Table 1.

Autosomal Recessive Leigh Syndrome Spectrum

GeneProportion of AR LSS Caused by Biallelic Variants in GeneDistinguishing Clinical & Laboratory FeaturesReference
Neurologic 1OtherLaboratory
Findings
Complex I-deficient Leigh syndrome spectrum 2
NDUFS1 <5%Cystic leukoencephalopathyHCMComplex I deficiency (mb) Bénit et al [2001]
NDUFS2 <5%HCM Loeffen et al [2001]
NDUFS3 <5% Bénit et al [2004]
NDUFS4 ~5%HCM Budde et al [2000]
NDUFS7 <5% Triepels et al [1999]
NDUFS8 <5%LeukodystrophyHCM Loeffen et al [1998]
NDUFV1 <5%Cystic leukoencephalopathy Bénit et al [2001]
NDUFV2 1 personSpasticityOptic atrophy; HCM Cameron et al [2015]
NDUFA2 1 familyHCM Hoefs et al [2008]
NDUFA9 1 family van den Bosch et al [2012]
NDUFA10 1 familyHCM Hoefs et al [2011]
NDUFA12 1 familySevere dystoniaHypertrichosis Ostergaard et al [2011]
NDUFAF2 <5%MRI: symmetric lesions in mamillothalamic tracts, substantia nigra / medial lemniscus, medial longitudinal fasciculus, & spinothalamic tracts Barghuti et al [2008]
NDUFAF4 1 personSeizuresComplex I deficiency (fbs) Baertling et al [2017]
NDUFAF5
(C20orf7)
<5%FILA (1 person); survival into 20s in 1 familyComplex I deficiency (mb)Sugiana et al [2008], Gerards et al [2010]
NDUFAF6
(C8orf38)
1 family Pagliarini et al [2008]
FOXRED1 <5%Seizures & myoclonusSlowly progressive; survival possible into 20sCalvo et al [2010], Fassone et al [2010]
NUBPL <1%Characteristic MRI changes: predominant abnormalities of cerebellar cortex, deep cerebral white matter, & corpus callosum Calvo et al [2010]
NDUFAF8
(C17ORF89)
3 personsInfantile spasms; hypsarrhythmia; periventricular cystic encephalomalaciaFloyd et al [2016], Alston et al [2020]
TIMMDC1 1 personCerebellar syndrome; basal ganglia abnormalities (CT); subsequent MRI unremarkable Kremer et al [2017]
Complex II-deficient Leigh syndrome spectrum 2
SDHA <5%Course may be indolent w/survival into adulthood; ±HCM.Complex II deficiency (mb); succinate peak (brain MRS)Bourgeron et al [1995], Pagnamenta et al [2006]
SDHAF1 <5%Leukoencephalopathy on MRI (1 person w/neuropathologic LS) Ohlenbusch et al [2012]
Complex III-deficient Leigh syndrome spectrum 2
UQCRQ 1 familySlowly progressive; survival into 30sComplex III deficiency (mb) Barel et al [2008]
TTC19 <5%Severe olivopontocerebellar atrophySlowly progressive; survival into 20s/30s Ghezzi et al [2011]
BCS1L <5%SNHLProximal renal tubulopathy, hepatic involvement, pili torti de Lonlay et al [2001]
Complex IV-deficient Leigh syndrome spectrum 2
NDUFA4 1 familyEpilepsy; sensory axonal peripheral neuropathySlowly progressive; survival into 20s/30sComplex IV deficiency (mb) Pitceathly et al [2013]
COX8A 1 personSeizures; hypotonia; spasticity Hallmann et al [2016]
SURF1 ~50% of complex IV-deficient LS (~10% of all LS)Developmental regression (71%); nystagmus + ophthalmoplegia (52%); movement disorder (52%)Hypertrichosis (48%); median survival 5.4 yrsComplex IV deficiency (more severe fbs than mb) Wedatilake et al [2013]
COX10 <5%SNHLHCM; anemia (due to defect of mt heme A biosynthesis)Complex IV deficiency (mb) Antonicka et al [2003]
COX15 <5%SeizuresHCM Oquendo et al [2004]
SCO2 <5%HCM Joost et al [2010]
LRPPRC 3<5%Metabolic & neurologic (stroke-like) crisesSurvival 5 days - 30 yrs; median age at death 1.6 yrsMootha et al [2003], Debray et al [2011]
TACO1 <5%Cognitive dysfunction; dystonia; visual impairment; periventricular white matter lesionsLate onset (4-16 yrs); slowly progressiveWeraarpachai et al [2009], Oktay et al [2020]
PET100 4<5%Prominent seizuresSurvival to 20s (50%) Lim et al [2014]
PET117 1 family Renkema et al [2017]
Complex V-deficient Leigh syndrome 2
ATP5MD 5<1%↓ ATP synthesis (fbs) Barca et al [2018]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/defects of mitochondrial DNA maintenance
POLG <1%Roving eye movements; prominent seizures; more often presents as Alpers or other epilepsy syndromes than LSSHepatocerebral diseaseMultiple RCE deficiencies; isolated complex IV deficiency (rare) Taanman et al [2009]
SUCLA2 6<5%Hypotonia; muscle atrophy; hyperkinesia; severe SNHLGrowth retardationMMA; multiple RCE deficienciesElpeleg et al [2005], Ostergaard et al [2007]
SUCLG1 <1%Severe myopathyRecurrent hepatic failure Van Hove et al [2010]
FBXL4 <5%SeizuresFacial dysmorphism, skeletal abnormalities, poor growth, GI dysmotility, renal tubular acidosisMultiple RCE deficiencies Shamseldin et al [2012]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/defects of mitochondrial gene expression
TRMU 1 personLS reported in 1 personUsually causes benign reversible liver failure w/o neurologic symptomsMultiple RCE deficiencies Taylor et al [2014]
GTPBP3 <1%HCM Kopajtich et al [2014]
MTFMT <5%Cystic leukoencephalopathy in some & typically shows a milder clinical courseMay be slowly progressive in some, w/survival into 20sTucker et al [2011], Hayhurst et al [2019]
EARS2 <5%Leukoencephalopathy w/thalamus & brain stem involvement & ↑ lactate (MRI); MRI changes may improve w/time.Improvement can occur; liver failure in some cases. Martinelli et al [2012]
FARS2 <1%Severe epilepsy; Alpers neuropathology in some casesIsolated complex IV defic in 1 person; enzymology not performed in any others Shamseldin et al [2012]
IARS2 1 personLS → death at 18 mos in 1 child; SNHL; peripheral sensory neuropathyCataracts, growth hormone defic, & skeletal dysplasia in 3 adultsEnzymology not performed Schwartzentruber et al [2014]
NARS2 7<1%SNHLMultiple RCE deficiencies Simon et al [2015]
PTCD3 1 person Borna et al [2019]
MRPS34 <1%Microcephaly Lake et al [2017]
GFM1 <1%Axial hypotonia; spasticity; refractory seizuresProgressive hepato-encephalopathy in some cases Valente et al [2007]
GFM2 <1% Fukumura et al [2015]
TSFM <1%Juvenile onset; ataxia; neuropathy; optic atrophyGrowth retardation; HCM Ahola et al [2014]
MTRFR (C12orf65)<1%Ophthalmoplegia; optic atrophy; axonal neuropathyRelatively slow disease progressionMultiple RCE deficiencies (fbs) Antonicka et al [2010]
PNPT1 <1%Choreoathetosis & dyskinesia; also isolated SNHLSevere hypotoniaComplex III+IV defic in liver in 1 person (nml activ in mb & fbs) Vedrenne et al [2012]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/defects of mitochondrial cofactor biosynthesis
PDSS2 8<1%Refractory seizuresNephrotic syndromeComplexes I+III, II+III, & coenzyme Q10 defic (mb) López et al [2006]
COQ9 8<1%Refractory seizuresAntenatal onset; IUGR; HCM Smith et al [2018]
LIAS <1%Seizures w/burst suppression (EEG)Mild HCMCombined defic of PDH + glycine cleavage enzyme, ↑ urine & plasma glycine, deficient lipoylated proteins (western blot) Baker et al [2014]
LIPT1 1 person1 person w/LS; 2 w/FILALiver dysfunction↑ glutamine & proline, ↓ levels of lysine & BCAAs & normal glycine (unlike other lipoic acid synthesis defects); severe ↓ of PDH & α-KGDH activ & strongly ↓ BCKDH activ (fbs); nml RCE activSoreze et al [2013], Tort et al [2014]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/defects of mitochondrial membrane lipids, dynamics, & quality control
SERAC1 <5%SNHLMEG(H)DEL syndrome; may have liver involvement in infancy that later normalizes3-methylglutaconic aciduria, variable RCE deficienciesWortmann et al [2012], Maas et al [2017]
MFF <1%Seizures; optic atrophy; peripheral neuropathyMultiple RCE deficiencies; elongated mitochondria & peroxisomes (EM) Koch et al [2016]
SLC25A46 2 personsSeizures; spastic diplegia; optic atrophy↑ mt connectivityAbrams et al [2015], Janer et al [2016]
CLPB <1%Cataract, neutropenia, HCM3-methylglutaconic aciduria, multiple RCE deficiencies Saunders et al [2015]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/ primary pyruvate dehydrogenase complex deficiency
PDHB 8<1%CC agenesis/hypoplasiaPDH deficiency (fbs) Quintana et al [2009]
DLAT 8<1%Episodic dystonia Head et al [2005]
DLD 8<1%Episodic encephalopathyHypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, liver failure↑ plasma BCAAs, PDH deficiency (fbs)Grafakou et al [2003], Quinonez et al [2013]
PDHX 8<1%Thin CC/CC agenesis; status epilepticus late in disease (teens/20s)PDH deficiency (fbs) Schiff et al [2006]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/defects of B vitamin transport & metabolism
SLC25A19 9<1%Bilateral striatal necrosis; episodic encephalopathy; chronic progressive polyneuropathy → distal weakness & contracturesEnzymology not performed Spiegel et al [2009]
TPK1 <1%Episodic encephalopathy; ataxia; dystonia; spasticity2-ketoglutaric aciduria Mayr et al [2011]
BTD 8<1%Deafness; optic atrophy; seizures; ataxia 8Alopecia, eczemaCharacteristic organic aciduria Mitchell et al [1986]
SLC19A3 8<5%See footnote 8.RCE activity nmlFassone et al [2013], Gerards et al [2013]
Leigh syndrome assoc w/mitochondrial toxicity
HIBCH <5%Developmental regression; seizures; ataxia↑ plasma 4-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine levels; variable deficiency of RCEs & PDH Ferdinandusse et al [2013]
ECHS1 <5%Psychomotor delay; SNHL; nystagmus; hypotonia; spasticity; athetoid movementsHCM↑ urinary excretion of S-(2-carboxypropyl) cysteine; normal RCE activ in 1 person, multiple RCE deficiency in 1 otherPeters et al [2014], Sakai et al [2015]
ETHE1 <1%Neurodevelopmental delay & regression; pyramidal & extrapyramidal signsAcrocyanosis, petechiae, & diarrhea in infancyEthylmalonic aciduria Mineri et al [2008]
SQOR 2 familiesEpisodic encephalopathy following infectionsLiver failure in 1 personComplex IV deficiency in 1 person (mb & liver); RCE activ in fb nml in 1 person Friederich et al [2020]
SLC39A8 1 familyDystonia; seizures; hypotonia; cerebellar atrophyStrabismus; short stature; recurrent infections↓ blood & urine manganese, type II glycosylation defect Riley et al [2017]

α-KGDH = alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase; AR = autosomal recessive; BCAA = branched-chain amino acid; BCKDH = branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase; CC = corpus callosum; EEG = electroencephalogram; EM = electron microscopy; fbs = cultured skin fibroblasts; FILA = fatal infantile lactic acidosis; GI = gastrointestinal; HCM = hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; IUGR = intrauterine growth restriction; LS = Leigh syndrome; LSS = Leigh syndrome spectrum; mb = muscle biopsy; MEGD(H)EL syndrome = 3-methylglutaconic aciduria with deafness-dystonia, encephalopathy, (hepatopathy) and Leigh-like syndrome; MMA = methylmalonic aciduria; MRS = magnetic resonance spectroscopy; mt = mitochondrial; PDH = pyruvate dehydrogenase; RCE = respiratory chain enzyme; SNHL = sensorineural hearing loss

1.

Neurologic findings other than those of classic Leigh syndrome

2.

Genes encoding subunits are listed first, followed by genes encoding assembly factors.

3.

Founder pathogenic allelic variant in French-Canadian population from Saguenay-Lac St Jean

4.

Founder pathogenic variant in Lebanese population

5.
6.

Founder variant in Faroe Islands

7.

Isolated SNHL without Leigh syndrome in some individuals; Alpers syndrome in others

8.

Potentially treatable; see Management.

9.

Allelic with Amish lethal microcephaly, mitochondrial thiamine pyrophosphate carrier deficiency

From: Nuclear Gene-Encoded Leigh Syndrome Spectrum Overview

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