title: Mutations in fibrillin-1 cause congenital scleroderma: stiff skin syndrome.
abstract: The predisposition for scleroderma, defined as fibrosis and hardening of the skin, is poorly understood. We report that stiff skin syndrome (SSS), an autosomal dominant congenital form of scleroderma, is caused by mutations in the sole Arg-Gly-Asp sequence-encoding domain of fibrillin-1 that mediates integrin binding. Ordered polymers of fibrillin-1 (termed microfibrils) initiate elastic fiber assembly and bind to and regulate the activation of the profibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta). Altered cell-matrix interactions in SSS accompany excessive microfibrillar deposition, impaired elastogenesis, and increased TGFbeta concentration and signaling in the dermis. The observation of similar findings in systemic sclerosis, a more common acquired form of scleroderma, suggests broad pathogenic relevance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Genetic Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Broadway Research Building, Room 539, 733 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Loeys
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Gerber
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Riegert-Johnson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Whiteman
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Chillakuri
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Macaya
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Coucke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Paepe
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Judge
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wigley
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Mardon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Handford
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Keene
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Dietz
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology; D020894:Microfibrils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000151:congenital* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013577:Syndrome; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D054392:Adipokines
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen; D004549:Elastin; D000071838:Fibrillin-1; D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C000605722:FBN1 protein, human; D054392:Adipokines