Abstract
Xp11.22 microduplications have been reported in different patients with X-linked intellectual
disability. Comparing the duplicated segments, a minimum region of overlap has been
identified. Within this region, only one gene, the HUWE1 gene, coding the E3 ubiquitin protein ligase, turned out to be duplicated in all
previously described patients. We provide a review of the literature on this topic,
making a comparison not only of genetic aspects, but also of clinical, neurophysiological,
and neuroradiological findings. Furthermore, we describe the phenotypic and molecular
characterization of a case of intellectual disability in a child carrying one of the
smallest Xp11.22 microduplications reported, involving the whole sequence of HUWE1 gene. Unlike previously described cases, our patient's neuroimaging showed abnormal
findings; he also experienced one seizure and showed interictal electroencephalogram
(EEG) epileptiform abnormalities. Given the fact that HUWE1 duplications and mutations
have previously been described in several patients with X-linked cognitive impairment,
our findings support the hypothesis that HUWE1 gene might be implicate in the pathogenesis of intellectual disability. Nevertheless,
further investigations and a more detailed examination of patients' clinical history
are needed to clear up other eventual genotype–phenotype correlations, such as the
presence of epilepsy/epileptiform EEG abnormalities.
Keywords
intellectual disability - HUWE1 - X-linked - EEG abnormalities