scholarly journals Cerebral folate deficiency in two siblings caused by biallelic variants including a novel mutation of FOLR1 gene: Intrafamilial heterogeneity following early treatment and the role of ketogenic diet

JIMD Reports ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria T. Papadopoulou ◽  
Efterpi Dalpa ◽  
Michalis Portokalas ◽  
Irene Katsanika ◽  
Katerina Tirothoulaki ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ciliu Zhang ◽  
Xiaolu Deng ◽  
Yafei Wen ◽  
Fang He ◽  
Fei Yin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cerebral folate deficiency (CFD) is a neurological disease, hallmarked by remarkable low concentrations of 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5-MTHF) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The primary causes of CFD include the presence of folate receptor (FR) autoantibodies, defects of FR encoding gene FOLR1, mitochondrial diseases and congenital abnormalities in folate metabolism. Case presentation Here we first present a Chinese male CFD patient whose seizure onset at 2 years old with convulsive status epilepticus. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) revealed the development of encephalomalacia, laminar necrosis in multiple lobes of the brain and cerebellar atrophy. Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) uncovered a homozygous missense variant of c.524G > T (p.C175F) in FOLR1 gene. Further laboratory tests demonstrated the extremely low level of 5-MTHF in the CSF from this patient, which was attributed to cerebral folate transport deficiency. Following the intravenous and oral treatment of calcium folinate, the concentrations of 5-MTHF in CSF were recovered to the normal range and seizure symptoms were relieved as well. Conclusions One novel variation of FOLR1 was firstly identified from a Chinese male patient with tonic-clonic seizures, developmental delay, and ataxia. The WES and laboratory results elucidated the etiology of the symptoms. Clinical outcomes were improved by early diagnosis and proper treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 07 (03) ◽  
pp. 080-086
Author(s):  
Syed Aaquil Hasan Syed Javid Hasan ◽  
Raisa Arifanie O'Zelian Pawirotaroeno ◽  
Syed Abrar Hasan Syed Javid Hasan ◽  
Elene Abzianidze

AbstractOne of the significant consequences of alcohol consumption is cancer formation via several contributing factors such as action of alcohol metabolites, vitamin deficiencies, and oxidative stress. All these factors have been shown to cause epigenetic modifications via DNA hypomethylation, thus forming a basis for cancer development. Several published reviews and studies were systematically reviewed. Omnivores and vegetarians differ in terms of nutritional intake and deficiencies. As folate deficiency was found to be common among the omnivores, chronic alcoholism could possibly cause damage and eventually cancer in an omnivorous individual via DNA hypomethylation due to folate deficiency. Furthermore, as niacin was found to be deficient among vegetarians, damage in vegetarian chronic alcoholics could be due to increased NADH/NAD+ ratio, thus slowing alcohol metabolism in liver leading to increased alcohol and acetaldehyde which inhibit methyltransferase enzymes, eventually leading to DNA hypomethylation. Hence correcting the concerned deficiency and supplementation with S-adenosyl methionine could prove to be protective in chronic alcohol use.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shimpei Baba ◽  
Tohru Okanishi ◽  
Koichi Ohsugi ◽  
Rika Suzumura ◽  
Keiko Niimi ◽  
...  

AbstractWe describe the efficacy of high-dose barbiturates and early administration of a parenteral ketogenic diet (KD) as initial treatments for acute status epilepticus (SE) in an 8-year-old girl with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES). The patient was admitted to our hospital with refractory focal SE. Abundant epileptic discharges over the left frontal region were observed on electroencephalogram (EEG). Treatment with continuous infusion of thiamylal for 4 hours, increased incrementally to 40 mg/kg/h, successfully ended the clinical SE, and induced a burst-suppression coma. The infusion rate was then gradually decreased to 4 mg/kg/h over the next 12 hours. Parenteral KD was administered from days 6 to 21 of illness. Continuous infusion of thiamylal was switched to midazolam on day 10 without causing seizures or EEG exacerbations. The patient has remained seizure free in the 15 months since hospital discharge. The effectiveness of KD for the treatment of FIRES has attracted attention amongst clinicians, but KD treatment may need to last for 2 to 4 days before it can stop SE, a time period that could cause irreversible brain damage. Considering the severity of SE in our patient and the dose of barbiturates needed to treat it, we consider this case to have had a good clinical outcome. The results suggest that rapid termination of seizure using high-dose barbiturates in conjunction with early administration of parenteral KD could reduce the development of chronic epilepsy in patients with FIRES.


2005 ◽  
Vol 352 (19) ◽  
pp. 1985-1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincent T. Ramaekers ◽  
Sheldon P. Rothenberg ◽  
Jeffrey M. Sequeira ◽  
Thomas Opladen ◽  
Nenad Blau ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin Wang ◽  
Jie Huang ◽  
Shan Yao ◽  
Jia-Hui Wu ◽  
Hui-Bin Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The ketogenic diet (KD)has been considered an effective treatment for epilepsy, whereas its underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We have previously reported that the KD feeding increased Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) expression in the hippocampus; disruption of NRG1 signaling by genetically deleting its receptor-ErbB4 abolished KD’s effects on inhibitory synaptic activity and seizures. However, it is still unclear about the mechanisms underlying the effect of KD on NRG1 expression and whether the effects of KD require ErbB4 kinase activity. Methods The effects of the KD on NRG1 expression were assessed via western blotting and real-time PCR. Acetylation level at the Nrg1 promoter locus was examined using the chromatin immunoprecipitation technique. Kainic acid (KA)-induced acute seizure model was utilized to examine the effects of KD and histone deacetylase inhibitor-TSA on seizures. Synaptic activities in the hippocampus were recorded with the technique of electrophysiology. The obligatory role of ErbB4 kinase activity in KD’s effects on seizures and inhibitory synaptic activity was evaluated by using ErbB kinase antagonist and transgenic mouse-T796G. Results We report that KD specifically increases Type I NRG1 expression in the hippocampus. Using the chromatin immunoprecipitation technique, we observe increased acetylated-histone occupancy at the Nrg1 promoter locus of KD-fed mice. Treatment of TSA dramatically elevates NRG1 expression and diminishes the difference between the effects of the control diet (CD) and KD. These data indicate that KD increases NRG1 expression via up-regulating histone acetylation. Moreover, both pharmacological and genetic inhibitions of ErbB4 kinase activity significantly block the KD’s effects on inhibitory synaptic activity and seizure, suggesting an essential role of ErbB4 kinase activity. Conclusion These results strengthen our understanding of the role of NRG1/ErbB4 signaling in KD and shed light on novel therapeutic interventions for epilepsy.


2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (8) ◽  
pp. 821-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeehun Lee ◽  
Jun Hwa Lee ◽  
Hee Jun Yu ◽  
Munhyang Lee

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document