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Impaired Presynaptic High-Affinity Choline Transporter Causes a Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome with Episodic Apnea

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Yoshiteru Azuma, Dr Grace McMacken, Dr Ana TopfORCiD, Professor Hanns Lochmuller

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Abstract

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is one of the best-studied cholinergic synapses. Inherited defects of peripheral neurotransmission result in congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS5), a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of rare diseases with fluctuating fatigable muscle weakness as the clinical hallmark. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing in six unrelated families identified compound heterozygous and homozygous mutations in SLC5A7 encoding the presynaptic sodium-dependent high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT), which is known to be mutated in one dominant form of distal motor neuronopathy (DHMN7A). We identified 11 recessive mutations in SLC5A7 that were associated with a spectrum of severe muscle weakness ranging from a lethal antenatal form of arthrogryposis and severe hypotonia to a neonatal form of CMS with episodic apnea and a favorable prognosis when well managed at the clinical level. As expected given the critical role of CHT for multisystemic cholinergic neurotransmission, autonomic dysfunctions were reported in the antenatal form and cognitive impairment was noticed in half of the persons with the neonatal form. The missense mutations induced a near complete loss of function of CHT activity in cell models. At the human NMJ, a delay in synaptic maturation and an altered maintenance were observed in the antenatal and neonatal forms, respectively. Increased synaptic expression of butyrylcholinesterase was also observed, exposing the dysfunction of cholinergic metabolism when CHT is deficient in vivo. This work broadens the clinical spectrum of human diseases resulting from reduced CHT activity and highlights the complexity of cholinergic metabolism at the synapse.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Bauche S, O'Regan S, Azuma Y, Laffargue F, McMacken G, Sternberg D, Brochier G, Buon C, Bouzidi N, Topf A, Lacene E, Remerand G, Beaufrere AM, Pebrel-Richard C, Thevenon J, El Chehadeh-Djebbar S, Faivre L, Duffourd Y, Ricci F, Mongini T, Fiorillo C, Astrea G, Burloiu CM, Butoianu N, Sandu C, Servais L, Bonne G, Nelson I, Desguerre I, Nougues MC, Boeuf B, Romero N, Laporte J, Boland A, Lechner D, Deleuze JF, Fontaine B, Strochlic L, Lochmuller H, Eymard B, Mayer M, Nicole S

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: American Journal of Human Genetics

Year: 2016

Volume: 99

Issue: 3

Pages: 753-761

Print publication date: 01/09/2016

Online publication date: 25/08/2016

Acceptance date: 29/06/2016

ISSN (print): 0002-9297

ISSN (electronic): 1537-6605

Publisher: Cell Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.06.033

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2016.06.033


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Fondation Maladies Rares within the Myocapture sequencing project
305121European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
305444European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
20030AFM-Telethon
ANR-10-IAIHU-06programs "Investissements d'avenir"
ANR-10-INBS-09programs "Investissements d'avenir"
98482Medical Research Council UK
G1002274Medical Research Council UK

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