This review extensively profiles the published literature on CMT2F and distal hereditary motor neuropathy II (dHMN II), a similar neuropathy with exclusively motor symptoms that is also due to mutations in Hsp27.
In this study, we modeled HSPB1 mutant-induced neuropathies in Drosophila using a human HSPB1<sup>S135F</sup> mutant that has a missense mutation in its α-crystallin domain.
A detailed phenotype and natural history study of HSPB1neuropathy is therefore required in order to inform the duration and outcome measures of any future trials.
Physico-chemical properties of the mutations G34R, P39L and E41K in the N-terminal domain of human heat shock protein B1 (HspB1), which have been associated with hereditary motor neuron neuropathy, were analyzed.
Mutations in the small heat shock protein HSPB1 (HSP27) are a cause of axonal Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMT2F) and distal hereditary motor neuropathy.
Together, these findings suggest that the mitochondrial abnormalities in mutant Hsp27-induced neuropathies may be a primary cause of pathology, leading to further deficits in the mitochondrial axonal transport and onset of disease.
However, we present a family with a novel mutation in the C-terminus of HSP27 (p.Gln175X) [corrected] with a motor predominant distal neuropathy but with definite sensory involvement compatible with CMT2.