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Tuberous sclerosis is a genetic disease with a broad clinical spectrum that has the potential to affect almost every organ system. It involves mutations in certain genes (TSC1 and TSC2) that are responsible for the production of proteins that usually help to regulate cell division and growth in the body.
When this balance is disrupted by the gene mutations, characteristic hamartomas may grow in various locations around the body such as the brain, skin, kidney, liver, lungs and heart, affecting the function of these organs.
There are two specific gene mutations known to be associated with tuberous sclerosis. TSC1 gene mutation occurs on chromosome 9 and is related to the production of the hamartin protein. TSC2 is on chromosome 16 and affects the production of tuberin protein. It is these genes that are thought to cause the characteristic tumors of the condition.
The gene mutation may be inherited from a parent that carries the gene or may occur spontaneously in the affected individual. Most cases of tuberous sclerosis present sporadically, with no known family history of the disease but approximately 1 in 3 patients inherit a defected TSC1 or TSC2 gene.
If one parent has tuberous sclerosis, any children will carry a 50% risk of inheriting the disease. It follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, which explains why males and females are equally affected and the direct inheritance from a parent with the disease.
Hamartin and tuberin are thought to play a role in a complex that controls cell growth and division in the body. To date, the exact mechanism of pathology that leads to unregulated cell growth and the appearance of tumors is not known, although it is thought to be due to changes in signaling of mTOR. Thus the proteins hamartin and tuberin are considered to modulate gene transcription and suppress tumor growth.
The 2-hit model of tumorigenesis by Knudson specifies that the formation of the tumor requires a second mutation and a loss of heterozygosity (LOH). This suggestion follows from the presence of LOH in several hamartomas around the body in people with tuberous sclerosis.
Tuberous sclerosis can cause tumors to grown in various locations around the body and are known to affect several different tumors. As a result of this, the severity of the condition can vary greatly between individuals and the symptoms are often different.
Tumors of the brain are most commonly associated with tuberous sclerosis and often cause seizures or developmental delays in affected individuals. In general, multiple tumors or those that are larger in size cause the most significant problems.
Lesions that present on the skin or around nails do not usually cause serious problems but can be particularly troublesome for individuals that are worried about the aesthetic effects.
Angiomyolipoma and cysts in the kidneys can affect renal function of the individual and, in severe cares, renal failure may result. Some patients also note symptoms similar to polycystic kidney disease, which has similar genetic characteristics to tuberous sclerosis.
Cardiac rhabdomyoma refers to tumors that grow in the heart. When present in adults it is not usually large enough in size to cause significant damage but can be fatal for newborn infants.
Pulmonary cysts and lymphangioleimoyomatosis (LAM) can affect the lungs and the latter is the most common cause of fatality for patients that exhibit evidence of LAM.