Two siblings with immunodeficiency, facial abnormalities and chromosomal instability without mutation in DNMT3B gene but liability towards malignancy; a new chromatin disorder delineation?
BACKGROUND
ICF syndrome (standing for Immunodeficiency, Centromere instability and Facial anomalies syndrome) is a very rare autosomal recessive immune disorder caused by mutations of the gene de novo DNA-methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B). However, in the literature similar clinical cases without such mutations are reported, as well.


RESULTS
We report on a family in which the unrelated spouses had two female siblings sharing similar phenotypic features resembling ICF-syndrome, i.e. congenital abnormalities, immunodeficiency, developmental delay and high level of chromosomal instability, including high frequency of centromeric/pericentromeric rearrangements and breaks, chromosomal fragments despiralization or pulverization. However, mutations in DNMT3B could not be detected.


CONCLUSIONS
The discovery of a new so-called 'chromatin disorder' is suggested. Clinical, molecular genetic and cytogenetic characteristics are reported and compared to other 'chromatin disorders'.
Polityko
Anna
A
National Medical Center "Mother and Child", Orlovska Street 66, 220053 Minsk, Republic of Belarus. polityko@yahoo.com.
Khurs
Olga
O
Rumyantseva
Natalia
N
Naumchik
Irina
I
Kosyakova
Nadezda
N
Tönnies
Holger
H
Sperling
Karl
K
Neitzel
Heidemarie
H
Weise
Anja
A
Liehr
Thomas
T