Identification of two mutations in cis in the SCN1A gene in a family showing genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE)

Mutations in the SCN1A gene causing either loss or gain of function have been frequently found in patients affected by genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) or Dravet syndrome (also named severe myoclonic epilepsy in infancy SMEI). By mutation screening of the SCN1A gene, we identified for the first time a case of two missense mutations in cis (p.[Arg1525Gln;Thr297Ile]) in all affected individuals of an Italian family showing GEFS+ and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). The p.Arg1525Gln mutation was not previously reported yet and was predicted to be pathological by prediction tools, whereas the p.Thr297Ile was already identified in patients showing SMEI. Functional studies revealed that the Nav1.1 channels harboring both mutations were characterized by a significant shift in the activation curve towards more positive potentials. Our data demonstrate that the p.Arg1525Gln represents a novel mutation in the SCN1A gene altering the channel properties in the co-presence of the p.Thr297Ile.