Diagnostics and Therapeutics for Hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus is a significant public health problem, affecting approximately one in 500 live births in the United States. Congenital hydrocephalus has an adverse effect on developing brain and may persist as neurological defects in children and adults. Some of these defects may manifest as mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and visual disabilities. Improved diagnostics are needed for assessing the risks of developing this debilitating disease.

The inventors have shown that RFX4_v3, a splice variant of the Regulatory Factor X4 (RFX4) transcription factor, is associated with the development of neurological structures. The reduction or absence of RFX4_v3 promotes the development of congenital hydrocephalus. This invention describes RFX4_v3 polypeptides and nucleic acids, as well as methods for detection of RFX4_v3 polymorphisms associated with congenital hydrocephalus. Also described are treatment methods including the RFX4_v3 polypeptide and RFX4_v3 transgenic animals and antibodies.