Clinical features of a novel TIMP-3 mutation causing Sorsby's fundus dystrophy: implications for disease mechanism.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the phenotype in three family members affected by a novel mutation in the gene coding for the enzyme tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3).


METHODS
Three members of the same family were seen with a history of nyctalopia and visual loss due to maculopathy. Clinical features were consistent with Sorsby's fundus dystrophy. Exon 5 of the gene coding for TIMP-3 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction, single strand conformation polymorphism analysis undertaken and exon 5 amplicons were directly sequenced.


RESULTS
Onset of symptoms was in the third to fourth decade. Five of six eyes had geographic macular atrophy rather than neovascularisation as a cause for central visual loss. Peripheral retinal pigmentary disturbances were present. Scotopic ERGs were abnormal in all three. Mutation analysis showed a G-->T transversion in all three resulting in a premature termination codon, E139X, deleting most of the carboxy terminal domain of TIMP-3.


CONCLUSIONS
The patients described had a form of Sorsby's fundus dystrophy which fell at the severe end of the spectrum of this disease. Postulated disease mechanisms include deposition of dimerised TIMP-3 protein.
Clarke
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK. M.P.Clarke@ncl.ac.uk
Mitchell
K W
KW
Goodship
J
J
McDonnell
S
S
Barker
M D
MD
Griffiths
I D
ID
McKie
N
N
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D004596:Electroretinography; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3 / Q000235:genetics*
D018389:Codon, Nonsense; D019717:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-3