Filamin B: The next hotspot in skeletal research?

Publication date: Available online 6 July 2017
Source:Journal of Genetics and Genomics
Author(s): Qiming Xu, Nan Wu, Lijia Cui, Zhihong Wu, Guixing Qiu
Filamin B (FLNB) is a large dimeric actin-binding protein which crosslinks actin cytoskeleton filaments into a dynamic structure. Up to present, pathogenic mutations in FLNB are solely found to cause skeletal deformities, indicating the important role of FLNB in skeletal development. FLNB-related disorders are classified as spondylocarpotarsal synostosis (SCT), Larsen syndrome (LS), atelosteogenesis (AO), boomerang dysplasia (BD), and isolated congenital talipes equinovarus, presenting with scoliosis, short-limbed dwarfism, clubfoot, joint dislocation and other unique skeletal abnormalities. The formation of ossification center is opposite between SCT and LS, as SCT presents with premature fusion of carpal and tarsal bones, while LS shows supernumerary ossification centers of carpal or tarsal bones. Several mechanisms of FLNB mutations causing skeletal malformations have been proposed, including delay of ossification in long bone growth plate, reduction of bone mineral density (BMD), dysregulation of muscle differentiation, ossification of intervertebral disc (IVD), disturbance of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in chondrocytes, impair of angiogenesis, and hypomotility of osteoblast, chondrocyte and fibroblast. Interventions on FLNB-related diseases require prenatal surveillance by sonography, gene testing in high-risk carriers, and proper orthosis or orthopedic surgeries to correct malformations including scoliosis, cervical spine instability, large joint dislocation, and clubfoot. Gene and cell therapies in treating FLNB-related diseases are also promising but require further studies.



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