Homozygosity mapping of a locus for a novel syndromic ichthyosis to chromosome 3q27-q28

Ichthyosis is a heterogeneous group of skin disorders characterized by abnormal epidermal scaling. Occasionally, extracutaneous features are associated. A novel autosomal recessive ichthyosis syndrome is described here with scalp hypotrichosis, scarring alopecia, sclerosing cholangitis, and leukocyte vacuolization in two inbred kindreds of Moroccan origin. We also report the mapping of the diseased gene to a 21.2 cM interval of chromosome 3q27-q28. Homo zygosity for polymorphic markers has enabled us to reduce the genetic interval to a 16.2 cM region. Furthermore, comparison of mutant chromosomes in the two families has suggested a common ancestral mutant haplotype. This linkage disequilibrium has reduced the genetic interval encompassing the diseased gene to less than 9.5 cM maximum. Further study of additional families from the same geographic area will hopefully reduce the genetic interval as well as help in the cloning of the gene involved in this rare disorder.