title: Mutations of the prion protein gene phenotypic spectrum.
abstract: Prion diseases are inherited in 5-15 % of cases. They are classified according to changes in the prion protein gene ( PRNP) or conventionally according to phenotype as Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS), fatal familial insomnia (FFI), or familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (fCJD). Point mutations and insertions within PRNP form the genetic background. We report the results of a systematic analysis of over 500 case reports of patients with PRNP abnormalities. We compare clinical, neuropathological and molecular data in five groups, namely GSS, FFI, fCJD, base pair insertion (BPI), and all cases collectively. Clinical presentation overlaps between mutations, but some have characteristic features (e. g. P105L, D178N-129M, T183A). Some mutations, especially in the lack of sufficient family history, in earlier phases tend to resemble other neurodegenerative disorders like multiple system atrophy, corticobasal degeneration or familial diseases such as late-onset spinocerebellar ataxia, spastic paraparesis, frontotemporal dementia, or Alzheimer's disease. The codon 129 polymorphism has a phenotypic influence in inherited prion diseases, as in non-genetic forms, but additional factors might be considered as background for phenotypic variability.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurology, University of Vienna, and Austrian Reference Centre for Human Prion Diseases, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Gábor G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.forename: Gianriccardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trabattoni
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hainfellner
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Ironside
authors.forename: Richard S G
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D017096:Prion Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D000682:Amyloid; C512656:PRNP protein, human; D000072002:Prion Proteins; D011328:Prions; D011498:Protein Precursors