Focal cortical dysplasia of Taylor's balloon cell type:: Mutational analysis of the TSC1 gene indicates a pathogenic relationship to tuberous sclerosis

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is characterized by a localized malformation of the neocortex and underlying white matter. Balloon cells, similar to those observed in tuberous sclerosis, are present in many cases (FCDbc). In these patients, a hyperintense funnel-shaped subcortical lesion tapering toward the lateral ventricle was the characteristic finding on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging scans. Surgical lesionectomy results in complete seizure relief. Although the pathogenesis of FCDbc remains uncertain, histopathological similarities indicate that FCDbc may be related pathogenetically to tuberous sclerosis. Here, we studied alterations of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in a cohort of patients with chronic, focal epilepsy and histologically documented FCDbc (n = 48). DNA was obtained after microdissection and laser-assisted isolation of balloon cells, dysplastic neurons, and nonlesional cells from adjacent normal brain tissue. Sequence alterations resulting in amino acid exchange of the TSC1 gene product affecting exons 5 and 17 and silent base exchanges in exons 14 and 22 were increased in patients with FCDbc compared with 200 control individuals (exon 5, 2.3% FCDbc vs 0% C; exon 17, 35% FCDbc vs 1.0% C; exon 14, 37.8% FCDbc vs 15% C; exon 22, 45% FCDbc vs 23.8% C). Sequence alterations could be detected in FCDbc and in adjacent normal cells. In 24 patients, DNA was suitable to study loss of heterozygosity at the TSC1 gene locus in microdissected FCDbc Samples compared with control tissue. Eleven FCDbc Cases exhibited loss of heterozygosity. In the TSC2 gene, only silent polymorphisms were detected at similar frequencies as in controls. Our findings indicate that FCDbc constitutes a clinicopathological entity with distinct neuroradiological, neuropathological, and molecular genetic features. These data also suggest a role of the TSC1 gene in the development of FCDbc and point toward a pathogenic relationship between FCDbc and the tuberous sclerosis complex.