ANXA1 mutation analysis in Italian patients with early onset PD

: Recently, a novel pathogenic variant in Annexin A1 protein (c.4G > A, p.Ala2Thr) has been identified in an Iranian consanguineous family with autosomal recessive parkinsonism. The deficiencies of ANXA1 could lead to extracellular SNCA accumulation, defects in intracellular signaling pathways and synaptic plasticity causing parkinsonism. The aim of this study was to identify rare ANXA1 variants in 95 early-onset PD patients from South Italy. Sequencing analysis of ANXA1 gene revealed only 2 synonymous variants in PD patients (rs1050305, rs149033255). Therefore, we conclude that the recently published ANXA1 mutation is not a common cause of EOPD in Southern Italy

Exome sequencing of 20,979 individuals with epilepsy reveals shared and distinct ultra-rare genetic risk across disorder subtypes

Identifying genetic risk factors for highly heterogeneous disorders such as epilepsy remains challenging. Here we present, to our knowledge, the largest whole-exome sequencing study of epilepsy to date, with more than 54,000 human exomes, comprising 20,979 deeply phenotyped patients from multiple genetic ancestry groups with diverse epilepsy subtypes and 33,444 controls, to investigate rare variants that confer disease risk. These analyses implicate seven individual genes, three gene sets and four copy number variants at exome-wide significance. Genes encoding ion channels show strong association with multiple epilepsy subtypes, including epileptic encephalopathies and generalized and focal epilepsies, whereas most other gene discoveries are subtype specific, highlighting distinct genetic contributions to different epilepsies. Combining results from rare single-nucleotide/short insertion and deletion variants, copy number variants and common variants, we offer an expanded view of the genetic architecture of epilepsy, with growing evidence of convergence among different genetic risk loci on the same genes. Top candidate genes are enriched for roles in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability, particularly postnatally and in the neocortex. We also identify shared rare variant risk between epilepsy and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Our data can be accessed via an interactive browser, hopefully facilitating diagnostic efforts and accelerating the development of follow-up studies