Giacomo Brisca

Novel dynein DYNC1H1 neck and motor domain mutations link distal spinal muscular atrophy and abnormal cortical development

DYNC1H1 encodes the heavy chain of cytoplasmic dynein 1, a motor protein complex implicated in retrograde axonal transport, neuronal migration, and other intracellular motility functions. Mutations in DYNC1H1 have been described in autosomal‐dominant Charcot–Marie–Tooth type 2 and in families with distal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) predominantly affecting the legs (SMA‐LED). Recently, defects of cytoplasmic dynein 1 were also associated with a form of mental retardation and neuronal migration disorders. Here, we describe two unrelated patients presenting a combined phenotype of congenital motor neuron disease associated with focal areas of cortical malformation. In each patient, we identified a novel de novo mutation in DYNC1H1: c.3581A>G (p.Gln1194Arg) in one case and c.9142G>A (p.Glu3048Lys) in the other. The mutations lie in different domains of the dynein heavy chain, and are deleterious to protein function as indicated by assays for Golgi recovery after nocodazole washout in patient fibroblasts. Our results expand the set of pathological mutations in DYNC1H1, reinforce the role of cytoplasmic dynein in disorders of neuronal migration, and provide evidence for a syndrome including spinal nerve degeneration and brain developmental problems.

Clinical expression of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy in carriers of 1-3 D4Z4 reduced alleles: Experience of the FSHD Italian National Registry

Objectives Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy type 1 (FSHD1) has been genetically linked to reduced numbers (≤8) of D4Z4 repeats at 4q35. Particularly severe FSHD cases, characterised by an infantile onset and presence of additional extra-muscular features, have been associated with the shortest D4Z4 reduced alleles with 1–3 repeats (1–3 DRA). We searched for signs of perinatal onset and evaluated disease outcome through the systematic collection of clinical and anamnestic records of de novo and familial index cases and their relatives, carrying 1–3 DRA. Setting Italy. Participants 66 index cases and 33 relatives carrying 1–3 DRA. Outcomes The clinical examination was performed using the standardised FSHD evaluation form with validated inter-rater reliability. To investigate the earliest signs of disease, we designed the Infantile Anamnestic Questionnaire (IAQ). Comparison of age at onset was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum or Kruskal-Wallis test. Comparison of the FSHD score was performed using a general linear model and Wald test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to estimate the age-specific cumulative motor impairment risk. Results No patients had perinatal onset. Among index cases, 36 (54.5%) showed the first signs by 10 years of age. The large majority of patients with early disease onset (26 out of 36, 72.2%) were de novo; whereas the majority of patients with disease onset after 10 years of age were familial (16, 53.3%). Comparison of the disease severity outcome between index cases with age at onset before and over 10 years of age, failed to detect statistical significance (Wald test p value=0.064). Of 61 index cases, only 17 (27.9%) presented extra-muscular conditions. Relatives carrying 1–3 DRA showed a large clinical variability ranging from healthy subjects, to patients with severe motor impairment. Conclusions The size of the D4Z4 allele is not always predictive of severe clinical outcome. The high degree of clinical variability suggests that additional factors contribute to the phenotype complexity.

Subclinical myopathy in a child with neutral lipid storage disease and mutations in the PNPLA2 gene.

We report a 14-year-old-boy with markedly elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) levels, in whom massive triglyceride storage was found in peripheral blood leukocytes and in muscle biopsy. Sequencing PNPLA2, the gene encoding the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and responsible for the neutral lipid storage disease with myopathy (NLSDM), we identified two heterozygous mutations, including a previously reported nonsense and a novel missense mutation in the patatin domain of the gene. Lipid storage myopathy can be clinically silent in childhood and presenting only with hyperCKemia.

TRPV4 mutations in children with congenital distal spinal muscular atrophy

Inherited disorders characterized by motor neuron loss and muscle weakness are genetically heterogeneous. The recent identification of mutations in the gene encoding transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) in distal spinal muscular atrophy (dSMA) prompted us to screen for TRPV4 mutations in a small group of children with compatible phenotype. In a girl with dSMA and vocal cord paralysis, we detected a new variant (p.P97R) localized in the cytosolic N-terminus of the TRPV4 protein, upstream of the ankyrin-repeat domain, where the great majority of disease-associated mutations reside. In another child with congenital dSMA, in this case associated with bone abnormalities, we detected a previously reported mutation (p.R232C). Functional analysis of the novel p.P97R mutation in a heterologous system demonstrated a loss-of-function mechanism. Protein localization studies in muscle, skin, and cultured skin fibroblasts from both patients showed normal protein expression. No TRPV4 mutations were detected in four children with dSMA without bone or vocal cord involvement. Adding to the clinical and molecular heterogeneity of TRPV4-associated diseases, our results suggest that molecular testing of the TRPV4 gene is warranted in cases of congenital dSMA with bone abnormalities and vocal cord paralysis.

Muscle MRI in TRPV4-related congenital distal SMA

A 2-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl showing marked weakness in proximal and distal muscles, atrophy of distal legs, and clubfoot were investigated for congenital spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) as suggested by EMG and muscle biopsy. Both children, who had normal SMN1 gene testing, harbored mutations (p.P97R; p.R232C) in TRPV4 .1 MRI of muscle showed similar severe changes preserving biceps femoris in the lateral compartment …

MYH7-related myopathies: clinical, histopathological and imaging findings in a cohort of Italian patients.

BackgroundMyosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7)-related myopathies are emerging as an important group of muscle diseases of childhood and adulthood, with variable clinical and histopathological expression depending on the type and location of the mutation. Mutations in the head and neck domains are a well-established cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy whereas mutation in the distal regions have been associated with a range of skeletal myopathies with or without cardiac involvement, including Laing distal myopathy and Myosin storage myopathy. Recently the spectrum of clinical phenotypes associated with mutations in MYH7 has increased, blurring this scheme and adding further phenotypes to the list. A broader disease spectrum could lead to misdiagnosis of different congenital myopathies, neurogenic atrophy and other neuromuscular conditions.ResultsAs a result of a multicenter Italian study we collected clinical, histopathological and imaging data from a population of 21 cases from 15 families, carrying reported or novel mutations in MYH7. Patients displayed a variable phenotype including atypical pictures, as dropped head and bent spine, which cannot be classified in previously described groups. Half of the patients showed congenital or early infantile weakness with predominant distal weakness. Conversely, patients with later onset present prevalent proximal weakness. Seven patients were also affected by cardiomyopathy mostly in the form of non-compacted left ventricle. Muscle biopsy was consistent with minicores myopathy in numerous cases. Muscle MRI was meaningful in delineating a shared pattern of selective involvement of tibialis anterior muscles, with relative sparing of quadriceps.ConclusionThis work adds to the genotype-phenotype correlation of MYH7-relatedmyopathies confirming the complexity of the disorder.

Early onset cardiomyopathy associated with the mitochondrial tRNALeu((UUR)) 3271T>C MELAS mutation.

Mitochondrial disorders are a heterogeneous group of diseases sharing a defect of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Point mutations in the mitochondrial DNA are a common cause of mitochondrial disorders and frequently affect the sequences encoding mitochondrial transfer RNAs. The m.3271T>C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) is traditionally reported in patients with clinical features of the mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) syndrome and in mitochondrial diabetes. Here we describe the clinical, pathological, and molecular features of an Italian child and his asymptomatic mother, carrying the m.3271T>C mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Leu(UUR)) gene, in association with an unusual clinical phenotype dominated by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and provide review literature of cases with this mutation. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports describing the association of this mutation with cardiomyopathy, and our cases suggest that the m.3271T>C mutation has to be taken into account in the diagnostic approach of maternally inherited cardiomyopathies.

Beyond spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity dominance: cerebellar hypoplasia associated with a novel mutation in BICD2

Beyond spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity dominance: cerebellar hypoplasia associated with a novel mutation in BICD2 C. Fiorillo, F. Moro, G. Brisca, A. Accogli, F. Trucco, R. Trovato, M. Pedemonte, M. Severino, M. Catala, V. Capra, F. M. Santorelli, C. Bruno, A. Rossi and C. Minetti Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Stella Maris Foundation, Pisa; Center of Myology and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa; Neurosurgery Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa; Paediatric Neurology and Muscle Disease Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa; Paediatric Neuroradiology Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; and F ed eration de Neurologie, Groupe Hospitalier Piti e-Salpêtri ere, and UMR 7622 UPMC and CNRS, Universit e Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France

Respiratory pattern in a FSHD pediatric population

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder characterized by selective weakness of face and upper arms and girdle. Respiratory involvement in FSHD has been described mainly in the most severely affected patients. In this work we tested the respiratory function by spirometry in 12 patients affected by FSHD with onset before 18 years. Spirometry results were correlated with motor involvement and compared to aged matched group of Becker patients. Of note FSHD patients present a peculiar pattern characterized by a flat shape in flow-volume loop. Respiratory volumes correlate with clinical severity and expiratory phase is specifically affected in comparison to other muscular dystrophies.

Reading impairment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A pilot study to investigate similarities and differences with developmental dyslexia

Below-average reading performances have been reported in individuals with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but literacy problems in these subjects have yet to be characterized. In this study, the presence and characteristics of literacy deficits in boys with DMD were investigated through a comparison with typically developing children and with children affected by developmental dyslexia, with the aim of clarifying whether DMD and developmental dyslexia have overlapping profiles of literacy deficits and whether these deficits are associated, as in children with dyslexia, with impairments in phonological processing and rapid lexical access. The results confirmed the high incidence of literacy problems in boys with DMD and revealed a profile less severe than, but qualitatively similar to, that of Italian children with developmental dyslexia. Both groups showed specific difficulties in reading and writing words and a reduced rapid automatized naming (RAN) speed. This is the first time that a RAN speed deficit has been documented in DMD. Moreover, the boys with DMD and the subgroup of dyslexic children with a previous language delay showed additional deficits in phonological processing. The impairments highlighted in this study could explain the reading difficulties observed in boys with DMD and suggest that there is a need for targeted preschool interventions.