Linkage analysis of Von Recklinghausen neurofibromatosis: chromosomes 4 and 19

This report describes a study that examines the hypotheses of genetic linkage between the autosomal dominant disorder neurofibromatosis (NF) and loci on human chromosomes 4 and 19. Twelve Utah families were evaluated for evidence of possible linkage of NF to six known markers on chromosome 4 and five markers on chromosome 19. Due to previous reports suggesting tight linkage of NF to the GC locus on chromosome 4 and the C3 (linked to myotonic dystrophy) locus on chromosome 19, these two markers were of particular interest. For the Utah families the cumulative LOD score for GC was -4.81 (r = 0.05). Cumulative LOD scores were -0.90 (r = 0.05) and -1.01 (r = 0.05) for C3 serum determinations and a C3 DNA polymorphism respectively. Linkage data is also included on all individual informative families for the GC and C3 loci to specifically address the question of heterogeneity. Linkage data is consistent with, but does not strongly support, the existence of heterogeneity implicating both the GC locus on chromosome 4 and the C3 locus on chromosome 19. A compilation of cumulative LOD scores from this and other current linkage studies produces values that in the absence of heterogeneity refute previous reports for tight linkage of NF to GC and to C3.