Epilepsy plus blindness in microdeletion of GABRA1 and GABRG2 in mouse and human

GABA_A receptor subunit gene (GABR) mutations are significant causes of epilepsy, including syndromic epilepsy. This report for the first time, describes intractable epilepsy and blindness due to optic atrophy in our patient, who has a microdeletion of the GABRA1 and GABRG2 genes. We then characterized the molecular phenotypes and determined patho-mechanisms underlying the genotype-phenotype correlations in a mouse model who is haploinsufficient for both genes (Gabra1^+/-/Gabrg2^+/- mouse).

Electroencephalography was conducted in both human and mice with the same gene loss. GABA_A receptor expression was evaluated by biochemical and imaging approaches. Optic nerve atrophy was evaluated with fundus photography in human while electronic microscopy, visual evoked potential and electroretinography recordings were conducted in mice.

The patient has bilateral optical nerve atrophy. Mice displayed spontaneous seizures, reduced electroretinography oscillatory potential and reduced GABA_A receptor α1, β2 and γ2 subunit expression in various brain regions. Electronic microscopy showed that mice also had optic nerve degeneration, as indicated by increased G-ratio, the ratio of the inner axonal diameter to the total outer diameter, suggesting impaired myelination of axons. More importantly, we identified that phenobarbital was the most effective anticonvulsant in mice and the patient's seizures were also controlled with phenobarbital after failing multiple anti-seizure drugs.

This study is the first report of haploinsufficiency of two GABR epilepsy genes and visual impairment due to altered axonal myelination and resultant optic nerve atrophy. The study suggests the far-reaching impact of GABR mutations and the translational significance of animal models with the same etiology.