Prenatal diagnosis of acro-dermatoungual-lacrimal-tooth syndrome, a dominantly inherited ectrodactyly

ADULT Phenotype and rs16864880 in the TP63 Gene: Two New Cases and Review of the Literature

The TP63 gene has been described in 5 overlapping limb malformation disorders, including a rare autosomal dominant ectodermal disorder named acro-dermato-ungual-lacrimal-tooth (ADULT) syndrome. This article describes 2 patients with ectrodactyly and variable features related to ectodermal dysplasia/ADULT syndrome, and the polymorphism rs16864880 in the TP63 gene, which was not present in their parents. The role of this variant in the genesis of this condition is discussed, based upon a review of 40 cases. The results suggested that rs16864880 may not be directly related to ADULT syndrome. However, it is not possible to exclude its participation in gene interactions in the limb development pathway.

Immunohistochemical expression of p63 in human prenatal tooth primordia

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the p63 gene in normal human tooth buds at different gestational stages. This is the first detailed study of p63 expression in normal human prenatal tooth primordia. The material consisted of sections of the midaxial tissue block from the cranial base of three human fetuses of gestational ages (GA) 11, 15, and 21 weeks. The sections included tooth primordia representing cap stages and bell stages of human tooth morphogenesis. In the present study, immunostaining was carried out using the primary antibody, monoclonal mouse anti human p63 protein, clone 4A4. The sections were counterstained with hematoxylin Mayer. p63 immunoreactivity was identified by microscopy. The study showed a positive reaction of p63 in both the cap stage and the bell stage. In both stages, positivity was observed in the cells of the oral mucosa, the inner and outer enamel epithelium, and in the primary and secondary dental lamina. In the early cap stage, there is a strong positive reaction to p63 in the enamel knot, but not in the late cap stage. We suggest that p63 may have an important regulatory function in the enamel knot.

Acro-dermato-ungual-lacrimal-tooth (ADULT) syndrome: Report of a child with phenotypic overlap with ulnar-mammary syndrome and a new mutation inTP63

We report on a new patient with clinical findings consistent with acro-dermato-ungual-lacrimal-tooth (ADULT) syndrome. The child had sparse hair, extensive freckling, lacrimal duct stenosis, oligodontia, dystrophic nails, reduced sweating, and bilateral athelia. Examination of his hands showed ulnar ray hypoplasia with bilateral fifth finger brachydactyly and camptodactyly. He also had surgical repair of an imperforate anus. Mutation analysis of TP63 showed a single nucleotide substitution, c.G518A, predicting a novel missense mutation, p.V114M in exon 4. This is the third mutation to be reported in TP63 in ADULT syndrome.