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A fifth locus for otosclerosis, OTSC5, maps to chromosome 3q22–24
  1. K Van Den Bogaert1,
  2. E M R De Leenheer2,3,
  3. W Chen4,
  4. Y Lee5,
  5. P Nürnberg5,
  6. R J E Pennings2,
  7. K Vanderstraeten1,
  8. M Thys1,
  9. C W R J Cremers2,
  10. R J H Smith4,
  11. G Van Camp1
  1. 1Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Antwerp, Belgium
  2. 2Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center St Radboud, Philips van Leydenlaan 15, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Ghent, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
  4. 4Molecular Otolaryngology Research Laboratories, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
  5. 5Gene Mapping Center (GMC), Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, Robert-Roessle-Strasse 10, D-13092 Berlin, Germany
  1. Correspondence to:
 Guy Van Camp
 Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Guy.VanCampua.ac.be

https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.2004.018671

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    Otosclerosis is caused by abnormal bone homeostasis of the otic capsule leading to bony fixation of the stapedial footplate in the oval window. Because the transmission of sound waves from outer to inner ear is disturbed by this fixation, the disease is characterised by conductive hearing impairment.1 In some cases, an additional sensorineural component develops across all frequencies, leading to mixed hearing impairment.2,3 The conductive component of the hearing impairment can be restored by stapes replacing microsurgery; however, the sensorineural component cannot surgically be corrected.4

    Otosclerosis has a prevalence of 0.3–0.4% in the Caucasian population.5 The etiology of the disease is unknown, but epidemiological studies indicate the involvement of genetic as well as environmental factors. However, large families segregating otosclerosis are very rare, whereas there are frequent sporadic cases and smaller families with only a few affected members. Based on these findings, otosclerosis can be considered a genetically complex disease, caused by an interaction of genes and environmental factors, but with rare monogenic forms.

    To date, three autosomal dominant otosclerosis loci have been reported: OTSC1 on chromosome 15q25–26,6OTSC2 on chromosome 7q34–36,7 and OTSC3 on chromosome 6p21–22.8 In addition, a fourth locus, OTSC4, has been reserved by the Human Genome Organisation nomenclature committee, but this has not been published. None of the corresponding genes have been cloned. In this study, we identified a large Dutch family segregating an autosomal dominant otosclerosis. After exclusion of the known loci, a genome-wide screen and linkage analysis in this family revealed the existence of a fifth otosclerosis locus, OTSC5, localised on chromosome 3q22–24.

    METHODS

    Clinical diagnosis

    The family was identified via the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Medical Center St.-Radboud Nijmegen (The Netherlands) (fig 1). Pure-tone audiometry was performed in all persons with air conduction at …

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    Footnotes

    • This study was supported in part by NIH grant R01DC05218 (RJHS, GVC), and grants from the University of Antwerp (GVC) and from the Vlaams Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) (GVC).

    • Conflict of interest: none declared.