title: Segmental neurofibromatosis is caused by somatic mutation of the neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) gene.
abstract: Segmental neurofibromatosis (NF) is generally thought to result from a postzygotic NF1 (neurofibromatosis type 1) gene mutation. However, this has not yet been demonstrated at the molecular level. Using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) we identified an NF1 microdeletion in a patient with segmental NF in whom café-au-lait spots and freckles are limited to a single body region. The mutant allele was present in a mosaic pattern in cultured fibroblasts from a café-au-lait spot lesion, but was absent in fibroblasts from normal skin as well as in peripheral blood leukocytes. These findings prove the hypothesis that the molecular basis of segmental cutaneous NF is a mutation in the NF1 gene and that the regional distribution of manifestations reflects different cell clones, commensurate with the concept of somatic mosaicism.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Medizinische Genetik, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. sigrid.tinschert@charite.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tinschert
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stegmann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buske
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thiel
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jenne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D009030:Mosaicism; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017253:Neurofibromatoses / Q000235:genetics*; D025542:Neurofibromin 1; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D025542:Neurofibromin 1