KCNT2-Related Disorders: Phenotypes, Functional, and Pharmacological Properties

  • Maria Cristina Cioclu
  • , Ilaria Mosca
  • , Paolo Ambrosino
  • , Deborah Puzo
  • , Allan Bayat
  • , Saskia B Wortmann (Co-author)
  • , Johannes Koch (Co-author)
  • , Vincent Strehlow
  • , Kentaro Shirai
  • , Naomichi Matsumoto
  • , Stephan J Sanders
  • , Vincent Michaud
  • , Marine Legendre
  • , Antonella Riva
  • , Pasquale Striano
  • , Hiltrud Muhle
  • , Manuela Pendziwiat
  • , Gaetan Lesca
  • , Giuseppe Donato Mangano
  • , Rosaria Nardello
  • Johannes R Lemke, Rikke S Møller, Maria Virginia Soldovieri, Guido Rubboli, Maurizio Taglialatela

Research output: Contribution to journalOriginal Articlepeer-review

16 Citations (Web of Science)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Pathogenic variants in KCNT2 are rare causes of developmental epileptic encephalopathy (DEE). We herein describe the phenotypic and genetic features of patients with KCNT2-related DEE, and the in vitro functional and pharmacological properties of KCNT2 channels carrying 14 novel or previously untested variants.

METHODS: Twenty-five patients harboring KCNT2 variants were investigated: 12 were identified through an international collaborative network, 13 were retrieved from the literature. Clinical data were collected and included in a standardized phenotyping sheet. Novel variants were detected using exome sequencing and classified using ACMG criteria. Functional and pharmacological studies were performed by whole-cell electrophysiology in HEK-293 and SH-SY5Y cells.

RESULTS: The phenotypic spectrum encompassed: (a) intellectual disability/developmental delay (21/22 individuals with available information), ranging from mild to severe/profound; (b) epilepsy (15/25); (c) neurological impairment, with altered muscle tone (14/22); (d) dysmorphisms (13/20). Nineteen pathogenic KCNT2 variants were found (9 new, 10 reported previously): 16 missense, 1 in-frame deletion of a single amino acid, 1 nonsense, and 1 frameshift. Among tested variants, 8 showed gain-of-function (GoF), and 6 loss-of-function (LoF) features when expressed heterologously in vitro. Quinidine and fluoxetine blocked all GoF variants, whereas loxapine and riluzole activated some LoF variants while blocking others.

INTERPRETATION: We expanded the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of KCNT2-related disorders, highlighting novel genotype-phenotype associations. Pathogenic KCNT2 variants cause GoF or LoF in vitro phenotypes, and each shows a unique pharmacological profile, suggesting the need for in vitro functional and pharmacological investigation to enable targeted therapies based on the molecular phenotype. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:332-349.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)332-349
Number of pages18
JournalANNALS OF NEUROLOGY
Volume94
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2023

Keywords

  • MIGRATING PARTIAL SEIZURES
  • EPILEPTIC ENCEPHALOPATHY
  • MUTATIONS
  • CHANNELS
  • SLACK
  • DRUG

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