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Arrotta K, Ferguson L, Thompson N, Smuk V, Najm IM, Leu C, Lal D, Busch RM. Polygenic burden and its association with baseline cognitive function and postoperative cognitive outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2024; 153:109692. [PMID: 38394790 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2024.109692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Demographic and disease factors are associated with cognitive deficits and postoperative cognitive declines in adults with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but the role of genetic factors in cognition in TLE is not well understood. Polygenic scores (PGS) for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders and IQ have been associated with cognition in patient and healthy populations. In this exploratory study, we examined the relationship between PGS for Alzheimer's disease (AD), depression, and IQ and cognitive outcomes in adults with TLE. METHODS 202 adults with pharmacoresistant TLE had genotyping and completed neuropsychological evaluations as part of a presurgical work-up. A subset (n = 116) underwent temporal lobe resection and returned for postoperative cognitive testing. Logistic regression was used to determine if PGS for AD, depression, and IQ predicted baseline domain-specific cognitive function and cognitive phenotypes as well as postoperative language and memory decline. RESULTS No significant findings survived correction for multiple comparisons. Prior to correction, higher PGS for AD and depression (i.e., increased genetic risk for the disorder), but lower PGS for IQ (i.e., decreased genetic likelihood of high IQ) appeared possibly associated with baseline cognitive impairment in TLE. In comparison, higher PGS for AD and IQ appeared as possible risk factors for cognitive decline following temporal lobectomy, while the possible relationship between PGS for depression and post-operative cognitive outcome was mixed. SIGNIFICANCE We did not observe any relationships of large effect between PGS and cognitive function or postsurgical outcome; however, results highlight several promising trends in the data that warrant future investigation in larger samples better powered to detect small genetic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayela Arrotta
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Lisa Ferguson
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Nicolas Thompson
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Victoria Smuk
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Imad M Najm
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Costin Leu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Dennis Lal
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Robyn M Busch
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Departments of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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2
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Brain single cell transcriptomic profiles in episodic memory phenotypes associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:69. [PMID: 36446800 PMCID: PMC9709106 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00339-4] [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: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Memory dysfunction is prevalent in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but little is known about the underlying molecular etiologies. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing technology was used to examine differences in cellular heterogeneity among left (language-dominant) temporal neocortical tissues from patients with TLE with (n = 4) or without (n = 2) impairment in verbal episodic memory. We observed marked cell heterogeneity between memory phenotypes and identified numerous differentially expressed genes across all brain cell types. The most notable differences were observed in glutamatergic (excitatory) and GABAergic (inhibitory) neurons with an overrepresentation of genes associated with long-term potentiation, long-term depression, and MAPK signaling, processes known to be essential for episodic memory formation.
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3
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Rodriguez-Cruces R, Royer J, Larivière S, Bassett DS, Caciagli L, Bernhardt BC. Multimodal connectome biomarkers of cognitive and affective dysfunction in the common epilepsies. Netw Neurosci 2022; 6:320-338. [PMID: 35733426 PMCID: PMC9208009 DOI: 10.1162/netn_a_00237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological conditions, traditionally defined as a disorder of recurrent seizures. Cognitive and affective dysfunction are increasingly recognized as core disease dimensions and can affect patient well-being, sometimes more than the seizures themselves. Connectome-based approaches hold immense promise for revealing mechanisms that contribute to dysfunction and to identify biomarkers. Our review discusses emerging multimodal neuroimaging and connectomics studies that highlight network substrates of cognitive/affective dysfunction in the common epilepsies. We first discuss work in drug-resistant epilepsy syndromes, that is, temporal lobe epilepsy, related to mesiotemporal sclerosis (TLE), and extratemporal epilepsy (ETE), related to malformations of cortical development. While these are traditionally conceptualized as ‘focal’ epilepsies, many patients present with broad structural and functional anomalies. Moreover, the extent of distributed changes contributes to difficulties in multiple cognitive domains as well as affective-behavioral challenges. We also review work in idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE), a subset of generalized epilepsy syndromes that involve subcortico-cortical circuits. Overall, neuroimaging and network neuroscience studies point to both shared and syndrome-specific connectome signatures of dysfunction across TLE, ETE, and IGE. Lastly, we point to current gaps in the literature and formulate recommendations for future research. Epilepsy is increasingly recognized as a network disorder characterized by recurrent seizures as well as broad-ranging cognitive difficulties and affective dysfunction. Our manuscript reviews recent literature highlighting brain network substrates of cognitive and affective dysfunction in common epilepsy syndromes, namely temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to mesiotemporal sclerosis, extratemporal epilepsy secondary to malformations of cortical development, and idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes arising from subcortico-cortical pathophysiology. We discuss prior work that has indicated both shared and distinct brain network signatures of cognitive and affective dysfunction across the epilepsy spectrum, improves our knowledge of structure-function links and interindividual heterogeneity, and ultimately aids screening and monitoring of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Rodriguez-Cruces
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jessica Royer
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Sara Larivière
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Dani S. Bassett
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 USA
| | - Lorenzo Caciagli
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Boris C. Bernhardt
- McConnell Brain Imaging Centre, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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4
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Vinti V, Dell'Isola GB, Tascini G, Mencaroni E, Cara GD, Striano P, Verrotti A. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Psychiatric Comorbidity. Front Neurol 2021; 12:775781. [PMID: 34917019 PMCID: PMC8669948 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.775781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Most focal seizures originate in the temporal lobe and are commonly divided into mesial and lateral temporal epilepsy, depending upon the neuronal circuitry involved. The hallmark features of the mesial temporal epilepsy are aura, unconsciousness, and automatisms. Symptoms often overlap with the lateral temporal epilepsy. However, the latter present a less evident psychomotor arrest, frequent clones and dystonic postures, and common focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures. Sclerosis of the hippocampus is the most frequent cause of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). TLE is among all epilepsies the most frequently associated with psychiatric comorbidity. Anxiety, depression, and interictal dysphoria are recurrent psychiatric disorders in pediatric patients with TLE. In addition, these alterations are often combined with cognitive, learning, and behavioral impairment. These comorbidities occur more frequently in TLE with hippocampal sclerosis and with pharmacoresistance. According to the bidirectional hypothesis, the close relationship between TLE and psychiatric features should lead to considering common pathophysiology underlying these disorders. Psychiatric comorbidities considerably reduce the quality of life of these children and their families. Thus, early detection and appropriate management and therapeutic strategies could improve the prognosis of these patients. The aim of this review is to analyze TLE correlation with psychiatric disorders and its underlying conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Vinti
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | - Giorgia Tascini
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Giannina Gaslini (IRCCS "G. Gaslini") Institute, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
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5
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Hermann BP, Struck AF, Busch RM, Reyes A, Kaestner E, McDonald CR. Neurobehavioural comorbidities of epilepsy: towards a network-based precision taxonomy. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:731-746. [PMID: 34552218 PMCID: PMC8900353 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00555-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive and behavioural comorbidities are prevalent in childhood and adult epilepsies and impose a substantial human and economic burden. Over the past century, the classic approach to understanding the aetiology and course of these comorbidities has been through the prism of the medical taxonomy of epilepsy, including its causes, course, characteristics and syndromes. Although this 'lesion model' has long served as the organizing paradigm for the field, substantial challenges to this model have accumulated from diverse sources, including neuroimaging, neuropathology, neuropsychology and network science. Advances in patient stratification and phenotyping point towards a new taxonomy for the cognitive and behavioural comorbidities of epilepsy, which reflects the heterogeneity of their clinical presentation and raises the possibility of a precision medicine approach. As we discuss in this Review, these advances are informing the development of a revised aetiological paradigm that incorporates sophisticated neurobiological measures, genomics, comorbid disease, diversity and adversity, and resilience factors. We describe modifiable risk factors that could guide early identification, treatment and, ultimately, prevention of cognitive and broader neurobehavioural comorbidities in epilepsy and propose a road map to guide future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce P. Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.,
| | - Aaron F. Struck
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.,William S. Middleton Veterans Administration Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Robyn M. Busch
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Anny Reyes
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Erik Kaestner
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Carrie R. McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry and Center for Multimodal Imaging and Genetics, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Doherty C, Kinzy TG, Ferguson L, Altemus J, Hermann BP, Eng C, Najm I, Busch RM. The role of genetic polymorphisms in executive functioning performance in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2021; 121:108088. [PMID: 34102472 PMCID: PMC8238870 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2021.108088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the role of several genetic polymorphisms (APOE ε4, BDNF Met, and COMT Val) in executive functioning performance in patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). METHODS Ninety-three adults (51 female, mean age = 39 years) with TLE completed executive functioning measures as part of a comprehensive preoperative neuropsychological evaluation, including Trail Making Test (Part B), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (Conceptual Level Responses and Perseverative Errors), Color Word Interference from the Delis Kaplan Executive Function System, and measures of phonemic and semantic verbal fluency. Genotyping of the APOE, BDNF, and COMT genes was conducted using DNA extracted from peripheral blood or brain tissue (from epilepsy surgery). RESULTS After adjustment for general cognitive ability, COMT Val carriers showed poorer performance on semantic verbal fluency and color word interference than non-carriers, and BDNF Met carriers showed poorer performance on phonemic verbal fluency than those without a Met allele. SIGNIFICANCE Results suggest that COMT and BDNF polymorphisms are associated with performance on several EF measures in patients with TLE, including tasks assessing verbal fluency and response inhibition and account for up to 16% of the variance in test performance. The APOE polymorphism was not significantly associated with any of the executive function measures analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Doherty
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Tyler G Kinzy
- Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Lisa Ferguson
- Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Jessica Altemus
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Bruce P Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Imad Najm
- Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Robyn M Busch
- Epilepsy Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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7
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Ittiwut C, Poonmaksatit S, Boonsimma P, Desudchit T, Suphapeetiporn K, Ittiwut R, Shotelersuk V. Novel de novo mutation substantiates ATP6V0C as a gene causing epilepsy with intellectual disability. Brain Dev 2021; 43:490-494. [PMID: 33190975 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2020.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In approximately half of patients with epilepsy and intellectual disability (ID), the cause is unidentified and could be a mutation in a new disease gene. PATIENT DESCRIPTION To determine the discovery of disease-causing mutation in a female patient with epilepsy and ID, we performed trio whole-exome sequencing, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS Trio whole-exome sequencing was performed and revealed a novel de novo heterozygous stop-loss c.467A > T (p.*156Leuext*35) mutation in the ATP6V0C gene. Using RNA from leukocytes, RT-PCR followed by Sanger sequencing showed the existence of the mutant RNA, and real-time PCR demonstrated that the patient's ATP6V0C RNA level was approximately half of that in her parents, suggesting haploinsufficiency as a pathomechanism. CONCLUSION These findings, along with previous reports of individuals with similar phenotypes and variants in the same gene, substantiate ATP6V0C as a gene causing epilepsy with ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chupong Ittiwut
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Medical Genomics Cluster, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Excellence Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sathida Poonmaksatit
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ponghatai Boonsimma
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Medical Genomics Cluster, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Excellence Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tayard Desudchit
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kanya Suphapeetiporn
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Medical Genomics Cluster, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Excellence Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Rungnapa Ittiwut
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Medical Genomics Cluster, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Excellence Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Vorasuk Shotelersuk
- Center of Excellence for Medical Genomics, Medical Genomics Cluster, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Excellence Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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8
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Busch RM, Yehia L, Bazeley P, Seyfi M, Blümcke I, Hermann BP, Najm IM, Eng C. Verbal memory dysfunction is associated with alterations in brain transcriptome in dominant temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 2020; 61:2203-2213. [PMID: 32945555 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Memory dysfunction is prevalent in many neurological disorders and can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. The genetic contributions to memory impairment in epilepsy, particularly temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), remain poorly understood. Here, we compare the brain transcriptome between TLE patients with and without verbal memory impairments to identify genes and signaling networks important for episodic memory. METHODS Brain tissues were resected from 23 adults who underwent dominant temporal lobectomy for treatment of pharmacoresistant epilepsy. To control for potential effects of APOE on memory, only those homozygous for the APOE ε3 allele were included. A battery of memory tests was performed, and patients were stratified into two groups based on preoperative memory performance. The groups were well matched on demographic and disease-related variables. Total RNA-Seq and small RNA-Seq were performed on RNA extracted from the brain tissues. Pathway and integrative analyses were subsequently performed. RESULTS We identified 1092 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs), with the majority (71%) being underexpressed in brain tissues from patients with impaired memory compared to those from patients with intact memory. Enrichment analysis revealed overrepresentation of genes in pathways pertaining to brain-related neurological dysfunction, including a subset associated with neurodegenerative diseases, memory, and cognition (APP, MAPT, PINK1). Despite including patients with identical APOE genotypes, we identify APOE as a differentially expressed gene associated with memory status. Small RNA-Seq identified four differentially expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) that were predicted to target a subset (22%) of all DETs. Integrative analysis showed that these miRNA-predicted DET targets impact brain-related pathways and biological processes also pertinent to memory and cognition. SIGNIFICANCE TLE-associated memory status may be influenced by differences in gene expression profiles within the temporal lobe. Upstream processes influencing differential expression signatures, such as miRNAs, could serve as biomarkers and potential treatment targets for memory impairment in TLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn M Busch
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Lamis Yehia
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Peter Bazeley
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Marilyn Seyfi
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ingmar Blümcke
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.,Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospitals Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Bruce P Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Imad M Najm
- Epilepsy Center and Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.,Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.,Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
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9
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Medlin LC, Bello-Espinosa L, MacAllister WS. Neuropsychological profiles of two patients with differing SCN8A-pathogenic variants. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY-CHILD 2020; 11:561-566. [PMID: 32853054 DOI: 10.1080/21622965.2020.1807983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The impact of gene-related early infancy onset epilepsies in cognitive development can be potentially devastating. Here we report two cases of SCN8A-related epilepsy that highlight the neuropsychological heterogeneity seen with differing de-novo pathogenic variants. Case 1 is a 6-year-old right-handed girl who presented with SCN8A-developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (SCN8A-DEE) and a missense pathogenic variant (c.802A > C), not previously documented in the literature. Her history includes speech and motor delay, with focal motor seizures starting at 4-months. Early EEG showed bilateral centroparietal epileptiform discharges. She shows motor and language delays and prominent motor tics. Testing documented Intellectual Disability (ID) (Mild) with widespread neuropsychological deficits (i.e., academics, attention/executive functions, memory, visual-spatial skills, fine motor, language). Case 2 is an 8-year-old right-handed girl who presented with SCN8A-related epilepsy with c.5630A > G pathogenic variant with seizure onset at 5-months. Her initial EEG showed right occipital spikes. She shows low average intellect and average academics, but evaluation documented attention deficits, fine motor delays, and behavioral issues in addition to tics; she was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Tourette's. These cases expand limited knowledge regarding neuropsychological functioning of children with SCN8A-related epilepsy with unique de-novo pathogenic variants. While SCN8A-DEE is clearly associated with ID, other pathogenic variants may show better preserved intellect, despite other neuropsychological and behavioral concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis Bello-Espinosa
- Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada.,Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Foothills Campus, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - William S MacAllister
- Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, Canada.,Cumming School of Medicine, Health Sciences Centre, Foothills Campus, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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10
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Doherty C, Hogue O, Floden DP, Altemus JB, Najm IM, Eng C, Busch RM. BDNF and COMT, but not APOE, alleles are associated with psychiatric symptoms in refractory epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav 2019; 94:131-136. [PMID: 30909076 PMCID: PMC8299517 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2019.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether three common genetic polymorphisms [apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4 (rs42938 and rs7412), brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Met (rs6265), and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val (rs4680)] are associated with increased psychiatric symptomatology in individuals with pharmacoresistant epilepsy. METHODS One hundred forty-eight adults (Mage = 38 years; 53% female) with refractory epilepsy completed self-report measures of mood, anxiety, and/or personality/psychopathology. Mann-Whitney U, t-tests, and Fisher's exact tests were used to determine if APOE4, BDNF Val66Met, or COMT Val158Met are associated with increased psychiatric symptomatology in people with epilepsy. RESULTS As a group, BDNF Met carriers reported greater symptoms of depression on the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) than those without a Met allele (p = 0.004); COMT Val carriers reported greater symptoms on the PAI Schizophrenia (p = 0.007), Antisocial Features (p = 0.04), and Alcohol Problems (p = 0.03) scales than noncarriers. On the individual level, a significantly greater proportion of BDNF Met carriers demonstrated elevated PAI Depression scores compared to those without a Met allele (p = 0.046). There was also a larger proportion of COMT Val carriers with elevated PAI Anxiety scores as compared to those without a Val allele (p = 0.036). SIGNIFICANCE This retrospective cross-sectional study provides preliminary evidence for a genetic basis of psychiatric comorbidities in epilepsy and suggests that BDNF and COMT may play an important role in the pathophysiology of mental health problems in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Doherty
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States of America.
| | - Olivia Hogue
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States of America.
| | - Darlene P. Floden
- Center for Neurological Restoration, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH,Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Jessica B. Altemus
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Imad M. Najm
- Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland, OH,Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
| | - Charis Eng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States of America; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States of America.
| | - Robyn M. Busch
- Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH,Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland, OH
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11
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Watkins L, Cock H, Angus-Leppan H, Morley K, Wilcock M, Shankar R. Valproate MHRA Guidance: Limitations and Opportunities. Front Neurol 2019; 10:139. [PMID: 30842753 PMCID: PMC6391862 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent publication of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the United Kingdom has strengthened the regulatory measures for valproate medicines. It highlights the importance of making women of childbearing age with epilepsy aware of the teratogenic risks of valproate and encourages the withdrawal of it from those currently prescribed. While a significant directive, it raises concerns of not having considered the impact on special populations such as women with Intellectual Disability (ID). While it is important that women with ID are not excluded from such safety initiatives, due caution needs to be taken on a case by case basis preferably, to ensure their best interests are central to the decision making. Many women with moderate to profound ID cannot have informed consented sexual relationships not to mention cognitive incapability to make informed choices on medication suitability. These women are at potential risk of having their epilepsy control undermined due to the MHRA directives. Around 30% of people with moderate to profound ID have seizures of which 60% are considered treatment resistant. In this vulnerable population changes to medication without clear clinical and social insights could lead to increased harm levels. This paper enumerates the challenges of application of the new directive to these special populations and proposes a pathway based on individual cognitive ability to provide informed consent to facilitate the continuation or removal of valproate. It is important not to lose sight of individual circumstances and the importance of working collaboratively toward providing person center care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance Watkins
- Mental Health and Learning Disability Delivery Unit, Llwyneryr Unit, Neath Port Talbot CLDT, Abertawe Bro Morgannwyg University Health Board, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Cock
- Atkinson Morley Regional Neuroscience Centre, St George's University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Medical and Biomedical Education, St George's University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Angus-Leppan
- Epilepsy Initiative Group, Royal Free London, London, United Kingdom.,University College, London, United Kingdom.,Centre for Research in Public Health and Community Care, University of Hertfordshire, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kim Morley
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Winchester, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Wilcock
- Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Truro, United Kingdom
| | - Rohit Shankar
- Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Threemilestone Industrial Estate, Truro, United Kingdom.,Exeter Medical School, Knowledge Spa, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, United Kingdom
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12
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Epilepsy and Alzheimer's Disease: Ubiquitous Entities Subject to the Same Cosmic Forces but on Different Astral Planes. Epilepsy Curr 2018; 18:295-297. [PMID: 30464726 DOI: 10.5698/1535-7597.18.5.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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13
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Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders with about 500 genes thought to be involved across the phenotypic spectrum (Busch et al. 2014; Ran et al. 2014), which includes monogenic, multigenic, epistatic and pleiotropic phenotype manifestations (Busch et al. 2014; Thomas et al. 2014), driving the need for a comprehensive diagnostic test. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) allows for the simultaneous investigation of a large number of genes, making it a very attractive option for a condition as diverse as epilepsy at a low cost compared to traditional Sanger sequencing (Lemke et al. 2012; Németh et al. 2013). Our 377 gene epilepsy NGS test was developed to include genes known to cause or have published association with epilepsy and seizure-related disorders. Given the scale of information that is generated, the efficacy of an NGS panel depends on a number of factors, including the genes present on the panel, prebioinformatic and postbioinformatic analysis protocols, as well as reporting criteria, prompting the current study, a retrospective analysis of 305 cases tested for the epilepsy panel.
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14
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Rayner G, Jackson GD, Wilson SJ. Two distinct symptom-based phenotypes of depression in epilepsy yield specific clinical and etiological insights. Epilepsy Behav 2016; 64:336-344. [PMID: 27473594 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2016.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Depression is common but underdiagnosed in epilepsy. A quarter of patients meet criteria for a depressive disorder, yet few receive active treatment. We hypothesize that the presentation of depression is less recognizable in epilepsy because the symptoms are heterogeneous and often incorrectly attributed to the secondary effects of seizures or medication. Extending the ILAE's new phenomenological approach to classification of the epilepsies to include psychiatric comorbidity, we use data-driven profiling of the symptoms of depression to perform a preliminary investigation of whether there is a distinctive symptom-based phenotype of depression in epilepsy that could facilitate its recognition in the neurology clinic. The psychiatric and neuropsychological functioning of 91 patients with focal epilepsy was compared with that of 77 healthy controls (N=168). Cluster analysis of current depressive symptoms identified three clusters: one comprising nondepressed patients and two symptom-based phenotypes of depression. The 'Cognitive' phenotype (base rate=17%) was characterized by symptoms taking the form of self-critical cognitions and dysphoria and was accompanied by pervasive memory deficits. The 'Somatic' phenotype (7%) was characterized by vegetative depressive symptoms and anhedonia and was accompanied by greater anxiety. It is hoped that identification of the features of these two phenotypes will ultimately facilitate improved detection and diagnosis of depression in patients with epilepsy and thereby lead to appropriate and timely treatment, to the benefit of patient wellbeing and the potential efficacy of treatment of the seizure disorder. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "The new approach to classification: Rethinking cognition and behavior in epilepsy".
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Rayner
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia.
| | - Graeme D Jackson
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Comprehensive Epilepsy Programme, Austin Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Sarah J Wilson
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia; The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; Comprehensive Epilepsy Programme, Austin Health, Melbourne Brain Centre, 245 Burgundy Street, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
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15
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Busch RM. Comments on Motamedi G, Meador K. Epilepsy and cognition. Epilepsy & behavior 2003;4:S25-S28. Epilepsy Behav 2014; 40:26-8. [PMID: 25307191 PMCID: PMC4391193 DOI: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2014.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn M Busch
- Cleveland Clinic Epilepsy Center, 9500 Euclid Avenue, P57, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
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