Syndromic Craniosynostosis Can Define New Candidate Genes for Suture Development or Result from the Non-specifc Effects of Pleiotropic Genes: Rasopathies and Chromatinopathies as Examples.

Craniosynostosis is a heterogeneous condition caused by the premature fusion of cranial sutures, occurring mostly as an isolated anomaly. Pathogenesis of non-syndromic forms of craniosynostosis is largely unknown. In about 15-30% of cases craniosynostosis occurs in association with other physical anomalies and it is referred to as syndromic craniosynostosis. Syndromic forms of craniosynostosis arise from mutations in genes belonging to the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor (FGFR) family and the interconnected molecular pathways in most cases. However it can occur in association with other gene variants and with a variety of chromosome abnormalities as well, usually in association with intellectual disability (ID) and additional physical anomalies. Evaluating the molecular properties of the genes undergoing intragenic mutations or copy number variations (CNVs) along with prevalence of craniosynostosis in different conditions and animal models if available, we made an attempt to define two distinct groups of unusual syndromic craniosynostosis, which can reflect direct effects of emerging new candidate genes with roles in suture homeostasis or a non-specific phenotypic manifestation of pleiotropic genes, respectively. RASopathies and 9p23p22.3 deletions are reviewed as examples of conditions in the first group. In particular, we found that craniosynostosis is a relatively common component manifestation of cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome. Chromatinopathies and neurocristopathies are presented as examples of conditions in the second group. We observed that craniosynostosis is uncommon on average in these conditions. It was randomly associated with Kabuki, Koolen-de Vries/KANSL1 haploinsufficiency and Mowat-Wilson syndromes and in KAT6B-related disorders. As an exception, trigonocephaly in Bohring-Opitz syndrome reflects specific molecular properties of the chromatin modifier ASXL1 gene. Surveillance for craniosynostosis in syndromic forms of intellectual disability, as well as ascertainment of genomic CNVs by array-CGH in apparently non-syndromic craniosynostosis is recommended, to allow for improvement of both the clinical outcome of patients and the accurate individual diagnosis.

Introduction

The premature fusion of cranial sutures affects ~1 in 2,500 newborns in a condition known as craniosynostosis (Cohen and MacLean, 2000; Boulet et al., 2008). Craniosynostosis appears to be a highly heterogeneous condition, that can be caused by different genetic defects or by environmental injuries (Lattanzi et al., 2012, 2017). It occurs as an isolated anomaly in about 70–85% of cases (Wilkie et al., 2010; Greenwood et al., 2014; Heuzé et al., 2014), which are referred to as non-syndromic craniosynostosis. Both environmental factors, such as intrauterine fetal head constraint and prenatal valproate exposure, and gene variants following an oligogenic or monogenic pattern of pathogenesis, were shown to predispose to non-syndromic craniosynostosis (Hunenko et al., 2001; Heuzé et al., 2014). Of relevance, several of these gene variants involve transcription factors, growth factor receptors, including the FGFR family, and cytokines, that play an important role in bone morphogenesis.

In about 15–30% of cases craniosynostosis occurs in association with other physical anomalies, as a consequence of variable gene variants and different chromosome abnormalities and they are referred to as syndromic craniosynostosis. More than 180 craniosynostosis syndrome are currently known (Winter and Baraitser, 2011; McKusick and Hamosh, 2014). The most commonly mutated genes in syndromic craniosynostosis include FGFR2, FGFR3, and FGFR1, comprising the FGFR family (Johnson and Wilkie, 2011). The FGFRs bind to Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF), promoting growth and differentiation of mesenchymal and neuroectodermal cells. At a macroscopic level, FGFRs control cranial suture fusion. Using animal models, it has been demonstrated that mutated FGFRs lead to a defective FGF signal transduction which causes growth arrest of the cranium and the midface (Passos-Bueno et al., 2008; Holmes and Basilico, 2012).

Other genes with roles in the same morphogenic events regulated by the FGFR family have been described in craniosynostosis, including TWIST1 (TWIST family bHLH transcription factor 1; *601622), EFNB1(Ephrin B1; *300035), POR (Cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase; *124015), RAB23 (RAS-associated protein RAB23; *606144), and EFNA4 (Ephrin A4; *601380) (Merrill et al., 2006; Wilkie et al., 2007; Melville et al., 2010; Jezela-Stanek and Krajewska-Walasek, 2013).

On the other hand a variety of gene mutations outside the FGFR family (Twigg and Wilkie, 2015) and different chromosome abnormalities as well (including submicroscopic aberrations), such as trisomy 21, del (17q21.31) and dup(22q11) (Wilkie et al., 2010), have been consistently associated with syndromic craniosynostosis. A question of debate is whether craniosynostosis in these heterogeneous conditions can suggest new candidate genes, or it simply represents a non-specific effect of pleiotropic genes. Of relevance for possible targeted therapy, both non-syndromic and syndromic forms of craniosynostosis most likely share common molecular pathways.

In the present paper we have attempted to define two distinct groups of unusual syndromic craniosynostosis not related to mutations in genes coding for FGFRs, according to this different hypothesis of pathogenesis. Criteria for definition were molecular properties of the genes undergoing intragenic mutations or CNVs; prevalence of craniosynostosis in the reported conditions; animal models if available. The present review is not exhaustive for all syndromic forms of craniosynostosis.

Gene-related syndromic craniosynostosis

RASopathies and 9p23p22.3 deletions are reviewed as examples of conditions in this group.

RASopathies

RASopathies or RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) syndromes are conditions caused by germline mutations in several genes encoding proteins of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway characterized by overlapping phenotypes (Aoki et al., 2016). These disorders include neurofibromatosis type I, Legius syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (formerly called LEOPARD syndrome), Costello syndrome, cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC) syndrome, Noonan-like syndrome, hereditary gingival fibromatosis and capillary malformation–arteriovenous malformation. Beside many overlapping features, unique characteristics and specific genes are usually associated with each disorder.

Noonan syndrome (NS, OMIM 163950) is characterized by short stature, distinctive craniofacial features including a webbed or short neck, hypertelorism, downslanting palpebral fissures, ptosis, and low-set ears, congenital heart defects including pulmonary valve stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, bleeding and myeloproliferative disorders and mild neurocognitive delay (Aoki and Matsubara, 2013). NS is caused by mutations in PTPN11 (Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 11, *176876), SOS1 (SOS Ras/Rac Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 1, *182530), RAF1 (Raf-1 Proto-Oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase, *164760), KRAS (KRAS Proto-Oncogene, GTPase, *190070), BRAF (B-Raf Proto-Oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase, *164757), SHOC2 (SHOC2, Leucine Rich Repeat Scaffold Protein, *602775), RIT1 (Ras Like Without CAAX 1, *609591), NRAS (NRAS Proto-Oncogene, GTPase, *164790), RRAS (Related RAS Viral (R-Ras) Oncogene Homolog, *165090), RASA2 (RAS P21 Protein Activator 2, *601589), A2ML1 (Alpha-2-Macroglobulin Like 1, *610627), SOS2 (SOS Ras/Rho Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor 2, *611247), and LZTR1 (Leucine Zipper Like Transcription Regulator 1, *600574), although it is estimated that about 20% of the causative genes behind NS are still unidentified. Cardiofaciocutaneous (CFC, OMIM 115150) is characterized by failure to thrive, distinctive facial features with high forehead and bitemporal constriction, ectodermal abnormalities, including palmoplantar keratosis, congenital heart diseases and severe psychomotor retardation. CFC syndrome is caused by mutations in BRAF (B-Raf Proto-Oncogene, Serine/Threonine Kinase *164757) (about 70% of cases), MAP2K1 (Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase, *176872) and KRAS (KRAS Proto-Oncogene, GTPase, *190070).

Among RASopathies, craniosynostosis appears to be consistently associated with NS and CFC syndrome only, and with mutations limited to PTPN11, SHOC2, KRAS, and BRAF (Takenouchi et al., 2014; Addissie et al., 2015; Ueda et al., 2017). In the Ueda et al. report (2017), 3 out of 34 NS patients (9%) and 6 out of 18 CFC patients (33%) had craniosynostosis, and craniosynostosis affected all patients with mutations in KRAS. This strong genotype-phenotype association suggests specific mechanisms of pathology, worthy of investigation.

There is an interaction between FGFR and RAS/MAPK signaling pathways, as demonstrated by experiments in an FGFR mouse model where craniosynostosis is rescued using an inhibitor of RAS/MAPK signaling and by the fact that mutations in ERF (ETS2 repressor factor, *611888, a gene at the end of the FGFR-RAS/MAPK cascade) also cause craniosynostosis (Shukla et al., 2007; Takenouchi et al., 2014; Addissie et al., 2015). FGFRs act upstream of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, and some proteins participating in the RAS/MAPK signaling were observed to partially mediate dysregulated cranial development caused by mutations in FGFR genes (Shukla et al., 2007).

9p23p22.3 deletion and trigonocephaly

The incidence of trigonocephaly is 1:15,000 live births (Kimonis et al., 2007). The etiology is still unknown but it is well established that an association with chromosomal abnormalities exists, especially with monosomy 9p syndrome (OMIM 158170). Deletion of the 9p23p22.3 region gives rise to a contiguous gene syndrome characterized by intellectual disability, distinctive craniofacial dysmorphism including upslanting palpebral fissures, hypertelorism, epicanthal folds, small palpebral fissures, flat nasal bridge, long philtrum, micrognatia and midface hypoplasia, congenital heart defect, and trigonocephaly. Trigonocephaly/prominent forehead is described in about 80% of cases (Huret et al., 1988; Swinkels et al., 2008).

An analysis of the gene content of CNVs affecting the 9p22.3 region, as reported by Vissers et al. (2011), indicated that FREM1 (FRAS1-related extracellular matrix protein 1; *608944) could potentially be a major gene associated with trigonocephaly, through haploinsufficiency. Of note, micro-computed tomography based analyses of the human equivalent mouse suture revealed advanced fusion in mice homozygous for Frem1 mutant alleles (Vissers et al., 2011). However further studies are required to verify the association of FREM1 mutation and craniosynostosis.

Furthermore, it was suggested that trigonocephaly associated with 9p23p22.3 deletions is most likely oligogenic in pathogenesis. The receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase gene (PTPRD) was defined as another candidate gene for trigonocephaly by overlapping analysis of different chromosome deletions (Mitsui et al., 2013). PTPRD belongs to the protein tyrosine phosphatase family, playing essential roles in the regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase, growth, cell migration, and angiogenesis (Ortiz et al., 2014).

Syndromic craniosynostosis as a nonspecific feature of conditions caused by mutations in pleiotropic genes

Chromatinopathies and neurocristopathies are discussed in detail as examples of conditions in this group. Many chromosomal disorders with low frequency occurrence of craniosynostosis can be included in this group as well.

Chromatinopathies

Chromatinopathies refer to a highly heterogeneous group of syndromic conditions also defined as mendelian disorders of chromatin modification, in which the underlying genetic anomaly consists of disruption of one of the components of the epigenetic machinery. Targets of epigenetic modifications can be the DNA itself, through cytosine methylation; the methylation status is read by proteins that contain methyl-binding domains; DNA methylation of cytosines can be removed. Components of the epigenetic machinery targeting DNA include various enzymes with roles in each of these steps, thus acting as writers, readers, and erasers, respectively. Epigenetic modifications can target the DNA-associated histone proteins as well. Similar to DNA modifications, the histone machinery in this case consists of writers, readers, and erasers but also of remodelers, which have a role in balancing the open or compact status of the chromatin leading to transcription regulation (Fahrner and Bjornsson, 2014).

Chromatinopathies can be caused by mutations in genes in each category of the epigenetic machinery, including writers (i.e., Kabuki 1, Sotos, Kleefstra, Koolen-De-Vries/KANSL1 haploinsufficiency, Rubinstein-Taybi, KAT6B-related syndromes); readers (i.e., Smith-Magenis, Rett syndromes), erasers (i.e., Kabuki 2, Townes-Brock, Bohring-Opitz syndromes) and chromatin remodellors (i.e., ATRX, CHARGE, Floating-Harbor syndromes). About 44 Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery have been described so far (reviewed by Bjornsson, 2015).

Chromatinopathies are characterized by distinctive features, both genetically and clinically. First, mutations affecting the epigenetic machinery are expected to have widespread downstream epigenetic consequences, accounting for great pleiotropy of the genetic defect. Supporting this concept, although the most frequent clinical manifestation is intellectual disability, suggesting that maintenance of the normal epigenotype is important for neuronal homeostasis, a wide variety of additional anomalies can occur, including limb malformations, disorders of the neuronal migration, immune dysfunction, growth impairment and skeletal anomalies. Craniosynostosis has been described as a consistent, although unusual, feature of 4 out of 44 Mendelian disorders of the epigenetic machinery (reviewed by Bjornsson, 2015). One can speculate that the final phenotype in individual patients can reflect not only balance disruption of the different compartments of the epigenetic machinery (Paro, 1995), but also the molecular constitution of the target genes (Law et al., 2010).

All these reasons can likely account for the usually low frequency of craniosynostosis in chromatinopathies and for its association with specific conditions as well.

To the best of our knowledge, craniosynostosis has been described in some patients with Kabuki syndrome, Koolen-De-Vries/KANSL1 haploinsufficiency syndrome, Bohring-Opitz syndrome and KAT6B-related disorders.

Kabuki syndrome (KS)

Kabuki syndrome (KS, OMIM 147920) is a rare monogenic condition characterized clinically by distinctive facial dysmorphisms featuring the makeup used in traditional Japanese Kabuki theater, with arched eyebrows, long eyelashes and everted lower lids (Niikawa et al., 1988). Additional features include intellectual disability of different degrees, short stature, persistent fingertip pads and skeletal abnormalities. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) represent another important component manifestation. KS can be caused by mutations in KMT2D (Lysine-specific methyltransferase 2D, previously MLL2, *602113), most frequently (referred to as KS1) (Ng et al., 2010), or in KDM6A (Lysine-specific demethylase 6A, *300128) (referred to as KS2) (Lederer et al., 2012; Miyake et al., 2013). KMT2D is a component of the SET-domain-containing family of histone methyltransferases, enzymes that trimethylates histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me3), in transcriptionally active genes (Smith et al., 2011). On the contrary, KDM6A is involved in gene silencing by removal of H3K27me3 mark (Hübner and Spector, 2011). Thus, both proteins act in promoting transcription of downstream genes through epigenetic modifications.

Several literature reports support the evidence that craniosynostosis is a component manifestation of the KS phenotype, emphasizing the importance of the accurate clinical assessment of children with craniosynostosis. In the literature, the prevalence of craniosynostosis in KS is about 6% (Armstrong et al., 2005; Topa et al., 2017). KMT2D was tested in one patient only, with positive results (Topa et al., 2017).

Koolen-de vries/KANSL1 haploinsufficiency syndrome

KANSL1 (KAT8 regulatory NSL complex, subunit 1) haploinsufficiency syndrome, also referred to as Koolen–De Vries syndrome (OMIM 610443), is characterized by highly typical facial features, including long and prominent philtrum, pear-shaped nose, everted lower lip and sparse eyebrows, mild-to-moderate intellectual disability, hypotonia and friendly behavior. Epilepsy, kidney anomalies and heart defects are also detected in about half of the patients. This condition is quite prevalent among ID patients, and it affects about 1:16,000 subjects among general population (Koolen et al., 2008). It was first described as a genomic disorder caused by a recurrent 0.450–0.600 Mb deletion on chromosome 17q21.31. However loss-of-function mutations in the KANSL1 gene, residing in the deletion interval, were demonstrated to be sufficient in causing a full clinical phenotype (Koolen et al., 2012; Zollino et al., 2012).

KANSL1 is a member of a histone acetyltransferase complex that plays important roles in transcription regulation of many genes by acetylating histone H4 on lysine 16 (H4K16). Acetylation of H4K16 is known to play a pivotal role in transcription stimulation by inhibiting the compaction of 30 nm chromatin fibers. KANSL1 is also capable of acetylating non-histone substrates, namely p53 protein on lysine 120, and KANSL1 is essential for the transcription of p53 target genes (Huang et al., 2012).

We recently characterized both clinically and genetically a cohort of 32 patients with KANSL1 haploinsufficiency syndrome, of whom 27 had a 17q21.31 deletion, and 5 an intragenic KANSL1 mutation (Zollino et al., 2015). One of these cases had scaphocephaly, which required surgical correction at age 3 months.

We further analyzed 10 novel patients with KANSL1 haploinsufficiency syndrome, of whom 9 had a 17q21.31 deletion and one a de novo intragenic mutation in KANSL1 (c.1652+2 T>C; p.L552FfsX14). Notably, one patient with a chromosome deletion had sagittal craniosynostosis, which was surgically corrected at 4 months. Detailed information are part of a forthcoming clinically oriented paper.

Overall, craniosynostosis affected 2 out of 42 patients in our cohort (5%), who both underwent direct sequencing of FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR1 and TWIST1, with normal results. It occurred in association with 17q21.31 deletion in both patients.

Craniosynostosis has been described also in other patients carrying a 17q21.31 microdeletion. Specifically, clinical signs reported in these patients consist of sagittal synostosis (Koolen et al., 2008; Sharkey et al., 2009), scaphocephaly (Dubourg et al., 2011; Koolen et al., 2016) and in general an abnormally shaped skull (dolichocephaly, metopic ridge, bitemporal narrowing, trigonocephaly, brachycephaly, frontal bossing) (Koolen et al., 2016). It was demonstrated that loss-of-function mutations in KANSL1 are sufficient to cause the full clinical phenotype associated with 17q21.31 deletions. Accordingly, whether craniosynostosis can reflect haploinsufficiency of contiguous genes in this region is questionable.

KAT6B-related disorders

The gene KAT6B (Lysine acetyltransferase 6B, *605880) encodes a histone acetyltransferase. This protein, which is part of the MOZ/MORF complex, also plays a role in transcriptional activation and repression and could be involved in brain development. KAT6B-related disorders include a great spectrum of conditions caused by heterozygous mutations in KAT6B (Clayton-Smith et al., 2011). These conditions were first described as separate entities, including Say-Barber-Biesecker-Young-Simpson syndrome (SBBYSS, OMIM 603736) and its variant Ohdo syndrome (OMIM 249620), and genitopatellar syndrome (GTPTS, OMIM 606170). KAT6B-related disorders are characterized by intellectual disability and by a variable association of additional features, including a distinctive facial dysmorphism with mask-like face, blepharophimosis, ptosis, broad nasal tip, dislocated or hypoplastic patellae and skeletal anomalies. Recently, 2 patients with sagittal craniosynostosis and clinical manifestations consistent with the Lin-Gettig syndrome phenotype have been described as carriers of de novo frameshift mutations in KAT6B. Interestingly, both patients had features overlapping those of SBBYSS and GTPTS (Bashir et al., 2017), suggesting that Lin-Gettig syndrome is in the spectrum of KAT6B-related disorders as well.

Bohring-opitz syndrome

As exception among chromatinopathies, in Bohring-Opitz syndrome (BOPS; OMIM 605039) craniosynostosis rather reflects specific molecular properties of the causative gene.

BOPS is a malformation syndrome characterized by severe intrauterine growth retardation, intellectual disability, and a constellation of highly distinctive additional anomalies, including exophthalmos, nevus flammeus of the face and joints deviation of upper limbs. A key diagnostic feature in BOPS is trigonocephaly, described in 90% of patients (Hoischen et al., 2011; Magini et al., 2012; Dangiolo et al., 2015). In 2011, ASXL1 was identified as the causative gene of this condition (Hoischen et al., 2011). De novo heterozygous mutations, which are mostly non-sense or truncating in nature, are detected in most patients. The gene ASXL1 (Additional sex combs-like 1, *612990) is involved in the activation and silencing of the HOX genes and in chromatin remodeling (Hoischen et al., 2011). Trigonocephaly was detected in 9/10 BOPS patients with a proven mutation in ASXL1 (Hoischen et al., 2011; Magini et al., 2012; Dangiolo et al., 2015) and in 28/30 patients not tested for this gene (Hastings et al., 2011).

Neurocristopathies

Mowat–wilson syndrome

Mowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS; OMIM 235730) is a haploinsufficiency syndrome caused by heterozygous deletions or mutations in the ZEB2 gene. In addition to moderate to severe ID, typical clinical features are craniofacial anomalies with hypertelorism, deep-set eyes, broad and medially flared eyebrows, wide nasal bridge, prominent nasal tip and columella, M-shaped upper lip, pointed triangular chin, linearized mandibular bones, cupped ears with upturned lobules and microcephaly. In addition, MWS patients have moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, Hirschsprung disease and multiple congenital anomalies, covering genital anomalies, congenital heart disease and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Over 200 patients have been described so far with a proven loss-of-function variant in ZEB2 (Dastot-Le Moal et al., 2007; Garavelli and Mainardi, 2007; Garavelli et al., 2009; Zollino et al., 2011). The heterogeneous basic genomic defect consists in chromosome 2q21-q23 deletions in a few patients, and in variable loss-of-function intragenic mutations in most. The ZEB2 gene (Zinc finger E box-binding homeobox 2, *605802) is a member of the ZFH1 (ZEB) family of two-handed zinc finger/homeodomain proteins, which are transcription factors playing an important role during embryonic development (Verschueren et al., 1999). In particular, they are involved in the “epithelial to mesenchymal transition” (EMT) process, permitting epithelial cells to undergo mesenchymal differentiation, which is essential for many morphogenetic events. The role of ZEB2 in cranial suture development is not clear and needs to be addressed at a molecular level. However, it may be related to any of the following aspects: (a) ZEB2 interaction with Smad transcription factors implies an involvement in the TGFβ signaling pathway, which plays an important role in modulating suture fusion and includes some proteins already known to be disrupted in some forms of craniosynostosis; (b) ZEB2 acts to repress mesoendodermal genes to induce neuroectoderm formation, and dysregulation of this process might affect the suture mesoderm and result in bad fusion timing; (c) ZEB2 is also a regulator of neural crest cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a role that it shares with TWIST, an important regulator of cranial suture development during embryogenesis and haploinsufficiency of which causes Saethre-Chotzen syndrome (Hegarty et al., 2015). The use of animal models, such as Xenopus (van Grunsven et al., 2007), mice (Van de Putte et al., 2003), and studies on human cells as well (Espinosa-Parrilla et al., 2002), demonstrated that ZEB2 is implicated in neuroectoderm development. In human embryos, ZEB2 is widely expressed in all the central nervous system, in facial neuroctoderm, in craniofacial bones and in the middle ear region. Defective expression in these areas corresponds to specific clinical signs, such as agenesis of corpus callosum (diencephalon), epilepsy (mesencephalon), intellectual disability (rhombencephalon), facial dysmorphisms (facial neuroctoderm), abnormal mandibular bones (craniofacial bones), typical ear conformation (ear region surrounding the developing ossicles).

It is worth stating that the ablation of the neural crest precursor-specific gene Zfhx1b (Zinc finger homeobox 1B, alternative name for ZEB2) in mice leads to many malformations reflecting the MWS phenotype (Van de Putte et al., 2003). Based on this evidence, MWS can be considered a syndromic form of neurocristopathy.

In the literature, craniosynostosis has been described in 4 out of 214 MWS cases (1.9%; Adam et al., 2008; Hartill et al., 2014; Wenger et al., 2015). Thus, craniosynostosis appears to be unusual in MWS patients, raising the question as to whether it represents only a coincidental finding. However, craniosynostosis in MWS is linked to ZEB2 haploinsufficiency, most likely, as we previously suggested (Wenger et al., 2015).

Syndromic conditions with gene-related craniosynostosis, or with craniosynostosis as a non-specific effect of pleiotropic genes, are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Examples of unusual syndromic forms of craniosynostosis reflecting the pathogenic role of new candidate genes (Group 1) or nonspecific effects of pleiotropic genes (Group 2).

		Patients		References
		n	%
GROUP 1
Gene-related syndromic craniosynostosis
RASopathies
PTPN11	Noonan syndrome	3/34	9%	Ueda et al., 2017
KRAS	Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome or Noonan syndrome	12/80	15%	Addissie et al., 2015; Ueda et al., 2017
BRAF	Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome	4/10	40%	Ueda et al., 2017
9p23p22.3 deletions
FREM1		3/104*	2.9%	Vissers et al., 2011
PTPRD		1		Choucair et al., 2015
GROUP 2
Craniosynostosis as non-specific sign of pleiotropic genes
Chromatinopathies
del 17q21.31 (KANSL1 haploinsufficiency)	Koolen-de Vries syndrome	14/116	12%	Koolen et al., 2008; Sharkey et al., 2009; Dubourg et al., 2011 Zollino et al., 2015 and personal data; Koolen et al., 2016
KMT2D**	Kabuki syndrome	3/486 ***	6%	Gillis et al., 1990; Ewart-Toland et al., 1998 David et al., 2004; Geneviève et al., 2004 Armstrong et al., 2005 Martínez-Lage et al., 2010 Topa et al., 2017
KAT6B	KAT6B-related disorders	2/36	5.5%	Gannon et al., 2015; Bashir et al., 2017
ASXL1	Bohring-Opitz syndrome	9/10****	90%	Hoischen et al., 2011; Magini et al., 2012; Dangiolo et al., 2015
Neurocristopathies
ZEB2	Mowat–Wilson syndrome	4/214	1.9%	Adam et al., 2008; Hartill et al., 2014; Wenger et al., 2015

These variants have been identified also in control individuals and they have been reported in different databases (ExAC; gnomAD) so their pathogenic relevance remains uncertain.

KMT2D tested in only one out of 9 Kabuki syndrome patients with craniosynostosis, with positive results (Topa et al., .

Single case reports. In only one paper (Geneviève et al., .

Trigonocephaly has been described also in an additional 28/30 Bohring-Opitz syndrome patients who received a clinically based diagnosis of this condition (Hastings et al., .

Concluding remarks

Syndromic forms of craniosynostosis are clinically and genetically heterogeneous, with genomic defects including both quantitative chromosome abnormalities and intragenic mutations. Most cases arise from disruption of the morphogenic events regulated by the FGFR family proteins and their interconnected signaling pathways.

However, mutations in other genes not involved in these pathways and several chromosome abnormalities have been consistently associated with craniosynostosis, reflecting either a gene-related mechanism or pleiotropy of the mutated genes. Among the first group, RASopathies, Bohring-Opitz syndrome, and selected chromosome alterations, such as 9p23p22.3 deletions, can allow for definition of new candidate genes and for likely targeted therapy. On the other hand, craniosynostosis in chromatinopathies and neurocristopathies, and in many chromosome alterations as well, rather reflects pleiotropy of the associated genes, leading to widespread impairment of gene transcription.

Although, most non-FGFR-related syndromic conditions with craniosynostosis are associated with intellectual disability and physical dysmorphisms, both cognitive impairment and dysmorphisms can be very mild. Furthermore, cognitive impairment, usually of very mild degree, can affect a subset of individuals with non-syndromic craniosynostosis. On this evidence, ascertainment of additional signs by extensive clinical evaluation of all patients with craniosynostosis is recommended, and a wider application of whole genome investigations, namely array-CGH, is recommended as well.

Finally, surveillance for craniosynostosis could be planned in many syndromic forms of intellectual disability, for the benefit of early diagnosis and early therapy.

Author contributions

MZ conceived the studies and wrote the manuscript. SL and GM analyzed data and wrote the manuscript. DO, SF, and PD performed experiments. IC and EM recruited patients. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.