Intellectual disability
Gene: SLC5A6

SLC5A6 (solute carrier family 5 member 6)
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh38): ENSG00000138074
EnsemblGeneIds (GRCh37): ENSG00000138074
OMIM: 604024, Gene2Phenotype
SLC5A6 is in 6 panels

4 reviews

Arina Puzriakova (Genomics England Curator)

Comment on list classification: Changed rating from Green to Amber so that Green genes on this panel reflect the NHS signed-off version. This will be reviewed at the next GMS panel update (added 'for-review' tag).
Created: 20 Oct 2020, 2:09 p.m. | Last Modified: 20 Oct 2020, 2:09 p.m.

Panel Version: 3.467

Created: 20 Oct 2020, 2:09 p.m.
Last Modified: 20 Oct 2020, 2:09 p.m.
Panel version: 3.467

Sarah Leigh (Genomics England Curator)

The rating of this gene has been updated following NHS Genomic Medicine Service approval.
Created: 9 Mar 2022, 3:40 p.m. | Last Modified: 9 Mar 2022, 3:40 p.m.

Panel Version: 3.1510

Comment on list classification: Not associated with phenotype in OMIM and as possible Gen2Phen gene for SLC5A6-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder. At least 5 variants published in three unrelated famililies (4 cases total) with SLC5A6-related Neurodevelopmental Disorder, together with supportive functional studies (PMID 29669219; 23104561). One of the cases had mixed semiology seizures including focal dyscognitive, absence, tonic spasms and generalised convulsive seizures with electrographic features of encephalopathy with generalised and independent multifocal spike-wave discharges (PMID 31754459), another case had brain, immune, bone and intestinal dysfunction (PMID 27904971) and the third had metabolic dysfunction mimicking biotinidase deficiency (PMID 31392107). This condition could be treated with biotin supplementation and introduction of pantothenic acid supplementation (PMID 31392107).
Created: 2 Jun 2020, 6:01 p.m. | Last Modified: 2 Jun 2020, 6:01 p.m.

Panel Version: 3.79

Created: 2 Jun 2020, 6:01 p.m.
Last Modified: 2 Jun 2020, 6:01 p.m.
Panel version: 3.1510

Zornitza Stark (Australian Genomics)

Green List (high evidence)

Three unrelated families reported, functional data and some evidence of response to treatment.
Created: 10 Mar 2020, 10:54 p.m. | Last Modified: 10 Mar 2020, 10:54 p.m.

Panel Version: 3.3

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
Developmental delay; epilepsy; neurodegeneration

Publications

Created: 10 Mar 2020, 10:54 p.m.
Last Modified: 10 Mar 2020, 10:54 p.m.
Panel version: 3.3

Konstantinos Varvagiannis (Other)

Green List (high evidence)

SLC5A6 encodes the sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT), a transporter of biotin, pantothenate and lipoate. The transporter has a major role in vitamin uptake in the digestive system (among others is the sole transporter for intestinal uptake of biotin which is not synthesized but must be obtained from exogenous sources) as well as transport across the blood-brain barrier (SMVT being responsible for 89% of biotin transport) [several refs provided by Subramanian et al and Byrne et al].

4 affected individuals from 3 families have been reported.

Subramanian et al (2017 - PMID: 27904971) et al reported on a girl with feeding difficulties and failure to thrive (requiring nasogastric tube placement), microcephaly, DD (at 15m developmental age corresponding to 6m with features suggestive of spastic cerebral palsy), occurrence of multiple infections, osteoporosis and pathologic bone fractures. MRIs suggested brain atrophy, thin CC and hypoplasia of the pons. Metabolic (AA, OA) investigations and array-CGH were normal. Whole exome sequencing revealed presence of a missense (Arg123Leu - RefSeq not provided) and a nonsense (Arg94Ter) SLC5A6 variant. Serum biotin was normal although - at the time - the child was on parenteral and G-T nutrition. Following administration of biotin, pantothenic acid and lipoic acid the child demonstrated among others improved motor and verbal skills, head growth and normalization of immunoglobulin levels. Transfection of mutants in human derived intestinal HuTu-80 cells and brain U87 cells was carried out and a 3H-biotin assay showed no induction in biotin uptake confirming impaired functionality of the transporter. While wt protein displayed normal expression/membrane localization, Arg94Ter was poorly expressed with ectopic localization (cytoplasm). Arg123Leu was retained predominantly intracellularly, probably in the ER as was further supported by colocalization with DsRed-ER. Evidence from the literature is provided that deficiencies of the specific vitamins explain the clinical features (DD, microcephaly, immunological defect, osteopenia, etc).

Schwantje et al (2019 - PMID: 31392107) described a girl with severe feeding problems, vomiting with blood (suspected Mallory-Weiss syndrome), poor weight gain and delayed gross motor development. The child presented an episode of gastroenteritis associated with reduced consciousness, circulatory insufficiency and metabolic derangement (hypoglycemia, severe metabolic acidosis, hyperammonemia, mild lactate elevation, ketonuria). Investigations some months prior to the admission (?) were suggestive of a metabolic disorder due to elevated plasma C3-carnitine, C5-OH-carnitine and elevated urinary excretion of 3-OH-isovaleric acid (biotinidase deficiency was considered in the DD but enzymatic activity was only marginally decreased). Biotin supplementation was initiated. Trio-exome sequencing (at 3yrs) demonstrated compound heterozygosity for 2 frameshift variants [NM_021095.2:c.422_423del / p.(Val141Alafs*34) and c.1865_1866del]. Following this result, increase of biotin supplementation and introduction of pantothenic acid, GI symptoms (incl. chronic diarrhea) resolved and the child displayed improved appetite and growth, yet a stable motor delay. The authors cite previous studies of conditional ko mice, displaying intestinal mucosal abnormalities and growth defects (similar to the child's problems), prevented by biotin and pantothenic acid supplementation.

Byrne et al (2019 - PMID: 31754459) reported on a sibling pair with severe motor/speech developmental regression following a plateau (at 12m and 14m), development of ataxia and dyskinetic movements (both), seizures (one). Feeding difficulties, reflux and failure to thrive required N-G/gastrostomy feeding while both presented GI hemorrhage (in the case of the older sib, lethal). Other features in the youngest sib included brain MRI abnormalities (cerebral/cerebellar atrophy, thin CC, etc) and IgG deficiency. Biochemical, single-gene testing and mtDNA sequencing were not diagnostic. Exome in one, revealed presence of a frameshift [c.422_423del as above] and a missense variant (Arg400Thr). Sanger sequencing confirmed variants in both sibs and heterozygosity in parents. HeLa cells transfected with empty vector, wt or mut expression constructs confirmed significantly decreased 3H-biotin uptake for mut constructs compared to wt (and similar to empty vector). Parenteral triple vitamin replacement at the age of ~7 years resulted in improved overall condition, regain of some milestones, attenuation of vomiting, and resolution of peripheral neuropathy. Seizure were well-controlled (as was the case before treatment) despite persistence of epileptiform discharges. Again the authors cite studies of conditional (intestine-specific) SLC5A6 ko mice, with those viable (~1/3) demonstrating growth retardation, decreased boned density and GI abnormalities (similar to affected individuals). The phenotype could be rescued by oversupplementation of biotin and pantothenic acid (PMIDs cited: 23104561, 29669219).

[Please consider inclusion in other relevant panels eg. metabolic disorders]
Sources: Literature
Created: 2 Dec 2019, 9:28 p.m. | Last Modified: 2 Dec 2019, 9:39 p.m.

Panel Version: 2.1135

Mode of inheritance
BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Phenotypes
Feeding difficulties; Failure to thrive; Global developmental delay; Developmental regression; Intellectual disability; Seizures; Microcephaly; Cerebral atrophy; Abnormality of the corpus callosum; Vomiting; Chronic diarrhea; Gastrointestinal hemorrhage; Abnormal immunoglobulin level; Osteopenia; Abnormality of metabolism/homeostasis

Publications

Created: 2 Dec 2019, 9:28 p.m.
Last Modified: 2 Dec 2019, 9:39 p.m.
Panel version: 2.1135

Details

Mode of Inheritance

BIALLELIC, autosomal or pseudoautosomal

Sources

Expert Review Green

Phenotypes

Neurodegeneration, infantile-onset, biotin-responsive, OMIM:618973

OMIM

604024

Clinvar variants

Variants in SLC5A6

Penetrance

Complete

Publications

Panels with this gene