Phenotypic heterogeneity in patients with familial partial lipodystrophy (Dunnigan variety) related to the site of missense mutations in lamin A/C gene

The lamin A/C (LMNA) gene has recently been reported to be mutated in familial partial lipodystrophy, Dunnigan variety (FPLD). We found mutations within exon 8 of LMNA (R482Q, R482W, and G465D) in 12 families with typical FPLD and in exon 11 (R582H) in 1 atypical family. To investigate phenotypic heterogeneity, we compared body fat distribution, using anthropometry and whole body magnetic resonance imaging, and metabolic parameters in women with atypical and typical FPLD. Compared with women with typical FPLD, the two sisters with atypical FPLD had less severe loss of sc fat from all the extremities and trunk and particularly from the gluteal region and medial parts of proximal thighs. Both types had similar excess of fat deposition in the neck, face, intraabdominal, and intermuscular regions. Women with atypical FPLD tended to have lower serum triglyceride and higher high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations. As exon 11 of LMNA does not comprise part of the lamin C-coding region, the R582H mutation affects only lamin A protein. Therefore, a unique phenotype of atypical FPLD may result from disrupted interaction of lamin A with other proteins and chromatin compared with typical FPLD, in which interaction of both lamins A and C may be disrupted.