Article Text
Abstract
Myelin protein zero (MPZ) is a major component of compact myelin in peripheral nerves where it plays an essential role in myelin formation and adhesion. MPZ gene mutations are usually responsible for demyelinating neuropathies, namely Charcot–Marie–Tooth (CMT) type 1B, Déjèrine–Sottas neuropathy and congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy. Less frequently, axonal CMT (CMT2) associated with MPZ mutations has been described. We report six patients (one sporadic case and five subjects from two apparently unrelated families) with a late onset, but rapidly progressive, axonal peripheral neuropathy. In all patients, molecular analysis demonstrated a novel heterozygous missense mutation (208C>T) in MPZ exon 2, causing the Pro70Ser substitution in the extracellular domain. The diagnosis of CMT2 associated with MPZ mutations should be considered in both sporadic and familial cases of late onset, progressive polyneuropathy. The mechanism whereby compact myelin protein mutations cause axonal neuropathy remains to be elucidated.
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Footnotes
Funding: This work was supported by Telethon and Telethon-UILDM (grants GUP02169 to DP, GUP04009 to FT and GTF02008 to MM), Fondazione Pierfranco e Luisa Mariani (grant R-05-44 to FT), Associazione Amici del Centro Dino Ferrari-University of Milan and Eurobiobank project QLTR-2001-02769 (grants to MM).
Competing interests: None.
- Abbreviations:
- CMT
- Charcot–Marie–Tooth
- MPZ
- myelin protein zero