Structural brain anomalies in patients with FOXG 1 syndrome and in Foxg1+/− mice

Abstract

Objective

FOXG1 syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with heterozygous FOXG1 variants or chromosomal microaberrations in 14q12. The study aimed at assessing the scope of structural cerebral anomalies revealed by neuroimaging to delineate the genotype and neuroimaging phenotype associations.

Methods

We compiled 34 patients with a heterozygous (likely) pathogenic FOXG1 variant. Qualitative assessment of cerebral anomalies was performed by standardized re‐analysis of all 34 MRI data sets. Statistical analysis of genetic, clinical and neuroimaging data were performed. We quantified clinical and neuroimaging phenotypes using severity scores. Telencephalic phenotypes of adult Foxg1+/− mice were examined using immunohistological stainings followed by quantitative evaluation of structural anomalies.

Results

Characteristic neuroimaging features included corpus callosum anomalies (82%), thickening of the fornix (74%), simplified gyral pattern (56%), enlargement of inner CSF spaces (44%), hypoplasia of basal ganglia (38%), and hypoplasia of frontal lobes (29%). We observed a marked, filiform thinning of the rostrum as recurrent highly typical pattern of corpus callosum anomaly in combination with distinct thickening of the fornix as a characteristic feature. Thickening of the fornices was not reported previously in FOXG1 syndrome. Simplified gyral pattern occurred significantly more frequently in patients with early truncating variants. Higher clinical severity scores were significantly associated with higher neuroimaging severity scores. Modeling of Foxg1 heterozygosity in mouse brain recapitulated the associated abnormal cerebral morphology phenotypes, including the striking enlargement of the fornix.

Interpretation

Combination of specific corpus callosum anomalies with simplified gyral pattern and hyperplasia of the fornices is highly characteristic for FOXG1 syndrome.

Introduction

FOXG1 syndrome (OMIM #613454), initially designated “congenital variant of Rett syndrome”, is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with heterozygous variants in the forkhead box G1 (FOXG1) gene or chromosomal microaberrations in 14q12 involving FOXG1. The genetic and phenotypic spectrum is expanding. In contrast to classical Rett syndrome with consistently normal neuroimaging, cerebral malformations were shown to be part of the phenotype of FOXG1 syndrome. Previous case reports and small case series described gyral simplification/simplified gyral pattern, enlarged lateral ventricles, diminished white matter volume in the frontal lobes, corpus callosum anomalies, and mild frontal pachygyria.

This study aimed at a more detailed assessment of the structural brain anomalies in FOXG1 syndrome as revealed by cerebral MRI, based on a standardized analysis of a large series (n = 34) of MRI data sets by a single team of investigators. Furthermore, we searched for associations between genotype and neuroimaging phenotype as well as associations between clinical and neuroimaging phenotype.

A mouse model was used to reproduce the effect of heterozygous loss of Foxg1 function on the development of telencephalic structures using immunohistological stainings followed by quantitative evaluation of various attendant structural anomalies.

Patients and methods

Using an email based acquisition of rare neurological disorders in childhood (“Erhebung Seltener Neurologischer Erkrankungen im Kindesalter, ESNEK”) and in an ongoing collaboration with pediatric neurologists, neuroradiologists and human geneticists from Germany, Switzerland, and the United States we compiled data from 10 new and 24 previously reported patients with a heterozygous FOXG1 variant. We recruited patients between February 2015 and September 2017.

Inclusion criteria for this study comprised (1) pathogenic or likely pathogenic intragenic FOXG1 variant according to the recommendations for interpretation of sequence variants published by the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), (2) availability of cranial MRI data sets, and (3) written informed consent from the parents or legal guardians.

We excluded patients with chromosomal microaberrations in 14q12 involving additional genes adjacent to the FOXG1 gene. Thus we obviated impact of mutations in other genes on clinical and neuroimaging features and avoided blurring the borders of the FOXG1‐associated phenotype.

Clinical data were generated by review of the clinical histories and follow‐up investigations. Missing data were collected through telephone interview with the parents using a standardized questionnaire.

This study was approved by the ethics committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Göttingen. Written informed consent was obtained from all families.

Clinical phenotype

We roughly quantified the clinical phenotypes associated with pathogenic FOXG1 variants in all 34 patients using a previously reported FOXG1 severity score. This score was obtained by averaging 17 phenotypic items in four categories: somatic growth (4 items), motor and speech development (4 items, if applicable according to patient′s age), behavior (3 items), and neurological features (6 items) (Table ).

FOXG1 clinical severity score (adapted and modified from Mitter et al.)

	Score
Clinical feature	Point score 0	Point score 1	Point score 2
Somatic growth
Body length at last follow‐up	Normal		<−2 SD
BMI at last follow‐up	Normal		<−2 SD
Head circumference at birth	Normal		<−2 SD
Head circumference at last follow‐up	Normal		<−2 SD
Motor development
Sitting (for patients aged >12 months)	Unsupported	Supported	No
Walking (for patients aged >24 months)	Unsupported	Supported	No
Functional hand use (for patients aged >12 months)	Yes		No
Speech development
Expressive speech (for patients aged >24 months)	Yes		No
Behavior
Social interaction	Yes		No
Eye contact	Yes	Poor	No
Abnormal sleep patterns	No		Yes
Neurological features
Epilepsy	No		Yes
Spasticity	No		Yes
Stereotypic movements	No		Yes
Dyskinesia	No		Yes
Feeding difficulties	No		yes
Kyphoscoliosis/Scoliosis	No		Yes
Sum score min 0, max 34

Phenotypic items were rated on a 0 to 2‐point scale, with higher scores indicating a more severe clinical phenotype. We used the mean of these single item ratings rather than the sum score, as several items related with motor and speech development did not apply to patients younger than two years.

Neuroimaging phenotype

All 34 MRI data sets were analyzed by two pediatric neurologists with experience in neuroimaging of neurodevelopmental disorders (MP, MS). They scrutinized all available imaging sequences in axial, coronal, and sagittal orientation with focus on cortical malformations and gyral pattern, morphology of corpus callosum and basal ganglia, as well as cortical and subcortical volume (Fig. ).

Spectrum of structural brain anomalies in FOXG1 syndrome revealed by neuroimaging. Gyral pattern: (A–E) T2‐weighted axial MR images of the fronto‐parietal area in five patients with FOXG1 point mutations show (A, patient #17) normal gyral pattern; (B, #28) mild and (C, #32) moderate simplified gyral pattern; as well as (D, #29; E, #24) simplified gyral pattern with dilated subarachnoid CSF spaces. Basal ganglia and fornices: (F–K) T2‐weighted axial MR images at the level of the basal ganglia show (F, #17) normal basal ganglia, (G, #6) small basal ganglia relative to thalamus, (H, #24; I, #34) dilated ventricles, and (I, #34; K, #8) thickened fornices (arrows). Corpus callosum: (L, W) T1‐weighted and (M through V) T2‐weighted midsagittal MR images show the spectrum of anomalies of the corpus callosum (CC), ranging from (L, #22) normal CC over various degrees (M, #2; N, #33; O, #17; P, #15; Q, #6) of relative thinning of the anterior portions, (R, #18; S, #16) absent rostrum, (T, #8; U, #9; V, #34) partial agenesis of anterior parts to (W, #1) almost complete agenesis. Note the characteristic elongation of the lamina terminalis stretching from the anterior end of the malformed CC to the bottom of the third ventricle (white arrows in T). An anterior commissure is visible only in the milder variants (L–P; black arrows in O, P).

Based on previous descriptions in the literature and the evolving evaluation of our MRI data sets we developed a new FOXG1 neuroimaging severity score (Table ). This score covered the following items: simplified gyral pattern, hypoplasia of basal ganglia, enlargement of inner CSF spaces, corpus callosum anomalies, fornix anomalies, and hypoplasia of frontal lobes. These items were rated each with 0 to 1 or 0 to 3 points, depending on the respective item. Thus, completely normal MRI findings resulted in a score of 0 points, while a maximum score of 8 points indicated the most severe neuroimaging anomalies.

FOXG1 neuroimaging severity score

	Score
MRI feature	Point score 0	Point score 1	Point score 2	Point score 3
Simplified gyral pattern	Absent	Present
Basal ganglia	Normal	Hypoplasia
Inner CSF spaces	Normal	Enlarged
Corpus callosum	Normal	Thinning	Partial agenesis	Complete agenesis
Fornix	Normal	Thickening
Frontal lobes	Normal	Hypoplasia
Sum score min = 0, max = 8

Delay of myelination, although observed in numerous patients, was not included in this score, as it shows a strong age dependency. Most patients with delayed myelination eventually reach a mature appearance, albeit later than healthy controls. Therefore, when MRI is performed later in life, this item would erroneously be scored as “normal”.

Genotype

Molecular genetic data were compiled from former clinical testing. As conducted previously by Mitter et al., we divided the patients into five genetic subgroups according to the type and location of their variant within the following five specific FOXG1 domains: (1) N‐terminal domain frameshift and nonsense variants (n = 16), (2) forkhead domain conserved site 1 missense variants (n = 8), (3) forkhead domain except conserved site 1 frameshift and nonsense variants (n = 3), (4) forkhead domain except conserved site 1 missense variants (n = 3), and (5) C‐terminal domain frameshift and nonsense variants (n = 4). This classification formed the basis for statistical analysis of genotype‐phenotype associations.

Mouse model

Foxg1+/− mice were maintained in a C56BL/6 background. All mouse experiments were approved by the animal welfare committees of the University Medical Center Göttingen and local authority (LAVES: Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit) under the license numbers: 14/1636 and 16/2330.

Anesthesia and perfusion fixation

For immunohistochemical analysis of the adult mouse brain, good tissue preservation is necessary. The commonly used postmortem immersion fixation is in many cases not sufficient. For this purpose, tissue morphology can be achieved by in vivo perfusion fixation with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA). The animals were under constant anesthesia with ∼3% isoflurane. The anesthesia is designed so that the animals do not wake up afterwards. The fixans is administered intracardially in anesthetized mice and transported directly via the vascular system.

Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed as previously described. Briefly, brains from adult mice were perfused with 4% PFA and incubated overnight in 30% sucrose. Matched sections with 20 μm thickness from both wild type and mutant brain were incubated overnight with primary antibodies: MBP (Cat. MAB386, Chemicon, dilution 1:100), DARPP32 (Cat. AB1656, Chemicon, dilution 1:100) at 4°C after blocking with normal goat serum. Primary antibodies were detected with a fluorescent secondary antibody (Alexa Fluor, 1:400; Invitrogen). Sections were later counterstained with Vectashield mounting medium containing DAPI (Vector laboratories) to label nuclei. Images were acquired with standard Axio Imager M2 (Zeiss) fluorescence microscopes. Images were further analyzed with Adobe Photoshop and NeuroLucida/StereoInvestigator.

Relative quantification of mouse brain structures and statistical analysis

Parameters of mouse brain size were measured and analyzed as described previously. Briefly, 20 μm thick coronal sections collected from the rostral to caudal parts (corresponding to the levels 1 to 4) of the fornix in adult mutant and control brains (n = 4) were selected for the cerebral phenotype analysis (Figs.  and ). The immunostained sections spanning the entire fornix structure in WT and Foxg1+/− forebrain and their images were used for quantitative analyses (Figs.  and ). Cortical thickness (Cx) as well as the area of striatum (Str, MBP+, DARPP32+), basal ganglia (BG, MBP+), fornix (F, MBP+), and corpus callosum (CC, MBP+) were measured and compared in brain section images of mutants and controls using the NIH ImageJ software.

Heterozygous deletion of Foxg1 causes abnormal brain morphology in mice. (A) Immunostaining of MBP and DAPI in coronal sections at different levels (rostral‐caudal) of wild type (WT) and mutant (Foxg1+/−) adult (2.5 months) mouse brain to visualize cross‐section of the entire forebrain and white matter commissural structures like the corpus callosum and fornix (F). (B, C) Bar charts depicting summary of the quantitative analysis of the area of the entire adult mouse telencephalon and fornix, respectively. The cerebral area is significantly reduced (B) while the fornix is conspicuously expanded (C) in mutant brains as compared with controls. The fornix is consistently expanded across its entire structure from rostral to caudal (level 1‐4) (C). Values are presented as means ± SEMs (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.005). Experimental replicates (n) = 4; Scale bar: 100 μm.

Further discrete cerebral anomalies in Foxg1+/− mouse brain sections. (A) Immunostaining of MBP, DARPP32 and DAPI in coronal sections of wild type (WT) and mutant (Foxg1+/−) adult (2.5 months) mouse brain to visualize gray matter areas such as the Cortex (Cx) and basal ganglia (BG) or Striatum (Str), and white matter commissural systems like the corpus callosum (CC) and fornix (F). (B–E) Bar charts showing summary of the quantitative analysis of forebrain structure alterations in mutants (Foxg1+/−) at various section levels (1‐4) as compared with controls. The thickness of the corpus callosum (B) and distinct cortical domains like the medial cortex (mCx) dorsal cortex (dCx), and lateral cortex (lCx) (C) are significantly reduced in mutants. The areas of the BG (D) and Str (E) are significantly reduced in mutant telencephalon as compared with that of controls. Values are presented as means ± SEMs (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.005). Experimental replicates (n) = 4; Scale bar: 100 μm.

Statistical methods

Patient data were summarized by mean ± standard deviation as well as median (minimum, maximum) for continuous variables, and by absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables. Binary variables were compared between mutation groups using logistic regression, whereas ordinal regression was used for corpus callosum anomaly comparison. The clinical score was tested for differences between the mutation groups using the nonparametric Kruskal‐Wallis‐Test in case of several mutation groups and using the Mann‐Whitney‐U test in case of two mutation groups. The MRI severity score was tested for differences between the mutation groups using one‐way ANOVA in case of several mutation groups and using the Student′s t‐test in case of two mutation groups.

The test for correlation was calculated based on the nonparametric Kendall's τ.

Statistical analysis of the histological data was done using Student's t‐test and related bar graphs are plotted as mean ± SEM. Details of statistical analysis for the histological data are presented in Supplementary Table .

The significance level was set to α = 5%. All analyses were performed within the statistical programming environment R (version 3.4.4, www.r-project.org), using the package ordinal to perform the ordinal regression.

Results

We compiled clinical and genetic data as well as MRI data sets from 34 patients with intragenic heterozygous FOXG1 variants. This cohort comprised 16 male and 18 female individuals, with ages at last clinical follow‐up ranging from 10 months to 17 years (mean 4 years 11 months) and ages at MRI ranging from 2 months to 16 years (mean 2 years 3 months). Clinical, genetic, and neuroimaging features are summarized in Table  and displayed in more detail in Supplementary Table  (accessible for direct download).

Genetic features, clinical severity scores and MRI severity scores in 34 patients with FOXG1 syndrome

Pt. no.	No. in Mitter et al.	Sex	FOXG1 variant cDNA level	Protein level	Coding effect	FOXG1 domain	Mutat. group	Agea	FOXG1 CSS	Age MRI	MRI SS*
1	1	M	c.256delC	p.Q86Rfs*106	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	40	0.94	12	8
2	2	M	c.214C>T	p.Q72*	Nonsense	N‐terminal	1	51	1.25	48	5
3	3	M	c.406G>T	p.E136*	Nonsense	N‐terminal	1	33	1.44	7	5
4	4	F	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	100	1.12	7	6
5	5	F	c.385delG	p.E129Sfs*63	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	23	1.24	36	1
6	6	F	c.460delG	p.E154Rfs*38	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	39	1.50	6	4
7	7	M	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	72	1.38	12	4
8	8	F	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	45	1.44	5	5
9	9	M	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	61	1.29	12	7
10	10	F	c.517G>T	p.E173*	Nonsense	N‐terminal	1	30	1.14	24	4
11	11	M	c.543G>C	p.K181N	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	82	0.24	60	5
12	13	F	c.545C>A	p.P182Q	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	85	0.71	24	0
13	14	M	c.553A>T	p.S185C	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	93	1.06	12	2
14	16	F	c.561C>A	p.N187K	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	62	1.60	12	4
15	18	F	c.565C>T	p.L189F	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	33	1.00	11	5
16	19	F	c.581T>G	p.l194S	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	72	1.25	10	5
17	20	F	c.592_594delCCC	p.P198del	In frame del	Forkhead	3	25	0.71	10	0
18	21	M	c.609_616delGCTCAACG	p.L204Hfs*248	Frameshift	Forkhead	3	46	1.24	4	6
19	22	M	c.624C>G	p.Y208*	Nonsense	Forkhead	3	38	1.35	12	6
20	25	M	c.974dupT	p.L325Ffs*130	Frameshift	C‐terminal	5	89	0.81	12	2
21	26	F	c.1082dupG	p.L362Pfs*93	Frameshift	C‐terminal	5	31	1.29	12	4
22	27	F	c.1141delG	p.A381Pfs*4	Frameshift	C‐terminal	5	204	0.47	192	0
23	28	F	c.755G>A	p.G252D	Missense	Forkhead	4	192	1.47	192	1
24	29	F	c.921C>G	p.Y307*	Nonsense	C‐terminal	5	33	1.29	6	6
25	‐	M	c.561C>G	p.N187K	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	68	1.18	2	3
26	‐	F	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	63	1.62	65	6
27	‐	M	c.674G>C	p.W225S	Missense	Forkhead	4	19	0.93	4	4
28	‐	F	c.256delC	p.Q86Rfs*106	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	132	1.19	60	5
29	‐	F	c.256delC	p.Q86Rfs*106	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	10	0.92	4	5
30	‐	F	c.479delG	p.G160Afs*32	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	32	1.06	6	3
31	‐	M	c.688C>T	p.Arg230Cys	Missense	Forkhead	4	24	0.62	3	4
32	‐	F	c.460dupG	p.E154Gfs*301	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	33	1.12	6	5
33	‐	M	c.136dupC	p.Q46Pfs*75	Frameshift	N‐terminal	1	34	1.06	6	5
34	‐	M	c.566T>C	p.L189P	Missense	Forkhead cs	2	17	1.33	12	5

f  =  female; m  =  male; forkhead cs = forkhead conserved site; CSS = clinical severity score (mean), min = 0, max = 2; Age^a = Age at last follow up (months); Age MRI = Age at MRI (months); MRI SS* = MRI severity score, min = 0, max = 8.

Genotype analysis

Genetic and clinical features of patients 1–24 were previously described. Among the 10 new patients, the heterozygous FOXG1 variant occurred de novo in eight patients. In two patients with FOXG1 variants reported previously, parents were not available for testing. There were five novel variants. Detailed genetic features are given in Table  and Supplementary Table  (accessible for direct download).

Neuroimaging features

Table  and Figure  display the results of standardized qualitative analysis of the 34 MRI data sets. Characteristic neuroimaging features ‐ ranked by descending frequency ‐ included corpus callosum anomalies (82%), thickening of the fornix (74%), simplified gyral pattern (56%), enlargement of inner CSF spaces (44%), hypoplasia of basal ganglia (compared with the thalami) (38%), and hypoplasia of frontal lobes (29%). Anomalies of the corpus callosum comprised complete agenesis in one patient, partial agenesis in 22 individuals, and thinning in five patients.

Neuroimaging features assorted by the five mutation groups

Feature	Mutation group 1	Mutation group 2	Mutation group 3	Mutation group 4	Mutation group 5
n	16	8	3	3	4
FOXG1 clinical severity score
Mean ± SD	1.2 ± 0.2	1 ± 0.42	1.1 ± 0.34	1 ± 0.43	0.97 ± 0.4
Median (min; max)	1.2 (0.92; 1.6)	1.1 (0.24; 1.6)	1.2 (0.71; 1.4)	0.93 (0.62; 1.5)	1 (0.47; 1.3)
Simplified gyral pattern, n (%)	13 (81.2)	2 (25.0)	1 (33.3)	2 (66.7)	1 (25.0)
Hypoplasia of frontal lobes, n (%)	2 (12.5)	4 (50.0)	2 (66.7)	1 (33.3)	1 (25.0)
Hypoplasia of basal ganglia, n (%)	8 (50.0)	3 (37.5)	2 (66.7)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Enlargement of inner CSF spaces, n (%)	9 (56.2)	3 (37.5)	1 (33.3)	0 (0.0)	2 (50.0)
Corpus callosum anomalies
Thinning, n (%)	3 (18.8)	1 (12.5)	1 (33.3)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Partial agenesis, n (%)	11 (68.8)	5 (62.5)	1 (33.3)	2 (66.7)	3 (75.0)
Complete agenesis, n (%)	1 (6.2)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Thickening of fornices, n (%)	14 (87.5)	5 (62.5)	2 (66.7)	2 (66.7)	2 (50.0)
MRI severity score
Mean ± SD	4.6 ± 1.4	3.5 ± 1.8	3.7 ± 3.2	3 ± 1.7	3 ± 2.6
Median (min; max)	5 (1; 7)	4 (0; 5)	5 (0; 6)	4 (1; 4)	3 (0; 6)

We observed a marked, filiform thinning of the rostrum as recurrent highly typical pattern of corpus callosum anomaly (Fig. L–W), in line with the findings of Kortüm et al. In addition, we detected distinct thickening of the fornix (Fig. I and K) as a characteristic feature in our cohort – a finding which was not reported previously in FOXG1 syndrome and which is uncommon in neurodevelopmental conditions.

MRI was normal in three patients, aged two (#17), seven (#12), and 16 years (#22) at MRI. These patients carry a missense variant in the forkhead domain conserved site 1 (mutation group 2, #17), an in frame deletion in the forkhead domain except conserved site 1 (mutation group 3, #12), and a frameshift variant in the C‐terminal domain (mutation group 5, #22).

Associations between genotype, clinical phenotype and neuroimaging features

Statistical analysis (Table ) revealed two significant associations:

1. simplified gyral pattern occurred significantly more frequently in patients with pathogenic frameshift and nonsense variants in the N‐terminal domain (mutation group 1) compared to patients with other variants (mutation groups 2 to 5) (p = 0.008), and
2. more severe clinical phenotypes as assessed by the FOXG1 clinical severity score were significantly associated with more severe neuroimaging anomalies ascertained by the MRI severity score (Kendall's rank correlation tau: τ = 0.27; P = 0.03) (Fig. ).

Correlation between clinical severity score and neuroimaging severity score. At the p < 0.05 level there was a significant association found between clinical severity score and neuroimaging severity score (Kendall's rank correlation tau: τ  =  0.27; P = 0.03).

Beyond that, no statistically significant associations between genotype and neuroimaging phenotype were found, possibly partially due to small case numbers in the five different mutation groups. However, we found trends for more frequent occurrence of certain neuroimaging features in specific mutation groups. In comparison with mutation group 1, there were tendencies to more frequent occurrence of hypoplasia of the frontal lobes in all other mutation groups 2 to 5 taken together (p = 0.054), and especially in patients with forkhead domain conserved site 1 missense variants and forkhead domain except conserved site 1 frameshift and nonsense variants [mutation groups 2 (P = 0.060) and 3 (P = 0.067)]. On the other hand, we found a tendency for more frequent occurrence of thickening of the fornix in patients from mutation group 1 compared with all other mutation groups taken together (P = 0.096). Hypoplasia of basal ganglia, enlargement of inner CSF spaces and corpus callosum anomalies were evenly distributed over all five mutation groups.

Phenotype of Foxg1+/− mouse brain

To provide evidence that the structural brain anomalies observed in our patients are specifically linked to their FOXG1 variant, we examined telencephalic phenotypes of adult Foxg1+/− mice. As patients with FOXG1 syndrome display increased propensity toward enlarged fornix, we focused on the fornix system in our phenotype analysis of Foxg1+/− mouse brain (Figs.  and ). Coronal sections from rostral to caudal aspects of the fornix of WT and Foxg1+/− forebrain were immunostained with antibodies against MBP and DARPP32 to visualize forebrain structures like the cortex (Cx), striatum (Str), basal ganglia (BG), fornix system (F), and corpus callosum (CC). Overall, heterozygous loss of Foxg1 function resulted in discernable reduction in forebrain size or volume (Figs.  and ).

Specifically, quantitative analysis revealed significant reduction in the area and/or thickness of the cortex (medial, dorsal, lateral), basal ganglia (striatum) and corpus callosum (Fig. ). Interestingly, the Foxg1+/− mutant mouse brain also displayed obvious expansion of the fornix system as compared to that in wild type brain. As shown in Fig. , the observed abnormal enlargement of the fornix is consistent from the rostral to caudal aspects of the fornix system in mutant brains. Similarly, all other reported cerebral structure alterations were consistent at various coronal section levels of the Foxg1+/− mouse brain. Thus, heterozygous loss of Foxg1 function in mouse brain mimicked most of the cerebral morphologic anomalies observed in the brain MRI data set of our FOXG1 syndrome patients.

Discussion

Standardized evaluation of neuroimaging of 34 patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic intragenic FOXG1 variants revealed a characteristic pattern of structural brain anomalies predominantly affecting the forebrain. In descending order, we found corpus callosum anomalies, thickening of the fornix, simplified gyral pattern, enlargement of inner CSF spaces, hypoplasia of basal ganglia, and hypoplasia of frontal lobes. While corpus callosum anomalies, simplified gyral pattern, enlarged ventricles, and hypoplasia of frontal lobes were described previously in patients with FOXG1 syndrome, thickening of the fornix (in 25 out of 34 patients) and, less specifically, hypoplasia of basal ganglia (in 13 out of 34 patients) have not been reported before. Fornix thickening is thus a major highlight in this current investigation.

By employing mouse mutagenesis strategy, we used heterozygous mutation of the Foxg1 in mouse brain which reproduced the cardinal structural anomalies observed in the forebrain of our FOXG1 syndrome patients. Notably, Foxg1 has been reported to be distinctively expressed in cerebral structures, including the telencephalon. Since its first identification as a homologue of the HNF‐3/forkhead gene family, Foxg1 has been recognized as a key transcription factor which plays a central, nonredundant role in mammalian forebrain development. Together with other transcription factors, it induces emergence and expansion of the telencephalon and controls multiple steps of brain circuit formation comprising cell cycle control and neuronal differentiation which afford proper brain development.

For these reasons, it is conceivable that any form of Foxg1 mutagenesis may result in disturbance of multiple brain structures and functions as reported in this study. The observed reduction in the size of cortical and subcortical structures in our mouse mutants is indicative of microcephaly which is a key feature in FOXG1 syndrome. Importantly, the reproducibility of fornix expansion anomaly in our Foxg1+/− mutant mice highlights this newly reported phenotype as a potential candidate characteristic for defining the FOXG1 syndrome.

Notably, our statistical analysis revealed a significant association between pathogenic frameshift and nonsense variants in the N‐terminal domain (mutation group 1) and simplified gyral pattern on MRI. Furthermore, we found a significant association between the overall clinical severity and general degree of structural brain anomalies, with more severe clinical phenotypes being linked to more pronounced MRI features. At first glance, the latter finding may seem a matter of course. However, regarding corpus callosum anomalies as the most frequent feature found in our cohort, it is well known that even complete agenesis of the corpus callosum occurs in a wide range of clinical conditions, from incidental finding in an individual with mild behavioral problems to sole or additional anomaly in patients with complex and severe neurological impairment. Thus, the corpus callosum anomaly taken as an isolated feature does not exclusively account for the serious clinical phenotype in patients with FOXG1 syndrome.

We showed previously, in a larger cohort of patients with FOXG1 syndrome, that pathogenic frameshift and nonsense variants in the N‐terminal domain (mutation group 1) are significantly associated with a more severe overall clinical phenotype. We presume that the higher prevalence of simplified gyral pattern in patients from mutation group 1 will likely explain the significant association between degree of MRI features and clinical severity.

Fornix

The fornix is a white matter tract bundle constituted mostly by efferent and afferent fibers between the hippocampi and structures in the diencephalon and basal forebrain, especially the basal ganglia. In humans, the fornix consists of about 1.2 million fibers and is the most distinct hippocampal efferent system. Twelve out of the 13 patients with hypoplasia of the basal ganglia presented with thickened or expanded fornices. Functionally, abnormal fornices are known to be associated with episodic memory deficits and several neurocognitive pertubations.

While involvement of the fornix was observed in a wide range of acquired conditions including neoplasia, infection, multiple sclerosis, mesial temporal sclerosis, Wernicke encephalopathy, trauma, and infarction, reports of fornix anomalies in neurodevelopmental disorders are rare. For instance, congenital aplasia of the fornix was observed in holoprosencephaly. Also, cross‐sectional areas of the fornices and mammillary body volumes were found to be reduced in children with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome.

Of note, hyperplastic fornix dorsalis as part of hyperplasia of midline structures was disclosed by autopsy of a physically and intellectually normally developed boy who had a resection of a lumbar myelomeningocele shortly after birth and a shunt for.

Quite recently, a 9‐year‐old girl presented with moderate intellectual disability, thickening of CC, and hyperplastic fornix dorsalis detected by conventional MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging suggested alterations in fornix microstructure, attributable to higher fiber density.

Asymmetrically or symmetrically thickened fornices were also observed in patients with hemimegalencephaly.

Aside from these aforementioned reports, we have not come across any other brain conditions involving predisposition to thickening or hyperplasia of the fornix structure as observed in our FOXG1 syndrome patients and corroborated by the mouse model study.

Since standard neuroimaging does not allow for assessment of the fiber density in the fornices, it is indecisive that the observed fornix thickening is caused by hyperplasia. Nonetheless, as MRI signal intensities of the thickened fornices were normal in all patients, we exclude the possibility that the enlargement of the fornix in the brain of our patients is caused by swelling due to edema.

Simplified gyral pattern

Simplified gyral pattern (SGP) is originally a neuropathological term designating a reduction in gyrification complexity which is not pachygyria. It was reported in a wide range of genetic conditions, more frequently based on neuroimaging than on neuropathological findings. Defined as “a reduced number of gyri separated by shallow sulci”, it was first described in FOXG1 syndrome in 2011 in each of the 11 patients investigated. In the study reported here, standardized qualitative analysis of neuroimaging revealed SGP in 19 out of 34 patients (56%). This discrepancy may partially be owing to different subjective thresholds for denominating an MRI finding as SGP, as, due to the nature of this feature, strict quantitative criteria for SGP are lacking.

Given that the normal murine cortex is smooth or lissencephalic without recognizable gyrification, it was not possible to observe or replicate SGP as one of the reported clinical features seen in FOXG1 syndrome. However, although we did not focus on neuron migration patterns in the Foxg1+/− mouse cortex, it is known that loss of function of Foxg1 protein disrupts normal migration of cortical neurons.

Neuronal migration is a crucial neurodevelopmental process that has been reported, at least in part, to contribute to gyrification of the cortex. This may partly provide some basis for the simplified cortical folding phenotype or pachygyria observed in the brain of patients with FOXG1 syndrome. Perhaps, using primates or primate‐like animal model may be useful in studying the gyral pattern phenotype associated to Foxg1 mutagenesis.

Corpus callosum

A large number of genes and processes are involved in callosal development, and the genetic causes of CC agenesis are exceedingly heterogeneous. Development of the CC may be disturbed by disruption of neurogenesis, telencephalic midline patterning, neuronal migration and specification, axon guidance, and postguidance development. Axonal projections leading to formation of the corpus callosum occur between 11th and 20th week of gestation.

MRI investigations and mouse model studies provided conflicting results regarding the temporal sequence of axonal extension and formation of the four different parts of the CC: the rostrum, genu, body, and splenium, each connecting distinct areas of the cortex. However, there is some evidence that the lamina rostralis (a part of the rostrum) and the anterior region of the body are the first parts of the CC to develop, possibly pioneered by axons derived from the cingulated cortex and midline glial structures. Callosal axons of the caudal region, later forming the body of the CC, are in contrast supposed to follow the axons of the fornix and hippocampal commissure to cross the midline.

It has been shown in some animal models that morphogenesis of the CC is critically determined by the proper patterning and establishment of midline telencephalic structures such as the midline zipper glia, glial wedge, and indusium griseum. These structures essentially provide guidance for the growth of callosal axons and prevent their detour to the ventral telencephalon during their projection trajectory.

While these data indicate developmental connections between CC and structures ventral to it like the fornix, the details of these interactions are not yet understood. For instance, in agenesis of the CC, the fornices are usually not malformed. It is therefore interesting to observe enlargement of the fornix system in our patients and animal model displaying marked callosal hypogenesis consequent to FOXG1 variants.

Conclusion

Based on both, previous observations and the results presented here, a highly characteristic pattern of neuroimaging features in FOXG1 syndrome is emerging. The combination of corpus callosum anomaly with simplified gyral pattern and hyperplasia of the fornices is possibly pathognomonic for FOXG1 syndrome. All these three features were present in 16 (47%) of the 34 patients in this study, any two of them were found in further nine cases (26%).

Especially the combination of agenesis of the genu corporis callosi with fornix hyperplasia is pointing directly to FOXG1 syndrome. We therefore suggest that, when agenesis or thinning of the anterior parts of the corpus callosum are recognized on midsagittal MRI, the fornices should be specifically assessed subsequently; if found thickened, a strong suspicion of FOXG1 syndrome can be established radiologically.

On the other hand, MRI may exceptionally be completely normal, as it was in three patients in this study. Some of the additional MRI features, e.g. enlargement of inner CSF spaces, are rather unspecific and found in a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders.

The characteristic clinical features of FOXG1 syndrome comprise primary or secondary microcephaly, impairment of somatic growth, severe global developmental delay, hyperkinetic‐dyskinetic movement disorder, and epilepsy. This phenotype is characteristic, but not specific, as several neurodevelopmental disorders show similar features. Therefore, currently most FOXG1 variants are being found using genetic screening tests including array CGH, multigene panels, or whole exome sequencing. Careful interpretation of neuroimaging in a child with severe developmental delay/intellectual disability may reveal the pattern outlined above and help in evaluation of FOXG1 variants.

Based on clinical reports and animal experimentations, the predominance of structural brain anomalies in patients with heterozygous pathogenic FOXG1 variants is reflective of the essential function of Foxg1 in orchestrating the normal morphogenesis of the brain. However, details of the pathogenesis of the particular cerebral malformations described here remain to be determined.

Future perspectives

As far as we know, MR tractography has not yet been performed in patients with FOXG1 syndrome. Such tractography studies may help clarifying the structural and functional consequences of FOXG1 deficiency in forebrain development. However, as most patients with FOXG1 syndrome are severely disabled and definitely need sedation for MRI, such studies implicate ethical issues if the MR tractography would be performed as an additional investigation subsequent to standard MRI in the course of patient care. Likewise, autoptic histo‐neuropathological investigations could further delineate neuroanatomic alterations associated with deficiency of FOXG1 protein function.

Acknowledgments

We thank all participating families for their kind cooperation. We acknowledge L. Pham for her technical assistance, T. Huttanus and H. Fett for their expert animal care, J. M. Hebert and S. K. McConnell for providing Foxg1+/− mouse line. This work was supported by funding from the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur, grant no. 74ZN1284 (to KB) as well as by funding from the Research Center Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, grant nos. TU432/1‐1, TU432/1‐3 and the Schram‐Stiftung (to TT).

Conflicts of interest

Nothing to report.

Author contributions

M.P., D.M., G.K., M.S. and K.B. contributed to conception and design of the study; M.P., D.M., S.S., R.W., K.P., G.K., M.B., T.B., S.B., H.M.B., E.C., C.C., A.N.D., A.E., T.A.G., A.H‐W., M.H., K.H., A.M.K., S.K., T.K., G.C.K., B.K., R.E.L., H.O., S.P., H.P., K.R., T.R., A.R., M.S., R.W., F.M.Z., B.Z., P.A.U., G.S., T.T., A.L., M.S. and K.B. contributed to acquisition and analysis of data; S.S., P.A.U., G.S., T.T., A.L., M.S. and K.B. contributed to drafting the text and preparing the figures. M.P. and D.M. as well as M.S. and K.B. contributed equally to this work.