Rat Slc18a3 (Vesicular acetylcholine transporter) ELISA Kit

The Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) is a genetic disorder characterized by multisystemic malformations. CdLS is due tomutations in one of the following genes: NIPBL, SMC1A, SMC3, RAD21, and HDAC8. On the other hand, 10q11.2 deletions cause a wide range of presentations in patients. Approximately 40 cases with variable deletions of 10q11.2 have been reported in literature. Some of the reported cases involve the coexistence of duplication or deletion affecting one copy of the chromosome. However, deletion of chromosome 10q11.22-q11.23 and CdLS syndrome caused by NIPBL gene mutations have not been reported previously. This report, therefore, is the first to report their coexistence together.

Objective: To describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of presynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome secondary to biallelic variants in SLC18A3. Methods: Individuals from 2 families were identified with biallelic variants in SLC18A3, the gene encoding the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), through whole-exome sequencing. Results: The patients demonstrated features seen in presynaptic congenital myasthenic syndrome, including ptosis, ophthalmoplegia, fatigable weakness, apneic crises, and deterioration of symptoms in cold water for patient 1. Both patients demonstrated moderate clinical improvement on pyridostigmine. Patient 1 had a broader phenotype, including learning difficulties and left ventricular dysfunction. Electrophysiologic studies were typical for a presynaptic defect. Both patients showed profound electrodecrement on low-frequency repetitive stimulation followed by a prolonged period of postactivation exhaustion. In patient 1, this was unmasked only after isometric contraction, a recognized feature of presynaptic disease, emphasizing the importance of activation procedures. Conclusions: VAChT is responsible for uptake of acetylcholine into presynaptic vesicles. The clinical and electrographic characteristics of the patients described are consistent with previously reported mouse models of VAChT deficiency. These findings make it very likely that defects in VAChT due to variants in SLC18A3 are a cause of congenital myasthenic syndrome in humans.