Clinicopathologic and molecular-pathologic approaches to Lowe's syndrome

The oculocerebrorenal syndrome of Lowe (OCRL), an X-linked disorder involving several organ systems, including the eyes, nervous system, and kidneys, is often difficult to diagnose because few pathologic data of diagnostic features about OCRL are available, and its rarity has hampered comprehensive investigations into its clinical spectrum. Recently, the genetic and biochemical abnormalities responsible for this syndrome have been reported. We have synthesized a cDNA probe of the OCRL locus using a polymerase chain reaction, in which there is no homology of cDNA sequence with human inositol polyphosphate-5-phosphatase (HUMINP5P); we have taken a genetic approach to diagnose this disorder in a 10-year-old male by using Northern blotting and have demonstrated the expression of mRNA in human tissues of a 17-week fetus by in situ hybridization. This paper presents a new method that should be an easy and helpful tool for diagnosing OCRL and that contributes a new aspect of this syndrome through in situ hybridization histochemical staining of normal fetal tissues.