The siblings also had a variant in CHRNB2, a known epilepsy gene associated with autosomal dominant frontal lobe epilepsy, which they had inherited from the mother.
We assessed the mutation frequency in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunits CHRNA4, CHRNB2, and CHRNA2 in a cohort including autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) and sporadic nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE).
Forty-six nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) patients (in which the involvement of the CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 genes coding for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) subunits associated to the disease were previously excluded) were analyzed for the presence of mutations in the CHRNA2 gene coding for the alpha2 subunit of the same receptor, which has been recently associated with the disease.
Forty-six nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (NFLE) patients (in which the involvement of the CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 genes coding for neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs) subunits associated to the disease were previously excluded) were analyzed for the presence of mutations in the CHRNA2 gene coding for the alpha2 subunit of the same receptor, which has been recently associated with the disease.
Mutations in CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 are associated with some cases of familial epilepsies classified as autosomal-dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsies.
Mutations in neuronal nAChRs are found in a rare form of familial nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE), while mutations in the neuromuscular subtype of the nAChR are responsible for either congenital myasthenia syndromes (adult subtype of neuromuscular nAChR) or a form of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita type Escobar (fetal subtype of neuromuscular nAChR).
Mutations in CHRNA4 and CHRNB2 are associated with some cases of familial epilepsies classified as autosomal-dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsies.
Mice lacking neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta4-subunit and mice lacking both alpha5- and beta4-subunits are highly resistant to nicotine-induced seizures.
Mice lacking neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta4-subunit and mice lacking both alpha5- and beta4-subunits are highly resistant to nicotine-induced seizures.
Mutational analysis of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor beta2 subunit gene (CHRNB2) in a representative cohort of Italian probands affected by autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy.
A pattern is emerging of site-specific mutation within the second transmembrane domain of CHRNA4 in association with autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy and sporadic nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy in families with different ethnic backgrounds.