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Motelow JE, Povysil G, Dhindsa RS, Stanley KE, Allen AS, Feng YCA, Howrigan DP, Abbott LE, Tashman K, Cerrato F, Cusick C, Singh T, Heyne H, Byrnes AE, Churchhouse C, Watts N, Solomonson M, Lal D, Gupta N, Neale BM, Cavalleri GL, Cossette P, Cotsapas C, De Jonghe P, Dixon-Salazar T, Guerrini R, Hakonarson H, Heinzen EL, Helbig I, Kwan P, Marson AG, Petrovski S, Kamalakaran S, Sisodiya SM, Stewart R, Weckhuysen S, Depondt C, Dlugos DJ, Scheffer IE, Striano P, Freyer C, Krause R, May P, McKenna K, Regan BM, Bennett CA, Leu C, Leech SL, O’Brien TJ, Todaro M, Stamberger H, Andrade DM, Ali QZ, Sadoway TR, Krestel H, Schaller A, Papacostas SS, Kousiappa I, Tanteles GA, Christou Y, Štěrbová K, Vlčková M, Sedláčková L, Laššuthová P, Klein KM, Rosenow F, Reif PS, Knake S, Neubauer BA, Zimprich F, Feucht M, Reinthaler EM, Kunz WS, Zsurka G, Surges R, Baumgartner T, von Wrede R, Pendziwiat M, Muhle H, Rademacher A, van Baalen A, von Spiczak S, Stephani U, Afawi Z, Korczyn AD, Kanaan M, Canavati C, Kurlemann G, Müller-Schlüter K, Kluger G, Häusler M, Blatt I, Lemke JR, Krey I, Weber YG, Wolking S, Becker F, Lauxmann S, Boßelmann C, Kegele J, Hengsbach C, Rau S, Steinhoff BJ, Schulze-Bonhage A, Borggräfe I, Schankin CJ, Schubert-Bast S, Schreiber H, Mayer T, Korinthenberg R, Brockmann K, Wolff M, Dennig D, Madeleyn R, Kälviäinen R, Saarela A, Timonen O, Linnankivi T, Lehesjoki AE, Rheims S, Lesca G, Ryvlin P, Maillard L, Valton L, Derambure P, Bartolomei F, Hirsch E, Michel V, Chassoux F, Rees MI, Chung SK, Pickrell WO, Powell R, Baker MD, Fonferko-Shadrach B, Lawthom C, Anderson J, Schneider N, Balestrini S, Zagaglia S, Braatz V, Johnson MR, Auce P, Sills GJ, Baum LW, Sham PC, Cherny SS, Lui CH, Delanty N, Doherty CP, Shukralla A, El-Naggar H, Widdess-Walsh P, Barišić N, Canafoglia L, Franceschetti S, Castellotti B, Granata T, Ragona F, Zara F, Iacomino M, Riva A, Madia F, Vari MS, Salpietro V, Scala M, Mancardi MM, Nobili L, Amadori E, Giacomini T, Bisulli F, Pippucci T, Licchetta L, Minardi R, Tinuper P, Muccioli L, Mostacci B, Gambardella A, Labate A, Annesi G, Manna L, Gagliardi M, Parrini E, Mei D, Vetro A, Bianchini C, Montomoli M, Doccini V, Barba C, Hirose S, Ishii A, Suzuki T, Inoue Y, Yamakawa K, Beydoun A, Nasreddine W, Khoueiry Zgheib N, Tumiene B, Utkus A, Sadleir LG, King C, Caglayan SH, Arslan M, Yapıcı Z, Topaloglu P, Kara B, Yis U, Turkdogan D, Gundogdu-Eken A, Bebek N, Uğur-İşeri S, Baykan B, Salman B, Haryanyan G, Yücesan E, Kesim Y, Özkara Ç, Tsai MH, Ho CJ, Lin CH, Lin KL, Chou IJ, Poduri A, Shiedley BR, Shain C, Noebels JL, Goldman A, Busch RM, Jehi L, Najm IM, Ferguson L, Khoury J, Glauser TA, Clark PO, Buono RJ, Ferraro TN, Sperling MR, Lo W, Privitera M, French JA, Schachter S, Kuzniecky RI, Devinsky O, Hegde M, Greenberg DA, Ellis CA, Goldberg E, Helbig KL, Cosico M, Vaidiswaran P, Fitch E, Berkovic SF, Lerche H, Lowenstein DH, Goldstein DB. Sub-genic intolerance, ClinVar, and the epilepsies: A whole-exome sequencing study of 29,165 individuals. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:2024. [PMID: 34626584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Beslow LA, Helbig I, Fox CK. Long-Term Risk of Epilepsy After Pediatric Stroke and Potential Genetic Vulnerabilities. Stroke 2021; 52:3541-3542. [PMID: 34470482 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.121.036376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Cousin MA, Creighton BA, Breau KA, Spillmann RC, Torti E, Dontu S, Tripathi S, Ajit D, Edwards RJ, Afriyie S, Bay JC, Harper KM, Beltran AA, Munoz LJ, Falcon Rodriguez L, Stankewich MC, Person RE, Si Y, Normand EA, Blevins A, May AS, Bier L, Aggarwal V, Mancini GMS, van Slegtenhorst MA, Cremer K, Becker J, Engels H, Aretz S, MacKenzie JJ, Brilstra E, van Gassen KLI, van Jaarsveld RH, Oegema R, Parsons GM, Mark P, Helbig I, McKeown SE, Stratton R, Cogne B, Isidor B, Cacheiro P, Smedley D, Firth HV, Bierhals T, Kloth K, Weiss D, Fairley C, Shieh JT, Kritzer A, Jayakar P, Kurtz-Nelson E, Bernier RA, Wang T, Eichler EE, van de Laar IMBH, McConkie-Rosell A, McDonald MT, Kemppainen J, Lanpher BC, Schultz-Rogers LE, Gunderson LB, Pichurin PN, Yoon G, Zech M, Jech R, Winkelmann J, Beltran AS, Zimmermann MT, Temple B, Moy SS, Klee EW, Tan QKG, Lorenzo DN. Pathogenic SPTBN1 variants cause an autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental syndrome. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1006-1021. [PMID: 34211179 PMCID: PMC8273149 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00886-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
SPTBN1 encodes βII-spectrin, the ubiquitously expressed β-spectrin that forms micrometer-scale networks associated with plasma membranes. Mice deficient in neuronal βII-spectrin have defects in cortical organization, developmental delay and behavioral deficiencies. These phenotypes, while less severe, are observed in haploinsufficient animals, suggesting that individuals carrying heterozygous SPTBN1 variants may also show measurable compromise of neural development and function. Here we identify heterozygous SPTBN1 variants in 29 individuals with developmental, language and motor delays; mild to severe intellectual disability; autistic features; seizures; behavioral and movement abnormalities; hypotonia; and variable dysmorphic facial features. We show that these SPTBN1 variants lead to effects that affect βII-spectrin stability, disrupt binding to key molecular partners, and disturb cytoskeleton organization and dynamics. Our studies define SPTBN1 variants as the genetic basis of a neurodevelopmental syndrome, expand the set of spectrinopathies affecting the brain and underscore the critical role of βII-spectrin in the central nervous system.
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Chopra M, McEntagart M, Clayton-Smith J, Platzer K, Shukla A, Girisha KM, Kaur A, Kaur P, Pfundt R, Veenstra-Knol H, Mancini GM, Cappuccio G, Brunetti-Pierri N, Kortüm F, Hempel M, Denecke J, Lehman A, Kleefstra T, Stuurman KE, Wilke M, Thompson ML, Bebin EM, Bijlsma EK, Hoffer MJ, Peeters-Scholte C, Slavotinek A, Weiss WA, Yip T, Hodoglugil U, Whittle A, diMonda J, Neira J, Yang S, Kirby A, Pinz H, Lechner R, Sleutels F, Helbig I, McKeown S, Helbig K, Willaert R, Juusola J, Semotok J, Hadonou M, Short J, Yachelevich N, Lala S, Fernández-Jaen A, Pelayo JP, Klöckner C, Kamphausen SB, Abou Jamra R, Arelin M, Innes AM, Niskakoski A, Amin S, Williams M, Evans J, Smithson S, Smedley D, de Burca A, Kini U, Delatycki MB, Gallacher L, Yeung A, Pais L, Field M, Martin E, Charles P, Courtin T, Keren B, Iascone M, Cereda A, Poke G, Abadie V, Chalouhi C, Parthasarathy P, Halliday BJ, Robertson SP, Lyonnet S, Amiel J, Gordon CT, Amiel J, Gordon CT. Heterozygous ANKRD17 loss-of-function variants cause a syndrome with intellectual disability, speech delay, and dysmorphism. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:1138-1150. [PMID: 33909992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
ANKRD17 is an ankyrin repeat-containing protein thought to play a role in cell cycle progression, whose ortholog in Drosophila functions in the Hippo pathway as a co-factor of Yorkie. Here, we delineate a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by de novo heterozygous ANKRD17 variants. The mutational spectrum of this cohort of 34 individuals from 32 families is highly suggestive of haploinsufficiency as the underlying mechanism of disease, with 21 truncating or essential splice site variants, 9 missense variants, 1 in-frame insertion-deletion, and 1 microdeletion (1.16 Mb). Consequently, our data indicate that loss of ANKRD17 is likely the main cause of phenotypes previously associated with large multi-gene chromosomal aberrations of the 4q13.3 region. Protein modeling suggests that most of the missense variants disrupt the stability of the ankyrin repeats through alteration of core structural residues. The major phenotypic characteristic of our cohort is a variable degree of developmental delay/intellectual disability, particularly affecting speech, while additional features include growth failure, feeding difficulties, non-specific MRI abnormalities, epilepsy and/or abnormal EEG, predisposition to recurrent infections (mostly bacterial), ophthalmological abnormalities, gait/balance disturbance, and joint hypermobility. Moreover, many individuals shared similar dysmorphic facial features. Analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data from the developing human telencephalon indicated ANKRD17 expression at multiple stages of neurogenesis, adding further evidence to the assertion that damaging ANKRD17 variants cause a neurodevelopmental disorder.
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Fitzgerald MP, Kaufman MC, Massey SL, Fridinger S, Prelack M, Ellis C, Ortiz-Gonzalez X, Fried LE, DiGiovine MP, Melamed S, Malcolm M, Banwell B, Stephenson D, Witzman SM, Gonzalez A, Dlugos D, Kessler SK, Goldberg EM, Abend NS, Helbig I. Assessing seizure burden in pediatric epilepsy using an electronic medical record-based tool through a common data element approach. Epilepsia 2021; 62:1617-1628. [PMID: 34075580 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Improvement in epilepsy care requires standardized methods to assess disease severity. We report the results of implementing common data elements (CDEs) to document epilepsy history data in the electronic medical record (EMR) after 12 months of clinical use in outpatient encounters. METHODS Data regarding seizure frequency were collected during routine clinical encounters using a CDE-based form within our EMR. We extracted CDE data from the EMR and developed measurements for seizure severity and seizure improvement scores. Seizure burden and improvement was evaluated by patient demographic and encounter variables for in-person and telemedicine encounters. RESULTS We assessed a total of 1696 encounters in 1038 individuals with childhood epilepsies between September 6, 2019 and September 11, 2020 contributed by 32 distinct providers. Childhood absence epilepsy (n = 121), Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (n = 86), and Dravet syndrome (n = 42) were the most common epilepsy syndromes. Overall, 43% (737/1696) of individuals had at least monthly seizures, 17% (296/1696) had a least daily seizures, and 18% (311/1696) were seizure-free for >12 months. Quantification of absolute seizure burden and changes in seizure burden over time differed between epilepsy syndromes, including high and persistent seizure burden in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Individuals seen via telemedicine or in-person encounters had comparable seizure frequencies. Individuals identifying as Hispanic/Latino, particularly from postal codes with lower median household incomes, were more likely to have ongoing seizures that worsened over time. SIGNIFICANCE Standardized documentation of clinical data in childhood epilepsies through CDE can be implemented in routine clinical care at scale and enables assessment of disease burden, including characterization of seizure burden over time. Our data provide insights into heterogeneous patterns of seizure control in common pediatric epilepsy syndromes and will inform future initiatives focusing on patient-centered outcomes in childhood epilepsies, including the impact of telemedicine and health care disparities.
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Lewis-Smith D, Galer PD, Balagura G, Kearney H, Ganesan S, Cosico M, O'Brien M, Vaidiswaran P, Krause R, Ellis CA, Thomas RH, Robinson PN, Helbig I. Modeling seizures in the Human Phenotype Ontology according to contemporary ILAE concepts makes big phenotypic data tractable. Epilepsia 2021; 62:1293-1305. [PMID: 33949685 PMCID: PMC8272408 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Objective: The clinical features of epilepsy determine how it is defined, which in turn guides management. Therefore, consideration of the fundamental clinical entities that comprise an epilepsy is essential in the study of causes, trajectories, and treatment responses. The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) is used widely in clinical and research genetics for concise communication and modeling of clinical features, allowing extracted data to be harmonized using logical inference. We sought to redesign the HPO seizure subontology to improve its consistency with current epileptological concepts, supporting the use of large clinical data sets in high-throughput clinical and research genomics. Methods: We created a new HPO seizure subontology based on the 2017 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) Operational Classification of Seizure Types, and integrated concepts of status epilepticus, febrile, reflex, and neonatal seizures at different levels of detail. We compared the HPO seizure subontology prior to, and following, our revision, according to the information that could be inferred about the seizures of 791 individuals from three independent cohorts: 2 previously published and 150 newly recruited individuals. Each cohort’s data were provided in a different format and harmonized using the two versions of the HPO. Results: The new seizure subontology increased the number of descriptive concepts for seizures 5-fold. The number of seizure descriptors that could be annotated to the cohort increased by 40% and the total amount of information about individuals’ seizures increased by 38%. The most important qualitative difference was the relationship of focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizure to generalized-onset and focal-onset seizures.
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Crawford K, Xian J, Helbig KL, Galer PD, Parthasarathy S, Lewis-Smith D, Kaufman MC, Fitch E, Ganesan S, O'Brien M, Codoni V, Ellis CA, Conway LJ, Taylor D, Krause R, Helbig I. Computational analysis of 10,860 phenotypic annotations in individuals with SCN2A-related disorders. Genet Med 2021; 23:1263-1272. [PMID: 33731876 PMCID: PMC8257493 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-021-01120-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Pathogenic variants in SCN2A cause a wide range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Reports of genotype–phenotype correlations are often anecdotal, and the available phenotypic data have not been systematically analyzed. Methods We extracted phenotypic information from primary descriptions of SCN2A-related disorders in the literature between 2001 and 2019, which we coded in Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms. With higher-level phenotype terms inferred by the HPO structure, we assessed the frequencies of clinical features and investigated the association of these features with variant classes and locations within the NaV1.2 protein. Results We identified 413 unrelated individuals and derived a total of 10,860 HPO terms with 562 unique terms. Protein-truncating variants were associated with autism and behavioral abnormalities. Missense variants were associated with neonatal onset, epileptic spasms, and seizures, regardless of type. Phenotypic similarity was identified in 8/62 recurrent SCN2A variants. Three independent principal components accounted for 33% of the phenotypic variance, allowing for separation of gain-of-function versus loss-of-function variants with good performance. Conclusion Our work shows that translating clinical features into a computable format using a standardized language allows for quantitative phenotype analysis, mapping the phenotypic landscape of SCN2A-related disorders in unprecedented detail and revealing genotype–phenotype correlations along a multidimensional spectrum.
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Chadehumbe M, Craig S, Stephenson D, Helbig I. Child Neurology Telemedicine: Understanding the Data We Have and Finding the Patients We Do Not See. Pediatr Neurol 2021; 116:84. [PMID: 33508732 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Köhler S, Gargano M, Matentzoglu N, Carmody LC, Lewis-Smith D, Vasilevsky NA, Danis D, Balagura G, Baynam G, Brower AM, Callahan TJ, Chute CG, Est JL, Galer PD, Ganesan S, Griese M, Haimel M, Pazmandi J, Hanauer M, Harris NL, Hartnett M, Hastreiter M, Hauck F, He Y, Jeske T, Kearney H, Kindle G, Klein C, Knoflach K, Krause R, Lagorce D, McMurry JA, Miller JA, Munoz-Torres M, Peters RL, Rapp CK, Rath AM, Rind SA, Rosenberg A, Segal MM, Seidel MG, Smedley D, Talmy T, Thomas Y, Wiafe SA, Xian J, Yüksel Z, Helbig I, Mungall CJ, Haendel MA, Robinson PN. The Human Phenotype Ontology in 2021. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:D1207-D1217. [PMID: 33264411 PMCID: PMC7778952 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 547] [Impact Index Per Article: 182.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO, https://hpo.jax.org) was launched in 2008 to provide a comprehensive logical standard to describe and computationally analyze phenotypic abnormalities found in human disease. The HPO is now a worldwide standard for phenotype exchange. The HPO has grown steadily since its inception due to considerable contributions from clinical experts and researchers from a diverse range of disciplines. Here, we present recent major extensions of the HPO for neurology, nephrology, immunology, pulmonology, newborn screening, and other areas. For example, the seizure subontology now reflects the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) guidelines and these enhancements have already shown clinical validity. We present new efforts to harmonize computational definitions of phenotypic abnormalities across the HPO and multiple phenotype ontologies used for animal models of disease. These efforts will benefit software such as Exomiser by improving the accuracy and scope of cross-species phenotype matching. The computational modeling strategy used by the HPO to define disease entities and phenotypic features and distinguish between them is explained in detail.We also report on recent efforts to translate the HPO into indigenous languages. Finally, we summarize recent advances in the use of HPO in electronic health record systems.
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Helbig I, Goldberg E. The dose makes the poison-Novel insights into Dravet syndrome and SCN1A regulation through nonproductive splicing. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009214. [PMID: 33411776 PMCID: PMC7790282 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
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Grinspan ZM, Patel AD, Shellhaas RA, Berg AT, Axeen ET, Bolton J, Clarke DF, Coryell J, Gaillard WD, Goodkin HP, Koh S, Kukla A, Mbwana JS, Morgan LA, Singhal NS, Storey MM, Yozawitz EG, Abend NS, Fitzgerald MP, Fridinger SE, Helbig I, Massey SL, Prelack MS, Buchhalter J. Design and implementation of electronic health record common data elements for pediatric epilepsy: Foundations for a learning health care system. Epilepsia 2021; 62:198-216. [PMID: 33368200 PMCID: PMC10508354 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Common data elements (CDEs) are standardized questions and answer choices that allow aggregation, analysis, and comparison of observations from multiple sources. Clinical CDEs are foundational for learning health care systems, a data-driven approach to health care focused on continuous improvement of outcomes. We aimed to create clinical CDEs for pediatric epilepsy. METHODS A multiple stakeholder group (clinicians, researchers, parents, caregivers, advocates, and electronic health record [EHR] vendors) developed clinical CDEs for routine care of children with epilepsy. Initial drafts drew from clinical epilepsy note templates, CDEs created for clinical research, items in existing registries, consensus documents and guidelines, quality metrics, and outcomes needed for demonstration projects. The CDEs were refined through discussion and field testing. We describe the development process, rationale for CDE selection, findings from piloting, and the CDEs themselves. We also describe early implementation, including experience with EHR systems and compatibility with the International League Against Epilepsy classification of seizure types. RESULTS Common data elements were drafted in August 2017 and finalized in January 2020. Prioritized outcomes included seizure control, seizure freedom, American Academy of Neurology quality measures, presence of common comorbidities, and quality of life. The CDEs were piloted at 224 visits at 10 centers. The final CDEs included 36 questions in nine sections (number of questions): diagnosis (1), seizure frequency (9), quality of life (2), epilepsy history (6), etiology (8), comorbidities (2), treatment (2), process measures (5), and longitudinal history notes (1). Seizures are categorized as generalized tonic-clonic (regardless of onset), motor, nonmotor, and epileptic spasms. Focality is collected as epilepsy type rather than seizure type. Seizure frequency is measured in nine levels (all used during piloting). The CDEs were implemented in three vendor systems. Early clinical adoption included 1294 encounters at one center. SIGNIFICANCE We created, piloted, refined, finalized, and implemented a novel set of clinical CDEs for pediatric epilepsy.
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Ganesan S, Galer PD, Helbig KL, McKeown SE, O’Brien M, Gonzalez AK, Felmeister AS, Khankhanian P, Ellis CA, Helbig I. Correction: A longitudinal footprint of genetic epilepsies using automated electronic medical record interpretation. Genet Med 2020; 22:1921-1922. [DOI: 10.1038/s41436-020-00953-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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Goodspeed K, Pérez-Palma E, Iqbal S, Cooper D, Scimemi A, Johannesen KM, Stefanski A, Demarest S, Helbig KL, Kang J, Shaffo FC, Prentice B, Brownstein CA, Lim B, Helbig I, De Los Reyes E, McKnight D, Crunelli V, Campbell AJ, Møller RS, Freed A, Lal D. Current knowledge of SLC6A1-related neurodevelopmental disorders. Brain Commun 2020; 2:fcaa170. [PMID: 33241211 PMCID: PMC7677605 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcaa170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in gene discovery have identified genetic variants in the solute carrier family 6 member 1 gene as a monogenic cause of neurodevelopmental disorders, including epilepsy with myoclonic atonic seizures, autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability. The solute carrier family 6 member 1 gene encodes for the GABA transporter protein type 1, which is responsible for the reuptake of the neurotransmitter GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, from the extracellular space. GABAergic inhibition is essential to counterbalance neuronal excitation, and when significantly disrupted, it negatively impacts brain development leading to developmental differences and seizures. Aggregation of patient variants and observed clinical manifestations expand understanding of the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of this disorder. Here, we assess genetic and phenotypic features in 116 individuals with solute carrier family 6 member 1 variants, the vast majority of which are likely to lead to GABA transporter protein type 1 loss-of-function. The knowledge acquired will guide therapeutic decisions and the development of targeted therapies that selectively enhance transporter function and may improve symptoms. We analysed the longitudinal and cell type-specific expression of solute carrier family 6 member 1 in humans and localization of patient and control missense variants in a novel GABA transporter protein type 1 protein structure model. In this update, we discuss the progress made in understanding and treating solute carrier family 6 member 1-related disorders thus far, through the concerted efforts of clinicians, scientists and family support groups.
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Rademacher A, Schwarz N, Seiffert S, Pendziwiat M, Rohr A, van Baalen A, Helbig I, Weber Y, Muhle H. Whole-Exome Sequencing in NF1-Related West Syndrome Leads to the Identification of KCNC2 as a Novel Candidate Gene for Epilepsy. Neuropediatrics 2020; 51:368-372. [PMID: 32392612 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1710524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) have an increased risk for West syndrome (WS), but the underlying mechanisms linking NF1 and WS are unknown. In contrast to other neurocutaneous syndromes, intracerebral abnormalities explaining the course of infantile spasms (IS) are often absent and the seizure outcome is usually favorable. Several studies have investigated a potential genotype-phenotype correlation between NF1 and seizure susceptibility, but an association was not identified. Therefore, we identified three patients with NF1-related WS (NF1-WS) in a cohort of 51 NF1 patients and performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify genetic modifiers. In two NF1 patients with WS and good seizure outcome, we did not identify variants in epilepsy-related genes. However, in a single patient with NF1-WS and transition to drug-resistant epilepsy, we identified a de novo variant in KCNC2 (c.G499T, p.D167Y) coding for Kv3.2 as a previously undescribed potassium channel to be correlated to epilepsy. Electrophysiological studies of the identified KCNC2 variant demonstrated both a strong loss-of-function effect for the current amplitude and a gain-of-function effect for the channel activation recommending a complex network effect. These results suggest that systematic genetic analysis for potentially secondary genetic etiologies in NF1 patients and severe epilepsy presentations should be done.
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Galer PD, Ganesan S, Lewis-Smith D, McKeown SE, Pendziwiat M, Helbig KL, Ellis CA, Rademacher A, Smith L, Poduri A, Seiffert S, von Spiczak S, Muhle H, van Baalen A, Thomas RH, Krause R, Weber Y, Helbig I, Thomas RH, Krause R, Weber Y, Helbig I. Semantic Similarity Analysis Reveals Robust Gene-Disease Relationships in Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 107:683-697. [PMID: 32853554 PMCID: PMC7536581 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 100 genetic etiologies have been identified in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs), but correlating genetic findings with clinical features at scale has remained a hurdle because of a lack of frameworks for analyzing heterogenous clinical data. Here, we analyzed 31,742 Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms in 846 individuals with existing whole-exome trio data and assessed associated clinical features and phenotypic relatedness by using HPO-based semantic similarity analysis for individuals with de novo variants in the same gene. Gene-specific phenotypic signatures included associations of SCN1A with “complex febrile seizures” (HP: 0011172; p = 2.1 × 10−5) and “focal clonic seizures” (HP: 0002266; p = 8.9 × 10−6), STXBP1 with “absent speech” (HP: 0001344; p = 1.3 × 10−11), and SLC6A1 with “EEG with generalized slow activity” (HP: 0010845; p = 0.018). Of 41 genes with de novo variants in two or more individuals, 11 genes showed significant phenotypic similarity, including SCN1A (n = 16, p < 0.0001), STXBP1 (n = 14, p = 0.0021), and KCNB1 (n = 6, p = 0.011). Including genetic and phenotypic data of control subjects increased phenotypic similarity for all genetic etiologies, whereas the probability of observing de novo variants decreased, emphasizing the conceptual differences between semantic similarity analysis and approaches based on the expected number of de novo events. We demonstrate that HPO-based phenotype analysis captures unique profiles for distinct genetic etiologies, reflecting the breadth of the phenotypic spectrum in genetic epilepsies. Semantic similarity can be used to generate statistical evidence for disease causation analogous to the traditional approach of primarily defining disease entities through similar clinical features.
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91
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Rametta SC, Fridinger SE, Gonzalez AK, Xian J, Galer PD, Kaufman M, Prelack MS, Sharif U, Fitzgerald MP, Melamed SE, Malcolm MP, Kessler SK, Stephenson DJ, Banwell BL, Abend NS, Helbig I. Analyzing 2,589 child neurology telehealth encounters necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Neurology 2020; 95:e1257-e1266. [PMID: 32518152 PMCID: PMC7538222 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the rapid implementation of child neurology telehealth outpatient care with the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in March 2020. METHODS This was a cohort study with retrospective comparison of 14,780 in-person encounters and 2,589 telehealth encounters, including 2,093 audio-video telemedicine and 496 scheduled telephone encounters, between October 1, 2019 and April 24, 2020. We compared in-person and telehealth encounters for patient demographics and diagnoses. For audio-video telemedicine encounters, we analyzed questionnaire responses addressing provider experience, follow-up plans, technical quality, need for in-person assessment, and parent/caregiver satisfaction. We performed manual reviews of encounters flagged as concerning by providers. RESULTS There were no differences in patient age and major ICD-10 codes before and after transition. Clinicians considered telemedicine satisfactory in 93% (1,200 of 1,286) of encounters and suggested telemedicine as a component for follow-up care in 89% (1,144 of 1,286) of encounters. Technical challenges were reported in 40% (519 of 1,314) of encounters. In-person assessment was considered warranted after 5% (65 of 1,285) of encounters. Patients/caregivers indicated interest in telemedicine for future care in 86% (187 of 217) of encounters. Participation in telemedicine encounters compared to telephone encounters was less frequent among patients in racial or ethnic minority groups. CONCLUSIONS We effectively converted most of our outpatient care to telehealth encounters, including mostly audio-video telemedicine encounters. Providers rated the vast majority of telemedicine encounters to be satisfactory, and only a small proportion of encounters required short-term in-person follow-up. These findings suggest that telemedicine is feasible and effective for a large proportion of child neurology care. Additional strategies are needed to ensure equitable telemedicine use.
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Adang LA, Pizzino A, Malhotra A, Dubbs H, Williams C, Sherbini O, Anttonen AK, Lesca G, Linnankivi T, Laurencin C, Milh M, Perrine C, Schaaf CP, Poulat AL, Ville D, Hagelstrom T, Perry DL, Taft RJ, Goldstein A, Vossough A, Helbig I, Vanderver A. Phenotypic and Imaging Spectrum Associated With WDR45. Pediatr Neurol 2020; 109:56-62. [PMID: 32387008 PMCID: PMC7387198 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mutations in the X-linked gene WDR45 cause neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 5. Global developmental delay occurs at an early age with slow progression to dystonia, parkinsonism, and dementia due to progressive iron accumulation in the brain. METHODS We present 17 new cases and reviewed 106 reported cases of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation type 5. Detailed information related to developmental history and key time to event measures was collected. RESULTS Within this cohort, there were 19 males. Most individuals were molecularly diagnosed by whole-exome testing. Overall 10 novel variants were identified across 11 subjects. All individuals were affected by developmental delay, most prominently in verbal skills. Most individuals experienced a decline in motor and cognitive skills. Although most individuals were affected by seizures, the spectrum ranged from provoked seizures to intractable epilepsy. The imaging findings varied as well, often evolving over time. The classic iron accumulation in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra was noted in half of our cohort and was associated with older age of image acquisition, whereas myelination abnormalities were associated with younger age. CONCLUSIONS WDR45 mutations lead to a progressive and evolving disorder whose diagnosis is often delayed. Developmental delay and seizures predominate in early childhood, followed by a progressive decline of neurological function. There is variable expressivity in the clinical phenotypes of individuals with WDR45 mutations, suggesting that this gene should be considered in the diagnostic evaluation of children with myelination abnormalities, iron deposition, developmental delay, and epilepsy depending on the age at evaluation.
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93
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Helbig I, Barcia G, Pendziwiat M, Ganesan S, Mueller SH, Helbig KL, Vaidiswaran P, Xian J, Galer PD, Afawi Z, Specchio N, Kluger G, Kuhlenbäumer G, Appenzeller S, Wittig M, Kramer U, van Baalen A, Nabbout R. Whole-exome and HLA sequencing in Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1429-1435. [PMID: 32666661 PMCID: PMC7448193 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Febrile infection‐related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a devastating epilepsy characterized by new‐onset refractory status epilepticus with a prior febrile infection. We performed exome sequencing in 50 individuals with FIRES, including 27 patient–parent trios and 23 single probands, none of whom had pathogenic variants in established genes for epilepsies or neurodevelopmental disorders. We also performed HLA sequencing in 29 individuals with FIRES and 529 controls, which failed to identify prominent HLA alleles. The genetic architecture of FIRES is substantially different from other developmental and epileptic encephalopathies, and the underlying etiology remains elusive, requiring novel approaches to identify the underlying causative factors.
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94
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Zaman T, Helbig KL, Clatot J, Thompson CH, Kang SK, Stouffs K, Jansen AE, Verstraete L, Jacquinet A, Parrini E, Guerrini R, Fujiwara Y, Miyatake S, Ben‐Zeev B, Bassan H, Reish O, Marom D, Hauser N, Vu T, Ackermann S, Spencer CE, Lippa N, Srinivasan S, Charzewska A, Hoffman‐Zacharska D, Fitzpatrick D, Harrison V, Vasudevan P, Joss S, Pilz DT, Fawcett KA, Helbig I, Matsumoto N, Kearney JA, Fry AE, Goldberg EM. SCN3A
‐Related Neurodevelopmental Disorder: A Spectrum of Epilepsy and Brain Malformation. Ann Neurol 2020; 88:348-362. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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95
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Lewis-Smith D, Ellis CA, Helbig I, Thomas RH. Early-onset genetic epilepsies reaching adult clinics. Brain 2020; 143:e19. [PMID: 32203577 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Shefchek KA, Harris NL, Gargano M, Matentzoglu N, Unni D, Brush M, Keith D, Conlin T, Vasilevsky N, Zhang XA, Balhoff JP, Babb L, Bello SM, Blau H, Bradford Y, Carbon S, Carmody L, Chan LE, Cipriani V, Cuzick A, Della Rocca M, Dunn N, Essaid S, Fey P, Grove C, Gourdine JP, Hamosh A, Harris M, Helbig I, Hoatlin M, Joachimiak M, Jupp S, Lett KB, Lewis SE, McNamara C, Pendlington ZM, Pilgrim C, Putman T, Ravanmehr V, Reese J, Riggs E, Robb S, Roncaglia P, Seager J, Segerdell E, Similuk M, Storm AL, Thaxon C, Thessen A, Jacobsen JOB, McMurry JA, Groza T, Köhler S, Smedley D, Robinson PN, Mungall CJ, Haendel MA, Munoz-Torres MC, Osumi-Sutherland D. The Monarch Initiative in 2019: an integrative data and analytic platform connecting phenotypes to genotypes across species. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:D704-D715. [PMID: 31701156 PMCID: PMC7056945 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In biology and biomedicine, relating phenotypic outcomes with genetic variation and environmental factors remains a challenge: patient phenotypes may not match known diseases, candidate variants may be in genes that haven’t been characterized, research organisms may not recapitulate human or veterinary diseases, environmental factors affecting disease outcomes are unknown or undocumented, and many resources must be queried to find potentially significant phenotypic associations. The Monarch Initiative (https://monarchinitiative.org) integrates information on genes, variants, genotypes, phenotypes and diseases in a variety of species, and allows powerful ontology-based search. We develop many widely adopted ontologies that together enable sophisticated computational analysis, mechanistic discovery and diagnostics of Mendelian diseases. Our algorithms and tools are widely used to identify animal models of human disease through phenotypic similarity, for differential diagnostics and to facilitate translational research. Launched in 2015, Monarch has grown with regards to data (new organisms, more sources, better modeling); new API and standards; ontologies (new Mondo unified disease ontology, improvements to ontologies such as HPO and uPheno); user interface (a redesigned website); and community development. Monarch data, algorithms and tools are being used and extended by resources such as GA4GH and NCATS Translator, among others, to aid mechanistic discovery and diagnostics.
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Bayat A, Knaus A, Pendziwiat M, Afenjar A, Barakat TS, Bosch F, Callewaert B, Calvas P, Ceulemans B, Chassaing N, Depienne C, Endziniene M, Ferreira CR, Moura de Souza CF, Freihuber C, Ganesan S, Gataullina S, Guerrini R, Guerrot A, Hansen L, Jezela‐Stanek A, Karsenty C, Kievit A, Kooy FR, Korff CM, Kragh Hansen J, Larsen M, Layet V, Lesca G, McBride KL, Meuwissen M, Mignot C, Montomoli M, Moore H, Naudion S, Nava C, Nougues M, Parrini E, Pastore M, Schelhaas JH, Skinner S, Szczałuba K, Thomas A, Thomassen M, Tranebjærg L, Slegtenhorst M, Wolfe LA, Lal D, Gardella E, Bomme Ousager L, Brünger T, Helbig I, Krawitz P, Møller RS. Lessons learned from 40 novel
PIGA
patients and a review of the literature. Epilepsia 2020; 61:1142-1155. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.16545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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98
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Tang S, Addis L, Smith A, Topp SD, Pendziwiat M, Mei D, Parker A, Agrawal S, Hughes E, Lascelles K, Williams RE, Fallon P, Robinson R, Cross HJ, Hedderly T, Eltze C, Kerr T, Desurkar A, Hussain N, Kinali M, Bagnasco I, Vassallo G, Whitehouse W, Goyal S, Absoud M, Møller RS, Helbig I, Weber YG, Marini C, Guerrini R, Simpson MA, Pal DK. Phenotypic and genetic spectrum of epilepsy with myoclonic atonic seizures. Epilepsia 2020; 61:995-1007. [PMID: 32469098 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe the extent of neurodevelopmental impairments and identify the genetic etiologies in a large cohort of patients with epilepsy with myoclonic atonic seizures (MAE). METHODS We deeply phenotyped MAE patients for epilepsy features, intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using standardized neuropsychological instruments. We performed exome analysis (whole exome sequencing) filtered on epilepsy and neuropsychiatric gene sets to identify genetic etiologies. RESULTS We analyzed 101 patients with MAE (70% male). The median age of seizure onset was 34 months (range = 6-72 months). The main seizure types were myoclonic atonic or atonic in 100%, generalized tonic-clonic in 72%, myoclonic in 69%, absence in 60%, and tonic seizures in 19% of patients. We observed intellectual disability in 62% of patients, with extremely low adaptive behavioral scores in 69%. In addition, 24% exhibited symptoms of autism and 37% exhibited attention-deficit/hyperactivity symptoms. We discovered pathogenic variants in 12 (14%) of 85 patients, including five previously published patients. These were pathogenic genetic variants in SYNGAP1 (n = 3), KIAA2022 (n = 2), and SLC6A1 (n = 2), as well as KCNA2, SCN2A, STX1B, KCNB1, and MECP2 (n = 1 each). We also identified three new candidate genes, ASH1L, CHD4, and SMARCA2 in one patient each. SIGNIFICANCE MAE is associated with significant neurodevelopmental impairment. MAE is genetically heterogeneous, and we identified a pathogenic genetic etiology in 14% of this cohort by exome analysis. These findings suggest that MAE is a manifestation of several etiologies rather than a discrete syndromic entity.
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Tan TY, Sedmík J, Fitzgerald MP, Halevy RS, Keegan LP, Helbig I, Basel-Salmon L, Cohen L, Straussberg R, Chung WK, Helal M, Maroofian R, Houlden H, Juusola J, Sadedin S, Pais L, Howell KB, White SM, Christodoulou J, O'Connell MA. Bi-allelic ADARB1 Variants Associated with Microcephaly, Intellectual Disability, and Seizures. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 106:467-483. [PMID: 32220291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA editing enzyme ADAR2 is essential for the recoding of brain transcripts. Impaired ADAR2 editing leads to early-onset epilepsy and premature death in a mouse model. Here, we report bi-allelic variants in ADARB1, the gene encoding ADAR2, in four unrelated individuals with microcephaly, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. In one individual, a homozygous variant in one of the double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs) was identified. In the others, variants were situated in or around the deaminase domain. To evaluate the effects of these variants on ADAR2 enzymatic activity, we performed in vitro assays with recombinant proteins in HEK293T cells and ex vivo assays with fibroblasts derived from one of the individuals. We demonstrate that these ADAR2 variants lead to reduced editing activity on a known ADAR2 substrate. We also demonstrate that one variant leads to changes in splicing of ADARB1 transcript isoforms. These findings reinforce the importance of RNA editing in brain development and introduce ADARB1 as a genetic etiology in individuals with intellectual disability, microcephaly, and epilepsy.
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Lal D, May P, Perez-Palma E, Samocha KE, Kosmicki JA, Robinson EB, Møller RS, Krause R, Nürnberg P, Weckhuysen S, De Jonghe P, Guerrini R, Niestroj LM, Du J, Marini C, Ware JS, Kurki M, Gormley P, Tang S, Wu S, Biskup S, Poduri A, Neubauer BA, Koeleman BPC, Helbig KL, Weber YG, Helbig I, Majithia AR, Palotie A, Daly MJ. Gene family information facilitates variant interpretation and identification of disease-associated genes in neurodevelopmental disorders. Genome Med 2020; 12:28. [PMID: 32183904 PMCID: PMC7079346 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-020-00725-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Classifying pathogenicity of missense variants represents a major challenge in clinical practice during the diagnoses of rare and genetic heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). While orthologous gene conservation is commonly employed in variant annotation, approximately 80% of known disease-associated genes belong to gene families. The use of gene family information for disease gene discovery and variant interpretation has not yet been investigated on a genome-wide scale. We empirically evaluate whether paralog-conserved or non-conserved sites in human gene families are important in NDDs. METHODS Gene family information was collected from Ensembl. Paralog-conserved sites were defined based on paralog sequence alignments; 10,068 NDD patients and 2078 controls were statistically evaluated for de novo variant burden in gene families. RESULTS We demonstrate that disease-associated missense variants are enriched at paralog-conserved sites across all disease groups and inheritance models tested. We developed a gene family de novo enrichment framework that identified 43 exome-wide enriched gene families including 98 de novo variant carrying genes in NDD patients of which 28 represent novel candidate genes for NDD which are brain expressed and under evolutionary constraint. CONCLUSION This study represents the first method to incorporate gene family information into a statistical framework to interpret variant data for NDDs and to discover new NDD-associated genes.
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