PNPT1 mutations may cause Aicardi-Goutières-Syndrome

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Daniel Bamborschke - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Mona Kreutzer - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Anne Koy - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Friederike Koerber - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Nadja Lucas - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Christoph Huenseler - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Peter Herkenrath - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Min Ae Lee-Kirsch - , Department of Paediatrics (Author)
  • Sebahattin Cirak - , University of Cologne (Author)

Abstract

Background: Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS) is a clinically and genetically heterogenous autoinflammatory disorder caused by constitutive activation of the type I interferon axis. It has been associated with the genes TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR1, IFIH1. The clinical diagnosis of AGS is usually made in the context of early-onset encephalopathy in combination with basal ganglia calcification or white matter abnormalities on cranial MRI and laboratory prove of interferon I activation. Case presentation: We report a patient with early-onset encephalopathy, severe neurodevelopmental regression, progressive secondary microcephaly, epilepsy, movement disorder, and white matter hyperintensities on T2 weighted MRI images. Via whole-exome sequencing, we identified a novel homozygous missense variant (c.1399C > T, p.Pro467Ser) in PNPT1 (NM_033109). Longitudinal assessment of the interferon signature showed a massively elevated interferon score and chronic type I interferon-mediated autoinflammation. Conclusion: Bi-allelic mutations in PNPT1 have been reported in early-onset encephalopathy. Insufficient nuclear RNA import into mitochondria with consecutive disruption of the respiratory chain was proposed as the main underlying pathomechanism. Recent studies have shown that PNPT1 deficiency causes an accumulation of double-stranded mtRNAs in the cytoplasm, leading to aberrant type I interferon activation, however, longitudinal assessment has been lacking. Here, we present a case of AGS with continuously elevated type I interferon signature with a novel likely-pathogenic homozygous PNTP1 variant. We highlight the clinical value of assessing the interferon signature in children with encephalopathy of unknown origin and suggest all patients presenting with a phenotype of AGS should be screened for mutations in PNPT1.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)320-324
Number of pages5
JournalBrain and Development
Volume43
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33158637

Keywords

Keywords

  • Aicardi-Goutières-Syndrome, Early-onset encephalopathy, Interferon signature, PNPT1, Type I interferonopathy