Cystatin M/E Variant Causes Autosomal Dominant Keratosis Follicularis Spinulosa Decalvans by Dysregulating Cathepsins L and V

July 2021 in “ Frontiers in Genetics ”

Katja‐Martina Eckl, Robert Gruber, Louise Brennan, Andrew S. Marriott, Roswitha Plank, Verena Moosbrugger‐Martinz, Stefan Blunder, Anna Schossig, Janine Altmüller, Holger Thiele, Peter Nürnberg, Johannes Zschocke, Hans Christian Hennies, Matthias Schmuth

keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans autosomal dominant inheritance CST6 gene cystatin M/E cysteine protease inhibitor cathepsin L cathepsin V transglutaminase transglutaminase 1 transglutaminase 3 keratinocytes epidermal differentiation hair shaft formation

Studysummary This study identified a new heterozygous missense variant in CST6 associated with autosomal dominant keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans in an Austrian family, affecting epidermal differentiation and hair formation. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The study identified a pathogenic variant in the CST6 gene, encoding cystatin M/E, in a female patient with keratosis follicularis spinulosa decalvans (KFSD) and her son, indicating an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. This variant caused dysregulation of cathepsins L and V, which are crucial for epidermal barrier function and keratinocyte differentiation. Patient cells showed increased expression of CTSL and CTSV and reduced expression of TGM1 and TGM3, leading to disrupted transglutaminase activation, essential for hair shaft development and epidermal differentiation. The study emphasized the role of cystatin M/E in KFSD and suggested further research to explore the effects of the CST6 variant on cathepsin expression and activity.

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Research cited in this study

4 / 4 results

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