACNA2D1, TRPC1, TRPM3 and KCNN3. The TF-DEG and DEG-miRNA networks revealed significant TFs (FOXC1, GATA2, HINFP, USF2, JUN and NFKB1) and miRNAs (hsa-mir-146a-5p, hsa-mir-27a-3p, hsa-mir-335-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p and hsa-mir-129-2-3p). Gene-disease association network analysis revealed that the DEGs were closely associated with intellectual disability and cerebellar ataxia. Drug-target enrichment analysis showed that the relevant drugs targeting the hub genes CACNA2D1, CACNA1A, CACNA1E, KCNA2 and KCNA5 were gabapentin, gabapentin enacarbil, pregabalin, guanidine hydrochloride and 4-aminopyridine. The results of this study provide a valuable basis for exploring the mechanisms of ion channel genes in COVID-19 and clues for developing therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.
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The Cannabis-Induced Epigenetic Regulation of Genes Associated with Major Depressive Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081435. [PMID: 36011346 PMCID: PMC9407536 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of depression is increasing worldwide, as is the number of people suffering from treatment-resistant depression; these patients constitute 30% of those treated. Unfortunately, there have not been significant advances in the treatment of this disorder in the past few decades. Exposure to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds impacts depression symptomatology in different ways, with evidence indicating that cannabidiol has antidepressant effects; there have been mixed results with medical cannabis. Even though the exact molecular mechanisms of the action underlying changes in depression symptomatology upon exposure to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds are still unknown, there is strong evidence that these agents have a widespread impact on epigenetic regulation. We hypothesized that exposure to cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds changes the DNA methylation levels of genes associated with depression. To test this hypothesis, we first performed a literature search to identify genes that are differentially methylated upon exposure to cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, as reported in methylome-wide association studies. We next checked whether genes residing in loci associated with depression, as identified in the largest currently available genome-wide association study of depression, were reported to be epigenetically regulated by cannabis or cannabis-related compounds. Multiple genes residing in loci associated with depression were found to be epigenetically regulated by exposure to cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds. This epigenomic regulation of depression-associated genes by cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds was reported across diverse organisms, tissues, and developmental stages and occurred in genes crucial for neuronal development, functioning, survival, and synapse functioning, as well as in genes previously implicated in other mental disorders.
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