Mutations in the GLI3 gene have been identified in several human malformation syndromes. One of these autosomal dominant developmental disorders is Pallister-Hall syndrome (PHS; MIM146510), which is associated with central polydactyly and other malformations. Interestingly, the mutations in the GLI3 transcription factor gene identified in patients with PHS are restricted to the region 3' of the zinc finger-encoding domain, leaving this DNA-binding domain intact. We have investigated the consequences of this mutation on the development of multiple organ systems by introducing a targeted mutation in mice. We found that mice homozygous for the mutation showed a central polydactyly, thus modeling one of the major abnormalities of the human syndrome. Moreover, Gli3-mutant mice displayed a wide range of developmental abnormalities encompassing almost all of the common PHS features, including imperforate anus, gastrointestinal, epiglottis and larynx defects, abnormal kidney development, and absence of adrenal glands. Thus, our Gli3-mutant mice provide an excellent model for studies of both the pathogenesis of PHIS and Gli3 functions in the development of the affected organ systems.
