Knobloch Syndrome

In collaboration with Alexander Bassuk, M.D., Ph.D., we identified in new gene variation that causes Knobloch Syndrome.

Knobloch syndrome (KNO) is caused by mutations in the collagen XVIII gene (COL18A1) and patients develop encephalocele and vitreoretinal degeneration. We reported an El Salvadorian family where two sisters showed features of KNO. One of the siblings also developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. DNA sequencing of COL18A1 revealed a homozygous, 2-bp deletion (c3514-3515delCT) in exon 41, which leads to abnormal collagen XVIII and deficiency of its proteolytic cleavage product endostatin. KNO patients with mutations in COL18A1 may be at risk for endostatin-related conditions including malignancy.

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