Mosca L, Marazzi R, Ciccone A, Santilli I, Bersano A, Sansone V, Grosso E, Mandrile G, Giachino DF, Adobbati L, Corengia E, Agostoni E, Fiumani A, Gallone S, Scarpini E, Guidotti M, Sterzi R, Ajmone C, Marocchi A, Penco S. NOTCH3 gene mutations in subjects clinically suspected of CADASIL.
J Neurol Sci 2011;
307:144-8. [PMID:
21616505 DOI:
10.1016/j.jns.2011.04.019]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2010] [Revised: 03/07/2011] [Accepted: 04/22/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is an inherited cerebrovascular disease due to mutations involving loss or gain of a cysteine residue in the NOTCH3 gene. A cluster of mutations around exons 3 and 4 was originally reported. Identification of pathogenic mutation is important for diagnostic confirmation of the disease, however genetic counselling and testing of relatives at risk is critical in mutation carriers.
METHODS
Mutation analysis of the NOTCH3 gene was performed through direct sequencing in 140 patients with clinical suspicion of CADASIL. Patients underwent genetic counselling pre and post testing. The 2-23 exons containing all EGF-like domains were screened.
RESULTS
14 familial forms of the disease have been identified with 14 different causative mutations in exons 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 19, 20 and 22 of the NOTCH3 gene; no pathogenetic mutations have been identified in exons 6 and 8; several genetic variations both in coding as well as in intronic regions were identified too.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm the importance of screening the whole EGF-like domains region of NOTCH3 gene for the molecular diagnosis of CADASIL among the Italian population too. Moreover genetic variants different from loss or gain of a cysteine residue are identified and presented.
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