LHX2 haploinsufficiency causes a variable neurodevelopmental disorder.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2023

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100839

Abstract

PURPOSE: LHX2 encodes the LIM homeobox 2 transcription factor (LHX2), which is highly expressed in brain and well conserved across species, but it has not been clearly linked to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) to date.

METHODS: Through international collaboration, we identified 19 individuals from 18 families with variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes, carrying a small chromosomal deletion, likely gene-disrupting or missense variants in LHX2. Functional consequences of missense variants were investigated in cellular systems.

RESULTS: Affected individuals presented with developmental and/or behavioral abnormalities, autism spectrum disorder, variable intellectual disability, and microcephaly. We observed nucleolar accumulation for 2 missense variants located within the DNA-binding HOX domain, impaired interaction with co-factor LDB1 for another variant located in the protein-protein interaction-mediating LIM domain, and impaired transcriptional activation by luciferase assay for 4 missense variants.

CONCLUSION: We implicate LHX2 haploinsufficiency by deletion and likely gene-disrupting variants as causative for a variable NDD. Our findings suggest a loss-of-function mechanism also for likely pathogenic LHX2 missense variants. Together, our observations underscore the importance of LHX2 in the nervous system and for variable neurodevelopmental phenotypes.

Journal Title

Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics

Volume

25

Issue

7

First Page

100839

Last Page

100839

MeSH Keywords

Humans; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Haploinsufficiency; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Transcription Factors; Intellectual Disability

Keywords

ASD; Intellectual disability; LHX2; Microcephaly; NDD; Neurodevelopmental disorder

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