A novel homozygous HPDL variant in Japanese siblings with autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia: case report and literature review.

Biallelic variants of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase-like (HPDL) gene have been linked to neurodegenerative disorders ranging from severe neonatal encephalopathy to early-onset spastic paraplegia. We identified a novel homozygous variant, c.340G > T (p.Gly114Cys), in the HPDL gene in two siblings with autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Despite sharing the same likely pathogenic variant, the older sister had pure HSP, whereas her brother had severe and complicated HSP, accompanied by early-onset mental retardation and abnormalities in magnetic resonance imaging. Given the clinical heterogeneity and potential for treatable conditions in HPDL-related diseases, we emphasize the importance of genetic testing for the HPDL gene.

Clinical variability associated with intronic FGF14 GAA repeat expansion in Japan.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The GAA repeat expansion within the fibroblast growth factor 14 (FGF14) gene has been found to be associated with late-onset cerebellar ataxia. This study aimed to investigate the genetic causes of cerebellar ataxia in patients in Japan. METHODS: We collected a case series of 940 index patients who presented with chronic cerebellar ataxia and remained genetically undiagnosed after our preliminary genetic screening. To investigate the FGF14 repeat locus, we employed an integrated diagnostic strategy that involved fluorescence amplicon length analysis polymerase chain reaction (PCR), repeat-primed PCR, and long-read sequencing. RESULTS: Pathogenic FGF14 GAA repeat expansions were detected in 12 patients from 11 unrelated families. The median size of the pathogenic GAA repeat was 309 repeats (range: 270-316 repeats). In these patients, the mean age of onset was 66.9 ± 9.6 years, with episodic symptoms observed in 56% of patients and parkinsonism in 30% of patients. We also detected FGF14 repeat expansions in a patient with a phenotype of multiple system atrophy, including cerebellar ataxia, parkinsonism, autonomic ataxia, and bilateral vocal cord paralysis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed normal to mild cerebellar atrophy, and a follow-up study conducted after a mean period of 6 years did not reveal any significant progression. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the importance of FGF14 GAA repeat analysis in patients with late-onset cerebellar ataxia, particularly when they exhibit episodic symptoms, or their brain MRI shows no apparent cerebellar atrophy. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the clinical variability of GAA-FGF14-related diseases.

Dystonia and Parkinsonism in COA7-related disorders: expanding the phenotypic spectrum.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Biallelic mutations in the COA7 gene have been associated with spinocerebellar ataxia with axonal neuropathy type 3 (SCAN3), and a notable clinical diversity has been observed. We aim to identify the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of COA7-related disorders. METHODS: We conducted comprehensive genetic analyses on the COA7 gene within a large group of Japanese patients clinically diagnosed with inherited peripheral neuropathy or cerebellar ataxia. RESULTS: In addition to our original report, which involved four patients until 2018, we identified biallelic variants of the COA7 gene in another three unrelated patients, and the variants were c.17A > G (p.D6G), c.115C > T (p.R39W), and c.449G > A (p.C150Y; novel). Patient 1 presented with an infantile-onset generalized dystonia without cerebellar ataxia. Despite experiencing an initial transient positive response to levodopa and deep brain stimulation, he became bedridden by the age of 19. Patient 2 presented with cerebellar ataxia, neuropathy, as well as parkinsonism, and showed a slight improvement upon levodopa administration. Dopamine transporter SPECT showed decreased uptake in the bilateral putamen in both patients. Patient 3 exhibited severe muscle weakness, respiratory failure, and feeding difficulties. A haplotype analysis of the mutation hotspot in Japan, c.17A > G (p.D6G), uncovered a common haplotype block. CONCLUSION: COA7-related disorders typically encompass a spectrum of conditions characterized by a variety of major (cerebellar ataxia and axonal polyneuropathy) and minor (leukoencephalopathy, dystonia, and parkinsonism) symptoms, but may also display a dystonia-predominant phenotype. We propose that COA7 should be considered as a new causative gene for infancy-onset generalized dystonia, and COA7 gene screening is recommended for patients with unexplained dysfunctions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Clinical phenotypic diversity of NOTCH2NLC-related disease in the largest case series of inherited peripheral neuropathy in Japan.

BACKGROUND: NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansions have been associated with various neurogenerative disorders, including neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease and inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs). However, only a few NOTCH2NLC-related disease studies in IPN have been reported, and the clinical and genetic spectra remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to describe the clinical and genetic manifestations of NOTCH2NLC-related IPNs. METHOD: Among 2692 Japanese patients clinically diagnosed with IPN/Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), we analysed NOTCH2NLC repeat expansion in 1783 unrelated patients without a genetic diagnosis. Screening and repeat size determination of NOTCH2NLC repeat expansion were performed using repeat-primed PCR and fluorescence amplicon length analysis-PCR. RESULTS: NOTCH2NLC repeat expansions were identified in 26 cases of IPN/CMT from 22 unrelated families. The mean median motor nerve conduction velocity was 41 m/s (range, 30.8-59.4), and 18 cases (69%) were classified as intermediate CMT. The mean age of onset was 32.7 (range, 7-61) years. In addition to motor sensory neuropathy symptoms, dysautonomia and involuntary movements were common (44% and 29%). Furthermore, the correlation between the age of onset or clinical symptoms and the repeat size remains unclear. CONCLUSIONS: These findings of this study help us understand the clinical heterogeneity of NOTCH2NLC-related disease, such as non-length-dependent motor dominant phenotype and prominent autonomic involvement. This study also emphasise the importance of genetic screening, regardless of the age of onset and type of CMT, particularly in patients of Asian origin, presenting with intermediate conduction velocities and dysautonomia.

Genetic and clinical features of cerebellar ataxia with RFC1 biallelic repeat expansions in Japan.

The recessive intronic pentanucleotide repeat AAGGG expansion of replication factor complex subunit 1 (RFC1) is associated with cerebellar ataxia, sensory neuropathy, and vestibular areflexia syndrome. And the clinical spectrum has been continuously expanding. We conducted this study to demonstrate the clinical and genetic features of a large-scale case series of Japanese patients with cerebellar ataxia with RFC1 repeat expansions. We examined 1,289 Japanese patients with cerebellar ataxia and analyzed RFC1 repeat expansions in 840 patients, excluding those with genetic diagnoses or an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. For individuals where no product was obtained by flanking polymerase chain reaction (PCR), repeat-primed PCR was performed using primers specific for the following four repeat motifs: AAAAG, AAAGG, AAGGG, and ACAGG. RFC1 analysis revealed multitype biallelic pathogenic repeat expansions in 15 patients, including (AAGGG)exp/(AAGGG)exp in seven patients, (ACAGG)exp/(ACAGG)exp in three patients, (AAGGG)exp/(ACAGG)exp in four patients, and (AAGGG)exp/(AAAGG)15(AAGGG)exp in one patient. Clinical analysis showed various combinations of cerebellar ataxia, vestibular dysfunction, neuropathy, cognitive decline, autonomic dysfunction, chronic cough, pyramidal tract disorder, parkinsonism, involuntary movement, and muscle fasciculation. Pathological RFC1 repeat expansions account for 1.8% (15/840) of undiagnosed patients with cerebellar ataxia and sporadic/recessive/unclassified inheritance. Screening of RFC1 repeat expansions should be considered in patients with cerebellar ataxia, irrespective of their subtype and onset age.

Comprehensive Genetic Analyses of Inherited Peripheral Neuropathies in Japan: Making Early Diagnosis Possible.

Various genomic variants were linked to inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPNs), including large duplication/deletion and repeat expansion, making genetic diagnosis challenging. This large case series aimed to identify the genetic characteristics of Japanese patients with IPNs. We collected data on 2695 IPN cases throughout Japan, in which PMP22 copy number variation (CNV) was pre-excluded. Genetic analyses were performed using DNA microarrays, next-generation sequencing-based gene panel sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, CNV analysis, and RFC1 repeat expansion analysis. The overall diagnostic rate and the genetic spectrum of patients were summarized. We identified 909 cases with suspected IPNs, pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. The most common causative genes were MFN2, GJB1, MPZ, and MME. MFN2 was the most common cause for early-onset patients, whereas GJB1 and MPZ were the leading causes of middle-onset and late-onset patients, respectively. Meanwhile, GJB1 and MFN2 were leading causes for demyelinating and axonal subtypes, respectively. Additionally, we identified CNVs in MPZ and GJB1 genes and RFC1 repeat expansions. Comprehensive genetic analyses explicitly demonstrated the genetic basis of our IPN case series. A further understanding of the clinical characteristics of IPN and genetic spectrum would assist in developing efficient genetic testing strategies and facilitate early diagnosis.

[Right optic perineuritis and myelitis 6 years following left optic perineuritis in anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated disorder: a case report].

We report a patient with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibody positivity who manifested myelitis with right optic perineuritis (OPN) 6 years following left OPN. A 45-year-old man treated 6 years previously for left OPN developed ascending numbness in both legs, urinary dysfunctions, and constipation. Neurologic examination disclosed bilateral hypesthesia extending downward over the chest from the T8 level. No motor weakness was evident. Visual field testing showed dense peripheral constriction with intact central vision on the right and a smaller superior scotoma on the left. Visual acuity and funduscopic findings were normal. Results of routine serologic investigations and autoimmune antibody titers, including those of anti-aquaporin 4 antibody, were within normal limits, except that both serum and cerebrospinal fluid were positive for anti-MOG antibody. MRI displayed a longitudinal cord lesion extending from T2 to T9, as well as optic nerve sheath enhancement characteristic of OPN. The patient was diagnosed with myelitis in addition to OPN, both resulting from MOG antibody-associated demyelination. Patients with myelitis, require careful assessment of visual acuity and visual fields to detect possible accompanying OPN and ON. We suspect that OPN in some other patients may likewise be caused by anti-MOG antibody.

PLA2G6 variants associated with the number of affected alleles in Parkinson's disease in Japan.

This study aimed to evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with phospholipase A2 group V (PLA2G6) variants. We analyzed the DNA of 798 patients with PD, including 78 PD patients reported previously, and 336 in-house controls. We screened the exons and exon-intron boundaries of PLA2G6 using the Ion Torrent system and Sanger method. We identified 21 patients with 18 rare variants, such that 1, 9, and 11 patients were homozygous, heterozygous, and compound heterozygous, respectively, with respect to PLA2G6 variants. The allele frequency was approximately equal between patients with familial PD and those with sporadic PD. The PLA2G6 variants detected frequently were identified in the early-onset sporadic PD group. Patients who were homozygous for a variant showed more severe symptoms than those who were heterozygous for the variant. The most common variant was p.R635Q in our cohort, which was considered a risk variant for PD. Thus, the variants of PLA2G6 may play a role in familial PD and early-onset sporadic PD.