Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41349291›Full record

ArticleMolecular genetics and metabolism2026

Genotype-phenotype correlations of GFAP variants in type I Alexander disease subtypes.

Tiziana Bachetti, Ylenia Vaia, Alice Grossi, Francesca Rosamilia, Enrico Bertini, Francesco Nicita, Deianira Bellitto, Florian Eichler, Geneviève Bernard, Amanda Nagy and 7 more

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Article in Molecular genetics and metabolism, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Tiziana BachettiUO Proteomica e Spettrometria di Massa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy. Electronic address: tiziana.bachetti@hsanmartino.it.
Ylenia VaiaUnit of Pediatric Neurology, C.O.A.L.A. (Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukodystrophies), V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy; Neuroscience Research Center, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: ylenia.vaia@unimi.it.
Alice GrossiUOSD Area Aggregazione Laboratori della Ricerca, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Francesca RosamiliaClinical Bioinformatics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Enrico BertiniUnit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Francesco NicitaUnit of Muscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
Deianira BellittoUO Proteomica e Spettrometria di Massa, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy.
Florian EichlerDepartment of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Geneviève BernardDepartments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Pediatrics, and Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.
Amanda NagyDepartment of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Ayelet ZeremPediatric Neurology Institute, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center; Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Morteza HeidariPediatric Neurology Division, Myelin Disorders Clinic, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ali Reza TavasoliPediatric Neurology Division, Myelin Disorders Clinic, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, AZ, USA.
Isabella MoroniDepartment of Pediatric Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy.
Isabella CeccheriniUOSD Area Aggregazione Laboratori della Ricerca, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.
Davide TondutiUnit of Pediatric Neurology, C.O.A.L.A. (Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukodystrophies), V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy; Neuroscience Research Center, Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
AxD Type I Study Group

Funding

Validation of the GMFC-MLDU54NS115052 · NINDS · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · PI Laura Ann Adang, FLORIAN S EICHLER · 2019 to 2026
$14.3M
NINDS NIH HHS U54 NS115052
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionAlexander disease (AxD) is a rare and progressive leukodystrophy caused by variants in the Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) gene. AxD presents as Type I and Type II, based on clinical and neuroradiological features. However, Type I patients variable disease progression has led to sub-classify them into subtypes Ia-Ib-Ic-Id. Our study investigated genotype-phenotype correlations in Type I AxD across these subtypes.

methodsA cohort of 74 genetically confirmed Type I AxD patients was analysed, with variants classified according to the clinical subtypes Ia, Ib, Ic, and Id. Genotypic-phenotypic correlations were explored both across all subtype groups and in stratified analyses based on patients' ability to achieve independent ambulation versus those who never acquired this milestone. To investigate the functional consequences of a representative variant, in vitro assays were performed. Selected mutant GFAP protein was expressed and their ability to assemble into intermediate filament networks was assessed.

resultsThe study revealed a progressive decrease in GFAP allelic heterogeneity across disease subtypes from Ia to Id. Additionally, GFAP pathogenic variants in exon 1 were more frequent in milder forms, whereas mutations in exon 4 were predominantly observed in severe phenotypes. In addition, changes at p.R239 and p.R79 residues showed an opposite trend, with variants affecting p.R239 never detected in Id subtype, while variants affecting p.R79 never detected in Ia. Specific aminoacidic changes at the p.R79 residue were able to stratify patients based on ability to acquire independent ambulation or not. Furthermore, the distribution of Combined Annotation Dependent Depletion (CADD) scores showed an inverse correlation with the acquisition of autonomous ambulation.

conclusionsThese results suggest that specific GFAP variants could be potential predictors for disease progression in Type I AxD, supporting patients' subclassification and underscoring the importance of considering both genetic and clinical factors in AxD management, particularly as therapeutic interventions are being developed.

Indexed as

Alexander DiseaseGenetic Association StudiesGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinAdolescentAdultChildChild, PreschoolExonsFemaleGenotypeHumansIntermediate FilamentsMaleMutationPhenotypeYoung AdultGFAP protein, humanGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinAlexander diseaseGene variantGenotype-phenotype correlationGFAPNeurodegeneration

Identifiers

PMID41349291
PMCPMC13684854

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