Research Identifies a Molecular Basis for Common Congenital Brain Defect

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SNX27 required for formation of cells that maintain normal flow of fluid out of the brain

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) have discovered a molecular cause of hydocephalus, a common, potentially life-threatening birth defect in which the head is enlarged due to excess fluid surrounding the brain. Because the same molecule is also implicated in Down’s syndrome, the finding may explain the 10-fold increased risk of hydrocephalus in infants born with Down’s. “We found that deleting the gene for sorting nexin 27, or SNX27, which plays a major role in the development of Down’s syndrome, causes hydrocephalus,” said Huaxi Xu, PhD, the Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair of SBP’s Neuroscience and Aging Research Center. “The mechanism we uncovered likely only account for a fraction of hydrocephalus cases, but we identified potential non-surgical treatments for these cases that deserve further study.” 

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