Hypomyelination and Congenital Cataract

Version	Summary	Created by	Modification	Content Size	Created at	Operation
1		Camila Xu	+ 449 word(s)	449	2020-12-15 07:27:35

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/hypomyelination-and-congenital-cataract

Hypomyelination and congenital cataract is an inherited condition that affects the nervous system and the eyes.

genetic conditions

1. Introduction

Hypomyelination and congenital cataract is one of a group of genetic disorders called leukoencephalopathies. Leukoencephalopathies involve abnormalities of the brain's white matter. White matter consists of nerve fibers covered by a fatty substance called myelin. Myelin insulates nerve fibers and promotes the rapid transmission of nerve impulses. Hypomyelination and congenital cataract is caused by a reduced ability to form myelin (hypomyelination). Additionally, people with this disorder are typically born with a clouding of the lens (cataract) in both eyes.

People with this condition usually have normal development throughout the first year of life. Development slows around the age of 1. Most affected children learn to walk between the ages of 1 and 2, although they usually need some type of support. Over time they experience muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) in their legs, and many affected people eventually require wheelchair assistance. Weakness in the muscles of the trunk and a progressive abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis) further impair walking in some individuals. Most people with hypomyelination and congenital cataract have reduced sensation in their arms and legs (peripheral neuropathy). In addition, affected individuals typically have speech difficulties (dysarthria) and mild to moderate intellectual disability.

2. Frequency

The prevalence of hypomyelination and congenital cataract is unknown.

3. Causes

Mutations in the FAM126A gene cause hypomyelination and congenital cataract. The FAM126A gene provides instructions for making a protein called hyccin, the function of which is not completely understood. Based on the features of hypomyelination and congenital cataract, researchers presume that hyccin is involved in the formation of myelin throughout the nervous system. Hyccin is also active in the lens of the eye, the heart, and the kidneys. It is unclear how mutations in the FAM126A gene cause cataracts.

Most FAM126A gene mutations that cause hypomyelination and congenital cataract prevent the production of hyccin. People who cannot produce any hyccin have problems forming myelin, leading to the signs and symptoms of this condition.

People who have mutations that allow some protein production tend to have milder symptoms than those who produce no protein. These individuals typically retain the ability to walk longer, although they still need support, and they usually do not have peripheral neuropathy.

4. Inheritance

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, which means both copies of the gene in each cell have mutations. The parents of an individual with an autosomal recessive condition each carry one copy of the mutated gene, but they typically do not show signs and symptoms of the condition.

5. Other Names for This Condition

References

Biancheri R, Zara F, Bruno C, Rossi A, Bordo L, Gazzerro E, Sotgia F,Pedemonte M, Scapolan S, Bado M, Uziel G, Bugiani M, Lamba LD, Costa V, Schenone A, Rozemuller AJ, Tortori-Donati P, Lisanti MP, van der Knaap MS, Minetti C.Phenotypic characterization of hypomyelination and congenital cataract. AnnNeurol. 2007 Aug;62(2):121-7.
Rossi A, Biancheri R, Zara F, Bruno C, Uziel G, van der Knaap MS, Minetti C,Tortori-Donati P. Hypomyelination and congenital cataract: neuroimaging features of a novel inherited white matter disorder. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2008Feb;29(2):301-5.
Ugur SA, Tolun A. A deletion in DRCTNNB1A associated with hypomyelination and juvenile onset cataract. Eur J Hum Genet. 2008 Feb;16(2):261-4.
Zara F, Biancheri R, Bruno C, Bordo L, Assereto S, Gazzerro E, Sotgia F, Wang XB, Gianotti S, Stringara S, Pedemonte M, Uziel G, Rossi A, Schenone A,Tortori-Donati P, van der Knaap MS, Lisanti MP, Minetti C. Deficiency of hyccin, a newly identified membrane protein, causes hypomyelination and congenitalcataract. Nat Genet. 2006 Oct;38(10):1111-3.

©Text is available under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons-Attribution ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Upload a video for this entry

Information

Subjects: Genetics & Heredity

Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register :

Camila Xu

View Times: 221

Entry Collection: MedlinePlus

Update Date: 23 Dec 2020

Table of Contents

Video Upload Options

Confirm

1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References

Video Upload Options

Confirm

1. Introduction

2. Frequency

3. Causes

3.1. The gene associated with Hypomyelination and congenital cataract

4. Inheritance

5. Other Names for This Condition

References