Clinical characteristics.

UNC80 deficiency is characterized by developmental delay, neonatal hypotonia, severe intellectual disability, dysmorphic facial features, strabismus, dyskinetic limb movements, and neurobehavioral manifestations. The majority of individuals do not learn to walk. All individuals lack expressive speech; however, many have expressive body language, and a few have used signs to communicate. Seizures may develop during infancy or childhood. Additional common features include clubfeet, joint contractures, scoliosis, postnatal growth deficiency, increased risk of infections, sleeping difficulties, and constipation. Individuals have slow acquisition of developmental skills and do not have features suggestive of neurodegeneration.

Diagnosis/testing.

The diagnosis of UNC80 deficiency is established in a proband with suggestive findings and biallelic pathogenic variants in UNC80 identified by molecular genetic testing.

Management.

Treatment of manifestations: Developmental services and educational support; melatonin and risperidone have been beneficial for treatment of sleep difficulties; standard treatments for irritability, seizures, spasticity, and dyskinesia; management of nystagmus and/or strabismus per ophthalmologist; feeding therapy or gastrostomy tube feeding as needed; standard management of constipation; braces and/or corrective surgeries as needed for orthopedic abnormalities.

Surveillance: Assess growth, nutritional status, safety of oral intake, and for constipation at each visit. Annual evaluations for developmental and educational needs, behavioral assessment, seizure management, ophthalmology examination, back exam for scoliosis, evaluation of contractures, and assessment of mobility and self-help skills.

Genetic counseling.

UNC80 deficiency is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. If both parents are known to be heterozygous for a UNC80 pathogenic variant, each sib of an affected individual has at conception a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being an asymptomatic carrier, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a carrier. Once the UNC80 pathogenic variants have been identified in an affected family member, carrier testing for at-risk relatives and prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing are possible.

Suggestive Findings

UNC80 deficiency should be suspected in probands with the following clinical features:

• Developmental delay with severe motor delays and absent speech (less than five words)
• Neonatal hypotonia
• Severe intellectual disability
• Strabismus
• Dyskinesia of the limbs
• Postnatal growth deficiency with postnatal microcephaly in some individuals
• Sleeplessness and irritability
• Constipation
• Seizures in some individuals

Establishing the Diagnosis

The diagnosis of UNC80 deficiency is established in a proband with suggestive findings and biallelic pathogenic (or likely pathogenic) variants in UNC80 identified by molecular genetic testing (see Table 1).

Note: (1) Per ACMG/AMP variant interpretation guidelines, the terms "pathogenic variants" and "likely pathogenic variants" are synonymous in a clinical setting, meaning that both are considered diagnostic, and both can be used for clinical decision making [Richards et al 2015]. Reference to "pathogenic variants" in this section is understood to include any likely pathogenic variants. (2) Identification of biallelic UNC80 variants of uncertain significance (or of one known UNC80 pathogenic variant and one UNC80 variant of uncertain significance) does not establish or rule out the diagnosis.

Molecular genetic testing in a child with developmental delay or an older individual with intellectual disability (ID) may begin with exome sequencing. Other options include genome sequencing or use of a multigene panel. Note: Single-gene testing (sequence analysis of UNC80, followed by gene-targeted deletion/duplication analysis) is rarely useful and typically NOT recommended.

• Comprehensive genomic testing does not require the clinician to determine which gene(s) are likely involved. Exome sequencing is most commonly used, and yields results similar to an ID multigene panel with the additional advantage that exome sequencing includes genes recently identified as causing ID whereas some multigene panels may not. Genome sequencing is also possible.
  For an introduction to comprehensive genomic testing click here. More detailed information for clinicians ordering genomic testing can be found here.
• An ID multigene panel that includes UNC80 and other genes of interest (see Differential Diagnosis) may also be considered to identify the genetic cause of ID while limiting identification of variants of uncertain significance and pathogenic variants in genes that do not explain the underlying phenotype. Note: (1) The genes included in the panel and the diagnostic sensitivity of the testing used for each gene vary by laboratory and are likely to change over time. (2) Some multigene panels may include genes not associated with the condition discussed in this GeneReview. (3) In some laboratories, panel options may include a custom laboratory-designed panel and/or custom phenotype-focused exome analysis that includes genes specified by the clinician. (4) Methods used in a panel may include sequence analysis, deletion/duplication analysis, and/or other non-sequencing-based tests.
  For an introduction to multigene panels click here. More detailed information for clinicians ordering genetic tests can be found here.

Clinical Description

UNC80 deficiency is characterized by neonatal hypotonia, developmental delay, severe intellectual disability, and neurobehavioral manifestations. Additional common features include seizures, strabismus, postnatal growth deficiency, constipation, musculoskeletal manifestations, dysmorphic facial features, increased risk of infections, and sleeping difficulties. To date, fewer than 50 individuals have been described with biallelic pathogenic variants in UNC80 [Perez et al 2016, Shamseldin et al 2016, Stray-Pedersen et al 2016, Valkanas et al 2016, Bramswig et al 2018, He et al 2018, Obeid et al 2018, Kuptanon et al 2019, Tao et al 2021]. The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports.

Developmental delay. All individuals have developmental delay. Most individuals have neonatal hypotonia. Oral motor dysfunction leads to difficulty with oral coordination, chewing, and swallowing and therefore feeding difficulties. The majority of individuals do not learn to walk. All individuals lack expressive speech, although many have expressive body language, and a few have used signs to communicate. Individuals have slow acquisition of skills and do not have the loss of skills suggestive of neurodegeneration.

Severe intellectual disability is reported in all individuals.

Neurobehavioral manifestations. Many of the affected individuals have behavioral difficulties including repetitive and self-stimulatory behaviors, irritability, and difficulties with emotional regulation. The majority of individuals with UNC80 deficiency are social (i.e., they prefer people to objects). Some individuals show tactile aversion and hypersensitivity to stimuli. Some individuals seek significant oral stimulation. Self-injurious behaviors have also been reported.

Sleep difficulties are common, with difficulties initiating sleep and sleeping through the night.

Epilepsy. Seizures may develop during infancy or childhood. Focal seizures, generalized tonic-clonic seizures, myotonic seizures, aclonic seizures, and atypical absence seizures have been described. Most affected individuals are well controlled on anti-seizure medications.

Other neurologic manifestations. Dyskinesia was reported in most individuals. Hypertonic extremities and a high-pitched cry have also been reported.

Ophthalmologic features. Strabismus has been reported in most affected individuals, and nystagmus is seen in half of affected individuals. A single individual with structural ocular abnormalities (punctate keratopathy) has been reported. Vision is usually normal.

Growth deficiency. Most individuals have had normal prenatal growth. Postnatally, however, linear growth and weight were below the third centile in most individuals. Poor feeding exacerbates the growth deficiency; however, tube feedings with a calorie-rich diet generally do not result in weight for age above the third centile. Individuals do not have evidence of endocrine anomalies that would account for the growth deficiency. Postnatal microcephaly was also common.

Constipation is very common and has been attributed to hypotonia and severe psychomotor delay.

Musculoskeletal features. Some individuals have congenital clubfeet. Joint contractures (e.g., hip, elbow, knee) can present from an early age. Later-onset scoliosis can be seen. Ongoing physiotherapy, stretching, and bracing improves some of the limitations encountered with contractures and/or scoliosis. In individuals with more severe clubfeet or scoliosis, surgery may be considered.

Small hands and feet are common, with long thin fingers and tapering of the distal phalanges.

Infections. Increased risk of infections has been reported, e.g., recurrent gastroenteritis, upper and lower respiratory tract infections, and less common urinary tract and skin infections.

Nonspecific dysmorphic facial features include triangular and/or long face, frontal bossing, downslanted palpebral fissures, strabismus, broad nasal bridge, anteverted nares, enlarged nares, short and smooth philtrum, thin and/or tented vermilion of the upper lip, micrognathia, and low-set and/or posteriorly rotated and/or large ears.

Nonspecific brain MRI findings. Most affected individuals have normal brain MRI findings. Nonspecific abnormalities such as a thin corpus callosum, mild diffuse brain atrophy, and borderline mild enlargement of the lateral and third ventricles and of the extra-axial space have been reported [Perez et al 2016, Shamseldin et al 2016, Stray-Pedersen et al 2016, Bramswig et al 2018].

Prognosis. Reported individuals span ages from birth to 15 years [Perez et al 2016, Shamseldin et al 2016, Stray-Pedersen et al 2016, Valkanas et al 2016, Bramswig et al 2018]. The oldest known individual is almost age 17 years [M Zaki, personal communication]. One individual has died of complications from infection; postmortem studies of the brain, spinal cord, nerve, muscle, liver, skin, and myocardium did not identify evidence of central nervous malformations or findings attributable to the underlying neurologic disorder [Valkanas et al 2016]. In a cohort of 12 individuals with biallelic UNC80 pathogenic variants, five individuals died between ages ten months and ten years [Bramswig et al 2018].

Genotype-Phenotype Correlations

No genotype-phenotype correlations have been identified.

Nomenclature

UNC80 deficiency is referred to as "infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation and characteristic facies 2" (IHPRF2) in OMIM (616801).

Prevalence

The prevalence is unknown. Fewer than 50 individuals have been reported to date.

Evaluations Following Initial Diagnosis

To establish the extent of disease and needs in an individual diagnosed with UNC80 deficiency, the evaluations and referrals summarized in Table 4 (if not performed as part of the evaluation that led to diagnosis) are recommended.

Treatment of Manifestations

Supportive care to improve quality of life, maximize function, and reduce complications is recommended. This ideally involves multidisciplinary care by specialists in relevant fields (see Table 5).

Surveillance

To monitor existing manifestations, the individual's response to supportive care, and the emergence of new manifestations, the evaluations summarized in Table 6 are recommended.

Evaluation of Relatives at Risk

See Genetic Counseling for issues related to testing of at-risk relatives for genetic counseling purposes.

Therapies Under Investigation

Search ClinicalTrials.gov in the US and EU Clinical Trials Register in Europe for access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions. Note: There may not be clinical trials for this disorder.

Mode of Inheritance

UNC80 deficiency is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.

Risk to Family Members

Parents of a proband

• The parents of an affected child are presumed to be heterozygous for a UNC80 pathogenic variant.
• Molecular genetic testing is recommended for the parents of a proband to confirm that both parents are heterozygous for a UNC80 pathogenic variant and to allow reliable recurrence risk assessment.
• If a pathogenic variant is detected in only one of the proband's parent and parental identity testing has confirmed biological maternity and paternity, it is possible that one of the pathogenic variants identified in the proband occurred as a de novo event in the proband or as a postzygotic de novo event in a mosaic parent [Jónsson et al 2017]. If the proband appears to have homozygous pathogenic variants (i.e., the same two pathogenic variants), additional possibilities to consider include:
  • A single- or multiexon deletion in the proband that was not detected by sequence analysis and that resulted in the artifactual appearance of homozygosity;
  • Uniparental isodisomy for the parental chromosome with the pathogenic variant that resulted in homozygosity for the pathogenic variant in the proband [Tao et al 2021].
• Heterozygotes (carriers) are asymptomatic and are not at risk of developing the disorder.

Sibs of a proband

• If both parents are known to be heterozygous for a UNC80 pathogenic variant, each sib of an affected individual has at conception a 25% chance of being affected, a 50% chance of being an asymptomatic carrier, and a 25% chance of being unaffected and not a carrier.
• Heterozygotes (carriers) are asymptomatic and are not at risk of developing the disorder.

Offspring of a proband

• The offspring of an individual with UNC80 deficiency are obligate heterozygotes (carriers) for a pathogenic variant in UNC80.
• To date, individuals with UNC80 deficiency are not known to reproduce.

Other family members. Each sib of the proband's parents is at a 50% risk of being a carrier of a UNC80 pathogenic variant.

Carrier Detection

Carrier testing for at-risk relatives requires prior identification of the UNC80 pathogenic variants in the family.

Related Genetic Counseling Issues

Family planning

• The optimal time for determination of genetic risk and discussion of the availability of prenatal/preimplantation genetic testing is before pregnancy.
• It is appropriate to offer genetic counseling (including discussion of potential risks to offspring and reproductive options) to young adults who are carriers or are at risk of being carriers.
• Carrier testing for the reproductive partners of known carriers should be considered, particularly if both partners are of the same ethnic background. A founder variant has been identified in the Bedouin population of southern Israel (see Table 7).

Prenatal Testing and Preimplantation Genetic Testing

Once the UNC80 pathogenic variants have been identified in an affected family member, prenatal and preimplantation genetic testing are possible.

Differences in perspective may exist among medical professionals and within families regarding the use of prenatal testing. While most centers would consider use of prenatal testing to be a personal decision, discussion of these issues may be helpful.

Molecular Pathogenesis

The UNC80 protein is part of the NALCN channelosome, a voltage-insensitive and nonselective sodium leak channel [Yu et al 2005, Lu et al 2007, Snutch & Monteil 2007, Lu et al 2010, Cochet-Bissuel et al 2014]. The human NALCN channelosome is predominantly expressed in the brain and requires four proteins for proper function: NALCN, FAM155A, UNC80, and UNC79. It consists of the NALCN-FAM155A pore-forming subcomplex, which is associated intracellularly with the UNC80-UNC79 subcomplex [Kschonsak et al 2022, Zhou at al 2022]. This UNC80-UNC79 subcomplex has a unique and intertwined geometry with large interaction surfaces and connects to NALCN via intracellular linkers [Kschonsak et al 2022]. UNC80 and UNC79 are highly conserved among mammals and are HEAT-repeat proteins composed of a repeating motif of two structural alpha helices [Kschonsak et al 2022]. Targeted deletions of certain UNC80 and UNC79 regions in Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that channelosome function was sensitive to the deletion of some but not all parts of the UNC79-UNC80 interfaces [Kschonsak et al 2022]. Structural mapping of UNC80 pathogenic variants displayed a sporadic distribution [Zhou et al 2022]. UNC80 nonsense and frameshift variants may disturb NALCN channelosome function through disruption of the UNC79-UNC80 assembly at certain interfaces [Zhou et al 2022]. UNC80 missense variants may influence NALCN channelosome function by affecting the local folding and stability of UNC80 [Zhou et al 2022].

Mechanism of disease causation. Loss of function

Author Notes

Nuria Bramswig ([email protected]) and Maha Zaki (moc.oohay@ikazaham_rd) are actively involved in clinical research regarding individuals with UNC80 deficiency. They would be happy to communicate with persons who have any questions regarding diagnosis of UNC80 deficiency or other considerations.

Contact Dr Nuria Bramswig ([email protected]) to inquire about review of UNC80 variants of uncertain significance.

Author History

Cornelius Boerkoel, MD, PhD; University of British Columbia (2017-2023)
Nuria C Bramswig, MD (2023-present)
Christèle du Souich, MSc, CCGC, CGC; University of British Columbia (2017-2023)
Maha S Zaki, MD, PhD (2023-present)

Revision History

• 18 May 2023 (sw) Comprehensive update posted live
• 21 September 2017 (sw) Review posted live
• 17 January 2017 (cds) Original submission

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