Genetics of Meesmann corneal dystrophy: a novel mutation in the keratin 3 gene in an asymptomatic family suggests genotype-phenotype correlation

• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion

Abstract

Purpose: Juvenile epithelial corneal dystrophy of Meesmann (MCD, OMIM 122100) is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by fragility of the anterior corneal epithelium and intraepithelial microcyst formation. Although the disease is generally mild and affected individuals are often asymptomatic, some suffer from recurrent erosions leading to lacrimation, photophobia, and deterioration in visual acuity. MCD is caused by mutations in keratin 3 (KRT3) or keratin 12 (KRT12) genes, which encode cornea-specific cytoskeletal proteins. Seventeen mutations in KRT12 and two in KRT3 have been described so far. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic background of MCD in a Polish family.

Methods: We report on a three-generation family with MCD. Epithelial lesions characteristic for MCD were visualized with slit-lamp examination and confirmed by in vivo confocal microscopy. Using genomic DNA as a template, all coding regions of KRT3 and KRT12 were amplified and sequenced. Presence of the mutation was verified with restriction endonuclease digestion.

Results: In the proband, direct sequencing of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product from amplified coding regions of KRT3 and KRT12 revealed a novel 1493A>T heterozygous missense mutation in exon 7 of KRT3, which predicts the substitution of glutamic acid for valine at codon 498 (E498V). Using PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, the mutation was demonstrated to segregate with the disease (four affected members, three non-affected) and to be absent in 100 controls from the Polish population, indicating that it is not a common polymorphism.

Conclusions: Location of the E498V mutation emphasizes the functional relevance of the highly conserved boundary motifs at the COOH-terminus of the α-helical rod domain in keratin 3 (K3).

Keratins are intermediate filament proteins that form a dense fibrous scaffold within the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Based on the amino acid sequence, they are classified into type I or type II intermediate filaments, which are expressed in pairs and form obligate heterodimers in a tissue-specific and differentiation-specific manner. The predominant function of these structurally resilient polymeric proteins is to impart mechanical strength to the cells [1]. In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that keratins also have regulatory functions influencing cell size, proliferation, translation control, organelle transport, malignant transformation, and stress responses [2].

Mutations in keratin genes result in an abnormal fragility of epithelial cells, leading to their detachment, blistering of tissues in response to even mild physical trauma, and impaired keratinization [1,3]. Keratin mutations were detected in several human diseases affecting the epidermis and/or its appendages, e.g., epidermolysis bullosa simplex (a group of heritable skin blistering disorders), keratoderma disorders, and hair and nail defects. They were also found in extracutaneous epithelia such as mucosa and corneal epithelium [1].

The only known disorder associated with mutation in cornea-specific keratin 3 (KRT3) and keratin 12 (KRT12) representing type II and I intermediate filaments, respectively, is Meesmann corneal dystrophy (MCD) [4]. As with many other keratin disorders, MCD is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable expression. The majority of mutations were found in KRT12 and only two in KRT3 [4-6]. All of them are located in the central α-helical rod domain responsible for protein heterodimerization and higher order polymerization. They cluster in the highly conserved boundary segments of the rod domain either within its NH₂- (1A subdomain) or COOH- (2B subdomain) terminus [7].

MCD is characterized by fragility of the anterior corneal epithelium, which may lead to its recurrent erosions. Morphologically, the epithelium is disorganized and thickened with widespread cytoplasmic vacuolation and numerous small, round, keratin aggregate-laden intraepithelial microcysts [5,8]. They appear in childhood and increase in number with age. Although the disease is generally mild, some patients present with symptoms of lacrimation, photophobia, and intermittent diminution of visual acuity [8].

Here, we present the results of a clinical and molecular study of a previously unreported Polish family with MCD in whom a novel missense mutation in exon 7 of KRT3 was found to segregate with disease. The E498V mutation affects a highly conserved amino acid [9] at the COOH-terminus of the K3 rod-domain and represents the third mutation to be detected in this gene. Other mutations found in KRT3 and KRT12 to date are also reviewed.

A three-generation Polish family with four affected individuals was studied. All subjects gave informed consent in accordance with the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki. A complete ophthalmological check-up including slit-lamp examination and confocal microscopy in vivo by Rostock Cornea Module (RCM) for HRT II (Heidelberg Engineering, Dossenheim, Germany), a preferred laser scanning confocal microscope for corneal epithelium evaluation [10], were performed.

Genomic DNA was extracted from blood obtained from all available family members (n=7). Control DNA samples came from a repository of anonymous samples (n=100, female:male ratio 1:1) representative of the background population of Central Poland, which has been described previously [11]. Ophthalmologic status of these individuals was not known.

DNA mutation screening was performed by amplifying the entire coding region of KRT3 and KRT12 with primers located in the noncoding sequences and designed based on the reference sequences of the respective genes, NM_057088 and NM_000223. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed at 94 °C for 2 min followed by 35 cycles at 94 °C for 45 s, 57–63 °C for 90 s, 72 °C for 60 s, and 72 °C for 10 min. Primer sequences and annealing temperatures for each primer set are given in Table 1. PCR products were examined on 1% agarose gels and then sequenced using an ABI PRISM 377 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) and BigDye Termiantion cycle sequencing kit v. 3.1 (Applied Biosystems).

The mutation in exon 7 was verified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis using HphI (MBI Fermentas, Vilnius, Lithuania). The PCR reaction was performed with the same primers as used for sequencing (Table 1), and the digestion was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The digestion products were separated by electrophoresis in 2% agarose gels and visualized by ethidium bromide staining. In the presence of the E498V mutation, the digestion resulted in the bands of 304 bp and 260 bp whereas in the wild type homozygotes, only a 304 bp band was observed. The PCR-RFLP analysis was used to screen family members and 100 control DNA samples. All family members in whom the E498V mutation was found by PCR-RFLP were also analyzed by direct sequencing.

In the proband (III-1, 24 years old), the diagnosis of MCD was made on the basis of the typical clinical appearance of the corneal microcysts, which were detected in both eyes during routine eye examination (Figure 1 and Figure 2). They were also found in three other family members I-2 (71 years old), II-2 (49 years old), and III-2 (23 years old; Figure 3B). Patients I-2, II-2, and III-1 were hyperopic from early childhood. None of the affected family members complained about typical symptoms of MCD.

The pedigree of the examined family was consistent with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance (Figure 3B). Since most mutations in MCD patients were found in exons 1 and 6 of KRT12 and the remaining two in exon 7 of KRT3, these coding regions were initially sequenced in both the forward and the backward directions in the proband. The analysis revealed the presence of a novel heterozygous 1493A>T transversion in exon 7 of KRT3 (Figure 3A). The mutation predicts a glutamate to valine amino acid change at codon 498 (E498V) within the region of highly conserved 2B rod domain segment in K3. Sequencing of the remaining coding regions of KRT3 in the proband did not show any alterations.

The E498V mutation creates a recognition site for the HphI endonuclease. The PCR-RFLP analysis showed that the E498V mutation cosegregated with the MCD phenotype in the studied family members (Figure 3B,C). Using this method, DNA samples from 100 subjects from the background population of central Poland were also screened, and no carriers were found.

Sequencing of KRT12 exon 1 of from the proband revealed the presence of a common coding homozygous non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (rs11650915). Additionally, a previously unreported heterozygous substitution of A>C in the 3′ region of KRT12 (position NT:2741849, chromosome 17:36271079, according to Genewindow) was detected. The latter variant did not segregate with the disease. It was found in affected members (III-1 and III-2) as well as unaffected family members (II-3 and III-3).

The E498V mutation in KRT3 found in the Polish family with MCD affects a strongly conserved residue within the 2B subdomain of the intermediate filament chain [9]. Conservation of an amino acid residue indicates its significance for protein function and low tolerance to replacement [9,12]. The E498V mutation predicts a particularly unfavorable substitution of a negatively charged, polar glutamate to an aliphatic and hydrophobic valine. Glutamate is often present in the protein active or binding site. It pairs with positively charged amino acids to create hydrogen bonds, which are important for protein stability. Conversely, valine is preferably present in protein hydrophobic cores. It contains two substituents at its C-beta carbon, which restrict the conformational changes that the main chain can adopt. One of the most pronounced effects of this property is the difficulty of valine to adopt an α-helical conformation [12]. Thus, the replacement of glutamate to valine is likely to influence both the physicochemical and structural properties of the α-helical rod domain in K3, leading to the disruption of the cytoskeletal keratin network.

All mutations in KRT3 and KRT12 reported to date affect one or the other terminus of the central α–helical rod domain and all but one (a 27 bp insertion [13]) are missense mutations (Table 2, Figure 4). Of note is also the lack of reported mutations in the 1A subdomain of K3. Whether this is only a chance finding resulting from the scarcity of genotyped MCD cases or their incompatibility with normal development, which seems less plausible, remains to be elucidated.

An interesting and yet unresolved issue in MCD is the occurrence of asymptomatic cases despite the presence of proven KRT mutations and morphological findings. An example of such MCD presentation is the family reported in this study. Interestingly, our case and the review of data on the mutations and phenotypes reported so far in MCD (Table 2) and other diseases caused by keratin mutations may suggest a framework for understanding genotype/phenotype correlation in MCD.

Amino acids located in the boundary sequence motifs of the keratin rod domain are highly conserved and particularly important in intermediate filaments assembly as they mediate end-to-end interactions between keratin heterodimers and filament elongation. These regions were found to represent mutational hot spots in MCD as well as in other keratin types [3]. mutations, which affect the boundary sequence motifs, typically exert a dominant-negative effect being highly disruptive to filament assembly and usually associate with the severe disease phenotypes. In contrast, mutations in other parts of keratin genes are compatible with filament assembly, and the disease phenotype is generally milder [5]. Interestingly, all three mutations, which so far have been reported in asymptomatic patients (KRT12; V143L, KRT12; I426V, and KRT3; E498V) or patients with relatively mild symptoms (KRT12; I426S), are located innermost relative to other mutations and possibly in less critical regions of the boundary motifs of their respective subdomains (Figure 4). The only exception is the KRT12 400ins9 mutation, which is not directly comparable to other mutations since it leads to an insertion of nine novel amino acids and is likely to be damaging to filament assembly despite a relatively long distance from the terminus of the 2B subdomain (Figure 4). These data suggest that putative missense mutations localized internally in KRT12 (V143 and I426) or KRT3 (E498) are also likely to be asymptomatic and thus provide a general framework for genotype/phenotype correlation in MCD.

This work was supported by Medical University of Warsaw Grants No. 1M15/N/2008 and 2WF/W/09.