Discordant phenotype caused by TREX1 variant in siblings with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome

Research output: Contribution to journalCase reportContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Background: Autosomal recessive Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) and autosomal dominant familial chilblain lupus (FCL) are rare type I interferonopathies that can both result from loss-of-function variants in the TREX1 gene, which encodes a DNA exonuclease. Although phenotypic variability is well recognized in TREX1-related disorders, intrafamilial phenotypic discordance is seldom seen. Case presentation: We describe two siblings carrying a novel homozygous TREX1 variant (c.341G > T, p.Arg114Leu) who exhibit strikingly different clinical phenotypes. The younger sibling presented at 4 months of age with features of AGS, including tetraspasticity, muscular hypotonia and global developmental delay. Brain MRI showed brain atrophy and white matter abnormalities. In contrast, his older brother developed cutaneous chilblain lesions during the cold season at age 3 but was otherwise normally developed. Despite these divergent clinical presentations, both children demonstrated a highly elevated interferon signature. Conclusions: This case report expands the genetic and clinical spectrum of TREX1-related disorders and illustrates the considerable phenotypic variability associated with biallelic TREX1 variants in AGS. It highlights the complexity of genotype-phenotype correlations in type I interferonopathies and underscores the need for further research into factors that modulate disease expression.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number110
JournalPediatric Rheumatology
Volume23
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2025
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 41194156

Keywords

Keywords

  • Aicardi-Goutières syndrome, Familial chilblain lupus, Genetics, Interferon, TREX1, Type I interferonopathy