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Harris JR, Gao CW, Britton JF, Applegate CD, Bjornsson HT, Fahrner JA. Five years of experience in the Epigenetics and Chromatin Clinic: what have we learned and where do we go from here? Hum Genet 2024; 143:607-624. [PMID: 36952035 PMCID: PMC10034257 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02537-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
The multidisciplinary Epigenetics and Chromatin Clinic at Johns Hopkins provides comprehensive medical care for individuals with rare disorders that involve disrupted epigenetics. Initially centered on classical imprinting disorders, the focus shifted to the rapidly emerging group of genetic disorders resulting from pathogenic germline variants in epigenetic machinery genes. These are collectively called the Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery (MDEMs), or more broadly, Chromatinopathies. In five years, 741 clinic visits have been completed for 432 individual patients, with 153 having confirmed epigenetic diagnoses. Of these, 115 individuals have one of 26 MDEMs with every single one exhibiting global developmental delay and/or intellectual disability. This supports prior observations that intellectual disability is the most common phenotypic feature of MDEMs. Additional common phenotypes in our clinic include growth abnormalities and neurodevelopmental issues, particularly hypotonia, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and anxiety, with seizures and autism being less common. Overall, our patient population is representative of the broader group of MDEMs and includes mostly autosomal dominant disorders impacting writers more so than erasers, readers, and remodelers of chromatin marks. There is an increased representation of dual function components with a reader and an enzymatic domain. As expected, diagnoses were made mostly by sequencing but were aided in some cases by DNA methylation profiling. Our clinic has helped to facilitate the discovery of two new disorders, and our providers are actively developing and implementing novel therapeutic strategies for MDEMs. These data and our high follow-up rate of over 60% suggest that we are achieving our mission to diagnose, learn from, and provide optimal care for our patients with disrupted epigenetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R Harris
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Christine W Gao
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Johns Hopkins Medical Scientist Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacquelyn F Britton
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carolyn D Applegate
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hans T Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jill A Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Ng R, Bjornsson HT, Fahrner JA, Harris J. Associations Between Executive Functioning, Behavioral Functioning, and Adaptive Functioning Difficulties in Wiedemann-Steiner Syndrome. Arch Clin Neuropsychol 2024; 39:186-195. [PMID: 37565480 PMCID: PMC10879922 DOI: 10.1093/arclin/acad060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS) is a neurogenetic disorder caused by heterozygous variants in KMT2A. Recent investigations suggest increased anxiety and behavior regulation challenges among those with WSS although the neurobehavioral phenotype remains largely unknown. This study aims to examine the pattern of and associations between executive functioning (EF) and behavior functioning among those with WSS. METHOD This study involved utilizing caregiver-report inventories (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2nd Edition, BRIEF-2; Adaptive Behavior Assessment 3rd Edition, ABAS-3; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, SDQ) to assess day-to-day behavior functioning among those with WSS (N = 24; mean age = 10.68 years, SD = 3.19). Frequency of clinical elevations in daily difficulties in EF, adaptive behaviors, and behavior regulation were reported. Correlations and hierarchical linear regressions were used to determine the relationships between EF with behavior and adaptive functioning. RESULTS Out of our sample, 63% met clinical levels of executive functioning difficulties on the BRIEF-2, and 75% with Hyperactivity and 54% with Emotional Problems on the SDQ. In addition, 33% were rated >2 SD below the normative mean in overall adaptive functioning on the ABAS-3. Elevated ratings in BRIEF-2 Shift, reflective of challenges with mental flexibility, predicted more Emotional Problems and accounted for 33.5% of its variance. More difficulties in Emotional Control were related to greater adaptive deficits, accounting for 33.3% of its variance. CONCLUSIONS Those with WSS are at risk for EF deficits, hyperactivity, and emotional dysregulation. EF correlates with adaptive and affective behaviors, highlighting the promise of behavioral interventions to target cognitive flexibility, emotional awareness, and reactivity in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hans Tomas Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jill A Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Silveira HG, Steiner CE, Toccoli G, Angeloni LL, Heleno JL, Spineli-Silva S, dos Santos AM, Vieira TP, Melaragno MI, Gil-da-Silva-Lopes VL. Variants in KMT2A in Three Individuals with Previous Suspicion of 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:211. [PMID: 38397201 PMCID: PMC10888166 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The condition known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (MIM #188400) is a rare disease with a highly variable clinical presentation including more than 180 features; specific guidelines for screening individuals have been used to support clinical suspicion before confirmatory tests by Brazil's Craniofacial Project. Of the 2568 patients listed in the Brazilian Database on Craniofacial Anomalies, 43 individuals negative for the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome were further investigated through whole-exome sequencing. Three patients (6.7%) presented with heterozygous pathogenic variants in the KMT2A gene, including a novel variant (c.6158+1del) and two that had been previously reported (c.173dup and c.3241C>T); reverse phenotyping concluded that all three patients presented features of Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and dysmorphic facial features (n = 3), hyperactivity and anxiety (n = 2), thick eyebrows and lower-limb hypertrichosis (n = 2), congenital heart disease (n = 1), short stature (n = 1), and velopharyngeal insufficiency (n = 2). Overlapping features between 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome comprised neuropsychiatric disorders and dysmorphic characteristics involving the eyes and nose region; velopharyngeal insufficiency was seen in two patients and is an unreported finding in WDSTS. Therefore, we suggest that both conditions should be included in each other's differential diagnoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Garcia Silveira
- Disciplina de Genética, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil; (H.G.S.); (G.T.); (M.I.M.)
| | - Carlos Eduardo Steiner
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
| | - Giovana Toccoli
- Disciplina de Genética, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil; (H.G.S.); (G.T.); (M.I.M.)
| | - Luise Longo Angeloni
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
| | - Júlia Lôndero Heleno
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
| | - Samira Spineli-Silva
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
| | - Ana Mondadori dos Santos
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
- Faculdade São Leopoldo Mandic (SLMandic), Campinas 13045-755, Brazil
| | - Társis Paiva Vieira
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
| | - Maria Isabel Melaragno
- Disciplina de Genética, Departamento de Morfologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo 04023-062, Brazil; (H.G.S.); (G.T.); (M.I.M.)
| | - Vera Lúcia Gil-da-Silva-Lopes
- Genética Médica e Medicina Genômica, Departamento de Medicina Translacional, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas 13083-970, Brazil; (C.E.S.); (L.L.A.); (J.L.H.); (S.S.-S.); (A.M.d.S.); (T.P.V.)
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Ng R, Kalinousky A, Fahrner JA, Bjornsson HT, Harris J. The social phenotype associated with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome: Autistic traits juxtaposed with high social drive and prosociality. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:2591-2601. [PMID: 37470210 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to provide a descriptive overview of the social characteristics associated with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome (WSS). A total of 24 parents of children/adults with WSS (11F, mean age = 12.94 years, SD = 8.00) completed the Social Responsiveness Scale 2nd Edition (SRS-2); Colorado Learning Difficulties Questionnaire (CLDQ) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Almost half our sample reported a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 70% had intellectual disability. On the SDQ, over 90% of participants were rated in borderline/clinical ranges in Peer Problems, yet the majority fell within normal limits in Prosocial Behaviors. Most fell in the moderate/severe difficulties ranges across SRS-2 Social Cognition, Communication, and Restricted/Repetitive Behaviors scales (all >70%); whereas substantially less participants met these ranges for deficits in Social Awareness (50%) and Social Motivation (33.33%). A pattern of relatively strong prosocial skills and social drive in the context of difficulties with inflexible behaviors, social cognition, and communication was observed, regardless of gender, ASD or intellectual disability diagnosis. The social phenotype associated with WSS is characterized by some autistic features paired with unusually high social motivation and prosocial tendencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Allison Kalinousky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jill A Fahrner
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hans Tomas Bjornsson
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
- Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Ng R, Kalinousky A, Harris J. Epigenetics of cognition and behavior: insights from Mendelian disorders of epigenetic machinery. J Neurodev Disord 2023; 15:16. [PMID: 37245029 PMCID: PMC10224589 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-023-09482-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics, one mechanism by which gene expression can change without any changes to the DNA sequence, was described nearly a century ago. However, the importance of epigenetic processes to neurodevelopment and higher order neurological functions like cognition and behavior is only now being realized. A group of disorders known as the Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery are caused by the altered function of epigenetic machinery proteins, which consequently affects downstream expression of many genes. These disorders almost universally have cognitive dysfunction and behavioral issues as core features. Here, we review what is known about the neurodevelopmental phenotypes of some key examples of these disorders divided into categories based on the underlying function of the affected protein. Understanding these Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery can illuminate the role of epigenetic regulation in typical brain function and can lead to future therapies and better management for a host of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Ng
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allison Kalinousky
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacqueline Harris
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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