Vici syndrome | |
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Other names | Dionisi–Vici–Sabetta–Gambarara syndrome |
Vici syndrome, also called immunodeficiency with cleft lip/palate, cataract, hypopigmentation and absent corpus callosum (or absent corpus callosum cataract immunodeficiency), [1] is a rare autosomal recessive [2] congenital disorder characterized by albinism, agenesis of the corpus callosum, cataracts, cardiomyopathy, severe psychomotor retardation, seizures, immunodeficiency and recurrent severe infections. [3] [4] To date, about 50 cases have been reported. [5]
This syndrome consists of a number of typical features. These include [ citation needed ]
Infections of the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts are common. Swallowing and feeding difficulties early on may result in a failure to thrive. Optic nerve hypoplasia, nystagmus and photophobia may occur. Facial dysmorphism (cleft lip/palate and micrognathia) and syndactyly may be present. Sensorineural hearing loss may also be present.[ citation needed ]
Death in infancy is not uncommon and is usually due to cardiac complications or severe infections.[ citation needed ]
Vici syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. [2] This means the defective gene responsible for the disorder is located on an autosome, and two copies of the defective gene (one inherited from each parent) are required in order to be born with the disorder. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive disorder both carry one copy of the defective gene, but usually do not experience any signs or symptoms of the disorder. The hypothesis of autosomal recessive inheritance of Vici syndrome was strengthened in 2002 with the clinical description of two new cases, one brother and one sister, by Chiyonobu et al. [6]
Vici syndrome is caused by mutations in the gene EPG5 (OMIM # 615068), which encodes an important regulator of the autophagy pathway, the ectopic P-granules autophagy protein 5, involved in the formation of lysosomes. EPG5 is the human homolog of the C.elegans epg5 gene. The gene EPG5 has been cloned for the first time by Nagase et al. by sequencing clones obtained from a size-fractionated fetal brain cDNA library, and was initially named KIAA1632. [7]
The EPG5 human gene is located on chromosome 18q12.3, has a length of 119,67Kb (NC_000018.10), consists of 44 exons and is transcriptionally driven from the centromere toward the telomere. The messenger RNA (mRNA) is 12633bp long (NM_020964.2) and contains a CDS of 7740 bp translated into a protein sequence of 2579 amino acids (NP_066015.2) with a molecular weight of 280kDa, presumed. The protein EPG5 is expressed primarily in the central nervous system (CNS), skeletal muscle, heart, thymus, cells of the immune system, lungs and kidneys. [8]
Mutations in the EPG5 gene interfere with the autophagy. This appears to be due to a block in the autophagosome-lysosome fusion mechanism. [9]
The diagnostic workup usually includes an MRI of the brain, an EEG, ophthalmic examination and a cardiac ECHO. Muscle biopsy – which is not commonly done – may show storage of abnormal material and secondary mitochondrial abnormalities in skeletal muscle. Other features that may be seen on muscle biopsy include variability in fibre size, increase in internal and centralized nuclei, type 1 fibre hypotrophy with normally sized type 2 fibres, increased glycogen storage and variable vacuoles on light microscopy[ citation needed ]
The diagnosis is confirmed by sequencing of the EPG5.[ citation needed ]
This includes ataxia–telangiectasia, Chédiak–Higashi syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, Griscelli syndrome and Marinesco–Sjögren syndrome.[ citation needed ]
There is no known curative treatment presently. Hearing aids and cataract surgery may be of use. Control of seizures, heart failure, and treatment of infection is essential. Tube feeding may be needed.[ citation needed ]
Vici syndrome was first described by Carlo Dionisi-Vici et al. (Rome, Italy) in an article from 1988 about two brothers with a previously unreported disorder. [4] Since then, a few articles have reported the same disorder, which subsequently obtained the name Vici syndrome. [10] [2]
About 10 years later, del Campo et al. described 4 patients (including 2 sibs, a male and a female) with clinical features very similar to those reported by Dionisi-Vici. [11]
In 2007, the renal tubular acidosis was another clinical complication described in only one case report of two brothers with Vici syndrome. [12]
In 2010 and 2012, it has also been reported a neuromuscular involvement in patients suffering from this syndrome. [13] [14]
In 2013, Vici syndrome has been associated with mutations in the gene EPG5 (OMIM # 615068), which encodes an important regulator of the autophagy pathway, the ectopic P-granules autophagy protein 5, involved in the formation of lysosomes. [15]
In 2014, the ophthalmologic features of Vici syndrome were carefully evaluated. [16]
In 2015, the doctoral thesis entitled "Deciphering the mechanism of immune dysfunction in Vici Syndrome", University of Rome "La Sapienza" by Dr. Evangelos Axiotis, clarifies the molecular mechanisms and the role of the mutations in EPG5, all responsible for the immunodeficiency present in patients with Vici syndrome.[ citation needed ]
Joubert syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects the cerebellum, an area of the brain that controls balance and coordination.
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon fails to develop into two hemispheres, typically occurring between the 18th and 28th day of gestation. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy. The condition also occurs in other species.
ICF syndrome is a very rare autosomal recessive immune disorder.
X-linked recessive inheritance is a mode of inheritance in which a mutation in a gene on the X chromosome causes the phenotype to be always expressed in males and in females who are homozygous for the gene mutation, see zygosity. Females with one copy of the mutated gene are carriers.
Chédiak–Higashi syndrome (CHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder that arises from a mutation of a lysosomal trafficking regulator protein, which leads to a decrease in phagocytosis. The decrease in phagocytosis results in recurrent pyogenic infections, albinism, and peripheral neuropathy.
Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN), also often known as Kostmann syndrome or disease, is a group of rare disorders that affect myelopoiesis, causing a congenital form of neutropenia, usually without other physical malformations. SCN manifests in infancy with life-threatening bacterial infections. It causes severe pyogenic infections. It can be caused by autosomal dominant inheritance of the ELANE gene, autosomal recessive inheritance of the HAX1 gene. There is an increased risk of leukemia and myelodysplastic cancers.
Heřmanský–Pudlák syndrome is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder which results in oculocutaneous albinism, bleeding problems due to a platelet abnormality, and storage of an abnormal fat-protein compound. It is thought to affect around 1 in 500,000 people worldwide, with a significantly higher occurrence in Puerto Ricans, with a prevalence of 1 in 1800. Many of the clinical research studies on the disease have been conducted in Puerto Rico.
Hyperimmunoglobulinemia E syndrome (HIES), of which the autosomal dominant form is called Job's syndrome or Buckley syndrome, is a heterogeneous group of immune disorders. Job's is also very rare at about 300 cases currently in the literature.
Larsen syndrome (LS) is a congenital disorder discovered in 1950 by Larsen and associates when they observed dislocation of the large joints and face anomalies in six of their patients. Patients with Larsen syndrome normally present with a variety of symptoms, including congenital anterior dislocation of the knees, dislocation of the hips and elbows, flattened facial appearance, prominent foreheads, and depressed nasal bridges. Larsen syndrome can also cause a variety of cardiovascular and orthopedic abnormalities. This rare disorder is caused by a genetic defect in the gene encoding filamin B, a cytoplasmic protein that is important in regulating the structure and activity of the cytoskeleton. The gene that influences the emergence of Larsen syndrome is found in chromosome region, 3p21.1-14.1, a region containing human type VII collagen gene. Larsen syndrome has recently been described as a mesenchyme disorder that affects the connective tissue of an individual. Autosomal dominant and recessive forms of the disorder have been reported, although most cases are autosomal dominant. Reports have found that in Western societies, Larsen syndrome can be found in one in every 100,000 births, but this is most likely an underestimate because the disorder is frequently unrecognized or misdiagnosed.
Ethylmalonic encephalopathy (EE) is a rare autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism. Patients affected with EE are typically identified shortly after birth, with symptoms including diarrhea, petechiae and seizures. The genetic defect in EE is thought to involve an impairment in the degradation of sulfide intermediates in the body. Hydrogen sulfide then builds up to toxic levels. EE was initially described in 1994. Most cases of EE have been described in individuals of Mediterranean or Arabic origin.
Acrocallosal syndrome is an extremely rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by corpus callosum agenesis, polydactyly, multiple dysmorphic features, motor and intellectual disabilities, and other symptoms. The syndrome was first described by Albert Schinzel in 1979. Mutations in KIF7 are causative for ACLS, and mutations in GLI3 are associated with a similar syndrome.
Marden–Walker syndrome (MWS) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disorder. It is characterized by blepharophimosis, microcephaly, micrognathia, multiple joint contractures, arachnodactyly, camptodactyly, kyphoscoliosis and delayed motor development and is often associated with cystic dysplastic kidneys, dextrocardia, Dandy–Walker malformation and agenesis of corpus callosum.
Griscelli syndrome type 2 is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by variable cutenous albinism, silver colored metallic looking hair, frequent bacterial or viral infections, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia.
Neu–Laxova syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by severe intrauterine growth restriction and multiple congenital malformations. Neu–Laxova syndrome is a very severe disorder, leading to stillbirth or death shortly after birth. It was first described by Dr. Richard Neu in 1971 and Dr. Renata Laxova in 1972 as a lethal disorder in siblings with multiple malformations. Neu–Laxova syndrome is an extremely rare disorder with fewer than 100 cases reported in medical literature.
PGM3 deficiency is a rare genetic disorder of the immune system associated with diminished phosphoglucomutase 3 function. PGM3 is an enzyme which in humans is encoded by gene PGM3. This disorder manifests as severe atopy, immune deficiency, autoimmunity, intellectual disability, and hypomyelination. In 2014, Investigators Atfa Sassi at the Pasteur Institute of Tunis, Sandra Lazaroski at the University Medical Center Freiburg, and Gang Wu at the Imperial College London, identified PGM3 mutations in nine patients from four consanguineous families. In the same year, a researchers from the laboratories of Joshua Milner and Helen Su at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the U.S. National Institutes of Health described PGM3 deficiency in eight additional patients from two families.
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Chudley–Mccullough syndrome is a rare genetic disorder which is characterized by bilateral congenital hearing loss associated with brain malformations. It is a type of syndromic deafness.
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