Family-based whole exome sequencing of atopic dermatitis complicated with cataracts

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common skin disorder with elevated prevalence. Cataract induced by AD rarely occurs in adolescent and young adult patients, which is also called atopic cataract. Using whole exome sequencing, we aimed to explore genetic alterations among AD and atopic cataract.

We recruited a 19 year-old Chinese male with AD accompanied with cataracts, his father with AD and his mother without AD or cataract. Through analysis of the exomic sequence of the 3 individuals from the same family, we identified that with respect to AD, there were 162 genes mutated in both this patient and his father but not in his mother. In addition, we found 10 genes mutated in this patient only without in his parents according to cataract.

This research suggests that coinheritance of mutations in these genes may correlate with AD, and the pathogenesis of AD complicated with cataracts was related to genetic factors.