Spinocerebellar Ataxias Type 8, 12, and 17 and Dentatorubro-Pallidoluysian Atrophy in Czech Ataxic Patients

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders currently associated with 27 genes. The most frequent types are caused by expansions in coding CAG repeats. The frequency of SCA subtypes varies among populations. We examined the occurrence of rare SCAs, SCA8, SCA12, SCA17 and dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), in the Czech population from where the data were missing. We analyzed causal gene expansions in 515 familial and sporadic ataxic patients negatively tested for SCA1–3 and SCA6–7. Pathogenic SCA8 and SCA17 expansions were identified in eight and five patients, respectively. Tay–Sachs disease was later diagnosed in one patient with an SCA8 expansion and the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) was suspected in two other patients with SCA8 expansions. These findings are probably coincidental, although the participation of SCA8 expansions in the susceptibility to MS and disease progression cannot be fully excluded. None of the patients had pathogenic SCA12 or DRPLA expansions. However, three patients had intermediate SCA12 alleles out of the normal range with 36 and 43 CAGs. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) was probable in the patient with 43 CAGs. This coincidence is remarkable, especially in the context with the recently identified predisposing role of longer SCA2 alleles in ALS. Five families with SCA17 represent a significant portion of ataxic patients and this should be reflected in the diagnostics of SCAs in the Czech population. SCA8 expansions must be considered after careful clinical evaluation.     

Analysis of spinocerebellar ataxias due to expanded triplet repeats in Greek patients with cerebellar ataxia

The relative frequency of different autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias, commonly referred to as spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), varies considerably among populations of different ethnic origin. No data exist at present on the frequency of different SCAs in the Greek population. In the present study we investigated the presence of triplet repeat expansion SCAs (SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, SCA12, SCA17 and DRPLA) in a cohort of 83 Greek patients with slowly progressive cerebellar ataxia. Twenty patients came from autosomal dominant (AD) pedigrees, seven displayed recessive or unclear inheritance and 56 were sporadic. We found four patients with pathological SCA expansions, all from AD pedigrees. Two patients had SCA1, one SCA2 and one SCA7 (10.0, 5.0 and 5.0% of the AD group, respectively). The clinical features of these patients were within the expected spectrum. In total, a pathological expansion was detected in 20% of patients from AD pedigrees. Interestingly, no cases of SCA3 or SCA6 were detected in the AD group. No expansions were found in other familial cases or in sporadic patients. Overall, no cases of SCA3, SCA6, SCA12, SCA17 or DRPLA were identified in the Greek population. In conclusion, SCA1, SCA2 and SCA7 are present in Greek patients with AD cerebellar ataxia in frequencies similar to those observed in other populations. SCA3 and SCA6 appear however to be rare in Greece. The genetic cause for the majority of AD ataxias remains to be identified.     

Molecular genetics of hereditary spinocerebellar ataxia: mutation analysis of spinocerebellar ataxia genes and CAG/CTG repeat expansion detection in 225 Italian families

BACKGROUND: Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias are a clinical and genetically heterogeneous group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases, at present associated with 22 loci (spinocerebellar ataxia [SCA] 1-SCA8, SCA10-SCA19, SCA21, SCA22, fibroblast growth factor 14 [FGF14]-SCA, and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy [DRPLA]). The relevant gene has been identified in 12 cases (SCA1-3, SCA6-8, SCA10, SCA12, FGF14, and DRPLA), and in all but the recently identified SCA14, SCA17, PRKCG and FGF14 genes, the defect consists of the expansion of a short nucleotide repeat. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relative prevalence of SCA1-3, SCA6-8, SCA10, SCA12, and SCA17 gene expansions in Italian families with hereditary ataxia, specifically to verify the occurrence of SCA10, SCA12, and SCA17 in Italy; and to analyze samples from probands with negative test results at the initial screening by means of the repeat expansion detection technique to identify CAG/CTG expansions in novel loci.Patients Two hundred twenty-five unrelated Italian index cases with hereditary ataxia, most (n = 183) of whom presented with a clear dominantly transmitted trait. RESULTS: We found that SCA1 and SCA2 gene mutations accounted for most cases (21% and 24%, respectively). We found SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, and SCA17 to be very rare (approximately 1% each), and no case of SCA10 or SCA12 was identified. Half of the index cases (113/225) were negative for expansions in the known SCA genes. Repeat expansion detection analysis performed on 111 of these cases showed a CAG/CTG repeat expansion of at least 50 triplets in 22 (20%). Twenty-one of 22 expansions could be attributed to length variation at 2 polymorphic loci (expanded repeat domain CAG/CTG 1 [ERDA1] or CTG repeat on chromosome 18q21.1 [CTG18.1]). In 1 patient, the expansion was assigned to the DRPLA gene. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of SCA1-3 and SCA6-7 gene mutations is peculiar in Italy. We found a relatively high frequency of SCA1 and SCA2 gene expansions; SCA3, SCA6, and SCA7 mutations were rare, compared with other European countries. No SCA10 or SCA12 and only a few SCA8 (2/225) and SCA17 (2/225) families were detected. In patients negative for defects in known SCA genes, repeat expansion detection data strongly suggest that, at least in our population, CAG/CTG expansions in novel genes should be considered an unlikely cause of the SCA phenotype.     

Distinct distribution of autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia in the Mexican population.

Dominant ataxias show wide geographic variation. We analyzed 108 dominant families and 123 sporadic ataxia patients from Mexico for mutations causing SCA1-3, 6-8, 10, 12, 17 and DRPLA. Only 18.5% of dominant families remained undiagnosed; SCA2 accounted for half (45.4%), followed by SCA10 (13.9%), SCA3 (12%), SCA7 (7.4%), and SCA17 (2.8%). None had SCA1, 6, 8, 12 or DRPLA. Among sporadic cases, 6 had SCA2 (4.9%), and 2 had SCA17 (1.6%). In the SCA2 patients we identified 6 individuals with the rare (CAG)(33) allele, 2 of whom showed early onset ataxia. The distribution of dominant ataxia mutations in Mexicans is distinct from other populations.     

Dentatorubro-Pallidoluysian Atrophy (DRPLA) among 700 Families with Ataxia in Brazil

Dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) is a spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) very rare in non-Asian populations. To date, DRPLA was undetected in the general Brazilian population. Adult-onset ataxic patients have been recruited from several Brazilian neurology and neurogenetics centers. CAG lengths at SCA1, SCA2, SCA3/MJD, SCA6, SCA7, SCA12, SCA17 and DRPLA associated genes, and ATTCT expansions at SCA10 gene were studied. A single DRPLA case detected is reported. Proband was a 69-year-old Brazilian woman of mixed ancestry, with a late-onset pure ataxia: her alleles at the associated gene, ATN1, presented 14/52 CAG repeats. History of gait ataxia and dementia was observed in two out of six siblings but was absent in her parents. This was the single DRPLA diagnosis obtained from 700 Brazilian unrelated cases with adult-onset ataxia, 487 of them with clear autosomal dominant inheritance. DRPLA accounted for 0.14% of all adult-onset ataxia cases and for 0.2% of families with autosomal dominant inheritance. Normal CAG repeats at ATN1 had a median (range) of 14 (5–20) repeats in other 410 Brazilian chromosomes. DRPLA is quite rare in Brazilian SCA families, which is consistent with the lack of large normal alleles in our population.     

Autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias: an Asian perspective

Autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxias, frequently referred to as spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) have been under intense scientific research limelight since expansions of coded CAG trinucleotide repeats were demonstrated to cause several dominantly inherited SCAs. The number of new SCA loci has expanded dramatically in recent years. At least ten genes have been identified for SCAs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 17, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and six loci responsible for SCAs 4, 5, 11,13, 14, and 16 have been mapped. Genetic testing is essential for diagnosis due to the overlapping and varied phenotypic features of the different SCAs. While there is no effective treatment available, genetic counseling is important for addressing the many ethical, social, legal, and psychological issues facing SCA patients. Researchers have recently provided valuable information on the pathogenesis of the disease and hopefully a cure will be available in the near future.     

Trinucleotide repeats in 202 families with ataxia: a small expanded (CAG)n allele at the SCA17 locus

BACKGROUND: Ten neurodegenerative disorders characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) are known to be caused by trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions. However, in some instances the molecular diagnosis is considered indeterminate because of the overlap between normal and affected allele ranges. In addition, the mechanism that generates expanded alleles is not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: To examine the clinical and molecular characteristics of a large group of Portuguese and Brazilian families with ataxia to improve knowledge of the molecular diagnosis of SCA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have (1) assessed repeat sizes at all known TNR loci implicated in SCA; (2) determined frequency distributions of normal alleles and expansions; and (3) looked at genotype-phenotype correlations in 202 unrelated Portuguese and Brazilian patients with SCA. Molecular analysis of TNR expansions was performed using polymerase chain reaction amplification. RESULTS: Patients from 110 unrelated families with SCA showed TNR expansions at 1 of the loci studied. Dominantly transmitted cases had (CAG)(n) expansions at the Machado-Joseph disease gene (MJD1) (63%), at SCA2 (3%), the gene for dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) (2%), SCA6 (1%), or SCA7 (1%) loci, or (CTG)(n) expansions at the SCA8 (2%) gene, whereas (GAA)(n) expansions in the Freidreich ataxia gene (FRDA) were found in 64% of families with recessive ataxia. Isolated patients also had TNR expansions at the MJD1 (6%), SCA8 (6%), or FRDA (8%) genes; in addition, an expanded allele at the TATA-binding protein gene (TBP), with 43 CAGs, was present in a patient with ataxia and mental deterioration. Associations between frequencies of SCA2 and SCA6 and a frequency of large normal alleles were found in Portuguese and Brazilian individuals, respectively. Interestingly, no association between the frequencies of DRPLA and large normal alleles was found in the Portuguese group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that (1) a significant number of isolated cases of ataxia are due to TNR expansions; (2) expanded DRPLA alleles in Portuguese families may have evolved from an ancestral haplotype; and (3) small (CAG)(n) expansions at the TBP gene may cause SCA17.     

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 in the Yugoslav population

OBJECTIVES: (1) Analysis of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17) locus in a group of ataxic patients excluded on other known SCAs; (2) assessment of frequency distributions of SCA17 alleles in the Yugoslav population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study includes 115 non-related Yugoslav patients belonging to autosomal-dominant cerebellar ataxias or to sporadic idiopathic adult-onset ataxia and 115 controls. Analysis of SCA17 locus was performed using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: None of the analyzed patients show the presence of mutation in SCA17 locus. In the group of patients 12 different alleles in the range of 30-42 repeats were observed, while in healthy population eight alleles in the range of 30-40 repeats were detected. CONCLUSION: (1) None of 115 non-related Yugoslav ataxic patients belong to any known SCAs nor to DRPLA gene; (2) the distribution of SCA17 alleles in the Yugoslav population is consistent with the distribution in other populations and (3) the paucity of alleles with more than 39 repeats could suggest that SCA17 is very rare in the Yugoslav population.     

High prevalence of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) in an isolated region of Japan

Autosomal dominant cerebeller ataxias (ADCAs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders that differ in both the clinical manifestations and modes of inheritance. At present, eight different genes causing ADCAs have been found: spinocerebeller ataxia type 1 (SCA1), SCA2, SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, SCA12 and dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). The relative prevalence of each mutation varies according to race and native place. We studied 117 unrelated ADCA families that originated from the Tohoku District in the northernmost part of Honshu Island in Japan (mainly Miyagi Prefecture in the central part of Tohoku District). The SCA1 mutation was the most frequent among the known disorders (24.8% of all such families). The relative prevalence of SCA1 in the Tohoku District is very high compared with the values already reported from other regions in the world. Because the population of this area had seldom moved, the alleles with SCA1 mutations (including alleles with an intermediate CAG repeat number) are assumed to have been present in this area for a long time.     

中国大陆南方汉族正常人群齿状核红核苍白球路易体萎缩基因三核苷酸重复变异研究

目的研究中国大陆南方正常人群齿状核红核苍白球路易体萎缩(DRPLA)基因(以CAG)n正常变异范围,以及DRPLA基因(CAG)n扩展突变在中国大陆脊髓小脑型共济失调(SCA)患者中的分布。方法应用荧光PCR,毛细管电泳等技术,对67个已经排除了SCA1、SCA2、SCA3、SCA6、SCA7的常染色体显性遗传SCA家系的先证者和66个散发SCA患者以及94个南方正常汉族人进行DRPLA基因CAG重复次数分析。结果未发现DRPLA基因(CAG)n扩展突变；DRPLA基因(CAG)n正常变异范围为5～21个拷贝,15个拷贝最多见,杂合频率为89．13%,共14种等位基因。结论DRPLA在中国大陆为罕见的SCA亚型,DRPLA基因(CAG)n正常变异范围存在地区和种族差异,中国大陆DRPLA发病率低可能同正常国人较大重复次数的等位基因少见有关。     

中国南方汉族健康人TATA结合蛋白基因三核苷酸重复变异研究

目的 研究中国大陆脊髓小脑性共济失调（spinocerebellar ataxias,SCA）17型（SCA17）的分布频率,以及南方汉族健康人群TATA结合蛋白（TATA-binding protein,TBP）基因CAG/CAA重复次数正常变异范围.方法 应用荧光聚合酶链反应（PCR）、毛细管电泳等技术,对已经排除了SCA1、2、3、6、7和齿状核-红核-苍白球路易体萎缩的67个常染色体显性遗传SCA家系的先证者、66例散发SCA患者及110名健康人进行TBP基因CAG/CAA重复次数分析.结果 南方汉族健康人群TBP基因CAG/CAA重复次数范围为26～43次,杂合频率为76.36%,共有14种等位基因.在一个散发SCA患者中发现TBP基因CAG/CAA重复次数为44次.结论 SCA17在中国内地为罕见的SCA亚型,南方汉族健康人群TBP基因常见的CAG/CAA重复次数为34和35次.     

中国汉族人群SCA1、2、3、6、7、8、10、12、17亚型和齿状核-红核-苍白球-路易体萎缩亚型频率分布

目的 研究中国汉族人群中脊髓小脑性共济失调(SCAs)不同基因亚型的频率分布.方法 运用聚合酶链反应、变性聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、Southern blot、T载体克隆重组DNA技术结合直接测序等技术对559例临床诊断为SCA的患者(363例常染色体显性遗传先证者,196例散发患者)进行了SCA1、SCA2、SCA3/MJD、SCA6、SCA7、SCA8、SCA10、SCA12、SCA17和齿状核-红核-苍白球-路易体萎缩(DRPLA)致病基因多核苷酸病理重复突变检测分析.结果 在363个常染色体显性遗传的SCA(AD-SCA)家系中,发现有15个SCA1家系(4.13%),26个SCA2家系(7.16%),187个SCA3/MJD家系(51.52%),6个SCA6家系(1.65%),7个SCA7家系(1.93%),1个SCA12家系(0.28%)和1个SCA17家系(0.28%),120个SCA家系未明确基因分型(33.06%);在196例散发SCA患者中,发现有2例SCAI患者(1.02%),3例SCA2患者(1.53%),15例SCA3/MJD患者(7.65%),3例SCA6患者(1.53%),173例SCA患者未明确基因分型(88.27%);未发现SCA8、SCA10和DRPLA型患者.结论 在中国汉族人群中SCA3/MJD为最常见的SCA亚型,其次为SCA2、SCA1、SCA7和SCA6,SCA12和SCA17比较少见,SCA8、SCA10和DRPLA罕见,SCA17亚型为国内首次报道.部分AD-SCA家系存在其他致病基因的作用,大部分散发SCA患者除遗传因素外还存在其他致病因素.     

Early onset autosomal dominant dementia with ataxia, extrapyramidal features, and epilepsy

OBJECTIVE: To perform a clinical and molecular study of a large autosomal dominant family with a complex neurologic syndrome that comprises early-onset dementia, extrapyramidal and cerebellar features, and epilepsy. BACKGROUND: Early-onset forms of dementia often are caused by genetic factors. Mutations of three different genes-amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS-1), presenilin 2 (PS-2)-have been found in early-onset autosomal dominant forms of AD, of the human microtubule associated-protein tau gene (MAPT) in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), of the BRI gene in familial British dementia, of the PI12 gene in familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies. Linkage to chromosome 3 has been found in familial nonspecific dementia (FND) and linkage to chromosome 20 has been found in Huntington disease (HD)-like neurodegenerative disease. Dementia may be a feature of other neurodegenerative diseases such as HD, dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), diseases caused by mutations of the prion protein gene (PRNP), spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA), and familial parkinsonism. METHODS: A southern Italian family with autosomal dominant dementia-plus was observed. The family includes 57 individuals in 5 generations (14 affected, 7 personally observed). The authors performed linkage analysis to APP, PS-1, PS-2, FTDP-17, BRI, PI12, FND, HD-like, SCA4, SCA5, SCA10, SCA11, SCA13, PARK1, PARK2, PARK3 loci; direct mutation analysis of HD, DRPLA, SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, SCA12, and PRNP genes; and sequencing of the PRNP open reading frame. RESULTS: Linkage to the examined loci was excluded. All of the direct mutation analyses were negative excluding mutations in the examined genes. CONCLUSIONS: This family has a peculiar phenotype and molecular analyses excluded genes known to cause hereditary dementias.     

The occurrence of spinocerebellar ataxias caused by dynamic mutations in Polish patients

Background and purposeAutosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) belong to a group of neurodegenerative disorders usually of adult age at onset. Predominant clinical features are progressive ataxia, dysarthria, as well as pyramidal signs and polyneuropathy. Molecular analysis allows particular types of SCA to be distinguished. Genetic tests are applied in 10 types of SCA resulting from dynamic mutations: SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, SCA10, SCA12, SCA17 and DRPLA.Material and methodsDNA samples from 1598 patients with ataxia symptoms were analysed to establish the number of CAG/CTG repeats in respective genes excluding SCA10.ResultsWe diagnosed 224 cases of SCA1 (120 families) and 49 cases of SCA2 (23 families). Moreover, presymptomatic testing was done in 85 individuals from SCA1 families and for 21 cases from SCA2 families. An increased number of CTG repeats in the SCA8 gene was observed in 14 families and in 3 families a rare type of SCA, SCA17, was detected.ConclusionsOur data suggest that frequencies of some types of SCA in Poland are different from those in other European countries, with irregular distribution within the country. The most frequent types are SCA1 and SCA2. A striking feature of the Polish population is the lack of SCA3 – the most frequent type in Western Europe.     

Hereditary ataxias in Akita prefecture]

To provide a genetic survey of hereditary ataxia, we performed PCR screening of SCA1, SCA2, MJD1 (SCA 3), SCA6, DRPLA, with 71 patients in 61 families living in Akita prefecture (1,205,571 population in 1997) in Japan. Of 71 patients in 61 families, 18 MJD1, 14 SCA6, 5 DRPLA, 1 SCA1 and 1 SCA2 patients were detected. Eighty percent of autosomal dominant inherited spinocerebellar degeneration (AD-SCD) including 7 spoladic patients genetically diagnosed as AD-SCD was MJD1 (45.7%) and SCA6 (34.3%). These suggest the prevalence rate of hereditary ataxias in Akita prefecture; 1.5 and 1.2/100,000 of MJD1 and SCA6, respectively. Only one patient of SCA1 was detected, which was frequently reported in Hokkaido and Tohoku area in Japan.     

Frequency of spinocerebellar ataxia mutations in the Kinki district of Japan

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequencies of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) in the Kinki district, the western part of the main island of Japan. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-three families with dominantly inherited ataxia and 220 patients with apparently sporadic cerebellar ataxia were examined for the SCA1, SCA2, SCA3/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), SCA6, SCA7, SCA8, SCA12 and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) mutations. RESULTS: Among the dominant families, SCA1 accounted for 3%, SCA2 for 4%, SCA3/MJD for 24%, SCA6 for 31% and DRPLA for 12%. Neither SCA7 nor SCA12 mutations were detected. Among the apparently sporadic patients, 15% were found to have expanded triplet repeats. Of these, the SCA6 mutation was most frequently detected. CONCLUSION: SCA6 is the most common SCA in the Kinki district of Japan. Comparison of our results with those from other regions of Japan and different countries shows geographic and ethnic variation in the frequency of SCAs.     

A survey of spinocerebellar ataxia in South Brazil – 66 new cases with Machado-Joseph disease, SCA7, SCA8, or unidentified disease–causing mutations

Background The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a clinical and genetically heterogeneous group of debilitating, neurodegenerative diseases, related to fourteen different loci– SCAs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, Machado-Joseph disease (MJD/SCA 3), and DRPLA. Objectives (1) to verify the frequency of SCA1, SCA2, MJD, DRPLA, SCA6, SCA7 and SCA8 in a series of new SCA patients from South Brazil and (2) to compare their molecular and clinical characteristics with other patients previously described. Methods sixty-six cases were included in the present study: 52 were familial and 14 sporadic. Molecular analysis of the trinucleotide repeat loci were performed according to methods in the literature. Results 92 % of families with autosomal dominant inheritance segregated the MJD1 mutation, 2 % of families segregated the SCA7 mutation and 6 % remained undiagnosed. Among 14 isolated cases, one showed the SCA8 mutation. Clinical and molecular findings were similar to those already described in the literature, but revealed (1) one SCA7 patient with eyelid retraction, a sign usually related to MJD; and (2) one sporadic case of SCA8. Conclusions The proportion of MJD cases was very high, probably reflecting an Azorean founder effect. The estimated frequency of affected individuals with MJD, in our region, was 1.8 / 100,000, and of SCAs other than MJD, 0.2/100,000. Received: 13 February 2001, Received in revised form: 6 April 2001, Accepted: 9 April 2001     

Searching for mutation in the JPH3, ATN1 and TBP genes in Polish patients suspected of Huntington's disease and without mutation in the IT15 gene

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to perform DNA analysis in patients with clinical diagnosis of Huntington's disease (HD) after molecular exclusion of HD and further molecular examinations for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease-like 2 (HDL-2; gene JPH3), dentatorubral pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA; gene ATN1) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 17 (SCA17; gene TBP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The material comprised 224 DNA samples isolated from peripheral blood from patients suspected of HD and 100 DNA samples from unaffected controls. The control group was used to determine the normal range of the number of CAG/CTG repeats in genes JPH3, ATN1 and TBP in the Polish population. Molecular analysis was carried out by PCR reaction, embracing microsatellite repeats in genes JPH3, ATN1 and TBP with specific, fluorescently labelled primers. PCR products were separated in polyacrylamide gels. The normal ranges of the number of repeats established for the control group in genes JPH3, ATN1 and TBP were 7-19, 9-27 and 29-45, respectively. RESULTS: Molecular analysis of DNA from 224 individuals suspected of HD (117 women and 107 men) revealed one case of dynamic mutation - 55 CAG repeats - in the TBP locus (SCA17). No cases of DRPLA or HDL-2 were detected. The range of CAG/CTG repeats for the JPH3 gene in the patient group was 11-19, with the most common alleles containing 14 and 16 repeats. For the ATN1 gene in patients the range of 8-27 repeats was established and the most frequent allele with 16 triplets was present. CONCLUSIONS: The study on 244 patients referred with the clinical diagnosis of HD and without mutation of the IT15 gene revealed one case of SCA17 but did not disclose the presence of two other diseases with a similar clinical manifestation: DRPLA and HDL2.     

Brain regional differences in the expansion of a CAG repeat in the spinocerebellar ataxias: Dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy,machado-joseph disease,and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1

Three autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), are associated with the expansion of a CAG repeat in the respective genes. To investigate the association between CAG repeat expansion and neuropathological findings, we analyzed several brain regions from 9 cases of DRPLA, 3 cases of MJD, and 1 case of SCA1. We found that the expanded alleles were smaller in the cerebellar cortex than in other brain regions, such as the frontal cortex, in these three diseases. The discrepancy in the expanded CAG repeat length between cerebellar cortex and other tissues was most prominent in DRPLA, and especially in cases of adult-onset DRPLA. A significant correlation was found between the age at onset of DRPLA and the size of the CAG repeat expansion. Cerebella of DRPLA patients were microscopically dissected into three layers, the molecular and granularlayers and the white matter, which were analyzed separately. The lower level of CAG repeat expansion in DRPLA cerebella was representative of CAG repeat expansion in the granule cells. The microdissected samples of the granular layer of the hippocampal formation, which is densely packed with neuronal cells, revealed that the degree of CAG repeat expansion in this layer was similar to that in the cerebellum. These observations suggest that granule cells in the cerebellum and hippocampus have low levels of CAG repeat expansion, and that other types of cells exhibit a higher level of CAG repeat expansion, in spinocerebellar ataxias.     

Relative frequencies of CAG expansions in spinocerebellar ataxia and dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy in 116 Italian families

Two hundred and forty-eight patients from 116 Italian families with dominant ataxia were studied for CAG expansion within SCA1, 2, 3, 6, 7 (spinocerebellar ataxia) and DRPLA (dentatorubropallidoluysian atrophy) genes. Fifty-six percent of the families originated from Southern, 19% from Central and 25% from Northern Italy. SCA2 was the commonest mutation, accounting for 47% of the families, followed by SCA1 (24%), SCA6 (2%), SCA7 (2%) and DRPLA (1%). No SCA3 family was found. Twenty-four percent of the families carried a still unidentified mutation. When occurrence of mutations was evaluated according to the geographic origin, SCA1 was the commonest in Northern (72%), whereas SCA2 was prevalent (63%) in Southern Italy. The number of CAG repeats in SCA1 normal alleles was higher in Northern than in Central-Southern Italy.