Marie-Laure Moutard

Benign hereditary chorea: phenotype, prognosis, therapeutic outcome and long term follow-up in a large series with new mutations in the TITF1/NKX2-1 gene

Background Benign hereditary chorea (BHC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterised by childhood onset that tends to improve in adulthood. The associated gene, NKX2-1 (previously called TITF1), is essential for organogenesis of the basal ganglia, thyroid and lungs. The aim of the study was to refine the movement disorders phenotype. We also studied disease course and response to therapy in a large series of genetically proven patients. Methods We analysed clinical, genetic findings and follow-up data in 28 NKX2-1 mutated BHC patients from 13 families. Results All patients had private mutations, including seven new mutations, three previously reported mutations and three sporadic deletions encompassing the NKX2-1 gene. Hypotonia and chorea were present in early infancy, with delayed walking ability (25/28); dystonia, myoclonus and tics were often associated. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was present in seven. Among the 14 patients followed-up until adulthood, nine had persistent mild chorea, two had near total resolution of chorea but persistent disabling prominent myoclonus and three recovered completely. Learning difficulties were observed in 20/28 patients, and three had mental retardation. Various combinations of BHC, thyroid (67%) and lung (46%) features were noted. We found no genotype–phenotype correlation. A rapid and sustained beneficial effect on chorea was obtained in 5/8 patients treated with tetrabenazine. Conclusion Early onset chorea preceded by hypotonia is suggestive of BHC. Associated thyroid or respiratory disorders further support the diagnosis and call for genetic studies. Tetrabenazine may be an interesting option to treat disabling chorea.

A second locus for Aicardi-Goutières syndrome at chromosome 13q14–21

Background: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is an autosomal recessive, early onset encephalopathy characterised by calcification of the basal ganglia, chronic cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis, and negative serological investigations for common prenatal infections. AGS may result from a perturbation of interferon α metabolism. The disorder is genetically heterogeneous with approximately 50% of families mapping to the first known locus at 3p21 (AGS1). Methods: A genome-wide scan was performed in 10 families with a clinical diagnosis of AGS in whom linkage to AGS1 had been excluded. Higher density genotyping in regions of interest was also undertaken using the 10 mapping pedigrees and seven additional AGS families. Results: Our results demonstrate significant linkage to a second AGS locus (AGS2) at chromosome 13q14–21 with a maximum multipoint heterogeneity logarithm of the odds (LOD) score of 5.75 at D13S768. The AGS2 locus lies within a 4.7 cM region as defined by a 1 LOD-unit support interval. Conclusions: We have identified a second AGS disease locus and at least one further locus. As in a number of other conditions, genetic heterogeneity represents a significant obstacle to gene identification in AGS. The localisation of AGS2 represents an important step in this process.

Pontoneocerebellar hypoplasia : definition of MR features

Abstract. We report five patients with pontoneocerebellar hypoplasia. Because the issue of cerebellar malformations is a difficult subject, we tried to define criteria for diagnosis on MRI: a thin flat pons with disappearance of the anterior curve, a small cerebellum with predominant flattening of the hemispheres and shortened cerebellar fissures, in contrast to atrophy. The posterior fossa is not enlarged. We emphasize the probable late onset of the disease in fetal life because of the demonstration of the abnormalities at US during the last trimester of the pregnancy in one patient. Prenatal diagnosis is important because of possible autosomal recessive transmission.

Treacher Collins syndrome: a clinical and molecular study based on a large series of patients

Purpose:Treacher Collins/Franceschetti syndrome (TCS; OMIM 154500) is a disorder of craniofacial development belonging to the heterogeneous group of mandibulofacial dysostoses. TCS is classically characterized by bilateral mandibular and malar hypoplasia, downward-slanting palpebral fissures, and microtia. To date, three genes have been identified in TCS:,TCOF1, POLR1D, and POLR1C.Methods:We report a clinical and extensive molecular study, including TCOF1, POLR1D, POLR1C, and EFTUD2 genes, in a series of 146 patients with TCS. Phenotype–genotype correlations were investigated for 19 clinical features, between TCOF1 and POLR1D, and the type of mutation or its localization in the TCOF1 gene.Results:We identified 92/146 patients (63%) with a molecular anomaly within TCOF1, 9/146 (6%) within POLR1D, and none within POLR1C. Among the atypical negative patients (with intellectual disability and/or microcephaly), we identified four patients carrying a mutation in EFTUD2 and two patients with 5q32 deletion encompassing TCOF1 and CAMK2A in particular. Congenital cardiac defects occurred more frequently among patients with TCOF1 mutation (7/92, 8%) than reported in the literature.Conclusion:Even though TCOF1 and POLR1D were associated with extreme clinical variability, we found no phenotype–genotype correlation. In cases with a typical phenotype of TCS, 6/146 (4%) remained with an unidentified molecular defect.Genet Med 18 1, 49–56.

Genetic and phenotypic dissection of 1q43q44 microdeletion syndrome and neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with mutations in ZBTB18 and HNRNPU

Subtelomeric 1q43q44 microdeletions cause a syndrome associating intellectual disability, microcephaly, seizures and anomalies of the corpus callosum. Despite several previous studies assessing genotype-phenotype correlations, the contribution of genes located in this region to the specific features of this syndrome remains uncertain. Among those, three genes, AKT3, HNRNPU and ZBTB18 are highly expressed in the brain and point mutations in these genes have been recently identified in children with neurodevelopmental phenotypes. In this study, we report the clinical and molecular data from 17 patients with 1q43q44 microdeletions, four with ZBTB18 mutations and seven with HNRNPU mutations, and review additional data from 37 previously published patients with 1q43q44 microdeletions. We compare clinical data of patients with 1q43q44 microdeletions with those of patients with point mutations in HNRNPU and ZBTB18 to assess the contribution of each gene as well as the possibility of epistasis between genes. Our study demonstrates that AKT3 haploinsufficiency is the main driver for microcephaly, whereas HNRNPU alteration mostly drives epilepsy and determines the degree of intellectual disability. ZBTB18 deletions or mutations are associated with variable corpus callosum anomalies with an incomplete penetrance. ZBTB18 may also contribute to microcephaly and HNRNPU to thin corpus callosum, but with a lower penetrance. Co-deletion of contiguous genes has additive effects. Our results confirm and refine the complex genotype-phenotype correlations existing in the 1qter microdeletion syndrome and define more precisely the neurodevelopmental phenotypes associated with genetic alterations of AKT3, ZBTB18 and HNRNPU in humans.

Correction: IQSEC2-related encephalopathy in males and females: a comparative study including 37 novel patients

This Article was originally published under Nature Research’s License to Publish, but has now been made available under a CC BY 4.0 license. The PDF and HTML versions of the Article have been modified accordingly.

IQSEC2 -related encephalopathy in males and females: a comparative study including 37 novel patients

PurposeVariants in IQSEC2, escaping X inactivation, cause X-linked intellectual disability with frequent epilepsy in males and females. We aimed to investigate sex-specific differences.MethodsWe collected the data of 37 unpublished patients (18 males and 19 females) with IQSEC2 pathogenic variants and 5 individuals with variants of unknown significance and reviewed published variants. We compared variant types and phenotypes in males and females and performed an analysis of IQSEC2 isoforms.ResultsIQSEC2 pathogenic variants mainly led to premature truncation and were scattered throughout the longest brain-specific isoform, encoding the synaptic IQSEC2/BRAG1 protein. Variants occurred de novo in females but were either de novo (2/3) or inherited (1/3) in males, with missense variants being predominantly inherited. Developmental delay and intellectual disability were overall more severe in males than in females. Likewise, seizures were more frequently observed and intractable, and started earlier in males than in females. No correlation was observed between the age at seizure onset and severity of intellectual disability or resistance to antiepileptic treatments.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive overview of IQSEC2-related encephalopathy in males and females, and suggests that an accurate dosage of IQSEC2 at the synapse is crucial during normal brain development.

Exome sequencing in congenital ataxia identifies two new candidate genes and highlights a pathophysiological link between some congenital ataxias and early infantile epileptic encephalopathies

PurposeTo investigate the genetic basis of congenital ataxias (CAs), a unique group of cerebellar ataxias with a nonprogressive course, in 20 patients from consanguineous families, and to identify new CA genes.MethodsSingleton -exome sequencing on these 20 well-clinically characterized CA patients. We first checked for rare homozygous pathogenic variants, then, for variants from a list of genes known to be associated with CA or very early-onset ataxia, regardless of their mode of inheritance. Our replication cohort of 180 CA patients was used to validate the new CA genes.ResultsWe identified a causal gene in 16/20 families: six known CA genes (7 patients); four genes previously implicated in another neurological phenotype (7 patients); two new candidate genes (2 patients). Despite the consanguinity, 4/20 patients harbored a heterozygous de novo pathogenic variant.ConclusionSingleton exome sequencing in 20 consanguineous CA families led to molecular diagnosis in 80% of cases. This study confirms the genetic heterogeneity of CA and identifies two new candidate genes (PIGS and SKOR2). Our work illustrates the diversity of the pathophysiological pathways in CA, and highlights the pathogenic link between some CA and early infantile epileptic encephalopathies related to the same genes (STXBP1, BRAT1, CACNA1A and CACNA2D2).

Diagnostic prénatal : prise en compte de l’incertitude dans l’information médicale

Depuis une vingtaine d’annees, l’acces au fœtus et a sa pathologie est devenu plus aise grâce aux examens genetiques, mais surtout grâce a l’imagerie fœtale, echographie et imagerie par resonance magnetique. Mais si cette imagerie permet de voir la majorite des malformations fœtales dont le diagnostic est ainsi devenu prenatal, elle ne permet pas de tout voir et surement pas de tout savoir : Le diagnostic est-il certain ? Quel avenir pour l’enfant ? Quelles consequences de cette lesion depistee in utero tant il est vrai que lesion n’est pas handicap ? Cette incertitude a toutes les etapes du diagnostic prenatal est inherente a cette medecine fœtale ou le medecin n’a pas acces a son patient, sauf au moyen d’outils performants certes, mais imparfaits. C’est cette incertitude qu’il faut dire et partager avec les couples et qui rend si difficile leur decision quant au devenir de la grossesse.

Changements des pratiques relatives à l’échographie fœtale après l’arrêt Perruche et la loi du 4 mars 2002

Resume Objectif Evaluer les effets de decisions de justice (arret Perruche et loi du 4 mars 2002) sur les pratiques relatives a l’echographie fœtale et la medecine fœtale. Methode Des questionnaires ont ete envoyes aux 186 echographistes des reseaux de soins centres sur les centres pluridisciplinaires de diagnostics prenatals (CPDPN) de la region Auvergne et des Yvelines. Les modifications du deroulement des consultations, des documents et des informations echangees ont ete evaluees ainsi que le point de vue des praticiens sur l’avenir de leur specialite. Resultats Nous avons recu 54 reponses (29 %). Annoncer un diagnostic ou un pronostic etait plus difficile qu’avant pour 40 % d’entre eux. L’information orale et ecrite ainsi que les comptes-rendus medicaux ont ete bien ameliores (64 %) voire mieux utilises (42 %). Certains cliniciens pensaient prendre davantage en compte l’emotion des futurs parents (24,1 %). Certains essayaient d’etre plus distants (13 %) ou plus neutres (9,3 %). Le recours a un CPDPN etait plus frequent, pour 51,9 % d’entre eux. Pour 20,4 % d’entre eux les indications de caryotypes ont augmente. Certains pensaient que leurs discours orientaient davantage vers une interruption medicale de grossesse (7,4 %). Conclusion Si ce corpus juridique a ete initialement mal percu, il a toutefois permis de reorganiser et de formaliser cette activite. Une decision de justice prise dans l’urgence et a titre individuel peut donc changer des pratiques collectives et influencer les strategies de sante publique. Par ailleurs, l’intention formulee par les echographistes interroges de mieux prendre en compte l’emotion des parents suggere qu’un langage commun peut etre trouve. Il est neanmoins necessaire d’organiser un debat national sur les objectifs de l’echographie fœtale.