BACKGROUND: The major clinical feature of ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is severe progressive neurodegeneration with onset in infancy. This classical A-T phenotype is caused by biallelic null mutations in the ATM gene, leading to the absence of ATM protein and increased cellular radiosensitivity. We report an unusual case of A-T in a 41-year-old mother, A-T210, who had very mild neurological symptoms despite complete loss of ATM protein. METHODS: A neurological examination was performed, cellular radiosensitivity was assessed, and the ATM gene was sequenced. Skin fibroblasts and a lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) were assayed for ATM protein expression and kinase activity. RESULTS: Patient A-T210 showed mild chorea, dystonia, and gait ataxia, walked independently, and drove a car. LCL and skin fibroblasts were radiosensitive and did not express ATM protein. Two ATM-null mutations were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The severe neurodegeneration resulting from loss of ATM can be mitigated in some circumstances.
BACKGROUND: The major clinical feature of ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is severe progressive neurodegeneration with onset in infancy. This classical A-T phenotype is caused by biallelic null mutations in the ATM gene, leading to the absence of ATM protein and increased cellular radiosensitivity. We report an unusual case of A-T in a 41-year-old mother, A-T210, who had very mild neurological symptoms despite complete loss of ATM protein. METHODS: A neurological examination was performed, cellular radiosensitivity was assessed, and the ATM gene was sequenced. Skin fibroblasts and a lymphoblastoid cell line (LCL) were assayed for ATM protein expression and kinase activity. RESULTS:PatientA-T210 showed mild chorea, dystonia, and gait ataxia, walked independently, and drove a car. LCL and skin fibroblasts were radiosensitive and did not express ATM protein. Two ATM-null mutations were identified. CONCLUSIONS: The severe neurodegeneration resulting from loss of ATM can be mitigated in some circumstances.
Authors: Cynthia Rothblum-Oviatt; Jennifer Wright; Maureen A Lefton-Greif; Sharon A McGrath-Morrow; Thomas O Crawford; Howard M Lederman Journal: Orphanet J Rare Dis Date: 2016-11-25 Impact factor: 4.123
Authors: Martin Krenn; Ivan Milenkovic; Gertrud Eckstein; Fritz Zimprich; Thomas Meitinger; Thomas Foki; Matias Wagner Journal: Neurol Genet Date: 2019-06-25