Objective: To intensively investigate sporadic CMT patients, we have analyzed the LMNA gene in this study in a series of 32 unrelated CMT patients. Methods: Twelve exons of the LMNA gene were amplified from genetomic DNA. PCR products of each exon were analyzed by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Results: No abnormal SSCP pattern, suggesting no mutation in our CMT patients, was detected. Conclusion: The CMT diseases resulted from the mutations of LMNA gene were rare.
Laminopathies are genetic diseases that encompass a wide spectrum of phenotypes with diverse tissue pathologies and result mainly from mutations in the LMNA gene encoding nuclear lamin A/C. To date, at least 9 different human diseases, which superficially seem to share little with one another, result from LMNA mutations. The position of the mutation within LMNA appears to be associated with the phenotypes. This review gives an overview of genotype-phenotype relationship and describes recent advances in animal models and pathogenic mechanisms.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) affects the peripheral nervous system. It is generally inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, but also is inherited in recessive or an X-linked pattern. The degree of severity can vary greatly from patient to patient, even within the same family. Traditionally, the different classes of CMT have been divided into demyelinating forms and axonal forms. Until 10 years ago, the genetic basis of CMT disease was largely unknown. An intrachromosomal duplication on chromosome 17 was found in 1991, and a point mutation in the peripheral myelin protein-22 gene was discovered in 1992. The work starts a new stage of the molecular basis of this large group of peripheral neuropathies. In this review, we will summarize what is known today about the genetics of CMT, and what we have learned about the underlying disease mechanisms.
