ZMYND11-related syndromic intellectual disability and epilepsy

Inspired by a colleague's patient

Oates S, Absoud M, Goyal S, Bayley S, Baulcomb J, Sims A, Riddett A, Allis K, Brasch-Andersen C, Balasubramanian M, Bai R, Callewaert B, Hüffmeier U, Le Duc D, Radtke M, Korff C, Kennedy J, Low K, Møller RS, Nielsen JEK, Popp B, Quteineh L, Rønde G, Schönewolf-Greulich B, Shillington A, Taylor MR, Todd E, Torring PM, Tümer Z, Vasileiou G, Yates TM, Zweier C, Rosch R, Basson MA, Pal DK. ZMYND11 variants are a novel cause of centrotemporal and generalised epilepsies with neurodevelopmental disorder. Clin Genet. 2021 Oct;100(4):412-429. doi: 10.1111/cge.14023. Epub 2021 Jul 16. PMID: 34216016.

Abstract

ZMYND11 is the critical gene in chromosome 10p15.3 microdeletion syndrome, a syndromic cause of intellectual disability. The phenotype of ZMYND11 variants has recently been extended to autism and seizures. We expand on the epilepsy phenotype of 20 individuals with pathogenic variants in ZMYND11. We obtained clinical descriptions of 16 new and nine published individuals, plus detailed case history of two children. New individuals were identified through GeneMatcher, ClinVar and the European Network for Therapies in Rare Epilepsy (NETRE). Genetic evaluation was performed using gene panels or exome sequencing; variants were classified using American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria. Individuals with ZMYND11 associated epilepsy fell into three groups: (i) atypical benign partial epilepsy or idiopathic focal epilepsy (n = 8); (ii) generalised epilepsies/infantile epileptic encephalopathy (n = 4); (iii) unclassified (n = 8). Seizure prognosis ranged from spontaneous remission to drug resistant. Neurodevelopmental deficits were invariable. Dysmorphic features were variable. Variants were distributed across the gene and mostly de novo with no precise genotype-phenotype correlation. ZMYND11 is one of a small group of chromatin reader genes associated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and specifically ABPE. More detailed epilepsy descriptions of larger cohorts and functional studies might reveal genotype-phenotype correlation. The epileptogenic mechanism may be linked to interaction with histone H3.3.

Huynh MT, Tran CT, Joubert M, Bénéteau C. Intragenic Deletion of the ZMYND11 Gene in 10p15.3 is Associated with Developmental Delay Phenotype: A Case Report. Cytogenet Genome Res. 2021;161(8-9):445-448. doi: 10.1159/000518689. Epub 2021 Oct 15. PMID: 34818214.

Abstract

Submicroscopic 10p15.3 microdeletions were previously reported to be associated with developmental delay, and the smallest region of overlap of 10p15.3 deletion including DIP2C and ZMYND11 was defined. Moreover, pathogenic ZMYND11 truncating variants were subsequently identified in a cohort of patients with developmental delay. Of interest, patients harboring 10p15.3 microdeletions or pathogenic ZMYND11 truncating variants share similar clinical features including hypotonia, intellectual disability, facial dysmorphisms, speech and motor delays, seizures, and significant behavioral problems. Only 1 patient with whole ZMYND11 gene deletion was recorded, and no intragenic ZMYND11 deletion was reported up to date. Here, we describe a 7-year-old boy with developmental delay, carrying the smallest de novo 10p15.3 microdeletion, harboring the 5'UTR and the first 2 exons of ZMYND11. Taken together, our report contributes to expand the clinical and mutational spectrum of ZMYND11 and confirms haploinsufficiency as the underlying disease mechanism.

Yates TM, Drucker M, Barnicoat A, Low K, Gerkes EH, Fry AE, Parker MJ, O'Driscoll M, Charles P, Cox H, Marey I, Keren B, Rinne T, McEntagart M, Ramachandran V, Drury S, Vansenne F, Sival DA, Herkert JC, Callewaert B, Tan WH, Balasubramanian M. ZMYND11-related syndromic intellectual disability: 16 patients delineating and expanding the phenotypic spectrum. Hum Mutat. 2020 May;41(5):1042-1050. doi: 10.1002/humu.24001. Epub 2020 Mar 5. PMID: 32097528.

Abstract

Pathogenic variants in ZMYND11, which acts as a transcriptional repressor, have been associated with intellectual disability, behavioral abnormalities, and seizures. Only 11 affected individuals have been reported to date, and the phenotype associated with pathogenic variants in this gene have not been fully defined. Here, we present 16 additional patients with predicted pathogenic heterozygous variants in including four individuals from the same family, to further delineate and expand the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of ZMYND11-related syndromic intellectual disability. The associated phenotype includes developmental delay, particularly affecting speech, mild-moderate intellectual disability, significant behavioral abnormalities, seizures, and hypotonia. There are subtle shared dysmorphic features, including prominent eyelashes and eyebrows, a depressed nasal bridge with bulbous nasal tip, anteverted nares, thin vermilion of the upper lip, and wide mouth. Novel features include brachydactyly and tooth enamel hypoplasia. Most identified variants are likely to result in premature truncation and/or nonsense-mediated decay. Two ZMYND11 variants located in the final exon-p.(Gln586*) (likely escaping nonsense-mediated decay) and p.(Cys574Arg)-are predicted to disrupt the MYND-type zinc-finger motif and likely interfere with binding to its interaction partners. Hence, the homogeneous phenotype likely results from a common mechanism of loss-of-function.