Chihiro Ohba

Somatic Mutations in the MTOR gene cause focal cortical dysplasia type IIb

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type IIb is a cortical malformation characterized by cortical architectural abnormalities, dysmorphic neurons, and balloon cells. It has been suggested that FCDs are caused by somatic mutations in cells in the developing brain. Here, we explore the possible involvement of somatic mutations in FCD type IIb.

Early onset epileptic encephalopathy caused by de novo SCN8A mutations.

De novo SCN8A mutations have been reported in patients with epileptic encephalopathy. Herein we report seven patients with de novo heterozygous SCN8A mutations, which were found in our comprehensive genetic analysis (target capture or whole‐exome sequencing) for early onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs).

PIGA mutations cause early-onset epileptic encephalopathies and distinctive features

Objective: To investigate the clinical spectrum caused by mutations in PIGA at Xp22.2, which is involved in the biosynthesis of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, among patients with early-onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs). Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed as a comprehensive genetic analysis for a cohort of 172 patients with EOEEs including early myoclonic encephalopathy, Ohtahara syndrome, and West syndrome, and PIGA mutations were carefully investigated. Results: We identified 4 PIGA mutations in probands showing early myoclonic encephalopathy, West syndrome, or unclassified EOEE. Flow cytometry of blood granulocytes from patients demonstrated reduced expression of GPI-anchored proteins. Expression of GPI-anchored proteins in PIGA-deficient JY5 cells was only partially or hardly restored by transient expression of PIGA mutants with a weak TATA box promoter, indicating a variable loss of PIGA activity. The phenotypic consequences of PIGA mutations can be classified into 2 types, severe and less severe, which correlate with the degree of PIGA activity reduction caused by the mutations. Severe forms involved myoclonus and asymmetrical suppression bursts on EEG, multiple anomalies with a dysmorphic face, and delayed myelination with restricted diffusion patterns in specific areas. The less severe form presented with intellectual disability and treatable seizures without facial dysmorphism. Conclusions: Our study confirmed that PIGA mutations are one genetic cause of EOEE, suggesting that GPI-anchor deficiencies may be an underlying cause of EOEE.

PIGN mutations cause congenital anomalies, developmental delay, hypotonia, epilepsy, and progressive cerebellar atrophy

Defects of the human glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor biosynthetic pathway show a broad range of clinical phenotypes. A homozygous mutation in PIGN, a member of genes involved in the GPI anchor-synthesis pathway, was previously reported to cause dysmorphic features, multiple congenital anomalies, severe neurological impairment, and seizure in a consanguineous family. Here, we report two affected siblings with compound heterozygous PIGN mutations [c.808T >C (p.Ser270Pro) and c.963G >A] showing congenital anomalies, developmental delay, hypotonia, epilepsy, and progressive cerebellar atrophy. The c.808C >T mutation altered an evolutionarily conserved amino acid residue (Ser270), while reverse transcription-PCR and sequencing demonstrated that c.963G >A led to aberrant splicing, in which two mutant transcripts with premature stop codons (p.Ala322Valfs*24 and p.Glu308Glyfs*2) were generated. Expression of GPI-anchored proteins such as CD16 and CD24 on granulocytes from affected siblings was significantly decreased, and expression of the GPI-anchored protein CD59 in PIGN-knockout human embryonic kidney 293 cells was partially or hardly restored by transient expression of p.Ser270Pro and p.Glu308Glyfs*2 mutants, respectively, suggesting severe and complete loss of PIGN activity. Our findings confirm that developmental delay, hypotonia, and epilepsy combined with congenital anomalies are common phenotypes of PIGN mutations and add progressive cerebellar atrophy to this clinical spectrum.

GRIN1 mutations cause encephalopathy with infantile-onset epilepsy, and hyperkinetic and stereotyped movement disorders.

Recently, de novo mutations in GRIN1 have been identified in patients with nonsyndromic intellectual disability and epileptic encephalopathy. Whole exome sequencing (WES) analysis of patients with genetically unsolved epileptic encephalopathies identified four patients with GRIN1 mutations, allowing us to investigate the phenotypic spectrum of GRIN1 mutations.

De novo KCNT1 mutations in early-onset epileptic encephalopathy

KCNT1 mutations have been found in epilepsy of infancy with migrating focal seizures (EIMFS; also known as migrating partial seizures in infancy), autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, and other types of early onset epileptic encephalopathies (EOEEs). We performed KCNT1‐targeted next‐generation sequencing (207 samples) and/or whole‐exome sequencing (229 samples) in a total of 362 patients with Ohtahara syndrome, West syndrome, EIMFS, or unclassified EOEEs. We identified nine heterozygous KCNT1 mutations in 11 patients: nine of 18 EIMFS cases (50%) in whom migrating foci were observed, one of 180 West syndrome cases (0.56%), and one of 66 unclassified EOEE cases (1.52%). KCNT1 mutations occurred de novo in 10 patients, and one was transmitted from the patients mother who carried a somatic mosaic mutation. The mutations accumulated in transmembrane segment 5 (2/9, 22.2%) and regulators of K+ conductance domains (7/9, 77.8%). Five of nine mutations were recurrent. Onset ages ranged from the neonatal period (<1 month) in five patients (5/11, 45.5%) to 1–4 months in six patients (6/11, 54.5%). A generalized attenuation of background activity on electroencephalography was seen in six patients (6/11, 54.5%). Our study demonstrates that the phenotypic spectrum of de novo KCNT1 mutations is largely restricted to EIMFS.

Sporadic infantile-onset spinocerebellar ataxia caused by missense mutations of the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 1 gene

Mutations in the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor type 1 gene (ITPR1) have been identified in families with early-onset spinocerebellar ataxia type 29 (SCA29) and late-onset SCA15, but have not been found in sporadic infantile-onset cerebellar ataxia. We examined if mutations of ITPR1 are also involved in sporadic infantile-onset SCA. Sixty patients with childhood-onset cerebellar atrophy of unknown etiology and their families were examined by whole-exome sequencing. We found de novo heterozygous ITPR1 missense mutations in four unrelated patients with sporadic infantile-onset, nonprogressive cerebellar ataxia. Patients displayed nystagmus, tremor, and hypotonia from very early infancy. Nonprogressive ataxia, motor delay, and mild cognitive deficits were common clinical findings. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed slowly progressive cerebellar atrophy. ITPR1 missense mutations cause infantile-onset cerebellar ataxia. ITPR1-related SCA includes sporadic infantile-onset cerebellar ataxia as well as SCA15 and SCA29.

De Novo KCNB1 Mutations in Infantile Epilepsy Inhibit Repetitive Neuronal Firing.

The voltage-gated Kv2.1 potassium channel encoded by KCNB1 produces the major delayed rectifier potassium current in pyramidal neurons. Recently, de novo heterozygous missense KCNB1 mutations have been identified in three patients with epileptic encephalopathy and a patient with neurodevelopmental disorder. However, the frequency of KCNB1 mutations in infantile epileptic patients and their effects on neuronal activity are yet unknown. We searched whole exome sequencing data of a total of 437 patients with infantile epilepsy, and found novel de novo heterozygous missense KCNB1 mutations in two patients showing psychomotor developmental delay and severe infantile generalized seizures with high-amplitude spike-and-wave electroencephalogram discharges. The mutation located in the channel voltage sensor (p.R306C) disrupted sensitivity and cooperativity of the sensor, while the mutation in the channel pore domain (p.G401R) selectively abolished endogenous Kv2 currents in transfected pyramidal neurons, indicating a dominant-negative effect. Both mutants inhibited repetitive neuronal firing through preventing production of deep interspike voltages. Thus KCNB1 mutations can be a rare genetic cause of infantile epilepsy, and insufficient firing of pyramidal neurons would disturb both development and stability of neuronal circuits, leading to the disease phenotypes.

De novo GABRA1 mutations in Ohtahara and West syndromes

GABRA1 mutations have been identified in patients with familial juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, sporadic childhood absence epilepsy, and idiopathic familial generalized epilepsy. In addition, de novo GABRA1 mutations were recently reported in a patient with infantile spasms and four patients with Dravet syndrome. Those reports suggest that GABRA1 mutations are associated with infantile epilepsy including early onset epileptic encephalopathies. In this study, we searched for GABRA1 mutations in patients with infantile epilepsy to investigate the phenotypic spectrum of GABRA1 mutations.

De novo WDR45 mutation in a patient showing clinically Rett syndrome with childhood iron deposition in brain.

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder mostly caused by MECP2 mutations. We identified a de novo WDR45 mutation, which caused a subtype of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, in a patient showing clinically typical RTT. The mutation (c.830+1G>A) led to aberrant splicing in lymphoblastoid cells. Sequential brain magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated that iron deposition in the globus pallidus and the substantia nigra was observed as early as at 11 years of age. Because the patient showed four of the main RTT diagnostic criteria, WDR45 should be investigated in patients with RTT without MECP2 mutations.