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Sigurdardottir S, von der Lippe C, Media L, Ullmann Miller J, Landsend ECS. Self-reported symptoms of everyday executive dysfunction, daytime sleepiness, and fatigue and health status among adults with congenital aniridia: a descriptive study. Health Psychol Behav Med 2023; 11:2263534. [PMID: 37811316 PMCID: PMC10552592 DOI: 10.1080/21642850.2023.2263534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Congenital aniridia is a rare genetic disorder of the eye characterized by visual impairment and progressive vision loss. While prior research has focused on ocular manifestations in individuals with aniridia, there is a dearth of research on impacts on cognition and mental health. The aims of this study were to describe subjective symptoms of everyday executive functioning, fatigue and sleepiness in adults with aniridia and to compare self-reported health status with that of a normative reference group. Methods Twenty-nine adults (aged 18-79 years) with congenital aniridia were included in this online survey, of whom 52% were females. Participants completed self-report measures of executive functioning (The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult Version), sleepiness, fatigue, and health status (EQ-5D-5L). Results Participants reported relatively few problems in everyday executive functioning, with only 14% experiencing impaired executive functioning. Scores on the five EQ-5D-5L domains (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain, and anxiety/depression) did not differ from those of the normative reference group. The frequencies of excessive daytime sleepiness and severe fatigue were 17% and 38%, respectively. Ocular pain was experienced by 62% of participants. Conclusions The findings show that cognitive problems are related to and reflect self-reported health status and extent of fatigue. Moreover, those who suffered from ocular pain reported more difficulties with executive functioning, sleepiness and fatigue. These findings are important for understanding this disorder and supporting patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solrun Sigurdardottir
- Women and Children’s Division, Centre for Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Line Media
- Women and Children’s Division, Centre for Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jeanette Ullmann Miller
- Women and Children’s Division, Centre for Rare Disorders, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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2
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Daruich A, Duncan M, Robert MP, Lagali N, Semina EV, Aberdam D, Ferrari S, Romano V, des Roziers CB, Benkortebi R, De Vergnes N, Polak M, Chiambaretta F, Nischal KK, Behar-Cohen F, Valleix S, Bremond-Gignac D. Congenital aniridia beyond black eyes: From phenotype and novel genetic mechanisms to innovative therapeutic approaches. Prog Retin Eye Res 2023; 95:101133. [PMID: 36280537 PMCID: PMC11062406 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Congenital PAX6-aniridia, initially characterized by the absence of the iris, has progressively been shown to be associated with other developmental ocular abnormalities and systemic features making congenital aniridia a complex syndromic disorder rather than a simple isolated disease of the iris. Moreover, foveal hypoplasia is now recognized as a more frequent feature than complete iris hypoplasia and a major visual prognosis determinant, reversing the classical clinical picture of this disease. Conversely, iris malformation is also a feature of various anterior segment dysgenesis disorders caused by PAX6-related developmental genes, adding a level of genetic complexity for accurate molecular diagnosis of aniridia. Therefore, the clinical recognition and differential genetic diagnosis of PAX6-related aniridia has been revealed to be much more challenging than initially thought, and still remains under-investigated. Here, we update specific clinical features of aniridia, with emphasis on their genotype correlations, as well as provide new knowledge regarding the PAX6 gene and its mutational spectrum, and highlight the beneficial utility of clinically implementing targeted Next-Generation Sequencing combined with Whole-Genome Sequencing to increase the genetic diagnostic yield of aniridia. We also present new molecular mechanisms underlying aniridia and aniridia-like phenotypes. Finally, we discuss the appropriate medical and surgical management of aniridic eyes, as well as innovative therapeutic options. Altogether, these combined clinical-genetic approaches will help to accelerate time to diagnosis, provide better determination of the disease prognosis and management, and confirm eligibility for future clinical trials or genetic-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Daruich
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Melinda Duncan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Matthieu P Robert
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; Borelli Centre, UMR 9010, CNRS-SSA-ENS Paris Saclay-Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Neil Lagali
- Division of Ophthalmology, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Ophthalmology, Sørlandet Hospital Arendal, Arendal, Norway
| | - Elena V Semina
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Research Institute at the Medical College of Wisconsin and Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA
| | - Daniel Aberdam
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Stefano Ferrari
- Fondazione Banca degli Occhi del Veneto, Via Paccagnella 11, Venice, Italy
| | - Vito Romano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiolological Sciences, and Public Health, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Cyril Burin des Roziers
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Service de Médecine Génomique des Maladies de Système et d'Organe, APHP. Centre Université de Paris, Fédération de Génétique et de Médecine Génomique Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Fbg St-Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France
| | - Rabia Benkortebi
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie De Vergnes
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France
| | - Michel Polak
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Gynecology and Diabetology, Hôpital Universitaire Necker Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, INSERM U1016, Institut IMAGINE, France
| | | | - Ken K Nischal
- Division of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Strabismus, and Adult Motility, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Eye Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Francine Behar-Cohen
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Valleix
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France; Service de Médecine Génomique des Maladies de Système et d'Organe, APHP. Centre Université de Paris, Fédération de Génétique et de Médecine Génomique Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du Fbg St-Jacques, 75679, Paris Cedex 14, France
| | - Dominique Bremond-Gignac
- Ophthalmology Department, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, AP-HP, Paris Cité University, Paris, France; INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
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3
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Tomas-Roca L, Qiu Z, Fransén E, Gokhale R, Bulovaite E, Price DJ, Komiyama NH, Grant SGN. Developmental disruption and restoration of brain synaptome architecture in the murine Pax6 neurodevelopmental disease model. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6836. [PMID: 36369219 PMCID: PMC9652404 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34131-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders of genetic origin delay the acquisition of normal abilities and cause disabling phenotypes. Nevertheless, spontaneous attenuation and even complete amelioration of symptoms in early childhood and adolescence can occur in many disorders, suggesting that brain circuits possess an intrinsic capacity to overcome the deficits arising from some germline mutations. We examined the molecular composition of almost a trillion excitatory synapses on a brain-wide scale between birth and adulthood in mice carrying a mutation in the homeobox transcription factor Pax6, a neurodevelopmental disorder model. Pax6 haploinsufficiency had no impact on total synapse number at any age. By contrast, the molecular composition of excitatory synapses, the postnatal expansion of synapse diversity and the acquisition of normal synaptome architecture were delayed in all brain regions, interfering with networks and electrophysiological simulations of cognitive functions. Specific excitatory synapse types and subtypes were affected in two key developmental age-windows. These phenotypes were reversed within 2-3 weeks of onset, restoring synapse diversity and synaptome architecture to the normal developmental trajectory. Synapse subtypes with rapid protein turnover mediated the synaptome remodeling. This brain-wide capacity for remodeling of synapse molecular composition to recover and maintain the developmental trajectory of synaptome architecture may help confer resilience to neurodevelopmental genetic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tomas-Roca
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Zhen Qiu
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Erik Fransén
- Science for Life Laboratory, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-171 65, Solna, Sweden
| | - Ragini Gokhale
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Edita Bulovaite
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - David J Price
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Noboru H Komiyama
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Seth G N Grant
- Genes to Cognition Program, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain (SIDB), Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.
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Grant MK, Bobilev AM, Branch A, Lauderdale JD. Structural and functional consequences of PAX6 mutations in the brain: Implications for aniridia. Brain Res 2021; 1756:147283. [PMID: 33515537 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The paired-box 6 (PAX6) gene encodes a highly conserved transcription factor essential for the proper development of the eye and brain. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in PAX6 are causal for a condition known as aniridia in humans and the Small eye phenotype in mice. Aniridia is characterized by iris hypoplasia and other ocular abnormalities, but recent evidence of neuroanatomical, sensory, and cognitive impairments in this population has emerged, indicating brain-related phenotypes as a prevalent feature of the disorder. Determining the neurophysiological origins of brain-related phenotypes in this disorder presents a substantial challenge, as the majority of extra-ocular traits in aniridia demonstrate a high degree of heterogeneity. Here, we summarize and integrate findings from human and rodent model studies, which have focused on neuroanatomical and functional consequences of PAX6 mutations. We highlight novel findings from PAX6 central nervous system studies in adult mammals, and integrate these findings into what we know about PAX6's role in development of the central nervous system. This review presents the current literature in the field in order to inform clinical application, discusses what is needed in future studies, and highlights PAX6 as a lens through which to understand genetic disorders affecting the human nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison K Grant
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Anastasia M Bobilev
- Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Audrey Branch
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - James D Lauderdale
- Department of Cellular Biology, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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5
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Morphometric analysis of the lens in human aniridia and mouse Small eye. Exp Eye Res 2020; 203:108371. [PMID: 33248069 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Congenital aniridia is caused by heterozygous mutations in the PAX6 gene. In this disease, congenital iris and foveal hypoplasia is associated with juvenile onset cataract, glaucoma, and corneal keratopathy. In rodents, Pax6 mutations result in a congenital reduction in ocular size that is not typically described in human aniridia. Here, the ocular morphometry of aniridia patients is compared with the lens phenotype of Pax6+/tm1/Pgr mice to reveal whether there are species differences in Pax6 regulation of lens development and homeostasis. Ultrasound biometry (UBM) revealed that eleven percent of aniridia patients exhibited mild microphthalmia while the anterior chamber depth of aniridic eyes was significantly reduced from 6 months of age onward. Although aniridic lens thickness was normal from birth, it was significantly decreased in aniridic lenses older than 30. Notably, 86% of aniridic lenses exhibited cataractous changes in this cohort. In addition, a significant proportion of aniridia patients develop lens subluxation as they age associated with reduced lens diameter as measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Analysis of young adult Pax6+/tm1/Pgr mouse lenses by micro-computed tomography (microCT), bright field and dark field imaging revealed that they are reduced in size but did not exhibit overt cataracts at this age. Overall, this study reveals that congenital microphthalmia as assessed by axial length, or microphakia, as assessed by lens thickness, are not typical in human aniridia, although these are primary manifestations of Pax6 mutations in mice, suggesting that PAX6 regulates some aspects of lens development differently between these species.
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6
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Grant MK, Bobilev AM, Rasys AM, Branson Byers J, Schriever HC, Hekmatyar K, Lauderdale JD. Global and age-related neuroanatomical abnormalities in a Pax6-deficient mouse model of aniridia suggests a role for Pax6 in adult structural neuroplasticity. Brain Res 2020; 1732:146698. [PMID: 32014531 PMCID: PMC10712278 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.146698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
PAX6 encodes a highly conserved transcription factor necessary for normal development of the eyes and central nervous system. Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in PAX6 cause the disorder aniridia in humans and the Small eye trait in mice. Aniridia is a congenital and progressive disorder known for ocular phenotypes; however, recently, consequences of PAX6 haploinsufficiency in the brains of aniridia patients have been identified. These findings span structural and functional abnormalities, including deficits in cognitive and sensory processing. Furthermore, some of these abnormalities are accelerated as aniridia patients age. Although some functional abnormalities may be explained by structural changes, variability of results remain, and the effects of PAX6 heterozygous loss-of-function mutations on neuroanatomy, particularly with regard to aging, have yet to be resolved. Our study used high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histology to investigate structural consequences of such mutations in the adult brain of our aniridia mouse model, Small eye Neuherberg allele (Pax6SeyNeu/+), at two adult age groups. Using both MRI and histology enables a direct comparison with human studies, while providing higher resolution for detection of more subtle changes. We show volumetric changes in major brain regions of the the Pax6SeyNeu/+ mouse compared to wild-type including genotype- and age-related olfactory bulb differences, age-related cerebellum differences, and genotype-related eye differences. We also show alterations in thickness of major interhemispheric commissures, particularly those anteriorly located within the brain including the optic chiasm, corpus callosum, and anterior commissure. Together, these genotype and age related changes to brain volumes and structures suggest a global decrease in adult brain structural plasticity in our Pax6SeyNeu/+ mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison K Grant
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, 250B Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Anastasia M Bobilev
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, United States; Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Ashley M Rasys
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, 250B Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - J Branson Byers
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, 250B Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Hannah C Schriever
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, 250B Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - Khan Hekmatyar
- Bio-imaging Research Center, University of Georgia, Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
| | - James D Lauderdale
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, 250B Coverdell Center, 500 D.W. Brooks Drive, Athens, GA 30602, United States; Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States.
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Epistasis between Pax6 Sey and genetic background reinforces the value of defined hybrid mouse models for therapeutic trials. Gene Ther 2018; 25:524-537. [PMID: 30258099 PMCID: PMC6335240 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0043-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The small eye (Sey) mouse is a model of PAX6-aniridia syndrome (aniridia). Aniridia, a congenital ocular disorder caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in PAX6, needs new vision saving therapies. However, high phenotypic variability in Sey mice makes development of such therapies challenging. We hypothesize that genetic background is a major source of undesirable variability in Sey mice. Here we performed a systematic quantitative examination of anatomical, histological, and molecular phenotypes on the inbred C57BL/6J, hybrid B6129F1, and inbred 129S1/SvImJ backgrounds. The Sey allele significantly reduced eye weight, corneal thickness, PAX6 mRNA and protein levels, and elevated blood glucose levels. Surprisingly, Pax6Sey/Sey brains had significantly elevated Pax6 transcripts compared to Pax6+/+ embryos. Genetic background significantly influenced 12/24 measurements, with inbred strains introducing severe ocular and blood sugar phenotypes not observed in hybrid mice. Additionally, significant interactions (epistasis) between Pax6 genotype and genetic background were detected in measurements of eye weight, cornea epithelial thickness and cell count, retinal mRNA levels, and blood glucose levels. The number of epistatic interactions was reduced in hybrid mice. In conclusion, severe phenotypes in the unnatural inbred strains reinforce the value of more naturalistic F1 hybrid mice for the development of therapies for aniridia and other disorders.
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Syrimis A, Nicolaou N, Alexandrou A, Papaevripidou I, Nicolaou M, Loukianou E, Sismani C, Malas S, Christophidou-Anastasiadou V, Tanteles GA. Molecular analysis of Cypriot families with aniridia reveals a novel PAX6 mutation. Mol Med Rep 2018; 18:1623-1627. [PMID: 29901133 PMCID: PMC6072148 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the clinical and mutational spectrum of aniridia in a cohort of 17 affected individuals from six families from Cyprus. Each proband was initially evaluated for copy number variants at the PAX6 locus and subsequently underwent PAX6 mutation screening. Sequence analysis of FOXC1 and PITX2 was performed in patients who did not carry a PAX6 mutation. The most common clinical features in the group of aniridia patients associated with aniridia were nystagmus, cataracts and glaucoma. PAX6 pathogenic mutations were identified in five out of six families (a diagnostic yield of 84%). Previously reported pathogenic mutations in PAX6 were identified in four families, which comprise p.R203*, p.R240* and p.R317*. In addition, a novel pathogenic variant (p.E220Gfs*23) was identified in a single family. No pathogenic mutations were detected in PAX6, FOXC1 or PITX2 in the only patient with a sporadic form of aniridia‑like phenotype, confirming the genetic heterogeneity associated with this disease. To the best of our knowledge this is the first report on the mutational spectrum of PAX6 in aniridia patients of Cypriot ancestry. Mutational screening of PAX6 serves a crucial role in distinguishing isolated from syndromic forms of aniridia, and it may therefore eliminate the need for renal ultrasound scan surveillance, delineate the phenotype and improve genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Syrimis
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Nayia Nicolaou
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Angelos Alexandrou
- Department of Cytogenetics and Genomics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Ioannis Papaevripidou
- Department of Cytogenetics and Genomics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Michael Nicolaou
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Eleni Loukianou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nicosia General Hospital, 2029 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Carolina Sismani
- Department of Cytogenetics and Genomics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Stavros Malas
- Department of Developmental and Functional Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Violetta Christophidou-Anastasiadou
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Archbishop Makarios III Hospital, 2012 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - George A. Tanteles
- Department of Clinical Genetics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 2370 Nicosia, Cyprus
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Grant MK, Bobilev AM, Pierce JE, DeWitte J, Lauderdale JD. Structural brain abnormalities in 12 persons with aniridia. F1000Res 2017; 6:255. [PMID: 29034075 PMCID: PMC5615777 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.11063.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Aniridia is a disorder predominately caused by heterozygous loss-of-function mutations of the
PAX6 gene, which is a transcriptional regulator necessary for normal eye and brain development. The ocular abnormalities of aniridia have been well characterized, but mounting evidence has implicated brain-related phenotypes as a prominent feature of this disorder as well. Investigations using neuroimaging in aniridia patients have shown reductions in discrete brain structures and changes in global grey and white matter. However, limited sample sizes and substantive heterogeneity of structural phenotypes in the brain remain a challenge.
Methods: Here, we examined brain structure in a new population sample in an effort to add to the collective understanding of anatomical abnormalities in aniridia. The current study used 3T magnetic resonance imaging to acquire high-resolution structural data in 12 persons with aniridia and 12 healthy demographically matched comparison subjects.
Results: We examined five major structures: the anterior commissure, the posterior commissure, the pineal gland, the corpus callosum, and the optic chiasm. The most consistent reductions were found in the anterior commissure and the pineal gland; however, abnormalities in all of the other structures examined were present in at least one individual.
Conclusions: Our results indicate that the anatomical abnormalities in aniridia are variable and largely individual-specific. These findings suggest that future studies investigate this heterogeneity further, and that normal population variation should be considered when evaluating structural abnormalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison K Grant
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Anastasia M Bobilev
- Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jordan E Pierce
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jon DeWitte
- Athens Radiology Associates, Athens, GA, 30604, USA
| | - James D Lauderdale
- Department of Cellular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.,Neuroscience Division of the Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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