Τhe Greek Variant in APP Gene: The Phenotypic Spectrum of APP Mutations

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 16;22(22):12355. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212355.

Abstract

Mutations in the gene encoding amyloid precursor protein (APP) cause autosomal dominant inherited Alzheimer's disease (AD). We present a case of a 68-year-old female who presented with epileptic seizures, neuropsychiatric symptoms and progressive memory decline and was found to carry a novel APP variant, c.2062T>G pLeu688Val. A comprehensive literature review of all reported cases of AD due to APP mutations was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases. We reviewed 98 studies with a total of 385 cases. The mean age of disease onset was 51.3 ± 8.3 (31-80 years). Mutations were most often located in exons 17 (80.8%) and 16 (12.2%). The most common symptoms were dementia, visuospatial symptoms, aphasia, epilepsy and psychiatric symptoms. Mutations in the β-amyloid region, and specifically exon 17, were associated with high pathogenicity and a younger age of disease onset. We describe the second reported APP mutation in the Greek population. APP mutations may act variably on disease expression and their phenotype is heterogeneous.

Keywords: amyloid precursor protein; duplication; mutation; phenotype.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alzheimer Disease / complications
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Amnesia / complications
  • Amnesia / diagnostic imaging
  • Amnesia / genetics*
  • Amnesia / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuroimaging / methods
  • Point Mutation*
  • Psychotic Disorders / complications
  • Psychotic Disorders / diagnostic imaging
  • Psychotic Disorders / genetics*
  • Psychotic Disorders / pathology
  • Seizures / complications
  • Seizures / diagnostic imaging
  • Seizures / genetics*
  • Seizures / pathology

Substances

  • APP protein, human
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor