Clinical and genetic familial study of a large cohort of Italian children with idiopathic epilepsy.
Epilepsies are characterized by genetic heterogeneity and by the possible coexistence of different phenotypes in one family. Moreover, in different epilepsies, mutations in the same gene have been reported. We aimed to collect data in a large Italian cohort of 81 families with children affected by partial or generalized epilepsies and to evaluate the prevalence of several ion channel mutations. In particular, a clinical and genetic survey was performed and DNA regions known to be associated with several epilepsies were analysed by sequencing. We observed genetic complexity in all phenotype groups: any epileptic type may be transmitted as either autosomal dominant or recessive. No significant phenotype identity among generations and no differences among genders could be observed. Two missense mutations in SCN1A were identified in two GEFS+ probands confirming the importance of this channel for this epilepsy. Moreover, a previously unreported CLCN2 mutation was detected in a proband showing CAE. In conclusion, even in this highly heterogeneous cohort, the complexity of the epileptic condition was highlighted and mutations in the analysed candidate region of ion channel genes appear to explain only a minority of cases.
Combi
Romina
R
Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, p.zza della Scienza 2, 20126 Milano, Italy.
Grioni
Daniele
D
Contri
Margherita
M
Redaelli
Serena
S
Redaelli
Francesca
F
Bassi
Maria Teresa
MT
Barisani
Donatella
D
Lavitrano
Maria Luisa
ML
Tredici
Giovanni
G
Tenchini
Maria Luisa
ML
Bertolini
Mario
M
Dalprà
Leda
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000235:genetics; D015988:Cohort Effect; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D012737:Sex Factors; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000235:genetics
D000090007:CLC-2 Chloride Channels; D018118:Chloride Channels; D062550:NAV1.1 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C568242:SCN1A protein, human; D015222:Sodium Channels