[From gene to disease; Von Hippel-Lindau disease]

Abstract

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal, dominantly inherited, tumour syndrome. Carriers of a germline mutation in the VHL tumour suppressor genes are predisposed to develop tumours in various organs including the eye, cerebellum and kidney. These tumours are often multicentric or bilateral, and manifest at a younger age than in situations without a VHL germline mutation. VHL germline mutations are identified in virtually all families and sporadic patients with classic VHL disease. VHL associated tumours are richly vascularised. This is consistent with the involvement of the VHL protein in multiprotein complexes that degrade hypoxia-inducible factors dependent on cellular oxygen levels.