Novel SOST gene mutation in a sclerosteosis patient and her parents

IntroductionSclerosteosis (OMIM 269500) is a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized by increased bone density associated with syndactyly. It is linked to a genetic defect in the SOST gene coding for sclerostin. So far, six different loss-of-function mutations in SOST have been reported in patients with sclerosteosis. Our objective was to sequence and identify mutation in the SOST and LRP5 genes which are known to be causal for craniotubular hyperostosis in a patient from India.Patient and methodsA 22 year old woman presented with typical features of sclerosteosis in form of progressive visual and hearing loss, syndactyly and radiographs revealing increased density of bone. Genomic sequencing of the SOST gene as well as exons 2, 3 and 4 of the LRP5 gene was performed.ResultsWe identified a novel homozygous mutation in the SOST gene, characterized as one nucleotide insertion resulting in a frame shift mutation and loss of functional sclerostin. Her parents were also found to have a similar but heterozygous mutation in the SOST gene.ConclusionA novel frame shift mutation in the SOST gene causing loss of functional sclerostin was identified in a patient with sclerosteosis and her parents.