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Li L, Yuan L, Zheng W, Yang Y, Deng X, Song Z, Deng H. An SCN1A gene missense variant in a Chinese Tujia ethnic family with genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1229569. [PMID: 37576022 PMCID: PMC10412811 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1229569] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFSP) is a familial epileptic syndrome that is genetically heterogeneous and inherited in an autosomal dominant form in most cases. To date, at least seven genes have been reported to associate with GEFSP. This study aimed to identify the disease-causing variant in a Chinese Tujia ethnic family with GEFSP by using whole exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and in silico prediction. A heterozygous missense variant c.5725A>G (p.T1909A) was identified in the sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 1 gene (SCN1A) coding region. The variant co-segregated with the GEFSP phenotype in this family, and it was predicted as disease-causing by multiple in silico programs, which was proposed as the genetic cause of GEFSP, further genetically diagnosed as GEFSP2. These findings expand the genetic and phenotypic spectrum of GEFSP and should contribute to genetic diagnoses, personalized therapies, and prognoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Li
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lamei Yuan
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiong Deng
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhi Song
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Center for Experimental Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Disease Genome Research Center, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Li X, Guo S, Liu K, Zhang C, Chang H, Yang W, Rong S, Hu Q, Cui J, Wang F, Sun T. GABRG2 Deletion Linked to Genetic Epilepsy with Febrile Seizures Plus Affects the Expression of GABA A Receptor Subunits and Other Genes at Different Temperatures. Neuroscience 2020; 438:116-36. [PMID: 32418750 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.04.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAA) subunits and sodium channel genes, especially GABRG2 and SCN1A, have been reported to be associated with febrile seizures (FS) and genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+). GEFS+ is a well-known family of epileptic syndrome with autosomal dominant inheritance in children. Its most common phenotypes are febrile seizures often with accessory afebrile generalized tonic-clonic seizures, febrile seizures plus (FS+), severe epileptic encephalopathy, as well as other types of generalized or localization-related seizures. However, the pathogenesis of febrile seizures remains largely unknown. Here, we generated a GABRG2 gene knockout cell line (HT22GABRG2KO) by applying the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genomic deletion in HT-22 mouse hippocampal neuronal cell line to explore the function of GABRG2 in vitro. With mRNA-seq, we found significant changes in the expression profiles of several epilepsy-related genes when GABRG2 was knockout, some of them showing temperature-induced changes as well. Kyoto Encyclopedia Gene and Genomic (KEGG) analysis revealed a significant alteration in the MAPK and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. We also observed an up-regulation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) family after GABRG2 knockout. Furthermore, the significant decrease in expression of GABRA1 and CACNA1A (but not others) with an increase in temperature is a novel finding. In summary, mutations in the GABAA receptor can lead to a decrease in numbers of receptors, which may cause the impairment of GABAergic pathway signaling. This data has been the first time to reveal that GABRG2 mutations would affect the function of other genes, and based on this finding we hope this work would also provide a new direction for the research of GABRG2 in GEFS+. It also may provide a molecular basis for the severity of epilepsy, and guide the clinical medication for the treatment of the epilepsy focused on the function on GABAA receptors, which, might be a new strategy for genetic diagnosis and targeted treatment of epilepsy.
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Mantegazza M, Broccoli V. SCN1A/Na V 1.1 channelopathies: Mechanisms in expression systems, animal models, and human iPSC models. Epilepsia 2020; 60 Suppl 3:S25-S38. [PMID: 31904127 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic SCN1A/NaV 1.1 mutations cause well-defined epilepsies, including genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) and the severe epileptic encephalopathy Dravet syndrome. In addition, they cause a severe form of migraine with aura, familial hemiplegic migraine. Moreover, SCN1A/NaV 1.1 variants have been inferred as risk factors in other types of epilepsy. We review here the advancements obtained studying pathologic mechanisms of SCN1A/NaV 1.1 mutations with experimental systems. We present results gained with in vitro expression systems, gene-targeted animal models, and the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, highlighting advantages, limits, and pitfalls for each of these systems. Overall, the results obtained in the last two decades confirm that the initial pathologic mechanism of epileptogenic SCN1A/NaV 1.1 mutations is loss-of-function of NaV 1.1 leading to hypoexcitability of at least some types of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons (including cortical and hippocampal parvalbumin-positive and somatostatin-positive ones). Conversely, more limited results point to NaV 1.1 gain-of-function for familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) mutations. Behind these relatively simple pathologic mechanisms, an unexpected complexity has been observed, in part generated by technical issues in experimental studies and in part related to intrinsically complex pathophysiologic responses and remodeling, which yet remain to be fully disentangled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Mantegazza
- University Cote d'Azur (UCA), CNRS UMR7275, INSERM, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC), Valbonne-Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Vania Broccoli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Institute of Neuroscience, National Research Council (CNR), Milan, Italy
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Myers KA, Scheffer IE, Berkovic SF; ILAE Genetics Commission. Genetic literacy series: genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. Epileptic Disord 2018; 20:232-8. [PMID: 30078767 DOI: 10.1684/epd.2018.0985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is a familial epilepsy syndrome in which affected individuals within a family typically have a variety of epilepsy phenotypes, varying from simple febrile seizures and febrile seizures plus with a good outcome to severe epileptic encephalopathies. Here, we review the spectrum of epilepsy phenotypes, the genetic architecture of GEFS+, and the implicated genes. Using an illustrative clinical case study, we describe important steps in managing patients with GEFS+: making the diagnosis of GEFS+, appropriate genetic testing, and counselling.
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Wong JC, Dutton SBB, Collins SD, Schachter S, Escayg A. Huperzine A Provides Robust and Sustained Protection against Induced Seizures in Scn1a Mutant Mice. Front Pharmacol 2016; 7:357. [PMID: 27799911 PMCID: PMC5065986 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2016.00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
De novo loss-of-function mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) SCN1A (encoding Nav1.1) are the main cause of Dravet syndrome (DS), a catastrophic early-life encephalopathy associated with prolonged and recurrent early-life febrile seizures (FSs), refractory afebrile epilepsy, cognitive and behavioral deficits, and a 15–20% mortality rate. SCN1A mutations also lead to genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+), which is an inherited disorder characterized by early-life FSs and the development of a range of adult epilepsy subtypes. Current antiepileptic drugs often fail to protect against the severe seizures and behavioral and cognitive deficits found in patients with SCN1A mutations. To address the need for more efficacious treatments for SCN1A-derived epilepsies, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of Huperzine A, a naturally occurring reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. In CF1 mice, Hup A (0.56 or 1 mg/kg) was found to confer protection against 6 Hz-, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-, and maximal electroshock (MES)-induced seizures. Robust protection against 6 Hz-, MES-, and hyperthermia-induced seizures was also achieved following Hup A administration in mouse models of DS (Scn1a+/−) and GEFS+ (Scn1aRH/+). Furthermore, Hup A-mediated seizure protection was sustained during 3 weeks of daily injections in Scn1aRH/+ mutants. Finally, we determined that muscarinic and GABAA receptors play a role in Hup A-mediated seizure protection. These findings indicate that Hup A might provide a novel therapeutic strategy for increasing seizure resistance in DS and GEFS+, and more broadly, in other forms of refractory epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Wong
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Stacey B B Dutton
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biology, Agnes Scott CollegeAtlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Steven Schachter
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Massachusetts General Hospital Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Escayg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
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