Extension of the phenotype of biallelic loss‐of‐function mutations in SLC25A46 to the severe form of pontocerebellar hypoplasia type I

Biallelic mutations in SLC25A46, encoding a modified solute transporter involved in mitochondrial dynamics, have been identified in a wide range of conditions such as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with optic atrophy type VIB (OMIM: *610826) and congenital lethal pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH). To date, 18 patients from 13 families have been reported, presenting with the key clinical features of optic atrophy, peripheral neuropathy, and cerebellar atrophy. The course of the disease was highly variable ranging from severe muscular hypotonia at birth and early death to first manifestations in late childhood and survival into the fifties. Here we report on 4 patients from 2 families diagnosed with PCH who died within the first month of life from respiratory insufficiency. Patients from 1 family had pathoanatomically proven spinal motor neuron degeneration (PCH1). Using exome sequencing, we identified biallelic disease‐segregating loss‐of‐function mutations in SLC25A46 in both families. Our study adds to the definition of the SLC25A46‐associated phenotypic spectrum that includes neonatal fatalities due to PCH as the severe extreme.     

A novel homozygous SLC25A1 mutation with impaired mitochondrial complex V: Possible phenotypic expansion

SLC25A1 mutations are associated with combined D,L‐2‐hydroxyglutaric aciduria (DL‐ 2HGA; OMIM #615182), characterized by muscular hypotonia, severe neurodevelopmental dysfunction and intractable seizures. SLC25A1 encodes the mitochondrial citrate carrier (CIC), which mediates efflux of the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates citrate and isocitrate in exchange for cytosolic malate. Only a single family with an SLC25A1 mutation has been described in which mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction was documented, specifically in complex IV. Five infants of two consanguineous Bedouin families of the same tribe presented with small head circumference and neonatal‐onset encephalopathy with severe muscular weakness, intractable seizures, respiratory distress, and lack of psychomotor development culminating in early death. Ventricular septal defects (VSD) were demonstrated in three patients. Blood and CSF lactate were elevated with normal levels of plasma amino acids and free carnitine and increased 2‐OH‐glutaric acid urinary exertion. EEG was compatible with white matter disorder. Brain MRI revealed ventriculomegaly, thin corpus callosum with increased lactate peak on spectroscopy. Mitochondrial complex V deficiency was demonstrated in skeletal muscle biopsy of one infant. Homozygosity mapping and sequencing ruled out homozygosity of affected individuals in all known complex V‐associated genes. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel homozygous SLC25A1 c.713A>G (p.Asn238Ser) mutation, segregating as expected in the affected kindred and not found in 220 control alleles. Thus, SLC25A1 mutations might be associated with mitochondrial complex V deficiency and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mitochondrial respiratory chain defects.

     

Expanding the phenotype of SLC25A42‐associated mitochondrial encephalomyopathy

SLC25A42 gene encodes an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that imports Coenzyme A into the mitochondrial matrix. A mutation in this gene was recently reported in a subject born to consanguineous parents who presented with mitochondrial myopathy with muscle weakness and lactic acidosis. In this report, we present 12 additional individuals with the same founder mutation who presented with variable manifestations ranging from asymptomatic lactic acidosis to a severe phenotype characterized by developmental regression and epilepsy. Our report confirms the link between SLC25A42 and mitochondrial disease in humans, and suggests that pathogenic variants in SLC25A42 should be interpreted with the understanding that the associated phenotype may be highly variable.     

Severe neurodevelopmental disorder with intractable seizures due to a novel SLC1A4 homozygous variant

IntroductionBiallelic variants in the SLC1A4 gene have been so far identified as a very rare cause of neurodevelopmental disorders with or without epilepsy and almost exclusively described in the Ashkenazi-Jewish population.Patients and methodsHere we present Czech patient with microcephaly, severe global developmental delay and intractable seizures whose condition remained undiagnosed despite access to clinical experience and standard diagnostic methods including examination with an epilepsy targeted NGS gene panel.ResultsWhole exome sequencing revealed a novel variant NM_003038.4:c.1370G > A p.(Arg457Gln) of the SLC1A4 gene in a homozygous state in the patient, and afterwards Sanger sequencing in both parents confirmed the biallelic origin of the variant. A variant in the same codon, but with a different amino acid exchange, was described previously in a patient that had a very similar phenotype, however, without epilepsy.ConclusionOur data suggest that the SLC1A4 gene should be considered in the diagnosis of patients with severe, early onset neurodevelopmental impairment with epilepsy and encourage the analysis of SLC1A4 gene variants via targeted NGS gene panel or whole exome sequencing.     

婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症SLC25A13基因突变分析

目的探讨SLC25A13基因突变在中国婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症患儿中的检出率,初步了解突变患儿血生化及氨基酸谱特征,肝脏活组织病理变化。方法2003年12月至2006年12月就诊于复旦大学附属儿科医院的婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症患儿,满足本研究入选条件者共115例进行了血氨基酸质谱分析,伴血浆瓜氨酸明显升高的患儿进行SLC25A13基因全部外显子及邻近序列测序,不伴血浆瓜氨酸明显升高的患儿进行SLC25A13基因常见突变851del4（突变Ⅰ）及突变1638ins23（突变Ⅲ）筛查,突变851del4采用实时荧光定量PCR双标记探针法检测,突变1638ins23采用PCR产物直接电泳法检测,对仅检出单个位点突变的筛查对象,继续进行其余已报道的10种突变位点检测。检测结果仍为单个杂合突变的对象进行SLC25A13基因所有外显子区及其邻近序列分析。对确诊突变患儿的临床表现、血生化及血氨基酸特征等进行分析。结果5例伴血瓜氨酸明显升高的患儿共检出突变4例,其中纯合突变851del4/851del41例,复合杂合突变851del4/1638ins231例,杂合突变851del42例;110例不伴血浆瓜氨酸明显升高患儿共检出突变6例,其中纯合突变851del4/851del41例,复合杂合突变851del4/1638ins231例,杂合突变851del44例。115例婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症患儿共检出SLC25A13基因突变10例,占8.7%。突变患儿血生化改变包括胆红素、γ-谷氨酰转移酶以及碱性磷酸酶等明显升高,AST升高较ALT明显。血串联质谱发现5例突变患儿有特征性氨基酸瓜氨酸、苏氨酸及蛋氨酸升高,另5例突变患儿并无血氨基酸改变。10例患儿中有7例行肝脏活组织病理学检查,4例有显著的脂肪变性。结论SLC25A13基因突变是中国婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症的重要原因之一。肝脏活组织病理、血生化及氨基酸谱等检查对诊断SLC25A13基因突变患儿有重要意义,但最终仍需通过基因检测确诊。     

Longitudinal MRI findings in patient with SLC25A12 pathogenic variants inform disease progression and classification

Aspartate–glutamate carrier 1 (AGC1) is one of two exchangers within the malate‐aspartate shuttle. AGC1 is encoded by the SLC25A12 gene. Three patients with pathogenic variants in SLC25A12 have been reported in the literature. These patients were clinically characterized by neurodevelopmental delay, epilepsy, hypotonia, cerebral atrophy, and hypomyelination; however, there has been discussion in the literature as to whether this hypomyelination is primary or secondary to a neuronal defect. Here we report a 12‐year‐old patient with variants in SLC25A12 and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at multiple ages. Novel compound heterozygous, recessive variants in SLC25A12 were identified: c.1295C>T (p.A432V) and c.1447‐2_1447‐1delAG. Clinical presentation is characterized by severe intellectual disability, nonambulatory, nonverbal status, hypotonia, epilepsy, spastic quadriplegia, and a happy disposition. The serial neuroimaging findings are notable for cerebral atrophy with white matter involvement, namely, early hypomyelination yet subsequent progression of myelination. The longitudinal MRI findings are most consistent with a leukodystrophy of the leuko‐axonopathy category, that is, white matter abnormalities that are most suggestive of mechanisms that result from primary neuronal defects. We present here the first case of a patient with compound heterozygous variants in SLC25A12, including brain MRI findings, in the oldest individual reported to date with this neurogenetic condition.     

A homozygous mutation in SLC1A4 in siblings with severe intellectual disability and microcephaly

We performed exome analysis in two affected siblings with severe intellectual disability (ID), microcephaly and spasticity from an Ashkenazi Jewish consanguineous family. We identified only one rare variant, a missense in SLC1A4 (c. 766G>A [p. E256K]), that is homozygous in both siblings but not in any of their 11 unaffected siblings or their parents (Logarithm of odds, LOD score: 2.6). This variant is predicted damaging. We genotyped 450 controls of Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry and identified only 5 individuals who are heterozygous for this variant (minor allele frequency: 0.0056). SLC1A4 (ASCT1) encodes a transporter for neutral aminoacids such as alanine, serine, cysteine and threonine. l ‐Serine is essential for neuronal survival and differentiation. Indeed, l ‐serine biosynthesis disorders affect brain development and cause severe ID. In the brain, l ‐serine is synthesized in astrocytes but not in neurons. It has been proposed that ASCT1 mediates the uptake of l ‐serine into neurons and the release of glia‐borne l ‐serine to neighboring cells. SLC1A4 disruption may thus impair brain development and function by decreasing the levels of l ‐serine in neurons. The identification of additional families with mutations in SLC1A4 would be necessary to confirm its involvement in ID.     

直接胆红素增高的黄疸患儿SLC25A13基因热点突变分析

目的建立快速诊断citrin缺陷导致的新生儿肝内胆汁淤积症（NICCD）的方法,初步探讨NICCD在直接胆红素增高的黄疸患儿中所占比例。方法应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）和聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性分析（PCR-RFLP）对122例表现为直接胆红素增高的黄疸患儿SLC25A13基因（热点突变分析位点包括：851del4、1638ins23、IVS6＋5G〉A、IVS16ins3kb和IVS11＋1G〉A）进行热点突变分析。结果在122例纳入实验研究的患者中,发现6例患儿为851del4纯合子;2例为1638ins23/IVS6＋5G〉A突变;2例为851del4/IVS16ins3kb突变。还有8例患儿只发现了一个SLC25A13基因突变,其相应等位突变尚不清楚,但是后续的实验证实了这8例患儿为NICCD。暂时未发现有IVS11＋1G〉A突变。在这些热点突变类型中以851del4突变所占比例最高,占了71.4%（20/28）,其次为IVS16ins3kb和1638ins23,各占10.7%。NICCD患儿占总受检人数的14.7%。结论 1.SLC25A13基因热点突变分析能快速准确地诊断NICCD。2.SLC25A13基因突变以851del最为常见。3.NICCD在直接胆红素增高的黄疸患儿中占相当高的比例。     

An N‐terminal heterozygous missense CASK mutation is associated with microcephaly and bilateral retinal dystrophy plus optic nerve atrophy

Heterozygous loss‐of‐function mutations in the X‐linked gene CASK are associated with mental retardation and microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia (MICPCH) and ophthalmological disorders including optic nerve atrophy (ONA) and optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Recently, we have demonstrated that CASK^(+/?) mice display ONH with 100% penetrance but exhibit no change in retinal lamination or structure. It is not clear if CASK loss‐of‐function predominantly affects retinal ganglion cells, or if other retinal cells like photoreceptors are also involved. Here, we report a heterozygous missense mutation in the N‐terminal calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase (CaMK) domain of the CASK protein in which a highly conserved leucine is mutated to the cyclic amino acid proline. In silico analysis suggests that the mutation may produce destabilizing structural changes. Experimentally, we observe pronounced misfolding and insolubility of the CASK^L209P protein. Interestingly, the remaining soluble mutant protein fails to interact with Mint1, which specifically binds to CASK's CaMK domain, suggesting a mechanism for the phenotypes observed with the CASK^L209P mutation. In addition to microcephaly, cerebellar hypoplasia and delayed development, the subject with the L209P mutation also presented with bilateral retinal dystrophy and ONA. Electroretinography indicated that rod photoreceptors are the most prominently affected cells. Our data suggest that the CASK interactions mediated by the CaMK domain may play a crucial role in retinal function, and thus, in addition to ONH, individuals with mutations in the CASK gene may exhibit other retinal disorders, depending on the nature of mutation.     

16例Citrin蛋白缺陷所致的婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症的 SLC25A13基因变异分析

目的:探讨16例Citrin蛋白缺陷所致的婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症(neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency,NICCD) SLC25A13基因的变异特点。 方法:应用高通量测序法对目标基因的编码外显子和侧翼区域进行捕获...     

16例Citrin蛋白缺陷所致的婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症的SLC25A13基因变异分析CSCD

目的探讨16例Citrin蛋白缺陷所致的婴儿肝内胆汁淤积症(neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin deficiency,NICCD)SLC25A13基因的变异特点。方法应用高通量测序法对目标基因的编码外显子和侧翼区域进行捕获,对变异位点进行Sanger测序验证和致病性分析。结果在16例NICCD患儿中,共发现致病变异15种,其中6种既往未见报道,包括IVS14-9A>G、c.1640G>A、c.762 T>A、c.736delG、c.1098delT、c.851G>A。结论通过高通量测序发现6种新变异,丰富了SLC25A13基因的变异谱,为患儿家系的遗传咨询和产前诊断提供了依据。     

Novel pregnancy‐triggered episodes of CAPOS syndrome

Cerebellar ataxia, areflexia, pes cavus, optic atrophy, and sensorineural hearing loss (CAPOS) syndrome (OMIM# 601338) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by episodic, fever‐induced ataxic encephalopathy in childhood with residual symptoms. All identified patients have the same heterozygous missense variant c.2452G>A (p.Glu818Lys) in the ATP1A3 gene, encoding Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase α3. We describe a large CAPOS pedigree with three generations of affected members, the first ascertained in the United States. Deafness, optic atrophy, and pes cavus were present in all three members of the family evaluated. In addition, one of the affected individuals experienced markedly worsening features during her three pregnancies and in the immediate postpartum period, a potential element of the natural history of CAPOS previously unreported. We conclude that the triggering factors and clinical spectrum of pathogenic ATP1A3 variants may be broader than previously described. Targeted sequencing of ATP1A3 should be considered in any patient presenting with cerebellar ataxia triggered by febrile illness, or pregnancy and delivery, especially in the presence of sensorineural hearing loss, optic atrophy, pes cavus, or early childhood history of acute encephalopathic ataxia. Prophylactic administration of acetazolamide or flunarizine may prevent acute episodes of ataxia or mitigate neurologic symptoms, although their efficacies have not been well studied.     

五例新生儿肝内胆汁淤积症患儿基因的突变分析CSCD

目的明确5例新生儿肝内胆汁淤积症患儿的分子机制。方法应用新一代测序技术对患儿的SLC25A13基因进行外显子捕获检测,对突变位点进行Sanger测序验证。用PolyPhen-2软件对新突变的致病性进行分析。结果 5例患儿均携带SLC25A13基因的复合突变,共发现8个突变位点,其中2个既往未见报道(c.1357A>G和c.1663dup23)。5例患儿的父母均为突变携带者。结论 SLC25A13基因的突变可能是5例患儿的发病原因,所携带的突变以851del4和1638-1660dup为主。新发现的c.1357A>G和c.1663dup23突变丰富了SLC25A13基因的突变谱。     

泉州地区SLC25A13基因常见突变携带者频率的研究及意义

目的 改良citrin缺陷病致病基因SLC25A13常见突变851del4的诊断方法,并对泉州地区该基因常见突变的人群携带率进行探讨.方法 于450名健康成人中筛查SLC25A13常见突变851del4、1638-1660dup及IVS6+5G＞A的突变携带者,应用改良SLC25A13基因常见突变851del4的诊断方法,论证本诊断方法的可行性.结果 共发现6例851del4、3例1638-1660dup及3例IVS6+5G＞A突变携带者.其总携带者频率为0.027(12/450),本研究采用的新型诊断方法筛查的851del4突变人群携带者经(eneScan方法得到确认.结论 本研究改良的诊断方法对突变85ldel4诊断明确且简单实用,泉州地区SLC25A13常见突变携带者频率略高于台湾等周边地区,在该地区应存在一定数量的citrin缺陷病患者,对于该类代谢遗传病应予重视,以免发生因误诊或延误诊治而导致的不良后果.