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Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) is a rare genetic form of calcium oxalate kidney stone disease. It is caused by a deficiency in the liver-specific enzyme, alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), a pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent enzyme involved in the metabolism of glyoxylate. The excessive endogenous synthesis of oxalate that ensues leads to hyperoxaluria, and the crystallization of the poorly soluble calcium salt of oxalate is responsible for a severe kidney stone disease, which can progress to end-stage renal disease, systemic deposition of oxalate and death. Knowledge about metabolic precursors of glyoxylate and oxalate, molecular pathology of AGT and analytical methods for diagnosis and clinical assessment have allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying PH1 and opened the door to new therapeutic strategies.

A patient with late-onset exercise intolerance had haploinsufficiency of SLC25A32, which encodes the human mitochondrial flavin adenine dinucleotide transporter. The patient's symptoms were highly responsive to oral supplementation with riboflavin. To the Editor: Multiple acyl–coenzyme A dehydrogenation deficiency is an inborn error of metabolism with frequent muscle involvement. This deficiency is due to defects in the electron-transfer flavoprotein genes ETFA and ETFB 1 or in the electron-transfer flavoprotein ubiquinone oxidoreductase gene ETFDH . 2 In patients with this deficiency, all the mitochondrial flavoprotein dehydrogenases are defective with a specific biochemical phenotype for multiple acyl–coenzyme A dehydrogenation deficiency. Yet, in a few patients who have a deficiency that is similar to multiple acyl–coenzyme A dehydrogenation deficiency, no mutations are identified in ETFA, ETFB, or ETFDH . 3 We report on a 14-year-old girl who . . .

Background Lumasiran, a sub-cutaneous RNA-interference therapy, has been recently approved for primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), with doses and intervals according to body weight. Little is known as to its use in infants; the aim of this study was to describe treatment outcome in 3 infants who received lumasiran therapy before 2 years of age. Case–Diagnosis/Treatment Patient 1 was diagnosed antenatally and received lumasiran from day 9. According to the product information template (PIT), he received monthly lumasiran (3 times at 6 mg/kg, then 3 mg/kg), with hyperhydration and potassium citrate. Despite decreased plasma oxalate levels, persistent normal kidney function, and good tolerance, kidney ultrasound performed after 2 months found nephrocalcinosis, without normalization of urinary oxalate (UOx). The dose was increased back to 6 mg/kg, inducing a normalization in UOx. Nephrocalcinosis started to improve at month 10. Patient 2 was diagnosed at 2.5 months (acute kidney failure); nephrocalcinosis was present from diagnosis. She received monthly lumasiran (6 mg/kg), with progressive decrease in UOx and substantial improvement in kidney function but stable nephrocalcinosis after 9 injections. Patient 3 was diagnosed fortuitously (nephrocalcinosis) at 3.5 months and received lumasiran before genetic diagnosis, leading to decreased UOx and maintenance of normal kidney function. Nephrocalcinosis improved after 5 injections. Conclusions This report presents the youngest children treated with lumasiran worldwide. Lumasiran seems effective without side effects in infants but does not completely prevent the onset of nephrocalcinosis in the most severe forms. Higher doses than those proposed in the PIT might be required because of hepatic immaturity.

Background Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), encoded by the TYMP gene, is a cytosolic enzyme essential for the nucleotide salvage pathway. TP catalyzes the phosphorylation of the deoxyribonucleosides, thymidine and 2′-deoxyuridine, to thymine and uracil. Biallelic TYMP variants are responsible for Mitochondrial NeuroGastroIntestinal Encephalomyopathy (MNGIE), an autosomal recessive disorder characterized in most patients by gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, ultimately leading to death. Studies on the impact of TYMP variants in cellular systems with relevance to the organs affected in MNGIE are still scarce and the role of TP in adipose tissue remains unexplored. Methods Deep phenotyping was performed in three patients from two families carrying homozygous TYMP variants and presenting with lipoatrophic diabetes. The impact of the loss of TP expression was evaluated using a CRISPR-Cas9-mediated TP knockout (KO) strategy in human adipose stem cells (ASC), which can be differentiated into adipocytes in vitro. Protein expression profiles and cellular characteristics were investigated in this KO model. Results All patients had TYMP loss-of-function variants and first presented with generalized loss of adipose tissue and insulin-resistant diabetes. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated TP KO in ASC abolished adipocyte differentiation and decreased insulin response, consistent with the patients’ phenotype. This KO also induced major oxidative stress, altered mitochondrial functions, and promoted cellular senescence. This translational study identifies a new role of TP by demonstrating its key regulatory functions in adipose tissue. Conclusions The implication of TP variants in atypical forms of monogenic diabetes shows that genetic diagnosis of lipodystrophic syndromes should include TYMP analysis. The fact that TP is crucial for adipocyte differentiation and function through the control of mitochondrial homeostasis highlights the importance of mitochondria in adipose tissue biology.

The implementation of high-throughput diagnostic sequencing has led to the generation of large amounts of mutational data, making their interpretation more complex and responsible for long delays. It has been important to prioritize certain analyses, particularly those of “actionable” genes in diagnostic situations, involving specific treatment and/or management. In our project, we carried out an objective assessment of the clinical actionability of genes involved in myopathies, for which only few data obtained methodologically exist to date. Using the ClinGen Actionability criteria, we scored the clinical actionability of all 199 genes implicated in myopathies published by FILNEMUS for the “National French consensus on gene Lists for the diagnosis of myopathies using next generation sequencing”. We objectified that 63 myopathy genes were actionable with the currently available data. Among the 36 myopathy genes with the highest actionability scores, only 8 had been scored to date by ClinGen. The data obtained through these methodological tools are an important resource for strategic choices in diagnostic approaches and the management of genetic myopathies. The clinical actionability of genes has to be considered as an evolving concept, in relation to progresses in disease knowledge and therapeutic approaches.

IntroductionIn nephropathic cystinosis (NC), adherence to cysteamine remains challenging; poor adherence is worsening the disease progression with a decline of kidney function and increase of extrarenal morbidities. Our objective was to describe adherence to cysteamine in NC patients, using electronic monitoring systems.MethodsPatients with confirmed NC, aged > 4 years and receiving oral cysteamine (short acting or delayed release formulation as standard of care) from 3 French reference centers, were included. Adherence to treatment was primarily assessed as the percentage of days with a good adherence score, adherence score rating from 0 (poor) to 2 (good). A descriptive analysis was performed after 1-year follow-up.ResultsSeventeen patients (10 girls, median age: 13.9 (5.4–33.0) years) were included. Median age at diagnosis was 17.0 (3.0–76.9) months and age at start of cysteamine was 21.0 (15.5–116.3) months. Median daily dose of cysteamine was 1.05 (0.55–1.63) g/m2/day. Over the year, the median percentage of days with a good adherence score was 80 (1–99)% decreasing to 68 (1–99)% in patients > 11 years old. The median of average number of hours covered by treatment in a day was 22.5 (6.1–23.9) versus 14.9 (9.2–20.5) hours for delayed release versus short acting cysteamine.ConclusionOur data are the first describing a rather good adherence to cysteamine, decreasing in adolescents and adults. We described a potential interest of the delayed release formulation. Our data highlight the need for a multidisciplinary approach including therapeutic education and individualized approaches in NC patients transitioning to adulthood.Graphical abstract

Background Mitochondrial acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase (T2) deficiency affects ketone body and isoleucine catabolism. Neurological impairment may occur secondary to ketoacidotic episodes. However, we observed neuromotor abnormalities without ketoacidotic events in two T2-deficient families. We hypothesized that the neurological signs were related to the genetic defect and may occur independently of ketoacidotic episodes. We therefore conducted a retrospective review on a French T2-deficient patient series searching for neuromotor impairment. Methods In total, 26 cases were retrospectively analysed for clinical, biological and neuroimaging data. Results Neurological findings were observed for 6/26 (23%) patients. Among these, two had never experienced ketoacidotic episodes, though they developed extrapyramidal signs with putamen involvement. Two of the other four patients developed neurological abnormalities before the first ketoacidotic crisis, with putamen involvement in one case. The third patient developed extrapyramidal symptoms more than 10 years after the initial decompensation with globus pallidus involvement. The last patient developed extrapyramidal signs immediately after a severe ketoacidotic crisis with putaminal lesions. Conclusions Most T2-deficient patients achieved normal neurodevelopment. However, on account of the role of T2 in isoleucine catabolism, these patients are potentially exposed to accumulation of toxic isoleucine-derived metabolites, which may contribute to neurological impairment. Our findings confirm previous observations that neurological symptoms in T2 deficiency may occur unrelated to ketoacidosis. The role of protein restriction as a preventive measure against neurological symptoms could not be established in this study and deserves further evaluation. Long-term follow-up data on children diagnosed by newborn screening may clarify the pathogenesis of this neurometabolic association.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the implementation of NGS within the French mitochondrial network, MitoDiag, from targeted gene panels to whole exome sequencing (WES) or whole genome sequencing (WGS) focusing on mitochondrial nuclear‐encoded genes. Methods Over 2000 patients suspected of Primary Mitochondrial Diseases (PMD) were sequenced by either targeted gene panels, WES or WGS within MitoDiag. We described the clinical, biochemical, and molecular data of 397 genetically confirmed patients, comprising 294 children and 103 adults, carrying pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in nuclear‐encoded genes. Results The cohort exhibited a large genetic heterogeneity, with the identification of 172 distinct genes and 253 novel variants. Among children, a notable prevalence of pathogenic variants in genes associated with oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) functions and mitochondrial translation was observed. In adults, pathogenic variants were primarily identified in genes linked to mtDNA maintenance. Additionally, a substantial proportion of patients (54% (42/78) and 48% (13/27) in children and adults, respectively), undergoing WES or WGS testing displayed PMD mimics, representing pathologies that clinically resemble mitochondrial diseases. Interpretation We reported the largest French cohort of patients suspected of PMD with pathogenic variants in nuclear genes. We have emphasized the clinical complexity of PMD and the challenges associated with recognizing and distinguishing them from other pathologies, particularly neuromuscular disorders. We confirmed that WES/WGS, instead of panel approach, was more valuable to identify the genetic basis in patients with “possible” PMD and we provided a genetic testing flowchart to guide physicians in their diagnostic strategy.

Primary hyperoxaluria type 1 displays a heterogeneous phenotype, likely to be affected by genetic and non-genetic factors, including timeliness of diagnosis and quality of care. As previous genotype-phenotype studies were hampered by limited patient numbers the European OxalEurope Consortium was constituted. This preliminary retrospective report is based on 526 patients of which 410 have the AGXT genotype defined. We grouped mutations by the predicted effect as null, missense leading to mistargeting (G170R), and other missense, and analyzed their phenotypic correlations. Median age of end-stage renal disease increased from 9.9 for 88 homozygous null patients, 11.5 for 42 heterozygous null/missense, 16.9 for 116 homozygous missense patients, 25.1 for 61 G170R/null patients, 31.2 for 32 G170R/missense patients, and 33.9 years for 71 homozygous G170R patients. The outcome of some recurrent missense mutations (p.I244T, p.F152I, p.M195R, p.D201E, p.S81L, p.R36C) and an unprecedented number of G170R homozygotes is described in detail. Diagnosis is still delayed and actions aimed at increasing awareness of primary hyperoxaluria type 1 are recommended. Thus, in addition to G170R, other causative mutations are associated with later onset of end-stage renal disease. The OxalEurope registry will provide necessary tools for characterizing those genetic and non-genetic factors through a combination of genetic, functional, and biostatistical approaches.