Genetic, clinical and pathological studies of CADASIL in Japan: a partial contribution of Notch3 mutations and implications of smooth muscle cell degeneration for the pathogenesis.

We have examined Notch3 mutations in patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) whose samples were submitted to us in Japan. The subjects were composed of 21 Japanese, 1 Iranian, 1 Korean and 1 Canadian families. Mutations in the Notch3 gene were found in 7 of 24 families examined. These were R133C in two unrelated Japanese families, and R213K, C174F and R169C in each Japanese family. In addition, we have found R90C in an Iranian family and C174R in a Korean family. Thus, contribution of Notch3 gene mutations is less than one fourth of Japanese CADASIL families, suggesting the existence of other causative genes in CADASIL. It is also of interest to know that Notch3 mutant CADASIL exists in other Asian countries. We next examined the localization of Notch3 protein in the tissue by immunohistochemistry. It was restricted to the wall of arterioles in the brain and other organs. In the brain, there was no difference in the staining pattern among arterioles in the cortex, white matter and meninges. The staining was negative in the venule and capillaries as well as in neurons and glial cells. From the staining pattern, it was recognized to be expressed in the vascular smooth muscle cells in the adult tissue. In an autopsy case with R213K mutation, we could see numerous cerebral infarcts and arteriole wall degeneration with deposits of granular osmiophilic material (GOM). However, it is interesting to note that occlusion of arterioles was rarely observed and the GOM was negative for Notch3 staining. These findings suggest that hemodynamic abnormalities due to smooth muscle cell degeneration may be important in the pathogenesis of CADASIL.