Analysis of Taiwanese ichthyosis vulgaris families further demonstrates differences in FLG mutations between European and Asian populations.
BACKGROUND
Mutations in the gene encoding filaggrin (FLG) were identified to underlie ichthyosis vulgaris (IV) and also shown to predispose to atopic eczema. Until now, no FLG mutations have been described in the Taiwanese population.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate filaggrin mutations in the Taiwanese population and further to clarify the population genetics of filaggrin gene mutations in the Asian populations.


METHODS
In the present study, 12 individuals from four unrelated Taiwanese IV families were examined for FLG mutations. We carried out comprehensive sequencing of the entire FLG coding region using an overlapping polymerase chain reaction strategy.


RESULTS
We identified three FLG mutations in the Taiwanese IV families. One mutation E1795X was a previously unidentified FLG mutation, which might be specific to the Taiwanese. Interestingly, another FLG mutation 3321delA is prevalent in the Japanese population and the other mutation Q2417X was found in the Singaporean Chinese population. No FLG mutation identified in the white European population was found in the Taiwanese population.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that the Taiwanese population, as an East Asian group, share FLG mutations with both the Japanese and the Singaporean Chinese population. In addition, these results exemplify differences in the population genetics of filaggrin between Europe and Asia.
Hsu
C-K
CK
Department of Dermatology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan.
Akiyama
M
M
Nemoto-Hasebe
I
I
Nomura
T
T
Sandilands
A
A
Chao
S-C
SC
Lee
J Y-Y
JY
Sheu
H-M
HM
McLean
W H I
WH
Shimizu
H
H
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016112:Ichthyosis Vulgaris / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
C000717249:FLG protein, human; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins