Aicardi–Goutières syndrome
A child with Aicardi–Goutières Syndrome, displaying characteristic impaired motor coordination.
SpecialtyNeurology, medical genetics Edit this on Wikidata
Symptomsspacicity, chilblains, microcephaly, intellectual disability, hypotonia of the torso, regression

Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS), which is completely distinct from the similarly named Aicardi syndrome, is a rare, usually early onset childhood, inflammatory disorder most typically affecting the brain and the skin (neurodevelopmental disorder).[1][2] The majority of affected individuals experience significant intellectual and physical problems, although this is not always the case. The clinical features of AGS can mimic those of in utero acquired infection, and some characteristics of the condition also overlap with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).[3][4][5] Following an original description of eight cases in 1984,[1] the condition was first referred to as 'Aicardi–Goutières syndrome' (AGS) in 1992,[6] and the first international meeting on AGS was held in Pavia, Italy, in 2001.[7]

AGS can occur due to mutations in any one of a number of different genes, of which nine have been identified to date, namely: TREX1,[8] RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C (which together encode the Ribonuclease H2 enzyme complex),[9] SAMHD1,[10] ADAR1,[11] and IFIH1 (coding for MDA5).[12] This neurological disease occurs in all populations worldwide, although it is almost certainly under-diagnosed. To date (2014) at least 400 cases of AGS are known.

Signs and symptoms

The initial description of AGS suggested that the disease was always severe, and was associated with unremitting neurological decline, resulting in death in childhood.[1] As more cases have been identified, it has become apparent that this is not necessarily the case, with many patients now considered to demonstrate an apparently stable clinical picture, alive in their 4th decade.[13] Moreover, rare individuals with pathogenic mutations in the AGS-related genes can be minimally affected (perhaps only with chilblains) and are in mainstream education, and even affected siblings within a family can show marked differences in severity.[14][15][16]

In about ten percent of cases, AGS presents at or soon after birth (i.e. in the neonatal period). This presentation of the disease is characterized by microcephaly, neonatal seizures, poor feeding, jitteriness, cerebral calcifications (accumulation of calcium deposits in the brain), white matter abnormalities, and cerebral atrophy; thus indicating that the disease process became active before birth i.e. in utero.[13] These infants can have hepatosplenomegaly and thrombocytopaenia, very much like cases of transplacental viral infection. About one third of such early presenting cases, most frequently in association with mutations in TREX1, die in early childhood.

Otherwise the majority of AGS cases present in early infancy, sometimes after an apparently normal period of development.[13] During the first few months after birth, these children develop features of an encephalopathy with irritability, persistent crying, feeding difficulties, an intermittent fever (without obvious infection), and abnormal neurology with disturbed tone, dystonia, an exaggerated startle response, and sometimes seizures.[13] Glaucoma can be present at birth, or develop later.[17] Many children retain apparently normal vision, although a significant number are cortically blind. Hearing is almost invariably normal. Over time, up to 40% of patients develop so-called chilblain lesions, most typically on the toes and fingers and occasionally also involving the ears.[2][13] They are usually worse in the winter.

Genetics

The structure of the trimeric ribonuclease H2 complex. The catalytic subunit A is in blue (active site in magenta) and the structural subunits B and C are in brown and pink, respectively. Positions highlighted in yellow indicate known sites of AGS mutations. The most common AGS mutation - which replaces an alanine amino acid residue with threonine in subunit B - is shown as a green sphere.[18]

AGS is a genetically heterogeneous disease resulting from mutations in any of seven genes encoding: a 3' repair exonuclease with preferential activity on single stranded DNA (TREX1);[8] any of the three components of the ribonuclease H2 endonuclease complex acting on ribonucleotides in RNA:DNA hybrids (RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C);[9] a SAM domain and HD domain containing protein which functions as a deoxynucleoside triphosphate triphosphohydrolase (SAMHD1);[10] an enzyme catalysing the hydrolytic deamination of adenosine to inosine in double-stranded RNA (ADAR1);[11] and the cytosolic double-stranded RNA receptor (MDA5, also known as IFIH1). Mutations in the gene OCLN on chromosome 5q13.2, which is thought to cause band-like calcification in the brain, have been discovered in affected individuals and categorized as BLCPMG which often associated with AGS.[12][19] In most cases, except for IFIH1- and rare cases of TREX1- and ADAR1-related disease, these mutations follow an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern (and thus the parents of an affected child face a 1 in 4 risk of having a further child similarly affected at every conception).

AGS can be divided into subtypes based on the gene in which the causative mutation occurs.[20][21] A survey of 374 patients with an AGS diagnosis reported that the most frequent mutations occurred in RNASEH2B.[22]

Type OMIM Gene Locus Frequency
AGS1 225750 TREX1 3p21.31 23% (1% dominant)
AGS2 610181 RNASEH2B 13q14.3 36%
AGS3 610329 RNASEH2C 11q13.1 12%
AGS4 610333 RNASEH2A 19p13.2 5%
AGS5 612952 SAMHD1 20q11.23 13%
AGS6 615010 ADAR 1q21.3 7% (1% dominant)
AGS7 615846 IFIH1 2q24 3% (all dominant)

AGS-associated mutations have been found to show incomplete penetrance in some cases, with children in the same family with the same mutations showing markedly different neurological and developmental outcomes.[22] Clinical features and disease course vary somewhat by genotype, with TREX1 associated with likely in utero onset and high mortality rate,[22] and RNASEH2B mutations associated with slightly milder neurological impairments,[23] lower interferon activity, and longer lifespan.[22]

RNASEH2 is employed in genome surveillance to remove misincorporated ribonucleotides in DNA. In mice, the loss of RNASEH2 activity causes neuroinflammation, atrophy of the cerebellum, and white matter defects that mirror AGS.[24] The signaling of unrepaired DNA damage appears to be the basic cause of the neurodegenerative features that are characteristic of AGS.[24]

Pathology

Type I interferon activity was originally described over 50 years ago as a soluble factor produced by cells treated with inactivated, non-replicating viruses that blocked subsequent infection with live virus.[25][26] Although the rapid induction and amplification of the type I interferon system is highly adaptive in terms of virus eradication, aberrant stimulation or unregulated control of the system could lead to inappropriate and / or excessive interferon output.[27]

Studies of the AGS-related proteins TREX1, the RNase H2 complex, SAMHD1 and ADAR1, suggest that an inappropriate accumulation of self-derived nucleic acids can induce type I interferon signaling.[28][29][30] The findings of IFIH1 mutations in the similar context implicates the aberrant sensing of nucleic acids as a cause of immune upregulation.[12]

What is the source of the nucleic acid inducing the immune disturbance in AGS? Intriguingly, it has been shown that TREX1 can metabolise reverse-transcribed HIV-1 DNA[31] and that single-stranded DNA derived from endogenous retroelements accumulates in Trex1-deficient cells;[30] however, the upregulation of retroelements in TREX1-null cells has recently been disputed.[32] Similarly, another AGS-related gene product SAMHD1 also presents strong potency against activity of multiple non-LTR retroelements, which is independent from SAMHD1's famous dNTPase activity.[33]

Diagnosis

Laboratory: normal metabolic and infective screening. An increase in the number of white cells (particularly lymphocytes) in the CSF,[1] and high levels of interferon-alpha activity and neopterin in the CSF[34][13][35] are important clues - however, these features are not always present. More recently, a persistent elevation of mRNA levels of interferon-stimulated gene transcripts have been recorded in the peripheral blood of almost all cases of AGS with mutations in TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR1 and IFIH1, and in 75% of patients with mutations in RNASEH2B.[35] These results are irrespective of age. Thus, this interferon signature appears to be a very good marker of disease.

Neuroradiology: The spectrum of neuroradiological features associated with AGS is broad,[36][37] but is most typically characterised by the following:

  • Cerebral calcifications: Calcifications on CT (computed tomography) are seen as areas of abnormal signal, typically bilateral and located in the basal ganglia, but sometimes also extending into the white matter. Calcifications are usually better detected using CT scans (and can be missed completely on MRI without gradient echo sequences (magnetic resonance imaging)).
  • White matter abnormalities: These are found in 75-100% of cases, and are best visualised on MRI. Signal changes can be particularly prominent in frontal and temporal regions. White matter abnormalities sometimes include cystic degeneration.
  • Cerebral atrophy: is seen frequently.

Genetics: pathogenic mutations in any of the seven genes known to be involved in AGS.

Treatment

At the moment there are no therapies specifically targeting the underlying cause of AGS. Current treatments address the symptoms, which can be varied both in scope and severity. Many patients benefit from tube-feeding. Drugs can be administered to help with seizures / epilepsy. The treatment of chilblains remains problematic, but particularly involves keeping the feet / hands warm. Physical therapy, including the use of splints can help to prevent contractures and surgery is sometimes required. Botox (botulinium toxin) has sometimes caused severe immune reactions in some AGS patients, and the high risk of possible further brain damage must be considered before giving Botox. Occupational therapy can help with development, and the use of technology (e.g. Assistive Communication Devices) can facilitate communication. Patients should be regularly screened for treatable conditions, most particularly glaucoma and endocrine problems (especially hypothyroidism). The risk versus benefit of giving immunizations also must be considered, as some AGS patients have high immune responses or flares that cause further brain damage from immunizations but other patients have no problems with immunizations; on the other hand, AGS patients have died from illnesses that can be immunized against, so the family must consider the risk vs. benefit of each immunization vs. risk of the actual virus if they choose not to immunize. As of 2017, there are current drug trials being conducted that may lead to drug treatments for AGS.

History

In 1984, Jean Aicardi and Francoise Goutières described eight children from five families presenting with a severe early onset encephalopathy, which was characterized by calcification of the basal ganglia, abnormalities of the cerebral white matter and diffuse brain atrophy.[1] An excess of white cells, chiefly lymphocytes, was found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), thus indicating an inflammatory condition. During the first year of life, these children developed microcephaly, spasticity and dystonia. Some of the parents of the children were genetically related to each other, and the children were both male and female, which suggested that the disease was inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic trait.

In 1988, Pierre Lebon and his colleagues identified the additional feature of raised levels of interferon-alpha in patient CSF in the absence of infection.[38] This observation supported the suggestion that AGS was an inflammatory disease, as did the later finding of increased levels of the inflammatory marker neopterin in CSF,[34][13] and the demonstration that more than 90% of individuals with a genetic diagnosis of AGS, tested at any age, demonstrate an upregulation of interferon-induced gene transcripts - a so-called interferon signature.[35]

All cases of Cree encephalitis (an early-onset progressive encephalopathy in a Cree First Nations community in Canada),[39][40] and many cases previously described as pseudo-TORCH syndrome, (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus), initially considered to be separate disorders, were later found to be the same as AGS (although other causes of, genetically distinct, ‘pseudo-TORCH’ phenotypes exist).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Aicardi J, Goutieres F (1984). "A progressive familial encephalopathy in infancy with calcifications of the basal ganglia and chronic cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis". Ann Neurol. 15 (1): 49–54. doi:10.1002/ana.410150109. PMID 6712192. S2CID 42800185.
  2. 1 2 Tolmie JL; Shillito P; Hughes-Benzie R; Stephenson JB (1995). "The Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome (familial, early onset encephalopathy with calcifications of the basal ganglia and chronic cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis)". J Med Genet. 32 (11): 881–884. doi:10.1136/jmg.32.11.881. PMC 1051740. PMID 8592332.
  3. ↑ Aicardi, J; Goutieres, F (2000). "Systemic lupus erythematosus or Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome?". Neuropediatrics. 31 (3): 113. doi:10.1055/s-2000-7533. PMID 10963096. S2CID 36933780.
  4. ↑ Dale RC; Tang SP; Heckmatt JZ; Tatnall FM (2000). "Familial systemic lupus erythematosus and congenital infection-like syndrome". Neuropediatrics. 31 (3): 155–158. doi:10.1055/s-2000-7492. PMID 10963105. S2CID 39793944.
  5. ↑ Crow, YJ; Livingston, JH (2008). "Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome: an important Mendelian mimic of congenital infection". Dev Med Child Neurol. 50 (6): 410–416. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2008.02062.x. PMID 18422679. S2CID 36342200.
  6. ↑ Bonnemann, CG; Meinecke, P (1992). "Encephalopathy of infancy with intracerebral calcification and chronic spinal fluid lymphocytosis - another case of the Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome". Neuropediatrics. 23 (3): 157–61. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1071333. PMID 1641084. S2CID 23726903.
  7. ↑ "Proceedings of the International Meeting on Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome Pavia, Italy, 28-29 May 2001". Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 6, Suppl A: A1–86. 2002.
  8. 1 2 Crow, YJ; et al. (2006). "Mutations in the gene encoding the 3'-5' DNA exonuclease TREX1 cause Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome at the AGS1 locus". Nat Genet. 38 (8): 917–20. doi:10.1038/ng1845. PMID 16845398. S2CID 9069106.
  9. 1 2 Crow, YJ; et al. (2006). "Mutations in the genes encoding ribonuclease H2 subunits cause Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and mimic congenital viral brain infection". Nat Genet. 38 (8): 910–6. doi:10.1038/ng1842. PMID 16845400. S2CID 8076225.
  10. 1 2 Rice, GI; et al. (2009). "Mutations involved in Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome implicate SAMHD1 as regulator of the innate immune response". Nat Genet. 41 (7): 829–32. doi:10.1038/ng.373. PMC 4154505. PMID 19525956.
  11. 1 2 Rice, GI; et al. (2012). "Mutations in ADAR1 cause Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome associated with a type 1 interferon signature". Nat Genet. 44 (11): 1243–8. doi:10.1038/ng.2414. PMC 4154508. PMID 23001123.
  12. 1 2 3 Rice, GI; et al. (2014). "Gain-of-function mutations in IFIH1 cause a spectrum of human disease phenotypes associated with upregulated type 1 interferon signaling". Nat Genet. 46 (5): 503–509. doi:10.1038/ng.2933. PMC 4004585. PMID 24686847.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rice, GI; et al. (2007). "Clinical and molecular phenotype of Aicardi-Goutières syndrome". Am J Hum Genet. 81 (4): 713–25. doi:10.1086/521373. PMC 2227922. PMID 17846997.
  14. ↑ McEntagart, M; Kamel, H; Lebon, P; King, MD (1998). "Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome: an expanding phenotype". Neuropediatrics. 29 (3): 163–7. doi:10.1055/s-2007-973555. PMID 9706629. S2CID 45315544.
  15. ↑ Ostergaard, JR; Christensen, T; Nehen, AM (1999). "A distinct difference in clinical expression of two siblings with Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome". Neuropediatrics. 30 (1): 38–41. doi:10.1055/s-2007-973455. PMID 10222460. S2CID 23211260.
  16. ↑ Vogt, J (2013). "Striking intrafamilial phenotypic variability in Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome associated with the recurrent Asian founder mutation in RNASEH2C". Am J Med Genet. 161A (2): 338–42. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.35712. PMID 23322642. S2CID 20769368.
  17. ↑ Crow, YJ; et al. (2004). "Congenital glaucoma and brain stem atrophy as features of Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome". Am J Med Genet. 129A (3): 303–7. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.30250. PMID 15326633. S2CID 37816566.
  18. ↑ Figiel, Małgorzata; Chon, Hyongi; Cerritelli, Susana M.; Cybulska, Magdalena; Crouch, Robert J.; Nowotny, Marcin (2011-03-25). "The structural and biochemical characterization of human RNase H2 complex reveals the molecular basis for substrate recognition and Aicardi-Goutières syndrome defects". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 286 (12): 10540–10550. doi:10.1074/jbc.M110.181974. ISSN 1083-351X. PMC 3060507. PMID 21177858.
  19. ↑ O'Driscoll M. C.; Daly S. B.; Urquhart J. E.; Black G.; Pilz D. T.; Brockmann K.; Crow Y. J. (2010). "Recessive mutations in the gene encoding the tight junction protein occludin cause band-like calcification with simplified gyration and polymicrogyria". The American Journal of Human Genetics. 87 (3): 354–364. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.07.012. PMC 2933344. PMID 20727516.
  20. ↑ Crow, Yanick J. (2016-11-22). "Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome". In Pagon, Roberta A.; Adam, Margaret P.; Ardinger, Holly H.; Wallace, Stephanie E.; Amemiya, Anne; Bean, Lora J.H.; Bird, Thomas D.; Ledbetter, Nikki; Mefford, Heather C. (eds.). GeneReviews. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle. PMID 20301648.
  21. ↑ Crow, Yanick; Livingston, John (2016-12-01). "Neurologic Phenotypes Associated with Mutations in TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR1, and IFIH1: Aicardi–Goutières Syndrome and Beyond". Neuropediatrics. 47 (6): 355–360. doi:10.1055/s-0036-1592307. ISSN 0174-304X. PMID 27643693.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Crow, Yanick J.; Chase, Diana S.; Lowenstein Schmidt, Johanna; Szynkiewicz, Marcin; Forte, Gabriella M.A.; Gornall, Hannah L.; Oojageer, Anthony; Anderson, Beverley; Pizzino, Amy (2015-02-01). "Characterization of human disease phenotypes associated with mutations in TREX1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, SAMHD1, ADAR, and IFIH1". American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A. 167 (2): 296–312. doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.36887. ISSN 1552-4833. PMC 4382202. PMID 25604658.
  23. ↑ Rice, Gillian; Patrick, Teresa; Parmar, Rekha; Taylor, Claire F.; Aeby, Alec; Aicardi, Jean; Artuch, Rafael; Montalto, Simon Attard; Bacino, Carlos A. (2007). "Clinical and Molecular Phenotype of Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome". The American Journal of Human Genetics. 81 (4): 713–725. doi:10.1086/521373. PMC 2227922. PMID 17846997.
  24. 1 2 Aditi; Downing, Susanna M.; Schreiner, Patrick A.; Kwak, Young Don; Li, Yang; Shaw, Timothy I.; Russell, Helen R.; McKinnon, Peter J. (2021-12-15). "Genome instability independent of type I interferon signaling drives neuropathology caused by impaired ribonucleotide excision repair". Neuron. 109 (24): 3962–3979.e6. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2021.09.040. PMC 8686690. PMID 34655526.
  25. ↑ Isaacs, A; Lindenmann, J (1957). "Virus interference. I. The interferon". Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 147 (927): 258–67. Bibcode:1957RSPSB.147..258I. doi:10.1098/rspb.1957.0048. PMID 13465720. S2CID 202574492.
  26. ↑ Isaacs, A; Lindenmann, J; Valentine, RC (1957). "Virus interference. II. Some properties of interferon". Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 147 (927): 268–73. Bibcode:1957RSPSB.147..268I. doi:10.1098/rspb.1957.0049. PMID 13465721. S2CID 7106393.
  27. ↑ Gresser, I; et al. (1980). "Interferon-‐induced disease in mice and rats". Ann N Y Acad Sci. 350 (1): 12–20. Bibcode:1980NYASA.350...12G. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1980.tb20602.x. PMID 6165266. S2CID 817139.
  28. ↑ Stetson, DB; Ko, JS; Heidmann, T; Medzhitov, R (2008). "Trex1 prevents cell-intrinsic initiation of autoimmunity". Cell. 134 (4): 587–98. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2008.06.032. PMC 2626626. PMID 18724932.
  29. ↑ Crow, YJ; Rehwinkel, J (2009). "Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and related phenotypes: linking nucleic acid metabolism with autoimmunity". Hum Mol Genet. 18 (R2): R130–6. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddp293. PMC 2758706. PMID 19808788.
  30. 1 2 Stetson, DB (2012). "Endogenous retroelements and autoimmune disease". Curr Opin Immunol. 24 (6): 692–7. doi:10.1016/j.coi.2012.09.007. PMC 4005353. PMID 23062469.
  31. ↑ Yan, Nan; Ashton D. Regalado-Magdos; Bart Stiggelbout; Min Ae Lee-Kirsch; Judy Lieberman Yu (Nov 2010). "The cytosolic exonuclease TREX1 inhibits the innate immune response to HIV-1". Nature Immunology. 11 (11): 1005–1013. doi:10.1038/ni.1941. PMC 2958248. PMID 20871604.
  32. ↑ Ahn, Jeonghyun; Phillip Ruiz & Glen N. Barber (Sep 26, 2014). "Intrinsic Self-DNA Triggers Inflammatory Disease Dependent on STING". The Journal of Immunology. 193 (9): 4634–4642. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1401337. PMC 5003413. PMID 25261479.
  33. ↑ Zhao, Ke; Juan Du; Xue Han; John L Goodier; Peng Li; Xiaohong Zhou; Wei Wei; Sean L Evans; Linzhang Li; Wenyan Zhang; Ling E Cheung; Guanjun Wang; Haig H Kazazian Jr. & Xiao-Fang Yu (Sep 26, 2013). "Modulation of LINE-1 and Alu/SVA retrotransposition by Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome-related SAMHD1". Cell Reports. 4 (6): 1108–1115. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2013.08.019. PMC 3988314. PMID 24035396.
  34. 1 2 Blau, N; et al. (2003). "Cerebrospinal fluid pterins and folates in Aicardi-Goutières syndrome: a new phenotype". Neurology. 61 (5): 642–7. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000082726.08631.e7. PMID 12963755. S2CID 11820426.
  35. ↑ Uggetti, C; et al. (2009). "Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome: neuroradiologic findings and follow-ups". AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 30 (10): 1971–6. doi:10.3174/ajnr.a1694. PMC 7051307. PMID 19628626.
  36. ↑ Livingston, JH; Stivaros, S; van der Knaap, MS; Crow, YJ (2013). "Recognizable phenotypes associated with intracranial calcification". Dev Med Child Neurol. 55 (1): 46–57. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8749.2012.04437.x. PMID 23121296. S2CID 9146788.
  37. ↑ Lebon, P; et al. (1988). "Intrathecal synthesis of interferon-alpha in infants with progressive familial encephalopathy". J Neurol Sci. 84 (2–3): 201–8. doi:10.1016/0022-510x(88)90125-6. PMID 2837539. S2CID 21811789.
  38. ↑ Black, DN; et al. (1988). "Encephalitis among Cree children in northern Quebec". Ann Neurol. 24 (4): 483–9. doi:10.1002/ana.410240402. PMID 3239950. S2CID 32112982.
  39. ↑ Crow, YJ; et al. (2003). "Cree encephalitis is allelic with Aicardi-Goutières syndrome: implications for the pathogenesis of disorders of interferon alpha metabolism". J Med Genet. 40 (3): 183–7. doi:10.1136/jmg.40.3.183. PMC 1735395. PMID 12624136.
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