Brittle Cornea Syndrome Associated with a Missense Mutation in the Zinc-Finger 469 Gene

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Anne Elisabeth Christensen
  • Per Morten Knappskog
  • Marit Midtbø
  • Clara Gram Gjesdal
  • Jonas Mengel-From
  • Morling, Niels
  • Eyvind Rodahl
  • Helge Boman
Purpose: To investigate the diverse clinical manifestations, identify the causative mutation and explain the association with red hair in a family with brittle cornea syndrome (BCS). Methods: Eight family members in three generations underwent ophthalmic, dental, and general medical examination, including radiological examination of the spine. Bone mineral density (BMD), serum levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone and biochemical markers for bone turnover were measured. Skin biopsies were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. Molecular genetic studies included homozygosity mapping with SNP markers, DNA sequencing, and MC1R genotyping. Results: At 42 and 48 years of age, respectively, both affected individuals were blind due to retinal detachment and secondary glaucoma. They had extremely thin and bulging corneas, velvety skin, chestnut colored hair, scoliosis, reduced BMD, dental anomalies, hearing loss and minor cardiac defects. The morphologies of the skin biopsies were normal except that in some areas slightly thinner collagen fibrils were seen in one of the affected individuals. Molecular genetic analysis revealed a novel missense mutation of ZNF469, c.10016G>A that was predicted to affect the fourth of the five zinc finger domains of ZNF469 by changing the first cysteine to a tyrosine (p.Cys3339Tyr). Both affected individuals were homozygous for the common red hair variant R151C at the MC1R locus. Conclusion: BCS is a disorder that affects a variety of connective tissues. Reduced BMD and atypical dental crown morphology have not been reported previously. We confirm that BCS is associated with mutations in ZNF469. The association with red hair in some individuals with BCS is likely to occur by chance.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Volume51
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)47-52
Number of pages6
ISSN0146-0404
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

ID: 13834667