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Stojkovic T, Masingue M, Turmel H, Hezode-Arzel M, Béhin A, Leonard-Louis S, Bassez G, Bauché S, Blondy P, Richard P, Sternberg D, Eymard B, Fournier E, Villar-Quiles RN. Diagnostic yield of a practical electrodiagnostic protocol discriminating between different congenital myasthenic syndromes. Neuromuscul Disord 2022; 32:870-878. [PMID: 36522822 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a group of heterogeneous diseases of the neuromuscular junction. We report electrodiagnostic testing (EDX) and genetic findings in a series of 120 CMS patients tested with a simple non-invasive EDX workup with surface recording of CMAPs and 3Hz repetitive nerve stimulation of accessory, radial and deep fibular nerves. Five ENMG phenotypes were retrieved based on the presence or not of R-CMAPs and the distribution pattern of decremental CMAP responses which significantly correlated with genetic findings (p <0.00001). R-CMAPs were found in all COLQ-mutated patients (CMS1A) and Slow Channel CMS (SCCMS) (CMS1B). CMS1A exhibited greater decrements in accessory nerve RNS than CMS1B. Patients without R-CMAPs were classified into CMS2A (DOK7-, MUSK-, GFPT1-, GMPPB-, TOR1AIP-mutated) when exhibiting predominant accessory nerve RNS decrements, CMS2B (CHRNE, CHRND, RAPSN) with predominant radial nerve RNS decrements, or CMS2C (AGRN) if there were predominant fibular decrements. Our algorithm may have a major impact on diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring in CMS patients, as well as for validation of the pathogenicity of genetic variants. It should also be part of the evaluation of unexplained muscle weakness or complex neuromuscular phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Stojkovic
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université-Inserm UMRS974, Paris, France
| | - Marion Masingue
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Helène Turmel
- Department of Neurophysiology, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France
| | | | - Anthony Béhin
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Leonard-Louis
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Bassez
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université-Inserm UMRS974, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Bauché
- Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université-Inserm UMRS974, Paris, France
| | - Patricia Blondy
- National Reference Center for Muscle Channelopathies, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France; Biochemistry Department, Center of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Richard
- Biochemistry Department, Center of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France
| | - Damien Sternberg
- National Reference Center for Muscle Channelopathies, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France; Biochemistry Department, Center of Molecular and Cellular Genetics, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Eymard
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Fournier
- Department of Neurophysiology, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France; National Reference Center for Muscle Channelopathies, APHP, Pitié Salpetrière hospital, Paris, France; Department of Physiology, Sorbonne University, Faculté de médecine Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Rocío Nur Villar-Quiles
- Reference Center for Neuromuscular Disorders (Nord/Est/Ile de France), Institute of Myology, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, APHP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France; Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Université-Inserm UMRS974, Paris, France
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Novel compound heterozygous variants in the GFPT1 gene leading to rare limb-girdle congenital myasthenic syndrome with rimmed vacuoles. Neurol Sci 2021; 42:3485-3490. [PMID: 33438142 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-05021-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) is a heterogeneous group of rare disorders with impaired neuromuscular transmission caused by genetic defects, which is characterized by fatigable muscle weakness. CASE PRESENTATION Herein, we report a case of limb-girdle CMS (LG-CMS) in a 15-year-old Chinese girl with limb weakness and mild ptosis. The patient presented with well-defined clinical manifestations, muscle imaging, and electrophysiological features associated with CMS. On muscle biopsy, in addition to tubular aggregates identified, an extremely unusual pathological change of rimmed vacuoles in muscle fibers was observed. Whole-exome sequencing disclosed two novel heterozygous variants (c.14 T>A and c.581 T>C) in the human glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1 (GFPT1) gene, leading to the substitutions of phenylalanine to tyrosine (p.F5Y) and serine (p.F194S), respectively. Both variants were predicted to be likely pathogenic by SIFT, Polyphen-2, and Mutation Taster. Treatments with pyridostigmine bromide and albuterol produced a dramatic improvement. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, molecular genetic analysis and muscle biopsy play crucial roles in the diagnosis of GFPT1-related LG-CMS with rimmed vacuoles (a rare phenotype of CMS) and have important implications for treatment decision.
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Cardiac autonomic function evaluation in pediatric and adult patients with congenital myasthenic syndromes. Neuromuscul Disord 2019; 29:290-295. [PMID: 30898524 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction has been examined in myasthenia gravis but not in congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS). We aimed to evaluate cardiac autonomic functions in genetically defined CMS. Patients diagnosed with and under treatment for CMS were reviewed for 24-hour cardiac rhythm monitoring. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures were defined as: SDNN, mean of the standard deviations for all R-R intervals; SDNNi, standard deviation of all R-R intervals in successive five-minute epochs; RMSSD, square root of the mean of squared differences between successive R-R intervals. Ten patients with mutations in the epsilon subunit of the acetylcholine receptor (AChRε) and five patients with mutations in the collagen-like tail of asymmetric acetylcholinesterase (ColQ) were included. Median age at evaluation was 17 (2.5-46) years. In the AChRε group, RMSSD values; and in the ColQ group, SDNN, SDNNi and RMSSD values were significantly lower than those of healthy subjects. This first extensive report examining HRV in CMS showed alterations in patients with ColQ mutations and, to a lesser extent, in the group with AChRε mutations. This might indicate an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias. We suggest cardiological follow-up in CMS, and consideration of any potential cardiovascular effects of therapeutic agents used in management.
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Dowling JJ, D. Gonorazky H, Cohn RD, Campbell C. Treating pediatric neuromuscular disorders: The future is now. Am J Med Genet A 2018; 176:804-841. [PMID: 28889642 PMCID: PMC5900978 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.38418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pediatric neuromuscular diseases encompass all disorders with onset in childhood and where the primary area of pathology is in the peripheral nervous system. These conditions are largely genetic in etiology, and only those with a genetic underpinning will be presented in this review. This includes disorders of the anterior horn cell (e.g., spinal muscular atrophy), peripheral nerve (e.g., Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease), the neuromuscular junction (e.g., congenital myasthenic syndrome), and the muscle (myopathies and muscular dystrophies). Historically, pediatric neuromuscular disorders have uniformly been considered to be without treatment possibilities and to have dire prognoses. This perception has gradually changed, starting in part with the discovery and widespread application of corticosteroids for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. At present, several exciting therapeutic avenues are under investigation for a range of conditions, offering the potential for significant improvements in patient morbidities and mortality and, in some cases, curative intervention. In this review, we will present the current state of treatment for the most common pediatric neuromuscular conditions, and detail the treatment strategies with the greatest potential for helping with these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Dowling
- Division of NeurologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Program for Genetics and Genome BiologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Departments of Paediatrics and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | | | - Ronald D. Cohn
- Program for Genetics and Genome BiologyHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Departments of Paediatrics and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Craig Campbell
- Department of PediatricsClinical Neurological SciencesEpidemiologyWestern UniversityLondonOntarioCanada
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A Novel Missense Variant in the AGRN Gene; Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Presenting With Head Drop. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis 2017; 18:147-151. [PMID: 28221305 DOI: 10.1097/cnd.0000000000000132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a heterogeneous group of diseases of the neuromuscular junction caused by compromised synaptic transmission. Clinical features include early-onset weakness of limbs and oculobulbar muscles resulting in hypotonia, bulbar paresis, ptosis, and hypoventilation. The first dropped head syndrome in children were detected in 2 patients with LMNA and SEPN1 mutations. We report a 17-month-old boy with dropped head and limb-girdle weakness, who had no ptosis or ophthalmoplegia at presentation. We performed whole exome sequencing, which revealed a homozygous missense variant in the AGRN gene c.5023G>A, p.Gly1675Ser in the LG2 domain, which is predicted to be likely disease causing by in silico tools. Agrin is known to play a critical role in the development and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Agrin-related CMS is one of the rarest subtypes. Of note, our patient is the first described patient with agrin-related CMS with dropped head phenotype.
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O'Connor E, Töpf A, Müller JS, Cox D, Evangelista T, Colomer J, Abicht A, Senderek J, Hasselmann O, Yaramis A, Laval SH, Lochmüller H. Identification of mutations in the MYO9A gene in patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome. Brain 2016; 139:2143-53. [PMID: 27259756 PMCID: PMC4958899 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndromes are a group of rare and genetically heterogenous disorders resulting from defects in the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction. Patients with congenital myasthenic syndrome exhibit fatigable muscle weakness with a variety of accompanying phenotypes depending on the protein affected. A cohort of patients with a clinical diagnosis of congenital myasthenic syndrome that lacked a genetic diagnosis underwent whole exome sequencing in order to identify genetic causation. Missense biallelic mutations in the MYO9A gene, encoding an unconventional myosin, were identified in two unrelated families. Depletion of MYO9A in NSC-34 cells revealed a direct effect of MYO9A on neuronal branching and axon guidance. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of the two MYO9A orthologues in zebrafish, myo9aa/ab, demonstrated a requirement for MYO9A in the formation of the neuromuscular junction during development. The morphants displayed shortened and abnormally branched motor axons, lack of movement within the chorion and abnormal swimming in response to tactile stimulation. We therefore conclude that MYO9A deficiency may affect the presynaptic motor axon, manifesting in congenital myasthenic syndrome. These results highlight the involvement of unconventional myosins in motor axon functionality, as well as the need to look outside traditional neuromuscular junction-specific proteins for further congenital myasthenic syndrome candidate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily O'Connor
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Ana Töpf
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Juliane S Müller
- 2 Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Daniel Cox
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Teresinha Evangelista
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Jaume Colomer
- 3 Neuromuscular Unit, Neurology Department, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Hospital Materno-Infantil Sant Joan de Déu, Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angela Abicht
- 4 Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Senderek
- 4 Friedrich-Baur-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80336 Munich, Germany
| | - Oswald Hasselmann
- 5 Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland, Department of Neuropediatrics, Claudiusstrasse 6, 9006 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Ahmet Yaramis
- 6 Paediatric Neurology Unit, Diyarbakır Memorial Hospital, Turkey
| | - Steven H Laval
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Hanns Lochmüller
- 1 John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK
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Logan CV, Cossins J, Rodríguez Cruz PM, Parry DA, Maxwell S, Martínez-Martínez P, Riepsaame J, Abdelhamed ZA, Lake AVR, Moran M, Robb S, Chow G, Sewry C, Hopkins PM, Sheridan E, Jayawant S, Palace J, Johnson CA, Beeson D. Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome Type 19 Is Caused by Mutations in COL13A1, Encoding the Atypical Non-fibrillar Collagen Type XIII α1 Chain. Am J Hum Genet 2015; 97:878-85. [PMID: 26626625 PMCID: PMC4678414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) consists of a tripartite synapse with a presynaptic nerve terminal, Schwann cells that ensheathe the terminal bouton, and a highly specialized postsynaptic membrane. Synaptic structural integrity is crucial for efficient signal transmission. Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMSs) are a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders that result from impaired neuromuscular transmission, caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins that are involved in synaptic transmission and in forming and maintaining the structural integrity of NMJs. To identify further causes of CMSs, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in families without an identified mutation in known CMS-associated genes. In two families affected by a previously undefined CMS, we identified homozygous loss-of-function mutations in COL13A1, which encodes the alpha chain of an atypical non-fibrillar collagen with a single transmembrane domain. COL13A1 localized to the human muscle motor endplate. Using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, modeling of the COL13A1 c.1171delG (p.Leu392Sfs∗71) frameshift mutation in the C2C12 cell line reduced acetylcholine receptor (AChR) clustering during myotube differentiation. This highlights the crucial role of collagen XIII in the formation and maintenance of the NMJ. Our results therefore delineate a myasthenic disorder that is caused by loss-of-function mutations in COL13A1, encoding a protein involved in organization of the NMJ, and emphasize the importance of appropriate symptomatic treatment for these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare V Logan
- Section of Ophthalmology & Neurosciences, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Judith Cossins
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Pedro M Rodríguez Cruz
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - David A Parry
- Section of Genetics, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Susan Maxwell
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Pilar Martínez-Martínez
- Neuroimmunology Group, Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, PO box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Joey Riepsaame
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Zakia A Abdelhamed
- Section of Ophthalmology & Neurosciences, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Alice V R Lake
- Section of Ophthalmology & Neurosciences, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Maria Moran
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Stephanie Robb
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Gabriel Chow
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Hucknall Road, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK
| | - Caroline Sewry
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Philip M Hopkins
- Section of Translational Anaesthesia and Surgical Sciences, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Eamonn Sheridan
- Section of Genetics, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
| | - Sandeep Jayawant
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jacqueline Palace
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Department of Clinical Neurology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Colin A Johnson
- Section of Ophthalmology & Neurosciences, Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
| | - David Beeson
- Neurosciences Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK.
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Leon-Sarmiento FE, Leon-Ariza JS, Prada DG, Leon-Ariza DS. Chemosensory disturbances-associated nanocholinergic dysfunction: The case of, not only, myasthenia gravis. J Neurol Sci 2015; 356:5-6. [PMID: 26139340 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2015.06.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fidias E Leon-Sarmiento
- Smell & Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Juan S Leon-Ariza
- Mediciencias Research Group, Unicolciencias/Universidad Nacional, Bogota, Colombia; Visiting Scholar, Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Diddier G Prada
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel S Leon-Ariza
- Mediciencias Research Group, Unicolciencias/Universidad Nacional, Bogota, Colombia; Faculty of Health Sciences, UDES, Bucaramanga, Colombia
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Milhem RM, Al-Gazali L, Ali BR. Improved plasma membrane expression of the trafficking defective P344R mutant of muscle, skeletal, receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) causing congenital myasthenic syndrome. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2015; 60:119-29. [PMID: 25562515 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2014] [Revised: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Muscle, skeletal, receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK) is a key organizer at the postsynaptic membrane and critical for proper development and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. Mutations in MUSK result in congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS). We hypothesized that the CMS-causing missense mutation (P344R), found within the cysteine-rich domain of the protein, will affect its conformational tertiary structure. Consequently, the protein will misfold, get retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and lose its biological function through degradation by the highly conserved ER associated degradation (ERAD) machinery. We report that P344R-MuSK mutant is trafficking-deficient when expressed at 37°C in HeLa, COS-7 and HEK293 cell lines. It colocalized with the ER marker calnexin in contrast to wild-type MuSK which localized to the plasma membrane. The N-glycosylation status of P344R-MuSK is that of an immature and not properly post-translationally modified protein. Inhibition of protein synthesis showed that the P344R mutant's half-life is shorter than wild-type MuSK protein. Proteasomal inhibition resulted in the stabilization of the mutant protein. The mutant protein is highly ubiquitinated compared to wild-type confirming targeting for proteasomal degradation. The mutant showed around 50% of its in vivo autophosphorylation activity. P344R-MuSK mutant's trafficking defect is correctable by culturing the expressing cells at 27°C. Moreover, chemical compounds namely 2.5% glycerol, 1% dimethyl sulfoxide, 10 μM thapsigargin and 1 μM curcumin improved the maturation and exit of the mutant protein from the ER. These findings open perspectives for potential therapeutic intervention for patients with CMS harboring the P344R-MuSK mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reham M Milhem
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lihadh Al-Gazali
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bassam R Ali
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Clinical and molecular analysis of a novel COLQ missense mutation causing congenital myasthenic syndrome in a Syrian family. Pediatr Neurol 2014; 51:165-9. [PMID: 24938146 DOI: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2014.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital myasthenic syndromes with end-plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency are rare autosomal recessive disorders characterized by onset of the disease in early childhood, general weakness exacerbated by exertion, ophthalmoplegia, and refractoriness to anticholinesterase drugs. To date, all reported cases have been attributed to mutations in 18 genes including the COLQ gene that encodes a specific collagen that anchors acetylcholinesterase at the basal lamina of the neuromuscular junction. We identified a Syrian family with two children of consanguineous parents from two branches affected with congenital myasthenic syndrome with end-plate acetylcholinesterase deficiency. METHOD The absence of acetylcholinesterase antibodies was demonstrated biochemically. Consequently, all the coding regions, exon-intron boundaries, and the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the COLQ gene were amplified and sequenced using the Sanger sequencing method. RESULTS We observed that the severity of the phenotype in the two affected children differed. One child had mild symptoms that included difficulties in gait and feeding with mild respiratory insufficiency. Her sibling died in the first months of life because of severe respiratory failure. The second patient had severe symptoms from birth and has been mechanically ventilated. DNA sequencing revealed a novel homozygous single nucleotide substitution mutation (c.1010T>C) in the COLQ gene in both patients. This substitution leads to a missense amino acid substitution at position 337 of the protein (p.Ile337Thr). This mutation is likely to impair ColQ's trimeric organization and therefore its anchoring within the synaptic basal lamina. CONCLUSION We identified the molecular cause underlying congenital myasthenic syndrome in two patients. The marked phenotypic variation suggests that other factors including modifier genes may affect the severity of this disease.
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