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X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia (XLAG) is a severe neurological disorder that only manifests in genotypic males and includes lissencephaly with posterior-to-anterior gradient and only moderate increase in thickness of the cortex, absent corpus callosum, neonatal-onset severe epilepsy, hypothalamic dysfunction including defective temperature regulation, and ambiguous genitalia with micropenis and cryptorchidism. XLAG differs considerably from classical lissencephaly, as the resulting cortical thickness is only 6-7 mm in XLAG, rather than 15-20 mm seen in classical lissencephaly due to mutations of the PAFAH1B1 or DCX genes. In 2002, mutations in the X-linked aristaless-related homeobox gene (ARX ; Xp21.3) were identified in individuals with XLAG and in some of their female relatives. Mouse Arx and human ARX are highly expressed in both dorsal and ventral telencephalon, including the neocortical ventricular zone and germinal zone of the ganglionic eminence, with less intense signals in the subventricular zone, cortical plate, hippocampus, basal ganglia and ventral thalamus. Arx-deficient mice showed deficient tangential migration and abnormal differentiation of GABAergic interneurons in the ganglionic eminence and neocortex, as well as abnormal testicular differentiation. These characteristics include some of the clinical features of XLAG in humans. The ARX mutations in XLAG patients were predominantly premature termination mutations (large deletions, frameshift, nonsense mutations, splice site mutations) while the missense mutations were less common and located essentially in the homeobox domain. Patients carrying nonconservative missense mutations within the homeobox, showed less severe XLAG, while conservative substitution in the homeodomain caused Proud syndrome (ACC with abnormal genitalia). A non conservative missense mutation near the C-terminal aristaless domain caused unusually severe XLAG with microcephaly and mild cerebellar hypoplasia. The ARX mutations are also associated with a spectrum of milder phenotypes, without macroscopic malformations of the brain, such as X-linked infantile spasms, a syndrome featuring mental retardation associated with distal dystonic movements (Partington syndrome), autistic features and nonsyndromicintellectual deficit.
Features include always present findings: Thin upper lip vermilion. 29 total HPO annotations.
Organ System | Phenotype Count | Example Features |
|---|---|---|
Brain and nerves | 8 | Seizure, Specific learning disability, Enlarged brain ventricles (ventriculomegaly) |
Head and neck | 3 | Long upper lip, Thin upper lip vermilion, High palate |
Muscles | 2 | Low muscle tone (hypotonia), Generalized hypotonia |
Digestive system | 2 | Feeding difficulties in infancy, Diarrhea |
ARX encodes aristaless related homeobox (562 aa). Transcription factor. Binds to specific sequence motif 5'-TAATTA-3' in regulatory elements of target genes, such as histone demethylase KDM5C. Positively modulates transcription of KDM5C. Highest expression in Ovary (139.1 TPM) and Brain Anterior cingulate cortex BA24 (11.7 TPM).
X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia is associated with mutations in the ARX gene on chromosome X.
The ARX protein participates in SLIT2 gene expression is stimulated by ISL1 and Primary multipotent pancreatic progenitor cell produces trunk bipotent pancreatic progenitor cell pathways.
ARX is classified as a druggable target (Transcription Factor category) with score 0.0.
Genetic testing for ARX is available. Testing is considered confirmatory for diagnosis.
Phenotype severity distribution: 1 always present feature.
Estimated prevalence: Unknown (Unknown prevalence).
No clinical trials have been registered for X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia.
15 publications have been identified in PubMed for X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia. Research spans Case Report / Case Series (67%), Review / Meta-Analysis (13%), and Basic Science / Preclinical (13%).
Research Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
Patient case studies | 10 | 67% |
Research summaries | 2 | 13% |
Laboratory research | 2 | 13% |
Disease patterns and progression | 1 | 7% |
Huang R (2026). [PMID: 41205496](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41205496/). *European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Zhang Y (2026). [PMID: 41727761](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41727761/). *Frontiers in pediatrics*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Resnick O (2026). [PMID: 41684880](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41684880/). *JCEM case reports*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Zhao Y (2026). [PMID: 41705901](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41705901/). *Prenatal diagnosis*. [Epidemiology / Natural History]
Zhao L (2026). [PMID: 41960028](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41960028/). *Front Pediatr*. [Case Report / Case Series]
El Fid K (2026). [PMID: 42003052](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42003052/). *Pediatr Dermatol*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Warmoeskerken T (2026). [PMID: 41821414](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41821414/). *Am J Med Genet A*. [Case Report / Case Series]
You Y (2025). [PMID: 41451493](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41451493/). *Zhonghua yi xue yi chuan xue za zhi = Zhonghua yixue yichuanxue zazhi = Chinese journal of medical genetics*. [Review / Meta-Analysis]
Xue S (2025). [PMID: 41240171](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41240171/). *Molecular biology reports*. [Case Report / Case Series]
da Silva Campos TA (2025). [PMID: 40751225](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40751225/). *Journal of medical case reports*. [Case Report / Case Series]
Data assembled from 6 of 12 sources · Last updated Sep 19, 2026, 6:58 PM UTC
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man
European rare disease database
Genetic and Rare Diseases Info Center
Common questions about X-linked lissencephaly with abnormal genitalia