To investigate the gene mutation in a pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) and to explore the relationship between the mutation and its clinical manifestations, genomic DNA of affected members, the normal member of the pedigree and 50 unrelated normal members was extracted with a whole blood genomic DNA extraction kit and the DNA was used as a template for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-mediated amplification of exon 1 and exon 10 of the STS gene. hHb6 (human hair basic keratin) gene was used as the internal control. Our results showed that the STS gene was deleted in affected members in the pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis. The normal member of the pedigree and 50 unrelated normal members had no such deletion. The proband and his mother had products in the internal control after PCR amplification. The blank control had no product. It is concluded that deletion of the STS gene existed in this pedigree with X-linked ichthyosis, and it is responsible for the unique skin lesions of X-linked ichthyosis.
Gene Deletion ; Ichthyosis, X-Linked/*genetics ; Pedigree ; Steryl-Sulfatase/*genetics

AIMTo investigate the effect of adrenalectomy (ADX) on the epididymidis of Sprague-Dawley rats.

METHODSThe histological, biochemical (cholesterol protein, zinc, copper, alkaline and acid phosphatase aryl sulphatase, lactic dehydrogenase and leucine amino peptidase) and hormonal (FSH, LH and testosterone) changes of caput and cauda epididymis in ADX rats were observed.

RESULTSOrgan wet weight, histological studies and morphometric measurements indicated a cellular degeneration in caput and cauda epididymis of ADX rats. Serum testosterone level was significantly lower in ADX than in sham-operated rats, while the serum FSH and LH were below the detection limit of 1 mIU/mL. The enzymatic activity was higher in ADX than in sham-operated rats. Epididymal zinc level increased whereas copper level decreased in ADX rats compared to the sham-operated.

CONCLUSIONAdrenalectomy leads to degeneration of caput and cauda epididymidis epithelial cells as a result of decreased supply of testosterone.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Adrenalectomy ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Arylsulfatases ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Epididymis ; anatomy & histology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Leucyl Aminopeptidase ; metabolism ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Male ; Organ Size ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reference Values ; Testosterone ; blood ; Time Factors ; Zinc ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: The skin changes of X-linked recessive ichthyosis are cnused by the deficiency of the enzyme steroid sulfatase, which usually results from deletions of this gene in Caucasian populations. OBJECTIVE AND MEHTODS: To disgnose X-linked recessive ichthyosis and detect its carrier, we have investigated distinctive gene deletion and measured gene dosage of steroid sulfatase gene by southern blot hybridization in Korean patients with X-linked recessive ichthyosis. RESULTS: Patients from 8 of 9 unrelated families exhibited deletions, if the steroid sulfatase gene. Of 6 families showing a family history compatible with X-linked recessive inheritance, One family exhibited a normal pattern of hybridization. All but one family showed deletion of steroid sulfatase gene. All three patients lacking a fami1y history of the disease exhibited gene deletions. The ratio of the steroid sulfatsse specific band density to the Factor VIII specific band density was measured in 8 obligate carriers using a laser densitometer. The average ratio exhibited by the car riers was less than half that of normal women. Conclusian: These results suggest that the X-linked recessive ichth osis patient and its carrier can also be diagnosed and detected by Southern blot hybridization of steroid sulfatase gene in Korea.
Blotting, Southern* ; Diagnosis* ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Korea ; Skin ; Steryl-Sulfatase ; Wills

X-linked ichthyosis (XLI) is a metabolic disease with steroid sulfatase deficiency and often occurs at birth or shortly after birth. The encoding gene of steroid sulfatase, STS, is located on the short arm of the X chromosome, and STS deletion or mutation can lead to the development of this disease. This study collected the data on the clinical phenotype from a family, and the proband, a boy aged 11 years with full-term vaginal delivery, had dry and rough skin and black-brown scaly patches, mainly in the abdomen and extensor aspect of extremities. Peripheral blood samples were collected from each family member and DNA was extracted. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) was used to measure the copy number of STS on the X chromosome. Whole-genome microarray was used to determine the size of the segment with microdeletion in the X chromosome. MLPA was then used for prenatal diagnosis for the mother of the proband. The results revealed that the proband and another two male patients had hemizygotes in STS deletion. Gene microarray identified a rare deletion with a size of 1.6 Mb at Xp22.31 (chrX: 6,516,735-8,131,442). Two female family members were found to be carriers. Prenatal diagnosis showed that the fetus carried by the proband's mother was a carrier of this microdeletion. This study showed STS gene deletion in this family of XLI, which causes the unique skin lesions of XLI. MLPA is a convenient and reliable technique for the molecular and prenatal diagnosis of XLI.
Child ; Humans ; Ichthyosis, X-Linked ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Steryl-Sulfatase ; genetics

PURPOSE: To report the first case of steroid sulfatase (STS) gene deletion, confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis in identical twins with pre-Descemet corneal dystrophy associated with X-linked ichthyosis. CASE SUMMARY: 19-year old identical twin brothers with itching senses and hereditary thick scaly skin of the extremity and trunk visited our dermatologic clinic. Upon visiting, an ophthalmologic consultation with anterior segment examination showed diffuse punctate corneal opacities in the pre-Descemet layer. On MLPA analysis of the identical twin brothers, a definitive diagnosis of X-linked ichthyosis was made by identifying STS gene deletion. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the deletion and mutation of the involved gene using gene analysis can provide insight to diagnosis and clinical characteristics of X-linked ichthyosis.
Cornea ; Corneal Opacity ; Diagnosis ; Extremities ; Gene Deletion ; Humans ; Ichthyosis* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pruritus ; Siblings ; Skin ; Steryl-Sulfatase ; Twins, Monozygotic

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by a deficiency in arylsulfatase A (ARSA). However, decreased ARSA activity is also observed in pseudodeficiency (PD). To distinguish between MLD and PD, we performed gene mutation and sulfatide analyses by using dried blood spots (DBSs) from seven Korean individuals who underwent an analysis of ARSA activity. DNA was extracted from DBSs, and PCR-direct sequencing of ARSA was performed. The cDNA obtained was analyzed to confirm a novel mutation. Of the seven subjects, three were confirmed as having MLD, one was confirmed as having MLD-PD, one was confirmed as having PD, and the remaining two were obligate heterozygotes. We verified the novel pathogenic variant c.1107+1delG by performing familial and cDNA analyses. Sulfatide concentrations in DBSs were analyzed and were quantified by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Total sulfatide concentration was inversely correlated with ARSA activity (Spearman's coefficient of rank correlation, P=0.929, P=0.0025). The results of this mutational and biochemical study on MLD will increase our understanding of the genetic characteristics of MLD in Koreans.
Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Chromatography, Liquid ; DNA ; DNA, Complementary ; Heterozygote ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic* ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is the rare neurometabolic disease caused by the deficiency of the enzyme arylsulfatase A resulting in a deficiency of sulfatide degradation and the target gene is ARSA gene. We report a case of the late infantile form of MLD that was confirmed by means of enzyme assay and gene analysis with typical brain MRI and MR spectroscopy finding.
Brain ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Enzyme Assays ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Molecular Biology

OBJECTIVE: To explore the genetic basis for a child with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). METHODS: Clinical data of the patient was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of the child and his family members. Potential variant was screened by whole exome sequencing (WES), and candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity the variant was analyzed by multiple sequence alignment of the amino acid sequence and three-dimensional model prediction of its protein product. RESULTS: The child was found to harbor compound heterozygous variants c.257G>A (p.R86Q) and c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) of the ARSA gene, among which the c.467del (p.G156Afs*6) frameshift variation was unreported previously. Multiple sequence alignment showed that the site of the c.257G>A (p.R86Q) missense variant is highly conserved. Three-dimensional structure modeling analysis showed that the partial deletion due to the p.G156Afs*6 variant may cause significant alteration of the structure of ARSA protein. CONCLUSION The discovery of novel variant in ARSA has enriched the mutational spectrum of MLD and may facilitate the understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlation of MLD.
Cerebroside-Sulfatase/genetics* ; DNA ; Genetic Association Studies ; Humans ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic/genetics* ; Mutation

Metachromatic leukodystrophy is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of arylsulfatase A activity. The patient in this study, a 5-yr-old girl, presented with progressive psychomotor regression. An MRI image of her brain showed bilateral symmetrical demyelination. The arylsulfatase A activity in her leukocytes was decreased to 8.0 nmol/hr/mg protein (reference range, 25-80 nmol/hr/mg protein). Mutation analysis of ARSA, using PCR and direct sequencing, showed two heterozygote pathogenic variations of c.449C>T (p.Pro150Leu) and c.640G>A (p.Ala214Thr). In summary, we report a Korean patient with an early juvenile form of metachromatic leukodystrophy, who was diagnosed based on her clinical symptoms as well as by using biochemical, radiological, and molecular genetic investigations.
Brain ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Demyelinating Diseases ; Female ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Molecular Biology* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

The deletion 22q13 syndrome (Phelan-McDermid syndrome) is a rare microdeletion syndrome characterized by prominent neurobehavioral deficits including neonatal hypotonia, developmental delay, language delay, autism, and minor dysmorphic features. Due to nonspecific facial features and difficulties in detection in routine chromosome analysis, this chromosome deletion syndrome has gone under-diagnosed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is required to confirm the presence of this deletion. Here we report the first case of 22q13 deletion syndrome in Korea. An 18-month-old girl was admitted to a pediatric clinic due to severe developmental delay and hypotonia from the neonatal period. She was diagnosed as 22q13 deletion syndrome through a chromosomal analysis and FISH using arylsulfatase A probe.
Autistic Disorder ; Cerebroside-Sulfatase ; Chromosome Deletion ; Developmental Disabilities ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infant ; Korea ; Language Development Disorders ; Muscle Hypotonia