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SERPINI1 gene
URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/serpini1/

SERPINI1 gene

serpin family I member 1

Normal Function

The SERPINI1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called neuroserpin, which is a type of serine protease inhibitor (serpin). Serpins help control several kinds of chemical reactions by blocking (inhibiting) the activity of certain proteins. Neuroserpin inhibits the activity of an enzyme called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which plays a role in cell movement (migration), blood clotting, and inflammation.

As its name suggests, neuroserpin is involved in the development and function of the nervous system. This protein helps control the growth of nerve cells (neurons), particularly specialized extensions called axons that are required for the transmission of nerve impulses. Neuroserpin also plays a role in the development of synapses, which are the connections between neurons where cell-to-cell communication occurs. Synapses can change and adapt over time in response to experience, a characteristic called synaptic plasticity. Neuroserpin helps regulate synaptic plasticity, which suggests that it may be important for learning and memory.

Health Conditions Related to Genetic Changes

Familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies

At least four mutations in the SERPINI1 gene have been found to cause familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies (FENIB). Each of these mutations changes a single protein building block (amino acid) used to make the neuroserpin protein. These changes result in the production of an abnormally shaped, unstable version of neuroserpin. Within neurons, defective neuroserpin proteins can attach to one another and form clumps called neuroserpin inclusion bodies or Collins bodies. These clumps disrupt the cells' normal functioning and ultimately lead to cell death. The gradual loss of neurons in certain parts of the brain causes progressive dementia in people with FENIB.

SERPINI1 mutations also reduce or eliminate the ability of neuroserpin to inhibit tPA in neurons. Researchers believe that unchecked activity of tPA may also contribute to the signs and symptoms of this condition.

Some SERPINI1 mutations cause more severe forms of FENIB than others. The severity of the disease and its age of onset are correlated with the number of Collins bodies within neurons. One mutation, known as neuroserpin Syracuse, is associated with a moderate form of the disorder that causes a progressive decline in intellectual functioning beginning in a person's forties or fifties. This genetic change replaces the amino acid serine with the amino acid proline at position 49 in the neuroserpin protein (written as Ser49Pro or S49P).

Other SERPINI1 mutations cause a more severe form of FENIB that is characterized by seizures and episodes of sudden, involuntary muscle jerking or twitching (myoclonus) in addition to dementia. These signs can appear as early as a person's teens. One of these severe mutations, called neuroserpin Portland, replaces the amino acid serine with the amino acid arginine at position 52 in the neuroserpin protein (written as Ser52Arg or S52R). Another mutation replaces the amino acid glycine with one of two other amino acids, glutamic acid or arginine, at protein position 392. (These mutations are written as Gly392Glu and Gly392Arg, respectively.) Children with one of these genetic changes experience a very severe form of the disorder that includes a combination of seizures and uncontrollable muscle jerks (myoclonic epilepsy) and delayed development.

More About This Health Condition

Other Names for This Gene

  • neuroserpin
  • NEUS_HUMAN
  • PI12
  • protease inhibitor 12 (neuroserpin)
  • serine (or cysteine) proteinase inhibitor, clade I (neuroserpin), member 1
  • Serpin I1
  • serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade I (neuroserpin), member 1

Additional Information & Resources

Tests Listed in the Genetic Testing Registry

Scientific Articles on PubMed

Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM

Gene and Variant Databases

References

  • Belorgey D, Crowther DC, Mahadeva R, Lomas DA. Mutant Neuroserpin (S49P) that causes familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies is a poor proteinase inhibitor and readily forms polymers in vitro. J Biol Chem. 2002 May 10;277(19):17367-73. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M200680200. Epub 2002 Mar 5. Citation on PubMed
  • Belorgey D, Sharp LK, Crowther DC, Onda M, Johansson J, Lomas DA. Neuroserpin Portland (Ser52Arg) is trapped as an inactive intermediate that rapidly forms polymers: implications for the epilepsy seen in the dementia FENIB. Eur J Biochem. 2004 Aug;271(16):3360-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.2004.04270.x. Citation on PubMed
  • Coutelier M, Andries S, Ghariani S, Dan B, Duyckaerts C, van Rijckevorsel K, Raftopoulos C, Deconinck N, Sonderegger P, Scaravilli F, Vikkula M, Godfraind C. Neuroserpin mutation causes electrical status epilepticus of slow-wave sleep. Neurology. 2008 Jul 1;71(1):64-6. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000316306.08751.28. No abstract available. Citation on PubMed
  • Davis RL, Holohan PD, Shrimpton AE, Tatum AH, Daucher J, Collins GH, Todd R, Bradshaw C, Kent P, Feiglin D, Rosenbaum A, Yerby MS, Shaw CM, Lacbawan F, Lawrence DA. Familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies. Am J Pathol. 1999 Dec;155(6):1901-13. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65510-1. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Davis RL, Shrimpton AE, Holohan PD, Bradshaw C, Feiglin D, Collins GH, Sonderegger P, Kinter J, Becker LM, Lacbawan F, Krasnewich D, Muenke M, Lawrence DA, Yerby MS, Shaw CM, Gooptu B, Elliott PR, Finch JT, Carrell RW, Lomas DA. Familial dementia caused by polymerization of mutant neuroserpin. Nature. 1999 Sep 23;401(6751):376-9. doi: 10.1038/43894. Citation on PubMed
  • Galliciotti G, Glatzel M, Kinter J, Kozlov SV, Cinelli P, Rulicke T, Sonderegger P. Accumulation of mutant neuroserpin precedes development of clinical symptoms in familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies. Am J Pathol. 2007 Apr;170(4):1305-13. doi: 10.2353/ajpath.2007.060910. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Galliciotti G, Sonderegger P. Neuroserpin. Front Biosci. 2006 Jan 1;11:33-45. doi: 10.2741/1778. Citation on PubMed
  • Miranda E, Lomas DA. Neuroserpin: a serpin to think about. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2006 Mar;63(6):709-22. doi: 10.1007/s00018-005-5077-4. Citation on PubMed
  • Miranda E, MacLeod I, Davies MJ, Perez J, Romisch K, Crowther DC, Lomas DA. The intracellular accumulation of polymeric neuroserpin explains the severity of the dementia FENIB. Hum Mol Genet. 2008 Jun 1;17(11):1527-39. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddn041. Epub 2008 Feb 11. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
  • Miranda E, Romisch K, Lomas DA. Mutants of neuroserpin that cause dementia accumulate as polymers within the endoplasmic reticulum. J Biol Chem. 2004 Jul 2;279(27):28283-91. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M313166200. Epub 2004 Apr 16. Citation on PubMed
  • Onda M, Belorgey D, Sharp LK, Lomas DA. Latent S49P neuroserpin forms polymers in the dementia familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies. J Biol Chem. 2005 Apr 8;280(14):13735-41. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M413282200. Epub 2005 Jan 21. Citation on PubMed
  • Yepes M, Lawrence DA. Neuroserpin: a selective inhibitor of tissue-type plasminogen activator in the central nervous system. Thromb Haemost. 2004 Mar;91(3):457-64. doi: 10.1160/TH03-12-0766. Citation on PubMed

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.