High bone mass due to novel LRP5 and AMER1 mutations

WNT signaling is a key regulator of bone metabolism and its increased or decreased activity leads to skeletal disorders. Here we describe two patients with high bone mass (HBM) caused by novel mutations in two different WNT pathway components. The first patient is a 53-year-old male with HBM. He was diagnosed at adult age based on significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD). He has undergone several surgeries due to excessive bone in ear canals, bilateral jaw exostoses and mandibular tori. Radiographs show severe cortical thickening of cranial and long bones. Sanger sequencing identified a novel heterozygous mutation c.592A>T (p.N198Y) in LRP5 (Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5). The second patient, an adolescent female, was diagnosed with skeletal dysplasia in early childhood. She had macrocephaly (head circumference +6.0 SD), facial dysmorphism, delayed motor development, laryngomalasia and epilepsy. Radiographic findings were consistent with osteopathia striata with cranial sclerosis. A novel heterozygous frameshift mutation c.655del (p.E219Rfs*63) in AMER1 (APC Membrane Recruiting Protein 1) was identified. Although both mutations are predicted to lead to increased WNT signaling with a consequent increase in bone formation, the resulting phenotypes are different; cranial sclerosis versus macrocephaly, long bone cortical thickening versus vertical striations and discordant neurological development. This report underscores the diversity of genotypes and phenotypes of HBM and facilitates their differential diagnosis.