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Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), sometimes referred to as Stone Man Syndrome, is an extremely rare disease of the connective tissue. A mutation of the body's repair mechanism causes fibrous tissue (including muscle, tendon, and ligament) to be ossified spontaneously or when damaged. In many cases, injuries can cause joints to become permanently frozen in place. Surgical removal of the extra bone growths has been shown to cause the body to "repair" the affected area with more bone.

Causes

FOP is caused by an autosomal dominant allele on chromosome 2q23-24. The allele has variable expressivity, but complete penetrance. Most cases are caused by spontaneous mutation in the gametes; most people with FOP cannot have children. A study has determined that it affects approximately 1 in every 2 million people. A similar but less catastrophic disease is fibrous dysplasia, which is caused by a post-zygotic mutation.

A mutation in the gene ACVR1 (also known as activin-like kinase 2 [ALK-2]) is responsible for the disease. ACVR1 encodes activin receptor type-1, a BMP type-1 receptor. The mutation changes codon 206 from arginine to histidine in the ACVR1 protein. This causes endothelial cells to transform to mesenchymal stem cells and then to bone.

Genetics

FOP or Stone Man Syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects individuals who are heterozygous with a homozygous recessive partner, therefore their children will have 50% chance of being affected. Two affected individuals can produce unaffected children, but the children have a chance of becoming a carrier for the disorder. The phenotypes of those who are homozygous dominant have more severe effects compared to those with heterozygous phenotype.

DNA sequencing electropherograms of a typical FOP patient being compare to other 2 patients

DNA sequencing electropherograms of a typical FOP patient can differ when being compared to two other patients. The cause of this mutation is in the ACVR1 gene. This gene provides instruction for a protein known as morphogenetic protein (BMP). This protein is responsible for growth and development of bone and muscles. Scientists and researchers theorize that a mutation in the the ACVR1 changes the shape of the receptor and disrupts certain mechanisms that controls the receptor's activity. There is a certain molecule, otherwise known as ligands, that binds at the site to cause this reaction to activate with which it forms a complex. Due to the mutation; however, the bind site is modified and no longer stops the reaction. "ACR1", "Genetics Home Reference", February 18, 2014.</ref> The end result is an overgrowth of bone and cartilage and fusion of joints.

This type of genetic disorder is so rare that only 1 in 2 million people worldwide acquire it. As such a rare disorder, only a few are reported at all. Most of the cases of FOP, were results of a new gene mutation: these people had no history of this particular disorder in their family. There are some cases which have shown people inheriting the mutation from one affected parent.

Symptoms

FOP is a genetic disease. Children born with FOP have deformed big toes, possibly missing a joint or simply presenting with a notable lump at the minor joint. The first "flare-up" that leads to the formation of FOP bones usually occurs before the age of 10. The bone growth progresses from the top downward, just as bones grow in fetuses. A child with FOP will typically develop bones starting at the neck, then on the shoulders, arms, chest area and finally on the feet. Specifically, FOP involvement is typically seen first in the dorsal, axial, cranial and proximal regions of the body. Later the disease progresses in the ventral, appendicular, caudal and distal regions of the body. However it does not necessarily occur in this order due to injury-caused flare-ups. Often, the tumor-like lumps that characterize the disease appear suddenly. This condition causes loss of mobility to affected joints, including inability to fully open the mouth limiting speech and eating. Extra bone formation around the rib cage restricts the expansion of lungs and diaphragm causing breathing complications.

The gene that causes ossification is normally deactivated after a fetus' bones are formed in the womb, but in patients with FOP, the gene keeps working. Aberrant bone formation in patients with FOP occurs when injured connective tissue or muscle cells at the sites of injury or growth incorrectly express an enzyme for bone repair during apoptosis (self-regulated cell death), resulting in lymphocytes containing excess bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) provided during the immune system response. The bone that results occurs independently of the normal skeleton, forming its own discrete skeletal elements. These elements, however, can fuse with normal skeletal bone. Interestingly, the diaphragm, tongue, and extra-ocular muscles are spared in this process, as well as cardiac and smooth muscle. Since the incorrect enzyme remains unresolved within the immune response, the body continues providing the incorrect BMP4-containing lymphocytes. BMP4 is a product that contributes to the development of the skeleton in the normal embryo.

Because the disease is so rare, the symptoms are often misdiagnosed as cancer or fibrosis. This leads doctors to order biopsies, which can actually exacerbate the growth of these lumps. However, those born with FOP tend to have malformed toes or thumbs which help distinguish this disorder from other skeletal problems.

Outbreaks may be measurable clinically by elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase.

Treatment

There is no known cure for FOP. Attempts to surgically remove the bone result in more robust bone growth. While under anesthesia, patients with FOP may face problems, which include difficulties with intubation, restrictive pulmonary disease, and changes in the electrical conduction system of the heart. Activities that increase the risk of falling should be avoided, as injuries from falling can provoke the growth of bone.

In 1999, scientists discovered that squalamine in sharks might be useful in treating those suffering from FOP. Squalamine is antiangiogenic and can prevent the growth of blood vessels in cartilaginous tissue, thus preventing creation of bone in sharks. The Genaera Corporation announced a trial of squalamine in 2002 but terminated about 2007. (Note that squalene is a different compound, also found in sharks, that has no such properties.) Clinical trials of isotretinoin, etidronate with oral corticosteroids, and perhexiline maleate have failed to demonstrate effectiveness, though the variable course of the disease and small numbers of patients leave some room for uncertainty. In April 2013 the La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company was granted orphan drug status for testing of 4-(6-(4-(piperazin-1-yl)phenyl_pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-3-yl)quinoline hydrochloride for treatment of FOP.

Researchers believe that specific kinase inhibitors can be developed that will block the aberrant ACVR1 activity, and are actively investigating dorsomorphin and K02288 as lead compounds with the intention of developing effective therapies. For example, the more potent dorsomorphin derivative LDN-193189 reduced ossification in a transgenic mouse model, in which the engineering of adult ACVR1 activity created an inflammation-dependent ossification sensitive to corticosteroid treatment.

Another major direction in research is the development of therapeutics based on allele-specific RNA interference to block the aberrant gene from directing production of ACVR1. However, effective treatment by this means may require a better knowledge of what cell types are responsible for the disease, so that inhibitory RNA can be produced from them in the long term.

Although this disorder is currently incurable, understanding and researching the cause of bone formation in FOP could aid in the treatment of other common bone disorders such as fractures, hip replacement surgery, and other heterotopic ossification that occur in trauma or burn victims.

Cases

Since the 1800s, there have been references in medicine describing people who apparently "turned to stone"; some of these cases may be attributable to FOP.

The best known FOP case is that of Harry Eastlack (1933–1973). His condition began to develop at the age of ten, and by the time of his death from pneumonia in November 1973, six days before his 40th birthday, his body had completely ossified, leaving him able to move only his lips.

Shortly before Eastlack's death, he made it known that he wanted to donate his body to science, in the hope that in death, he would be able to help find a cure for this little-understood and particularly cruel disease. Pursuant to his wishes, his preserved skeleton is now kept at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, and has proven to be an invaluable source of information in the study of FOP.

There have approximately been 700 confirmed cases across the globe from an estimated 2500.

See also

• International FOP Association
• ClinicalTrials.gov search interface (presently none listed)

Further reading

• Cohen, MM; Howell, RE (October 1999). "Etiology of fibrous dysplasia and McCune-Albright syndrome". International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 28 (5): 366–71. doi:10.1016/S0901-5027(99)80085-X. PMID 10535539.

Category:Congenital disorders Category:Rare diseases Category:Disorders of muscles Category:Genodermatoses