# Recurrent 'outsider' intronic variation in the SLC5A6 gene causes severe mixed axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, cyclic vomiting and optic atrophy in 3 families from Maghreb.

Lamisse Mansour-Hendili, Cyril Gitiaux, Madeleine Harion, Céline Latouche, Bénédicte Heron, Tanya Stojkovic, Mélanie Rama, Thomas Smol, Anne-Sophie Jourdain, Karine Mention, et al.

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Lamisse Mansour-Hendili, Cyril Gitiaux, Madeleine Harion, Céline Latouche, Bénédicte Heron, et al. Recurrent 'outsider' intronic variation in the SLC5A6 gene causes severe mixed axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, cyclic vomiting and optic atrophy in 3 families from Maghreb. Frontiers in Genetics, 2024, Frontiers in Genetics, 15, 10.3389/fgene.2024.1352006. hal-04674630

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EDITED BY
Jared C. Roach,
Institute for Systems Biology (ISB), United States

REVIEWED BY
Matthew Chau,
Baylor College of Medicine, United States
Haowei Du,
Baylor College of Medicine, United States

*CORRESPONDENCE
Lamisse Mansour-Hendili,
lamisse.mansour-hendili@aphp.fr

RECEIVED 07 December 2023

ACCEPTED 08 January 2024

PUBLISHED 29 January 2024

CITATION
Mansour-Hendili L, Gitiaux C, Harion M, Latouche C, Heron B, Stojkovic T, Rama M, Smol T, Sophie Jourdain A, Mention K, Nadjar Y, Schiff M, Lemale J, Ghoumid J, Gottrand F, Talbotec C, Rötig A, Funalot B and Desguerre I (2024), Recurrent "outsider" intronic variation in the *SLC5A6* gene causes severe mixed axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, cyclic vomiting and optic atrophy in 3 families from Maghreb. *Front. Genet.* 15:1352006.

doi: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1352006

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© 2024 Mansour-Hendili, Gitiaux, Harion, Latouche, Heron, Stojkovic, Rama, Smol, Sophie Jourdain, Mention, Nadjar, Schiff, Lemale, Ghoumid, Gottrand, Talbotec, Rötig, Funalot and Desguerre. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

# Recurrent "outsider" intronic variation in the *SLC5A6* gene causes severe mixed axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, cyclic vomiting and optic atrophy in 3 families from Maghreb

Lamisse Mansour-Hendili<sup>1,2*,</sup> Cyril Gitiaux<sup>3,4</sup>, Madeleine Harion<sup>5,6,7</sup>, Céline Latouche<sup>1</sup>, Bénédicte Heron<sup>5,7</sup>, Tanya Stojkovic<sup>8</sup>, Mélanie Rama<sup>9</sup>, Thomas Smol<sup>9,10</sup>, Anne Sophie Jourdain<sup>10,11</sup>, Karine Mention<sup>12</sup>, Yann Nadjar<sup>13</sup>, Manuel Schiff<sup>3,14,15</sup>, Julie Lemale<sup>16</sup>, Jamal Ghoumid<sup>10,17</sup>, Frédéric Gottrand<sup>18,19</sup>, Cécile Talbotec<sup>20</sup>, Agnès Rötig<sup>3,15</sup>, Benoît Funalot<sup>1,21</sup> and Isabelle Desguerre<sup>3,22</sup>

<sup>1</sup>Département de Biochimie-Biologie Moléculaire, Pharmacologie, Génétique Médicale, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Créteil, France, <sup>2</sup>IMRB Equipe Pirenne, Laboratoire d'excellence LABEX GReX, Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France, <sup>3</sup>Université Paris Cité, Paris, France, <sup>4</sup>Service de Neurophysiologie Clinique Pédiatrique, Centre de Référence des Pathologies Neuromusculaires, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France, <sup>5</sup>Université de Médecine, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France, <sup>6</sup>INSERM, Paris, France, <sup>7</sup>Service de Neuropédiatrie, APHP, Hôpital Trousseau, Paris, France, <sup>8</sup>Centre de Référence des maladies Neuromusculaires Nord/Est/Ile-de-France Institut de Myologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris, France, <sup>9</sup>Institut de Génétique, CHU Lille, Lille, France, <sup>10</sup>University of Lille, ULR7364-RADEME, Lille, France, <sup>11</sup>Service de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, CHU Lille, Lille, France, <sup>12</sup>Centre de Référence des Maladies Héréditaires du Métabolisme, Service Néphrologie, Endocrinologie, Maladies Métaboliques et Hématologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, Lille, France, <sup>13</sup>Département de Neurologie UF Neuro-Métabolisme, Centre de Référence des maladies Métaboliques et Lysosomales à expression Neurologique (CRML-Neuro), APHP-SU, Hôpital Pitié-Salpétrière, Paris, France, <sup>14</sup>Reference Centre for Mitochondrial Disorders (CARAMMEL), Reference Centre for Inherited Metabolic Diseases (MaMea), Hôpital Necker-Enfants-Malades, APHP, Paris, France, <sup>15</sup>Imagine Institute, Genetics of Mitochondrial Disorders, INSERM, Paris, France, <sup>16</sup>Department of Paediatric Nutrition and Gastroenterology, Reference Centre for Rare Digestive Diseases, Trousseau Hospital, APHP, Paris, France, <sup>17</sup>CHU Lille, Clinique de Génétique, Guy Fontaine, Lille, France, <sup>18</sup>University Lille, CHU Lille, Infinite U1286 Inserm, Lille, France, <sup>19</sup>Service de gastroentérologie, hépatologie et Nutrition Pédiatrique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, CHU Lille, Lille, France, <sup>20</sup>Pediatric Gastroenterology-Hepatology-Nutrition, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France, <sup>21</sup>Université Paris-Est Créteil, INSERM, IMRB, Créteil, France, <sup>22</sup>Paediatric Neurology Department, Necker-Enfants malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France

**Abbreviations:** AA, amino acid; ACMG, American college of medical genetics; AAC, amino acids chromatography; ACPA, micro array DNA; cDNA, coding desoxyribonucleotide acid; CIPO, Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction; CMT, Charcot-Marie-Tooth; COMNB, childhood-onset biotin-responsive peripheral motor neuropathy; CSF, Cerebrospinal fluid; DNA, desoxyribonucleotic acid; mRNA, mature ribonucleic acid; MNGIE, Mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MRSI, Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging; Mt DNA, mitochondrial DNA; NCS/EMG, (nerve conduction study and electromyography); NGS, next-generation sequencing; OA, optic atrophy; OAC, organic acids chromatography; PDH, pyruvate dehydrogenase; RNA, ribonucleic acid; SMVT, sodium dependent multivitamin transporter; SMVTD, sodium dependent multivitamin transporter deficiency; SRDDBC, spontaneously remitting developmental delay with brain cysts; VLCFA, very-long-chain fatty acids; WES, whole exome sequencing; WM, white matter; Y, years.
Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) deficiency is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by multisystemic clinical manifestations due to combined biotin, panthotenic acid and lipoic acid deficiency. About 10 families have been described so far. Accurate diagnosis is crucial because of the possibility of a supplementation treatment with proven efficacy. Here we describe 4 new patients (3 additional families) originating from the same world region (Algeria, Maghreb). All patients, born from consanguineous parents, were homozygous carriers of the same intronic variation, outside of canonical sites, in the *SLC5A6* gene encoding SMVT. RNA study in one family allowed confirming the pathogenic effect of the variation and re-classifying this variant of uncertain significance as pathogenic, opening the possibility of genetic counseling and treatment. The identification of the same variation in three distinct and apparently unrelated families is suggestive of a founder effect. The phenotype of all patients was very similar, with systematic optic atrophy (initially considered as a very rare sign), severe cyclic vomiting, and rapidly progressive mixed axonal and demyelinating sensory motor neuropathy.

### KEYWORDS

multivitamin deficiency, intronic variation, splicing, recurrent, mixed neuropathy, optic atrophy

## Introduction

Human Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (hSMVT) deficiency is a very rare genetic disorder, which has been reported so far in only 17 patients from 10 families (Subramanian et al., 2017; Byrne et al., 2019; Schwantje et al., 2019; Hauth et al., 2022; Holling et al., 2022; Montomoli et al., 2023; Rupasinghe and Onyeador, 2023; Utsuno et al., 2023). SMVT is a Na + dependent vitamin transporter encoded by the *SLC5A6* gene. SMVT transports biotin (vitamin B7) and pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) which are water soluble vitamins and the lipoic acid (Quick and Shi, 2015). Its expression is highest in intestinal epithelia and brain. In humans, Biotin and panthotenic acid are crucial for development and are only provided by alimentation (Neophytou and Pitsouli, 2022). Biallelic pathogenic variations of the *SLC5A6* gene cause hSMVT deficiency, an autosomal recessive disorder first described by Subramanian et al., in 2017 (Subramanian et al., 2017). The phenotypic spectrum of the disease, comprising variable multisystemic manifestations, has been considerably extended since the first report. The first reported patients showed failure to thrive, developmental delay or early normal development followed by developmental regression, seizures, diarrhea or vomiting, immunodeficiency, and/or osteopenia (Subramanian et al., 2017; Byrne et al., 2019; Schwantje et al., 2019). Then Holling et al. expanded the phenotypic spectrum by reporting five individuals from three families with mixed sensory motor axonal and demyelinating neuropathies associated with optic atrophy, recurrent infections, and repeated episodes of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (Holling et al., 2022). Byrne et al described progressive mixed sensory motor polyneuropathy in 2019 in one patient. Very recently, Utsuno et al. described a new phenotypical entity due to SMVT deficiency and called it SRDDBC for "spontaneously remitting developmental delay with brain cysts" due to missense variants having a milder effect on the function of the transporter. They propose in their study a classification of SMVT deficiency in three categories: SMVT deficiency (SMVTD, ubiquitous

spatial localization of phenotype and very early onset), SRDDBC which is a milder form and childhood-onset biotin-responsive peripheral motor neuropathy (COMNB) (Holling et al., 2022).

We report here 4 individuals from 3 distinct families originating from Algeria with the same homozygous intronic variation in the *SLC5A6* gene and very similar manifestations in all patients, associating mixed severe and progressive sensory motor axonal and demyelinating neuropathy, optic atrophy and severe cyclic vomiting.

## Material and methods

### Sequencing and data analysis

Whole exome sequencing (WES) has been performed for all four patients described in this study (Cf Supplementary Material for details concerning method and bioinformatics analysis).

### RNA study

RNA study has been performed in patient 3 on blood and fibroblasts samples (Cf Supplementary Material for details concerning method).

### Clinical data

All clinical data are summarized in Table 1.

Patient 1 is a 15 years old male. He was born from consanguineous parents and had 2 brothers among which one was also affected (patient 2). He was able to walk at 11 months of age. A Wolf Parkinson White syndrome was diagnosed and treated at 3 years. Progressive walking disorder associating peripheral neuropathy and spastic diplegia began at 4 years. In the same time, optic atrophy revealed by decrease of vision with nystagmus was present and a language delay was noticed. Cyclic vomiting (approximatively 4 days every 2 months with complete food intolerance needing fluid supplementation) began at 6 years of age associated with recurrent fever conducting to recurrent
<table><caption>TABLE 1 Clinical findings.</caption><thead><tr><th></th><th>Patient 1</th><th>Patient 2</th><th>Patient 3</th><th>Patient 4</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Consanguinity</td><td>yes</td><td>yes</td><td>yes</td><td>yes</td></tr><tr><td>Age at first symptom</td><td>4 Y</td><td>4 Y</td><td>4 Y</td><td>3 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Mild Cognitive delay</td><td>5 Y</td><td>5 Y</td><td>no</td><td>no</td></tr><tr><td>Pyramidal signs</td><td>5 Y</td><td>4 Y</td><td>6 Y</td><td>no</td></tr><tr><td>Optic atrophy</td><td>6 Y</td><td>6 Y</td><td>6 Y</td><td>10 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Neuropathy</td><td>8 Y mixed</td><td>8 Y mixed</td><td>5 Y mixed</td><td>7 Y mixed</td></tr><tr><td>Ambulation</td><td>with support at 14 Y</td><td>loss at 10 Y</td><td>loss at 5 Y</td><td>with support<br>at 17 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Biochemical analysis*</td><td>N</td><td>N</td><td>N</td><td>Abnormal<br>Elevated 3-OH-valeric acid</td></tr><tr><td>First line genetic analyses**</td><td>N</td><td>N</td><td>N</td><td>N</td></tr><tr><td>Cardiac</td><td>Wolf Parkinson</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>no</td></tr><tr><td>Brain and medullar MRI including MRSI</td><td>normal except OA</td><td>OA, WM occipital Ab</td><td>cortical atrophy</td><td>normal except OA</td></tr><tr><td>Lower limb contractures</td><td>severe</td><td>severe</td><td>severe</td><td>severe distal</td></tr><tr><td>Epilepsy</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>no</td></tr><tr><td>Growth delay</td><td>no</td><td>8 Y</td><td>5 Y</td><td>8 Y/11 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Cyclic vomiting</td><td>8 Y</td><td>6 Y</td><td>4 Y</td><td>12 Y</td></tr><tr><td>CIPO</td><td>no</td><td>7 Y</td><td>5 Y</td><td>12 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Parenteral nutrition</td><td>no</td><td>13 Y (3 m)</td><td>5 Y</td><td>13 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Enteral nutrition</td><td>no</td><td>13 Y (6 m)</td><td>5 Y</td><td>13 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Bladder palsy</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>5 Y</td><td>recurrent acute at 13 Y</td></tr><tr><td>High blood pressure</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>13 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Medical treatment</td><td>amitriptylin</td><td>amitriptylin</td><td>amitriptylin</td><td>amitriptylin + oxcarbazepin; gabapentin</td></tr><tr><td>Vitamines uptake</td><td>no</td><td>no</td><td>low doses<br>carnitine</td><td>beflavine at 13Y B5/B7/lipoic acid high doses at 22 Y</td></tr><tr><td>Long term follow up</td><td>15 Y</td><td>14 Y</td><td>death at 7 Y</td><td>23 Y</td></tr></tbody></table>

hospitalizations in emergency for IV rehydration. He needed orthopedic surgery for severe contractures of the lower limbs. Large metabolic investigations during the acute digestive episodes were normal. NCS/EMG (nerve conduction study and electromyography) confirmed the axonal sensory motor neuropathy (Table 2). Cerebral MRI (except optic atrophy) was normal. Genetic investigations (micro-array DNA, Mt DNA and NGS analysis for nuclear mitochondrial gene) were normal. At age 14, he was able to walk with support. Recurrent vomiting were partly responsive to amitriptyline chlorhydrate.

Patient 2: a 14 years old male, brother of patient 1 presented the same history. He was able to walk at 12 months of age. A language delay was later noticed. At 4 years spastic diplegia with abolition of the tendon reflexes was diagnosed. Optic atrophy was diagnosed at 6 years old. Recurrent vomiting began at 6 years with weight flathering leading to undernutrition. NCS/EMG evidenced peripheral neuropathy at age 8 (Table 2). Progressive weakness resulted in loss of ambulation at age 10. Because of severe distal contractures of lower limb, he needed orthopedic surgery. Enteral nutrition and parenteral nutrition were necessary at 13 years during 6 months.

<footnote><sup>a</sup>Biochemical analysis (patient 1, 2, 3, 4): redox points, OAC, AAC, homocystein; VLCFA, phytanic, pristanic, pipecolic acids, plasma bile acid intermediates, acylcarnitin profil, lysosomal enzymes activity, thymidine phosphorylase activity, transferrine electrophoresis; CSF, analysis: normal (patient 2,3); Muscle biopsy (patient 2, 3, 4): no clear respiratory chain deficit. No ragged red fibers.</footnote>

<footnote><sup>b</sup>First line Genetic analysis (patient 1, 2, 3, 4): ACPA, Mt DNA (including search for deletion, MERRF, MELAS, NARP, genes), ECGF1/MNGIE, gene; NGS, mitochondrial genes (including POLG1, POLG2, RRM2B), NGS, neuropathy; NGS, optic atrophy (MFN2, OPA1, OPA2, GJB1, TMEM, 126A, OPA7), PDH, exploration and E2/lipoylation sub-units (NFUI, BOLA3, IBA57, LIAS, LIPT1).</footnote>

<footnote>Abbreviations in Table 1: OA, optic atrophy; WM, white matter; Y, years; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; MRSI, magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging; CIPO, Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction; AAC, amino acids chromatography; OAC, organic acids chromatography; ACPA, micro array DNA; Mt DNA, mitochondrial DNA; NGS, next-generation sequencing; VLCFA, very-long-chain fatty acids; NCS/EMG, (nerve conduction study and electromyography); MNGIE, mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy; PDH, pyruvate dehydrogenase; SMVT, sodium dependent multivitamin transporter.</footnote>
<table><caption>TABLE 2 Electromyography results.</caption><thead><tr><th rowspan="2">Patient</th><th rowspan="2">Age (years)</th><th rowspan="2">Motor nerve conduction</th><th rowspan="2">Normal value</th><th colspan="2">Patient 2</th><th colspan="2">Patient 3</th><th colspan="2">Patient 4</th></tr><tr><th>8</th><th>4</th><th>5</th><th>7</th><th>15</th><th>23</th></tr><tr><th></th><th></th><th></th><th>R</th><th>L</th><th>R</th><th>L</th><th>R</th><th>L</th><th>R</th><th>L</th><th>R</th><th>L</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td rowspan="5">DML (ms)</td><td rowspan="4">Median</td><td>&lt; 4.2</td><td>NR</td><td>3.10</td><td>3.60</td><td>3.33</td><td>4.91</td><td>6.41</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>8.4</td><td>5.9</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Ulnar</td><td>&lt; 3.5</td><td>NR</td><td>2.90</td><td>4.5</td><td>NR</td><td>4.30</td><td>3.46</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>3.1</td><td>5.9</td><td>3.7</td><td>3.8</td></tr><tr><td>Common Peroneal</td><td>&lt; 5.0</td><td>NR</td><td>4.91</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>5.2</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Tibial</td><td>&lt;5.5</td><td>6.88</td><td>5.38</td><td>4.37</td><td>6.01</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>5.5</td><td>6.3</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Median</td><td>&gt; 5</td><td>NR</td><td>5.0</td><td>3.5</td><td>4.7</td><td>0.29</td><td>0.18</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>0.24</td><td>0.77</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">CMAP (mV)</td><td rowspan="3">Ulnar</td><td>&gt;5</td><td>NR</td><td>4.1</td><td>2.5</td><td>NR</td><td>0.24</td><td>1.63</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>5.48</td><td>6.19</td><td>1.53</td><td>1.08</td></tr><tr><td>Common Peroneal</td><td>&gt;3</td><td>NR</td><td>0.61</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>0.32</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Tibial</td><td>&gt;3</td><td>0.85</td><td>1.02</td><td>0.05</td><td>0.19</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>0.17</td><td>0.06</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Median</td><td>&gt; 50</td><td>NR</td><td>39.5</td><td>30.7</td><td>34.1</td><td>18.1</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>34</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="3">MNCV (m/s)</td><td rowspan="2">Ulnar</td><td>&gt; 50</td><td>NR</td><td>55.4</td><td>32.6</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>43.7</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>41</td><td>41</td><td>37</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Common Peroneal</td><td>&gt; 42</td><td>NR</td><td>32.9</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>41</td><td>40</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Tibial</td><td>&gt; 42</td><td>NR</td><td>36.8</td><td>31.6</td><td>28.9</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">Sensory nerve conduction</td><td>Normal value</td><td>R</td><td>L</td><td>R</td><td>L</td><td>R</td><td>L</td><td>R</td><td>L</td><td>R</td><td>L</td><td>R</td><td>L</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="6">SNCV (m/s)</td><td rowspan="5">Median (transcarpal)</td><td>&gt; 45</td><td>NR</td><td>39.5</td><td>39.8</td><td>39.3</td><td>32.5</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>34</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Ulnar</td><td>&gt; 45</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>36</td><td>35</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Radial</td><td>&gt; 45</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>34</td><td>30</td><td>36</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td>Sural</td><td>&gt; 40</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>33.8</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Superficial peroneal</td><td>&gt;40</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>35</td><td>38</td><td>30</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Median (transcarpal)</td><td>&gt; 15</td><td>NR</td><td>2.5</td><td>12.0</td><td>18.7</td><td>6.2</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>2</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td rowspan="4">SNAP (μV)</td><td rowspan="3">Ulnar</td><td>&gt; 8</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>6.1</td><td>0.7</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Radial</td><td>&gt; 10</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>3.6</td><td>0.6</td><td>2.3</td><td>1.9</td></tr><tr><td>Sural</td><td>&gt; 10</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>10.1</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>NR</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td><td>A</td></tr><tr><td>Superficial peroneal</td><td>&gt;10</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>NR</td><td>2</td><td>6.7</td><td>2.1</td><td>2.1</td></tr></tbody></table>

SNCV, sensory nerves conduction velocities; MNCV, motor nerve conduction velocities; SNAP, sensory nerves action potential; CMAP, compound muscle action potentials; DML, distal motor latency; latency; R, right; L, left; NR, not recorded; A, Absent; ENMG, results showed an sensory and motor axonal neuropathy or a mixed demyelinating and axonal neuropathy worsening over time.

Large metabolic investigations including thymidine phosphorylase activity and search for mitochondrial dysfunction were normal. Digestive explorations including enteroscan, gastric and esophageal endoscopy with biopsies were non-contributive. Muscle biopsy showed no mitochondrial dysfunction. After a long time of hospitalization because of total digestive intolerance, he was stabilized with vitamins supplementation biotin (20 mg/day), pantothenic acid (555 mg/day) and lipoic acid (300 mg/day) and amitriptyline at age 14, at 6 months of follow-up. Digestive investigations comprising oesophageal endoscopy with biopsies, rectal biopies, enteroscan, oesophagal and anorectal manometry, oeso-gastroduodenal transit, small intestine and colorectal radiography were normal.

Patient 3: this girl born of consanguineous parents experienced walking problems at 4 years of age. At age 4, she developed episodic urinary retention. Spinal cord MRI was normal and NCS/EMG (nerve

conduction study and electromyography) showed mixed axonal and demyelinating sensory motor neuropathy (Table 2). Polyradiculitis was suspected at CSF analysis (proteinorachia at 0.38 g/L N: 0.15–0.6 g/L) without any autoantibodies. Large and repeated biochemical investigations were unremarkable (mitochondrial, lysosomal, acylcarnitine profile). She had pyramidal signs with severe lower limbs retractions and loss ambulation at age 5. Muscle biopsy showed a neurogenic muscular atrophy and a normal respiratory chain analysis. At 6 years she developed cyclic vomiting and multiple episodes of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO). Digestive investigations comprising oesophageal endoscopy with biopsies, rectal biopies, enteroscan, oesophagal and anorectal manometry, oeso-gastroduodenal transit, small intestine and colorectal radiography were normal.

She needed nutritional support with gastrostomy and jejunostomy and at least total parenteral nutrition since few
<figure><img src="image_3.png" /><figcaption>FIGURE 1</figcaption></figure>

Genetic results for Patient 3. (A): Family 3 pedigree showing that Sanger sequencing electrophoregrams from amplified cDNA from exon 3 to exon 6 of the *SLC5A6* gene. Mother (heterozygous for the c.460-19T>G on genomic DNA) presents on cDNA from Paxgene® tube the insertion of 18 bp at heterozygous state between exon 4 and exon 5 of the gene corresponding to the last 18 nucleotides of intron and use of the cryptic acceptor site. Father (heterozygous for the c.460-19T>G on genomic DNA) presents on cDNA from Paxgene® tube the insertion of 18 bp at heterozygous state between exon 4 and exon 5 of the gene corresponding to the last 18 nucleotides of intron and use of the cryptic acceptor site. Proband (homozygous for the c.460-19T>G on genomic DNA) presents on cDNA sequencing from Paxgene® tube the insertion of 18 bp at homozygous state between exon 4 and exon 5 of the gene corresponding to the last 18 nucleotides of intron and use of the cryptic acceptor site. Black double arrow represents the TTTTTCCACATGCAACAG 18 bp inserted sequence. Green arrow = exon 4; purple arrow = exon 5. (B): Histogram with ratios obtained in RT-qPCR Roche™ LC480 method. Expression ratios calculated for the patient 3 fibroblasts are normal showing no modification of gene expression in poband. Error bars have been estimated on the triplicate values of crossing threshold (Ct) points made for each sample. WT, wild type; WT fibroblasts 1 are used in the method of calculation of ratios as internal reference gDNA, genomic DNA.

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>

months. She died at 7 years of age after suffering quadriplegia, brainstream dysfunction and pan digestive palsy.

Patient 4, a 23-year-old male man, was born of consanguineous parents, His oldest brother died at the age of 4 years. His two sisters were asymptomatic. At 1 year of age, he had a surgical cure of right pyeloureteral junction syndrome. A progressive symmetrical distal weakness of the lower limbs started at the age of 3 years, leading to clumsiness and running difficulties. At age 7 he had distal hypoesthesia, weak and amyotrophic muscles in the lower limbs, generalized osteotendinous areflexia and an axonal sensory and motor neuropathy was diagnosed. At age 8, failure to thrive was noticed, worsening at 11. At age 10, hand weakness appeared; he suffered from neuropathic pain and paresthesia treated by amitriptyline and oxcarbazepine then gabapentin; bilateral optic atrophy was diagnosed in a context of decreased visual acuity. At age 12.5, he suffered from recurrent episodes of vomiting and CIPO requiring parenteral nutrition for 2 months, associated with ileostomy, and followed by enteral nutrition through gastrostomy from age 13 to 18: oesophageal endoscopy showed Mallory Weiss syndrome during a CIPO access, proximal small intestine ileus and dyskinesia of the third lower oesophagus. Multiple biopsies, anorectal manometry, oesogastroduodenal transit were normal.

At age 13, he had episodic acute bladder dysfunction, and arterial hypertension treated by amlodipine and perindopril for 6 months, followed by amlodipine alone. At 17 years, bilateral cavovarus feet required a corrective surgery, after what he lost autonomous walking. NCS showed very low CMAP in lower limbs and median nerves, sensory potentials were markedly decreased in all four limbs, whereas conduction velocities were mildly diminished, overall consistent with a sensory and motor axonal neuropathy (Table 2). Brain MRI was normal, except for atrophic nerve atrophy.

Muscular biopsy showed neurogenic changes, some COX-negative muscular fibers but no specific respiratory chain

complex deficit. No mitochondrial DNA pathogenic variation or deletion was identified.

Thymidine phosphorylase activity and TYMP gene sequencing were normal, as well as PDH activity and sequencing of sub-unit E2/lipoylation genes (NFU1, BOLA3, IBA57, LIAS, LIPT1). Optic atrophy panel detected no pathogenic variation in the MFN2, OPA1, OPA2, GJB1, OPA7 genes.

Other biochemical studies including transferrin electroporesis, Redox points, amino-acids and organic acids chromatographies, plasmatic homocysteine and peroxysomal dosages (VLCFA, phytanic, pristanic, pipecolic acids and plasma bile acid intermediates) were normal. But urinary measurement of 3 hydroxy valeric acid before treatment was abnormal with elevated levels: 115 µmol/mmol of creatinine (N < 18) as commonly showed in biotin deficiencies. At 23 years, he has a severe motor weakness and amyotrophic thenar muscles and wasting of lower limbs resulting in drop-foot gait. He used a wheelchair at the age of 20. He has been treated for a few months with biotin (20 mg/day), pantothenic acid (555 mg/day) and lipoic acid (300 mg/day).

## Genetic results

NGS sequencing identified in all patients the same variation: c.460-19T>G (2: 27206553 (GRCh38)) at homozygous state in the *SLC5A6* gene (NM_021095). This variation was not recorded in gnomAD database v3 nor in Clinvar before our submission (our Clinvar accession number is VCV002507024.2 VCV002507024.2 - ClinVar - NCBI (nih.gov)). In silico predicting splicing tools: SpliceAI, MaxEntscan and splice site finder concluded to a probable pathogenic effect of this variation on splicing by creating a new splicing acceptor site in intron 4 sequence (Splice AI AG score 0.80). RNA study was performed on RNA extracted from Paxgene® (BD-Biosciences) blood tubes for patient 3 and her parents and from patient 3's fibroblasts. It showed the retention of 18 nucleotides in the sequence
of the cDNA at homozygous state in the proband and at heterozygous state in both parents, due to the use of the new cryptic acceptor-splicing site created by the variation (Figure 1). Ratio of relative expression of the SLC5A6 gene compared to the housekeeping gene ABL obtained in RT-q-PCR performed on the proband fibroblasts cDNA and on fibroblasts reference samples cDNA showed normal values and are not suggestive of changes in SLC5A6 mRNA expression levels. This suggests that the translation of the abnormal SLC5A6 mRNA results in the incorporation of 6 new amino acids (AA) in frame within the fourth transmembrane domain of the transporter (Holling et al., 2022), between AA 153 and 154.

Our study, associating family genetic and clinical data with
functional mRNA tests allows to classify this variation as pathogenic
according to ACMG guidelines (; on behalf of the ACMG
Laboratory Quality Assurance Committee et al., 2015), with the
following criteria: PP1-S, PM2, PP3, PS3.

Discussion

We reported clinical, electro-neuromyographic and genetic data
from 4 patients with the same variation in the *SLC5A6* gene,
encoding human sodium dependent multivitamin transporter
(hSMVT). The clinical features encompass severe cycling vomiting,
sensory motor axonal or mixed neuropathy and early optic atrophy,
starting in infancy and leading to severe disability. CIPO occurred in 3 out
of 4 patients. First line investigations (brain MRI, biochemical tests and
targeted genetic studies) did not disclose the cause of the syndromic
neuropathy in these patients. The main first hypothesis for this complex
disease was MNGIE (Mitochondrial Neuro GastroIntestinal
Encephalomyopathy), ruled out since no demyelinating features has
been seen on nerve conduction studies, and brain MRI was normal
except for optic atrophy. Before genetic testing results, involvement of
mitochondrial genes such as the *SLC25A46* gene or the *OPA3* gene has
been evoked because of their known association with severe form of
sensory motor axonal neuropathy, optic atrophy and gastrointestinal
dysmobility (Abrams et al., 2015; Horga et al., 2019). But in these diseases,
brain MRI usually shows white matter signal hyper-intensities which is
not the case in our patients.

Thanks to WES sequencing and communication between the
different teams involved in patients' care, a final diagnosis was
obtained and supplementation treatment introduced in patient 4.
Nine months after the instauration of supplementation treatment in
this patient, last clinical follow up did not show any worsening elements
in the clinical status of the patient. Phenotype seems to be stabilized. In
the previously published studies efficacy of supplementation in this
disease seems to be correlated with age at beginning. Subramanian et al.
began treatment at 19 months in their patient and showed motor and
verbal skills improvement with growth normalization. Schwantje et al.
began treatment at 3 years in their patient and showed a stabilization of
symptoms with improvement in growth curves, resolution of diarrhea
but with persistence of motor problems. Montomoli et al. began
supplementation before 3 years in one of their patient and
demonstrated a stabilization of symptoms. In their other patients
where treatment could not be instaured, patients died at 1 and
3 years old respectively.

All patients from our 3 families harbored the same intronic
variation in the *SLC5A6* gene localized outside from canonical

splicing sites. This variation is absent from large genomic database
such as gnomAD (gnomAD v4) or deCAF. The 4 patients are not
from the same family (except for patients 1 and 2) but all originated
from the same world region (Algeria, Maghreb). This suggests a
founder effect for this mutation in Maghreb. Thanks to RNA analysis
of SLC5A6 transcripts, we could confirm the deleterious effect of this
variation, leading to the retention of 18 nucleotides in frame leading
to a probable 6 AA insertion confirming the diagnosis of SMVT
deficiency. The incorporation of 6 AA in frame within the fourth
transmembrane domain of the transporter could led to
destabilization of the protein or a mis-localization as previously
described for some missense variations. Other pathogenic
variations of the SLC5A6 leading to SMVT deficiency have been
proved to cause protein destabilization like p.Arg400Thr (first
described by Byrne *et al* and then by Holling *et al*) or
mislocalization like p.Arg123Leu (Subramanian *et al*). Byrne *et al*.
showed a reduced biotin uptake due to p.Arg400Thr and Utsuno *et al*
proved the protein instability due to p.Arg400Thr (located in the
cytoplasmic facing region of transmembrane domain 10) based on
measurement of free energy changes with FodlX. Subramanian *et al*.
showed abnormal cellular localization for p.Arg123Leu (located in an
extracellular loop between transmembrane domain 3 and 4). The
fourth transmembrane domain is highly conserved between species
and insertion of this putative 6 AA motif FFHMQQ is predicted to be
deleterious by PROVEAN algorithm with a score of -12.5
(PROVEAN Protein (jcvi.org)).

Our study tends to prove that our patients present a complex
neurophysiological phenotype with reduced sensory amplitudes
although not fully abolished regarding the marked reduced motor
amplitudes in lower limbs. However, if we only refer to the
conduction studies and the foot deformities, this neuropathy
could look like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. However, the
disability progression and the additional clinical signs pointed to
a complex neuropathy (Rossor et al., 2017). The delay to reach an
accurate diagnosis and introduction of appropriate vitamin
supplementation, as well as the short duration of treatment in
patient 4 to date, prevented us to draw any firm conclusion
regarding the effect of supplementation on disease course for the
moment. 3D investigations on the variation effect and in vitro
studies in cellular models have to be performed. Collaborations
about those points are about to be performed.

Data availability statement

The original contributions presented in the study are included in
the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed
to the corresponding author.

Ethics statement

Ethical approval was not required for the study involving human
samples in accordance with the local legislation and institutional
requirements because (reason ethics approval was not required).
Written informed consent for participation in this study was
provided by the participants' legal guardians/next of kin. Written
informed consent was obtained from the minor(s)' legal guardian/
next of kin for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or
data included in this article.

Author contributions

LM-H: Writing-original draft. CG: Writing-original draft. MH: Writing-review and editing. CL: Writing-review and editing. BH: Writing-review and editing. TaS: Writing-review and editing. MR: Writing-review and editing. ThS: Writing-review and editing. AJ: Writing-review and editing. KM: Writing-review and editing. YN: Writing-review and editing. MS: Writing-review and editing. JL: Writing-review and editing. JG: Writing-review and editing. FG: Writing-review and editing. CT: Writing-review and editing. AR: Writing-review and editing. BF: Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing. ID: Writing-original draft, Writing-review and editing.

Funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for
the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Patrick NUSBAUM Technicien de laboratoire Service de Génétique et Biologie Moléculaires Secteur Culture Cellulaire Hôpital Cochin for his help to obtain fibroblasts for proband and parents in

patient 3 and to obtain reference fibroblasts samples. Thanks to Dr Giulia Barcia for her help in patient 3 follow-up. A part of this work has been carried out within the framework of the FHU G4 Génomique. Dr Ariane-Lunati Rozie helped us for the patient molecular diagnosis.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online
at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2024.1352006/
full#supplementary-material

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