A point mutation in the human connexin32 promoter P2 does not correlate with X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy in Germany

-459C>T point mutation in 5' non-coding region of human GJB1 gene is linked to X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy is inherited with genetic and clinical heterogeneity. The X-linked form (CMTX) is linked to mutations in the GJB1 gene. However, the genotype-phenotype correlation between variants in the non-coding region of GJB1 gene and CMTX is unclear. We found two structural variants (-459C>T and -713G>A) in the 5' non-coding region of a transcript (Ref seq ID: NM_000166) of the GJB1 gene and explored its association with CMTX in two Chinese families. All family members who carried the -459C>T variant either were symptomatic or had abnormal electrophysiological studies compatible with CMTX, whereas all the non-symptomatic family members who had normal electrophysiological studies and 10 healthy unrelated controls did not have this variant. The other variant in the 5'-flanking region of the gene was found to be a benign polymorphism, although it had been earlier reported to be associated with CMTX in a Taiwanese family. Secondary structure prediction analysis of mutant mRNA using M fold and RNA structure softwares indicates that the -459C>T mutation may reduce translation efficiency of the GJB1 gene by changing its 5'-untranslated region secondary structure and abolishing the internal ribosome entry site at the initialization of its translation in Schwann cells. Our study can help clarify the causal mutations of CMTX in the non-protein coding region of GJB1.

Molecular genetics of X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

The X-linked form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1X) is the second most common molecularly designated form of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. The clinical phenotype is characterized by progressive distal muscle atrophy and weakness, areflexia, and variable sensory abnormalities. Affected males have moderate-to-severe symptoms, whereas heterozygous females are usually mildly affected or even asymptomatic. Several patients also have manifestations of central nervous system involvement or hearing impairment. Electrophysiological and pathological studies of peripheral nerves show evidence of demyelinating neuropathy with prominent axonal degeneration. A large number of mutations in the GJB1 gene encoding the gap junction (GJ) protein connexin32 (Cx32) cause CMT1X. Cx32 is expressed by Schwann cells and oligodendrocytes, as well as by other tissues, and the GJ formed by Cx32 play an important role in the homeostasis of myelinated axons. The reported CMT1X mutations are diverse and affect both the promoter region as well as the coding region of GJB1. Many Cx32 mutants fail to form functional GJ, or form GJ with abnormal biophysical properties. Furthermore, Cx32 mutants are often retained intracellularly either in the endoplasmic reticulum or Golgi in which they could potentially have additional dominant-negative effects. Animal models of CMT1X demonstrate that loss of Cx32 in myelinating Schwann cells causes a demyelinating neuropathy. No definite phenotype-genotype correlation has yet been established for CMT1X and effective molecular based therapeutics for this disease, remain to be developed.

Clinical, electrophysiological and molecular genetic studies in a family with X-linked dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy presenting a novel mutation in GJB1 Promoter and a rare polymorphism in LITAF/SIMPLE

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a genetically heterogeneous group of neuropathies. In the demyelinating form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with dominant inheritance, five genes have been incriminated: PMP22, MPZ, LITAF/SIMPLE, EGR2 (CMT1A to D), and GJB1 (CMTX). Here, we report clinical, electrophysiological and molecular genetic studies in a family with a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease variable phenotype, ranging from asymptomatic to moderately affected. The absence of male-to-male transmission as well as the results of systematic electrophysiological studies suggested a CMTX secondary to a GJB1 mutation. Screening for mutations in the coding regions of PMP22, MPZ, EGR2 and GJB1 was negative. We identified (1) a LITAF/SIMPLE substitution (T49M), absent in 1000 control chromosomes, but which was thought to be a polymorphism because of discrepancies of segregation when considering the results of electrophysiology; and (2) a novel substitution T>C in the P2 promoter of GJB1 at position -529, in the SOX10 binding site S2. The transmission of this second mutation was consistent with the electrophysiological data. We emphasise the role of electrophysiological studies that help to discriminate between asymptomatic subjects and that bring some additional valuable data to the genetic approach.