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Rolandic epilepsy (RE) is the most common idiopathic focal childhood epilepsy. Its molecular basis is largely unknown and a complex genetic etiology is assumed in the majority of affected individuals. The present study tested whether six large recurrent copy number variants at 1q21, 15q11.2, 15q13.3, 16p11.2, 16p13.11 and 22q11.2 previously associated with neurodevelopmental disorders also increase risk of RE. Our association analyses revealed a significant excess of the 600 kb genomic duplication at the 16p11.2 locus (chr16: 29.5-30.1 Mb) in 393 unrelated patients with typical (n = 339) and atypical (ARE; n = 54) RE compared with the prevalence in 65,046 European population controls (5/393 cases versus 32/65,046 controls; Fisher's exact test P = 2.83 × 10(-6), odds ratio = 26.2, 95% confidence interval: 7.9-68.2). In contrast, the 16p11.2 duplication was not detected in 1738 European epilepsy patients with either temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 330) and genetic generalized epilepsies (n = 1408), suggesting a selective enrichment of the 16p11.2 duplication in idiopathic focal childhood epilepsies (Fisher's exact test P = 2.1 × 10(-4)). In a subsequent screen among children carrying the 16p11.2 600 kb rearrangement we identified three patients with RE-spectrum epilepsies in 117 duplication carriers (2.6%) but none in 202 carriers of the reciprocal deletion. Our results suggest that the 16p11.2 duplication represents a significant genetic risk factor for typical and atypical RE.

Background Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is an often severe neurodevelopmental disorder caused by overactivation of the mTOR pathway due to mutations in either the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. Seizures are the primary cause of neurologic morbidity and often refractory. The mTOR inhibitor everolimus was recently approved for the treatment of giant cell astrocytomas and renal angiomyolipomas in TSC. Whether everolimus has any direct effect on epilepsy in TSC is not known. Methods Within the framework of a compassionate use trial, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of everolimus in seven patients with TSC and intractable epilepsy. We evaluated seizure frequency, seizure-free days and adverse effects including standard laboratory parameters. Seizure frequency was analysed in each patient using a non-parametric test for trend and using a Generalized Estimating Equations Model in the total patient group. The observation period was continued for nine months. Results One patient discontinued the medication at the beginning of the observation period due to side effects (flushing). In the remaining 6 patients, we observed a reduction of seizures in 4/6 patients with a reduction of 25–100%. In addition, the percentage of seizure-free days increased in 3/4 of these patients. In 2/6 patients, no alteration of seizure frequency was noted. We observed an increase of mild infections and an increase of triglycerides and various liver function tests. We did not encounter life-threatening infections or other side effects of everolimus. Interpretation In some patients with TSC, everolimus may have an anticonvulsant effect with a reduction in seizure frequency and increase of seizure-free days. Everolimus was well tolerated, with adverse effects similar to those reported in previous studies.

Idiopathic generalized epilepsies account for 30% of all epilepsies. Despite a predominant genetic aetiology, the genetic factors predisposing to idiopathic generalized epilepsies remain elusive. Studies of structural genomic variations have revealed a significant excess of recurrent microdeletions at 1q21.1, 15q11.2, 15q13.3, 16p11.2, 16p13.11 and 22q11.2 in various neuropsychiatric disorders including autism, intellectual disability and schizophrenia. Microdeletions at 15q13.3 have recently been shown to constitute a strong genetic risk factor for common idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes, implicating that other recurrent microdeletions may also be involved in epileptogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the impact of five microdeletions at the genomic hotspot regions 1q21.1, 15q11.2, 16p11.2, 16p13.11 and 22q11.2 on the genetic risk to common idiopathic generalized epilepsy syndromes. The candidate microdeletions were assessed by high-density single nucleotide polymorphism arrays in 1234 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy from North-western Europe and 3022 controls from the German population. Microdeletions were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and their breakpoints refined by array comparative genomic hybridization. In total, 22 patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy (1.8%) carried one of the five novel microdeletions compared with nine controls (0.3%) (odds ratio = 6.1; 95% confidence interval 2.8-13.2; chi(2) = 26.7; 1 degree of freedom; P = 2.4 x 10(-7)). Microdeletions were observed at 1q21.1 [Idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE)/control: 1/1], 15q11.2 (IGE/control: 12/6), 16p11.2 IGE/control: 1/0, 16p13.11 (IGE/control: 6/2) and 22q11.2 (IGE/control: 2/0). Significant associations with IGEs were found for the microdeletions at 15q11.2 (odds ratio = 4.9; 95% confidence interval 1.8-13.2; P = 4.2 x 10(-4)) and 16p13.11 (odds ratio = 7.4; 95% confidence interval 1.3-74.7; P = 0.009). Including nine patients with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in this cohort with known 15q13.3 microdeletions (IGE/control: 9/0), parental transmission could be examined in 14 families. While 10 microdeletions were inherited (seven maternal and three paternal transmissions), four microdeletions occurred de novo at 15q13.3 (n = 1), 16p13.11 (n = 2) and 22q11.2 (n = 1). Eight of the transmitting parents were clinically unaffected, suggesting that the microdeletion itself is not sufficient to cause the epilepsy phenotype. Although the microdeletions investigated are individually rare (

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders in humans with a prevalence of 1% and a lifetime incidence of 3%. Several genes have been identified in rare autosomal dominant and severe sporadic forms of epilepsy, but the genetic cause is unknown in the vast majority of cases. Copy number variants (CNVs) are known to play an important role in the genetic etiology of many neurodevelopmental disorders, including intellectual disability (ID), autism, and schizophrenia. Genome-wide studies of copy number variation in epilepsy have not been performed. We have applied whole-genome oligonucleotide array comparative genomic hybridization to a cohort of 517 individuals with various idiopathic, non-lesional epilepsies. We detected one or more rare genic CNVs in 8.9% of affected individuals that are not present in 2,493 controls; five individuals had two rare CNVs. We identified CNVs in genes previously implicated in other neurodevelopmental disorders, including two deletions in AUTS2 and one deletion in CNTNAP2. Therefore, our findings indicate that rare CNVs are likely to contribute to a broad range of generalized and focal epilepsies. In addition, we find that 2.9% of patients carry deletions at 15q11.2, 15q13.3, or 16p13.11, genomic hotspots previously associated with ID, autism, or schizophrenia. In summary, our findings suggest common etiological factors for seemingly diverse diseases such as ID, autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy., Author Summary Epilepsy, a common neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affects up to 3% of the population. In some cases, the epilepsy has a clear cause such as an abnormality in the brain or a head injury. However, in many cases there is no obvious cause. Numerous studies have shown that genetic factors are important in these types of epilepsy, but although several epilepsy genes are known, we can still only identify the genetic cause in a very small fraction of cases. In order to identify new genes that contribute to the genetic causes of epilepsy, we searched the human genome for deletions (missing copies) and duplications (extra copies) of genes in ∼500 patients with epilepsy that are not found in control individuals. Using this approach, we identified several large deletions that are important in at least 3% of epilepsy cases. Furthermore, we found new candidate genes, some of which are also thought to play a role in other related disorders such as autism and intellectual disability. These genes are candidates for further studies in patients with epilepsy.

The epilepsies belong to the most common neurological disorders of childhood, and a strong genetic component is assumed. However, despite strong evidence from twin and family studies, the underlying genetic changes remain unknown. By concentrating on endophenotypes such as the photoparoxysmal response (PPR), the genetics of complex disorders can be broken down into simpler components, which can be addressed in genetic studies. Linkage analysis has identified several associated chromosomal regions for PPR. However, these regions are large and contain many possible candidate genes. Hence, genetic analysis can only be performed on a selection of these genes; candidate genes have to be prioritised. As candidate gene studies require large patient samples to detect gene variants with a small effect size or low frequency in the population, optimisation of the candidate selection process is essential. In contrast to selection of candidate genes through literature research, computer-assisted methods enable candidate gene prioritisation through comparison of gene ontology, protein-protein interaction and gene expression. Using Prioritizer (Franke et al. 2006) and Endeavour (Aerts et al. 2006), candidate regions for PPR are analysed. Prioritizer compares different chromosomal regions by generating networks of interacting genes. Endeavour generates a ranking of candidates by comparing the genes in a given chromosomal region to a test set of known epilepsy genes. Genes significant in both analyses are promising candidates for further genetic investigations, which will provide insight into the genetics of paediatric seizure disorders.