Loss of Kindlin-1 Causes Skin Atrophy and Lethal Neonatal Intestinal Epithelial Dysfunction |
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Authors: | Siegfried Ussar Markus Moser Moritz Widmaier Emanuel Rognoni Christian Harrer Orsolya Genzel-Boroviczeny Reinhard F?ssler |
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Affiliation: | 1.Department of Molecular Medicine, Max-Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany;2.Division of Neonatology, Perinatal Center, Children''s Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany;Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, United Kingdom |
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Abstract: | Kindler Syndrome (KS), characterized by transient skin blistering followed by abnormal pigmentation, skin atrophy, and skin cancer, is caused by mutations in the FERMT1 gene. Although a few KS patients have been reported to also develop ulcerative colitis (UC), a causal link to the FERMT1 gene mutation is unknown. The FERMT1 gene product belongs to a family of focal adhesion proteins (Kindlin-1, -2, -3) that bind several β integrin cytoplasmic domains. Here, we show that deleting Kindlin-1 in mice gives rise to skin atrophy and an intestinal epithelial dysfunction with similarities to human UC. This intestinal dysfunction results in perinatal lethality and is triggered by defective intestinal epithelial cell integrin activation, leading to detachment of this barrier followed by a destructive inflammatory response. |
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