Background

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) are vascular defects consisting of clusters of enlarged, thin-walled and leaky capillaries without intervening nervous tissue. Estimated prevalence is 0.1–0.5% in general population [1],[2].

The clinical phenotype is highly variable. CCMs mainly occur in the central nervous system (CNS) where they appear as focal lesions with a peripheral T2 hypointensity due to hemosiderin deposition which can be detected with higher sensitivity on T2* GRE sequences. The involvement of other districts has been so far poorly investigated. Indeed, CCMs can be clinically silent (60%) or lead to recurrent headache, focal neurological deficits, cerebral haemorrhage (41%) and seizures (45%) [3].

Most of CCM cases are sporadic but familial forms, showing autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, have been described [4].

Germline mutations in three genes account for 90% of familial cases: CCM1 (also known as KRIT1), CCM2 and PDCD10 (CCM3) [3]. The analysis of affected tissues has often disclosed a second somatic mutation, which is likely required to prime the pathogenetic cascade, according a two-hit mechanism [5].

CCM1 mutations were disclosed in more than 40% of familial cases but incomplete penetrance is not uncommon, being reported in 60–80% of mutated families. CCM1 encodes for the krev interaction trapped 1 (KRIT1) protein, which is involved in maintaining the integrity of endothelial junctions, and may play a role in microtubule targeting [6],[7].

Here we describe clinical, neuroradiological and molecular features of a novel Italian family with multiple cerebral and vertebral cavernous malformations harbouring a novel CCM1 splicing mutation.

Case presentation

Clinical features

We studied a four generations Italian pedigree in which several subjects showed multiple cerebral cavernous malformations (Figure 1).

Figure 1
figure 1

Pedigree of the family. Black symbols indicate family members showing neuroradiological alterations at cerebral MRI or reported as affected by available anamnestic data.

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The proband (III-1) is a 49-year-old man. At 39 years of age he complained headache and pins and needles in his left arm and leg. Cerebral MRI performed at that time revealed multiple cerebral supratentorial angiomas with radiological evidence of recent bleeding in the context of a right frontal lesion, which was surgically removed in 2004. Cerebral MRI findings were stable over time. Spinal MRI was negative for spinal lesions but revealed multiple vertebral hemangiomas whose size and number were unexpected for his age (Figure 2D-F). The patient still complains headache, but he is otherwise asymptomatic (last neurological examination performed in September 2013).

Figure 2
figure 2

MRI findings. Cerebral MRI in subject II-2 (A-C), III-2 (G-I) and IV-4 and spinal MRI in subject III-1 (D-F). (A-C): axial T2-ffe showing left ponto-mesencephalic angioma (A) and multiple supratentorial cavernous angiomas (left temporal and posterior frontal). (D-F): sagittal T1W-TSE (D-E) and sagittal T1W-TSE (F) showing multiple vertebral hemangiomas D12, L2-L5. (G-I): axial T2-ffe showing right pontine (G) and parietal (H) angiomas. Axial SWI (I) with abnormal right parietal and bilateral frontal venous malformations. (J-L) axial T2-ffe (J-K): multiple bilateral cerebral angiomas with involvement of the splenium of the corpus callosum, periventricular parietal white matter, head of the caudate nucleus, bilaterally, left cortical and subcortical white matter.

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Patient’s 46-year-old brother (III-2) experienced sudden onset of right facial numbness at 40 years of age. Cerebral MRI displayed a recent bleeding within a cavernous angioma close to the right cerebellar peduncle and a further lesion in the pons (GRE sequences not performed). Symptoms resolved and he was asymptomatic until August 2013 when he complained headache followed by right facial numbness, vertigo, nausea and gait instability. Cerebral CT revealed acute bleeding in the context of the previously symptomatic lesion. Cerebral MRI showed additional widespread lesions: bilateral parietal, bilateral frontal, left temporal and left occipital lobes (Figure 2G-I). Neurological examination showed right facial weakness, absent corneal reflex and mild gait instability.

Patient’s mother (II-2) is a 74-year-old woman who was incidentally diagnosed in her sixties with multiple infra- and supratentorial CCMs on cerebral MRI after a transient global amnesia. Cavernous malformations were observed at ponto-mesencephalic junction, left cerebellum, bilateral temporal, right parietal and left frontal cortices (Figure 2A-C). Spinal MRI was normal, but multiple hepatic hemangiomas were found. Last neurological examination (performed in May 2013) was unremarkable. Her father (I-1) died of cerebral haemorrhage when he was in his sixties. Both her brother (II-1) and sister (II-2), aged 78 and 68 respectively, were found to have multiple CCMs, the former experiencing seizures. MRI scan in the proband’s 15-year-old nephew (IV-4) also disclosed multiple infra- and supratentorial cavernous malformations (Figure 2J-L). Conversely, spinal MRI was negative.

Molecular studies

Investigations were carried out according to the guidelines of the Ethical Committee of Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan and in agreement with Italian and European Union laws.

After obtaining written informed consent, genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes of proband (III-1) and two affected relatives (II-2 and III-2).

CCM1/KRIT1 (NM_194454.1), CCM2 (NM_031443.3) and PDCD10/CCM3 (NM_007217.3) coding exons and their intronic boundaries were PCR-amplified using primers and conditions available on request. PCR products underwent direct sequencing using the BigDye Terminator 3.1 protocol on a 3130 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems). A Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP) was established to detect c.263-10A > G, using restriction endonuclease DraI, which cuts wild-type DNA molecules.

Total RNA was obtained from peripheral blood of the probands (Nucleospin RNA Blood Midi Kit, Macherey Nagel) and retrotranscribed (HiFi Transcriptor cDNA synthesis kit, Roche). Complementary DNA (cDNA) was amplified by PCR using primers encompassing exons 5 and 7. RT-PCR amplicons were subcloned into TOPO-TA vector (Invitrogen) and 1 μl of the ligation product was transformed into the XL-10 Gold E. Coli Competent Cells (Stratagene). After overnight growth at 37°C on ampicillin plates, twenty colonies were picked and directly sequenced as described above.

Results

Sequence analysis of CCM2 and CCM3 did not disclose pathogenetic variants. Conversely, a novel nucleotide substitution (c.263-10A > G) was found within intron 5 of CCM1/KRIT1 (Figure 3A). The variant was not observed in 340 ethnic-matched control chromosomes as well as in the following public available databases: CCM mutation database (http://www.angiomaalliance.org/pages.aspx?content=345&id=289), NCBI SNP (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/snp/) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Exome Sequencing Project Exome Variant Server (http://evs.gs.washington.edu/EVS/). PCR-RFLP analysis confirmed the presence of the mutation in proband’s mother and an affected brother, supporting the segregation of the defect with the phenotype (Figure 3B). DNA samples from other members of the family were not available for molecular analysis.

Figure 3
figure 3

Molecular studies. (A) Sequence electropherogram of proband’s (III-1) genomic DNA, showing the c.263-10A > G heterozygous substitution. (B) PCR-RFLP analysis of the c.263-10A > G mutation in affected family members available. DraI endonuclease cuts wild type DNA molecules, leaving mutated alleles uncut. (C) Sequence electropherograms of RT-PCR amplicons encompassing exon 5 and 7. Analysis of proband’s cDNA suggest the coexistence of normal and altered CCM1 transcripts. (D) Direct sequencing of clones obtained from RT-PCR reactions revealed the partial retention of intron 5 within CCM1 transcript as a consequence of the abnormal acceptor splice site created by c.263-10A > G mutation at genomic level.

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The effects of the novel variant were evaluated using Spliceview (http://bioinfo4.itb.cnr.it/~webgene/wwwspliceview_ex.html), Spliceport (http://spliceport.cbcb.umd.edu), ASSP (http://wangcomputing.com/assp/index.html) and Human Splicing Finder (http://www.umd.be/HSF/). The results showed that c.263-10A > G may create a novel acceptor site for exon 6, likely altering the physiological splicing of CCM1/KRIT1 transcript (data not shown). To address this point, we investigated the cDNA retrotranscribed from blood-extracted RNA of the proband and his mother. Sequence analysis detected the inclusion of a short sequence (AATGATTAG) within patients’s cDNA (Figure 3C). This finding was confirmed by sequencing clones obtained from RT-PCR fragments encompassing exons 5 and 7 (Figure 2D). The inclusion of the AATGATTAG sequence is expected to change CCM1 reading frame, resulting in a premature stop codon (p.88insGlufsX1, NP_919436.1).

Conclusions

The identification of a novel CCM1 mutation in this study expands the number of molecular defects underlining familial CCM. Several elements supports the pathogenicity of c.263-10A > G variant: i) it segregates with the disease in our pedigree; ii) it is absent in a large number of Italian control samples; iii) it affects a nucleotide within a highly conserved region in proximity to intron-exon junction and its substitution is predicted to create an abnormal acceptor splice site; iv) transcript analysis disclosed the inclusion of a short sequence likely altering KRIT1 reading frame and leading to a premature stop codon.

Considering the genetic forms of cerebral cavernous malformations, signs and symptoms involving CNS are more prominent and heterogeneous [8]. Symptomatic patients may present with recurrent headache, seizure, brain haemorrhage or focal neurological deficits [9],[10]. Clinical findings in our probands are similar to previous reports about CCM1-mutated patients [11].

Few reports have described extra-neural presentations in CCM1-mutated subjects, mainly affecting skin and eye [12],[13]. Spinal MRI was performed in three members of our family to check for the presence of spinal angiomas, a not unusual finding in familial CCM that may potentially generate complications. Radiological studies only disclosed vertebral hemangiomas as isolated extra-neural disease manifestation in the proband. Despite clinically silent, the number and size of these alterations were unexpected considering patient’s age. Further scans confirmed that they were stable over time. Although vertebral hemangiomas are relatively frequent in the general population [14], with an estimated incidence reanging from 10 to 12%, the co-occurrence of vertebral, cerebral and spinal malformations is rare, and it was reported only in two families. The most common clinical symptoms in patients with evidence of vertebral disease were enuresis, back pain, paresthesia and radicular pain due to pathological vertebral fracture [15]–[17]. This finding was not extended to other members of the family, but hepatic hemangiomas were observed in proband’s mother, confirming the association of extra neural hemangiomas and cerebral cavernous malformations due to KRIT1 mutations. A better knowledge of the disease-associated phenotype may lead to an early diagnosis and to an appropriate clinical surveillance in affected patients.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the proband, his brother and their mother for publication of this Case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor of this journal.