Phenotype and genotype of AKT3-related disorders

To systematically define and elucidate the relationship between clinical manifestations and genetic features of somatic and germline AKT3 variants.

We collected clinical data, MRI and EEG data from five Chinese children with AKT3 variants. Furthermore, we systematically reviewed published literature on AKT3 variants.

Five patients with germline AKT3 variants were identified in the present study. Combined with 68 previously reported cases, a total of 74 patients have been documented to date, including 28 with somatic variants, 36 with germline single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), 4 with germline duplications, and 6 with germline pure AKT3 deletions. Among patients with somatic variants, early-onset seizures were observed in 96.4%, with drug resistance epilepsy reported in 96.1%. Brain MRI abnormalities were detected in 96.4% of cases, most commonly focal cortical dysplasia and hemimegalencephaly. In patients with germline SNVs, developmental delay and megalencephaly were the most frequent manifestations, followed by seizures. Cranial MRI findings were heterogeneous, with megalencephaly accompanied by polymicrogyria representing the most common pattern, followed by isolated megalencephaly without cortical dysplasia and combined megalencephaly, polymicrogyria, and periventricular nodular heterotopia. Patients with germline AKT3 duplications exhibited phenotypes broadly similar to those with germline SNVs. In contrast, individuals with germline pure AKT3 deletions typically presented with microcephaly and developmental delay, without distinctive MRI abnormalities. Most germline variants were missense changes. The somatic variant E17K and the germline variant R465W exhibited as mutational hotspots.

Our study presented five cases with germline AKT3 variants and expanded the understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations. Patients harboring somatic variants predominantly presented with early-onset seizures and demonstrated focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) or hemimegalencephaly (HME) on brain MRI. In contrast, individuals with SNVs or duplications most commonly exhibited neurodevelopmental delay, megalencephaly and seizures. Patients with germline AKT3 deletions were characterized by microcephaly and developmental delay. Notably, phenotypic heterogeneity was observed even among patients carrying identical variants.