Marfan syndrome (MFS, OMIM #154700) is a hereditary connective tissue disorder, clinically presenting with cardinal features
of skeletal, ocular, and cardiovascular systems. In classical MFS, changes in connective tissue integrity can be explained
by defects in fibrillin-1, a major component of extracellular microfibrils. However, some of the clinical manifestations of
MFS cannot be explained by mechanical properties alone. Recent studies manipulating mouse
Fbn1 have provided new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of MFS. Dysregulation of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ)
signaling in lung, mitral valve and aortic tissues has been implicated in mouse models of MFS.
TGFBR2 and
TGFBR1 mutations were identified in a subset of patients with MFS (MFS2, OMIM #154705) and other MFS-related disorders, including
Loeys–Dietz syndrome (LDS, #OMIM 609192) and familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections (TAAD2, #OMIM 608987). These
data indicate that genetic heterogeneity exists in MFS and its related conditions and that regulation of TGFβ signaling plays
a significant role in these disorders.
Keywords Marfan syndrome -
FBN1
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TGFBR1
-
TGFBR2
- TGFβ signaling - Genetic heterogeneity - Loeys–Dietz syndrome - Familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections