Identification of putative phenotype-modifying genetic factors associated with phenotypic diversity in Brooke-Spiegler syndrome

Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (BSS, OMIM 605041) is a rare monogenic skin disease characterized by the development of skin appendage tumors caused by mutations in the cylindromatosis gene. We recently investigated a Hungarian and an Anglo-Saxon pedigrees affected by Brooke-Spiegler syndrome. Despite carrying the same disease-causing mutation (c.2806C>T, p.Arg936X) of the cylindromatosis(CYLD)gene, the affected family members of the two pedigrees exhibit striking differences in their phenotypes. To identify phenotype-modifying genetic factors, whole exome sequencing was performed and the data from the Hungarian and Anglo-Saxon BSS patients were compared. Three putative phenotype-modifying genetic variants were identified: the rs1053023 SNP of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) gene, the rs1131877 SNP of the tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) gene and the rs202122812 SNP of the neighbour of BRCA1 gene 1 (NBR1) gene. Our study contributes to the accumulating evidence for the clinical importance of phenotype-modifying genetic factors, which are potentially important for the elucidation of disease prognosis.