Entry - #303600 - COFFIN-LOWRY SYNDROME; CLS - OMIM
# 303600

COFFIN-LOWRY SYNDROME; CLS


Phenotype-Gene Relationships

Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Inheritance Phenotype
mapping key
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
Xp22.12 Coffin-Lowry syndrome 303600 XLD 3 RPS6KA3 300075
Clinical Synopsis
 

INHERITANCE
- X-linked dominant
GROWTH
Height
- Normal birth length
- Short stature
Weight
- Normal birth weight
- Weight less than 3rd percentile
HEAD & NECK
Head
- Microcephaly
Face
- Coarse facies
- Prominent brow
- Prominent chin
Ears
- Prominent ears
- Sensorineural hearing loss
Eyes
- Downslanting palpebral fissures
- Hypertelorism
- Heavy eyebrows
- Arched eyebrows
Nose
- Broad nose
- Thick alae nasi
- Anteverted nares
- Thick nasal septum
Mouth
- Large, open mouth
- Thick, everted lower lip
- Narrow palate
- High palate
Teeth
- Hypodontia
- Malocclusion
- Wide-spaced teeth
- Large medial incisors
CARDIOVASCULAR
Heart
- Mitral insufficiency
CHEST
External Features
- Pectus excavatum
- Pectus carinatum
Ribs Sternum Clavicles & Scapulae
- Short bifid sternum
ABDOMEN
Gastrointestinal
- Rectal prolapse
GENITOURINARY
External Genitalia (Male)
- Inguinal hernia
Internal Genitalia (Female)
- Uterine prolapse
SKELETAL
- Delayed bone age
Skull
- Thick calvarium
- Hypoplastic sinuses
- Hypoplastic mastoids
- Delayed closure of anterior fontanel
Spine
- Scoliosis
- Kyphosis
- Lumbar gibbus deformity
Pelvis
- Coxa valga
- Narrow iliac wings
Limbs
- Forearm fullness
- Extensible joints
Hands
- Large, soft hands
- Tapering fingers
- Transverse palmar creases
- Hyperextensible fingers
- Short metacarpals
- 'Drumstick' terminal phalanges
Feet
- Flat feet
SKIN, NAILS, & HAIR
Skin
- Loose skin
- Cutis marmorata
- Dependent acrocyanosis
- Transverse palmar creases
Nails
- Small fingernails
- Hyperconvex fingernails
Hair
- Straight, coarse hair
NEUROLOGIC
Central Nervous System
- Mental retardation
- Hypotonia
- Seizures
- Ventricular dilatation
MISCELLANEOUS
- Milder expression in female heterozygotes
- Clinical features in females include mild mental retardation (80%), short stature (50%), prominent forehead, and coarse facies
- Approximately 70-80% of cases are de novo and sporadic
- Incidence of 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000
MOLECULAR BASIS
- Caused by mutation in the ribosomal protein S6 kinase A3 gene (RPS6KA3, 300075.0001)

TEXT

A number sign (#) is used with this entry because of evidence that Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is caused by mutation in the RSK2 gene (RPS6KA3; 300075) on chromosome Xp22.


Description

Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare form of X-linked mental retardation characterized by skeletal malformations, growth retardation, hearing deficit, paroxysmal movement disorders, and cognitive impairment in affected males and some carrier females (Kesler et al., 2007).

Hendrich and Bickmore (2001) reviewed human disorders which share in common defects of chromatin structure or modification, including the ATR-X spectrum of disorders (301040), ICF syndrome (242860), Rett syndrome (312750), Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (180849), and Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Pereira et al. (2010) provided a review of Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Mutation in the RPS6KA3 gene can also cause nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation-19 (MRX19; 300844), a milder disorder without skeletal anomalies.


Clinical Features

As described by Coffin et al. (1966) in 2 unrelated adolescent boys, the features of CLS are mental retardation with peculiar pugilistic nose, large ears, tapered fingers, drumstick terminal phalanges by x-ray, and pectus carinatum. The occurrence of minor manifestations in female relatives suggested a genetic basis. Procopis and Turner (1972) reported a family in which 4 brothers had the full syndrome and several female relatives had abnormal fingers and mild mental retardation. X-linked dominant inheritance was likely. Lowry et al. (1971) described a new mental retardation syndrome with small stature, retardation of bone age, hypotonia, tapering fingers, and facies characterized by hypertelorism, anteverted nares, and prominent frontal region. Arrested hydrocephalus may also be a feature. The disorder was transmitted through 3 generations, with no instance of male-to-male transmission. Temtamy et al. (1975) deserve credit for demonstrating that the syndromes described by Coffin and Lowry as separate entities are in fact the same, a rare experience in medical genetics where separation of entities with similar phenotype is much more frequent. The appearance of the hands with bulbous tapering fingers was striking in their family. Affected males showed patulous lips and large mouths. Kenyon (reported by Temtamy et al., 1975) found electron microscopic changes in fibroblasts, viz., single-membrane-limited inclusions.

At least superficial similarity of the facies to that of Williams syndrome (194050) is evident in the photographs published by Hunter et al. (1982). Hunter et al. (1982) found no evidence of a primary disorder of lysosomes in their patients.

Hersh et al. (1984) were impressed with marked fullness of the forearms as an early sign of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. The bones were normal, the fullness being due to increased subcutaneous fat. They also illustrated broad proximal part of the fingers with distal tapering in both affected males and heterozygotes. The hands in the infants have a puffy appearance. Young (1988) pictured the facial features of 2 pairs of brothers and a pair of sisters with this disorder. One of the brothers had severe kyphoscoliosis. Vine et al. (1986) cited evidence that there is proteodermatan sulfate storage in CLS. They further suggested that weakness in this disorder is neurogenic rather than myopathic in origin, consistent with a lysosomal storage disease. Gilgenkrantz et al. (1988) described in detail 7 families from 5 European centers.

Machin et al. (1987) reported the pathologic findings in a sister and brother who died at ages 28 and 22, respectively. Visceral neuropathy was found as the basis of extensive intestinal diverticular disease. Mitral regurgitation, resulting from fused and shortened chordae tendineae, and panacinar emphysema were also found. Massin et al. (1999) described recurrent episodes of congestive heart failure from at least the age of 8 years in a boy with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Surgical repair was performed on the mitral valves.

Miyazaki et al. (1990) described calcification of the ligamenta flava which led to marked narrowing of the cervical spinal canal with resulting cervical radiculomyelopathy. Biochemical analyses suggested that an alteration in glycosaminoglycan metabolism was a pathogenetic factor in calcification of ligamenta flava. In 3 males in their twenties who had Coffin-Lowry syndrome, Ishida et al. (1992) observed myelopathy caused by calcification of the ligamentum flavum as a result of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (118600). This was interpreted as further evidence that a metabolic abnormality in collagen and in proteoglycans is present in CLS. They emphasized and illustrated the peculiar stooped posture and striking cervical lordosis in these cases as well as the changes in the fingers and the thick lips.

Hartsfield et al. (1993) reported on 7 patients with CLS who had sensorineural hearing deficit. One of the patients also had premature exfoliation of primary teeth. Sivagamasundari et al. (1994) presented 3-generation pedigrees that segregated Coffin-Lowry syndrome with 2 mildly affected females and 3 severely affected males. Both mildly affected females had depressive psychosis and all 3 severely affected males had sensorineural deafness. The authors wondered if the depressive psychosis was coincidental or related. They referred to 2 previous reports of depressive psychosis in 2 other females in Coffin-Lowry pedigrees reported by Partington et al. (1988) and Haspeslagh et al. (1984).

Nakamura et al. (1998) described a 16-year-old girl with fully manifested CLS and drop episodes. The patient experienced instantaneous loss of muscle tone in her legs as a result of sudden unexpected tactile or auditory stimuli. This may represent an unusual type of startle response associated with CLS.

Hunter (2002) provided a 20-year follow-up of the 6 affected patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome and 1 carrier mother reported by Hunter et al. (1982). Hunter (2002) also summarized the clinically important complications that have been reported in patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: premature death, often from cardiovascular complications; progressive kyphoscoliosis which may compromise mobility and cardiorespiratory status; spinal stenosis, which may cause neurologic symptoms; and drop attacks, which may be mistaken for seizures. Abnormalities in dentition, hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities were noted, as was a suggested excess of psychiatric illness in carrier females.

Simensen et al. (2002) studied cognitive function in affected members of 2 African American families in which CLS was caused by a 340C-T transition in the RSK2 gene (300075.0006). The subjects included 6 affected males, 7 carrier females, 3 normal males, and 3 noncarrier (normal) females. Unaffected family members served as contrast/comparison cohorts to control for socioeconomic, sociocultural, and genetic variables that might impinge on intellectual abilities. The mean composite IQs of the cohorts were 90.8, 65.0, and 43.2 for normal, carrier, and affected individuals, respectively.

Fryssira et al. (2002) described a female patient with full-blown CLS, manifested by facial dysmorphism, tapering fingers, and skeletal deformities (pectus excavatum and kyphoscoliosis), who was found to have a splice site mutation of the RSK2 gene (300075.0015). Her overall IQ was 53. At the age of 9 years, there was onset of a cataplexy-like phenomenon characterized by a sudden and reversible loss of muscle tone without loss of consciousness. Cataplexy was described in CLS by Fryns and Smeets (1998).

Facher et al. (2004) described a 14-year-old boy with physical and developmental findings consistent with Coffin-Lowry syndrome in whom they identified a 3-bp deletion at nucleotide 1428 of the RSK2 gene (300075.0018). The patient was unusual in that he presented with a relatively sudden onset of signs of congestive heart failure due to a restrictive cardiomyopathy; endomyocardial biopsy demonstrated nonspecific hypertrophic myocyte alterations consistent with cardiomyopathy. The authors stated that this was the first documented case of restrictive cardiomyopathy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Wang et al. (2006) reported a woman with CLS who had 2 affected daughters and 1 affected son. All had moderate to severe mental retardation with the typical CLS phenotype. Brain MRI studies on the 3 children showed abnormalities in the deep subcortical white matter, thinning of the corpus callosum, hypoplastic cerebellar vermis, and asymmetry of the lateral ventricles. The degree of severity of the MRI findings correlated with the severity of mental retardation.

Kesler et al. (2007) examined brain morphology in 2 families with CLS. One family included a 32-year-old carrier mother and her 2 affected sons aged 9 and 11 years; the second family included 7-year-old carrier female twins and a 4-year-old affected male. All individuals with CLS demonstrated significantly decreased total brain volumes compared to age-matched controls. The most affected areas were the temporal lobe, cerebellum, and hippocampus, with individuals having either disproportionately enlarged or reduced volumes of these regions. Kesler et al. (2007) interpreted the findings as evidence of altered early neurodevelopment and disruptions in neuronal organization and plasticity in patients with CLS.

Clinical Variability

Manouvrier-Hanu et al. (1999) reported 2 male sibs with a mild form of CLS who had a missense mutation in exon 7 of the RSK gene (300075.0011). The phenotype was unusual in that the degree of mental retardation and other features was milder than had been reported. Both boys had hypotonia, macrocephaly, telecanthus, and broad great toes; in addition, one boy had pigmentary abnormalities, and the other had an anteriorly placed anus. In light of these findings, the diagnosis of FG syndrome (305450) was considered. As the boys grew, macrocephaly decreased, forearm fullness and tapering fingers were more obvious, and the facies coarsened with anteverted nares and everted lower lip, leading to the consideration of the diagnosis of CLS. This diagnosis was confirmed by mutation analysis.


Diagnosis

Merienne et al. (1998) evaluated both immunoblot and RSK2 kinase assays as diagnostic tests for Coffin-Lowry syndrome using cultured lymphoblastoid or fibroblast cell lines. Western blot analysis failed to detect RSK2 protein in 6 patients, suggesting the presence of truncated proteins. This conclusion was confirmed in 4 patients, in whom the causative mutations, all leading to premature termination of translation, were identified. Of 4 patients showing normal amounts of RSK2 protein on Western blot and tested for RSK2 phosphotransferase activity, 1 had impaired activity. Analysis of RSK2 cDNA sequence in this patient showed a mutation of a putative phosphorylation site that would be critical for RSK2 activity. Merienne et al. (1998) concluded that both assays were reliable and rapid methods for diagnosis of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, and that, at least, the Western blot analysis could be used directly on lymphocyte protein extracted directly from blood samples.


Mapping

Hanauer et al. (1987, 1988) found linkage of CLS to DNA markers on Xp, suggesting that the CLS locus may be situated in the Xp22.3-p22.1 region. The multipoint lod score was 2.2 at theta = 0.0 for linkage with 2 markers in this region. Partington et al. (1988) restudied the family first reported by Procopis and Turner (1972). They found that there were now 12 affected members in 3 generations. They examined 9 of them personally and concluded that the CLS locus is distal to DMD. Biancalana et al. (1992) extended their studies to 16 families, using 7 RFLP markers spanning the Xp22.2-p22.1 region. A multipoint linkage analysis placed the CLS locus, with a maximum multipoint lod score of 7.30, within a 7-cM interval defined by a cluster of tightly linked markers, DXS207-DXS43-DXS197, on the distal side and by DXS274 on the proximal side. No evidence of linkage heterogeneity was detected. Biancalana et al. (1994) defined the genetic localization of the CLS gene by construction of a high-resolution linkage map. The study permitted them to refine the localization of 5 other genes in that region. Crossover analysis in a British family suggested to Bird et al. (1995) that the CLS locus is in a region of approximately 3.4 cM in Xp22 with DXS365 as the closest proximal flanking marker identified to date. Features of the face and distally tapering fingers were demonstrated with photographs.


Molecular Genetics

Trivier et al. (1996) demonstrated deletion, nonsense, and missense mutations of the RSK2 gene in patients with CLS. The gene is located within an interval of approximately 3 cM, between DXS365 and DXS7161, on Xp22.3 where the CLS gene had been located.

McCandless et al. (2000) reported a man with features of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, including severe mental retardation, short stature, coarse facies, patulous lips, and characteristic radiographic hand findings, with a cytogenetic deletion of chromosome 10, 46,XY,del(10)(q25.1q25.3). Since the RSK2 gene is part of a gene family implicated in cell cycle regulation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade (see MAPK11; 602898), the authors suggested that a gene involved in MAPK signaling may be present in the deleted region.

Delaunoy et al. (2006) analyzed the RPS6KA3 gene in 120 patients with CLS and identified 45 mutations, of which 44 were novel, confirming the high rate of new mutations at the RSK2 locus. The authors noted that no mutation was found in over 60% of the patients referred to them for screening. Delaunoy et al. (2006) stated that of the 128 CLS mutations reported to date, 33% are missense mutations, 15% nonsense mutations, 20% splicing errors, and 29% short deletion or insertion events; and 4 large deletions have been reported. The mutations are distributed throughout the RPS6KA3 gene, and most mutations are private.

In a 1.5-year-old boy with a clinical phenotype highly suggestive of CLS in whom no mutation had been identified by sequencing PCR-amplified exons of RPS6KA3 from genomic DNA, Pereira et al. (2007) analyzed the gene by directly sequencing RSK2 cDNA and identified a tandem duplication of exons 17 to 20 (300075.0019). The authors stated that this was the first reported large duplication in the RPS6KA3 gene, and noted that immunoblot analysis or a molecular assay capable of detecting large genomic events is essential for the definitive diagnosis of CLS when exon screening fails to detect a mutation.

In cells derived from an affected member of the original family with Coffin-Lowry syndrome reported by Lowry et al. (1971), Nishimoto et al. (2014) identified an in-frame deletion in the RPS6KA3 gene (300075.0022).


Genotype/Phenotype Correlations

The level of residual RPS6KA3 activity seems to be related to the severity of the phenotype. Merienne et al. (1999) demonstrated 10 to 20% residual enzymatic activity in patients with nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation (MRX19; 300844), which was postulated to result in the relatively mild phenotype without skeletal anomalies (300075.0010). The patients reported by Field et al. (2006) with nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation also had a milder phenotype, which they thought likely resulted from residual protein activity. Field et al. (2006) noted that the mutations (see, e.g., 300075.0020-300075.0021) in their report and the mutation (300075.0011) reported by Manouvrier-Hanu et al. (1999) in a family with mild Coffin-Lowry syndrome were small in-frame deletions or missense mutations affecting the serine/threonine kinase domain. Field et al. (2006) hypothesized that the presence of a small amount of residual enzymatic activity may be sufficient to maintain normal osteoblast differentiation and ameliorate the skeletal phenotype associated with CLS.


Pathogenesis

Harum et al. (2001) noted that, based on evidence from experimental models, the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB; 123810) is thought to be involved in memory formation. RSK2 activates CREB through phosphorylation at serine-133. In 7 patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome (5 boys and 2 girls), Harum et al. (2001) found a diminished activity of RSK2 to phosphorylate a CREB-like peptide in vitro in all cells lines. The authors noted a linear correlation between RSK2 activation of CREB and cognitive levels of the patients, consistent with the hypothesis that CREB is involved in human learning and memory. Other characteristics of the syndrome, including facial and bony abnormalities, may be due to impaired expression of various CREB-responsive genes.


Population Genetics

The estimated incidence of Coffin-Lowry syndrome is 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000, and about 70 to 80% of patients are sporadic cases (Pereira et al., 2010).


History

Mattei et al. (1981) reported 2 sisters with Coffin-Lowry syndrome; however, as noted by Gorlin (1981), these sisters actually had Coffin-Siris syndrome (135900).


REFERENCES

  1. Biancalana, V., Briard, M. L., David, A., Gilgenkrantz, S., Kaplan, J., Mathieu, M., Piussan, C., Poncin, J., Schinzel, A., Oudet, C., Hanauer, A. Confirmation and refinement of the genetic localization of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome locus in Xp22.1-p22.2. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 50: 981-987, 1992. [PubMed: 1349200, related citations]

  2. Biancalana, V., Trivier, E., Weber, C., Weissenbach, J., Rowe, P. S. N., O'Riordan, J. L. H., Partington, M. W., Heyberger, S., Oudet, C., Hanauer, A. Construction of a high-resolution linkage map for Xp22.1-p22.2 and refinement of the genetic localization of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome gene. Genomics 22: 617-625, 1994. [PubMed: 8001973, related citations] [Full Text]

  3. Bird, H., Collins, A. L., Oley, C., Lindsay, S. Crossover analysis in a British family suggests that Coffin-Lowry syndrome maps to a 3.4-cM interval in Xp22. Am. J. Med. Genet. 59: 512-516, 1995. [PubMed: 8585574, related citations] [Full Text]

  4. Coffin, G. S., Siris, E., Wegienka, L. C. Mental retardation with osteocartilaginous anomalies. Am. J. Dis. Child. 112: 205-213, 1966.

  5. Collacott, R. A., Warrington, J. S., Young, I. D. Coffin-Lowry syndrome and schizophrenia: a family report. J. Ment. Defic. Res. 31: 199-207, 1987. [PubMed: 3625766, related citations] [Full Text]

  6. Delaunoy, J. P., Dubos, A., Pereira, P. M., Hanauer, A. Identification of novel mutations in the RSK2 gene (RPS6KA3) in patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 70: 161-166, 2006. [PubMed: 16879200, related citations] [Full Text]

  7. Facher, J. J., Regier, E. J., Jacobs, G. H., Siwik, E., Delaunoy, J.-P., Robin, N. H. Cardiomyopathy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 128A: 176-178, 2004. [PubMed: 15214012, related citations] [Full Text]

  8. Field, M., Tarpey, P., Boyle, J., Edkins, S., Goodship, J., Luo, Y., Moon, J., Teague, J., Stratton, M. R., Futreal, P. A., Wooster, R., Raymond, F. L., Turner, G. Mutations in the RSK2(RPS6KA3) gene cause Coffin-Lowry syndrome and nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation. Clin. Genet. 70: 509-515, 2006. [PubMed: 17100996, images, related citations] [Full Text]

  9. Fryns, J. P., Smeets, E. 'Cataplexy' in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 35: 702 only, 1998. [PubMed: 9719387, related citations] [Full Text]

  10. Fryns, J. P., Vinken, L., van den Berghe, H. The Coffin syndrome. Hum. Genet. 36: 271-276, 1977. [PubMed: 852873, related citations] [Full Text]

  11. Fryssira, H., Kountoupi, S., Delaunoy, J. P., Thomaidis, L. A female with Coffin-Lowry syndrome and 'cataplexy'. Genet. Counsel. 13: 405-409, 2002. [PubMed: 12558110, related citations]

  12. Gilgenkrantz, S., Mujica, P., Gruet, P., Tridon, P., Schweitzer, F., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Nivelon, J. L. Couillault, G.; David, A.; Verloes, A.; Lambotte, C.; Piussan, C. and Mathieu, M.: Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a multicenter study. Clin. Genet. 34: 230-245, 1988. [PubMed: 3069251, related citations] [Full Text]

  13. Gorlin, R. J. Lapsus--caveat emptor: Coffin-Lowry syndrome vs Coffin-Siris syndrome--an example of confusion compounded. (Letter) Am. J. Med. Genet. 10: 103-104, 1981. [PubMed: 7294058, related citations] [Full Text]

  14. Hanauer, A., Alembik, Y., Gilgenkrantz, S., Mujica, P., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Pembrey, M. E., Young, I. D., Mandel, J. L. Probable localisation of the Coffin-Lowry locus in Xp22.2-p22.1 by multipoint linkage analysis. Am. J. Med. Genet. 30: 523-530, 1988. [PubMed: 3177469, related citations] [Full Text]

  15. Hanauer, A., Alembik, Y., Mujica, P., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Gilgenkrantz, S., Mandel, J. L. Probable localisation of the Coffin-Lowry locus (CLS) in Xp22.2-p22.1 by multipoint linkage analysis. (Abstract) Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 46: 626, 1987.

  16. Hartsfield, J. K., Jr., Hall, B. D., Grix, A. W., Kousseff, B. G., Salazar, J. F., Haufe, S. M. W. Pleiotropy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: sensorineural hearing deficit and premature tooth loss as early manifestations. Am. J. Med. Genet. 45: 552-557, 1993. [PubMed: 7681250, related citations] [Full Text]

  17. Harum, K. H., Alemi, L., Johnston, M. V. Cognitive impairment in Coffin-Lowry syndrome correlates with reduced RSK2 activation. Neurology 56: 207-214, 2001. [PubMed: 11160957, related citations] [Full Text]

  18. Haspeslagh, M., Fryns, J. P., Beusen, L., Van Dessel, F., Vinken, L., Moens, E., Van Den Berghe, H. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a study of two new index patients and their families. Europ. J. Pediat. 143: 82-86, 1984. [PubMed: 6519116, related citations] [Full Text]

  19. Hendrich, B., Bickmore, W. Human diseases with underlying defects in chromatin structure and modification. Hum. Molec. Genet. 10: 2233-2242, 2001. [PubMed: 11673406, related citations] [Full Text]

  20. Hersh, J. H., Weisskopf, B., DeCoster, C. Forearm fullness in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a misleading yet possible early diagnostic clue. Am. J. Med. Genet. 18: 195-199, 1984. [PubMed: 6465196, related citations] [Full Text]

  21. Hunter, A. G. W., Partington, M. W., Evans, J. A. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: experience from four centres. Clin. Genet. 21: 321-335, 1982. [PubMed: 7116677, related citations] [Full Text]

  22. Hunter, A. G. W. Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a 20-year follow-up and review of long-term outcomes. Am. J. Med. Genet. 111: 345-355, 2002. [PubMed: 12210291, related citations] [Full Text]

  23. Ishida, Y., Oki, T., Ono, Y., Nogami, H. Coffin-Lowry syndrome associated with calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition in the ligamenta flava. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 275: 144-151, 1992. [PubMed: 1735205, related citations]

  24. Kesler, S. R., Simensen, R. J., Voeller, K., Abidi, F., Stevenson, R. E., Schwartz, C. E., Reiss, A. L. Altered neurodevelopment associated with mutations of RSK2: a morphometric MRI study of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Neurogenetics 8: 143-147, 2007. [PubMed: 17318637, images, related citations] [Full Text]

  25. Kousseff, B. G. Coffin-Lowry syndrome in an Afro-American family. (Letter) Am. J. Med. Genet. 11: 373-375, 1982. [PubMed: 7081302, related citations] [Full Text]

  26. Lowry, R. B., Miller, J. R., Fraser, F. C. A new dominant gene mental retardation syndrome: associated with small stature, tapering fingers, characteristic facies, and possible hydrocephalus. Am. J. Dis. Child. 121: 496-500, 1971. [PubMed: 5581017, related citations]

  27. Machin, G. A., Walther, G. L., Fraser, V. M. Autopsy findings in two adult siblings with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. Suppl. 3: 303-309, 1987. [PubMed: 3130866, related citations] [Full Text]

  28. Manouvrier-Hanu, S., Amiel, J., Jacquot, S., Merienne, K., Moerman, A., Coeslier, A., Labarriere, F., Vallee, L., Croquette, M. F., Hanauer, A. Unreported RSK2 missense mutation in two male sibs with an unusually mild form of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 36: 775-778, 1999. [PubMed: 10528858, related citations] [Full Text]

  29. Massin, M. M., Radermecker, M. A., Verloes, A., Jacquot, S., Grenade, T. Cardiac involvement in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Acta Paediat. 88: 468-470, 1999. [PubMed: 10342551, related citations] [Full Text]

  30. Mattei, J. F., Laframboise, R., Rouault, F., Giraud, F. Coffin-Lowry syndrome in sibs. Am. J. Med. Genet. 8: 315-319, 1981. [PubMed: 7234901, related citations] [Full Text]

  31. McCandless, S. E., Schwartz, S., Morrison, S., Garlapati, K., Robin, N. H. Adult with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 10 [del(10)(q25.1q25.3)]: overlap with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 95: 93-98, 2000. [PubMed: 11078556, related citations] [Full Text]

  32. Merienne, K., Jacquot, S., Pannetier, S., Zeniou, M., Bankier, A., Gecz, J., Mandel, J.-L., Mulley, J., Sassone-Corsi, P., Hanauer, A. A missense mutation in RPS6KA3 (RSK2) responsible for non-specific mental retardation. (Letter) Nature Genet. 22: 13-14, 1999. [PubMed: 10319851, related citations] [Full Text]

  33. Merienne, K., Jacquot, S., Trivier, E., Pannetier, S., Rossi, A., Scott, C., Schinzel, A., Castellan, C., Kress, W., Hanauer, A. Rapid immunoblot and kinase assay tests for a syndromal form of X linked mental retardation: Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 35: 890-894, 1998. [PubMed: 9832033, related citations] [Full Text]

  34. Miyazaki, K., Yamanaka, T., Ishida, Y., Oohira, A. Calcified ligamenta flava in a patient with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans. Jpn. J. Hum. Genet. 35: 215-221, 1990.

  35. Nakamura, M., Yamagata, T., Momoi, M. Y., Yamazaki, T. Drop episodes in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: exaggerated startle responses treated with clonazepam. Pediat. Neurol. 19: 148-150, 1998. [PubMed: 9744638, related citations] [Full Text]

  36. Nishimoto, H. K., Ha, K., Jones, J. R., Dwivedi, A., Cho, H.-M., Layman, L. C., Kim, H.-G. The historical Coffin-Lowry syndrome family revisited: identification of two novel mutations of RPS6KA3 in three male patients. Am. J. Med. Genet. 164A: 2172-2179, 2014. [PubMed: 25044551, related citations] [Full Text]

  37. Partington, M. W., Mulley, J. C., Sutherland, G. R., Thode, A., Turner, G. A family with the Coffin Lowry syndrome revisited: localization of CLS to Xp21-pter. Am. J. Med. Genet. 30: 509-521, 1988. [PubMed: 3177468, related citations] [Full Text]

  38. Pereira, P. M., Heron, D., Hanauer, A. The first large duplication of the RSK2 gene identified in a Coffin-Lowry syndrome patient. Hum. Genet. 122: 541-543, 2007. [PubMed: 17717706, related citations] [Full Text]

  39. Pereira, P. M., Schneider, A., Pannetier, S., Heron, D., Hanauer, A. Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Europ. J. Hum. Genet. 18: 627-633, 2010. [PubMed: 19888300, related citations] [Full Text]

  40. Procopis, P. G., Turner, B. Mental retardation, abnormal fingers, and skeletal anomalies: Coffin's syndrome. Am. J. Dis. Child. 124: 258-261, 1972. [PubMed: 5052411, related citations] [Full Text]

  41. Simensen, R. J., Abidi, F., Collins, J. S., Schwartz, C. E., Stevenson, R. E. Cognitive function in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 61: 299-304, 2002. [PubMed: 12030896, related citations] [Full Text]

  42. Sivagamasundari, U., Fernando, H., Jardine, P., Rao, J. M., Lunt, P., Jayewardene, S. L. W. The association between Coffin-Lowry syndrome and psychosis: a family study. J. Intellect. Disabil. Res. 38: 469-473, 1994. [PubMed: 7841685, related citations] [Full Text]

  43. Temtamy, S. A., Miller, J. D., Hussels-Maumenee, I. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: an inherited facio-digital mental retardation syndrome. J. Pediat. 86: 724-731, 1975. [PubMed: 1133653, related citations] [Full Text]

  44. Trivier, E., De Cesare, D., Jacquot, S., Pannetier, S., Zackai, E., Young, I., Mandel, J.-L., Sassone-Corsi, P., Hanauer, A. Mutations in the kinase Rsk-2 associated with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Nature 384: 567-570, 1996. [PubMed: 8955270, related citations] [Full Text]

  45. Vine, D. T., Gold, J. T., Grant, A. D. Etiology of the weakness in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. (Abstract) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 39: A85, 1986.

  46. Vles, J. S. H., Haspeslagh, M., Raes, M. M. R., Fryns, J. P., Casaer, P., Eggermont, E. Early clinical signs in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 26: 448-452, 1984. [PubMed: 6541982, related citations] [Full Text]

  47. Wang, Y., Martinez, J. E., Wilson, G. L., He, X.-Y., Tuck-Miller, C. M., Maertens, P., Wertelecki, W., Chen, T.-J. A novel RSK2 (RPS6KA3) gene mutation associated with abnormal brain MRI findings in a family with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 140A: 1274-1279, 2006. [PubMed: 16691578, related citations] [Full Text]

  48. Wilson, W. G., Kelly, T. E. Early recognition of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 8: 215-220, 1981. [PubMed: 7282775, related citations] [Full Text]

  49. Young, I. D. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 25: 344-348, 1988. [PubMed: 3290491, related citations] [Full Text]


Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/6/2015
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/19/2011
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 8/20/2010
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 3/24/2008
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/2/2007
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 9/22/2006
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 7/28/2006
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 7/20/2004
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 3/3/2003
Deborah L. Stone - updated : 1/10/2003
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 8/12/2002
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 7/26/2002
George E. Tiller - updated : 2/12/2002
Sonja A. Rasmussen - updated : 11/21/2000
Michael J. Wright - updated : 2/4/2000
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/17/1999
Michael J. Wright - updated : 2/11/1999
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 10/15/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/14/1997
Orest Hurko - updated : 8/11/1995
Creation Date:
Victor A. McKusick : 6/4/1986
carol : 11/11/2019
carol : 11/11/2019
carol : 11/08/2019
carol : 05/14/2015
mcolton : 5/13/2015
ckniffin : 5/6/2015
wwang : 6/7/2011
ckniffin : 5/19/2011
wwang : 8/24/2010
ckniffin : 8/20/2010
wwang : 3/26/2008
terry : 3/24/2008
wwang : 5/11/2007
ckniffin : 5/2/2007
ckniffin : 5/2/2007
wwang : 9/22/2006
carol : 8/8/2006
wwang : 8/3/2006
ckniffin : 7/28/2006
ckniffin : 7/28/2006
carol : 7/21/2004
terry : 7/20/2004
carol : 3/4/2003
tkritzer : 3/4/2003
tkritzer : 3/3/2003
carol : 1/10/2003
carol : 9/18/2002
tkritzer : 8/15/2002
tkritzer : 8/14/2002
terry : 8/12/2002
carol : 8/9/2002
ckniffin : 8/9/2002
ckniffin : 7/26/2002
cwells : 2/18/2002
cwells : 2/12/2002
mcapotos : 12/1/2000
mcapotos : 11/21/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
jlewis : 6/23/1999
terry : 6/17/1999
mgross : 2/26/1999
terry : 2/11/1999
terry : 10/15/1998
mark : 2/14/1997
mark : 2/14/1997
mark : 1/17/1996
terry : 1/16/1996
mark : 12/13/1995
terry : 12/11/1995
terry : 9/11/1995
mimadm : 2/27/1994
carol : 3/24/1993
carol : 6/8/1992
carol : 5/12/1992

# 303600

COFFIN-LOWRY SYNDROME; CLS


SNOMEDCT: 15182000;   ORPHA: 192;   DO: 3783;  


Phenotype-Gene Relationships

Location Phenotype Phenotype
MIM number
Inheritance Phenotype
mapping key
Gene/Locus Gene/Locus
MIM number
Xp22.12 Coffin-Lowry syndrome 303600 X-linked dominant 3 RPS6KA3 300075

TEXT

A number sign (#) is used with this entry because of evidence that Coffin-Lowry syndrome (CLS) is caused by mutation in the RSK2 gene (RPS6KA3; 300075) on chromosome Xp22.


Description

Coffin-Lowry syndrome is a rare form of X-linked mental retardation characterized by skeletal malformations, growth retardation, hearing deficit, paroxysmal movement disorders, and cognitive impairment in affected males and some carrier females (Kesler et al., 2007).

Hendrich and Bickmore (2001) reviewed human disorders which share in common defects of chromatin structure or modification, including the ATR-X spectrum of disorders (301040), ICF syndrome (242860), Rett syndrome (312750), Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (180849), and Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Pereira et al. (2010) provided a review of Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Mutation in the RPS6KA3 gene can also cause nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation-19 (MRX19; 300844), a milder disorder without skeletal anomalies.


Clinical Features

As described by Coffin et al. (1966) in 2 unrelated adolescent boys, the features of CLS are mental retardation with peculiar pugilistic nose, large ears, tapered fingers, drumstick terminal phalanges by x-ray, and pectus carinatum. The occurrence of minor manifestations in female relatives suggested a genetic basis. Procopis and Turner (1972) reported a family in which 4 brothers had the full syndrome and several female relatives had abnormal fingers and mild mental retardation. X-linked dominant inheritance was likely. Lowry et al. (1971) described a new mental retardation syndrome with small stature, retardation of bone age, hypotonia, tapering fingers, and facies characterized by hypertelorism, anteverted nares, and prominent frontal region. Arrested hydrocephalus may also be a feature. The disorder was transmitted through 3 generations, with no instance of male-to-male transmission. Temtamy et al. (1975) deserve credit for demonstrating that the syndromes described by Coffin and Lowry as separate entities are in fact the same, a rare experience in medical genetics where separation of entities with similar phenotype is much more frequent. The appearance of the hands with bulbous tapering fingers was striking in their family. Affected males showed patulous lips and large mouths. Kenyon (reported by Temtamy et al., 1975) found electron microscopic changes in fibroblasts, viz., single-membrane-limited inclusions.

At least superficial similarity of the facies to that of Williams syndrome (194050) is evident in the photographs published by Hunter et al. (1982). Hunter et al. (1982) found no evidence of a primary disorder of lysosomes in their patients.

Hersh et al. (1984) were impressed with marked fullness of the forearms as an early sign of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. The bones were normal, the fullness being due to increased subcutaneous fat. They also illustrated broad proximal part of the fingers with distal tapering in both affected males and heterozygotes. The hands in the infants have a puffy appearance. Young (1988) pictured the facial features of 2 pairs of brothers and a pair of sisters with this disorder. One of the brothers had severe kyphoscoliosis. Vine et al. (1986) cited evidence that there is proteodermatan sulfate storage in CLS. They further suggested that weakness in this disorder is neurogenic rather than myopathic in origin, consistent with a lysosomal storage disease. Gilgenkrantz et al. (1988) described in detail 7 families from 5 European centers.

Machin et al. (1987) reported the pathologic findings in a sister and brother who died at ages 28 and 22, respectively. Visceral neuropathy was found as the basis of extensive intestinal diverticular disease. Mitral regurgitation, resulting from fused and shortened chordae tendineae, and panacinar emphysema were also found. Massin et al. (1999) described recurrent episodes of congestive heart failure from at least the age of 8 years in a boy with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Surgical repair was performed on the mitral valves.

Miyazaki et al. (1990) described calcification of the ligamenta flava which led to marked narrowing of the cervical spinal canal with resulting cervical radiculomyelopathy. Biochemical analyses suggested that an alteration in glycosaminoglycan metabolism was a pathogenetic factor in calcification of ligamenta flava. In 3 males in their twenties who had Coffin-Lowry syndrome, Ishida et al. (1992) observed myelopathy caused by calcification of the ligamentum flavum as a result of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease (118600). This was interpreted as further evidence that a metabolic abnormality in collagen and in proteoglycans is present in CLS. They emphasized and illustrated the peculiar stooped posture and striking cervical lordosis in these cases as well as the changes in the fingers and the thick lips.

Hartsfield et al. (1993) reported on 7 patients with CLS who had sensorineural hearing deficit. One of the patients also had premature exfoliation of primary teeth. Sivagamasundari et al. (1994) presented 3-generation pedigrees that segregated Coffin-Lowry syndrome with 2 mildly affected females and 3 severely affected males. Both mildly affected females had depressive psychosis and all 3 severely affected males had sensorineural deafness. The authors wondered if the depressive psychosis was coincidental or related. They referred to 2 previous reports of depressive psychosis in 2 other females in Coffin-Lowry pedigrees reported by Partington et al. (1988) and Haspeslagh et al. (1984).

Nakamura et al. (1998) described a 16-year-old girl with fully manifested CLS and drop episodes. The patient experienced instantaneous loss of muscle tone in her legs as a result of sudden unexpected tactile or auditory stimuli. This may represent an unusual type of startle response associated with CLS.

Hunter (2002) provided a 20-year follow-up of the 6 affected patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome and 1 carrier mother reported by Hunter et al. (1982). Hunter (2002) also summarized the clinically important complications that have been reported in patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: premature death, often from cardiovascular complications; progressive kyphoscoliosis which may compromise mobility and cardiorespiratory status; spinal stenosis, which may cause neurologic symptoms; and drop attacks, which may be mistaken for seizures. Abnormalities in dentition, hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities were noted, as was a suggested excess of psychiatric illness in carrier females.

Simensen et al. (2002) studied cognitive function in affected members of 2 African American families in which CLS was caused by a 340C-T transition in the RSK2 gene (300075.0006). The subjects included 6 affected males, 7 carrier females, 3 normal males, and 3 noncarrier (normal) females. Unaffected family members served as contrast/comparison cohorts to control for socioeconomic, sociocultural, and genetic variables that might impinge on intellectual abilities. The mean composite IQs of the cohorts were 90.8, 65.0, and 43.2 for normal, carrier, and affected individuals, respectively.

Fryssira et al. (2002) described a female patient with full-blown CLS, manifested by facial dysmorphism, tapering fingers, and skeletal deformities (pectus excavatum and kyphoscoliosis), who was found to have a splice site mutation of the RSK2 gene (300075.0015). Her overall IQ was 53. At the age of 9 years, there was onset of a cataplexy-like phenomenon characterized by a sudden and reversible loss of muscle tone without loss of consciousness. Cataplexy was described in CLS by Fryns and Smeets (1998).

Facher et al. (2004) described a 14-year-old boy with physical and developmental findings consistent with Coffin-Lowry syndrome in whom they identified a 3-bp deletion at nucleotide 1428 of the RSK2 gene (300075.0018). The patient was unusual in that he presented with a relatively sudden onset of signs of congestive heart failure due to a restrictive cardiomyopathy; endomyocardial biopsy demonstrated nonspecific hypertrophic myocyte alterations consistent with cardiomyopathy. The authors stated that this was the first documented case of restrictive cardiomyopathy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome.

Wang et al. (2006) reported a woman with CLS who had 2 affected daughters and 1 affected son. All had moderate to severe mental retardation with the typical CLS phenotype. Brain MRI studies on the 3 children showed abnormalities in the deep subcortical white matter, thinning of the corpus callosum, hypoplastic cerebellar vermis, and asymmetry of the lateral ventricles. The degree of severity of the MRI findings correlated with the severity of mental retardation.

Kesler et al. (2007) examined brain morphology in 2 families with CLS. One family included a 32-year-old carrier mother and her 2 affected sons aged 9 and 11 years; the second family included 7-year-old carrier female twins and a 4-year-old affected male. All individuals with CLS demonstrated significantly decreased total brain volumes compared to age-matched controls. The most affected areas were the temporal lobe, cerebellum, and hippocampus, with individuals having either disproportionately enlarged or reduced volumes of these regions. Kesler et al. (2007) interpreted the findings as evidence of altered early neurodevelopment and disruptions in neuronal organization and plasticity in patients with CLS.

Clinical Variability

Manouvrier-Hanu et al. (1999) reported 2 male sibs with a mild form of CLS who had a missense mutation in exon 7 of the RSK gene (300075.0011). The phenotype was unusual in that the degree of mental retardation and other features was milder than had been reported. Both boys had hypotonia, macrocephaly, telecanthus, and broad great toes; in addition, one boy had pigmentary abnormalities, and the other had an anteriorly placed anus. In light of these findings, the diagnosis of FG syndrome (305450) was considered. As the boys grew, macrocephaly decreased, forearm fullness and tapering fingers were more obvious, and the facies coarsened with anteverted nares and everted lower lip, leading to the consideration of the diagnosis of CLS. This diagnosis was confirmed by mutation analysis.


Diagnosis

Merienne et al. (1998) evaluated both immunoblot and RSK2 kinase assays as diagnostic tests for Coffin-Lowry syndrome using cultured lymphoblastoid or fibroblast cell lines. Western blot analysis failed to detect RSK2 protein in 6 patients, suggesting the presence of truncated proteins. This conclusion was confirmed in 4 patients, in whom the causative mutations, all leading to premature termination of translation, were identified. Of 4 patients showing normal amounts of RSK2 protein on Western blot and tested for RSK2 phosphotransferase activity, 1 had impaired activity. Analysis of RSK2 cDNA sequence in this patient showed a mutation of a putative phosphorylation site that would be critical for RSK2 activity. Merienne et al. (1998) concluded that both assays were reliable and rapid methods for diagnosis of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, and that, at least, the Western blot analysis could be used directly on lymphocyte protein extracted directly from blood samples.


Mapping

Hanauer et al. (1987, 1988) found linkage of CLS to DNA markers on Xp, suggesting that the CLS locus may be situated in the Xp22.3-p22.1 region. The multipoint lod score was 2.2 at theta = 0.0 for linkage with 2 markers in this region. Partington et al. (1988) restudied the family first reported by Procopis and Turner (1972). They found that there were now 12 affected members in 3 generations. They examined 9 of them personally and concluded that the CLS locus is distal to DMD. Biancalana et al. (1992) extended their studies to 16 families, using 7 RFLP markers spanning the Xp22.2-p22.1 region. A multipoint linkage analysis placed the CLS locus, with a maximum multipoint lod score of 7.30, within a 7-cM interval defined by a cluster of tightly linked markers, DXS207-DXS43-DXS197, on the distal side and by DXS274 on the proximal side. No evidence of linkage heterogeneity was detected. Biancalana et al. (1994) defined the genetic localization of the CLS gene by construction of a high-resolution linkage map. The study permitted them to refine the localization of 5 other genes in that region. Crossover analysis in a British family suggested to Bird et al. (1995) that the CLS locus is in a region of approximately 3.4 cM in Xp22 with DXS365 as the closest proximal flanking marker identified to date. Features of the face and distally tapering fingers were demonstrated with photographs.


Molecular Genetics

Trivier et al. (1996) demonstrated deletion, nonsense, and missense mutations of the RSK2 gene in patients with CLS. The gene is located within an interval of approximately 3 cM, between DXS365 and DXS7161, on Xp22.3 where the CLS gene had been located.

McCandless et al. (2000) reported a man with features of Coffin-Lowry syndrome, including severe mental retardation, short stature, coarse facies, patulous lips, and characteristic radiographic hand findings, with a cytogenetic deletion of chromosome 10, 46,XY,del(10)(q25.1q25.3). Since the RSK2 gene is part of a gene family implicated in cell cycle regulation through the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade (see MAPK11; 602898), the authors suggested that a gene involved in MAPK signaling may be present in the deleted region.

Delaunoy et al. (2006) analyzed the RPS6KA3 gene in 120 patients with CLS and identified 45 mutations, of which 44 were novel, confirming the high rate of new mutations at the RSK2 locus. The authors noted that no mutation was found in over 60% of the patients referred to them for screening. Delaunoy et al. (2006) stated that of the 128 CLS mutations reported to date, 33% are missense mutations, 15% nonsense mutations, 20% splicing errors, and 29% short deletion or insertion events; and 4 large deletions have been reported. The mutations are distributed throughout the RPS6KA3 gene, and most mutations are private.

In a 1.5-year-old boy with a clinical phenotype highly suggestive of CLS in whom no mutation had been identified by sequencing PCR-amplified exons of RPS6KA3 from genomic DNA, Pereira et al. (2007) analyzed the gene by directly sequencing RSK2 cDNA and identified a tandem duplication of exons 17 to 20 (300075.0019). The authors stated that this was the first reported large duplication in the RPS6KA3 gene, and noted that immunoblot analysis or a molecular assay capable of detecting large genomic events is essential for the definitive diagnosis of CLS when exon screening fails to detect a mutation.

In cells derived from an affected member of the original family with Coffin-Lowry syndrome reported by Lowry et al. (1971), Nishimoto et al. (2014) identified an in-frame deletion in the RPS6KA3 gene (300075.0022).


Genotype/Phenotype Correlations

The level of residual RPS6KA3 activity seems to be related to the severity of the phenotype. Merienne et al. (1999) demonstrated 10 to 20% residual enzymatic activity in patients with nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation (MRX19; 300844), which was postulated to result in the relatively mild phenotype without skeletal anomalies (300075.0010). The patients reported by Field et al. (2006) with nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation also had a milder phenotype, which they thought likely resulted from residual protein activity. Field et al. (2006) noted that the mutations (see, e.g., 300075.0020-300075.0021) in their report and the mutation (300075.0011) reported by Manouvrier-Hanu et al. (1999) in a family with mild Coffin-Lowry syndrome were small in-frame deletions or missense mutations affecting the serine/threonine kinase domain. Field et al. (2006) hypothesized that the presence of a small amount of residual enzymatic activity may be sufficient to maintain normal osteoblast differentiation and ameliorate the skeletal phenotype associated with CLS.


Pathogenesis

Harum et al. (2001) noted that, based on evidence from experimental models, the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB; 123810) is thought to be involved in memory formation. RSK2 activates CREB through phosphorylation at serine-133. In 7 patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome (5 boys and 2 girls), Harum et al. (2001) found a diminished activity of RSK2 to phosphorylate a CREB-like peptide in vitro in all cells lines. The authors noted a linear correlation between RSK2 activation of CREB and cognitive levels of the patients, consistent with the hypothesis that CREB is involved in human learning and memory. Other characteristics of the syndrome, including facial and bony abnormalities, may be due to impaired expression of various CREB-responsive genes.


Population Genetics

The estimated incidence of Coffin-Lowry syndrome is 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000, and about 70 to 80% of patients are sporadic cases (Pereira et al., 2010).


History

Mattei et al. (1981) reported 2 sisters with Coffin-Lowry syndrome; however, as noted by Gorlin (1981), these sisters actually had Coffin-Siris syndrome (135900).


See Also:

Collacott et al. (1987); Fryns et al. (1977); Kousseff (1982); Vles et al. (1984); Wilson and Kelly (1981)

REFERENCES

  1. Biancalana, V., Briard, M. L., David, A., Gilgenkrantz, S., Kaplan, J., Mathieu, M., Piussan, C., Poncin, J., Schinzel, A., Oudet, C., Hanauer, A. Confirmation and refinement of the genetic localization of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome locus in Xp22.1-p22.2. Am. J. Hum. Genet. 50: 981-987, 1992. [PubMed: 1349200]

  2. Biancalana, V., Trivier, E., Weber, C., Weissenbach, J., Rowe, P. S. N., O'Riordan, J. L. H., Partington, M. W., Heyberger, S., Oudet, C., Hanauer, A. Construction of a high-resolution linkage map for Xp22.1-p22.2 and refinement of the genetic localization of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome gene. Genomics 22: 617-625, 1994. [PubMed: 8001973] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1006/geno.1994.1435]

  3. Bird, H., Collins, A. L., Oley, C., Lindsay, S. Crossover analysis in a British family suggests that Coffin-Lowry syndrome maps to a 3.4-cM interval in Xp22. Am. J. Med. Genet. 59: 512-516, 1995. [PubMed: 8585574] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320590420]

  4. Coffin, G. S., Siris, E., Wegienka, L. C. Mental retardation with osteocartilaginous anomalies. Am. J. Dis. Child. 112: 205-213, 1966.

  5. Collacott, R. A., Warrington, J. S., Young, I. D. Coffin-Lowry syndrome and schizophrenia: a family report. J. Ment. Defic. Res. 31: 199-207, 1987. [PubMed: 3625766] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.1987.tb01356.x]

  6. Delaunoy, J. P., Dubos, A., Pereira, P. M., Hanauer, A. Identification of novel mutations in the RSK2 gene (RPS6KA3) in patients with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 70: 161-166, 2006. [PubMed: 16879200] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.2006.00660.x]

  7. Facher, J. J., Regier, E. J., Jacobs, G. H., Siwik, E., Delaunoy, J.-P., Robin, N. H. Cardiomyopathy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 128A: 176-178, 2004. [PubMed: 15214012] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.30056]

  8. Field, M., Tarpey, P., Boyle, J., Edkins, S., Goodship, J., Luo, Y., Moon, J., Teague, J., Stratton, M. R., Futreal, P. A., Wooster, R., Raymond, F. L., Turner, G. Mutations in the RSK2(RPS6KA3) gene cause Coffin-Lowry syndrome and nonsyndromic X-linked mental retardation. Clin. Genet. 70: 509-515, 2006. [PubMed: 17100996] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.2006.00723.x]

  9. Fryns, J. P., Smeets, E. 'Cataplexy' in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 35: 702 only, 1998. [PubMed: 9719387] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.35.8.702]

  10. Fryns, J. P., Vinken, L., van den Berghe, H. The Coffin syndrome. Hum. Genet. 36: 271-276, 1977. [PubMed: 852873] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446276]

  11. Fryssira, H., Kountoupi, S., Delaunoy, J. P., Thomaidis, L. A female with Coffin-Lowry syndrome and 'cataplexy'. Genet. Counsel. 13: 405-409, 2002. [PubMed: 12558110]

  12. Gilgenkrantz, S., Mujica, P., Gruet, P., Tridon, P., Schweitzer, F., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Nivelon, J. L. Couillault, G.; David, A.; Verloes, A.; Lambotte, C.; Piussan, C. and Mathieu, M.: Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a multicenter study. Clin. Genet. 34: 230-245, 1988. [PubMed: 3069251] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.1988.tb02870.x]

  13. Gorlin, R. J. Lapsus--caveat emptor: Coffin-Lowry syndrome vs Coffin-Siris syndrome--an example of confusion compounded. (Letter) Am. J. Med. Genet. 10: 103-104, 1981. [PubMed: 7294058] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320100113]

  14. Hanauer, A., Alembik, Y., Gilgenkrantz, S., Mujica, P., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Pembrey, M. E., Young, I. D., Mandel, J. L. Probable localisation of the Coffin-Lowry locus in Xp22.2-p22.1 by multipoint linkage analysis. Am. J. Med. Genet. 30: 523-530, 1988. [PubMed: 3177469] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320300154]

  15. Hanauer, A., Alembik, Y., Mujica, P., Nivelon-Chevallier, A., Gilgenkrantz, S., Mandel, J. L. Probable localisation of the Coffin-Lowry locus (CLS) in Xp22.2-p22.1 by multipoint linkage analysis. (Abstract) Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 46: 626, 1987.

  16. Hartsfield, J. K., Jr., Hall, B. D., Grix, A. W., Kousseff, B. G., Salazar, J. F., Haufe, S. M. W. Pleiotropy in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: sensorineural hearing deficit and premature tooth loss as early manifestations. Am. J. Med. Genet. 45: 552-557, 1993. [PubMed: 7681250] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320450505]

  17. Harum, K. H., Alemi, L., Johnston, M. V. Cognitive impairment in Coffin-Lowry syndrome correlates with reduced RSK2 activation. Neurology 56: 207-214, 2001. [PubMed: 11160957] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.56.2.207]

  18. Haspeslagh, M., Fryns, J. P., Beusen, L., Van Dessel, F., Vinken, L., Moens, E., Van Den Berghe, H. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a study of two new index patients and their families. Europ. J. Pediat. 143: 82-86, 1984. [PubMed: 6519116] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00445790]

  19. Hendrich, B., Bickmore, W. Human diseases with underlying defects in chromatin structure and modification. Hum. Molec. Genet. 10: 2233-2242, 2001. [PubMed: 11673406] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/10.20.2233]

  20. Hersh, J. H., Weisskopf, B., DeCoster, C. Forearm fullness in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a misleading yet possible early diagnostic clue. Am. J. Med. Genet. 18: 195-199, 1984. [PubMed: 6465196] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320180203]

  21. Hunter, A. G. W., Partington, M. W., Evans, J. A. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: experience from four centres. Clin. Genet. 21: 321-335, 1982. [PubMed: 7116677] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.1982.tb01379.x]

  22. Hunter, A. G. W. Coffin-Lowry syndrome: a 20-year follow-up and review of long-term outcomes. Am. J. Med. Genet. 111: 345-355, 2002. [PubMed: 12210291] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.10574]

  23. Ishida, Y., Oki, T., Ono, Y., Nogami, H. Coffin-Lowry syndrome associated with calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition in the ligamenta flava. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 275: 144-151, 1992. [PubMed: 1735205]

  24. Kesler, S. R., Simensen, R. J., Voeller, K., Abidi, F., Stevenson, R. E., Schwartz, C. E., Reiss, A. L. Altered neurodevelopment associated with mutations of RSK2: a morphometric MRI study of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Neurogenetics 8: 143-147, 2007. [PubMed: 17318637] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10048-007-0080-6]

  25. Kousseff, B. G. Coffin-Lowry syndrome in an Afro-American family. (Letter) Am. J. Med. Genet. 11: 373-375, 1982. [PubMed: 7081302] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320110317]

  26. Lowry, R. B., Miller, J. R., Fraser, F. C. A new dominant gene mental retardation syndrome: associated with small stature, tapering fingers, characteristic facies, and possible hydrocephalus. Am. J. Dis. Child. 121: 496-500, 1971. [PubMed: 5581017]

  27. Machin, G. A., Walther, G. L., Fraser, V. M. Autopsy findings in two adult siblings with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. Suppl. 3: 303-309, 1987. [PubMed: 3130866] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320280536]

  28. Manouvrier-Hanu, S., Amiel, J., Jacquot, S., Merienne, K., Moerman, A., Coeslier, A., Labarriere, F., Vallee, L., Croquette, M. F., Hanauer, A. Unreported RSK2 missense mutation in two male sibs with an unusually mild form of Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 36: 775-778, 1999. [PubMed: 10528858] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.36.10.775]

  29. Massin, M. M., Radermecker, M. A., Verloes, A., Jacquot, S., Grenade, T. Cardiac involvement in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Acta Paediat. 88: 468-470, 1999. [PubMed: 10342551] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1080/08035259950169909]

  30. Mattei, J. F., Laframboise, R., Rouault, F., Giraud, F. Coffin-Lowry syndrome in sibs. Am. J. Med. Genet. 8: 315-319, 1981. [PubMed: 7234901] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320080310]

  31. McCandless, S. E., Schwartz, S., Morrison, S., Garlapati, K., Robin, N. H. Adult with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 10 [del(10)(q25.1q25.3)]: overlap with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 95: 93-98, 2000. [PubMed: 11078556] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/1096-8628(20001113)95:2<93::aid-ajmg1>3.0.co;2-b]

  32. Merienne, K., Jacquot, S., Pannetier, S., Zeniou, M., Bankier, A., Gecz, J., Mandel, J.-L., Mulley, J., Sassone-Corsi, P., Hanauer, A. A missense mutation in RPS6KA3 (RSK2) responsible for non-specific mental retardation. (Letter) Nature Genet. 22: 13-14, 1999. [PubMed: 10319851] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/8719]

  33. Merienne, K., Jacquot, S., Trivier, E., Pannetier, S., Rossi, A., Scott, C., Schinzel, A., Castellan, C., Kress, W., Hanauer, A. Rapid immunoblot and kinase assay tests for a syndromal form of X linked mental retardation: Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 35: 890-894, 1998. [PubMed: 9832033] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.35.11.890]

  34. Miyazaki, K., Yamanaka, T., Ishida, Y., Oohira, A. Calcified ligamenta flava in a patient with Coffin-Lowry syndrome: biochemical analysis of glycosaminoglycans. Jpn. J. Hum. Genet. 35: 215-221, 1990.

  35. Nakamura, M., Yamagata, T., Momoi, M. Y., Yamazaki, T. Drop episodes in Coffin-Lowry syndrome: exaggerated startle responses treated with clonazepam. Pediat. Neurol. 19: 148-150, 1998. [PubMed: 9744638] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0887-8994(98)00029-0]

  36. Nishimoto, H. K., Ha, K., Jones, J. R., Dwivedi, A., Cho, H.-M., Layman, L. C., Kim, H.-G. The historical Coffin-Lowry syndrome family revisited: identification of two novel mutations of RPS6KA3 in three male patients. Am. J. Med. Genet. 164A: 2172-2179, 2014. [PubMed: 25044551] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.36488]

  37. Partington, M. W., Mulley, J. C., Sutherland, G. R., Thode, A., Turner, G. A family with the Coffin Lowry syndrome revisited: localization of CLS to Xp21-pter. Am. J. Med. Genet. 30: 509-521, 1988. [PubMed: 3177468] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320300153]

  38. Pereira, P. M., Heron, D., Hanauer, A. The first large duplication of the RSK2 gene identified in a Coffin-Lowry syndrome patient. Hum. Genet. 122: 541-543, 2007. [PubMed: 17717706] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-007-0424-1]

  39. Pereira, P. M., Schneider, A., Pannetier, S., Heron, D., Hanauer, A. Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Europ. J. Hum. Genet. 18: 627-633, 2010. [PubMed: 19888300] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejhg.2009.189]

  40. Procopis, P. G., Turner, B. Mental retardation, abnormal fingers, and skeletal anomalies: Coffin's syndrome. Am. J. Dis. Child. 124: 258-261, 1972. [PubMed: 5052411] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.1972.02110140108016]

  41. Simensen, R. J., Abidi, F., Collins, J. S., Schwartz, C. E., Stevenson, R. E. Cognitive function in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 61: 299-304, 2002. [PubMed: 12030896] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-0004.2002.610410.x]

  42. Sivagamasundari, U., Fernando, H., Jardine, P., Rao, J. M., Lunt, P., Jayewardene, S. L. W. The association between Coffin-Lowry syndrome and psychosis: a family study. J. Intellect. Disabil. Res. 38: 469-473, 1994. [PubMed: 7841685] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.1994.tb00436.x]

  43. Temtamy, S. A., Miller, J. D., Hussels-Maumenee, I. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome: an inherited facio-digital mental retardation syndrome. J. Pediat. 86: 724-731, 1975. [PubMed: 1133653] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80357-x]

  44. Trivier, E., De Cesare, D., Jacquot, S., Pannetier, S., Zackai, E., Young, I., Mandel, J.-L., Sassone-Corsi, P., Hanauer, A. Mutations in the kinase Rsk-2 associated with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Nature 384: 567-570, 1996. [PubMed: 8955270] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1038/384567a0]

  45. Vine, D. T., Gold, J. T., Grant, A. D. Etiology of the weakness in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. (Abstract) Am. J. Hum. Genet. 39: A85, 1986.

  46. Vles, J. S. H., Haspeslagh, M., Raes, M. M. R., Fryns, J. P., Casaer, P., Eggermont, E. Early clinical signs in Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Clin. Genet. 26: 448-452, 1984. [PubMed: 6541982] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0004.1984.tb01087.x]

  47. Wang, Y., Martinez, J. E., Wilson, G. L., He, X.-Y., Tuck-Miller, C. M., Maertens, P., Wertelecki, W., Chen, T.-J. A novel RSK2 (RPS6KA3) gene mutation associated with abnormal brain MRI findings in a family with Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 140A: 1274-1279, 2006. [PubMed: 16691578] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.31266]

  48. Wilson, W. G., Kelly, T. E. Early recognition of the Coffin-Lowry syndrome. Am. J. Med. Genet. 8: 215-220, 1981. [PubMed: 7282775] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.1320080212]

  49. Young, I. D. The Coffin-Lowry syndrome. J. Med. Genet. 25: 344-348, 1988. [PubMed: 3290491] [Full Text: https://doi.org/10.1136/jmg.25.5.344]


Contributors:
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/6/2015
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/19/2011
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 8/20/2010
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 3/24/2008
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 5/2/2007
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 9/22/2006
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 7/28/2006
Marla J. F. O'Neill - updated : 7/20/2004
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 3/3/2003
Deborah L. Stone - updated : 1/10/2003
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 8/12/2002
Cassandra L. Kniffin - updated : 7/26/2002
George E. Tiller - updated : 2/12/2002
Sonja A. Rasmussen - updated : 11/21/2000
Michael J. Wright - updated : 2/4/2000
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 6/17/1999
Michael J. Wright - updated : 2/11/1999
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 10/15/1998
Victor A. McKusick - updated : 2/14/1997
Orest Hurko - updated : 8/11/1995

Creation Date:
Victor A. McKusick : 6/4/1986

Edit History:
carol : 11/11/2019
carol : 11/11/2019
carol : 11/08/2019
carol : 05/14/2015
mcolton : 5/13/2015
ckniffin : 5/6/2015
wwang : 6/7/2011
ckniffin : 5/19/2011
wwang : 8/24/2010
ckniffin : 8/20/2010
wwang : 3/26/2008
terry : 3/24/2008
wwang : 5/11/2007
ckniffin : 5/2/2007
ckniffin : 5/2/2007
wwang : 9/22/2006
carol : 8/8/2006
wwang : 8/3/2006
ckniffin : 7/28/2006
ckniffin : 7/28/2006
carol : 7/21/2004
terry : 7/20/2004
carol : 3/4/2003
tkritzer : 3/4/2003
tkritzer : 3/3/2003
carol : 1/10/2003
carol : 9/18/2002
tkritzer : 8/15/2002
tkritzer : 8/14/2002
terry : 8/12/2002
carol : 8/9/2002
ckniffin : 8/9/2002
ckniffin : 7/26/2002
cwells : 2/18/2002
cwells : 2/12/2002
mcapotos : 12/1/2000
mcapotos : 11/21/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
alopez : 2/4/2000
jlewis : 6/23/1999
terry : 6/17/1999
mgross : 2/26/1999
terry : 2/11/1999
terry : 10/15/1998
mark : 2/14/1997
mark : 2/14/1997
mark : 1/17/1996
terry : 1/16/1996
mark : 12/13/1995
terry : 12/11/1995
terry : 9/11/1995
mimadm : 2/27/1994
carol : 3/24/1993
carol : 6/8/1992
carol : 5/12/1992