Multicenter Study of Patients With SHANK3 Mutations: Identification of Genes Modificators in Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (EUQ13)

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with a highly heterogeneous phenotype (Phelan & McDermid, 2011) characterized by hypotonia, delayed psychomotor development, intellectual disability of varying severity, and consistent language impairment ranging from simple delay to complete absence of language. Autism spectrum disorders are present in 60-80% of PMS patients, and other comorbidities are variably present (Kolevzon et al., 2014; Tabet et al., 2017). The major candidate gene for the syndrome is SHANK3, which encodes a scaffolding protein of the dense postsynaptic region of glutamatergic synapses, playing a fundamental role in the maintenance and function of these synapses. Loss of function of the SHANK3 gene can be caused by deletions in the distal region of chromosome 22, 22q13.3, or by intragenic genomic variants of the gene. SHANK3 proteins have several isoforms due to the presence of promoters and alternative splicing. Thus, an intragenic loss-of-function mutation at the beginning of the sequence will not have the same consequences as a mutation appearing at the end of the sequence. There is great heterogeneity, both clinical and genetic, among PMS patients.

A preliminary French study conducted by our team focused on the clinical and genetic analysis of 85 patients carrying CNV (Copy number variation, i.e. losses or gains of genetic material) covering the SHANK3 gene, identified by chromosomal microarray analysis (ACPA) as part of the genetic diagnosis of their pathology. This observational study confirmed that the size of the 22q13 deletion contributed to the variability of the syndrome, but also identified regions associated with particular phenotypic traits, as well as the presence of associated CNVs that could act as a phenotype-modifying factor (Tabet et al., 2017). The limitations of this study were 1- the diversity of the genetic tools used (highly variable resolution and design of DNA chips), 2- the very incomplete phenotyping of the included patients and 3- the absence of genomic sequencing data, thus excluding patients carrying intragenic SHANK3 variants and all other possible sequence variations (SNVs). In order to confirm the presence and possible impact of additional genomic variants (both CNVs and SNVs) in the variability of the syndrome, a very high resolution whole genome study (WGS) is necessary on a larger cohort of clinically well-phenotyped patients.

Furthermore, there is currently no specific treatment for PMS. Patients benefit from multidisciplinary care. A cellular model generated by Professor Benchoua's team has provided treatment prospects. Indeed, a screening of more than 200 molecules applied to neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from patients carrying a truncating variant in SHANK3 showed that lithium increased SHANK3 expression and acted on various neuronal alterations. In particular, lithium re-increased the number of SHANK3-positive synapses as well as the frequency and intensity of spontaneous calcium oscillations. On a human scale, this study suggests that lithium can improve the neurodevelopmental disorder of patients. (Darville et al, 2016). Based on this work, a therapeutic trial is currently being implemented at Robert Debré Hospital (https://ichgcp.net/fr/clinical-trials-registry/NCT04623398). It includes patients carrying truncating variants in SHANK3 or small deletions involving SHANK3 and carriers of autism spectrum disorders. Studying the genome of the patients included in this study would also make it possible to establish correlations between the response to lithium and the genetic profile of these patients.