Two Novel and Three Recurrent Mutations in the Mevalonate Pathway Genes in Chinese Patients with Porokeratosis

Abstract

Purpose: Porokeratosis (PK) is a chronic autosomal-dominant cutaneous keratinization disorder exhibiting clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Mevalonate decarboxylase (MVD), farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FDPS), phosphomevalonate kinase(PMVK), and mevalonate kinase genes(MVK), which encode the mevalonate pathway, are disease-causing genes in PK.

Patients and methods: Data and blood samples were collected from two Chinese families and five sporadic patients with porokeratosis. Whole-exome and Sanger sequencing were performed to detect pathogenic gene mutation in the patients.

Results: Five heterozygous mutations were identified, including a novel FDPS stop-gain mutation c.438T>G (p.Tyr146Ter), a novel MVD missense mutation c.683G>C (p.R228P), and three previously reported MVD mutations: c.746T>C (p.F249S), c.875A>G (p.N292S), and c.1111_1113del (p.371_371del). The novel FDPS c.438T>G mutation was predicted as "disease-causing" (p = 1) by Mutation Taster. The other novel MVD c.683G>C was also predicted as "deleterious" (score = 0.00) by Sorting Intolerant From Tolerant (SIFT), "probably damaging" (score = 1) by PolyPhen2, and "disease-causing" (p = 0.999) by Mutation Taster.

Conclusion: Our results extended the mutation spectrum of mevalonate pathway genes in porokeratosis and provided useful strategies for a more accurate diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Keywords: FDPS; MVD; genetics; mutation; porokeratosis.