A novel seven-base deletion of the CTSC gene identified in a Hungarian family with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome.

Papillon-Lefévre syndrome (PLS; OMIM 245000) is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by symmetrical palmoplantar hyperkeratosis and periodontal inflammation, causing loss of both the deciduous and permanent teeth. PLS develops due to mutations in the cathepsin C gene, CTSC. Recently we have identified a Hungarian PLS family with two affected siblings. Direct sequencing of the coding regions of the CTSC gene revealed a novel seven-base deletion leading to frameshift and early stop codon in the fourth exon of the CTSC gene (c.681delCATACAT, p.T188fsX199). The affected family members carried the mutation in homozygous form, while the clinically unaffected family members carried the mutation in heterozygous form. The unrelated controls carried only the wild type sequence. In this paper we report a novel homozygous deletion of seven bases on the CTSC gene leading to the development of PLS. Since consanguineous marriage was unknown in the investigated family, the presence of the homozygous seven-base deletion of the CTSC gene may suggest that the parents are close relatives.