Cathepsin C gene: First compound heterozygous patient with Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome and a novel symptomless mutation

Papillon-Lefèvre syndrome (PLS) has recently been shown to be caused by mutations in the cathepsin C gene resulting in periodontal disease and palmoplantar keratosis. Thirteen different homozygous mutations have been characterised in PLS patients of different ethnic origin. In the present paper, a PLS patient is described who carries two novel mutations (706G>T and 872G>A) in the paternal and maternal chromosomes, respectively. This is the first compound patient described so far. In addition, a novel symptomless mutation (458C>T) in the cathepsin C gene is described in three homozygous individuals. Thus, not all mutations should be considered as a cause of disease, whether case studies or general population screening is performed. Another already described mutation that provoked the Haim-Munk syndrome (HMS) in Indian Jews has also been found to give rise to PLS in a Spanish family from Madrid. On the other hand, PLS patients are ameliorated by retinoids, which indicates that retinoids may be used as therapeutic agents in this immune system deficiency.