Congenital myasthenic syndromes: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment

Lancet Neurol. 2015 Apr;14(4):420-34. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(14)70201-7.

Abstract

The congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a diverse group of genetic disorders caused by abnormal signal transmission at the motor endplate, a special synaptic contact between motor axons and each skeletal muscle fibre. Most CMS stem from molecular defects in the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, but they can also be caused by mutations in presynaptic proteins, mutations in proteins associated with the synaptic basal lamina, defects in endplate development and maintenance, or defects in protein glycosylation. The specific diagnosis of some CMS can sometimes be reached by phenotypic clues pointing to the mutated gene. In the absence of such clues, exome sequencing is a useful technique for finding the disease gene. Greater understanding of the mechanisms of CMS have been obtained from structural and electrophysiological studies of the endplate, and from biochemical studies. Present therapies for the CMS include cholinergic agonists, long-lived open-channel blockers of the acetylcholine receptor ion channel, and adrenergic agonists. Although most CMS are treatable, caution should be exercised as some drugs that are beneficial in one syndrome can be detrimental in another.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / genetics
  • Adrenergic Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / deficiency
  • Cholinergic Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Collagen / genetics
  • Exome / genetics
  • Humans
  • Laminin / deficiency
  • Laminin / genetics
  • Muscle Proteins / genetics
  • Mutation*
  • Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital* / diagnosis
  • Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital* / drug therapy
  • Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital* / genetics
  • Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital* / metabolism
  • Myasthenic Syndromes, Congenital* / physiopathology
  • Neuromuscular Junction / genetics
  • Neuromuscular Junction / metabolism*
  • Neuromuscular Junction / physiopathology
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / genetics*
  • Receptors, Cholinergic / metabolism
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25 / deficiency
  • Synaptotagmin II / deficiency

Substances

  • Adrenergic Agonists
  • Cholinergic Agonists
  • Laminin
  • Muscle Proteins
  • Receptors, Cholinergic
  • SNAP25 protein, human
  • Synaptosomal-Associated Protein 25
  • Synaptotagmin II
  • laminin beta2
  • Collagen
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • COLQ protein, human