CNP deficiency causes severe hypomyelinating leukodystrophy in humans

Hum Genet. 2020 May;139(5):615-622. doi: 10.1007/s00439-020-02144-4. Epub 2020 Mar 3.

Abstract

Myelin pathologies are an important cause of multifactorial, e.g., multiple sclerosis, and Mendelian, e.g., leukodystrophy, neurological disorders. CNP encodes a major component of myelin and its CNS expression is exclusive to myelin-forming oligodendrocytes. Deficiency of CNP in mouse causes a lethal white matter neurodegenerative phenotype. However, a corresponding human phenotype has not been described to date. Here, we describe a multiplex consanguineous family from Oman in which multiple affected members display a remarkably consistent phenotype of neuroregression with profound brain white matter loss. A novel homozygous missense variant in CNP was identified by combined autozygome/exome analysis. Immunoblot analysis suggests that this is a null allele in patient fibroblasts, which display abnormal F-actin organization. Our results suggest the establishment of a novel CNP-related hypomyelinating leukodystrophy in humans.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase / deficiency*
  • 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase / genetics
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mutation*
  • Pedigree
  • Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease / etiology*
  • Pelizaeus-Merzbacher Disease / pathology
  • Phenotype
  • Prognosis
  • Sequence Homology
  • Severity of Illness Index*

Substances

  • 2',3'-Cyclic Nucleotide 3'-Phosphodiesterase
  • CNP protein, human