A Novel Nonsense Mutation in Exon 5 of KIND1 Gene in an Iranian Family with Kindler Syndrome

Background: Kindler syndrome (KS) is an autosomal recessive skin disease characterized by actual blistering, photosensitivity and a progressive poikiloderma. The disorder results from rare mutations in the KIND1 gene. This gene contains 15 exons and expresses two kindlin-1 isoforms. Objective: The aim of this investigation was to analyze mutations in the exons 1 to 15 of KIND1 gene in an Iranian family clinically affected with Kindler syndrome. Methods: The mutations analysis of 15 coding exons of KIND1 gene was performed with PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing in 14 subjects from one Iranian family clinically affected with Kindler syndrome. Results: We identified eight new nucleotide changes in KIND1 in this family. These changes were found in g.3892delA, g.3951T>C, g.3962T>G, g.4190G>T, g.7497G>A, g.11076T>C, g.11102C>T and g.13177C>T positions. Among them, the g.13177C>T mutation resulting in the formation of a premature stop codon (Q226X) was detected only in seven affected family individuals as homozygous but was not present in 100 unrelated healthy controls. Conclusions: This study suggests that nonsense mutation may lead to incomplete and non-functional protein products and is pathogenic and has meaningful implications for the diagnosis of patients with Kindler syndrome.