RESUMEN
Selective neuronal loss is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, which, counterintuitively, are often caused by mutations in widely expressed genes. Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) diseases are the most common hereditary peripheral neuropathies, for which there are no effective therapies. A subtype of these diseases--CMT type 2D (CMT2D)--is caused by dominant mutations in GARS, encoding the ubiquitously expressed enzyme glycyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase (GlyRS). Despite the broad requirement of GlyRS for protein biosynthesis in all cells, mutations in this gene cause a selective degeneration of peripheral axons, leading to deficits in distal motor function. How mutations in GlyRS (GlyRS(CMT2D)) are linked to motor neuron vulnerability has remained elusive. Here we report that GlyRS(CMT2D) acquires a neomorphic binding activity that directly antagonizes an essential signalling pathway for motor neuron survival. We find that CMT2D mutations alter the conformation of GlyRS, enabling GlyRS(CMT2D) to bind the neuropilin 1 (Nrp1) receptor. This aberrant interaction competitively interferes with the binding of the cognate ligand vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to Nrp1. Genetic reduction of Nrp1 in mice worsens CMT2D symptoms, whereas enhanced expression of VEGF improves motor function. These findings link the selective pathology of CMT2D to the neomorphic binding activity of GlyRS(CMT2D) that antagonizes the VEGF-Nrp1 interaction, and indicate that the VEGF-Nrp1 signalling axis is an actionable target for treating CMT2D.
Asunto(s)
Unión Competitiva , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/metabolismo , Glicina-ARNt Ligasa/metabolismo , Animales , Axones/enzimología , Axones/metabolismo , Axones/patología , Línea Celular , Supervivencia Celular , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/genética , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/patología , Femenino , Glicina-ARNt Ligasa/química , Glicina-ARNt Ligasa/genética , Ligandos , Masculino , Ratones , Modelos Moleculares , Neuronas Motoras/enzimología , Neuronas Motoras/metabolismo , Neuronas Motoras/patología , Destreza Motora/efectos de los fármacos , Mutación/genética , Neuropilina-1/deficiencia , Neuropilina-1/genética , Neuropilina-1/metabolismo , Unión Proteica , Multimerización de Proteína , Transducción de Señal , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismo , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/farmacología , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
RNA polymerase III is essential for the transcription of non-coding RNAs, including tRNAs. Mutations in the genes encoding its largest subunits are known to cause hypomyelinating leukodystrophies (HLD7) with pathogenetic mechanisms hypothesised to involve impaired availability of tRNAs. We have identified a founder mutation in the POLR3A gene that leads to aberrant splicing, a premature termination codon and partial deficiency of the canonical full-length transcript. Our clinical and imaging data showed no evidence of the previously reported white matter or cerebellar involvement; instead the affected brain structures included the striatum and red nuclei with the ensuing clinical manifestations. Our transcriptome-wide investigations revealed an overall decrease in the levels of Pol III-transcribed tRNAs and an imbalance in the levels of regulatory ncRNAs such as small nuclear and nucleolar RNAs (snRNAs and snoRNAs). In addition, the Pol III mutation was found to exert complex downstream effects on the Pol II transcriptome, affecting the general regulation of RNA metabolism.
Asunto(s)
Cuerpo Estriado/patología , Degeneración Nerviosa/congénito , ARN Polimerasa III/genética , Transcripción Genética , Transcriptoma/genética , Adulto , Cerebelo/metabolismo , Cerebelo/patología , Niño , Cuerpo Estriado/metabolismo , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mutación , Neostriado/metabolismo , Neostriado/patología , Degeneración Nerviosa/genética , Degeneración Nerviosa/patología , Fenotipo , Empalme del ARN/genética , ARN de Transferencia/genéticaRESUMEN
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is a highly disabling, life-threatening disease characterized by progressive sensorimotor and autonomic neuropathy. The profile of the disease across Europe is inadequately understood at present. RECENT FINDINGS: The incidence and clinical presentation of TTR-FAP varies widely within Europe, with early and late-onset disease subtypes. In those regions in which the disease is endemic (Portugal, Sweden, Cyprus, and Majorca), a Val30Met substitution in the TTR gene is the predominant genetic cause, whereas in the rest of Europe, cases of TTR-FAP are mainly sporadic with genetic heterogeneity. Current management strategies lack cohesion and patients can experience years of misdiagnosis and suboptimal treatment. SUMMARY: The article aims to disseminate the findings and recommendations from two recent meetings of the European Network for TTR-FAP (ATTReuNET), a panel comprising representatives from 10 European countries (Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Turkey) with expertise in the diagnosis and management of TTR-FAP. We explore the epidemiology and genetic mark of TTR-FAP across Europe and assess current management strategies, with a view to developing an alternative framework - a networked approach to disease management with an emphasis on collaboration and sharing of best practice.
Asunto(s)
Neuropatías Amiloides Familiares/epidemiología , Neuropatías Amiloides Familiares/terapia , Manejo de la Enfermedad , Servicios de Información , Neuropatías Amiloides Familiares/diagnóstico , Neuropatías Amiloides Familiares/genética , Bases de Datos Factuales/estadística & datos numéricos , Europa (Continente)/epidemiología , Humanos , Estudios LongitudinalesRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Niemann-Pick disease type C (NP-C) is a rare autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in either the NPC1 (in 95% of cases) or the NPC2 gene. METHODS: In a prospective, observational cohort study, all Bulgarian patients diagnosed with NP-C to date (since 2010) underwent detailed neurological examination and neuro-ophthalmological, neuropsychological and psychiatric evaluations, as well as brain MRI, abdominal ultrasound and hearing tests. Plasma chitotriosidase was also measured, when possible. RESULTS: The Bulgarian national NP-C cohort comprised 11 patients who were diagnosed based on molecular genetic analysis (n = 9) and/or filipin staining of skin fibroblasts (n = 3). The mean age at onset was 14.4 (SD 8.3). Diagnoses were achieved 1-23 years after initial clinical presentation. All patients who underwent genetic mutation analysis were compound heterozygotes: a total of 12 NPC1 mutations were recorded, 5 of which were novel. Two patients had late-infantile onset, 4 had juvenile onset, and the remaining 5 had the adult-onset form of NP-C. Initial symptoms were neurological in 9 patients, visceral in one, and predominantly psychiatric in another. Vertical gaze palsy was present in all patients. Dysarthria, pyramidal involvement, cognitive impairment, and organomegaly with varied severity were observed in 10 of them. Ataxia was present in 9 and dystonia in 7. Four patients had epileptic seizures, and gelastic cataplexy was reported in 5. Brain MRI revealed hyperintense white matter lesions in 5 patients and cortical and/or cerebellar atrophy in 4. CONCLUSIONS: This Bulgarian NP-C cohort showed wide variability in terms of NPC1 mutations and predominant forms of neurological involvement. Diagnosing NP-C is challenging, and it was often delayed in this cohort due to the heterogeneity of patients' clinical signs and symptoms.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/genética , Enfermedad de Niemann-Pick Tipo C/patología , Adulto , Edad de Inicio , Bulgaria , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mutación , Examen Neurológico , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
Analyzing the type and frequency of patient-specific mutations that give rise to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an invaluable tool for diagnostics, basic scientific research, trial planning, and improved clinical care. Locus-specific databases allow for the collection, organization, storage, and analysis of genetic variants of disease. Here, we describe the development and analysis of the TREAT-NMD DMD Global database (http://umd.be/TREAT_DMD/). We analyzed genetic data for 7,149 DMD mutations held within the database. A total of 5,682 large mutations were observed (80% of total mutations), of which 4,894 (86%) were deletions (1 exon or larger) and 784 (14%) were duplications (1 exon or larger). There were 1,445 small mutations (smaller than 1 exon, 20% of all mutations), of which 358 (25%) were small deletions and 132 (9%) small insertions and 199 (14%) affected the splice sites. Point mutations totalled 756 (52% of small mutations) with 726 (50%) nonsense mutations and 30 (2%) missense mutations. Finally, 22 (0.3%) mid-intronic mutations were observed. In addition, mutations were identified within the database that would potentially benefit from novel genetic therapies for DMD including stop codon read-through therapies (10% of total mutations) and exon skipping therapy (80% of deletions and 55% of total mutations).
Asunto(s)
Bases de Datos Genéticas , Distrofina/genética , Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/genética , Mutación , Humanos , Sistema de RegistrosRESUMEN
Autosomal recessive forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (ARCMT) are rare but severe disorders of the peripheral nervous system. Their molecular basis is poorly understood due to the extensive genetic and clinical heterogeneity, posing considerable challenges for patients, physicians, and researchers. We report on the genetic findings from a systematic study of a large collection of 174 independent ARCMT families. Initial sequencing of the three most common ARCMT genes (ganglioside-induced differentiation protein 1GDAP1, SH3 domain and tetratricopeptide repeats-containing protein 2SH3TC2, histidine-triad nucleotide binding protein 1HINT1) identified pathogenic mutations in 41 patients. Subsequently, 87 selected nuclear families underwent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping and homozygosity mapping, followed by targeted screening of known ARCMT genes. This strategy provided molecular diagnosis to 22% of the families. Altogether, our unbiased genetic approach identified pathogenic mutations in ten ARCMT genes in a total of 41.3% patients. Apart from a newly described founder mutation in GDAP1, the majority of variants constitute private molecular defects. Since the gene testing was independent of the clinical phenotype of the patients, we identified mutations in patients with unusual or additional clinical features, extending the phenotypic spectrum of the SH3TC2 gene. Our study provides an overview of the ARCMT genetic landscape and proposes guidelines for tackling the genetic heterogeneity of this group of hereditary neuropathies.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/diagnóstico , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/genética , Mutación , Mapeo Cromosómico , Análisis Mutacional de ADN , Femenino , Genes Recesivos , Homocigoto , Humanos , Péptidos y Proteínas de Señalización Intracelular , Masculino , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Fenotipo , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Proteínas/genéticaRESUMEN
Autosomal-recessive congenital cerebellar ataxia was identified in Roma patients originating from a small subisolate with a known strong founder effect. Patients presented with global developmental delay, moderate to severe stance and gait ataxia, dysarthria, mild dysdiadochokinesia, dysmetria and tremors, intellectual deficit, and mild pyramidal signs. Brain imaging revealed progressive generalized cerebellar atrophy, and inferior vermian hypoplasia and/or a constitutionally small brain were observed in some patients. Exome sequencing, used for linkage analysis on extracted SNP genotypes and for mutation detection, identified two novel (i.e., not found in any database) variants located 7 bp apart within a unique 6q24 linkage region. Both mutations cosegregated with the disease in five affected families, in which all ten patients were homozygous. The mutated gene, GRM1, encodes metabotropic glutamate receptor mGluR1, which is highly expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells and plays an important role in cerebellar development and synaptic plasticity. The two mutations affect a gene region critical for alternative splicing and the generation of receptor isoforms; they are a 3 bp exon 8 deletion and an intron 8 splicing mutation (c.2652_2654del and c.2660+2T>G, respectively [RefSeq accession number NM_000838.3]). The functional impact of the deletion is unclear and is overshadowed by the splicing defect. Although ataxia lymphoblastoid cell lines expressed GRM1 at levels comparable to those of control cells, the aberrant transcripts skipped exon 8 or ended in intron 8 and encoded various species of nonfunctional receptors either lacking the transmembrane domain and containing abnormal intracellular tails or completely missing the tail. The study implicates mGluR1 in human hereditary ataxia. It also illustrates the potential of the Roma founder populations for mutation identification by exome sequencing.
Asunto(s)
Ataxia Cerebelosa/genética , Genes Recesivos , Mutación , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/genética , Adulto , Secuencia de Bases , Ataxia Cerebelosa/diagnóstico , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , LinajeRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Mutations in TUBB4A have been associated with a spectrum of neurological conditions, ranging from the severe hypomyelination with atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum syndrome to the clinically milder dystonia type 4. The presence of movement abnormalities was considered the common hallmark of these disorders. METHODS: Clinical, neurological, and neuroimaging examinations, followed by whole exome sequencing and mutation analysis, were performed in a highly consanguineous pedigree with five affected children. RESULTS: We identified a novel c.568C>T (p.H190Y) TUBB4A mutation that originated de novo in the asymptomatic mother. The affected subjects presented with an early-onset, slowly progressive spastic paraparesis of the lower limbs, ataxia, and brain hypomyelination, in the absence of dystonia or rigidity. CONCLUSIONS: Our study adds complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia to the clinical spectrum of TUBB4A-associated neurological disorders. We establish genotype-phenotype correlations with mutations located in the same region in the tertiary structure of the protein.
Asunto(s)
Genes Dominantes , Mosaicismo , Paraplejía Espástica Hereditaria/genética , Paraplejía Espástica Hereditaria/fisiopatología , Tubulina (Proteína)/genética , Adolescente , Edad de Inicio , Ataxia/genética , Encéfalo/patología , Niño , Preescolar , Análisis Mutacional de ADN , Exoma , Femenino , Humanos , Lactante , Extremidad Inferior/fisiopatología , Masculino , Mutación , Vaina de Mielina/patología , Linaje , Fenotipo , Hermanos , Paraplejía Espástica Hereditaria/patologíaRESUMEN
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathies are common disorders of the peripheral nervous system caused by demyelination or axonal degeneration, or a combination of both features. We previously assigned the locus for autosomal dominant intermediate CMT neuropathy type C (DI-CMTC) to chromosome 1p34-p35. Here we identify two heterozygous missense mutations (G41R and E196K) and one de novo deletion (153-156delVKQV) in tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (YARS) in three unrelated families affected with DI-CMTC. Biochemical experiments and genetic complementation in yeast show partial loss of aminoacylation activity of the mutant proteins, and mutations in YARS, or in its yeast ortholog TYS1, reduce yeast growth. YARS localizes to axonal termini in differentiating primary motor neuron and neuroblastoma cultures. This specific distribution is significantly reduced in cells expressing mutant YARS proteins. YARS is the second aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase found to be involved in CMT, thereby linking protein-synthesizing complexes with neurodegeneration.
Asunto(s)
Axones/enzimología , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/enzimología , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/genética , Genes Dominantes/genética , Mutación/genética , Tirosina-ARNt Ligasa/genética , Tirosina-ARNt Ligasa/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Axones/metabolismo , Axones/patología , Bioensayo , Células COS , Línea Celular Tumoral , Células Cultivadas , Enfermedad de Charcot-Marie-Tooth/metabolismo , Chlorocebus aethiops , Prueba de Complementación Genética , Heterocigoto , Humanos , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Transporte de Proteínas , Proteínas Recombinantes , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/citología , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/crecimiento & desarrollo , Alineación de Secuencia , Tirosina-ARNt Ligasa/químicaRESUMEN
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are synapses that transmit impulses from motor neurons to skeletal muscle fibers leading to muscle contraction. Study of hereditary disorders of neuromuscular transmission, termed congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), has helped elucidate fundamental processes influencing development and function of the nerve-muscle synapse. Using genetic linkage, we find 18 different biallelic mutations in the gene encoding glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) in 13 unrelated families with an autosomal recessive CMS. Consistent with these data, downregulation of the GFPT1 ortholog gfpt1 in zebrafish embryos altered muscle fiber morphology and impaired neuromuscular junction development. GFPT1 is the key enzyme of the hexosamine pathway yielding the amino sugar UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, an essential substrate for protein glycosylation. Our findings provide further impetus to study the glycobiology of NMJ and synapses in general.
Asunto(s)
Glutamina-Fructosa-6-Fosfato Transaminasa (Isomerizadora)/genética , Hexosaminas/metabolismo , Mutación/genética , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/genética , Transducción de Señal , Animales , Western Blotting , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Células Cultivadas , Embrión no Mamífero/citología , Embrión no Mamífero/metabolismo , Femenino , Técnica del Anticuerpo Fluorescente , Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Ligamiento Genético , Glicosilación , Humanos , Técnicas para Inmunoenzimas , Hibridación Fluorescente in Situ , Masculino , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/patología , Unión Neuromuscular/fisiología , Linaje , ARN Mensajero/genética , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Transmisión Sináptica/fisiología , Pez Cebra , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/genética , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/metabolismoRESUMEN
Investigation of 31 of Roma patients with congenital lactic acidosis (CLA) from Bulgaria identified homozygosity for the R446* mutation in the PDHX gene as the most common cause of the disorder in this ethnic group. It accounted for around 60% of patients in the study and over 25% of all CLA cases referred to the National Genetic Laboratory in Bulgaria. The detection of a homozygous patient from Hungary and carriers among population controls from Romania and Slovakia suggests a wide spread of the mutation in the European Roma population. The clinical phenotype of the twenty R446* homozygotes was relatively homogeneous, with lactic acidosis crisis in the first days or months of life as the most common initial presentation (15/20 patients) and delayed psychomotor development and/or seizures in infancy as the leading manifestations in a smaller group (5/20 patients). The subsequent clinical picture was dominated by impaired physical growth and a very consistent pattern of static cerebral palsy-like encephalopathy with spasticity and severe to profound mental retardation seen in over 80% of cases. Most patients had a positive family history. We propose testing for the R446* mutation in PDHX as a rapid first screening in Roma infants with metabolic acidosis. It will facilitate and accelerate diagnosis in a large proportion of cases, allow early rehabilitation to alleviate the chronic clinical course, and prevent further affected births in high-risk families.
Asunto(s)
Acidosis Láctica/genética , Efecto Fundador , Mutación , Complejo Piruvato Deshidrogenasa/genética , Acidosis Láctica/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Codón , Consanguinidad , Análisis Mutacional de ADN , Femenino , Genotipo , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Fenotipo , Rumanía , EslovaquiaRESUMEN
Background: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of rare but often treatable inherited disorders of neuromuscular transmission characterized by fatigable skeletal muscle weakness. In this paper we present the largest phenotypic analysis to date of a cohort of patients carrying the pathogenic variant c.1327delG in the CHRNE gene, leading to CHRNE-CMS. Objective: This study aims to identify the phenotypic variability in CMS associated with c.1327delG mutation in the CHRNE gene. Methods: Disease specific symptoms were assessed using specific standardized tests for autoimmune myasthenia (Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis score) as well as patient-reported scales for symptom severity. Evaluated clinical manifestations included ocular symptoms (ophthalmoparesis and ptosis), bulbar weakness, axial muscle weakness, proximal and distal muscle weakness, and respiratory function. Patients were allocated into three groups according to clinical impression of disease severity: mild, moderate, and severe. Results: We studied 91 Bulgarian Roma patients, carrying the same causative homozygous CHRNE c.1327delG mutation. Bulbar weakness was present in patients throughout all levels of severity of CHRNE-CMS in this study. However, difficulties in eating and swallowing are more prominent characteristics in the moderate and severe clinical phenotypes. Diplopia and ptosis resulting from fatigue of the extraocular muscles were permanent features regardless of disease severity or age. Levels of axial, proximal and distal muscle weakness were variable between disease groups. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between the patients in the three groups, emphasizing a possible variation in symptom manifestation in the evaluated patient population despite the disease originating from the same genetic mutation. Impairment of respiratory function was more prominent in severely affected patients, which might result from loss of compensatory muscle function in those individuals. Conclusion: Results from our study indicate significant phenotypic heterogeneity leading to mild, moderate, or severe clinical manifestation in CHRNE-CMS, despite the genotypic homogeneity.
RESUMEN
Exploring the molecular basis of disease severity in rare disease scenarios is a challenging task provided the limitations on data availability. Causative genes have been described for Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes (CMS), a group of diverse minority neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders; yet a molecular explanation for the phenotypic severity differences remains unclear. Here, we present a workflow to explore the functional relationships between CMS causal genes and altered genes from each patient, based on multilayer network community detection analysis of complementary biomedical information provided by relevant data sources, namely protein-protein interactions, pathways and metabolomics. Our results show that CMS severity can be ascribed to the personalized impairment of extracellular matrix components and postsynaptic modulators of acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering. This work showcases how coupling multilayer network analysis with personalized -omics information provides molecular explanations to the varying severity of rare diseases; paving the way for sorting out similar cases in other rare diseases.
Asunto(s)
Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos , Humanos , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/genética , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/diagnóstico , Unión Neuromuscular/metabolismo , Enfermedades Raras/metabolismo , Flujo de Trabajo , Receptores Colinérgicos/genética , Receptores Colinérgicos/metabolismo , MutaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of inherited neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disorders arising from gene variants encoding diverse NMJ proteins. Recently, the VAMP1 gene, responsible for encoding the vesicle-associated membrane protein 1 (VAMP1), has been associated with CMS. METHODS: This study presents a characterization of five new individuals with VAMP1-related CMS, providing insights into the phenotype. RESULTS: The individuals with VAMP1-related CMS exhibited early disease onset, presenting symptoms prenatally or during the neonatal period, alongside severe respiratory involvement and feeding difficulties. Generalized weakness at birth was a common feature, and none of the individuals achieved independent walking ability. Notably, all cases exhibited scoliosis. The clinical course remained stable, without typical exacerbations seen in other CMS types. The response to anticholinesterase inhibitors and salbutamol was only partial, but the addition of 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP) led to significant and substantial improvements, suggesting therapeutic benefits of 3,4-DAP for managing VAMP1-related CMS symptoms. Noteworthy is the identification of the VAMP1 (NM_014231.5): c.340delA; p.Ile114SerfsTer72 as a founder variant in the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes valuable insights into VAMP1-related CMS, emphasizing their early onset, arthrogryposis, facial and generalized weakness, respiratory involvement, and feeding difficulties. Furthermore, the potential efficacy of 3,4-DAP as a useful therapeutic option warrants further exploration. The findings have implications for clinical management and genetic counseling in affected individuals. Additional research is necessary to elucidate the long-term outcomes of VAMP1-related CMS.
Asunto(s)
Amifampridina , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos , Fenotipo , Proteína 1 de Membrana Asociada a Vesículas , Humanos , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/tratamiento farmacológico , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/genética , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/fisiopatología , Femenino , Masculino , Amifampridina/farmacología , Proteína 1 de Membrana Asociada a Vesículas/genética , Niño , Adolescente , 4-Aminopiridina/análogos & derivados , 4-Aminopiridina/farmacología , 4-Aminopiridina/uso terapéutico , Preescolar , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Potasio/farmacología , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Potasio/uso terapéutico , LactanteRESUMEN
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease, caused by the absence of the dystrophin protein. Although many novel therapies are under development for DMD, there is currently no cure and affected individuals are often confined to a wheelchair by their teens and die in their twenties/thirties. DMD is a rare disease (prevalence <5/10,000). Even the largest countries do not have enough affected patients to rigorously assess novel therapies, unravel genetic complexities, and determine patient outcomes. TREAT-NMD is a worldwide network for neuromuscular diseases that provides an infrastructure to support the delivery of promising new therapies for patients. The harmonized implementation of national and ultimately global patient registries has been central to the success of TREAT-NMD. For the DMD registries within TREAT-NMD, individual countries have chosen to collect patient information in the form of standardized patient registries to increase the overall patient population on which clinical outcomes and new technologies can be assessed. The registries comprise more than 13,500 patients from 31 different countries. Here, we describe how the TREAT-NMD national patient registries for DMD were established. We look at their continued growth and assess how successful they have been at fostering collaboration between academia, patient organizations, and industry.
Asunto(s)
Bases de Datos Factuales , Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne , Sistema de Registros , Bases de Datos Factuales/economía , Geografía Médica , Salud Global , Humanos , Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/economía , Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE) is a rare autosomal recessive multisystemic disorder caused by TYMP gene mutations. Here, we report on the first MNGIE patient diagnosed in Bulgaria who carries a novel homozygous TYMP mutation (p.Leu347Pro). The patient presented with gastrointestinal complaints, cachexia, hearing loss, ptosis, ophthalmoparesis, polyneuropathy, cognitive impairment, and leukoencephalopathy on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination of the brain. The patient's motor capacity declined significantly, leading to wheelchair dependence several months following administration of tuberculostatic treatment, suggesting mitochondrial toxicity of these agents. The advanced stage of the disease and the poor medical condition prevented us from performing allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early diagnosis is important not only for genetic counseling but also in view of the timely treatment with allogenic HSCT.
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Antituberculosos/toxicidad , Encefalomiopatías Mitocondriales/inducido químicamente , Encefalomiopatías Mitocondriales/genética , Mutación/genética , Timidina Fosforilasa/genética , Adulto , Bulgaria , Ventrículos Cerebrales/patología , Análisis Mutacional de ADN , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Masculino , Encefalomiopatías Mitocondriales/patologíaRESUMEN
Arginase deficiency is an autosomal recessive urea cycle disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the ARG1 gene. The clinical features of the disease include spasticity, tremour, ataxia, hypotonia, microcephaly and seizures. Growth delay can also be observed in the affected individuals. Here we describe the results from molecular-genetic analysis of two patients with arginase deficiency. In the first case, we reported a novel homozygous missense variant c.775G>A p.(Gly259Ser) in a patient with Bulgarian ethnic origin. In the second case, a novel homozygous splice site variant c.329+1G>A was detected in a patient from a consanguineous family of Roma ethnic origin. A hundred samples of newborns of Roma origin were screened for variant c.329+1G>A and one individual was found to be a heterozygous carrier of variant c.329+1G> A. The results from this study indicated the necessity for screening of the Roma population with respect to the disease arginase deficiency in Bulgaria.
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Hiperargininemia , Recién Nacido , Humanos , Hiperargininemia/epidemiología , Hiperargininemia/genética , Bulgaria/epidemiología , Ataxia , Consanguinidad , EtnicidadRESUMEN
Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders characterized by a neuromuscular transmission defect. Even though CMSs are genetic disorders, they are highly treatable, and the appropriate drug treatment depends on the underlying genetic defect. This highlights the importance of genetic testing in CMS. In recent years, the molecular basis of CMS has constantly broadened and disease-associated mutations have been identified in 14 genes encoding proteins of the neuromuscular junction. In the dawn of novel sequencing strategies, we report on our 14-year experience in traditional Sanger-based mutation screening of a large cohort of 680 independent patients with suspected CMS. In total, we identified disease-causing mutations in 299 patients (44%) of patients in various known CMS genes, confirming the high degree of genetic heterogeneity associated with the disease. Apart from four known founder mutations, and a few additional recurrent mutations, the majority of variants are private, found in single families. The impact of previously reported genotype-phenotype correlations on efficiency of genetic testing was analyzed in our population. Taking our experiment into account, we present our algorithm for genetic testing in CMS.
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Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/diagnóstico , Síndromes Miasténicos Congénitos/genética , Estudios de Cohortes , Femenino , Estudios de Asociación Genética , Heterogeneidad Genética , Secuenciación de Nucleótidos de Alto Rendimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Mutación , Receptores Colinérgicos/genética , Receptores Colinérgicos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Distal myopathies represent a heterogeneous group of inherited skeletal muscle disorders. One type of adult-onset, progressive autosomal-dominant distal myopathy, frequently associated with dysphagia and dysphonia (vocal cord and pharyngeal weakness with distal myopathy [VCPDM]), has been mapped to chromosome 5q31 in a North American pedigree. Here, we report the identification of a second large VCPDM family of Bulgarian descent and fine mapping of the critical interval. Sequencing of positional candidate genes revealed precisely the same nonconservative S85C missense mutation affecting an interspecies conserved residue in the MATR3 gene in both families. MATR3 is expressed in skeletal muscle and encodes matrin 3, a component of the nuclear matrix, which is a proteinaceous network that extends throughout the nucleus. Different disease related haplotype signatures in the two families provided evidence that two independent mutational events at the same position in MATR3 cause VCPDM. Our data establish proof of principle that the nuclear matrix is crucial for normal skeletal muscle structure and function and put VCPDM on the growing list of monogenic disorders associated with the nuclear proteome.