Genetic study identifies treatable pathway in childhood motor neuron disease
3 July 2012
A genetic study based at »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Institute of Neurology and the NIH in the United States has identified two riboflavin transporter genes that are defective in children with a type of motor neuron disease called Brown-Vialetto van Laere syndrome.
The
onset of disease is generally in infancy or adolescence. Children
develop deafness, speech and swallowing problems, face and limb weakness
and breathing problems. Many of them require a long term tracheostomy
for ventilation and some never leave the intensive care unit and die
very young. Prior to this finding, treatment was restricted to
supportive care. Although the disorder is rare, it has been identified
throughout the world in isolated individual children and also in small
families where more than one person is affected.
The two genes
identified which both encode riboflavin transporters are called SLC52A3
and SLC52A2, Defects in the most recently found gene (SLC52A2) have now
been identified in over 10 families and lead to a lack of riboflavin
uptake in the cell and subsequent metabolic sequelae. Treating children
with high-dose riboflavin leads to significant improvement in all
aspects of their condition, although the use of this treatment is still
in the early stages.
This is the first treatable cause of a type of motor neuron disease,
thus highlighting the importance of carrying out the genetic test in all
children with a similar clinical picture so that treatment can begin
early.
At »Ê¼Ò»ªÈË Institute of Neurology the research was led by Professor Henry Houlden (h.houlden@ucl.ac.uk) and colleagues at the MRC Centre for Neuromuscular DiseasesÌý and in the United States by Dr Andy Singleton at the NIH.
Details of the genetic test and riboflavin treatment protocol can be obtained by contacting Professor Houlden.
Links: