( From OMIM) Evidence suggests that mutations in more than one gene can cause Gilles de la Tourette syndrome. Tourette syndrome is a neurobehavioral disorder manifest particularly by motor and vocal tics and associated with behavioral abnormalities. Tics are sudden, brief, intermittent, involuntary or semi-voluntary movements (motor tics) or sounds (phonic or vocal tics). They typically consist of simple, coordinated, repetitive movements, gestures, or utterances that mimic fragments of normal behavior. Motor tics may range from simple blinking, nose twitching, and head jerking to more complex throwing, hitting, or making rude gestures. Prontera et al. showed a heterozygous microdeletion of 135 kb at the 7q36.2 locus in an 8-year-old boy and his father
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by multiple motor and vocal tics, frequently associated with psychiatric co-morbidities. Despite the significant level of heritability, the genetic architecture of TS still remains elusive. Herein, we investigated an Italian family where an 8-year-old boy, his father, and paternal uncle have a diagnosis of TS. Array-CGH and high resolution SNP-array analyses revealed a heterozygous microdeletion of approximately 135 kb at the 7q36.2 locus in the proband and his father. Fluorescent in situ hybridization and quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses confirmed the presence of the alteration also in the paternal uncle. The deletion selectively involves the first exon of the DPP6 gene, leading to a down-regulation of its expression, as demonstrated by the reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) levels assessed by RT-qPCR. The DPP6 gene encodes for a type II membrane glycoprotein expressed predominantly in the central nervous system. To date, a de novo DPP6 exonic duplication, of uncertain significance, was reported in one patient with TS. Moreover, the DPP6 gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and, notably, in haloperidol-induced dyskinesia. This first familial case provides evidence for association between DPP6 haploinsufficiency and TS, further suggesting a plausible molecular link between TS and ASD, and might shed some light on the efficacy and tolerability profiles of antidopaminergic agents used for tic management, thus prompting further studies on a larger cohort of patients.