Open AccessNeuropathology of childhood‐onset basal ganglia degeneration caused by mutation of VAC14
Author(s) -
Stutterd Chloe,
Diakumis Peter,
Bahlo Melanie,
Fanjul Fernandez Miriam,
Leventer Richard J.,
Delatycki Martin,
Amor David,
Chow Chung W.,
Stephenson Sarah,
Meisler Miriam H.,
Mclean Catriona,
Lockhart Paul J.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
annals of clinical and translational neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.824
H-Index - 42
ISSN - 2328-9503
DOI - 10.1002/acn3.487
Subject(s) - neuropathology , putamen , neurodegeneration , pathology , degeneration (medical) , medicine , globus pallidus , dystonia , basal ganglia , exome sequencing , mutation , biology , neuroscience , genetics , disease , central nervous system , gene
Objective To characterize the clinical features and neuropathology associated with recessive VAC 14 mutations. Methods Whole‐exome sequencing was used to identify the genetic etiology of a rapidly progressive neurological disease presenting in early childhood in two deceased siblings with distinct neuropathological features on post mortem examination. Results We identified compound heterozygous variants in VAC 14 in two deceased siblings with early childhood onset of severe, progressive dystonia, and neurodegeneration. Their clinical phenotype is consistent with the VAC 14 –related childhood‐onset, striatonigral degeneration recently described in two unrelated children. Post mortem examination demonstrated prominent vacuolation associated with degenerating neurons in the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus, similar to previously reported ex vivo vacuoles seen in the late‐endosome/lysosome of VAC 14‐deficient neurons. We identified upregulation of ubiquitinated granules within the cell cytoplasm and lysosomal‐associated membrane protein ( LAMP 2) around the vacuole edge to suggest a process of vacuolation of lysosomal structures associated with active autophagocytic‐associated neuronal degeneration. Interpretation Our findings reveal a distinct clinicopathological phenotype associated with recessive VAC 14 mutations.