PURPOSE: Neurexins are neuronal adhesion molecules located in the presynaptic terminal, where they interact with postsynaptic neuroligins to form a transsynaptic complex required for efficient neurotransmission in the brain. Recently, deletions and point mutations of the neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene have been associated with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aimed to investigate if NRXN1 deletions also increase the risk of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs). METHODS: We screened for deletions involving the NRXN1 gene in 1,569 patients with IGE and 6,201 controls using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. KEY FINDINGS: We identified exon-disrupting deletions of NRXN1 in 5 of 1,569 patients with IGE and 2 of 6,201 control individuals (p = 0.0049; odds ratio (OR) 9.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92-51.12). A complex familial segregation pattern in the IGE families was observed, suggesting that heterozygous NRXN1 deletions are susceptibility variants. Intriguingly, we identified a second large copy number variant in three of five index patients, supporting an involvement of heterogeneous susceptibility alleles in the etiology of IGE. SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that exon-disrupting deletions of NRXN1 represent a genetic risk factor in the genetically complex predisposition of common IGE syndromes. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
PURPOSE: Neurexins are neuronal adhesion molecules located in the presynaptic terminal, where they interact with postsynaptic neuroligins to form a transsynaptic complex required for efficient neurotransmission in the brain. Recently, deletions and point mutations of the neurexin 1 (NRXN1) gene have been associated with a broad spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders. This study aimed to investigate if NRXN1 deletions also increase the risk of idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs). METHODS: We screened for deletions involving the NRXN1 gene in 1,569 patients with IGE and 6,201 controls using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. KEY FINDINGS: We identified exon-disrupting deletions of NRXN1 in 5 of 1,569 patients with IGE and 2 of 6,201 control individuals (p = 0.0049; odds ratio (OR) 9.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92-51.12). A complex familial segregation pattern in the IGE families was observed, suggesting that heterozygous NRXN1 deletions are susceptibility variants. Intriguingly, we identified a second large copy number variant in three of five index patients, supporting an involvement of heterogeneous susceptibility alleles in the etiology of IGE. SIGNIFICANCE: We conclude that exon-disrupting deletions of NRXN1 represent a genetic risk factor in the genetically complex predisposition of common IGE syndromes. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Authors: Jonathan D J Labonne; Kang-Han Lee; Shigeki Iwase; Il-Keun Kong; Michael P Diamond; Lawrence C Layman; Cheol-Hee Kim; Hyung-Goo Kim Journal: Hum Genet Date: 2016-04-22 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Aaron Jenkins; José A Apud; Fengyu Zhang; Heather Decot; Daniel R Weinberger; Amanda J Law Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2014-03-14 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Heather Olson; Yiping Shen; Jennifer Avallone; Beth R Sheidley; Rebecca Pinsky; Ann M Bergin; Gerard T Berry; Frank H Duffy; Yaman Eksioglu; David J Harris; Fuki M Hisama; Eugenia Ho; Mira Irons; Christina M Jacobsen; Philip James; Sanjeev Kothare; Omar Khwaja; Jonathan Lipton; Tobias Loddenkemper; Jennifer Markowitz; Kiran Maski; J Thomas Megerian; Edward Neilan; Peter C Raffalli; Michael Robbins; Amy Roberts; Eugene Roe; Caitlin Rollins; Mustafa Sahin; Dean Sarco; Alison Schonwald; Sharon E Smith; Janet Soul; Joan M Stoler; Masanori Takeoka; Wen-Han Tan; Alcy R Torres; Peter Tsai; David K Urion; Laura Weissman; Robert Wolff; Bai-Lin Wu; David T Miller; Annapurna Poduri Journal: Ann Neurol Date: 2014-06-13 Impact factor: 10.422