Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Severe early epilepsy and brain damage in Parson Russel Terriers
By Hytönen, Marjo K et al.·Published in Human genetics·2021·Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: In-frame deletion in canine PITRM1 is associated with a severe early-onset epilepsy, mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Parson Russell Terriers developed severe epilepsy starting at just 6 to 12 weeks old, which quickly worsened and led to death or euthanasia. The puppies showed signs of brain damage, including severe neuron degeneration and abnormal protein buildup in the brain. Genetic testing revealed a specific mutation in the PITRM1 gene, which is important for brain cell health and function. Unfortunately, the condition was fatal, highlighting the serious impact of this genetic disorder on the puppies' health.
People also search for: Parson Russell Terrier epilepsy · puppy seizures treatment · early-onset canine brain disorder · mitochondrial dysfunction in dogs · severe epilepsy in puppies
Abstract
We investigated the clinical, genetic, and pathological characteristics of a previously unknown severe juvenile brain disorder in several litters of Parson Russel Terriers. The disease started with epileptic seizures at 6-12 weeks of age and progressed rapidly to status epilepticus and death or euthanasia. Histopathological changes at autopsy were restricted to the brain. There was severe acute neuronal degeneration and necrosis diffusely affecting the grey matter throughout the brain with extensive intraneuronal mitochondrial crowding and accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ). Combined homozygosity mapping and genome sequencing revealed an in-frame 6-bp deletion in the nuclear-encoded pitrilysin metallopeptidase 1 (PITRM1) encoding for a mitochondrial protease involved in mitochondrial targeting sequence processing and degradation. The 6-bp deletion results in the loss of two amino acid residues in the N-terminal part of PITRM1, potentially affecting protein folding and function. Assessment of the mitochondrial function in the affected brain tissue showed a significant deficiency in respiratory chain function. The functional consequences of the mutation were modeled in yeast and showed impaired growth in permissive conditions and an impaired respiration capacity. Loss-of-function variants in human PITRM1 result in a childhood-onset progressive amyloidotic neurological syndrome characterized by spinocerebellar ataxia with behavioral, psychiatric and cognitive abnormalities. Homozygous Pitrm1-knockout mice are embryonic lethal, while heterozygotes show a progressive, neurodegenerative phenotype characterized by impairment in motor coordination and Aβ deposits. Our study describes a novel early-onset PITRM1-related neurodegenerative canine brain disorder with mitochondrial dysfunction, Aβ accumulation, and lethal epilepsy. The findings highlight the essential role of PITRM1 in neuronal survival and strengthen the connection between mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33835239/