Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy with myelin folding and juvenile onset glaucoma

Juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma - A clinical and genetic update

Juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) is a subset of primary open-angle glaucoma that is diagnosed before 40 years of age. The disease may be familial or non-familial, with proportions varying among different populations. Myocilin mutations are the most commonly associated. JOAG is characterized by high intraocular pressures (IOP), with many patients needing surgery. The mean age at diagnosis is in the 3rd decade, with a male preponderance. Myopia is a common association. The pathophysiology underlying the disease is immaturity of the conventional outflow pathways, which may or may not be observed on gonioscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography. The unique optic nerve head features include large discs with deep, steep cupping associated with high IOP-induced damage. Progression rates among JOAG patients are comparable to adult primary glaucomas, but as the disease affects younger patients, the projected disability from this disease is higher. Early diagnosis, prompt management, and life-long monitoring play an important role in preventing disease progression. Gene-based therapies currently under investigation offer future hope.

An In Vitro Model of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 4B2 Provides Insight Into the Roles of MTMR13 and MTMR2 in Schwann Cell Myelination

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disorder Type 4B (CMT4B) is a demyelinating peripheral neuropathy caused by mutations in myotubularin-related (MTMR) proteins 2, 13, or 5 (CMT4B1/2/3), which regulate phosphoinositide turnover and endosomal trafficking. Although mouse models of CMT4B2 exist, an in vitro model would make possible pharmacological and reverse genetic experiments needed to clarify the role of MTMR13 in myelination. We have generated such a model using Schwann cell-dorsal root ganglion (SC-DRG) explants from Mtmr13-/- mice. Myelin sheaths in mutant cultures contain outfoldings highly reminiscent of those observed in the nerves of Mtmr13-/- mice and CMT4B2 patients. Mtmr13-/- SC-DRG explants also contain reduced Mtmr2, further supporting a role of Mtmr13 in stabilizing Mtmr2. Elevated PI(3,5)P2 has been implicated as a cause of myelin outfoldings in Mtmr2-/- models. In contrast, the role of elevated PI3P or PI(3,5)P2 in promoting outfoldings in Mtmr13-/- models is unclear. We found that over-expression of MTMR2 in Mtmr13-/- SC-DRGs moderately reduced the prevalence of myelin outfoldings. Thus, a manipulation predicted to lower PI3P and PI(3,5)P2 partially suppressed the phenotype caused by Mtmr13 deficiency. We also explored the relationship between CMT4B2-like myelin outfoldings and kinases that produce PI3P and PI(3,5)P2 by analyzing nerve pathology in mice lacking both Mtmr13 and one of two specific PI 3-kinases. Intriguingly, the loss of vacuolar protein sorting 34 or PI3K-C2β in Mtmr13-/- mice had no impact on the prevalence of myelin outfoldings. In aggregate, our findings suggest that the MTMR13 scaffold protein likely has critical functions other than stabilizing MTMR2 to achieve an adequate level of PI 3-phosphatase activity.

Whole-exome sequencing in patients with inherited neuropathies: outcome and challenges

Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPN) are one of the most frequent inherited causes of neurological disability characterized by considerable phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity. Based on clinical and electrophysiological properties, they can be subdivided into three main groups: HMSN, dHMN, and HSN. At present, more than 50 IPN genes have been identified. Still, many patients and families with IPN have not yet received a molecular genetic diagnosis because clinical genetic testing usually only covers a subset of IPN genes. Moreover, a considerable proportion of IPN genes has to be identified. Here we present results of WES in 27 IPN patients excluded for mutations in many known IPN genes. Eight of the patients received a definite diagnosis. While six of these patients carried bona fide pathogenic mutations in known IPN genes, two patients had mutations in genes known to be involved in other types of neuromuscular disorders. A further group of eight patients carried sequence variations in IPN genes that could not unequivocally be classified as pathogenic. In addition, combining data of WES and linkage analysis identified SH3BP4, ITPR3, and KLHL13 as novel IPN candidate genes. Moreover, there was evidence that particular mutations in PEX12, a gene known to cause Zellweger syndrome, could also lead to an IPN phenotype. We show that WES is a useful tool for diagnosing IPN and we suggest an expanded phenotypic spectrum of some genes involved in other neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders. Nevertheless, interpretation of variants in known and potential novel disease genes has remained challenging.

Demyelinating prenatal and infantile developmental neuropathies

The prenatal and infantile neuropathies are an uncommon and complex group of conditions, most of which are genetic. Despite advances in diagnostic techniques, approximately half of children presenting in infancy remain without a specific diagnosis. This review focuses on inherited demyelinating neuropathies presenting in the first year of life. We clarify the nomenclature used in these disorders, review the clinical features of demyelinating forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with early onset, and discuss the demyelinating infantile neuropathies associated with central nervous system involvement. Useful clinical, neurophysiologic, and neuropathologic features in the diagnostic work-up of these conditions are also presented.

Loss of the inactive myotubularin-related phosphatase Mtmr13 leads to a Charcot-Marie-Tooth 4B2-like peripheral neuropathy in mice

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B (CMT4B) is a severe, demyelinating peripheral neuropathy characterized by slowed nerve conduction velocity, axon loss, and distinctive myelin outfolding and infolding. CMT4B is caused by recessive mutations in either myotubularin-related protein 2 (MTMR2; CMT4B1) or MTMR13 (CMT4B2). Myotubularins are phosphoinositide (PI) 3-phosphatases that dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) and PtdIns(3,5)P(2), two phosphoinositides that regulate endosomal-lysosomal membrane traffic. Interestingly, nearly half of the metazoan myotubularins are predicted to be catalytically inactive. Both active and inactive myotubularins have essential functions in mammals and in Caenorhabditis elegans. MTMR2 and MTMR13 are active and inactive PI 3-phosphatases, respectively, and the two proteins have been shown to directly associate, although the functional significance of this association is not well understood. To establish a mouse model of CMT4B2, we disrupted the Mtmr13 gene. Mtmr13-deficient mice develop a peripheral neuropathy characterized by reduced nerve conduction velocity and myelin outfoldings and infoldings. Dysmyelination is evident in Mtmr13-deficient nerves at 14 days and worsens throughout life. Thus, loss of Mtmr13 in mice leads to a peripheral neuropathy with many of the key features of CMT4B2. Although myelin outfoldings and infoldings occur most frequently at the paranode, our morphological analyses indicate that the ultrastructure of the node of Ranvier and paranode is intact in Mtmr13-deficient nerve fibers. We also found that Mtmr2 levels are decreased by approximately 50% in Mtmr13-deficient sciatic nerves, suggesting a mode of Mtmr2 regulation. Mtmr13-deficient mice will be an essential tool for studying how the loss of MTMR13 leads to CMT4B2.

Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type VI with optic atrophy

PURPOSE

To present the detailed clinical findings of a large family with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type VI (HMSN VI), a syndrome featuring optic atrophy.

DESIGN

Observational case series.

METHODS

A detailed history was obtained and physical examination was made of the extended family of the proband for evidence of neurologic dysfunction. The OPA1 gene was screened for mutations by direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Twelve of 97 family members examined are affected with signs of HMSN VI. Three other members have either optic atrophy or peripheral neuropathy, thus allowing an appreciation of the full clinical spectrum of disease. No mutations were found in the OPA1 gene.

CONCLUSIONS

This family demonstrates the variable expressivity of this disorder as well as incomplete penetrance. This is the largest known family with HMSN VI. No association was found with changes in the OPA1 gene.

Molecular Mechanisms, Diagnosis, and Rational Approaches to Management of and Therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Related Peripheral Neuropathies

During the last decade, 18 genes and 11 additional loci harboring candidate genes have been associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and related peripheral neuropathies. Ten of these 18 genes have been identified in the last 2 years. This phenomenal pace of CMT gene discovery has fomented an unprecedented explosion of information regarding peripheral nerve biology and its pathologic manifestations in CMT. This review integrates molecular genetics with the clinical phenotypes and provides a flowchart for molecular-based diagnostics. In addition, we discuss rational approaches to molecular therapeutics, including novel biologic molecules (eg, small interfering ribonucleic acid [siRNA], antisense RNA, and ribozymes) that potentially could be used as drugs in the future. These may be applicable in attempts to normalize gene expression in cases of CMT type 1A, wherein a 1.5 Mb genomic duplication causes an increase in gene dosage that is associated with the majority of CMT cases. Aggresome formation by the PMP22 gene product, the disease-associated gene in the duplication cases, could thus be avoided. We also discuss alternative therapeutics, in light of other neurodegenerative disorders, to disrupt such aggresomes. Finally, we review rational therapeutic approaches, including the use of antioxidants such as vitamin E, coenzyme Q10, or lipoic acid to relax potential oxidative stress in peripheral nerves, for CMT management.

Mutations in MTMR13, a new pseudophosphatase homologue of MTMR2 and Sbf1, in two families with an autosomal recessive demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease associated with early-onset glaucoma

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) with autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance is a heterogeneous group of inherited motor and sensory neuropathies. In some families from Japan and Brazil, a demyelinating CMT, mainly characterized by the presence of myelin outfoldings on nerve biopsies, cosegregated as an autosomal recessive trait with early-onset glaucoma. We identified two such large consanguineous families from Tunisia and Morocco with ages at onset ranging from 2 to 15 years. We mapped this syndrome to chromosome 11p15, in a 4.6-cM region overlapping the locus for an isolated demyelinating ARCMT (CMT4B2). In these two families, we identified two different nonsense mutations in the myotubularin-related 13 gene, MTMR13. The MTMR protein family includes proteins with a phosphoinositide phosphatase activity, as well as proteins in which key catalytic residues are missing and that are thus called "pseudophosphatases." MTM1, the first identified member of this family, and MTMR2 are responsible for X-linked myotubular myopathy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B1, an isolated peripheral neuropathy with myelin outfoldings, respectively. Both encode active phosphatases. It is striking to note that mutations in MTMR13 also cause peripheral neuropathy with myelin outfoldings, although it belongs to a pseudophosphatase subgroup, since its closest homologue is MTMR5/Sbf1. This is the first human disease caused by mutation in a pseudophosphatase, emphasizing the important function of these putatively inactive enzymes. MTMR13 may be important for the development of both the peripheral nerves and the trabeculum meshwork, which permits the outflow of the aqueous humor. Both of these tissues have the same embryonic origin.

Mutations in MTMR13, a new pseudophosphatase homologue of MTMR2 and Sbf1, in two families with an autosomal recessive demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease associated with early-onset glaucoma

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) with autosomal recessive (AR) inheritance is a heterogeneous group of inherited motor and sensory neuropathies. In some families from Japan and Brazil, a demyelinating CMT, mainly characterized by the presence of myelin outfoldings on nerve biopsies, cosegregated as an autosomal recessive trait with early-onset glaucoma. We identified two such large consanguineous families from Tunisia and Morocco with ages at onset ranging from 2 to 15 years. We mapped this syndrome to chromosome 11p15, in a 4.6-cM region overlapping the locus for an isolated demyelinating ARCMT (CMT4B2). In these two families, we identified two different nonsense mutations in the myotubularin-related 13 gene, MTMR13. The MTMR protein family includes proteins with a phosphoinositide phosphatase activity, as well as proteins in which key catalytic residues are missing and that are thus called "pseudophosphatases." MTM1, the first identified member of this family, and MTMR2 are responsible for X-linked myotubular myopathy and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 4B1, an isolated peripheral neuropathy with myelin outfoldings, respectively. Both encode active phosphatases. It is striking to note that mutations in MTMR13 also cause peripheral neuropathy with myelin outfoldings, although it belongs to a pseudophosphatase subgroup, since its closest homologue is MTMR5/Sbf1. This is the first human disease caused by mutation in a pseudophosphatase, emphasizing the important function of these putatively inactive enzymes. MTMR13 may be important for the development of both the peripheral nerves and the trabeculum meshwork, which permits the outflow of the aqueous humor. Both of these tissues have the same embryonic origin.

Expression of myocilin/TIGR in normal and glaucomatous primate optic nerves

Myocilin/TIGR was the first molecule discovered to be linked with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), a blinding disease characterized by progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells. Mutations in myocilin/TIGR have been associated with age of disease onset and severity. The function of myocilin/TIGR and its role in glaucoma is unknown. Myocilin/TIGR has been studied in the trabecular meshwork to determine a role in regulation of intraocular pressure. The site of damage to the axons of the retinal ganglion cells is the optic nerve head (ONH). The myocilin/TIGR expression was examined in fetal through adult human optic nerve as well as in POAG. Myocilin/TIGR was expressed in the myelinated optic nerve of children and normal adults but not in the fetal optic nerve before myelination. Also examined was the expression in monkeys with experimental glaucoma. The results demonstrate that optic nerve head astrocytes constitutively express myocilin/TIGR in vivo in primates. Nevertheless, myocilin/TIGR is apparently reduced in glaucomatous ONH. The colocalization of myocilin/TIGR to the myelin suggests a role of myocilin/TIGR in the myelinated optic nerve.