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Gallagher D, Pérez-Palma E, Bruenger T, Ghanty I, Brilstra E, Ceulemans B, Chemaly N, de Lange I, Depienne C, Guerrini R, Mei D, Møller RS, Nabbout R, Regan BM, Schneider AL, Scheffer IE, Schoonjans AS, Symonds JD, Weckhuysen S, Zuberi SM, Lal D, Brunklaus A. Genotype-phenotype associations in 1018 individuals with SCN1A-related epilepsies. Epilepsia 2024; 65:1046-1059. [PMID: 38410936 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE SCN1A variants are associated with epilepsy syndromes ranging from mild genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) to severe Dravet syndrome (DS). Many variants are de novo, making early phenotype prediction difficult, and genotype-phenotype associations remain poorly understood. METHODS We assessed data from a retrospective cohort of 1018 individuals with SCN1A-related epilepsies. We explored relationships between variant characteristics (position, in silico prediction scores: Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD), Rare Exome Variant Ensemble Learner (REVEL), SCN1A genetic score), seizure characteristics, and epilepsy phenotype. RESULTS DS had earlier seizure onset than other GEFS+ phenotypes (5.3 vs. 12.0 months, p < .001). In silico variant scores were higher in DS versus GEFS+ (p < .001). Patients with missense variants in functionally important regions (conserved N-terminus, S4-S6) exhibited earlier seizure onset (6.0 vs. 7.0 months, p = .003) and were more likely to have DS (280/340); those with missense variants in nonconserved regions had later onset (10.0 vs. 7.0 months, p = .036) and were more likely to have GEFS+ (15/29, χ2 = 19.16, p < .001). A minority of protein-truncating variants were associated with GEFS+ (10/393) and more likely to be located in the proximal first and last exon coding regions than elsewhere in the gene (9.7% vs. 1.0%, p < .001). Carriers of the same missense variant exhibited less variability in age at seizure onset compared with carriers of different missense variants for both DS (1.9 vs. 2.9 months, p = .001) and GEFS+ (8.0 vs. 11.0 months, p = .043). Status epilepticus as presenting seizure type is a highly specific (95.2%) but nonsensitive (32.7%) feature of DS. SIGNIFICANCE Understanding genotype-phenotype associations in SCN1A-related epilepsies is critical for early diagnosis and management. We demonstrate an earlier disease onset in patients with missense variants in important functional regions, the occurrence of GEFS+ truncating variants, and the value of in silico prediction scores. Status epilepticus as initial seizure type is a highly specific, but not sensitive, early feature of DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Declan Gallagher
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Eduardo Pérez-Palma
- Universidad del Desarrollo, Centro de Genética y Genómica, Facultad de Medicina Clínica Alemana, Santiago, Chile
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Bruenger
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ismael Ghanty
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Eva Brilstra
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Berten Ceulemans
- Department of Child Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Nicole Chemaly
- Reference Center for Rare Epilepsies, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Iris de Lange
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Christel Depienne
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Renzo Guerrini
- Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) and University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Mei
- Neuroscience Department, Children's Hospital A. Meyer Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) and University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rikke S Møller
- Danish Epilepsy Center, Filadelfia, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Rima Nabbout
- Reference Center for Rare Epilepsies, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Brigid M Regan
- Department of Medicine, Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amy L Schneider
- Department of Medicine, Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ingrid E Scheffer
- Department of Medicine, Epilepsy Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Florey and Murdoch Children's Research Institutes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - An-Sofie Schoonjans
- Department of Child Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Joseph D Symonds
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied & Translational Neurogenomics Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Antwerp, Belgium
- Neurology Department, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Translational Neurosciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sameer M Zuberi
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Dennis Lal
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Andreas Brunklaus
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
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Nyaga DM, Hildebrand MS, de Valles‐Ibáñez G, Keenan NF, Ye Z, LaFlamme CW, Mefford HC, Bennett MF, Bahlo M, Sadleir LG. Leveraging multiple approaches for the detection of pathogenic deep intronic variants in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies: A case report. Epilepsia Open 2024; 9:758-764. [PMID: 38129960 PMCID: PMC10984288 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
About 50% of individuals with developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs) are unsolved following genetic testing. Deep intronic variants, defined as >100 bp from exon-intron junctions, contribute to disease by affecting the splicing of mRNAs in clinically relevant genes. Identifying deep intronic pathogenic variants is challenging and resource intensive, and interpretation is difficult due to limited functional annotations. We aimed to identify deep intronic variants in individuals suspected to have unsolved single gene DEEs. In a research cohort of unsolved cases of DEEs, we searched for children with a DEE syndrome predominantly caused by variants in specific genes in >80% of described cases. We identified two children with Dravet syndrome and one individual with classic lissencephaly. Multiple sequencing and bioinformatics strategies were employed to interrogate intronic regions in SCN1A and PAFAH1B1. A novel de novo deep intronic 12 kb deletion in PAFAH1B1 was identified in the individual with lissencephaly. We showed experimentally that the deletion disrupts mRNA splicing, which results in partial intron retention after exon 2 and disruption of the highly conserved LisH motif. We demonstrate that targeted interrogation of deep intronic regions using multiple genomics technologies, coupled with functional analysis, can reveal hidden causes of unsolved monogenic DEE syndromes. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Deep intronic variants can cause disease by affecting the splicing of mRNAs in clinically relevant genes. A deep intronic deletion that caused abnormal splicing of the PAFAH1B1 gene was identified in a patient with classic lissencephaly. Our findings reinforce that targeted interrogation of deep intronic regions and functional analysis can reveal hidden causes of unsolved epilepsy syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis M. Nyaga
- Department of Paediatrics and Child HealthUniversity of OtagoWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Michael S. Hildebrand
- Department of Medicine (Austin Health)University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteRoyal Children's HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Ngaire F. Keenan
- Department of Paediatrics and Child HealthUniversity of OtagoWellingtonNew Zealand
| | - Zimeng Ye
- Department of Medicine (Austin Health)University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Christy W. LaFlamme
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease ResearchSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease ResearchSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Mark F. Bennett
- Department of Medicine (Austin Health)University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Population Health and Immunity DivisionThe Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Melanie Bahlo
- Population Health and Immunity DivisionThe Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Lynette G. Sadleir
- Department of Paediatrics and Child HealthUniversity of OtagoWellingtonNew Zealand
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3
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Clatot J, Parthasarathy S, Cohen S, McKee J, Massey S, Somarowthu A, Goldberg EM, Helbig I. SCN1A gain-of-function mutation causing an early onset epileptic encephalopathy. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1318-1330. [PMID: 36287100 PMCID: PMC10130239 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Loss-of-function variants in SCN1A cause Dravet syndrome, the most common genetic developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). However, emerging evidence suggests separate entities of SCN1A-related disorders due to gain-of-function variants. Here, we aim to refine the clinical, genetic, and functional electrophysiological features of a recurrent p.R1636Q gain-of-function variant, identified in four individuals at a single center. METHODS Individuals carrying the recurrent SCN1A p.R1636Q variant were identified through diagnostic testing. Whole cell voltage-clamp electrophysiological recording in HEK-293 T cells was performed to compare the properties of sodium channels containing wild-type Nav 1.1 or Nav 1.1-R1636Q along with both Nav β1 and Nav β2 subunits, including response to oxcarbazepine. To delineate differences from other SCN1A-related epilepsies, we analyzed electronic medical records. RESULTS All four individuals had an early onset DEE characterized by focal tonic seizures and additional seizure types starting in the first few weeks of life. Electrophysiological analysis showed a mixed gain-of-function effect with normal current density, a leftward (hyperpolarized) shift of steady-state inactivation, and slower inactivation kinetics leading to a prominent late sodium current. The observed functional changes closely paralleled effects of pathogenic variants in SCN3A and SCN8A at corresponding positions. Both wild type and variant exhibited sensitivity to block by oxcarbazepine, partially correcting electrophysiological abnormalities of the SCN1A p.R1636Q variant. Clinically, a single individual responded to treatment with oxcarbazepine. Across 51 individuals with SCN1A-related epilepsies, those with the recurrent p.R1636Q variants had the earliest ages at onset. SIGNIFICANCE The recurrent SCN1A p.R1636Q variant causes a clinical entity with a wider clinical spectrum than previously reported, characterized by neonatal onset epilepsy and absence of prominent movement disorder. Functional consequences of this variant lead to mixed loss and gain of function that is partially corrected by oxcarbazepine. The recurrent p.R1636Q variant represents one of the most common causes of early onset SCN1A-related epilepsies with separate treatment and prognosis implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérôme Clatot
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shridhar Parthasarathy
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Biomedical Health Informatics (DBHi)
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stacey Cohen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Biomedical Health Informatics (DBHi)
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jillian McKee
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shavonne Massey
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Ethan M. Goldberg
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Biomedical Health Informatics (DBHi)
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Ingo Helbig
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics
- Department of Biomedical Health Informatics (DBHi)
- The Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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4
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Scheffer IE. The fascinating phenotypic spectrum of SCN1A gain-of-function epilepsies. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1348-1350. [PMID: 36855230 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid E Scheffer
- University of Melbourne, Austin Health and Royal Children's Hospital, Florey and Murdoch Children's Research Institutes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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5
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Makiello P, Feng T, Dunwoody B, Steckler F, Symonds J, Zuberi SM, Dorris L, Brunklaus A. Comorbidities and predictors of health-related quality of life in Dravet syndrome: A 10-year, prospective follow-up study. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1012-1020. [PMID: 36740581 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Dravet syndrome (DS) is a severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, leading to reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Prospective outcome data on HRQOL are sparse, and this study investigated long-term predictors of HRQOL in DS. METHODS One hundred thirteen families of SCN1A-positive patients with DS, who were recruited as part of our 2010 study were contacted at 10-year follow-up, of which 68 (60%) responded. The mortality was 5.8%. Detailed clinical and demographic information was available for each patient. HRQOL was evaluated with two epilepsy-specific instruments, the Impact of Pediatric Epilepsy Scale (IPES) and the Epilepsy & Learning Disabilities Quality of Life Questionnaire (ELDQOL); a generic HRQOL instrument, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL); and a behavioral screening tool, the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). RESULTS Twenty-eight patients were 10-15 years of age (0-5 years at baseline) and 40 were ≥16 years of age (≥6 years at baseline). Patients 0- to 5-years-old at baseline showed a significant decline in mean scores on the PedsQL total score (p = .004), physical score (p < .001), cognitive score (p = .011), social score (p = .003), and eating score (p = .030) at follow-up. On multivariate regression, lower baseline and follow-up HRQOL for the whole cohort were associated with worse epilepsy severity and a high SDQ total score (R2 = 33% and 18%, respectively). In the younger patient group, younger age at first seizure and increased severity of epilepsy were associated with a lower baseline HRQOL (R2 = 35%). In the older age group, worse epilepsy severity (F = 6.40, p = .016, R2 = 14%) and the use of sodium-channel blockers were independently associated with a lower HRQOL at 10-year follow-up (F = 4.13, p = .05, R2 = 8%). SIGNIFICANCE This 10-year, prospective follow-up study highlights the significant HRQOL-associated cognitive, social, and physical decline particularly affecting younger patients with DS. Sodium channel blocker use appears to negatively impact long-term HRQOL, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and disease-specific management in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phoebe Makiello
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tony Feng
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Benjamin Dunwoody
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Felix Steckler
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK
| | - Joseph Symonds
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sameer M Zuberi
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Liam Dorris
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Andreas Brunklaus
- The Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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6
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Makridis KL, Friedo AL, Kellinghaus C, Losch FP, Schmitz B, Boßelmann C, Kaindl AM. Successful treatment of adult Dravet syndrome patients with cenobamate. Epilepsia 2022; 63:e164-e171. [PMID: 36176237 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a rare, drug-resistant, severe developmental and epileptic encephalopathy caused by pathogenic variants in the α subunit of the voltage-gated sodium channel gene SCN1A. Hyperexcitability in DS results from loss of function in inhibitory interneurons. Thus sodium channel blockers are usually contraindicated in patients with DS as they may lead to disease aggravation. Cenobamate (CNB) is a novel antiseizure medication (ASM) with promising rates of seizure freedom in patients with focal-onset, drug-resistant epilepsy. CNB blocks persistent sodium currents by promoting the inactive states of sodium channels. In a multi-center study, we analyzed retrospectively the effect of an add-on therapy of CNB in adult patients with DS. We report four adult patients with DS in whom the use of CNB resulted in a significant seizure reduction of more than 80%, with a follow-up of up to 542 days. CNB was the first drug in these patients that resulted in a long-lasting and significant seizure reduction. No severe adverse events occurred. We highlight CNB as an ASM that may lead to a clinically meaningful reduction of seizure frequency in adult patients with DS. It is unclear, however, if all patients with DS benefit, requiring further investigation and functional experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin L Makridis
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Cell and Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Friedo
- Epilepsy Center Berlin-Brandenburg, Epilepsieklinik Tabor, Bernau, Germany
| | | | | | - Bettina Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, Vivantes Humboldt-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Boßelmann
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Angela M Kaindl
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Center for Chronically Sick Children, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Institute of Cell and Neurobiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Epilepsy Center for Children and Adolescents, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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7
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Brunklaus A, Du J, Steckler F, Ghanty II, Johannesen KM, Fenger CD, Schorge S, Baez-Nieto D, Wang HR, Allen A, Pan JQ, Lerche H, Heyne H, Symonds JD, Zuberi SM, Sanders S, Sheidley BR, Craiu D, Olson HE, Weckhuysen S, DeJonge P, Helbig I, Van Esch H, Busa T, Milh M, Isidor B, Depienne C, Poduri A, Campbell AJ, Dimidschstein J, Møller RS, Lal D. Biological concepts in human sodium channel epilepsies and their relevance in clinical practice. Epilepsia 2020; 61:387-399. [PMID: 32090326 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Voltage-gated sodium channels (SCNs) share similar amino acid sequence, structure, and function. Genetic variants in the four human brain-expressed SCN genes SCN1A/2A/3A/8A have been associated with heterogeneous epilepsy phenotypes and neurodevelopmental disorders. To better understand the biology of seizure susceptibility in SCN-related epilepsies, our aim was to determine similarities and differences between sodium channel disorders, allowing us to develop a broader perspective on precision treatment than on an individual gene level alone. METHODS We analyzed genotype-phenotype correlations in large SCN-patient cohorts and applied variant constraint analysis to identify severe sodium channel disease. We examined temporal patterns of human SCN expression and correlated functional data from in vitro studies with clinical phenotypes across different sodium channel disorders. RESULTS Comparing 865 epilepsy patients (504 SCN1A, 140 SCN2A, 171 SCN8A, four SCN3A, 46 copy number variation [CNV] cases) and analysis of 114 functional studies allowed us to identify common patterns of presentation. All four epilepsy-associated SCN genes demonstrated significant constraint in both protein truncating and missense variation when compared to other SCN genes. We observed that age at seizure onset is related to SCN gene expression over time. Individuals with gain-of-function SCN2A/3A/8A missense variants or CNV duplications share similar characteristics, most frequently present with early onset epilepsy (<3 months), and demonstrate good response to sodium channel blockers (SCBs). Direct comparison of corresponding SCN variants across different SCN subtypes illustrates that the functional effects of variants in corresponding channel locations are similar; however, their clinical manifestation differs, depending on their role in different types of neurons in which they are expressed. SIGNIFICANCE Variant function and location within one channel can serve as a surrogate for variant effects across related sodium channels. Taking a broader view on precision treatment suggests that in those patients with a suspected underlying genetic epilepsy presenting with neonatal or early onset seizures (<3 months), SCBs should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Brunklaus
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Juanjiangmeng Du
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Felix Steckler
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ismael I Ghanty
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Katrine M Johannesen
- Deparment of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Center Filadelfia, Dianalund, Denmark.,Institute for Regional Health Services, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Christina Dühring Fenger
- Deparment of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Center Filadelfia, Dianalund, Denmark.,Amplexa Genetics, Odense, Denmark
| | - Stephanie Schorge
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK.,School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Baez-Nieto
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Hao-Ran Wang
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Andrew Allen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jen Q Pan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Holger Lerche
- Department of Neurology and Epileptology, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Henrike Heyne
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joseph D Symonds
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sameer M Zuberi
- Paediatric Neurosciences Research Group, Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, UK.,School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Stephan Sanders
- Department of Psychiatry, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Beth R Sheidley
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dana Craiu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Pediatric Neurology Discipline, Bucharest, Romania.,Alexandru Obregia Hospital, Pediatric Neurology Clinic, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Heather E Olson
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Neurogenetics Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Peter DeJonge
- Neurogenetics Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ingo Helbig
- Division of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Epilepsy NeuroGenetics Initiative, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neuropediatrics, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hilde Van Esch
- Department of Human Genetics and Center for Human Genetics, Laboratory for Genetics of Cognition, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tiffany Busa
- Genetics Department, Timone Enfants University Hospital Center, Public Assistance-Marseille Hospitals, Marseille, France
| | - Matthieu Milh
- Medical Genetics and Functional Genomics, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Mixed Unit of Research S910, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France.,Hematology Laboratory, Le Mans Hospital Center, Le Mans, France
| | - Bertrand Isidor
- Medical Genetics Department, Nantes University Hospital Center, Nantes, France
| | - Christel Depienne
- Institute of Human Genetics, Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany.,Brain and Spinal Cord Institute, National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Unit 1127, National Center for Scientific Research, Mixed Unit of Research 7225, Sorbonne Universities, Pierre and Marie Curie University, Mixed Unit of Research S 1127, Brain & Spine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Annapurna Poduri
- Epilepsy Genetics Program, Division of Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | | | - Jordane Dimidschstein
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Rikke S Møller
- Deparment of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Medicine, Danish Epilepsy Center Filadelfia, Dianalund, Denmark.,Institute for Regional Health Services, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Dennis Lal
- Cologne Center for Genomics, University of Cologne, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Epilepsy Center, Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.,Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
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