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1.
Genet Med ; 26(3): 101035, 2024 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38059438

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Clinically ascertained variants are under-utilized in neurodevelopmental disorder research. We established the Brain Gene Registry (BGR) to coregister clinically identified variants in putative brain genes with participant phenotypes. Here, we report 179 genetic variants in the first 179 BGR registrants and analyze the proportion that were novel to ClinVar at the time of entry and those that were absent in other disease databases. METHODS: From 10 academically affiliated institutions, 179 individuals with 179 variants were enrolled into the BGR. Variants were cross-referenced for previous presence in ClinVar and for presence in 6 other genetic databases. RESULTS: Of 179 variants in 76 genes, 76 (42.5%) were novel to ClinVar, and 62 (34.6%) were absent from all databases analyzed. Of the 103 variants present in ClinVar, 37 (35.9%) were uncertain (ClinVar aggregate classification of variant of uncertain significance or conflicting classifications). For 5 variants, the aggregate ClinVar classification was inconsistent with the interpretation from the BGR site-provided classification. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of clinical variants that are novel or uncertain are not shared, limiting the evidence base for new gene-disease relationships. Registration of paired clinical genetic test results with phenotype has the potential to advance knowledge of the relationships between genes and neurodevelopmental disorders.


Subject(s)
Databases, Genetic , Genetic Variation , Humans , Genetic Variation/genetics , Genetic Testing/methods , Phenotype , Brain
2.
Brain ; 146(6): 2285-2297, 2023 06 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36477332

ABSTRACT

The blood-brain barrier ensures CNS homeostasis and protection from injury. Claudin-5 (CLDN5), an important component of tight junctions, is critical for the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. We have identified de novo heterozygous missense variants in CLDN5 in 15 unrelated patients who presented with a shared constellation of features including developmental delay, seizures (primarily infantile onset focal epilepsy), microcephaly and a recognizable pattern of pontine atrophy and brain calcifications. All variants clustered in one subregion/domain of the CLDN5 gene and the recurrent variants demonstrate genotype-phenotype correlations. We modelled both patient variants and loss of function alleles in the zebrafish to show that the variants analogous to those in patients probably result in a novel aberrant function in CLDN5. In total, human patient and zebrafish data provide parallel evidence that pathogenic sequence variants in CLDN5 cause a novel neurodevelopmental disorder involving disruption of the blood-brain barrier and impaired neuronal function.


Subject(s)
Microcephaly , Animals , Humans , Microcephaly/genetics , Claudin-5/genetics , Claudin-5/metabolism , Zebrafish/metabolism , Blood-Brain Barrier/metabolism , Seizures/genetics , Syndrome
3.
Epilepsia ; 64(7): e143-e147, 2023 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37096745

ABSTRACT

Genetic variants in KCNQ2 are associated with a range of epilepsies, from self- limited (familial) neonatal-infantile epilepsy to developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). We retrospectively reviewed clinical data from eight patients with KCNQ2-related DEE who were treated with ezogabine. Treatment was initiated at a median age of 8 months (range, 7 weeks to 2.5 years) and continued for a median of 2.6 years (range, 7 months to 4.5 years). Five individuals had daily seizures at baseline and experienced at least 50% seizure reduction with treatment, sustained in four. One individual with two to four yearly seizures improved to rare events. Two individuals were seizure-free; treatment targeted cognition and development. Developmental improvements were reported in all eight patients. Weaning of ezogabine was associated with increased seizure frequency (N = 4), agitation and irritability (N = 2), poor sleep (N = 1), and developmental regression (N = 2). These data suggest that treatment with ezogabine is effective at reducing seizure burden and is associated with improved development. Minimal side effects were observed. Weaning was associated with increased seizures and behavioral disturbances in a subset. An approach targeting potassium channel dysfunction with ezogabine is warranted in patients with KCNQ2-related DEE.


Subject(s)
Epilepsy, Generalized , Epilepsy , Humans , Epilepsy/drug therapy , Epilepsy, Generalized/complications , KCNQ2 Potassium Channel/genetics , Mutation , Retrospective Studies , Seizures/drug therapy , Seizures/genetics , Infant , Child, Preschool
4.
Brain ; 145(10): 3383-3390, 2022 10 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35737950

ABSTRACT

The endocannabinoid system is a highly conserved and ubiquitous signalling pathway with broad-ranging effects. Despite critical pathway functions, gene variants have not previously been conclusively linked to human disease. We identified nine children from eight families with heterozygous, de novo truncating variants in the last exon of DAGLA with a neuro-ocular phenotype characterized by developmental delay, ataxia and complex oculomotor abnormality. All children displayed paroxysms of nystagmus or eye deviation accompanied by compensatory head posture and worsened incoordination most frequently after waking. RNA sequencing showed clear expression of the truncated transcript and no differences were found between mutant and wild-type DAGLA activity. Immunofluorescence staining of patient-derived fibroblasts and HEK cells expressing the mutant protein showed distinct perinuclear aggregation not detected in control samples. This report establishes truncating variants in the last DAGLA exon as the cause of a unique paediatric syndrome. Because enzymatic activity was preserved, the observed mislocalization of the truncated protein may account for the observed phenotype. Potential mechanisms include DAGLA haploinsufficiency at the plasma membrane or dominant negative effect. To our knowledge, this is the first report directly linking an endocannabinoid system component with human genetic disease and sets the stage for potential future therapeutic avenues.


Subject(s)
Endocannabinoids , Nervous System Diseases , Humans , Child , Phenotype , Nervous System Diseases/genetics , Heterozygote , Syndrome , Mutant Proteins
5.
Am J Hum Genet ; 104(2): 203-212, 2019 02 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30612693

ABSTRACT

Using exome sequencing, we have identified de novo variants in MAPK8IP3 in 13 unrelated individuals presenting with an overlapping phenotype of mild to severe intellectual disability. The de novo variants comprise six missense variants, three of which are recurrent, and three truncating variants. Brain anomalies such as perisylvian polymicrogyria, cerebral or cerebellar atrophy, and hypoplasia of the corpus callosum were consistent among individuals harboring recurrent de novo missense variants. MAPK8IP3 has been shown to be involved in the retrograde axonal-transport machinery, but many of its specific functions are yet to be elucidated. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system to target six conserved amino acid positions in Caenorhabditis elegans, we found that two of the six investigated human alterations led to a significantly elevated density of axonal lysosomes, and five variants were associated with adverse locomotion. Reverse-engineering normalized the observed adverse effects back to wild-type levels. Combining genetic, phenotypic, and functional findings, as well as the significant enrichment of de novo variants in MAPK8IP3 within our total cohort of 27,232 individuals who underwent exome sequencing, we implicate de novo variants in MAPK8IP3 as a cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder with intellectual disability and variable brain anomalies.


Subject(s)
Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics , Brain/abnormalities , Brain/metabolism , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Mutation , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/chemistry , Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism , Adolescent , Animals , Brain/diagnostic imaging , CRISPR-Cas Systems , Caenorhabditis elegans/genetics , Caenorhabditis elegans/physiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Computer Simulation , Female , Humans , Intellectual Disability/diagnostic imaging , Locomotion , Lysosomes/metabolism , Male , Models, Molecular , Nerve Tissue Proteins/chemistry , Nerve Tissue Proteins/metabolism , Exome Sequencing , Young Adult
6.
Hum Mutat ; 42(4): 445-459, 2021 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33565190

ABSTRACT

Thousand and one amino-acid kinase 1 (TAOK1) is a MAP3K protein kinase, regulating different mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, thereby modulating a multitude of processes in the cell. Given the recent finding of TAOK1 involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), we investigated the role of TAOK1 in neuronal function and collected a cohort of 23 individuals with mostly de novo variants in TAOK1 to further define the associated NDD. Here, we provide evidence for an important role for TAOK1 in neuronal function, showing that altered TAOK1 expression levels in the embryonic mouse brain affect neural migration in vivo, as well as neuronal maturation in vitro. The molecular spectrum of the identified TAOK1 variants comprises largely truncating and nonsense variants, but also missense variants, for which we provide evidence that they can have a loss of function or dominant-negative effect on TAOK1, expanding the potential underlying causative mechanisms resulting in NDD. Taken together, our data indicate that TAOK1 activity needs to be properly controlled for normal neuronal function and that TAOK1 dysregulation leads to a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly comprising similar facial features, developmental delay/intellectual disability and/or variable learning or behavioral problems, muscular hypotonia, infant feeding difficulties, and growth problems.


Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Amino Acids , Animals , Humans , Intellectual Disability/genetics , MAP Kinase Signaling System , Mice , Muscle Hypotonia , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics
7.
Am J Hum Genet ; 103(5): 752-768, 2018 11 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30388402

ABSTRACT

The nuclear factor I (NFI) family of transcription factors play an important role in normal development of multiple organs. Three NFI family members are highly expressed in the brain, and deletions or sequence variants in two of these, NFIA and NFIX, have been associated with intellectual disability (ID) and brain malformations. NFIB, however, has not previously been implicated in human disease. Here, we present a cohort of 18 individuals with mild ID and behavioral issues who are haploinsufficient for NFIB. Ten individuals harbored overlapping microdeletions of the chromosomal 9p23-p22.2 region, ranging in size from 225 kb to 4.3 Mb. Five additional subjects had point sequence variations creating a premature termination codon, and three subjects harbored single-nucleotide variations resulting in an inactive protein as determined using an in vitro reporter assay. All individuals presented with additional variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including muscular hypotonia, motor and speech delay, attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and behavioral abnormalities. While structural brain anomalies, including dysgenesis of corpus callosum, were variable, individuals most frequently presented with macrocephaly. To determine whether macrocephaly could be a functional consequence of NFIB disruption, we analyzed a cortex-specific Nfib conditional knockout mouse model, which is postnatally viable. Utilizing magnetic resonance imaging and histology, we demonstrate that Nfib conditional knockout mice have enlargement of the cerebral cortex but preservation of overall brain structure and interhemispheric connectivity. Based on our findings, we propose that haploinsufficiency of NFIB causes ID with macrocephaly.


Subject(s)
Haploinsufficiency/genetics , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Megalencephaly/genetics , NFI Transcription Factors/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Cerebral Cortex/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Codon, Nonsense/genetics , Cohort Studies , Corpus Callosum/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics , Young Adult
8.
Am J Hum Genet ; 102(5): 985-994, 2018 05 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29656860

ABSTRACT

N-alpha-acetylation is a common co-translational protein modification that is essential for normal cell function in humans. We previously identified the genetic basis of an X-linked infantile lethal Mendelian disorder involving a c.109T>C (p.Ser37Pro) missense variant in NAA10, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the N-terminal acetyltransferase A (NatA) complex. The auxiliary subunit of the NatA complex, NAA15, is the dimeric binding partner for NAA10. Through a genotype-first approach with whole-exome or genome sequencing (WES/WGS) and targeted sequencing analysis, we identified and phenotypically characterized 38 individuals from 33 unrelated families with 25 different de novo or inherited, dominantly acting likely gene disrupting (LGD) variants in NAA15. Clinical features of affected individuals with LGD variants in NAA15 include variable levels of intellectual disability, delayed speech and motor milestones, and autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, mild craniofacial dysmorphology, congenital cardiac anomalies, and seizures are present in some subjects. RNA analysis in cell lines from two individuals showed degradation of the transcripts with LGD variants, probably as a result of nonsense-mediated decay. Functional assays in yeast confirmed a deleterious effect for two of the LGD variants in NAA15. Further supporting a mechanism of haploinsufficiency, individuals with copy-number variant (CNV) deletions involving NAA15 and surrounding genes can present with mild intellectual disability, mild dysmorphic features, motor delays, and decreased growth. We propose that defects in NatA-mediated N-terminal acetylation (NTA) lead to variable levels of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, supporting the importance of the NatA complex in normal human development.


Subject(s)
Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genetic Variation , Intellectual Disability/genetics , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase A/genetics , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase E/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Cell Line , Child , Exons/genetics , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation/genetics , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase A/metabolism , N-Terminal Acetyltransferase E/metabolism , Pedigree , Phenotype , RNA, Messenger/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism
9.
Genet Med ; 23(5): 900-908, 2021 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33473208

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Neurodevelopmental disabilities are common and genetically heterogeneous. We identified a homozygous variant in the gene encoding UFM1-specific peptidase 2 (UFSP2), which participates in the UFMylation pathway of protein modification. UFSP2 variants are implicated in autosomal dominant skeletal dysplasias, but not neurodevelopmental disorders. Homozygosity for the variant occurred in eight children from four South Asian families with neurodevelopmental delay and epilepsy. We describe the clinical consequences of this variant and its effect on UFMylation. METHODS: Exome sequencing was used to detect potentially pathogenic variants and identify shared regions of homozygosity. Immunoblotting assessed protein expression and post-translational modifications in patient-derived fibroblasts. RESULTS: The variant (c.344T>A; p.V115E) is rare and alters a conserved residue in UFSP2. Immunoblotting in patient-derived fibroblasts revealed reduced UFSP2 abundance and increased abundance of UFMylated targets, indicating the variant may impair de-UFMylation rather than UFMylation. Reconstituting patient-derived fibroblasts with wild-type UFSP2 reduced UFMylation marks. Analysis of UFSP2's structure indicated that variants observed in skeletal disorders localize to the catalytic domain, whereas V115 resides in an N-terminal domain possibly involved in substrate binding. CONCLUSION: Different UFSP2 variants cause markedly different diseases, with homozygosity for V115E causing a severe syndrome of neurodevelopmental disability and epilepsy.


Subject(s)
Epilepsy , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Osteochondrodysplasias , Child , Epilepsy/genetics , Homozygote , Humans , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics , Exome Sequencing
10.
Genet Med ; 23(10): 1873-1881, 2021 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34113002

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Phosphatidylinositol Glycan Anchor Biosynthesis, class G (PIGG) is an ethanolamine phosphate transferase catalyzing the modification of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). GPI serves as an anchor on the cell membrane for surface proteins called GPI-anchored proteins (GPI-APs). Pathogenic variants in genes involved in the biosynthesis of GPI cause inherited GPI deficiency (IGD), which still needs to be further characterized. METHODS: We describe 22 individuals from 19 unrelated families with biallelic variants in PIGG. We analyzed GPI-AP surface levels on granulocytes and fibroblasts for three and two individuals, respectively. We demonstrated enzymatic activity defects for PIGG variants in vitro in a PIGG/PIGO double knockout system. RESULTS: Phenotypic analysis of reported individuals reveals shared PIGG deficiency-associated features. All tested GPI-APs were unchanged on granulocytes whereas CD73 level in fibroblasts was decreased. In addition to classic IGD symptoms such as hypotonia, intellectual disability/developmental delay (ID/DD), and seizures, individuals with PIGG variants of null or severely decreased activity showed cerebellar atrophy, various neurological manifestations, and mitochondrial dysfunction, a feature increasingly recognized in IGDs. Individuals with mildly decreased activity showed autism spectrum disorder. CONCLUSION: This in vitro system is a useful method to validate the pathogenicity of variants in PIGG and to study PIGG physiological functions.


Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder , Intellectual Disability , Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)/genetics , Humans , Membrane Proteins , Pedigree , Seizures , Virulence
11.
Genet Med ; 22(5): 878-888, 2020 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31949314

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Determination of genotypic/phenotypic features of GATAD2B-associated neurodevelopmental disorder (GAND). METHODS: Fifty GAND subjects were evaluated to determine consistent genotypic/phenotypic features. Immunoprecipitation assays utilizing in vitro transcription-translation products were used to evaluate GATAD2B missense variants' ability to interact with binding partners within the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase (NuRD) complex. RESULTS: Subjects had clinical findings that included macrocephaly, hypotonia, intellectual disability, neonatal feeding issues, polyhydramnios, apraxia of speech, epilepsy, and bicuspid aortic valves. Forty-one novelGATAD2B variants were identified with multiple variant types (nonsense, truncating frameshift, splice-site variants, deletions, and missense). Seven subjects were identified with missense variants that localized within two conserved region domains (CR1 or CR2) of the GATAD2B protein. Immunoprecipitation assays revealed several of these missense variants disrupted GATAD2B interactions with its NuRD complex binding partners. CONCLUSIONS: A consistent GAND phenotype was caused by a range of genetic variants in GATAD2B that include loss-of-function and missense subtypes. Missense variants were present in conserved region domains that disrupted assembly of NuRD complex proteins. GAND's clinical phenotype had substantial clinical overlap with other disorders associated with the NuRD complex that involve CHD3 and CHD4, with clinical features of hypotonia, intellectual disability, cardiac defects, childhood apraxia of speech, and macrocephaly.


Subject(s)
Intellectual Disability , Megalencephaly , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Child , Female , GATA Transcription Factors/genetics , Humans , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics , Nucleosomes , Phenotype , Pregnancy , Repressor Proteins
12.
Genet Med ; 22(3): 538-546, 2020 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31723249

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are genetically heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders. We sought to delineate the clinical, molecular, and neuroimaging spectrum of a novel neurodevelopmental disorder caused by variants in the zinc finger protein 292 gene (ZNF292). METHODS: We ascertained a cohort of 28 families with ID due to putatively pathogenic ZNF292 variants that were identified via targeted and exome sequencing. Available data were analyzed to characterize the canonical phenotype and examine genotype-phenotype relationships. RESULTS: Probands presented with ID as well as a spectrum of neurodevelopmental features including ASD, among others. All ZNF292 variants were de novo, except in one family with dominant inheritance. ZNF292 encodes a highly conserved zinc finger protein that acts as a transcription factor and is highly expressed in the developing human brain supporting its critical role in neurodevelopment. CONCLUSION: De novo and dominantly inherited variants in ZNF292 are associated with a range of neurodevelopmental features including ID and ASD. The clinical spectrum is broad, and most individuals present with mild to moderate ID with or without other syndromic features. Our results suggest that variants in ZNF292 are likely a recurrent cause of a neurodevelopmental disorder manifesting as ID with or without ASD.


Subject(s)
Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics , Carrier Proteins/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Nerve Tissue Proteins/genetics , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics , Adolescent , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis , Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnostic imaging , Autism Spectrum Disorder/pathology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods , Humans , Male , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/diagnosis , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/pathology , Neuroimaging/methods , Exome Sequencing/methods
14.
Epilepsia ; 61(2): 249-258, 2020 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31957018

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the yield of systematic analysis and/or reanalysis of whole exome sequencing (WES) data from a cohort of well-phenotyped pediatric patients with epilepsy and suspected but previously undetermined genetic etiology. METHODS: We identified and phenotyped 125 participants with pediatric epilepsy. Etiology was unexplained at the time of enrollment despite clinical testing, which included chromosomal microarray (57 patients), epilepsy gene panel (n = 48), both (n = 28), or WES (n = 8). Clinical epilepsy diagnoses included developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome, Rasmussen encephalitis, and other focal and generalized epilepsies. We analyzed WES data and compared the yield in participants with and without prior clinical genetic testing. RESULTS: Overall, we identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 40% (50/125) of our study participants. Nine patients with DEE had genetic variants in recently published genes that had not been recognized as epilepsy-related at the time of clinical testing (FGF12, GABBR1, GABBR2, ITPA, KAT6A, PTPN23, RHOBTB2, SATB2), and eight patients had genetic variants in candidate epilepsy genes (CAMTA1, FAT3, GABRA6, HUWE1, PTCHD1). Ninety participants had concomitant or subsequent clinical genetic testing, which was ultimately explanatory for 26% (23/90). Of the 67 participants whose molecular diagnoses were "unsolved" through clinical genetic testing, we identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in 17 (25%). SIGNIFICANCE: Our data argue for early consideration of WES with iterative reanalysis for patients with epilepsy, particularly those with DEE or epilepsy with intellectual disability. Rigorous analysis of WES data of well-phenotyped patients with epilepsy leads to a broader understanding of gene-specific phenotypic spectra as well as candidate disease gene identification. We illustrate the dynamic nature of genetic diagnosis over time, with analysis and in some cases reanalysis of exome data leading to the identification of disease-associated variants among participants with previously nondiagnostic results from a variety of clinical testing strategies.


Subject(s)
Epilepsy/diagnosis , Epilepsy/genetics , Exome/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Age of Onset , Brain Diseases/etiology , Brain Diseases/genetics , Child , Child, Preschool , Chromosomes, Human/genetics , Cohort Studies , Epilepsy/complications , Epilepsy, Generalized/genetics , Female , Genetic Testing , Genetic Variation , Humans , Infant , Male , Microarray Analysis , Phenotype , Exome Sequencing , Young Adult
15.
Am J Med Genet A ; 179(8): 1556-1564, 2019 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31099476

ABSTRACT

Biallelic pathogenic variants in AARS2, a gene encoding the mitochondrial alanyl-tRNA synthetase, result in a spectrum of findings ranging from infantile cardiomyopathy to adult-onset progressive leukoencephalopathy. In this article, we present three unrelated individuals with novel compound heterozygous pathogenic AARS2 variants underlying diverse clinical presentations. Patient 1 is a 51-year-old man with adult-onset progressive cognitive, psychiatric, and motor decline and leukodystrophy. Patient 2 is a 34-year-old man with childhood-onset progressive tremor followed by the development of polyneuropathy, ataxia, and mild cognitive and psychiatric decline without leukodystrophy on imaging. Patient 3 is a 57-year-old woman with childhood-onset tremor and nystagmus which preceded dystonia, chorea, ataxia, depression, and cognitive decline marked by cerebellar atrophy and white matter disease. These cases expand the clinical heterogeneity of AARS2-related disorders, given that the first and third case represent some of the oldest known survivors of this disease, the second is adult-onset AARS2-related neurological decline without leukodystrophy, and the third is biallelic AARS2-related disorder involving a partial gene deletion.


Subject(s)
Alanine-tRNA Ligase/genetics , Genetic Association Studies , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genetic Variation , Phenotype , Adult , Alleles , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , DNA Mutational Analysis , Female , Genetic Association Studies/methods , Genetic Testing , Genotype , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Nervous System Diseases/genetics , Neurologic Examination
16.
J Genet Couns ; 28(2): 304-312, 2019 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30680845

ABSTRACT

Despite its promising diagnostic yield, whole exome sequencing (WES) frequently introduces variant(s) of uncertain significance (VUS), which have been speculated to cause parental stress and anxiety. This study aimed to explore the psychosocial impact of receiving a VUS from pediatric WES on caregivers and to identify implications for clinical practice. Fourteen telephone interviews were conducted with parents or legal guardians who received VUS results from their child's WES to assess their understanding of the result, affective responses, perceived impact, and adaptation. Our content analysis showed that most participants had a good understanding of the purpose of the test and the majority of them recalled the result category. Most participants deemed the result had no impact thus far on their perception of their child's condition. However, one participant reported feelings of fear related to the VUS. Most participants experienced a range of emotions from receiving the result. The majority of participants reported that this result did not significantly alter their child's care or their ability to take care of their child, and three participants reported empowerment. Additionally, several participants expressed an interest in research studies and peer support groups dedicated to families with a VUS identified on WES. Our study elicited new information about the psychosocial impact of receiving a VUS from WES. This insight may help to guide pre- and post-WES counseling in the future.


Subject(s)
Exome Sequencing , Genetic Testing , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Parents/psychology , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Legal Guardians/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Uncertainty
17.
Hum Mutat ; 39(6): 827-829, 2018 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29603516

ABSTRACT

We identified an individual with a homozygous missense variant (p.Ser103Pro) in a conserved residue of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) biosynthesis gene PIGH. This gene encodes an essential component of the phosphatidylinositol N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase complex, in the first step of the biosynthesis of GPI, a glycolipid anchor added to more than one hundred human proteins, several being critical for embryogenesis and neurological functions. The affected individual had hypotonia, moderate developmental delay, and autism. Unlike other reported individuals with GPI deficiency, the proband did not have epilepsy; however, he did have two episodes of febrile seizures. He had normal alkaline phosphatase and no brachytelephalangy. Upon analysis of the surface expression of GPI-anchored proteins on granulocytes, he was demonstrated to have GPI deficiency. This suggests that PIGH mutations may cause a syndrome with developmental delay and autism, but without an epileptic encephalopathy, and should increase the awareness of the potentially deleterious nature of biallelic variants in this gene.


Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/genetics , Developmental Disabilities/genetics , Membrane Proteins/genetics , Seizures, Febrile/genetics , Autistic Disorder/physiopathology , Developmental Disabilities/physiopathology , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Glycosylphosphatidylinositols/deficiency , Glycosylphosphatidylinositols/genetics , Homozygote , Humans , Male , Mutation, Missense/genetics , Pedigree , Seizures/genetics , Seizures/physiopathology , Seizures, Febrile/physiopathology , Exome Sequencing
18.
Am J Med Genet A ; 176(4): 925-935, 2018 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29436146

ABSTRACT

SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by significant neurodevelopmental disabilities with limited to absent speech, behavioral issues, and craniofacial anomalies. Previous studies have largely been restricted to case reports and small series without in-depth phenotypic characterization or genotype-phenotype correlations. Seventy two study participants were identified as part of the SAS clinical registry. Individuals with a molecularly confirmed diagnosis of SAS were referred after clinical diagnostic testing. In this series we present the most comprehensive phenotypic and genotypic characterization of SAS to date, including prevalence of each clinical feature, neurodevelopmental milestones, and when available, patient management. We confirm that the most distinctive features are neurodevelopmental delay with invariably severely limited speech, abnormalities of the palate (cleft or high-arched), dental anomalies (crowding, macrodontia, abnormal shape), and behavioral issues with or without bone or brain anomalies. This comprehensive clinical characterization will help clinicians with the diagnosis, counseling and management of SAS and help provide families with anticipatory guidance.


Subject(s)
Genetic Association Studies , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins/genetics , Phenotype , Transcription Factors/genetics , Abnormalities, Multiple/diagnosis , Abnormalities, Multiple/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Facies , Female , Genetic Association Studies/methods , Humans , Infant , Inheritance Patterns , Male , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Syndrome , Young Adult
19.
Genes (Basel) ; 15(4)2024 03 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38674358

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic ASH1L variants have been reported in probands with broad phenotypic presentations, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, seizures, congenital anomalies, and other skeletal, muscular, and sleep differences. Here, we review previously published individuals with pathogenic ASH1L variants and report three further probands with novel ASH1L variants and previously unreported phenotypic features, including mixed receptive language disorder and gait disturbances. These novel data from the Brain Gene Registry, an accessible repository of clinically derived genotypic and phenotypic data, have allowed for the expansion of the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of this condition.


Subject(s)
Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase , Neurodevelopmental Disorders , Phenotype , Humans , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/genetics , Neurodevelopmental Disorders/pathology , Male , Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase/genetics , Female , Child , Genotype , DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics , Intellectual Disability/genetics , Intellectual Disability/pathology , Transcription Factors/genetics , Child, Preschool , Autism Spectrum Disorder/genetics , Autism Spectrum Disorder/pathology , Mutation , Adolescent
20.
JAMA Netw Open ; 6(7): e2324380, 2023 07 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37471090

ABSTRACT

Importance: Genomic advances inform our understanding of epilepsy and can be translated to patients as precision diagnoses that influence clinical treatment, prognosis, and counseling. Objective: To delineate the genetic landscape of pediatric epilepsy and clinical utility of genetic diagnoses for patients with epilepsy. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study used phenotypic data from medical records and treating clinicians at a pediatric hospital to identify patients with unexplained pediatric-onset epilepsy. Exome sequencing was performed for 522 patients and available biological parents, and sequencing data were analyzed for single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs). Variant pathogenicity was assessed, patients were provided with their diagnostic results, and clinical utility was evaluated. Patients were enrolled from August 2018 to October 2021, and data were analyzed through December 2022. Exposures: Phenotypic features associated with diagnostic genetic results. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes included diagnostic yield and clinical utility. Diagnostic findings included variants curated as pathogenic, likely pathogenic (PLP), or diagnostic variants of uncertain significance (VUS) with clinical features consistent with the involved gene's associated phenotype. The proportion of the cohort with diagnostic findings, the genes involved, and their clinical utility, defined as impact on clinical treatment, prognosis, or surveillance, are reported. Results: A total of 522 children (269 [51.5%] male; mean [SD] age at seizure onset, 1.2 [1.4] years) were enrolled, including 142 children (27%) with developmental epileptic encephalopathy and 263 children (50.4%) with intellectual disability. Of these, 100 participants (19.2%) had identifiable genetic explanations for their seizures: 89 participants had SNVs (87 germline, 2 somatic mosaic) involving 69 genes, and 11 participants had CNVs. The likelihood of identifying a genetic diagnosis was highest in patients with intellectual disability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.44; 95% CI, 1.40-4.26), early onset seizures (aOR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.88-0.98), and motor impairment (aOR, 2.19; 95% CI 1.34-3.58). Among 43 patients with apparently de novo variants, 2 were subsequently determined to have asymptomatic parents harboring mosaic variants. Of 71 patients who received diagnostic results and were followed clinically, 29 (41%) had documented clinical utility resulting from their genetic diagnoses. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that pediatric-onset epilepsy is genetically heterogeneous and that some patients with previously unexplained pediatric-onset epilepsy had genetic diagnoses with direct clinical implications.


Subject(s)
Epilepsy , Intellectual Disability , Male , Female , Humans , Cohort Studies , Exome Sequencing , Intellectual Disability/epidemiology , Epilepsy/diagnosis , Epilepsy/genetics , Seizures
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