Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with cysts in twelve Egyptian patients: novel mutations in MLC1 and HEPACAM and a founder effect

Two genes causing megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) have been discovered so far. Here, we identified MLC1 and HEPACAM mutations in ten and two patients, respectively. The molecular results included an unreported inframe duplication mutation (c.929_930dupCTGCTG; p.L309dup) of MLC1 and a novel missense mutation c.293G > A (p.R98H) of HEPACAM. Further, the previously reported missense (c.278C > T; p.S93L) and the deletion/insertion (c.908_918delinsGCA; p.V303Gfs*96) were found in one and 8 patients (75 %), respectively. The 8 patients carrying the p.V303Gfs*96 shared a similar haplotype suggesting a founder effect. All mutations were in the homozygous state proving the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. The core phenotype of macrocephaly, subcortical cysts and white matter appeared homogeneous although the patients differed in the onset, clinical course, disease severity and brain imaging findings. Our study expands the spectrum of mutations in MLC1 and HEPACAM and supports the genetic and clinical heterogeneity. Further, It confirms c.908_918delinsGCA (p.V303Gfs*96) as a founder mutation among Egyptian patients. This finding will contribute to provide targeted testing for this mutation in MLC patients in our population.