Intra-familial clinical heterogeneity due to FTLD-U with TDP-43 proteinopathy caused by a novel deletion in progranulin gene (PGRN)

Tomasz Gabryelewicz, Mario Masellis, Mariusz Berdynski, Juan M. Bilbao, Ekaterina Rogaeva, Peter St. George-Hyslop, Anna Barczak, Krzysztof Czyzewski, Maria Barcikowska, Zbigniew Wszolek, Sandra E. Black, Cezary Zekanowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the commonest forms of early-onset dementia, accounting for up to 20% of all dementia patients. Recently, it has been shown that mutations in progranulin gene (PGRN) cause many familial cases of FTD. Members of a family affected by FTD spectrum disorders were ascertained in Poland and Canada. Clinical, radiological, molecular, genetic, and pathological studies were performed. A sequencing analysis of PGRN exons 1-13 was performed in the proband. Genotyping of the identified PGRN mutation and pathological analysis was carried out in the proband's brother. The onset of symptoms of FTD in the proband included bradykinesia, apathy, and somnolence followed by changes in personality, cognitive deficits, and psychotic features. The proband's clinical diagnosis was FTD and parkinsonism (FTDP). DNA sequence analysis of PGRN revealed a novel, heterozygous mutation in exon 11 (g.2988-2989delCA, P439-R440fsX6). The mutation introduced a premature stop codon at position 444. The proband's brother with the same mutation had a different course first presenting as progressive non-fluent aphasia, and later evolving symptoms of behavioral variant of FTD. He also developed parkinsonism late in the disease course evolving into corticobasal syndrome. Pathological analysis in the brother revealed Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-Ubiquitin (FTLD-U)/TDP-43 positive pathology. The novel PGRN mutation is a disease-causing mutation and is associated with substantial intra-familial clinical heterogeneity. Although presenting features were different, rapid and substantial deterioration in the disease course was observed in both family members.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1123-1133
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Alzheimer's Disease
Volume22
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Corticobasal syndrome
  • frontotemporal dementia
  • haploinsufficiency
  • parkinsonism
  • progranulin mutation
  • progressive non-fluent aphasia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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