WNT1-associated osteogenesis imperfecta with atrophic frontal lobes and arachnoid cysts

J Hum Genet. 2019 Apr;64(4):291-296. doi: 10.1038/s10038-019-0565-9. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Abstract

A rare form of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) caused by Wingless-type MMTV integration site family 1 (WNT1) mutations combines central nervous system (CNS) anomalies with the characteristic increased susceptibility to fractures. We report an additional case where arachnoid cysts extend the phenotype, and that also confirms the association of intellectual disabilities with asymmetric cerebellar hypoplasia here. Interestingly, if the cerebellum is normal in this disorder, intelligence is as well, analogous to an association with similar delays in a subset of patients with sporadic unilateral cerebellar hypoplasia. Those cases typically appear to represent vascular disruptions, and we suggest that most brain anomalies in WNT1-associated OI have vascular origins related to a role for WNT1 in CNS angiogenesis. This unusual combination of benign cerebellar findings with effects on higher functions in these two situations raises the possibility that WNT1 is involved in the pathogenesis of the associated sporadic cases as well. Finally, our patient reacted poorly to pamidronate, which appears ineffective with this form of OI, so that a lack of improvement is an indication for molecular testing that includes WNT1.

MeSH terms

  • Arachnoid Cysts / diagnostic imaging
  • Arachnoid Cysts / physiopathology
  • Central Nervous System / abnormalities
  • Central Nervous System / diagnostic imaging
  • Central Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Cerebellum / abnormalities
  • Cerebellum / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebellum / physiopathology
  • Developmental Disabilities / diagnostic imaging
  • Developmental Disabilities / genetics
  • Developmental Disabilities / physiopathology
  • Frontal Lobe / diagnostic imaging
  • Frontal Lobe / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / diagnostic imaging
  • Intellectual Disability / drug therapy
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics*
  • Intellectual Disability / physiopathology
  • Mutation
  • Nervous System Malformations / diagnostic imaging
  • Nervous System Malformations / genetics
  • Nervous System Malformations / physiopathology
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta / diagnostic imaging
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta / drug therapy
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta / genetics*
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta / physiopathology
  • Pamidronate / administration & dosage
  • Pamidronate / adverse effects
  • Wnt1 Protein / genetics*

Substances

  • WNT1 protein, human
  • Wnt1 Protein
  • Pamidronate

Supplementary concepts

  • Cerebellar Hypoplasia