HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Iida-Hasegawa, N. Articles by Kanai, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Iida-Hasegawa, N. Articles by Kanai, A.

Mutations in the CHST6 Gene in Patients with Macular Corneal Dystrophy: Immunohistochemical Evidence of Heterogeneity

¹From the Departments of Ophthalmology and ²Pathology, School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.

PURPOSE. Macular corneal dystrophy (MCD) is an autosomal recessive disorder leading to severe visual impairment. The carbohydrate sulfotransferase 6 (CHST6) gene, which encodes the corneal N-acetylglucosamine 6-O-sulfotransferase on 16q22 has been identified as a causative gene for MCD. The purpose of this study was to identify mutations in CHST6 in Japanese patients with MCD and evaluate them by means of immunohistochemistry.

METHODS. CHST6 was screened in 7 patients and 45 healthy control subjects. Genomic DNA was isolated, and the open reading frame (ORF) of CHST6 was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed by direct sequencing and restriction enzyme digestion. Immunohistochemistry with a monoclonal anti-keratan sulfate (KS) antibody was performed on corneas of four patients from three families.

RESULTS. Three novel mutations (P204Q, R205L, and R177H) and two previously reported mutations (R211W and A217T) were identified in the ORF of CHST6. P204Q, R205L, and R211W were found to be homozygous and R177H and A217T compound heterozygous with R211W on another allele. Immunohistochemistry revealed that R205L homozygous cornea had negative reactivity against the anti-KS antibody, representing type I MCD, and that R211W homozygous and R211W/A217T compound heterozygous corneas had negative or very weak reactivity in the stroma with antibody positive deposits, which were distinct from any previously reported types.

CONCLUSIONS. Two mutations (homozygoous R211W and compound heterozygous R211W/A217T) should be subclassified immunohistochemically into new phenotypes of MCD. This heterogeneity could provide further insights into the pathogenesis of MCD.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Kobayashi, K. Fujiki, T. Fujimaki, A. Murakami, and K. Sugiyama In Vivo Laser Confocal Microscopic Findings of Corneal Stromal Dystrophies Arch Ophthalmol, September 1, 2007; 125(9): 1168 - 1173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Aldave and B. Sonmez Elucidating the Molecular Genetic Basis of the Corneal Dystrophies: Are We There Yet? Arch Ophthalmol, February 1, 2007; 125(2): 177 - 186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Hayashida, T. O. Akama, N. Beecher, P. Lewis, R. D. Young, K. M. Meek, B. Kerr, C. E. Hughes, B. Caterson, A. Tanigami, et al. Matrix morphogenesis in cornea is mediated by the modification of keratan sulfate by GlcNAc 6-O-sulfotransferase PNAS, September 5, 2006; 103(36): 13333 - 13338. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]