Novel SCN3A variants associated with focal epilepsy in children.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Vanoye CG
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3877720 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:IntroductionIdiopathic focal epilepsy (IFE) is a group of self-limited epilepsies. The etiology for the majority of the patients with IFE remains elusive. We thus screened disease-causing variants in the patients with IFE.MethodsWhole-exome sequencing was performed in a cohort of 323 patients with IFE. Protein modeling was performed to predict the effects of missense variants. The genotype-phenotype correlation of the newly defined causative gene was analyzed.ResultsFour novel heterozygous variants in PGM3, including two de novo variants, were identified in four unrelated individuals with IFE. The variants included one truncating variant (c.1432C > T/p.Q478X) and three missense variants (c.478C > T/p.P160S, c.1239C > G/p.N413K, and c.1659T > A/p.N553K), which had no allele frequency in the gnomAD database. The missense variants were predicted to be damaging and affect hydrogen bonds with surrounding amino acids. Mutations Q478X, P160S, and N413K were associated with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal electroencephalograph (EEG) spikes. P160S and N413K were located in the inner side of the enzyme active center. Mutation N553K was associated with benign occipital epilepsy with incomplete penetrance, located in the C-terminal of Domain 4. Further analysis demonstrated that previously reported biallelic PGM3 mutations were associated with severe immunodeficiency and/or congenital disorder of glycosylation, commonly accompanied by neurodevelopmental abnormalities, while monoallelic mutations were associated with milder symptoms like IFE.ConclusionThe genetic and molecular evidence from the present study implies that the PGM3 variants identified in IFE patients lead to defects of the PGM3 gene, suggesting that the PGM3 gene is potentially associated with epilepsy. The genotype-phenotype relationship of PGM3 mutations suggested a quantitative correlation between genetic impairment and phenotypic severity, which helps explain the mild symptoms and incomplete penetrance in individuals with IFE.
| S-EPMC7597759 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundEarly surgical intervention in children with drug resistant epilepsy has benefits but requires using tolerable and minimally invasive tests. EEG-fMRI studies have demonstrated good sensitivity for the localization of epileptic focus but a poor yield although the reasons for this have not been systematically addressed. While adults EEG-fMRI studies are performed in the "resting state"; children are commonly sedated however, this has associated risks and potential confounds. In this study, we assessed the impact of the following factors on the tolerability and results of EEG-fMRI in children: viewing a movie inside the scanner; movement; occurrence of interictal epileptiform discharges (IED); scan duration and design efficiency. This work's motivation is to optimize EEG-fMRI parameters to make this test widely available to paediatric population.MethodsForty-six children with focal epilepsy and 20 controls (6-18) underwent EEG-fMRI. For two 10 minutes sessions subjects were told to lie still with eyes closed, as it is classically performed in adult studies ("rest sessions"), for another two sessions, subjects watched a child friendly stimulation i.e. movie ("movie sessions"). IED were mapped with EEG-fMRI for each session and across sessions. The resulting maps were classified as concordant/discordant with the presumed epileptogenic focus for each subject.FindingsMovement increased with scan duration, but the movie reduced movement by ~40% when played within the first 20 minutes. There was no effect of movie on the occurrence of IED, nor in the concordance of the test. Ability of EEG-fMRI to map the epileptogenic region was similar for the 20 and 40 minute scan durations. Design efficiency was predictive of concordance.ConclusionsA child friendly natural stimulus improves the tolerability of EEG-fMRI and reduces in-scanner movement without having an effect on IED occurrence and quality of EEG-fMRI maps. This allowed us to scan children as young as 6 and obtain localising information without sedation. Our data suggest that ~20 minutes is the optimal length of scanning for EEG-fMRI studies in children with frequent IED. The efficiency of the fMRI design derived from spontaneous IED generation is an important factor for producing concordant results.
| S-EPMC4752259 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels expressed highly in the brain (SCN1A, SCN2A, SCN3A, and SCN8A) are responsible for an increasing number of epilepsy syndromes. In particular, mutations in the SCN3A gene, encoding the pore-forming Nav1.3 ? subunit, have been identified in patients with focal epilepsy. Biophysical characterization of epilepsy-associated SCN3A variants suggests that both gain- and loss-of-function SCN3A mutations may lead to increased seizure susceptibility. In this report, we identified a novel SCN3A variant (L247P) by whole exome sequencing of a child with focal epilepsy, developmental delay, and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Voltage clamp analysis showed no detectable sodium current in a heterologous expression system expressing the SCN3A-L247P variant. Furthermore, cell surface biotinylation demonstrated a reduction in the amount of SCN3A-L247P at the cell surface, suggesting the SCN3A-L247P variant is a trafficking-deficient mutant. To further explore the possible clinical consequences of reduced SCN3A activity, we investigated the effect of a hypomorphic Scn3a allele (Scn3aHyp) on seizure susceptibility and behavior using a gene trap mouse line. Heterozygous Scn3a mutant mice (Scn3a+/Hyp) did not exhibit spontaneous seizures nor were they susceptible to hyperthermia-induced seizures. However, they displayed increased susceptibility to electroconvulsive (6Hz) and chemiconvulsive (flurothyl and kainic acid) induced seizures. Scn3a+/Hyp mice also exhibited deficits in locomotor activity and motor learning. Taken together, these results provide evidence that loss-of-function of SCN3A caused by reduced protein expression or deficient trafficking to the plasma membrane may contribute to increased seizure susceptibility.
| S-EPMC5446790 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Mutations in the sodium channel genes SCN1A and SCN2A have been identified in monogenic childhood epilepsies, but SCN3A has not previously been investigated as a candidate gene for epilepsy. We screened a consecutive cohort of 18 children with cryptogenic partial epilepsy that was classified as pharmacoresistant because of nonresponse to carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine, antiepileptic drugs that bind sodium channels. The novel coding variant SCN3A-K354Q was identified in one patient and was not present in 295 neurological normal controls. Twelve novel SNPs were also detected. K354Q substitutes glutamine for an evolutionarily conserved lysine residue in the pore domain of SCN3A. Functional analysis of this mutation in the backbone of the closely related gene SCN5A demonstrated an increase in persistent current that is similar in magnitude to epileptogenic mutations of SCN1A and SCN2A. This observation of a potentially pathogenic mutation of SCN3A (Nav1.3) indicates that this gene should be further evaluated for its contribution to childhood epilepsy.
| S-EPMC2423278 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We identified diffuse lesions made of BRAF V600E-mutant CD34-immunopositive stellar cells in human samples resected to cure drug-resistant focal epilepsy. We performed single-nuclei RNAseq 5' 10X on three human brain samples (two BRAF mutant samples and one BRAF wildtype sample as control) in order to identify the molecular phenotype of CD34+ cells.
2024-03-03 | GSE226815 | GEO
Project description:A healthy patient presented to Klinikum Altmühlfranken Weißenburg Hospital, Germany, with two morning attacks of painful muscle spasm in the left upper and lower limbs, without altered consciousness. Full examinations, radiological imaging, electroencephalography, lumbar puncture, and autoimmune profile were either normal or not consistent with patient's complaint. Subsequent epileptic episodes were observed on admission day and the following days; thus, the patient was diagnosed with focal epilepsy. The patient started to develop a fever and severe cough on day 4, and SARS-coronavirus-2 was confirmed through a nasopharyngeal swap. She received anticonvulsants and symptomatic treatments and completely recovered. This report emphasizes the potential nervous system involvement in severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pathogenesis.
| S-EPMC7300744 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Network control theory provides a framework by which neurophysiological dynamics of the brain can be modelled as a function of the structural connectome constructed from diffusion MRI. Average controllability describes the ability of a region to drive the brain to easy-to-reach neurophysiological states whilst modal controllability describes the ability of a region to drive the brain to difficult-to-reach states. In this study, we identify increases in mean average and modal controllability in children with drug-resistant epilepsy compared to healthy controls. Using simulations, we purport that these changes may be a result of increased thalamocortical connectivity. At the node level, we demonstrate decreased modal controllability in the thalamus and posterior cingulate regions. In those undergoing resective surgery, we also demonstrate increased modal controllability of the resected parcels, a finding specific to patients who were rendered seizure free following surgery. Changes in controllability are a manifestation of brain network dysfunction in epilepsy and may be a useful construct to understand the pathophysiology of this archetypical network disease. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these controllability changes may also facilitate the design of network-focussed interventions that seek to normalise network structure and function.
| S-EPMC9050895 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Reorganization of eloquent cortex enables rescue of language functions in patients who sustain brain injury. Individuals with left-sided, early-onset focal epilepsy often show atypical (i.e. bilateral or right-sided) language dominance. Surprisingly, many patients fail to show such interhemispheric shift of language despite having major epileptogenic lesions in close proximity to eloquent cortex. Although a number of epilepsy-related factors may promote interhemispheric plasticity, it has remained unexplored if neuroanatomical asymmetries linked to human language dominance modify the likelihood of atypical lateralization. Here we examined the asymmetry of the planum temporale, one of the most striking asymmetries in the human brain, in relation to language lateralization in children with left-sided focal epilepsy. Language functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 51 children with focal epilepsy and left-sided lesions and 36 healthy control subjects. We examined the association of language laterality with a range of potential clinical predictors and the asymmetry of the length of the planum temporale. Using voxel-based methods, we sought to determine the effect of lesion location (in the affected left hemisphere) and grey matter density (in the unaffected right hemisphere) on language laterality. Atypical language lateralization was observed in 19 patients (38%) and in four controls (11%). Language laterality was increasingly right-sided in patients who showed atypical handedness, a left perisylvian ictal electroencephalographic focus, and a lesion in left anterior superior temporal or inferior frontal regions. Most striking was the relationship between rightward asymmetry of the planum temporale and atypical language (R = 0.70, P < 0.0001); patients with a longer planum temporale in the right (unaffected) hemisphere were more likely to have atypical language dominance. Voxel-based regression analysis confirmed that increased grey matter density in the right temporo-parietal junction was correlated with right hemisphere lateralization of language. The length of the planum temporale in the right hemisphere was the main predictor of language lateralization in the epilepsy group, accounting for 48% of variance, with handedness accounting for only a further 5%. There was no correlation between language lateralization and planum temporale asymmetry in the control group. We conclude that asymmetry of the planum temporale may be unrelated to language lateralization in healthy individuals, but the size of the right, contra-lesional planum temporale region may reflect a 'reserve capacity' for interhemispheric language reorganization in the presence of a seizure focus and lesions within left perisylvian regions.
| S-EPMC4038779 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ObjectiveResistance to antiseizure medications (ASMs) is one of the major concerns in the treatment of epilepsy. Despite the increasing number of ASMs available, the proportion of individuals with drug-resistant epilepsy remains unchanged. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of rare genetic variants in ASM resistance.MethodsWe performed exome sequencing of 1,128 individuals with non-familial non-acquired focal epilepsy (NAFE) (762 non-responders, 366 responders) and were provided with 1,734 healthy controls. We undertook replication in a cohort of 350 individuals with NAFE (165 non-responders, 185 responders). We performed gene-based and gene-set-based kernel association tests to investigate potential enrichment of rare variants in relation to drug response status and to risk for NAFE.ResultsWe found no gene or gene set that reached genome-wide significance. Yet, we identified several prospective candidate genes - among them DEPDC5, which showed a potential association with resistance to ASMs. We found some evidence for an enrichment of truncating variants in dominant familial NAFE genes in our cohort of non-familial NAFE and in association with drug-resistant NAFE.InterpretationOur study identifies potential candidate genes for ASM resistance. Our results corroborate the role of rare variants for non-familial NAFE and imply their involvement in drug-resistant epilepsy. Future large-scale genetic research studies are needed to substantiate these findings.
| S-EPMC8283173 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPathogenic mutations in the non-muscle single-headed myosin, myosin 1E (Myo1e), are a rare cause of pediatric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). These mutations are biallelic, to date only reported as homozygous variants in consanguineous families. Myo1e regulates the actin cytoskeleton dynamics and cell adhesion, which are especially important for podocyte functions.MethodsDNA and RNA sequencing were used to identify novel MYO1E variants associated with FSGS. We studied the effects of these variants on the localization of Myo1e in kidney sections. We then analyzed the clinical and histological observations of all known pathogenic MYO1E variants.ResultsWe identified a patient compound heterozygote for two novel variants in MYO1E and a patient homozygous for a deletion of exon 19. Computer modeling predicted these variants to be disruptive. In both patients, Myo1e was mislocalized. As a rule, pathogenic MYO1E variants map to the Myo1e motor and neck domain and are most often associated with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in children 1-11 years of age, leading to kidney failure in 4-10 years in a subset of patients. The ultrastructural features are the podocyte damage and striking diffuse and global Alport-like glomerular basement membrane (GBM) abnormalities.ConclusionsWe hypothesize that MYO1E mutations lead to disruption of the function of podocyte contractile actin cables resulting in abnormalities of the podocytes and the GBM and dysfunction of the glomerular filtration barrier. The characteristic clinicopathological data can help to tentatively differentiate this condition from other genetic podocytopathies and Alport syndrome until genetic testing is done. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.
| S-EPMC10506584 | biostudies-literature