Many different pathogenic variants have been found in CACNA1A leading to EA-2. However, the pathogenic variant in our patient has not been previously reported and the alleviation of attacks with sleep is extremely distinctive. This novel variant is defined as pathogenic given the latest American College of Genetics and Genomics guidelines. One prior case of sleep modulated presumed EA-2 has been noted in the literature, but that patient did not have genetic testing to prove the diagnosis [5]. Based on the novel pathogenic variant described in our patient, it is likely the alpha subunit of the Ca2+ channel becomes truncated just beyond the synprint site. Previously, haploinsufficiency has been suggested as a mechanism for EA-2, which would result in an approximately 50% reduction of Cav2.1 activity [6]. However, the analysis of Cav2.1(+/−) heterozygous mice, with a 50% reduction of Cav2.1 activity, have shown no clear neurologic abnormalities [6]. Mezghrani et al. [6] utilizing “pulse-chase experiments” revealed that misfolded mutants bind to nascent wild-type Cav subunits and induce their subsequent degradation, thereby abolishing channel activity.” Therefore, instead of haploinsufficiency, a dominant negative effect could be the cause of EA-2.
The P/Q calcium channels affected in EA-2 are found abundantly in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum. Walter et al. [7] have suggested that the clinical symptoms of EA-2 are a result of a loss of precision of the pacemaking of these Purkinje cells. Investigations have shown that the precision of Purkinje cell pacemaking is maintained by small conductance (SK) and large conductance (BK) KCa channels [7]. P/Q channel mutations implicated in EA-2 have been noted to reduce the precision of intrinsic Purkinje cell pacemaking due to fewer KCa cells being activated with each action potential [ 7]. It is likely that if more KCa channels are activated with each action potential the precision of pacemaking in mutant Purkinje cells could be restored [7]. The mode of action of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as acetazolamide in the treatment of EA-2 is not currently understood. It has been shown that therapeutic concentrations of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors activate BK channels so their therapeutic mode of action could be the recovery of regular pacemaking in Purkinje cells [ 7].
While it is unclear how sleep can potentially modulate this distinct calcium channel mutation, an effect may be coming through KCa channels. It has been shown that in the suprachiasmatic nucleus BK channel currents and expression are highest at night [8]. It is believed that such activation of BK channels is involved with maintaining the circadian rhythm [8]. If a similar activation of BK channels occurs during sleep in the cerebellum this may be why our patient noticed a relief in her symptoms after sleeping. Increased activation of SK channels may also be involved, though it is unclear how sleep would be associated with this.
Migraine is another episodic disorder that can be modulated by sleep. Migraine can be alleviated only by sleep in some individuals, while sleep can trigger migraine headache in others [9, 10]. Migraine has been recognized as part of the EA-2 clinical spectrum [2]. Familial hemiplegic migraine type 1 is a monogenetic disorder linked to the same CACNA1A pathogenic variant as EA-2 [11]. It would be very interesting to note if individuals with sleep alleviated familial hemiplegic migraine have the same pathogenic variant as in our EA-2 patient. Could non familial hemiplegic migraine patients who have predominant sleep alleviated headaches also carry this same pathogenic variant? Orexin is a primary neuro-excitatory hypothalamic sleep regulating neurotransmitter. Orexin A neurons have been found in animal models to project from the hypothalamus to the cerebellum and vestibular complex [12]. Orexin A has been shown to enhance neuronal depolarization in various CNS neurons via voltage gated Ca channels [13, 14]. Thus, could orexin A in some capacity influence sleep responsive EA-2 by altering cerebellar calcium channel function, essentially turning off EA-2 attacks with sleep? More interesting is orexin A’s capacity as a trigeminal nociceptive inhibitor, thus possibly implicating this neurotransmitter in the sleep alleviation of some forms of migraine, especially if our noted novel mutation is present [15]. Further study is warranted.
In conclusion, we have identified a unique subtype of EA-2 which appears to be a sleep modulated channelopathy. EA-2 is an uncommon disorder but should be in the differential of undiagnosed attacks of dizziness and ataxia and/or in patients with possible migrainous vertigo. Further study of this novel pathogenic variant may help us understand not only how sleep can modulate EA-2, but also migraine.