先天性眼球震顫(CN),具有多種的遺傳模式,包括體染色體顯性(AD)、體染色體隱性(AR)及伴X染色體(X-linked)都有被報導過。在臨床上CN的盛行率約是1/1000~1/1500,以伴X染色體CN最常見,而體染色體隱性CN最為罕見。2006年,Tarpey等人利用連鎖分析法鑑定出第一個眼球震顫基因(FRMD7),確認其為造成伴X染色體CN之主要原因。而體染色體顯性CN有關聯性的基因座包括:6p12(NYS2)、7p11(NYS3)、15q11及18q22.3-q23,至於體染色體隱性CN則是因為個案極罕見,而尚未有任何發現。儘管已經發現了第一個眼球震顫基因,但是目前對於眼球震顫的病理機制仍然不明瞭,也缺乏有效的治療方式。 本實驗之研究對象是一個近親通婚(consanguineous mating)的體染色體隱性CN家庭,家中子代有兩名CN患者。因為此型個案極罕見,並無相關資料可供參考,所以我們決定利用短序列重複片段(STR)標記,針對23對染色體來進行初步分析。選用的標記主要是目前實驗室已應用於親子鑑定、造血幹細胞移植後追蹤,另一部分則是自國家衛生研究院之台灣多變異性標竿資料庫篩選的STR標記。 結果可以區分成三個部份,(1)『排除』,包括:Chromosome 1、2、4、5、6、7、8、9、10、13、18、20、21、22、X。(2)『無法排除』,包括:Chromosome 3、11、14、15、16、17。(3)『可疑』,包括:Chromosome 12、19。接下來的研究目標一是針對已報導過的CN候選基因座6p12、7p11、15q11、18q22.3-q23及FRMD7進行連鎖分析,排除可能性。二是以核型圖(karyotype)進行染色體分析,確認是否有染色體異常。三是選取其它STR markers再次進行PCR-STR,依照可疑、無法排除、排除三個階段順序,而19q、3p、2p、5q也列為優先分析區域。如此循序漸進的將目標縮小,試圖找到候選基因座。受限於家族樣本數不多,或許不容易找到候選基因座,但任何進一步的研究結果對此症都是一份貢獻。
Congenital nystagmus (CN) is genetically heterogeneous. The inheritance model is mainly X-linked CN, but autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive forms have been described. Prevalence rates for CN of 1 in 1000 to 1 in 1500 have been reported. In November 2006 Tarpey et al. identified 22 nystagmus causing mutations in the FERM domain-containing 7 (FRMD7) gene. At least three distinct loci for autosomal dominant CN, include 6p12 (NYS2), 7p11 (NYS3) and 18q22.3-q23. However, Autosomal recessive CN is very rare and no loci have been identified. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying nystagmus are poorly understood. Identification of FRMD7 gene has created a number of researches which are likely to provide valuable insights into the function and development of the oculomotor pathways. In this study, thirty-one short tandem repeats (STR) markers in a consanguineous mating family with autosomal recessive CN were analyzed. The result is based on STR analysis, we can group chromosomes into three types, include reject, un-reject and question. Further studies are still required to identify the target genes. Furthermore linkage analysis of this family with previously implicated loci and other STR markers is essential. It is hoped that this study will stimulate further investigations in this field.