A desmosome, also known as a macula adherens, is a cell structure specialized for cell-to-cell adhesion. A type of junctional complex, they are localized spot-like adhesions randomly arranged on the lateral sides of plasma membranes. Desmosomes are one of the stronger cell-to-cell adhesion types and are found in tissue that experience intense mechanical stress, such as cardiac muscle tissue, bladder tissue, gastrointestinal mucosa, and epithelia.
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD), or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), most commonly is an inherited heart disease.
Palmoplantar keratodermas are a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal thickening of the stratum corneum of the palms and soles.
Malouf syndrome is a congenital disorder that causes one or more of the following symptoms: mental retardation, ovarian dysgenesis, congestive cardiomyopathy, broad nasal base, blepharoptosis, and bone abnormalities, and occasionally marfanoid habitus.
Keratoderma is a hornlike skin condition.
Desmoplakin is a protein in humans that is encoded by the DSP gene. Desmoplakin is a critical component of desmosome structures in cardiac muscle and epidermal cells, which function to maintain the structural integrity at adjacent cell contacts. In cardiac muscle, desmoplakin is localized to intercalated discs which mechanically couple cardiac cells to function in a coordinated syncytial structure. Mutations in desmoplakin have been shown to play a role in dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, where it may present with acute myocardial injury; striate palmoplantar keratoderma, Carvajal syndrome and paraneoplastic pemphigus.
Plakoglobin, also known as junction plakoglobin or gamma-catenin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the JUP gene. Plakoglobin is a member of the catenin protein family and homologous to β-catenin. Plakoglobin is a cytoplasmic component of desmosomes and adherens junctions structures located within intercalated discs of cardiac muscle that function to anchor sarcomeres and join adjacent cells in cardiac muscle. Mutations in plakoglobin are associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.
Naegeli–Franceschetti–Jadassohn syndrome (NFJS), also known as chromatophore nevus of Naegeli and Naegeli syndrome, is a rare autosomal dominant form of ectodermal dysplasia, characterized by reticular skin pigmentation, diminished function of the sweat glands, the absence of teeth and hyperkeratosis of the palms and soles. One of the most striking features is the absence of fingerprint lines on the fingers.
Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis(DPR) is a rare, autosomal dominant congenital disorder that is a form of ectodermal dysplasia. Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis is composed of the triad of generalized reticulate hyperpigmentation, noncicatricial alopecia, and onychodystrophy. DPR is a non life-threatening disease that largely affects the skin, hair, and nails. It has also been identified as a keratin disorder. Historically, as of 1992, only 10 cases had been described in world literature; however, due to recent advances in genetic analysis, five additional families studied in 2006 have been added to the short list of confirmed cases.
Plakophilin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PKP2 gene. Plakophilin 2 is expressed in skin and cardiac muscle, where it functions to link cadherins to intermediate filaments in the cytoskeleton. In cardiac muscle, plakophilin-2 is found in desmosome structures located within intercalated discs. Mutations in PKP2 have been shown to be causal in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Desmocollins are a subfamily of desmosomal cadherins, the transmembrane constituents of desmosomes. They are co-expressed with desmogleins to link adjacent cells by extracellular adhesion. There are seven desmosomal cadherins in humans, three desmocollins and four desmogleins. Desmosomal cadherins allow desmosomes to contribute to the integrity of tissue structure in multicellular living organisms.
Peeling skin syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by lifelong peeling of the stratum corneum, and may be associated with pruritus, short stature, and easily removed anagen hair.
Woolly hair autosomal recessive is a rare hereditary hair disorder characterized by sparse, short, curly hair.
Howel–Evans syndrome is an extremely rare condition involving thickening of the skin in the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet (hyperkeratosis). This familial disease is associated with a high lifetime risk of esophageal cancer. For this reason, it is sometimes known as tylosis with oesophageal cancer (TOC).
Woolly hair nevus is a congenital condition in which hair in a circumscribed area of the scalp is kinked or woolly.
Ulnar–mammary syndrome or Schinzel syndrome is a cutaneous condition characterized by nipple and breast hypoplasia or aplasia. Features of UMS can be mild to severe and can vary significantly from person to person, even within the same family. The main features of UMS include upper limb defects, underdevelopment of the apocrine and mammary glands, and various genital abnormalities. Other signs and symptoms may include hormonal deficiencies, delayed puberty, dental problems and obesity. People with UMS may have distinct facial features, including a wide face tapering to a prominent chin, and a broad nose.
UV-sensitive syndrome is a cutaneous condition inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion, characterized by photosensitivity and solar lentigines. Recent research identified that mutations of the KIAA1530 (UVSSA) gene as cause for the development of UV-sensitive syndrome. Furthermore, this protein was identified as a new player in the Transcription-coupled repair (TC-NER).
Skin fragility-woolly hair-palmoplantar keratoderma syndrome is a very rare genetic disorder which is characterized by fragile skin which shows itself as blisters and erosion due to trauma that wouldn't typically cause those type of lesions, woolly hair with alopecia, nail dysplasia, widespread or local palmoplantar keratoderma associated with painful fissuring. Only 2 cases from two families have been described in medical literature.
Nikos Protonotarios was a Greek researcher and cardiologist who made fundamental contributions to the field of arrhythmogenic myocardial diseases.
