Generalized,severe epidermolysis bullosa simplex caused by a Keratin 5 p.E477K mutation

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a skin fragility disorder resulting from mutations of structural proteins in the epidermis. We provide a brief report of long‐term survival and reproduction in a mother with EBS due to keratin 5 (KRT5) c.1429G > A (p.E477K) mutation, which causes a particularly severe form of the disease.     

Atypical epidermolysis bullosa simplex with a missense keratin 14 mutation p.Arg125Cys

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of hereditary autosomal dominant bullous diseases. EB is divided into four major phenotypes: intraepidermal EB (or EB simplex), junctional EB, dermolytic EB and mixed EB (Kindler syndrome). EB simplex is further divided into three subtypes: localized EB simplex, Dowling-Meara EB simplex and other generalized EB simplex. We report a 28-year-old man with EB simplex with a missense keratin 14 mutation p.Arg125Cys associated with clumping of keratin filaments and acantholysis in mainly the spinous cells and basal cells. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the broader expression of keratin 5 and 14 was observed in the epidermis, while the expression of keratin 1/10 was quite normal. Dysregulated expression of keratin 5/14 may hinder some functions or roles of keratin 1/10, namely filament assembly of keratin 1/10 in spinous cell integrity, although the expression of keratin 1/10 was not affected and this has not been demonstrated before.     

Weber-Cockayne亚型单纯型大疱性表皮松解症一家系报告

目的:研究Weber-Cockayne亚型单纯型大疱性表皮松解症(EBS-WC)一家系的基因突变,并进行产前诊断。方法:应用PCR及DNA直接测序方法明确突变位点,针对所发现的突变以限制性内切酶片段长度多态性(RFLP)分析加以验证,在此基础上于妊娠24周时对从胎儿羊水所提取的DNA进行测序及酶切验证。结果:该家系患者存在角蛋白(keratin,KRT)5基因突变:第7外显子第1388位碱基由胸腺嘌呤突变为胞嘧啶,导致第463位氨基酸由亮氨酸变为脯氨酸(L463P)。50名健康对照者不存在此突变。羊水细胞DNA不存在此突变的胎儿,出生后未患大疱性表皮松解症。结论:KRT5第7外显子的突变是引起该家系临床症状的特异性突变。     

A novel nonsense mutation at E106 of the 2B rod domain of keratin 14 causes dominant epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is classified into three main types and is caused, in most case s , by missense mutations in the genes encoding keratin (K) 5 and K14. In this study, we clinically, ultrastructurally, immunohistochemically, and molecularly studied a patient with a dominant EBS, Köbner type. Using sequence analysis of genomic DNA, a novel K14 nonsense mutation was identified. A heterozygous mutation G1231T of KRT14 was found to be associated with the disease in the patient. The mutation created a premature stop codon (amino acid codon 411, residue 106 of the 2B helix) in the K14 molecule. This residue lies in a highly conserved region and was recently found to be absolutely required for molecular stability and intermediate filament assembly in K5 and K14. The E411X (E106X) heterozygous ablation, missing the last 16 amino acid residues of the 2B and the entire tail domain of K14, led to disease but did not result in clumping of keratin filaments. It is the first premature stop codon mutation of K14 found in dominant EBS.     

A keratin 14 'knockout' mutation in recessive epidermolysis bullosa simplex resulting in less severe disease

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a blistering skin disease caused in most cases by mis-sense mutations in genes encoding the basal epidermal keratin (K) 5 and K14. The inheritance is usually autosomal dominant and the mutant keratin proteins appear to exert a dominant negative effect on the keratin intermediate filament cytoskeleton in basal keratinocytes. We report a child with a homozygous K14 mutation resulting in the complete absence of K14 protein in the epidermis; remarkably, he only had mild to moderate disease. Electron microscopy of a skin biopsy showed a marked reduction in numbers of keratin intermediate filaments in the basal keratinocytes. Immunofluorescence microscopy using monoclonal antibody LL001 against K14 showed no staining, suggesting a functional knockout of K14. Sequence analysis of genomic DNA revealed a homozygous mutation in codon 31 of K14 that resulted in a premature stop codon further downstream in exon 1. The child's mother, who is unaffected by the disease, is heterozygous for the mutation. The consanguineous father was unaffected and unavailable for testing. The resulting mRNA is predicted to encode a protein of 116 amino acids, of which the first 30 are identical to the normal K14 sequence, and the remaining 86 residues are mis-sense sequence. Four previously reported cases of autosomal recessive EBS with functional knockout of K14 were severely affected by blistering, in contrast to our patient in whom the predicted protein has only the first 30 amino acids of K14 and is therefore the closest to a true knockout of K14 protein yet identified.     

The clinical spectrum of epidermolysis bullosa simplex

As part of the U.K. National Epidermolysis Bullosa Register, we have systematically recorded clinical information on 130 (77%) of the 168 known Scottish epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) sufferers. Three subtypes of EBS were recognized: Dowling–Meara (EBS‐DM), Weber–Cockayne (EBS‐WC) and Köbner (EBS‐Kb), seen in 5%, 42% and 53% of patients, respectively. As there is considerable overlap between EBS‐WC and EBS‐Kb, with both phenotypes frequently seen within the same pedigree, EBS‐WC is best regarded as a milder variant of EBS‐Kb rather than a separate disorder. Improvement with age is common in all variants of EBS, but is not invariable. Pain due to acral blistering in EBS‐Kb/EBS‐WC has a more marked impact on life‐style than the blisters of EBS‐DM. Oral blistering, nail involvement and aplasia cutis congenita occur in all EBS subtypes and laryngeal involvement is a feature of EBS‐DM. Seasonal variation is not seen in EBS‐DM but is common in EBS‐Kb/EBS‐WC.     

Laryngeal involvement in the Dowling-Meara variant of epidermolysis bullosa simplex with keratin mutations of severely disruptive potential

The clinical features of the Dowling-Meara variant of epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS-DM) can, in an infant, be indistinguishable from other severe forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). Two unrelated infants with no family history of skin disease are described who, within hours of birth, developed extensive blistering of skin and oral mucosae and who both subsequently developed hoarse cries. Despite this superficial resemblance to other forms of EB, electron microscopy revealed a basal cell rupture and keratin aggregates characteristic of EBS-DM in the skin of both infants and in the vocal cord epithelium of one. Molecular analysis confirmed the diagnosis by identification of mis-sense point mutations in basal cell keratin genes in both cases. One patient carries a point mutation in keratin 14 (converting arginine at position 125 to histidine) and the other has a novel point mutation in keratin 5 (converting serine at position 181 to proline). Hoarseness is not a well documented feature of EBS-DM and is usually associated with junctional EB. These two patients demonstrate that the presence of a hoarse cry in an infant affected by severe EB does not necessarily indicate a poor prognosis.     

Functional testing of keratin 14 mutant proteins associated with the three major subtypes of epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a group of autosomal dominantly inherited skin disorders characterized by the development of intra-epidermal skin blisters on mild mechanical trauma. The three major clinical subtypes (Weber-Cockayne, Koebner and Dowling-Meara) are all caused by mutations in either the keratin 5 (KRT5) or keratin 14 (KRT14) gene. Previously, we identified three novel KRT14 missense mutations in Danish EBS patients associated with the three different forms of EBS (1). The identified KRT14 mutations represent the full spectrum of the classical EBS subtypes. In the present study we investigated these mutations in a cellular expression system in order to analyse their effects on the keratin cytoskeleton. KRT14 expression vectors were constructed by fusing the nucleotide sequence encoding the FLAG reporter peptide to the 3' end of the KRT14 cDNA sequences. The expression vectors were transiently transfected into normal human primary keratinocytes (NHK), HaCaT or HeLa cells in order to analyze the ability of the mutant K14 proteins to integrate into the existing endogenous keratin filament network (KFN). No effect on the keratin cytoskeleton was observed upon transfection of NHK with the various K14 constructs neither with nor without a subsequently induced heat-stress. In contrast, all constructs, including wild-type K14, caused collapse of the endogenous KFN in a small fraction of the transfected HeLa and HaCaT cells. However, overexpression of the mutation associated with the most severe form of the disease, EBS Dowling-Meara, resulted in a higher number of transfected HaCaT cells with KFN collapse (P < 0.001). Thus, although a background KFN perturbance was observed upon transfection with the wild-type K14 construct, the mutant protein associated with the most severe form of EBS worsened the KFN perturbation significantly compared with the mutant proteins associated with the milder forms of the disease and the normal K14 protein. This shows that the clinical severity of disease-associated mutations identified in patients can be tested using this expression system, although it can not at present be used to discriminate between the milder forms. Assessment of the endogenous K14 protein expression in NHK and HaCaT cells indicated that the higher level of endogenous keratin expression in NHK might make these cells more resistant to perturbation of the keratin cytoskeleton by overexpressed K14 protein than HaCaT cells.     

伴移行性环形红斑的单纯性大疱性表皮松解症一家系报道及基因检测

目的:单纯性大疱性表皮松解症伴有移行性环状红斑(EBS-Migr)是EBS的一种罕见亚型,是一种常染色体显性遗传病,本文报道一家系,并进行基因检测。方法:收集临床资料,提取患儿及其父母外周血DNA,对患儿及其父母进行全基因组外显子测序,经生物学分析,获得致病变异;再采用Sanger测序法进行验证。结果:患儿及其父亲KRT5外显子9存在杂合突变(移码缺失c.1653＿1654delCT),其母亲未发现该突变。结论:该患儿诊断为伴移行性环状红斑的单纯性大疱性表皮松解症,致病机制为KRT5外显子9发生杂合突变(移码缺失c.1653＿1654delCT),既往未见报道。     

Novel keratin 14 gene mutations in patients from Hungary with epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Mutations in genes keratin 5 (KRT5) and 14 (KRT14) encoding the basal type keratin intermediate filaments have been identified in epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) families and are likely to cause skin fragility. Three novel keratin 14 mutations in cases from the Hungarian Epidermolysis Bullosa Centre are reported. In a 7-year-old boy with Dowling-Meara type EBS (DM-EBS), who had severe skin symptoms with extended herpetiform blisters, a novel amino acid substitution N123K in keratin 14 had been detected. A 26-year-old woman with mild DM-EBS with prominent palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and without active blister formation had a novel R125G mutation in keratin 14. In a 6-year-old girl, with Weber-Cockayne type EBS (WC-EBS) with palmoplantar blisters and moderate mental retardation, a novel V133L substitution was detected. Her pedigree showed autosomal dominant mode of inheritance; in the two other families, only the index patients were affected. The N123K and R125G mutations causing DM-EBS phenotypes are located within the helix initiation motif of the rod domain, whereas the very close V133L mutation underlying the WC-EBS phenotype is outside of this region. These novel amino acid substitutions provide further information for genotype-phenotype correlation in KRT14 mutations, and demonstrate the first molecular genetic data in EBS patients from Hungary.     

单纯型大疱性表皮松解症治疗研究进展

单纯型大疱性表皮松解症(EB)是一类罕见的遗传性皮肤病,目前治疗以改善患者生活质量的对症治疗为主,包括抗炎、止痒、止汗等药物治疗方向,另应用间充质干细胞、诱导性多能干细胞移植以及转录激活因子样效应物核酸酶、CRISPER/Cas9等技术的相关治疗手段取得了很大进展。     

A novel de novo mutation p.Ala428Asp in KRT5 gene as a cause of localized epidermolysis bullosa simplex

Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of inherited blistering skin diseases resulting in most cases from missense mutations in KRT5 and KRT14 genes encoding the basal epidermal keratins 5 and 14. Here, we present a patient diagnosed with a localized subtype of epidermolysis bullosa simplex caused by a heterozygous mutation p.Ala428Asp in the KRT5 gene, that has not been previously identified. Moreover, a bioinformatic analysis of the novel mutation was performed, showing changes in the interaction network between the proteins. Identification of novel mutations and genotype‐phenotype correlations allow to better understanding of underlying pathophysiologic bases and is important for genetic counselling, patients’ management, and disease course prediction.     

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex in Japanese and Korean patients: genetic studies in 19 cases

BACKGROUND: Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) comprises a group of hereditary bullous diseases characterized by intraepidermal blistering caused by mutations in either keratin gene, KRT5 or KRT14. Significant correlation between the position of mutations within these proteins and the clinical severity of EBS has been noted. A recent report showed EBS cases in Israel had unique genetic features compared with European or U.S.A. associated families, which suggests that the ethnic and geographical features of EBS patients may be different. OBJECTIVES: To assess the possibility that EBS may present with certain specific features in Japanese and Koreans and to identify additional EBS mutations for genotype/phenotype correlation. METHODS: EBS was clinically diagnosed and confirmed by transmission electron microscopic examination of a skin biopsy. Mutation analysis of KRT5 and KRT14 was performed by direct sequencing in 17 Japanese and two Korean EBS patients. RESULTS: We have identified six novel KRT5 missense mutations (V143D, D158V, V186M, Q191P, R352S, G517D). R352S is the first mutation in the 2A domain. Most of these novel mutations changed amino acids that were evolutionarily conserved. Eight including all five mutations in EBS-Dowling-Meara patients have been previously reported. We were unable to detect mutations in five sporadic EBS-Koebner patients. The proportion of mutations in KRT5 (11 of 14; 78%) is higher than that for KRT14 mutations (3 of 14; 21%) in these Japanese and Korean EBS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese and Korean patients with EBS showed very similar phenotype and genotype correlations with patients from Western countries. Whether the higher proportion of KRT5 mutations is a definite characteristic of Japanese and Korean patients with EBS or not, requires further research into mutations in Japanese and Korean people.     

Epidermolysis bullosa - a group of skin diseases with different causes but commonalities in gene expression

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of hereditary skin disorders. Although each subtype is caused by mutations in genes encoding differentially located components of the skin, the resulting phenotype is similar. In this study, we investigated similarities in the gene expression profiles of each subtype on mRNA level. Type XVI collagen (COL16A1), G0/G1 switch 2 (G0S2), fibronectin (FN1), ribosomal protein S27A (RPS27A) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) were shown to exhibit corresponding changes in gene expression in all three EB subtypes. While COL16A1, G0S2 and FN1 are up-regulated, LDLR and RPS27A mRNA levels are decreased. These data indicate that EB cells seem to take measures increasing their mechanical stability. Apoptosis is likely to be exacerbated, and migratory potential appears to be elevated. Protein degradation is hampered, and the release of fatty acids and glycerol is restricted, probably to save energy. These commonalities might benefit existing EB treatment strategies or could help to reveal new starting points for the treatment of EB in the future.     

Identification of novel and known KRT5 and KRT14 mutations in 53 patients with epidermolysis bullosa simplex: correlation between genotype and phenotype

Background Basal epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS) is a hereditary skin blistering disorder resulting in most cases from missense mutations in the keratin 5 (KRT5) or keratin 14 (KRT14) genes. Objectives To identify the underlying mutations in different EBS subtypes and correlate genotype and phenotype. Methods Mutation analysis was performed in 53 patients with EBS and their families by direct sequencing of the KRT5 and KRT14 genes. Results We identified 39 different mutations, of which 15 have not been published previously. Three novel deletion/insertion mutations, among them one in‐frame duplication, were associated with the rare phenotype of EBS with mottled pigmentation. We identified for the first time a patient with compound heterozygosity for KRT5 mutations causing Dowling–Degos disease and EBS. Conclusions Identification of novel mutations and genotype–phenotype correlations in EBS allow improved understanding of disease pathogenesis as well as better patient management.