Deletions of VCX-A and NLGN4: a variable phenotype including normal intellect.

BACKGROUND: Patients with Xp22.3 interstitial and terminal deletions have been shown to be affected by intellectual disability (ID) or autism. Previously, VCX-A (variably charged protein X-A), located at Xp22.3, was introduced as a gene for ID and its presence was suggested to be sufficient to maintain normal mental development. Recent reports suggest that mutations in NLGN4 (neuroligin 4), located at that same region, are involved in autistic disorders and ID. METHODS: In the current case study, we clinically and molecularly describe a pedigree of three generations affected by contiguous gene syndrome that includes features of X-linked ichthyosis and Kallmann syndrome. RESULTS: Molecular analysis revealed the presence of an interstitial deletion spanning approximately 4.5Mb at Xp22.3. The centromeric breakpoint was localized between markers DXS1467 and DXS8051, proximal to KAL-1. The telomeric breakpoint was localized between markers DXS89 and DXS1060, distal to NLGN4. The deletion of VCX-A and NLGN4 in this family prompted us to examine the cognitive functions of our two adult patients using comprehensive intellectual and neurocognitive assessment. Normal intellectual function was found in one patient and mild ID was revealed in the other. Neither patient met any Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder, Fourth Edition criteria for a pervasive developmental disorder such as autism. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that deletion of VCX-A and NLGN4 can result in variable phenotypic features and that normal mental development can be achieved despite this deletion, emphasizing the importance of environmental factors and possible modifier genes.

Anderson's disease: no linkage to the apo B locus.

We describe three patients with Anderson's disease who are members of one family; the father and mother are close relatives and three of seven children show symptoms of the disease. All patients suffered from diarrhea, failure to thrive, and recurrent infections during infancy. Although these symptoms disappeared later in life, biochemical disorders (such as low plasma levels of apolipoproteins A1 and B and cholesterol, resulting in avitaminosis E, plus failure to secrete chylomicrons after a fat meal) persisted. Electron microscopy of enterocytes of one of the patients showed accumulation of lipid vacuoles with no significant aberration of the Golgi apparatus itself. It is possible, therefore, that the disease reflects a defect in chylomicron assembly. We found that low levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B48 were present in the patients' plasma. This suggests that the processing of the B100 message resulting in apo B48 functions normally. The possibility that a mutation in the apo B gene results in an abnormal apo B48 protein is very unlikely since a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism probe mapped to chromosome 2 failed to show correspondence of the parent alleles with the disease. These observations confirm the suggestion that Anderson's disease is not linked to the apo B locus.

[Familial hypobetalipoproteinemia with steatorrhea and malabsorption].

In a family in which the father was the mother's uncle, 3 of the 7 children were affected by a syndrome of malabsorption with various clinical symptoms. Diarrhea appeared in 2 of the children at birth, and in the third child at six months. The diarrhea led to failure-to-thrive, muscular wasting and abdominal swelling. However, the children improved spontaneously over the years. During childhood all 3 had manifest steatorrhea. Serum cholesterol was between 39 and 100 mg/dl, while triglycerides were normal to high. Reevaluation during the past year revealed areflexia, deficiency of vitamins A and E and of apoproteins A and B, and prolonged PT time in 2 of the children. Electron and light microscopy of small intestinal biopsies revealed vacuoles in the enterocytes. Electrophysiological tests revealed major disturbances in sensory conduction and brain-stem function. These cases differ from those described in the literature. Although in hypobetalipoproteinemia, 1 of the parents would be expected to be heterozygous and have low serum levels of APO B, in this family the parents had normal levels. Their children had low levels of serum APO A, while in patients with hypobetalipoproteinemia the levels are normal. There is a report of a case of deficiencies of both apolipoproteins, but the patient was asymptomatic, had chylomicronemia after a prolonged fast, and lower cholesterol levels than our patients. 8 other cases of apolipoprotein deficiency have been reported with biochemical characteristics similar to those of our patients, but with retention of chylomicrons in the small intestine.