DNA polymorphisms for the nerve growth factor receptor gene exclude its role in familial dysautonomia

Alleles for the single human nerve growth factor receptor gene (NGFR) on chromosome 17q can be distinguished by two polymorphic restriction sites for XmnI and one for HincII. The combined information content for haplotypes is quite high, making the NGFR locus an excellent genetic marker. Two of these polymorphisms were used to follow the inheritance of NGFR alleles in families with two or more members affected with familial dysautonomia. This rare disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive mode in the Ashkenazic Jewish population. Affected individuals show a severe depletion of NGF-dependent nerve populations from birth. Linkage analysis excluded a role for NGFR in this disease with odds of greater than 10(6):1 against the dysautonomia gene being within 1 centiMorgan of the mutation. In a previous study the gene for the beta subunit of NGF (NGFB) was also excluded in this disease. A possible role for other genes involved in NGF action or those coding for other developmentally determining neuronal factors is indicated.