Hennekam syndrome | |
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Other names | ennekam lymphangiectasia–lymphedema syndrome, intestinal lymphagiectasia–lymphedema–mental retardation syndrome[1] |
Hennekam syndrome is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner |
Hennekam syndrome also known as intestinal lymphagiectasia–lymphedema–mental retardation syndrome,[1] is an autosomal recessive disorder consisting of intestinal lymphangiectasia, facial anomalies, peripheral lymphedema, and mild to moderate levels of growth and intellectual disability.[1][2]
It is also known as "lymphedema-lymphangiectasia-mental retardation syndrome".[3]
Hennekam Syndrome is subdivided according to the causative genetic lesion, most (or all) of which are affecting the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 signaling pathway:
The first recognition of a genetic association was with CCBE1, published by its namesake, Raoul Hennekam.[7] The molecular mechanism of the lymphedema phenotype in CCBE1-associated cases was identified as a diminished ability of the mutated CCBE1 to accelerate and focus the activation of the primary lymphangiogenic growth factor VEGF-C.[8] Mutations in the FAT4 gene had previously been only associated with van Maldergem syndrome, but the pathogenetic molecular mechanism and the function of FAT4 within lymphangiogenesis are still unknown.