Clinical and functional analysis of KIF5A related spastic paraplegia type 10

Purpose

We aim to summarize the clinical and genetic features of five patients with KIF5A variants and explore genotype-phenotype correlations alongside a functional analysis of these mutations.

Methods

Detailed clinical data of five unrelated SPG10 patients were collected, including clinical symptoms, family history, physical examinations, brain and spinal MRI, electrophysiological examinations, etc. KIF5A variants were identified by whole exome sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing, family co-segregation, and phenotypic reevaluation. Moreover, we also performed functional studies of each identified variant.

Results

All five probands were male, among whom one presented with pure form, and the other four with complicated form, including sensory ataxia, cognitive impairment, and peripheral neuropathy. Five heterozygous KIF5A mutations were identified, including c.446-2A > G, c.593T > C (p.Met198Thr), c.611G > A (p.Arg204Gln), c.614G > A (p.Ser205Asn), and c.838C > T (p.Arg280Cys). Among these, c.446-2A > G and c.614G > A (p.Ser205Asn) were newly reported. In vitro, c.446-2A > G destroyed the original donor site, leading to either 8bp deletion upstream of Exon6 (c.446_453del, p.V149Dfs∗20) or Exon 6 skipping (c.446_501del, p.V149Gfs∗4), thus generating two various truncated mutant forms with 167 and 151 amino acids, respectively. The two mutants had less molecular weight and reduced protein expression level, which also lost colocalization with α‐tubulin. Another four missense mutations, with normal mRNA and protein expression levels, lost colocalization with α‐tubulin in subcellular location.

Conclusion

We identified five KIF5A mutations with different phenotypes: the classic SPG symptoms with foot deformity, and complicated phenotype with sensory ataxia or peripheral neuropathy. Furthermore, we proved that KIF5A haploinsufficiency and abnormal subcellular location are associated with SPG10.