title: Noonan, Costello and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes: dysregulation of the Ras-MAPK pathway.
abstract: A class of developmental disorders caused by dysregulation of the Ras-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade (the Ras-MAPK pathway) has emerged. Three of these disorders - Noonan, Costello and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndromes - have overlapping phenotypic features characterised by distinctive facial dysmorphia, cardiac defects, musculoskeletal and cutaneous abnormalities, and neurocognitive delay. The germline mutations associated with these disorders are in genes that encode proteins of the Ras-MAPK pathway. In vitro studies have determined that the overwhelming majority of these mutations result in increased signal transduction down the pathway, but usually to a lesser degree than somatic mutations in the same genes that are associated with cancer. The Ras-MAPK pathway is essential in the regulation of the cell cycle, differentiation, growth and senescence, so it is not surprising that germline mutations that affect its function have profound effects on development. Here we review the clinical consequences of the known molecular lesions associated with Noonan syndrome, Costello syndrome and cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome, and explore possible therapeutic modalities for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of California San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
authors.forename: William E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Tidyman
authors.forename: Katherine A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Rauen
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011905:Genes, ras; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D044542:LEOPARD Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation; D009634:Noonan Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020837:SOS1 Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013577:Syndrome; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C117307:KRAS protein, human; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020837:SOS1 Protein; C482119:BRAF protein, human; D048493:Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; D019908:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-raf; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C516724:PTPN11 protein, human; D054592:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins