Simone Pizzi

Biallelic Mutations in TBCD, Encoding the Tubulin Folding Cofactor D, Perturb Microtubule Dynamics and Cause Early-Onset Encephalopathy

Microtubules are dynamic cytoskeletal elements coordinating and supporting a variety of neuronal processes, including cell division, migration, polarity, intracellular trafficking, and signal transduction. Mutations in genes encoding tubulins and microtubule-associated proteins are known to cause neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Growing evidence suggests that altered microtubule dynamics may also underlie or contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegeneration. We report that biallelic mutations in TBCD, encoding one of the five co-chaperones required for assembly and disassembly of the αβ-tubulin heterodimer, the structural unit of microtubules, cause a disease with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative features characterized by early-onset cortical atrophy, secondary hypomyelination, microcephaly, thin corpus callosum, developmental delay, intellectual disability, seizures, optic atrophy, and spastic quadriplegia. Molecular dynamics simulations predicted long-range and/or local structural perturbations associated with the disease-causing mutations. Biochemical analyses documented variably reduced levels of TBCD, indicating relative instability of mutant proteins, and defective β-tubulin binding in a subset of the tested mutants. Reduced or defective TBCD function resulted in decreased soluble α/β-tubulin levels and accelerated microtubule polymerization in fibroblasts from affected subjects, demonstrating an overall shift toward a more rapidly growing and stable microtubule population. These cells displayed an aberrant mitotic spindle with disorganized, tangle-shaped microtubules and reduced aster formation, which however did not alter appreciably the rate of cell proliferation. Our findings establish that defective TBCD function underlies a recognizable encephalopathy and drives accelerated microtubule polymerization and enhanced microtubule stability, underscoring an additional cause of altered microtubule dynamics with impact on neuronal function and survival in the developing brain.

Congenital immunodeficiency in an individual with Wiedemann–Steiner syndrome due to a novel missense mutation in KMT2A

Wiedemann–Steiner Syndrome (WSS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by hypertrichosis, short stature, intellectual disability, developmental delay, and facial dysmorphism. Since the original reports by Wiedemann and co‐workers, and Steiner and Marques, only a few cases have been described. Recently, the clinical variability of the disorder has more precisely been characterized by Jones and co‐workers, who also identified heterozygous KMT2A mutations as the molecular defect underlying this condition. Here, we report on a boy with a complex phenotype overlapping WSS but exhibiting epilepsy, feeding difficulties, microcephaly, and congenital immunodeficiency with low levels of immunoglobulins as additional features. Whole exome sequencing allowed identifying a previously unreported de novo KMT2A missense mutation affecting the DNA binding domain of the methyltransferase. This finding expands the clinical phenotype associated with KMT2A mutations to include immunodeficiency and epilepsy as clinically relevant features for this disorder.

The pinch-off syndrome in a pediatric patient

Recombinant activated coagulation factor VII was developed for treatment of hemophilia with antibodies (inhibitors) to coagulation factors VIII or IX (2). The usage indications are extended for the therapy of congenital deficiency of coagulation factor VII and Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia. It has been recently employed with benefit for the management of hemorrhages in other non-hemophilic congenital and acquired hemostatic abnormalities. A number of reports describe usage of rFVIIa in DIC associated with various conditions (4). In all these reports, the response to treatment was very good, although the mechanism by which the bleeding was stopped remains unknown. The prime mechanism by which abnormalities of the hemostasis develop in KMS is platelets trapping and activation (5). As activated platelets play major role in therapeutic efficacy of rFVIIa, there is a reasonable concern that in KMS side effects of rFVIIa might be more pronounced than in DIC associated with other conditions. However, we decided that in a child with persistently low platelet count, facing major surgery, all therapeutic options should be used. Careful clinical monitoring in our patient revealed no side effects of rFVIIa. The role of rFVIIa in controlling hemostasis during this procedure is difficult to access. We measured prothrombine time, which was as expected shortened, after rFVIIa administration. Hematoma was partially resected and hematological disturbances characteristic of KMS persisted trough out the operation. Although blood loss during the operation was extensive, we speculate that this procedure might not be possible at all without addition of rFVIIa. Medline search using key words: Kasabach-Merritt syndrome and rFVIIa, did not reveil any matching article. Therefore, our report on a successful use of rFVIIa in a child with full-blown KMS suggests that rFVIIa might be an useful addition to the existing therapeutical strategies. Dragana Janic* Dimitri je Brasanac† Nada Krstovski* Lidija Dokmanovic* Jelena Lazic* Zoran Krstic* *Department for Hematology and Oncology, University Children‘s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia †Institute of pathology, Medical school, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

Clinical spectrum of Kabuki‐like syndrome caused by HNRNPK haploinsufficiency

Kabuki syndrome is a genetically heterogeneous disorder characterized by postnatal growth retardation, skeletal abnormalities, intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms and a variable range of organ malformations. In ~30% of affected individuals, the underlying genetic defect remains unknown. A small number of inactivating heterozygous HNRNPK mutations has recently been reported to be associated with a condition partially overlapping or suggestive of Kabuki syndrome. Here, we report on an 11‐year‐old girl with a complex phenotype in whom the diagnosis of KS was suggested but molecular testing for the known causative disease genes was negative. Whole‐exome sequencing identified a previously undescribed de novo truncating mutation in HNRNPK as the molecular defect underlying the trait. Analysis of available records of patients with HNRNPK haploinsufficiency was performed to delineate the associated clinical phenotype and outline their distinguishing features in comparison with the KS clinical spectrum. The clinical profile associated with inactivating HNRNPK mutations supports the idea that the associated disorder should be considered as a distinct nosologic entity clinically related to KS, and that the condition should be considered in differential diagnosis with KS, in particular in subjects exhibiting brain malformation (nodular heterotopia), craniosynostosis, and polydactyly.

Epidural analgesia during labor and incidence of cesarian section: prospective study

For many years the opportunity of reducing the pain of birth through the administering of drugs (e.g. local anesthetics and opioids) into the epidural space has been known. Numerous studies have been conducted throughout the years to clarify whether the use of the epidural has resulted in a higher incidence of cesarean sections but it appears that this is due more to maternal–fetal factors than it is to the epidural. In this study, we have outlined the experience of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit of an Italian Childrens Hospital in which approximately-2500 births take place every year and in which there is an active birth analgesia service which requires the presence of a dedicated anesthetist.

The impact of next-generation sequencing on the diagnosis of pediatric-onset hereditary spastic paraplegias: new genotype-phenotype correlations for rare HSP-related genes

Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSP) are clinical and genetic heterogeneous diseases with more than 80 disease genes identified thus far. Studies on large cohorts of HSP patients showed that, by means of current technologies, the percentage of genetically solved cases is close to 50%. Notably, the percentage of molecularly confirmed diagnoses decreases significantly in sporadic patients. To describe our diagnostic molecular genetic approach on patients with pediatric-onset pure and complex HSP, 47 subjects with HSP underwent molecular screening of 113 known and candidate disease genes by targeted capture and massively parallel sequencing. Negative cases were successively analyzed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis for the SPAST gene and high-resolution SNP array analysis for genome-wide CNV detection. Diagnosis was molecularly confirmed in 29 out of 47 (62%) patients, most of whom had clinical diagnosis of cHSP. Although SPG11 and SPG4 remain the most frequent cause of, respectively, complex and pure HSP, a large number of pathogenic variants were disclosed in POLR3A, FA2H, DDHD2, ATP2B4, ENTPD1, ERLIN2, CAPN1, ALS2, ADAR1, RNASEH2B, TUBB4A, ATL1, and KIF1A. In a subset of these disease genes, phenotypic expansion and novel genotype-phenotype correlations were recognized. Notably, SNP array analysis did not provide any significant contribution in increasing the diagnostic yield. Our findings document the high diagnostic yield of targeted sequencing for patients with pediatric-onset, complex, and pure HSP. MLPA for SPAST and SNP array should be limited to properly selected cases based on clinical suspicion.

Biallelic mutations in DYNC2LI1 are a rare cause of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome

Ellis‐van Creveld syndrome (EvC) is a chondral and ectodermal dysplasia caused by biallelic mutations in the EVC, EVC2 and WDR35 genes. A proportion of cases with clinical diagnosis of EvC, however, do not carry mutations in these genes. To identify the genetic cause of EvC in a cohort of mutation‐negative patients, exome sequencing was undertaken in a family with 3 affected members, and mutation scanning of a panel of clinically and functionally relevant genes was performed in 24 additional subjects with features fitting/overlapping EvC. Compound heterozygosity for the c.2T>C (p.Met1?) and c.662C>T (p.Thr221Ile) variants in DYNC2LI1, which encodes a component of the intraflagellar transport‐related dynein‐2 complex previously found mutated in other short‐rib thoracic dysplasias, was identified in the 3 affected members of the first family. Targeted resequencing detected compound heterozygosity for the same missense variant and a truncating change (p.Val141*) in 2 siblings with EvC from a second family, while a newborn with a more severe phenotype carried 2 DYNC2LI1 truncating variants. Our findings indicate that DYNC2LI1 mutations are associated with a wider clinical spectrum than previously appreciated, including EvC, with the severity of the phenotype likely depending on the extent of defective DYNC2LI1 function.

Exome sequencing in children of women with skewed X-inactivation identifies atypical cases and complex phenotypes

BACKGROUND More than 100 X-linked intellectual disability (X-LID) genes have been identified to be involved in 10-15% of intellectual disability (ID). METHOD To identify novel possible candidates, we selected 18 families with a male proband affected by isolated or syndromic ID. Pedigree and/or clinical presentation suggested an X-LID disorder. After exclusion of known genetic diseases, we identified seven cases whose mother showed a skewed X-inactivation (>80%) that underwent whole exome sequencing (WES, 50X average depth). RESULTS WES allowed to solve the genetic basis in four cases, two of which (Coffin-Lowry syndrome, RPS6K3 gene; ATRX syndrome, ATRX gene) had been missed by previous clinical/genetics tests. One further ATRX case showed a complex phenotype including pontocerebellar atrophy (PCA), possibly associated to an unidentified PCA gene mutation. In a case with suspected Lujan-Fryns syndrome, a c.649C>T (p.Pro217Ser) MECP2 missense change was identified, likely explaining the neurological impairment, but not the marfanoid features, which were possibly associated to the p.Thr1020Ala variant in fibrillin 1. Finally, a c.707T>G variant (p.Phe236Cys) in the DMD gene was identified in a patient retrospectively recognized to be affected by Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD, OMIM 300376). CONCLUSION Overall, our data show that WES may give hints to solve complex ID phenotypes with a likely X-linked transmission, and that a significant proportion of these orphan conditions might result from concomitant mutations affecting different clinically associated genes.

Neurotransmitter trafficking defect in a patient with clathrin (CLTC) variation presenting with intellectual disability and early-onset parkinsonism

INTRODUCTION Clathrins play a key role in endocytosis, recycling, and trafficking as well as the generation of presynaptic vesicles. We report a new clinical condition associated with a de novo variant in the CLTC gene, which encodes the clathrin heavy polypeptide. CASE REPORT This 30-year-old woman presented with a developmental disorder during childhood that progressed to mild cognitive decline in late childhood and relapsing-remitting hypokinetic-rigid syndrome with severe achalasia, weight loss, and mood disorder in adulthood. 123I-Ioflupane SPECT was normal. Blood phenylalanine was slightly increased and PAH sequencing revealed compound heterozygosity for two variants, p.[Asp151Glu]:[Thr380Met]. CSF examination unexpectedly detected a remarkable reduction of homovanillic, 5-hydroxyindolacetic, and 5-methylthetrahydrofolic acids, which could not be ascribed to any alteration of tetrahydrobiopterin and related biogenic amine pathways. METHODS Trio-based exome sequencing was performed. RESULT A de novo missense variant (c.2669C > T/p.Pro890Leu) was detected in CLTC. Treatment with biogenic amine precursors was ineffective, while the inhibitor of MAO-A selegiline resulted in persistent clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS We suggest CLTC defect as a new disorder of biogenic amine trafficking, resulting in neurodevelopmental derangement and movement disorder. Neurotransmitter depletion in CSF may be a biomarker of this disease, and selegiline a possible treatment option.

TARP syndrome: Long-term survival, anatomic patterns of congenital heart defects, differential diagnosis and pathogenetic considerations

TARP syndrome (TARPS) is an X-linked syndromic condition including Robin sequence, congenital heart defects, developmental delay, feeding difficulties and talipes equinovarus, as major features. The disease is caused by inactivating mutations in RBM10 which encodes for a RNA binding motif protein involved in transcript processing. We herein report a male born from healthy and non-consanguineous parents, presenting prenatal record of intrauterine fetal growth retardation, and postnatal features including growth and developmental delays, CNS abnormalities, facial dysmorphisms, bilateral syndactyly at the hands, talipes equinovarus and congenital heart defects. By using trio-based Whole Exome Sequencing approach, a maternally inherited RBM10 frameshift variant causing decay of the RBM10 transcript was identified. Despite the syndrome is considered lethal in affected males, our subject with molecularly confirmed TARPS is still alive at 11 years of age supporting the chance of surviving. Long-term surviving in TARPS is extremely rare and should be considered in genetic counselling and clinical follow up of the syndrome. We provide the natural history of the syndrome, reviewing the major clinical characteristics. Congenital heart defects are confirmed as specific diagnostic markers for the syndrome. In addition, cardiac anatomical details are defining a possible clinical overlap with syndromic conditions related to the hedgehog pathway and/or primary cilium anomalies as Oral-Facial-Digital or Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndromes.