CACNA1A haploinsufficiency causes cognitive impairment, autism and epileptic encephalopathy with mild cerebellar symptoms

Eur J Hum Genet. 2015 Nov;23(11):1505-12. doi: 10.1038/ejhg.2015.21. Epub 2015 Mar 4.

Abstract

CACNA1A loss-of-function mutations classically present as episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2), with brief episodes of ataxia and nystagmus, or with progressive spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA6). A minority of patients carrying CACNA1A mutations develops epilepsy. Non-motor symptoms associated with these mutations are often overlooked. In this study, we report 16 affected individuals from four unrelated families presenting with a spectrum of cognitive impairment including intellectual deficiency, executive dysfunction, ADHD and/or autism, as well as childhood-onset epileptic encephalopathy with refractory absence epilepsy, febrile seizures, downbeat nystagmus and episodic ataxia. Sequencing revealed one CACNA1A gene deletion, two deleterious CACNA1A point mutations including one known stop-gain and one new frameshift variant and a new splice-site variant. This report illustrates the phenotypic heterogeneity of CACNA1A loss-of-function mutations and stresses the cognitive and epileptic manifestations caused by the loss of CaV2.1 channels function, presumably affecting cerebellar, cortical and limbic networks.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ataxia / genetics
  • Ataxia / physiopathology
  • Autistic Disorder / genetics*
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology
  • Brain Diseases / genetics*
  • Brain Diseases / physiopathology
  • Calcium Channels / genetics*
  • Cerebellar Diseases / genetics*
  • Cerebellar Diseases / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics*
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Haploinsufficiency
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / genetics
  • Nystagmus, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Point Mutation

Substances

  • CACNA1A protein, human
  • Calcium Channels

Supplementary concepts

  • Episodic Ataxia, Type 2