Structural analysis of teeth from a PC patient carrying a p.Asn171Lys substitution in keratin-6a (K6a) revealed disruption of enamel rod sheaths resulting in altered rod shape and distribution.
Using keratinocytes and fibroblasts isolated from unaffected skin biopsies of two PC patients carrying the p.Asn171Lys mutation of the keratin 6a gene (KRT6A), we were able to regenerate PC-derived human skin that appeared phenotypically normal, but developed sustained PC features after the use of an acute hyperproliferative stimulus (i.e., tape stripping).
Targeting the single-nucleotide keratin 6a (K6a) N171K mutation responsible for the rare monogenic skin disorder pachyonychia congenita (PC), we demonstrate that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can potently and selectively block expression of mutant K6a.