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Camelo CG, Moreno CDAM, Artilheiro MDC, Fonseca ATQM, Gurgel Gianetti J, Barbosa AV, Donis KC, Saute JAM, Pessoa A, Van der Linden H, Gonçalves ARA, Kulikowski LD, Kok F, Zanoteli E. Genetic profile of Brazilian patients with LAMA2-related dystrophies. Clin Genet 2024; 106:305-314. [PMID: 38747280 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
LAMA2-related dystrophies (LAMA2-RD) constitute a rare neuromuscular disorder with a broad spectrum of phenotypic severity. Our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations in this condition remains incomplete, and reliable clinical data for clinical trial readiness is limited. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the genetic data and medical records of 114 LAMA2-RD patients enrolled at seven research centers in Brazil. We identified 58 different pathogenic variants, including 21 novel ones. Six variants were more prevalent and were present in 81.5% of the patients. Notably, the c.1255del, c.2049_2050del, c.3976 C>T, c.5234+1G>A, and c.4739dup variants were found in patients unable to walk and without cortical malformation. In contrast, the c.2461A>C variant was present in patients who could walk unassisted. Among ambulatory patients, missense variants were more prevalent (p < 0.0001). Although no specific hotspot regions existed in the LAMA2, 51% of point mutations were in the LN domain, and 88% of the missense variants were found within this domain. Functional analysis was performed in one intronic variant (c.4960-17C>A) and revealed an out-of-frame transcript, indicating that the variant creates a cryptic splicing site (AG). Our study has shed light on crucial phenotype-genotype correlations and provided valuable insights, particularly regarding the Latin American population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Gontijo Camelo
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Juliana Gurgel Gianetti
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - André Vinícius Barbosa
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Fundação Hospitalar do Estado de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Karina Carvalho Donis
- Medical Genetics Division and Neurology Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Jonas Alex Morales Saute
- Medical Genetics Division and Neurology Division, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - André Pessoa
- Children's Hospital Albert Sabin, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Hélio Van der Linden
- Rehabilitation Center Dr. Henrique Santillo, Goiânia, Brazil
- Neurology Institute of Goiânia, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Ana Rita Alcântara Gonçalves
- Centro de Genética Médica Jacinto Magalhães, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António (CHUdSA), Porto, Portugal
- UMIB-Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, ICBAS-School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- ITR-Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health, Porto, Portugal
| | - Leslie Domenici Kulikowski
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernando Kok
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Edmar Zanoteli
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Smeets H, Verbrugge B, Bulbena X, Hristova L, Vogt J, van Beckhoven I. European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases workshop: LAMA2-muscular dystrophy: paving the road to therapy March 17-19, 2023, Barcelona, Spain. Neuromuscul Disord 2024; 36:16-22. [PMID: 38306718 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJPRD) funded the workshop "LAMA2-Muscular Dystrophy: Paving the road to therapy", bringing together 40 health-care professionals, researchers, patient-advocacy groups, Early-Career Scientists and other stakeholders from 14 countries. Progress in natural history, pathophysiology, trial readiness, and treatment strategies was discussed together with efforts to increase patient-awareness and strengthen collaborations. Key outcomes were (a) ongoing natural history studies in 7 countries already covered more than 350 patients. The next steps are to include additional countries, harmonise data collection and define a minimal dataset; (b) therapy development was largely complementary. Approaches included LAMA2-replacement and correction, LAMA1-reactivation, mRNA modulation, linker-protein expression, targeting downstream processes and identifying modifiers, using viral vectors, muscle stem cells, iPSC and mouse models and patient lines; (c) LAMA2-Europe will inform patients (-representatives) worldwide on standards of care and scientific progress, and enable sharing experiences. Follow-up monthly online meetings and research repositories have been established to create sustainable collaborations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Smeets
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Research Institutes MHeNS and GROW, Maastricht University, UNS40 Maastricht 6229ER, the Netherlands.
| | - Bram Verbrugge
- LAMA2-MD Foundation "Voor Sara", Dordrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | | | - Julia Vogt
- Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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