Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder causing benign tumors in the brain and other vital organs. The genes implicated in disease development are TSC1 and TSC2. Here, we have performed mutational analysis followed by a genotype-phenotype correlation study based on the clinical characteristics of the affected individuals. Twenty unrelated probands or families from Greece have been analyzed, of whom 13 had definite TSC, whereas another 7 had a possible TSC diagnosis. Using direct sequencing, we have identified pathogenic mutations in 13 patients/families (6 in TSC1 and 7 in TSC2), 5 of which were novel. The mutation identification rate for patients with definite TSC was 85%, but only 29% for the ones with a possible TSC diagnosis. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) did not reveal any genomic rearrangements in TSC1 and TSC2 in the samples with no mutations identified. In general, TSC2 disease was more severe than TSC1, with more subependymal giant cell astrocytomas and angiomyolipomas, higher incidence of pharmacoresistant epileptic seizures, and more severe neuropsychiatric disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive TSC1 and TSC2 mutational analysis carried out in TSC patients in Greece.

The association of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), termed TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome, is a result of molecular defect demonstrating by deletion disrupting TSC2 and PKD1. Dermatopathology of this syndrome has never been addressed. We report 2 sporadic cases form of TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome, with emphasis on dermatopathologic findings. Both patients presented with a typical phenotype of TSC and early-onset renal polycystic requiring kidney transplantation in one of the patients. Of a total of 13 cutaneous lesions studied, there were 7 facial angiofibromas, 2 shagreen patches, 1 periungual fibroma, 1 hypopigmented macule, 1 epidermoid cyst, and 1 intradermal melanocytic nevus. The histological features were basically similar to those occurring in TSC, but some unusual features were identified. In both patients, deletions in the region of TSC2 and PKD1 were revealed performing by multiplex ligation probe amplification test. It is concluded that the histopathological features of skin lesions in this syndrome are similar to those encountered in TSC. Clinical awareness and appropriate molecular investigation of TSC2/PKD1 contiguous gene syndrome is necessary in all patients with a typical phenotype of TSC in infancy, adolescence, or adult age, because of severity of the renal alterations.

Background: STAT6 has an important role in the IL-4 / IL-13 signalling pathway. Genome - wide association studies have shown that particular polymorphism (SNP) or haplotype variants of STAT6 as well as epigenetic gene modifications are associa...