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Posar A, Visconti P. Continuous Spike-Waves during Slow Sleep Today: An Update. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:169. [PMID: 38397281 PMCID: PMC10887038 DOI: 10.3390/children11020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
In the context of childhood epilepsy, the concept of continuous spike-waves during slow sleep (CSWS) includes several childhood-onset heterogeneous conditions that share electroencephalograms (EEGs) characterized by a high frequency of paroxysmal abnormalities during sleep, which have negative effects on the cognitive development and behavior of the child. These negative effects may have the characteristics of a clear regression or of a slowdown in development. Seizures are very often present, but not constantly. The above makes it clear why CSWS have been included in epileptic encephalopathies, in which, by definition, frequent EEG paroxysmal abnormalities have an unfavorable impact on cognitive functions, including socio-communicative skills, causing autistic features, even regardless of the presence of clinically overt seizures. Although several decades have passed since the original descriptions of the electroclinical condition of CSWS, there are still many areas that are little-known and deserve to be further studied, including the EEG diagnostic criteria, the most effective electrophysiological parameter for monitoring the role of the thalamus in CSWS pathogenesis, its long-term evolution, the nosographic location of Landau-Kleffner syndrome, standardized neuropsychological and behavioral assessments, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annio Posar
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOSI Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, 40139 Bologna, Italy;
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Bologna University, 40139 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Visconti
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, UOSI Disturbi dello Spettro Autistico, 40139 Bologna, Italy;
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2
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Primiani CT, Lee JK, O’Brien CE, Chen MW, Perin J, Kulikowicz E, Santos P, Adams S, Lester B, Rivera-Diaz N, Olberding V, Niedzwiecki MV, Ritzl EK, Habela CW, Liu X, Yang ZJ, Koehler RC, Martin LJ. Hypothermic Protection in Neocortex Is Topographic and Laminar, Seizure Unmitigating, and Partially Rescues Neurons Depleted of RNA Splicing Protein Rbfox3/NeuN in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Male Piglets. Cells 2023; 12:2454. [PMID: 37887298 PMCID: PMC10605428 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202454] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The effects of hypothermia on neonatal encephalopathy may vary topographically and cytopathologically in the neocortex with manifestations potentially influenced by seizures that alter the severity, distribution, and type of neuropathology. We developed a neonatal piglet survival model of hypoxic-ischemic (HI) encephalopathy and hypothermia (HT) with continuous electroencephalography (cEEG) for seizures. Neonatal male piglets received HI-normothermia (NT), HI-HT, sham-NT, or sham-HT treatments. Randomized unmedicated sham and HI piglets underwent cEEG during recovery. Survival was 2-7 days. Normal and pathological neurons were counted in different neocortical areas, identified by cytoarchitecture and connectomics, using hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunohistochemistry for RNA-binding FOX-1 homolog 3 (Rbfox3/NeuN). Seizure burden was determined. HI-NT piglets had a reduced normal/total neuron ratio and increased ischemic-necrotic/total neuron ratio relative to sham-NT and sham-HT piglets with differing severities in the anterior and posterior motor, somatosensory, and frontal cortices. Neocortical neuropathology was attenuated by HT. HT protection was prominent in layer III of the inferior parietal cortex. Rbfox3 immunoreactivity distinguished cortical neurons as: Rbfox3-positive/normal, Rbfox3-positive/ischemic-necrotic, and Rbfox3-depleted. HI piglets had an increased Rbfox3-depleted/total neuron ratio in layers II and III compared to sham-NT piglets. Neuronal Rbfox3 depletion was partly rescued by HT. Seizure burdens in HI-NT and HI-HT piglets were similar. We conclude that the neonatal HI piglet neocortex has: (1) suprasylvian vulnerability to HI and seizures; (2) a limited neuronal cytopathological repertoire in functionally different regions that engages protective mechanisms with HT; (3) higher seizure burden, insensitive to HT, that is correlated with more panlaminar ischemic-necrotic neurons in the somatosensory cortex; and (4) pathological RNA splicing protein nuclear depletion that is sensitive to HT. This work demonstrates that HT protection of the neocortex in neonatal HI is topographic and laminar, seizure unmitigating, and restores neuronal depletion of RNA splicing factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher T. Primiani
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
| | - Jennifer K. Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Caitlin E. O’Brien
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - May W. Chen
- Department Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
| | - Jamie Perin
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
| | - Ewa Kulikowicz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Polan Santos
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Shawn Adams
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Bailey Lester
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Natalia Rivera-Diaz
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Valerie Olberding
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Mark V. Niedzwiecki
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Eva K. Ritzl
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
| | - Christa W. Habela
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
| | - Xiuyun Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Zeng-Jin Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Raymond C. Koehler
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
| | - Lee J. Martin
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA; (J.K.L.); (E.K.); (V.O.); (M.V.N.)
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
- The Pathobiology Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA
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3
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Genetic aetiologies for childhood speech disorder: novel pathways co-expressed during brain development. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 28:1647-1663. [PMID: 36117209 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01764-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), the prototypic severe childhood speech disorder, is characterized by motor programming and planning deficits. Genetic factors make substantive contributions to CAS aetiology, with a monogenic pathogenic variant identified in a third of cases, implicating around 20 single genes to date. Here we aimed to identify molecular causation in 70 unrelated probands ascertained with CAS. We performed trio genome sequencing. Our bioinformatic analysis examined single nucleotide, indel, copy number, structural and short tandem repeat variants. We prioritised appropriate variants arising de novo or inherited that were expected to be damaging based on in silico predictions. We identified high confidence variants in 18/70 (26%) probands, almost doubling the current number of candidate genes for CAS. Three of the 18 variants affected SETBP1, SETD1A and DDX3X, thus confirming their roles in CAS, while the remaining 15 occurred in genes not previously associated with this disorder. Fifteen variants arose de novo and three were inherited. We provide further novel insights into the biology of child speech disorder, highlighting the roles of chromatin organization and gene regulation in CAS, and confirm that genes involved in CAS are co-expressed during brain development. Our findings confirm a diagnostic yield comparable to, or even higher, than other neurodevelopmental disorders with substantial de novo variant burden. Data also support the increasingly recognised overlaps between genes conferring risk for a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Understanding the aetiological basis of CAS is critical to end the diagnostic odyssey and ensure affected individuals are poised for precision medicine trials.
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Elmasri M, Hunter DW, Winchester G, Bates EE, Aziz W, Van Der Does DM, Karachaliou E, Sakimura K, Penn AC. Common synaptic phenotypes arising from diverse mutations in the human NMDA receptor subunit GluN2A. Commun Biol 2022; 5:174. [PMID: 35228668 PMCID: PMC8885697 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03115-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dominant mutations in the human gene GRIN2A, encoding NMDA receptor (NMDAR) subunit GluN2A, make a significant and growing contribution to the catalogue of published single-gene epilepsies. Understanding the disease mechanism in these epilepsy patients is complicated by the surprising diversity of effects that the mutations have on NMDARs. Here we have examined the cell-autonomous effect of five GluN2A mutations, 3 loss-of-function and 2 gain-of-function, on evoked NMDAR-mediated synaptic currents (NMDA-EPSCs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons in cultured hippocampal slices. Despite the mutants differing in their functional incorporation at synapses, prolonged NMDA-EPSC current decays (with only marginal changes in charge transfer) were a common effect for both gain- and loss-of-function mutants. Modelling NMDA-EPSCs with mutant properties in a CA1 neuron revealed that the effect of GRIN2A mutations can lead to abnormal temporal integration and spine calcium dynamics during trains of concerted synaptic activity. Investigations beyond establishing the molecular defects of GluN2A mutants are much needed to understand their impact on synaptic transmission. The cell-autonomous effect of five severe loss- or gain-of-function GluN2A (NMDA receptor) mutations is assessed on evoked NMDAR-mediated synaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurons in cultured mouse hippocampal slices. Data and modelling suggest that mutant-like NMDA-EPSCs can lead to abnormal temporal summation and spine calcium dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Elmasri
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Daniel William Hunter
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Giles Winchester
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Ella Emine Bates
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Wajeeha Aziz
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | | | - Eirini Karachaliou
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8585, Japan
| | - Andrew Charles Penn
- Sussex Neuroscience, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK.
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5
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Sapuppo A, Portale L, Massimino CR, Presti S, Tardino L, Marino S, Polizzi A, Falsaperla R, Praticò AD. GRIN2A and GRIN2B and Their Related Phenotypes. JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
AbstractGlutamate is the most relevant excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system; it binds with several receptors, including N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor that displays voltage-dependent block by Mg2+ and a high permeability to Ca2+. GRIN2A and GRIN2B genes encode the GluN2A and GluN2B subunits of the NMDARs, which play important roles in synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and synaptic plasticity, as well as contributing to neuronal loss and dysfunction in several neurological disorders. Recently, individuals with a range of childhood-onset drug-resistant epilepsies, such as Landau–Kleffner or Lennox–Gastaut syndrome, intellectual disability (ID), and other neurodevelopmental abnormalities have been found to carry mutations in GRIN2A and GRIN2B, with high variable expressivity in phenotype. The first one is found mainly in epilepsy-aphasia syndromes, while the second one mainly in autism, schizophrenia, and ID, such as autism spectrum disorders. Brain magnetic resonance imaging alterations are found in some patients, even if without a clear clinical correlation. At the same time, increasing data on genotype–phenotype correlation have been found, but this is still not fully demonstrated. There are no specific therapies for the treatment of correlated NMDARs epilepsy, although some evidence with memantine, an antagonist of glutamate receptor, is reported in the literature in selected cases with mutation determining a gain of function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Sapuppo
- Pediatrics Postgraduate Residency Program, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Laura Portale
- Pediatrics Postgraduate Residency Program, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Carmela R. Massimino
- Pediatrics Postgraduate Residency Program, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Santiago Presti
- Pediatrics Postgraduate Residency Program, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Lucia Tardino
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital “Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco,” Catania, Italy
| | - Simona Marino
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital “Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco,” Catania, Italy
| | - Agata Polizzi
- Chair of Pediatrics, Department of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Raffaele Falsaperla
- Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital “Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco,” Catania, Italy
- Unit of Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Hospital “Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco,” Catania, Italy
| | - Andrea D. Praticò
- Unit of Rare Diseases of the Nervous Systemin Childhood, Section of Pediatrics and Child Neuropsychiatry, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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6
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Alawadhi A, Morgan AT, Mucha BE, Scheffer IE, Myers KA. Self-limited focal epilepsy and childhood apraxia of speech with WAC pathogenic variants. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2021; 30:25-28. [PMID: 33387902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygous pathogenic WAC variants cause Desanto-Shinawi syndrome; affected patients have dysmorphic features, developmental impairment and behavioral abnormalities. Seizures are reported in one quarter, including tonic-clonic, absence, and febrile seizures. This study aimed to better understand the phenotypic spectrum of epilepsy and development in Desanto-Shinawi syndrome. We identified four children with seizures and pathogenic WAC variants, including two siblings. All had global developmental impairment with language affected most severely; two had diagnoses of childhood apraxia of speech and two had autism spectrum disorder. Seizure onset age ranged from six months to 14 years. Seizures always occurred from sleep and were focal impaired awareness with motor features in three patients, with one having bilateral tonic-clonic seizures of suspected focal onset. Two patients had spontaneous seizure resolution without treatment, and the remaining two were well-controlled on monotherapy. EEG was normal in two patients; one had focal right frontal spikes in drowsiness and sleep while the last had independent centrotemporal spikes from both hemispheres, activated in sleep. All patients had heterozygous truncating pathogenic WAC variants, with negative parental testing. The findings in this cohort of patients suggest that epilepsy in Desanto-Shinawi syndrome is usually focal and self-limited, and may fall within the epilepsy-aphasia spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulla Alawadhi
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Angela T Morgan
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Flemington, Victoria, Australia; Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bettina E Mucha
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Specialized Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Children's Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Flemington, Victoria, Australia; Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of Medicine, The University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kenneth A Myers
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Department of Neurology & Neurosurgery, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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7
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Li X, Xie LL, Han W, Hong SQ, Ma JN, Wang J, Jiang L. Clinical Forms and GRIN2A Genotype of Severe End of Epileptic-Aphasia Spectrum Disorder. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:574803. [PMID: 33240831 PMCID: PMC7677254 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.574803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze the electroclinical characteristics and gene test results of children on the severe end of the epilepsy aphasia spectrum (EAS) and also the correlation of EAS-related GRIN2A genes to explore the genotype-phenotype relationships, as well as potential pathogenic mechanism of EAS. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on the participants diagnosed with Landau-Kleffner syndrome (LKS), epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep (CSWS), and atypical benign partial epilepsy (ABPE) at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from January 2013 to June 2019. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in six patients, and epileptic panel was carried out in two. In addition, we reviewed all the published literatures reporting EAS patients with pathogenic variants until June 2019 and conducted Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, as well as protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Results: The mean age at seizure onset was 55.4 ± 27.0 months. The baseline severity of the spike-wave index (SWI) was not significantly correlated with intellectual disability (ID) level. Two pathogenic de novo GRIN2A null variants were identified in patients with ABPE who had less severe ID, despite the electrical status epilepticus during slow-wave sleep (ESES). By literature reviewing, 18 GRIN2A missense mutations and 11 GRIN2A truncating mutations which lead to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors' loss of function has been reported. Of these mutations, 9 (31.0%) are situated in amino (N)-terminal domain, 6 (20.7%) in linger-binding domain S1, and 10 (34.5%) in linger-binding domain S2. EAS-related genes were enriched in the biological process of chemical synaptic transmission and vocalization (FDR, <0.01). The hub protein in PPI network is GluN2A, which might affect language function via foxp2-srpx2/uPAR signal network. Conclusion: Our data suggested that when children suspected with benign epilepsy of children with centrotemporal spikes (BECTs) have early-onset age, changed seizure semiology, and deterioration of behavior/cognition/motor function, neurologists should be alert of the appearance of ESES. The neuropsychological deterioration in children with EAS might not only be completely affected by electric discharge severity but also genetic etiology. Our finding also enforced the current genotype-phenotype relationship theory about EAS. For EAS children, GRIN2A-FOXP2-SRPX2/uPAR signal network might contribute to the mechanism of their language deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Li
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Ling-Ling Xie
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Han
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Si-Qi Hong
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian-Nan Ma
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Chongqing, China
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8
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Lee JY, Lee BL. Atypical Benign Partial Epilepsy of Childhood Treated with Prednisolone and Ethosuximide. ANNALS OF CHILD NEUROLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.26815/acn.2019.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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9
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Ma F, Dong Z, Berberoglu MA. Expression of RNA-binding protein Rbfox1l demarcates a restricted population of dorsal telencephalic neurons within the adult zebrafish brain. Gene Expr Patterns 2019; 31:32-41. [PMID: 30634066 DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2019.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Rbfox RNA-binding proteins are expressed in the adult mammalian brain and are required for proper brain development and function. Studies in mice and humans have implicated Rbfox1/RBFOX1 in autism, neuronal excitation and epilepsy, and Rbfox2/RBFOX2 in cerebellar development. The zebrafish has emerged as a prominent model system for brain study, possessing neuroanatomical conservation with mammals and an extensive capacity for adult neurogenesis and plasticity. In this study, we characterize Rbfox1l and Rbfox2 expression in the adult zebrafish brain. While Rbfox2 is expressed broadly, Rbfox1l is expressed in restricted populations of neurons in the dorsal telencephalon and cerebellum. In the dorsal telencephalon, Rbfox1l is expressed in a specific population of neurons spanning Dm and Dc regions. In the cerebellum, Rbfox1l and Rbfox2 are expressed in the Purkinje cell layer, reminiscent of Rbfox1 and Rbfox2 expression in the mammalian cerebellum. Our findings motivate future studies of Rbfox function in the zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjun Ma
- Bio-Medical Center, College of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- Bio-Medical Center, College of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China
| | - Michael A Berberoglu
- Bio-Medical Center, College of Life Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, Hubei, China; Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Pharmacology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; Center for Muscle Health and Neuromuscular Disorders, The Ohio State University, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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10
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Shriberg LD, Strand EA, Jakielski KJ, Mabie HL. Estimates of the prevalence of speech and motor speech disorders in persons with complex neurodevelopmental disorders. CLINICAL LINGUISTICS & PHONETICS 2019; 33:707-736. [PMID: 31221012 PMCID: PMC6633911 DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2019.1595732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Estimates of the prevalence of speech and motor speech disorders in persons with complex neurodevelopmental disorders (CND) can inform research in the biobehavioural origins and treatment of CND. The goal of this research was to use measures and analytics in a diagnostic classification system to estimate the prevalence of speech and motor speech disorders in convenience samples of speakers with one of eight types of CND. Audio-recorded conversational speech samples from 346 participants with one of eight types of CND were obtained from a database of participants recruited for genetic and behavioural studies of speech sound disorders (i.e., excluding dysfluency) during the past three decades. Data reduction methods for the speech samples included narrow phonetic transcription, prosody-voice coding, and acoustic analyses. Standardized measures were used to cross-classify participants' speech and motor speech status. Compared to the 17.8% prevalence of four types of motor speech disorders reported in a study of 415 participants with idiopathic Speech Delay (SD), 47.7% of the present participants with CND met criteria for one of four motor speech disorders, including Speech Motor Delay (25.1%), Childhood Dysarthria (13.3%), Childhood Apraxia of Speech (4.3%), and concurrent Childhood Dysarthria and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (4.9%). Findings are interpreted to indicate a substantial prevalence of speech disorders, and notably, a substantial prevalence of motor speech disorders in persons with some types of CND. We suggest that diagnostic classification information from standardized motor speech assessment protocols can contribute to research in the pathobiologies of CND. Abbreviations: 16p: 16p11.2 deletion and duplication syndrome; 22q: 22q11.2 deletion syndrome; ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder; CAS: Childhood Apraxia of Speech; CD: Childhood Dysarthria; CND: Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder; DS: Down syndrome; FXS: Fragile X syndrome; GAL: Galactosemia; IID: Idiopathic Intellectual Disability; MSD: Motor Speech Disorder; No MSD: No Motor Speech Disorder; NSA: Normal(ized) Speech Acquisition; PEPPER: Programs to Examine Phonetic and Phonologic Evaluation Records; PSD: Persistent Speech Delay; PSE: Persistent Speech Errors; SD: Speech Delay; SDCS: Speech Disorders Classification System; SDCSS: Speech Disorders Classification System Summary; SE: Speech Errors; SMD: Speech Motor Delay; SSD: Speech Sound Disorders; TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence D. Shriberg
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research
Center, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Kathy J. Jakielski
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders,
Augustana College, Rock Island, IL, USA
| | - Heather L. Mabie
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research
Center, Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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11
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Morgan AT, Webster R. Aetiology of childhood apraxia of speech: A clinical practice update for paediatricians. J Paediatr Child Health 2018; 54:1090-1095. [PMID: 30294994 DOI: 10.1111/jpc.14150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare disorder of childhood that can leave a watermark of the impacts throughout the lifetime. Since being first described in the 1950s, aetiological insights have been limited. At a neurobiological level, clinical MRI scans fail to reveal overt neural anomalies in individual cases with CAS, although quantitative MRI methods have revealed subtle brain anomalies at a group level. Dramatic insights, however, occurred in the past decade from the discovery of genetic pathways underlying the phenotype. Several single genes and copy number-variant conditions are now associated with CAS either in relative isolation, as in the case of FOXP2 variants, or most typically in association with other neurodevelopmental conditions, such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, motor impairment and autism. CAS requires careful differential diagnosis from other childhood speech disorders, but when a severe and persistent diagnosis is confirmed, a genetic aetiology should increasingly be pursued.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela T Morgan
- Speech and Language, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Webster
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Epilepsy syndromes are an important clinical construct in pediatric epilepsy, as they encompass recognizable patterns seen in patients with epilepsies, whether of the more benign variety or associated with encephalopathy. RECENT FINDINGS Syndromes may be organized by age of onset: neonatal, infantile, childhood, or adolescent. The assignment of a syndrome has specific implications for diagnosis, management, and prognostication. The 2010 revised classification of the epilepsies by the International League Against Epilepsy preserved the syndrome approach, while progress in genetics continues to advance our understanding of the pathophysiology and overlap of the epilepsy syndromes. SUMMARY Given that mutations of the same gene may cause both encephalopathic and relatively benign epilepsies, an understanding of the pediatric epilepsy syndromes remains vital to patient care.
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13
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GWAS reveals loci associated with velopharyngeal dysfunction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8470. [PMID: 29855589 PMCID: PMC5981322 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-26880-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) occurs when the muscular soft palate (velum) and lateral pharyngeal walls are physically unable to separate the oral and nasal cavities during speech production leading to hypernasality and abnormal speech reduction. Because VPD is often associated with overt or submucous cleft palate, it could be present as a subclinical phenotype in families with a history of orofacial clefting. A key assumption to this model is that the overt and subclinical manifestations of the orofacial cleft phenotype exist on a continuum and therefore share common etiological factors. We performed a genome-wide association study in 976 unaffected relatives of isolated CP probands, 54 of whom had VPD. Five loci were significantly (p < 5 × 10-8) associated with VPD: 3q29, 9p21.1, 12q21.31, 16p12.3 and 16p13.3. An additional 15 loci showing suggestive evidence of association with VPD were observed. Several genes known to be involved in orofacial clefting and craniofacial development are located in these regions, such as TFRC, PCYT1A, BNC2 and FREM1. Although further research is necessary, this could be an indication for a potential shared genetic architecture between VPD and cleft palate, and supporting the hypothesis that VPD is a subclinical phenotype of orofacial clefting.
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14
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Coton J, Labalme A, Till M, Bussy G, Krifi Papoz S, Lesca G, Heron D, Sanlaville D, Edery P, des Portes V, Rossi M. Characterization of two familial cases presenting with a syndromic specific learning disorder and carrying (17q;21q) unbalanced translocations. Clin Case Rep 2018; 6:827-834. [PMID: 29744066 PMCID: PMC5930267 DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.1450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 01/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal microarray (CMA) can detect pathogenic copy number variations in 15–20% of individuals with intellectual disability and in 10% of patients with autism spectrum disorders. The diagnostic rate in specific learning disorders (SLD) is unknown. Our study emphasizes the usefulness of CMA in the diagnostic workout assessment of familial SLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Coton
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
| | - Audrey Labalme
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
| | - Marianne Till
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
| | - Gerald Bussy
- Service de Neuropédiatrie; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
- Service de Génétique; CHU de Saint Etienne; Saint Etienne France
| | | | - Gaetan Lesca
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon; INSERM U1028 CNRS UMR5292, GENDEV Team; Bron France
| | - Delphine Heron
- Département de Génétique et Centre de Référence « Déficiences intellectuelles de causes rares »; AP-HP, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière et GRC-Génétique des Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes rares; Université Pierre et Marie Curie; F-75013 Paris France
| | - Damien Sanlaville
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon; INSERM U1028 CNRS UMR5292, GENDEV Team; Bron France
| | - Patrick Edery
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon; INSERM U1028 CNRS UMR5292, GENDEV Team; Bron France
| | | | - Massimiliano Rossi
- Centre de référence des anomalies du développement; Service de Génétique; Hospices Civils de Lyon; Bron France
- Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon; INSERM U1028 CNRS UMR5292, GENDEV Team; Bron France
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15
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Baumer FM, Cardon AL, Porter BE. Language Dysfunction in Pediatric Epilepsy. J Pediatr 2018; 194:13-21. [PMID: 29241678 PMCID: PMC5826845 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fiona M Baumer
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA.
| | - Aaron L Cardon
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Brenda E Porter
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA
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16
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Mozzi A, Forni D, Cagliani R, Pozzoli U, Clerici M, Sironi M. Distinct selective forces and Neanderthal introgression shaped genetic diversity at genes involved in neurodevelopmental disorders. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6116. [PMID: 28733602 PMCID: PMC5522412 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06440-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to high intelligence, humans evolved specialized social-cognitive skills, which are specifically affected in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Genes affected in ASD represent suitable candidates to study the evolution of human social cognition. We performed an evolutionary analysis on 68 genes associated to neurodevelopmental disorders; our data indicate that genetic diversity was shaped by distinct selective forces, including natural selection and introgression from archaic hominins. We discuss the possibility that segregation distortion during spermatogenesis accounts for a subset of ASD mutations. Finally, we detected modern-human-specific alleles in DYRK1A and TCF4. These variants are located within regions that display chromatin features typical of transcriptional enhancers in several brain areas, strongly suggesting a regulatory role. These SNPs thus represent candidates for association with neurodevelopmental disorders, and await experimental validation in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Mozzi
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy.
| | - Diego Forni
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Rachele Cagliani
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Uberto Pozzoli
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20090, Milan, Italy.,Don C. Gnocchi Foundation ONLUS, IRCCS, 20100, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Sironi
- Bioinformatics, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, 23842, Bosisio Parini, Italy
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17
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Lee YJ, Hwang SK, Kwon S. The Clinical Spectrum of Benign Epilepsy with Centro-Temporal Spikes: a Challenge in Categorization and Predictability. J Epilepsy Res 2017; 7:1-6. [PMID: 28775948 PMCID: PMC5540684 DOI: 10.14581/jer.17001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS) is the most common type of focal epilepsy in children; it is age-dependent and presumably genetic. Traditionally, children with BECTS have a very good prognosis, even without medical treatment, and are thought to show no neurological symptoms or cognitive deficits. However, many previous studies have shown that BECTS can present with various clinical and electroencephalographic characteristics that are commonly associated with neuropsychological deficits, including linguistic, cognitive, and behavioral impairment. The degree of the neuropsychological deficits appears to depend on the sleep cycle and the localization of epileptiform discharges. Furthermore, based on neurobiological studies, a complex interplay between the processes of brain maturation and the involvement of genes that confer susceptibility may contribute to a variety of different childhood epileptic syndromes with various neuropsychological deficits. Thus, BECTS, atypical benign focal epilepsy during childhood, status epilepticus of BECTS, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, and epileptic encephalopathy with continuous spike-and-wave during sleep are all considered different entities, but are part of a single spectrum of disorders. In clinical practice, we have to consider BECTS as benign only when there are no or only mild neuropsychological deficits before medical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Jeong Lee
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Su Kyeong Hwang
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Soonhak Kwon
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Kyungpook National University Children's Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
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18
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Chen XS, Reader RH, Hoischen A, Veltman JA, Simpson NH, Francks C, Newbury DF, Fisher SE. Next-generation DNA sequencing identifies novel gene variants and pathways involved in specific language impairment. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46105. [PMID: 28440294 PMCID: PMC5404330 DOI: 10.1038/srep46105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A significant proportion of children have unexplained problems acquiring proficient linguistic skills despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. Developmental language disorders are highly heritable with substantial societal impact. Molecular studies have begun to identify candidate loci, but much of the underlying genetic architecture remains undetermined. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 43 unrelated probands affected by severe specific language impairment, followed by independent validations with Sanger sequencing, and analyses of segregation patterns in parents and siblings, to shed new light on aetiology. By first focusing on a pre-defined set of known candidates from the literature, we identified potentially pathogenic variants in genes already implicated in diverse language-related syndromes, including ERC1, GRIN2A, and SRPX2. Complementary analyses suggested novel putative candidates carrying validated variants which were predicted to have functional effects, such as OXR1, SCN9A and KMT2D. We also searched for potential “multiple-hit” cases; one proband carried a rare AUTS2 variant in combination with a rare inherited haplotype affecting STARD9, while another carried a novel nonsynonymous variant in SEMA6D together with a rare stop-gain in SYNPR. On broadening scope to all rare and novel variants throughout the exomes, we identified biological themes that were enriched for such variants, including microtubule transport and cytoskeletal regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Sylvia Chen
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Rose H Reader
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Alexander Hoischen
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joris A Veltman
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Department of Clinical Genetics, University of Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Nuala H Simpson
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Clyde Francks
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Dianne F Newbury
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK.,Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon E Fisher
- Language and Genetics Department, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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19
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Bathelt J, Astle D, Barnes J, Raymond FL, Baker K. Structural brain abnormalities in a single gene disorder associated with epilepsy, language impairment and intellectual disability. Neuroimage Clin 2016; 12:655-665. [PMID: 27747153 PMCID: PMC5053034 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2016.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Childhood speech and language deficits are highly prevalent and are a common feature of neurodevelopmental disorders. However, it is difficult to investigate the underlying causal pathways because many diagnostic groups have a heterogeneous aetiology. Studying disorders with a shared genetic cause and shared cognitive deficits can provide crucial insight into the cellular mechanisms and neural systems that give rise to those impairments. The current study investigated structural brain differences of individuals with mutations in ZDHHC9, which is associated with a specific neurodevelopmental phenotype including prominent speech and language impairments and intellectual disability. We used multiple structural neuroimaging methods to characterise neuroanatomy in this group, and observed bilateral reductions in cortical thickness in areas surrounding the temporo-parietal junction, parietal lobule, and inferior frontal lobe, and decreased microstructural integrity of cortical, subcortical-cortical, and interhemispheric white matter projections. These findings are compared to reports for other genetic groups and genetically heterogeneous disorders with a similar presentation. Overlap in the neuroanatomical phenotype suggests a common pathway that particularly affects the development of temporo-parietal and inferior frontal areas, and their connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Bathelt
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan Astle
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Barnes
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - F. Lucy Raymond
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Baker
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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20
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Lascano AM, Korff CM, Picard F. Seizures and Epilepsies due to Channelopathies and Neurotransmitter Receptor Dysfunction: A Parallel between Genetic and Immune Aspects. Mol Syndromol 2016; 7:197-209. [PMID: 27781030 DOI: 10.1159/000447707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite intensive research activity leading to many important discoveries, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying seizures and epilepsy remain poorly understood. An important number of specific gene defects have been related to various forms of epilepsies, and autoimmunity and epilepsy have been associated for a long time. Certain central nervous system proteins have been involved in epilepsy or acute neurological diseases with seizures either due to underlying gene defects or immune dysfunction. Here, we focus on 2 of them that have been the object of particular attention and in-depth research over the past years: the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and the leucin-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1). We also describe illustrative examples of situations in which genetics and immunology meet in the complex pathways that underlie seizures and epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustina M Lascano
- EEG and Epilepsy Exploration Unit, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Christian M Korff
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Child and Adolescent Department, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Fabienne Picard
- EEG and Epilepsy Exploration Unit, University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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22
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Lucchese G. Understanding Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Analyzing the Peptide Sharing between Infectious Agents and the Language-Associated NMDA 2A Protein. Front Psychiatry 2016; 7:60. [PMID: 27148089 PMCID: PMC4827103 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2016.00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Language disorders and infections may occur together and often concur, to a different extent and via different modalities, in characterizing brain pathologies, such as schizophrenia, autism, epilepsies, bipolar disorders, frontotemporal neurodegeneration, and encephalitis, inter alia. The biological mechanism(s) that might channel language dysfunctions and infections into etiological pathways connected to neuropathologic sequelae are unclear. Searching for molecular link(s) between language disorders and infections, the present study explores the language-associated NMDA 2A subunit for peptide sharing with pathogens that have been described in concomitance with neuropsychiatric diseases. It was found that a vast peptide commonality links the human glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA 2A subunit to infectious agents. Such a link expands to and interfaces with neuropsychiatric disorders in light of the specific allocation of NMDA 2A gene expression in brain areas related to language functions. The data hint at a possible pathologic scenario based on anti-pathogen immune responses cross-reacting with NMDA 2A in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guglielmo Lucchese
- Brain and Language Laboratory, Freie Universität Berlin , Berlin , Germany
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