Prominent phenotypic variability associated with mutations in Progranulin

Neurobiol Aging. 2009 May;30(5):739-51. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2007.08.022. Epub 2007 Oct 18.

Abstract

Mutations in progranulin (PGRN) are associated with frontotemporal dementia with or without parkinsonism. We describe the prominent phenotypic variability within and among eight kindreds evaluated at Mayo Clinic Rochester and/or Mayo Clinic Jacksonville in whom mutations in PGRN were found. All available clinical, genetic, neuroimaging and neuropathologic data was reviewed. Age of onset ranged from 49 to 88 years and disease duration ranged from 1 to 14 years. Clinical diagnoses included frontotemporal dementia (FTD), primary progressive aphasia, FTD with parkinsonism, parkinsonism, corticobasal syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and others. One kindred exhibited maximal right cerebral hemispheric atrophy in all four affected individuals, while another had maximal left hemisphere involvement in all three of the affected. Neuropathologic examination of 13 subjects revealed frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions plus neuronal intranuclear inclusions in all cases. Age of onset, clinical phenotypes and MRI findings associated with most PGRN mutations varied significantly both within and among kindreds. Some kindreds with PGRN mutations exhibited lateralized topography of degeneration across all affected individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Aphasia, Primary Progressive / genetics
  • Aphasia, Primary Progressive / pathology
  • Aphasia, Primary Progressive / physiopathology
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiopathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / pathology
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Dementia / complications*
  • Dementia / genetics*
  • Dementia / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / genetics
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Genetic Testing
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / genetics
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / pathology
  • Parkinsonian Disorders / physiopathology
  • Phenotype
  • Progranulins

Substances

  • GRN protein, human
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Progranulins