Skewed X-chromosome inactivation in female carriers of dyskeratosis congenita.

Devriendt, K; Matthijs, G; Legius, E; Schollen, E; Blockmans, D; van Geet, C; Degreef, H; Cassiman, J J et al. · Am J Hum Genet · 1997

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In this study, we report on a family with X-linked dyskeratosis congenita (DC). Linkage analysis with markers in the factor VIII gene at Xq28 yielded a LOD score of 2 at a recombination of 0. Clinical manifestations of DC, such as skin lesions following the Blaschko lines, were present in two obligate carrier females. Highly skewed X inactivation was observed in white blood cells, cultured skin fibroblasts, and buccal mucosa from female carriers of DC in this family. This suggests a critical role for the DC gene in bone marrow-cell and fibroblast-cell proliferation.

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