Here, we report substitution of one base-pair in exon 1 of MLH3 (c.1397C>A) and a frameshift mutation in exon 19 of MLH1 (c.2250_2251ins AA) in a 43-year-old Chinese male with an LS pedigree.
Lynch Syndrome (LS) is associated with germline mutations in one of the mismatch repair (MMR) genes, including MutL homolog 1 (MLH1), MutS homolog 2 (MSH2), MSH6, PMS1 homolog 2, mismatch repair system component (PMS2), MLH3 and MSH3.
Despite the negative results of the study, it doesn't exclude the possibility of Lynch syndrome for 100%, and its presence may be caused by the mutations of other genes (PMS1, PMS2 and MLH3), responsible for DNA repair.
In addition to frequently altered MMR genes, such as MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and MLH3, other MMR-associated genes, such as those encoding human exonuclease 1, transforming growth factor β receptor 2, and alanine aminopeptidase, metastasis-associated protein 2, adenomatosis polyposis coli down-regulated 1, and hepatic and glial cell adhesion molecule have also been implicated in Chinese Lynch syndrome.
Our different biochemical assays yielded no evidence that the eight MLH3 UVs tested are the cause of hereditary colorectal cancer, including Lynch syndrome.
It has been proposed that one additional mismatch repair gene, mutL homolog 3 (MLH3), also plays a role in Lynch syndrome predisposition, but the clinical significance of mutations in this gene is less clear.
Two additional MMR genes, MLH3 and PMS1, have also been proposed to play a role in Lynch syndrome predisposition, but the clinical significance of mutations in these genes is less clear.