BIGH3 gene mutations and rapid detection in Korean patients with corneal dystrophy.
OBJECTIVE
Mutations in the BIGH3 gene on chromosome 5q31 cause four distinct autosomal dominant corneal dystrophies. We sought to determine whether the BIGH3 gene mutation was responsible for corneal dystrophy in Korean patients.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was performed with the DNA from patients and healthy individuals. We sequenced the PCR products with the aberrant SSCP pattern to identify the mutation. Mutant-specific reverse primers were used to screen genomic DNA for the identified mutations.


RESULTS
We identified mutations R124C in the CDL1 family and R124H in four families with a granular dystrophy. We identified our granular dystrophy to be Avellino corneal dystrophy (ACD). Eighteen of 20 patients with a granular dystrophy contained the same R124H mutation, indicating that mutation R124H was very common in Korean patients with ACD. During this study, we identified a new polymorphism (T1667C, F540F).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report of mutations found in the BIGH3 gene in Korean families with corneal dystrophy. We report that the majority (90%) of ACD patients in Korea carry the R124H mutation. Mutant-specific reverse primers can be used to screen efficiently for CDL1 and ACD.
Kim
H S
HS
Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Catholic Research Institutes of Medical Science, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Yoon
S K
SK
Cho
B J
BJ
Kim
E K
EK
Joo
C K
CK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002895:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 / Q000235:genetics; D003317:Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein
D017931:DNA Primers; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000099222:betaIG-H3 Protein