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W Reardon

Publications and source records attributed to W Reardon.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

The molecular pathology of syndromic craniosynostosis.

Several monogenic disorders result in craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of skull sutures in the neonate, causing craniofacial malformation and, occasionally, neurological compromise. These malformations were initially classified on a clinical basis, but several recent reports have clarified the underlying mutations in many of these syndromes, allowing the complexity of the relationship between mutation and resultant phenotype to be viewed more clearly. This article summarizes the current situation regarding syndromic craniosynostosis, highlights the complementarity of clinical, cytogenetic and molecular approaches that have contributed to the improved understanding of the genetic basis of craniosynostosis, and considers the new challenges that have emerged.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

Identical mutations in the FGFR2 gene cause both Pfeiffer and Crouzon syndrome phenotypes.

Mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) gene have been identified in Crouzon syndrome, an autosomal dominant condition causing premature fusion of the cranial sutures (craniosynostosis). A mutation in FGFR1 has been established in several families with Pfeiffer syndrome, where craniosynostosis is associated with specific digital abnormalities. We now report point mutations in FGFR2 in seven sporadic Pfeiffer syndrome patients. Six of the seven Pfeiffer syndrome patients share two missense mutations, which have also been reported in Crouzon syndrome. The Crouzon and Pfeiffer phenotypes usually breed true within families and the finding of identical mutations in unrelated individuals giving different phenotypes is a highly unexpected observation.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

The mutational spectrum in Waardenburg syndrome.

One hundred and thirty-four families or individuals with auditory-pigmentary syndromes such as Waardenburg syndrome (WS) or probable neurocristopathies were screened for mutations in the PAX3 and MITF genes. PAX3 mutations were found in 20/25 families with definite Type 1 WS and 1/2 with Type 3 WS, but in none of 23 with definite Type 2 WS or 36 with other neurocristopathies. The PAX3 mutations included substitutions of conserved amino acids in the paired domain or the homeodomain, splice-site mutations, nonsense mutations and frame-shifting insertions or deletions. No phenotype-genotype correlations were noted within WS1 families. With MITF, mutations likely to affect protein function were found in seven families, five of which had definite Type 2 WS. We conclude that Type 1 and Type 3 WS are allelic and are normally caused by loss of function mutations in PAX3; that Type 2 WS is heterogeneous, with about 20% of cases caused by mutations in MITF, and that individuals with auditory, pigmentary or neural crest syndromes which do not fit stringent definitions of Waardenburg syndrome are unlikely to have mutations in either the PAX3 or MITF genes. The molecular pathology of MITF/microphthalmia mutations appears to be different in humans and mice, with gene dosage having more significant effects in humans than in the mouse.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Saethre-Chotzen syndrome associated with balanced translocations involving 7p21: three further families.

We describe three families segregating different reciprocal chromosome translocations, t(7;18)(p21.2;q23), t(2;7)(q21.1;p21.2), and t(5;7)(p15.3;p21.2). A total of seven apparently balanced carriers have been identified and all manifest features of the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome, although only two have overt craniosynostosis. In one family the carriers are immediately recognisable by their unusual ears, and clefts of the hard or soft palate are present in all three families. These observations extend previous linkage and cytogenetic evidence that a locus for Saethre-Chotzen syndrome resides in band 7p21.2.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

The natural history of human dermatosparaxis (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VIIC).

Dermatosparaxis (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VIIC) has only recently been identified in human subjects. Although well documented in animals, to date only three human cases have been recorded, all aged 2 years or under. We document a 15-year-old girl with this newly recognized condition to emphasize the remarkable similarity of physical signs in all four cases. The striking skin fragility which attends the phenotype is highly distinctive, so that the diagnosis may be suspected on clinical grounds. The confirmatory diagnostic procedures are discussed.

Adolescent↗

New case of the Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome.

We present a further case, the fourth known to us, of the Carey-Fineman-Ziter syndrome. The emergence of a consistent and recognisable phenotype, characterised by hypotonia, weakness, ophthalmoplegia, and a Möbius-like clinical picture, is emphasised.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

New autosomal dominant form of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia presenting with atlanto-axial instability.

We present a family with a radiologically distinct new form of autosomal dominant spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, presenting with cervical instability and attendant neurological compromise and emphasise the radiological characteristics which delineate this condition. Cervical vertebral abnormalities, including malformation of the odontoid process, have been observed in some forms of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, but rarely lead to neurological sequelae, in contrast to the pedigree we describe.

Atlanto-Axial Joint↗

Autosomal recessive congenital intrauterine infection-like syndrome of microcephaly, intracranial calcification, and CNS disease.

We present data on 10 patients from 5 families with a condition of microcephaly, intracranial calcification, and a clinical course resembling congenital TORCH infection. Repeatedly, negative TORCH investigations are a prerequisite for the identification of this disorder and the value of disturbed liver function and thrombocytopenia as aids to diagnosis is emphasised. Several similar families with recurrence of the disease in sibships are identified in the literature and the genetic implications of our observations are considered.

Brain↗

Mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene cause Crouzon syndrome.

Crouzon syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition causing premature fusion of the cranial sutures (craniosynostosis) and maps to chromosome 10q25-q26. We now present evidence that mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene (FGFR2) cause Crouzon syndrome. We found SSCP variations in the B exon of FGFR2 in nine unrelated affected individuals as well as complete cosegregation between SSCP variation and disease in three unrelated multigenerational families. In four sporadic cases, the normal parents did not have SSCP variation. Finally, direct sequencing has revealed specific mutations in the B exon in all nine sporadic and familial cases, including replacement of a cysteine in an immunoglobulin-like domain in five patients.

Base Sequence↗

A common mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene in Pfeiffer syndrome.

Pfeiffer syndrome (PS) is one of the classic autosomal dominant craniosynostosis syndromes with craniofacial anomalies and characteristic broad thumbs and big toes. We have previously mapped one of the genes for PS to the centromeric region of chromosome 8 by linkage analysis. Here we present evidence that mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 (FGFR1) gene, which maps to 8p, cause one form of familial Pfeiffer syndrome. A C to G transversion in exon 5, predicting a proline to arginine substitution in the putative extracellular domain, was identified in all affected members of five unrelated PS families but not in any unaffected individuals. FGFR1 therefore becomes the third fibroblast growth factor receptor to be associated with an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

Disordered peripheral nerve conduction in DOOR(S) syndrome.

A case of DOOR(S) syndrome is detailed and the neurophysiological abnormalities observed in this patient and in other cases with this rare but recognisable autosomal recessive condition are considered. Particular emphasis is paid to the abnormal peripheral nerve conduction, which has not previously been recorded in the condition.

Brain↗

Localization of the genetic locus for Saethre-Chotzen syndrome to a 6 cM region of chromosome 7 using four cases with apparently balanced translocations at 7p21.2.

Saethre-Chotzen syndrome is a common autosomal dominant form of craniosynostosis, which results in the premature fusion of cranial sutures. Craniosynostosis is commonly associated with abnormalities of 7p; Vortkamp et al. (Nature 352, 539-540) demonstrated that the GLI3 gene in 7p13 was disrupted in, patients with Greig syndrome and, more recently, the linkage of genetic markers from 7p with the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome locus has been reported (2,3). Here we report the analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization of four patients with Saethre-Chotzen syndrome associated with apparently balanced translocations involving band 7p21.2 and different reciprocal chromosomes. We show that in all four patients the breakpoints in 7p are situated within a 6 cM region flanked by the genetic markers D7S488 and D7S493. These results provide further evidence that the genetic locus for Saethre-Chotzen syndrome is located in distal 7p.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

Close linkage of a gene for X linked deafness to three microsatellite repeats at Xq21 in radiologically normal and abnormal families.

We have used three highly polymorphic microsatellite repeats from Xq21 to type families in whom a gene for X linked deafness with perilymphatic gusher (DFN 3) was segregating. All three markers were tightly linked to the disease in its radiologically normal and abnormal forms, with a maximum lod score of 10.37 with DXS995 and 8.44 with DXS986 at zero recombination, and 14.03 with DXS1002 at theta = 0.01. In an isolated case of deafness of this type, DXS995 indicated either the first recombination observed between the marker and the disease gene or a new mutation in the proband. Southern blotting using a cosmid fragment from the candidate region has confirmed a de novo mutation by showing a deletion in the proband which is not present in his mother as judged by dosage analysis. We also describe a family with a paracentric inversion associated with a microdeletion and discuss how deletion mapping using these and other markers in the region has helped to define a candidate region for the gene.

Base Sequence↗

Crouzon syndrome is not linked to craniosynostosis loci at 7p and 5qter.

Evidence for linkage has been sought, in four pedigrees with Crouzon syndrome, between polymorphic markers known to be linked to the Saethre-Chotzen locus on 7p and another form of autosomal dominant craniosynostosis on 5q. The data we present exclude Crouzon syndrome as an allelic variant at either of these known craniosynostosis loci.

Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5↗

Evidence for locus heterogeneity in acrocephalosyndactyly: a refined localization for the Saethre-Chotzen syndrome locus on distal chromosome 7p--and exclusion of Jackson-Weiss syndrome from craniosynostosis loci on 7p and 5q.

Craniosynostosis (premature fusion of the skull sutures) occurs as a clinically heterogeneous group of disorders, frequently involving digital abnormalities. We have previously provisionally assigned the gene for one such condition, Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (ACS III), to chromosome 7p. Linkage analysis is now reported between ACS III and dinucleotide repeat loci on distal 7p. The maximum lod scores, Zmax, were 5.57 at a recombination fraction of .05, with D7S488, and 4.74 at a recombination fraction of .05, with D7S493. Only weak linkage, not reaching significance, was found with distal markers (D7S513 and afm281vc9) and a proximal marker (D7S516). Multipoint analysis shows that the disease locus lies between D7S513 and D7S516. Analysis of individual recombinants shows that the most likely position is between D7S493 and D7S516. Linkage data in regard of Jackson-Weiss syndrome demonstrate that this autosomal dominant form of acrocephalosyndactyly does not map to the ACS III region on 7p or to the acrocephalosyndactyly locus on 5q (Boston type). These findings underline the genetic heterogeneity among the different clinical conditions manifesting with acrocephalosyndactyly.

Acrocephalosyndactylia↗

Femoral hypoplasia unusual facies syndrome with preaxial polydactyly.

Preaxial polydactyly of the foot is an unusual feature in femoral hypoplasia unusual facies syndrome, having been recorded with certainty in only two previous reports. We now add a further two instances of this rare association and emphasize that this finding should not preclude the underlying syndromic diagnosis.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗