BRAIN MALFORMATIONS LISSENCEPHALY PANEL

Scientifically reviewed | Last updated
For more information see our editorial policy

ACTB, ACTG1, ARX, CDK5, CEP85L, CRADD, DCX, KATNB1, LAMB1, MACF1, NDE1, PAFAH1B1, RELN, TMTC3, TUBA1A, TUBB2B, TUBG1

Overview

Lissencephaly refers to a brain malformation with a smooth surface due to a disturbance in neuronal migration. This leads to deviations from the typical six-layer structure of the human cerebral cortex. The most common causes of lissencephaly are Miller-Dieker syndrome, X-linked lissencephaly, and X-linked subcortical lamina heterotopia.

 

Symptoms

The term lissencephaly comes from Greek and is derived from “lissos” = smooth and “enkephalos” = brain. This refers to the main characteristic, the smooth surface of the brain. Lissencephaly is caused by a disorder of neuronal migration and thus of the normal six-layer structure of the mature cerebral cortex in humans. The umbrella term lissencephaly also covers agyria, pachygyria, and subcortical band heterotopia (SBH).

 

There is both clinical and genetic overlapwith other brain malformations, especially tubulinopathies.

 

Cause

The most common causes of lissencephaly are Miller-Dieker syndrome, caused by a contiguous gene syndrome resulting from microdeletion 17p13.3, or pathogenic variants in PAFAH1B1 gene (formerly LIS1), which is located in this chromosomal region, as well as variants in DCX, the causative gene for X-linked lissencephaly and X-linked subcortical laminar heterotopia.

 

Diagnosis

Due to the genetic heterogeneity of the disease, exome analysis is usually required for molecular genetic confirmation of the suspected diagnosis in order to identify the underlying pathogenic variants.

 

References

Di Donato et al. 2017, Am J Med Genet 173A:1473 / Fry et al. 2014, Am J Med Genet 166C:198

GENES
ACTB, ACTG1, ARX, CDK5, CEP85L, CRADD, DCX, KATNB1, LAMB1, MACF1, NDE1, PAFAH1B1, RELN, TMTC3, TUBA1A, TUBB2B, TUBG1
HOW CAN YOU GET TESTED?
Step 1: Visit healthcare professional
Step 2: Sample collection (blood or buccal swab)
Step 3: Sequencing performed at our accredited laboratory
Step 4: Medical report
Step 5: Genetic counselling
FAQ

What are the typical symptoms of lissencephaly?

What is the underlying pathophysiology of lissencephaly?

How is lissencephaly diagnosed?

CONTACT US

Please get in touch with us for any questions, inquiries, feedback or with any comments you might have.

LATEST ARTICLES

The endometrial microbiome is increasingly recognized as a factor in reproductive health, and imbalances in microbial composition have been linked to...

Read more

Spinal muscular atrophy is a rare genetic condition that weakens muscles by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord. It is a leading genet...

Read more

Summer encourages people to spend more time outdoors, soaking in the sun and enjoying the season’s warm weather. While sunlight can have beneficial...

Read more

We're thrilled to share the results of Medicover Genetics essay competition for high school students as well as the two winning essays. This competit...

Read more

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a life-threatening, progressive, inherited condition that causes severe damage to the body, primarily affecting the organs of...

Read more

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. It affects physical growth, facial features, and cogni...

Read more

Every year on April 25th, DNA Day celebrates the discovery of DNA’s double helix and the advances we’ve made in understanding genetics. D...

Read more

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) have diverse genetic origins, making diagnosis challenging. A new study analyzing over 1,100 pediatric patients f...

Read more

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most prevalent and deadly cancers worldwide, with a significant number of cases presenting at an advanced ...

Read more

Carrier screening is a genetic test designed to identify whether an individual carries a gene with changes (mutations) associated with inherited diso...

Read more