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J Med Genet 2007;44:615-620 doi:10.1136/jmg.2007.050542
  • Original article

Congenital ichthyosis: mutations in ichthyin are associated with specific structural abnormalities in the granular layer of epidermis

  1. J Dahlqvist1,*,
  2. J Klar1,*,
  3. I Hausser2,
  4. I Anton-Lamprecht2,
  5. M Hellström Pigg1,
  6. T Gedde-Dahl, Jr3,
  7. A Gånemo4,
  8. A Vahlquist4,
  9. N Dahl1
  1. 1Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, The Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
  2. 2Department of Dermatology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
  3. 3Department of Dermatology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital and Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
  4. 4Department of Medical Science, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden
  1. Correspondence to:
 Professor Niklas Dahl
 Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Rudbeck Laboratory, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden; niklas.dahl{at}genpat.uu.se
  • Received 23 March 2007
  • Accepted 16 May 2007
  • Revised 11 May 2007
  • Published Online First 8 June 2007

Abstract

Background: Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a heterogeneous group of skin disorders. Several mutant genes have been identified in ARCI, but the association between genotype and phenotype is poorly understood.

Methods: To investigate genotype–phenotype correlations in ARCI, we selected 27 patients from 18 families with specific ultrastructural features of the epidermis. The characteristic findings using electron microscopy (EM) were abnormal lamellar bodies and elongated membranes in the stratum granulosum, classified as ARCI EM type III. DNA samples from a subset of affected individuals were screened for homozygous genomic regions, and a candidate gene region was identified on chromosome 5q33. The region coincides with the ichthyin gene, previously reported as mutated in ARCI.

Results: Mutation screening of ichthyin revealed missense or splice-site mutations in affected members from 16 of 18 (89%) families with characteristics of ARCI EM type III. In a control group of 18 patients with ARCI without EM findings consistent with type III, we identified one patient homozygous for a missense mutation in ichthyin.

Discussion: Our findings indicate a strong association between ultrastructural abnormalities in the granular layer of epidermis and ichthyin mutations. The results also suggest that EM provides a tool for specific diagnosis in a genetically homogenous subgroup of patients with ARCI.

Footnotes

  • Published Online First 8 June 2007

  • ↵* The first two authors have contributed equally to this work.T Gedde-Dahl died February 2006.

  • Competing interests: None declared.

  • Informed consent was obtained from the patient or parent/guardian for publication of figure 1.

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