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Updated: Jan 9, 2026

Application of Optical Coherence Tomography to a Mouse Model of Retinopathy
Published on: January 12, 2022
A Case of Retinopathy-Sensory Neuropathy Syndrome With a Novel Compound Heterozygous FLVCR1 Variant
Yumiko Nakano1, Yusuke Fukui1, Kentaro Deguchi2
1Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
Background And Aims:
Retinopathy-sensory neuropathy syndrome (RETSNS), also known as posterior column ataxia with retinitis pigmentosa (PCARP), is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in FLVCR1. Here, we report a case of a Japanese patient with RETSNS.
Methods:
Clinical, neuroradiological, and electrophysiological findings were documented. Whole-genome sequencing was performed. Subcloning was carried out to confirm compound heterozygosity. A functional assay was performed to assess the pathogenicity of the variants.
Results:
The patient showed retinitis pigmentosa and sensory ataxia. Over the course of the disease, autonomic dysfunction has become increasingly evident. Despite consanguinity in the family, whole-genome sequencing identified two heterozygous variants in FLVCR1 (c.369T>G, p.Phe123Leu and c.733A>G, p.Asn245Asp). Cloning of the PCR product followed by Sanger sequencing indicated compound heterozygosity of the variants. Immunocytochemistry of HEK293FT cells transfected with plasmids containing wild-type or variant FLVCR1 cDNA demonstrated altered subcellular localization of the variant FLVCR1 proteins, characterized by reduced membrane localization.
Interpretation:
We report a novel variant in FLVCR1 causing RETSNS. The functional assay supports the pathogenicity of the variants.

