Abstract:
Inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) comprises rare heterogeneous disorders characterized by cutaneous and mucosal fragility. Most of the 20 proteins affected have structural functions. Recently, a previously undescribed type of EB simplex (EBS), caused by gain-of-function mutations in KLHL24, encoding KLHL24 has been identified (He et al., 2016; Lin et al., 2016). This protein seems to be involved in protein ubiquitination. Patients carrying monoallelic mutations in the translation initiation codon of KLHL24 have a characteristic clinical phenotype, showing skin defects and blistering at birth and unusual stellate scarring, skin fragility, and whorled or macular hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation in childhood (Figure 1a–e).