Joubert syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder that affects the cerebellum, an area of the brain that controls balance and coordination.
Joubert syndrome is one of the many genetic syndromes associated with syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. The syndrome was first identified in 1969 by pediatric neurologist Marie Joubert in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, while working at the Montreal Neurological Institute and McGill University.
Signs and symptoms
Most of the signs and symptoms of the Joubert syndrome appear very early in infancy with most children showing delays in gross motor milestones. Although other signs and symptoms vary widely from individual to individual, they generally fall under the hallmark of cerebellum involvement or in this case, lack thereof. Consequently, the most common features include ataxia (lack of muscle control), hyperpnea (abnormal breathing patterns), sleep apnea, abnormal eye and tongue movements, and hypotonia in early childhood. Other malformations such as polydactyly (extra fingers and toes), cleft lip or palate, tongue abnormalities, and seizures may also occur. Developmental delays, including cognitive, are always present to some degree. Severe forms have been noted to include hypoplasia of the corpus callosum.
Those with this syndrome often exhibit specific facial features such as a broad forehead, arched eyebrows, ptosis (droopy eyelids), hypertelorism (widely spaced eyes), low-set ears, and a triangle shaped mouth. Additionally, this disease can include a broad range of other abnormalities in other organ systems such as retinal dystrophy, kidney diseases, liver diseases, skeletal deformities, and endocrine (hormonal) problems.
Genetics
Several mutations have been identified in individuals with Joubert syndrome (JBTS) which allowed for classification of the disorder into subtypes.
This disorder can be caused by mutations in more than 30 genes within genetic makeup. The primary cilia play an important role in the structure and function of cells. When primary cilia are mutated and defective, it can cause various genetic disorders among individuals. This mutation of primary cilia can disrupt significant signaling pathways during the development of the fetus.
Mutations in these various genes are known to cause around 60-90% of Joubert Syndrome cases. In the remaining cases, the cause is unknown if not linked to a mutation of known genes.
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
|-
! style="width:4em;"|Type
! style="width:5em;"|OMIM
! style="width:6em;"|Gene
! style="width:5em;"|Locus
! style="width:10em;"|Inheritance
! Remarks
|-
| JBTS1
|
| INPP5E
| 9q34.3
| Autosomal recessive
| Also known as Cerebellooculorenal syndrome 1 (CORS1)
|-
| JBTS2
|
| TMEM216
| 11q12.2
| Autosomal recessive
| Also known as Cerebellooculorenal syndrome 2 (CORS2)
|-
| JBTS3
|
| AHI1
| 6q23.3
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS4
|
| NPHP1
| 2q13
|
|
|-
| JBTS5
|
| CEP290<br />NPHP6
| 12q21.32
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS6
|
| TMEM67
| 8q22.1
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS7
|
| RPGRIP1L
| 16q12.2
|
|
|-
| JBTS8
|
| ARL13B
| 3q11.1
|
|
|-
| JBTS9
|
| CC2D2A
| 4p15.32
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS10
|
| OFD1
| Xp22.2
| X-linked recessive
|
|-
| JBTS11
| –
| TTC21B
| 2q24.3
|
|
|-
| JBTS12
| –
| KIF7
| 15q26.1
|
| Overlapping phenotype with acrocallosal syndrome
|-
| JBTS13
|
| TCTN1
| 12q24.11
|
|
|-
| JBTS14
|
| TMEM237
| 2q33.1
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS15
|
| CEP41
| 7q32.2
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS16
|
| TMEM138
| 11q12.2
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
| JBTS17
|
| C5ORF42
| 5p13.2
|
|
|-
| JBTS18
|
| TCTN3
| 10q24.1
|
|
|-
| JBTS19
| –
| ZNF423
| 16q12.1
| Autosomal dominant
|
|-
| JBTS20
|
| TMEM231
| 16q23.1
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
|
|
| CSPP1,
| 8q13.2
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
|
| -
| ARMC9
| 2q37.1
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
|
|
| FAM149B1
| 10q22.2
| Autosomal recessive
|
|-
|}
Diagnosis
frame|(A) MRI Brain, axial T2 sequence showing enlarged superior cerebellar peduncles and vermian hypoplasia resulting in characteristic "molar tooth" appearance; (B) MRI Brain, sagittal T2 (a) and T1 (b) sequences showing vermian hypoplasia, predominantly at the superior aspect
The disorder is characterized by the absence or underdevelopment of the cerebellar vermis and a malformed brain stem (molar tooth sign), both of which can be visualized on a transverse view of the head MRI scan. Together with this sign, the diagnosis is based on the physical symptoms and genetic testing for mutations. If the gene mutations have been identified in a family member, prenatal or carrier diagnosis can be pursued.
Prognosis
In a sample of 19 children, a 1997 study found that 3 died before the age of 3, and 2 never learned to walk. The children had various levels of delayed development with developmental quotients from 60 to 85.
Research
Research has revealed that a number of genetic disorders, not previously thought to be related, may indeed be related as to their root cause. Joubert syndrome is one such disease. It is a member of an emerging class of diseases called ciliopathies.
The underlying cause of the ciliopathies may be a dysfunctional molecular mechanism in the primary cilia structures of the cell, organelles which are present in many cellular types throughout the human body. The cilia defects adversely affect "numerous critical developmental signaling pathways" essential to cellular development and thus offer a plausible hypothesis for the often multi-symptom nature of a large set of syndromes and diseases.
Currently recognized ciliopathies include Joubert syndrome, primary ciliary dyskinesia (also known as Kartagener Syndrome), Bardet–Biedl syndrome, polycystic kidney disease and polycystic liver disease, nephronophthisis, Alström syndrome, Meckel–Gruber syndrome and some forms of retinal degeneration.
Joubert syndrome type 2 is disproportionately frequent among people of Jewish descent.
References
External links
- NINDS Joubert Syndrome Information Page
- Researchers Identify Joubert Syndrome Genes
- GeneReviews: Joubert syndrome
- NCBI Joubert Syndrome