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Jia N, Yu S, Zhang G, Li L, Wang J, Lai C. Recurrent MECR R258W causes adult-onset optic atrophy: A case report. Eur J Med Genet 2024; 68:104917. [PMID: 38296034 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2024.104917] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
MECR-related neurologic disorder, also known as mitochondrial enoyl CoA reductase protein-associated neurodegeneration (MEPAN) or dystonia with optic atrophy and basal ganglia abnormalities in childhood (MIM: #617282), is an autosomal recessive inherited disease characterized by a progressive childhood-onset movement disorder and optic atrophy. Here we report a 19-year-old male, presented with progressive visual failure, nystagmus, and right orbital pain, with no history of movement or eye disorder in his childhood. His visual decline started at age 18 years, whereas nystagmus emerged seven months later. Analysis of whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed a homozygous recurrent variant (NM_016011.5:c.772C > T, p.Arg258Trp) in MECR. These findings suggest phenotypic heterogeneity in MECR-related neurologic disorder, thus, more relevant case screening, will help to delineate the genotype-phenotype correlation of the MECR gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Jia
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuiqing Yu
- Beijing Chigene Translational Medical Research Center Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Geng Zhang
- Beijing Chigene Translational Medical Research Center Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuntao Lai
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Nataraj J, MacLean JA, Davies J, Kurtz J, Salisbury A, Liker MA, Sanger TD, Olaya J. Application of deep brain stimulation for the treatment of childhood-onset dystonia in patients with MEPAN syndrome. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1307595. [PMID: 38328756 PMCID: PMC10847241 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1307595] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Mitochondrial Enoyl CoA Reductase Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (MEPAN) syndrome is a rare inherited metabolic condition caused by MECR gene mutations. This gene encodes a protein essential for fatty acid synthesis, and defects cause progressively worsening childhood-onset dystonia, optic atrophy, and basal ganglia abnormalities. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has shown mixed improvement in other childhood-onset dystonia conditions. To the best of our knowledge, DBS has not been investigated as a treatment for dystonia in patients with MEPAN syndrome. Methods Two children with MEPAN were identified as possible DBS candidates due to severe generalized dystonia unresponsive to pharmacotherapy. Temporary depth electrodes were placed in six locations bilaterally and tested during a 6-day hospitalization to determine the best locations for permanent electrode placement. The Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale (BFMDRS) and Barry-Albright Dystonia Scale (BADS) were used for preoperative and postoperative testing to quantitatively assess dystonia severity changes. Patient 1 had permanent electrodes placed at the globus pallidus internus (GPi) and pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN). Patient 2 had permanent electrodes placed at the GPi and ventralis intermedius nucleus of the thalamus (VIM). Results Both patients successfully underwent DBS placement with no perioperative complications and significant improvement in their BFMDRS score. Patient 2 also demonstrated improvement in the BADS. Discussion We demonstrated a novel application of DBS in MEPAN syndrome patients with childhood-onset dystonia. These patients showed clinically significant improvements in dystonia following DBS, indicating that DBS can be considered for dystonia in patients with rare metabolic disorders that currently have no other proven treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Nataraj
- Samueli School of Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer A. MacLean
- Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Jordan Davies
- Division of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Joshua Kurtz
- School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Amanda Salisbury
- Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
| | - Mark A. Liker
- Division of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Terence D. Sanger
- Samueli School of Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Research Institute, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Joffre Olaya
- Division of Neurosurgery, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Abstract
Fatty acids in mitochondria, in sensu stricto, arise either as β-oxidation substrates imported via the carnitine shuttle or through de novo synthesis by the mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (mtFAS) pathway. Defects in mtFAS or processes involved in the generation of the mtFAS product derivative lipoic acid (LA), including iron-sulfur cluster synthesis required for functional LA synthase, have emerged only recently as etiology for neurodegenerative disease. Intriguingly, mtFAS deficiencies very specifically affect CNS function, while LA synthesis and attachment defects have a pleiotropic presentation beyond neurodegeneration. Typical mtFAS defect presentations include optical atrophy, as well as basal ganglia defects associated with dystonia. The phenotype display of patients with mtFAS defects can resemble the presentation of disorders associated with coenzyme A (CoA) synthesis. A recent publication links these processes together based on the requirement of CoA for acyl carrier protein maturation. MtFAS defects, CoA synthesis- as well as Fe-S cluster-deficiencies share lack of LA as a common symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kaija J Autio
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Remya R Nair
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
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