Phenotypic Variability In A Family With X-linked Adrenoleukodystrophy Caused By The P.trp132ter Mutation.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) is an inherited disease with clinical heterogeneity varying from presymptomatic individuals to rapidly progressive cerebral ALD forms. This disease is characterized by increased concentration of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) in plasma and in adrenal, testicular and nervous tissues. Affected individuals can be classified in different clinical settings, according to phenotypic expression and age at onset of initial symptoms. Molecular defects in X-ALD individuals usually result from ABCD1 gene mutations. In the present report we describe clinical data and the ABCD1 gene study in two boys affected with the childhood cerebral form that presented with different symptomatic manifestations at diagnosis. In addition, their maternal grandfather had been diagnosed with Addison's disease indicating phenotypic variation for X-ALD within this family. The mutation p.Trp132Ter was identified in both male patients; additionally, three females, out of eleven family members, were found to be heterozygous after screening for this mutation. In the present report, the molecular analysis was especially important since one of the heterozygous females was in first stages of pregnancy. Therefore, depending on the fetus outcome, if male and p.Trp132Ter carrier, storage of the umbilical cord blood should be recommended as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation could be considered as an option for treatment in the future.54738-4

Heterozigose para mutação no gene CYP21A2 considerada como deficiência de 21-hidroxilase na triagem neonatal

Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) accounts for more than 90% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. CAH newborn screening, in general, is based on 17-hydroxyprogesterone dosage (17-OHP), however it is complicated by the fact that healthy preterm infants have high levels of 17-OHP resulting in false positive cases. We report on molecular features of a boy born pre-term (GA = 30 weeks; weight = 1,390 g) with elevated levels of 17-OHP (91.2 nmol/L, normal < 40) upon neonatal screening who was treated as having CAH up to the age of 8 months. He was brought to us for molecular diagnosis. Medication was gradually suspended and serum 17-OHP dosages mantained normal. The p.V281L mutation was found in compound heterozygous status with a group of nucleotide alterations located at the 3' end intron 4 and 5' end exon 5 corresponding to the splice site acceptor region. Molecular studies continued in order to exclude the possibility of a nonclassical 21-OHD form. The group of three nucleotide changes was demonstrated to be a normal variant since they failed to interfere with the normal splicing process upon minigene studies.A deficiência de 21-hidroxilase (21-OHD) é uma doença autossômica recessiva que contribui com mais de 90% dos casos de hiperplasia congênita da adrenal. O teste de dosagem de 17-hidroxiprogesterona (17-OHP) por radioimunoensaio em amostras de sangue colhidas em papel de filtro tem sido o método mais usado nos programas de triagem neonatal. No entanto, essa triagem pode apresentar alto número de falso-positivos pelo fato de os recém-nascidos prematuros apresentarem dosagens mais elevadas deste esteróide. Apresentamos aqui os estudos moleculares de uma criança, sexo masculino, nascida pré-termo (IG = 30 sem; peso = 1.390 g) que apresentava valores elevados de 17-OHP sérica (91,2 nmol/L, normal < 40) na triagem neonatal e que foi tratada como portadora da forma clássica da 21-OHD até a idade de 8 meses quando nos foi encaminhada para diagnóstico molecular. A terapia foi, então, gradativamente descontinuada, sendo que as concentrações séricas de 17-OHP se mantiveram normais. A mutação p.V281L foi encontrada em heterozigose composta com um grupo de alterações no terminal 3' do íntron 4 e no terminal 5' do éxon 5 correspondendo à região do sítio aceptor de splicing. A análise do gene CYP21A2 prosseguiu para se excluir a possibilidade de a criança ser afetada com a forma não-clássica de 21-OHD. Pela análise de minigene ficou demonstrado que o grupo de três trocas nucleotídicas não afeta o processo normal de transcrição. Concluindo, a criança é apenas heterozigota da mutação p.V281L sem necessidade de tratamento.13881392Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Heterozigose para mutação no gene CYP21A2 considerada como deficiência de 21-hidroxilase na triagem neonatal

Steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) accounts for more than 90% of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. CAH newborn screening, in general, is based on 17-hydroxyprogesterone dosage (17-OHP), however it is complicated by the fact that healthy preterm infants have high levels of 17-OHP resulting in false positive cases. We report on molecular features of a boy born pre-term (GA = 30 weeks; weight = 1,390 g) with elevated levels of 17-OHP (91.2 nmol/L, normal < 40) upon neonatal screening who was treated as having CAH up to the age of 8 months. He was brought to us for molecular diagnosis. Medication was gradually suspended and serum 17-OHP dosages mantained normal. The p.V281L mutation was found in compound heterozygous status with a group of nucleotide alterations located at the 3' end intron 4 and 5' end exon 5 corresponding to the splice site acceptor region. Molecular studies continued in order to exclude the possibility of a nonclassical 21-OHD form. The group of three nucleotide changes was demonstrated to be a normal variant since they failed to interfere with the normal splicing process upon minigene studies.A deficiência de 21-hidroxilase (21-OHD) é uma doença autossômica recessiva que contribui com mais de 90% dos casos de hiperplasia congênita da adrenal. O teste de dosagem de 17-hidroxiprogesterona (17-OHP) por radioimunoensaio em amostras de sangue colhidas em papel de filtro tem sido o método mais usado nos programas de triagem neonatal. No entanto, essa triagem pode apresentar alto número de falso-positivos pelo fato de os recém-nascidos prematuros apresentarem dosagens mais elevadas deste esteróide. Apresentamos aqui os estudos moleculares de uma criança, sexo masculino, nascida pré-termo (IG = 30 sem; peso = 1.390 g) que apresentava valores elevados de 17-OHP sérica (91,2 nmol/L, normal < 40) na triagem neonatal e que foi tratada como portadora da forma clássica da 21-OHD até a idade de 8 meses quando nos foi encaminhada para diagnóstico molecular. A terapia foi, então, gradativamente descontinuada, sendo que as concentrações séricas de 17-OHP se mantiveram normais. A mutação p.V281L foi encontrada em heterozigose composta com um grupo de alterações no terminal 3' do íntron 4 e no terminal 5' do éxon 5 correspondendo à região do sítio aceptor de splicing. A análise do gene CYP21A2 prosseguiu para se excluir a possibilidade de a criança ser afetada com a forma não-clássica de 21-OHD. Pela análise de minigene ficou demonstrado que o grupo de três trocas nucleotídicas não afeta o processo normal de transcrição. Concluindo, a criança é apenas heterozigota da mutação p.V281L sem necessidade de tratamento.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Estadual de Campinas Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia GenéticaUniversidade Estadual de Campinas Faculdade de Ciências Médicas Departamento de Pediatria e Centro de Investigação em PediatriaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Bioquímica Disciplina de Biologia MolecularUNIFESP, Depto. de Bioquímica Disciplina de Biologia MolecularSciEL

The novel p.Cys65Tyr mutation in NR5A1gene in three 46,XY siblings with normal testosterone levels and their mother with primary ovarian insufficiency

Disorders of sex development (DSD) is the term used for congenital conditions in which development of chromosomal, gonadal, or phenotypic sex is atypical. Nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 1 gene (NR5A1) encodes steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1), a transcription factor that is involved in gonadal development and regulates adrenal steroidogenesis. Mutations in the NR5A1 gene may lead to different 46,XX or 46,XY DSD phenotypes with or without adrenal failure. We report a Brazilian family with a novel NR5A1 mutation causing ambiguous genitalia in 46,XY affected individuals without Müllerian derivatives and apparently normal Leydig function after birth and at puberty, respectively. Their mother, who is also heterozygous for the mutation, presents evidence of primary ovarian insufficiency. Three siblings with 46,XY DSD, ambiguous genitalia and normal testosterone production were included in the study. Molecular analyses for AR, SRD5A2 genes did not reveal any mutation. However, NR5A2 sequence analysis indicated that all three siblings were heterozygous for the p.Cys65Tyr mutation which was inherited from their mother. In silico analysis was carried out to elucidate the role of the amino acid change on the protein function. After the mutation was identified, all sibs and the mother had been reevaluated. Basal hormone concentrations were normal except that ACTH levels were slightly elevated. After 1 mcg ACTH stimulation test, only the older sib showed subnormal cortisol response. The p.Cys65Tyr mutation located within the second zinc finger of DNA binding domain was considered deleterious upon analysis with predictive algorithms. The identification of heterozygous individuals with this novel mutation may bring additional knowledge on structural modifications that may influence NR5A1 DNA-binding ability, and may also contribute to genotype-phenotype correlations in DSD. The slightly elevated ACTH basal levels in all three patients with 46,XY DSD and the subnormal cortisol response after 1 mcg ACTH stimulation in the older sib indicate that a long-term follow-up for adrenal function is important for these patients. Our data reinforce that NR5A1 analysis must also be performed in 46,XY DSD patients with normal testosterone levels without AR mutations.15

New mutation in the myocilin gene segregates with juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma in a Brazilian family

AbstractMutations in the myocilin gene (MYOC) account for most cases of autosomal dominant juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG), an earlier and more severe form of POAG. We accessed seven members of a Brazilian JOAG family by clinical and molecular investigation. Four out of seven family members were diagnosed with JOAG. All of these patients presented high intraocular pressure and two of them were bilaterally blind. The disease onset varied from 20 to 30years old. There was a nine-year-old family member who had not yet manifested the disease, although he was also a carrier of the mutation. Ophthalmologic examination included: evaluation of the visual field and optic disc, intraocular pressure measurement, and gonioscopy. The three exons and intron/exon junctions of the MYOC gene were screened for mutations through direct sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA fragments. Mutation screening revealed an in-frame mutation in the third exon of the MYOC gene: an insertion of six nucleotides between the cDNA positions 1187 and 1188 (c.1187_1188insCCCAGA, p.D395_E396insDP). This mutation presented an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, segregating with the disease in four family members for three generations, and it was absent in 60 normal controls. We also performed a computational structure modeling of olfactomedin-like domain of myocilin protein and conducted in silico analysis to predict the structural changes in the myocilin protein due to the presence of the mutation. These findings may be important for future diagnosis of other presymptomatic family members, as well as for the increase of the panel of MYOC mutations and their effects on phenotype

Achados clínicos e genéticos de cinco pacientes com anomalias relacionadas ao gene WT1

AIM: To present phenotypic variability of WT1-related disorders. METHODS: Description of clinical and genetic features of five 46,XY patients with WT1 anomalies. RESULTS: Patient 1: newborn with genital ambiguity; he developed Wilms tumor (WT) and chronic renal disease and died at the age of 10 months; the heterozygous 1186G>A mutation compatible with Denys-Drash syndrome was detected in this child. Patients 2 and 3: adolescents with chronic renal disease, primary amenorrhea and hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism; patient 2 had a gonadoblastoma. The heterozygous IVS9+4, C>T mutation, compatible with Frasier syndrome was detected. Patient 4: 9-year-old boy with aniridia, genital ambiguity, dysmorphisms and mental deficiency; a heterozygous 11p deletion, compatible with WAGR syndrome was detected. Patient 5: 2 months old, same diagnosis of patient 4; he developed WT at the age of 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Constitutional abnormalities of WT1 cause gonadal and renal anomalies and predisposition to neoplasia and must be investigated in patients with ambiguous genitalia, chronic renal disease and(or) Wilms tumors; primary amenorrhea with chronic renal disease; and aniridia, genital ambiguity and dysmorphisms.OBJETIVO: Descrever a variabilidade fenotípica das anomalias relacionadas ao WT1. MÉTODOS: Descrição das características clínicas e genéticas de cinco pacientes 46,XY com anomalias no WT1. RESULTADOS: Paciente 1: Recém-nascido com ambigüidade genital desenvolveu tumor de Wilms (TW) e insuficiência renal crônica (IRC), com óbito aos 10 meses. Detectada a mutação 1186G>A em heterozigose, compatível com síndrome de Denys-Drash. Pacientes 2 e 3: Adolescentes com IRC, amenorréia primária e hipogonadismo hipergonadotrófico; a paciente 2 apresentava gonadoblastoma. Ambas apresentavam mutação IVS9+4, C>T em heterozigose, característica da síndrome de Frasier. Paciente 4: Idade 9 anos, aniridia, ambigüidade genital, dismorfismos e deficiência mental; deleção 11p, compatível com síndrome WAGR foi encontrada em heterozigose. Paciente 5: Dois meses, mesmo diagnóstico do paciente 4, desenvolveu TW aos 8 meses. CONCLUSÕES: Alterações constitucionais do WT1 determinam anomalias gonadais, renais e predisposição a neoplasias; devem ser pesquisadas em casos de ambigüidade genital associada a IRC e(ou) TW; de amenorréia primária com IRC; e aniridia, ambigüidade genital e dismorfismos.1236124

Aspectos estruturais da mutação homozigótica p.P222Q do gene HSD3B2 em um paciente com hiperplasia congênita da adrenal

Type II 3&#946;-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/&#916;5-&#916;4-isomerase (3&#946;-HSD2), encoded by the HSD3B2 gene, is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of all the classes of steroid hormones. Deleterious mutations in the HSD3B2 gene cause the classical deficiency of 3&#946;-HSD2, which is a rare autosomal recessive disease that leads to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). CAH is the most frequent cause of ambiguous genitalia and adrenal insufficiency in newborn infants with variable degrees of salt losing. Here we report the molecular and structural analysis of the HSD3B2 gene in a 46,XY child, who was born from consanguineous parents, and presented with ambiguous genitalia and salt losing. The patient carries a homozygous nucleotide c.665C>A change in exon 4 that putatively substitutes the proline at codon 222 for glutamine. Molecular homology modeling of normal and mutant 3&#946;-HSD2 enzymes emphasizes codon 222 as an important residue for the folding pattern of the enzyme and validates a suitable model for analysis of new mutations.A enzima 3&#946;-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/&#916;5-&#916;4-isomerase do tipo 2 (3&#946;-HSD2), codificada pelo gene HSD3B2, é importante na biossíntese de todas as classes de hormônios esteroides. As mutações no gene HSD3B2 podem causar deficiência da 3&#946;-HSD2 da forma clássica. É de herança autossômica recessiva e uma das causas mais raras de hiperplasia congênita da adrenal (HCA). A deficiência dessa enzima leva frequentemente à ambiguidade genital e à insuficiência da adrenal em recém-nascidos com vários níveis de perda de sal. Neste trabalho, foi feito o estudo estrutural e molecular do gene HSD3B2 gene em um paciente 46,XY, filho de pais consanguíneos, com ambiguidade genital e perda de sal. O paciente é homozigoto para a troca nucleotídica c.665C>A no éxon 4, que putativamente leva à substituição de uma prolina do códon 222 por uma glutamina. A modelagem molecular por homologia das enzimas 3&#946;-HSD2 normal e mutantes ressaltou que a prolina no códon 222 é um resíduo importante no enovelamento da enzima e validou um modelo adequado para avaliações de novas mutações.76877

Long-term Follow-up Of An 8-year-old Boy With Insulinoma As The First Manifestation Of A Familial Form Of Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 1.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant hereditary cancer syndrome characterized mostly by parathyroid, enteropancreatic, and anterior pituitary tumors. We present a case of an 8-year-old boy referred because of hypoglycemic attacks. His diagnosis was pancreatic insulinoma. Paternal grandmother died due to repeated gastroduodenal ulcerations and a paternal aunt presented similar manifestations. At a first evaluation, the father presented only gastric ulceration but subsequently developed hyperparathyroidism and lung carcinoid tumor. During almost 15 years of follow-up, three brothers and the index case presented hyperparathyroidism and hyperprolactinemia. Molecular study showed a G to A substitution in intron 4, at nine nucleotides upstream of the splicing acceptor site, causing a splicing mutation. All affected members of the family have the same mutation. Paternal grandmother and aunt were not studied and the mother does not carry any mutation. MEN1 is a rare condition that requires permanent medical assistance. Early clinical and genetic identification of affected individuals is essential for their own surveillance and also for genetic counseling.54754-6

A ausência de mutações no gene PAX6 em três casos de síndrome de Morning Glory associada à deficiência isolada de hormônio do crescimento

Morning glory syndrome (MGS) is a congenital optic disc dysplasia often associated with craniofacial anomalies, especially basal encephalocele and hypopituitarism. Clinical signs are varied and often occult. The PAX6 gene is involved in ocular morphogenesis and is expressed in numerous ocular tissues during development especially in the developing central nervous system. The aim of the present study is to evaluate PAX6 in MGS associated with isolated growth hormone deficiency. Three pre-pubertal males (A, B and C) with MGS and short stature due to growth hormone deficiency, treated with recombinant human growth hormone with limited response, were reported. Two of them had basal encephalocele. Coding and non-coding sequences corresponding of PAX6 different transcripts were analyzed by direct sequencing. Nucleotide variations causing putative aminoacid change were not observed. Patient A presented the new IVS2+9G>A transition, whereas patients A and C were heterozygous for known single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the intron 4. In addition, two SNP heterozygoses were observed for patient C in both intron 9 and 13. Sequencing also revealed several nucleotide variations in patient B. Two heterozygoses for known polymorphisms were identified along with a novel C>A nucleotide change in intron 4. This patient also presented a low number on the TG repeat in intron 9 and a new IVS11+33A>T transversion. Gene regulation and transcription of PAX6 are complex processes; there are two major protein isoforms, PAX6(-5a) and PAX6(+5a), and nine transcripts described. Furthermore, extra transcription regulatory elements have been postulated within PAX6 introns. Considering that neither population distributions on PAX6 polymorphism nor their linkeages with diseases have been reported, a functional effect due to alterations described here cannot be discarded.A síndrome de Morning Glory (SMG) é uma displasia óptica congênita associada a anomalias craniofaciais, principalmente encefalocele basal e hipopituitarismo. Os sinais clínicos são variados e muitas vezes ocultos. O gene PAX6 está envolvido na morfogênese ocular e se expressa em vários tecidos oculares durante o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o gene PAX6 na SMG associada com deficiência isolada de hormônio de crescimento. Foram relatados três pacientes pré-púberes (A, B e C) com SMG e baixa estatura por deficiência de hormônio de crescimento tratados com hormônio de crescimento recombinante humano. As seqüências codificadoras e não-codificadoras correspondentes ao PAX6 em diferentes transcritos foram analisadas por seqüenciamento direto. Variações nucleotídeas com trocas pontuais de aminoácidos não foram encontradas. O paciente A apresentou uma transição nova IVS2+9G>A, enquanto os pacientes A e C foram heterozigotos para um polimorfismo (SNP) no íntron 4. Ainda, dois SNPs em heterozigose nos íntrons 9 e 13 foram observados no paciente C. O seqüenciamento também mostrou várias variações nucleotídeas no paciente B. Dois SNPs conhecidos com a alteração nucleotídea nova C>A no íntron 4 foram observados em heterozigose. Este paciente também apresentou um baixo número de repetições TG no íntron 9 e uma nova transversão IVS11+33A>T. A regulação e a transcrição do gene PAX6 são um processo complexo; existem 2 isoformas principais da proteína, PAX6(-5a) e PAX6(+5a) e 9 transcritos descritos. Considerando que nem a distribuição de SNPs no PAX6 e nem as suas ligações com as doenças foram relatadas, um defeito funcional devido às alterações descritas não pode ser descartado.University of Campinas Faculty of Medical Sciences Pediatric Endocrinology UnitFederal University of São Paulo School of Medicine Pediatric Endocrinology UnitUNIFESP School of Medicine Department of RadiologyUnicamp Center of Molecular Biology and Genetic EngineeringUNIFESP, EPM, Pediatric Endocrinology UnitUNIFESP, School of Medicine Department of RadiologySciEL

Molecular Diagnosis of 5α-Reductase Type II Deficiency in Brazilian Siblings with 46,XY Disorder of Sex Development

The steroid 5α-reductase type II enzyme catalyzes the conversion of testosterone (T) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), and its deficiency leads to undervirilization in 46,XY individuals, due to an impairment of this conversion in genital tissues. Molecular analysis in the steroid 5α-reductase type II gene (SRD5A2) was performed in two 46,XY female siblings. SRD5A2 gene sequencing revealed that the patients were homozygous for p.Gln126Arg missense mutation, which results from the CGA > CAA nucleotide substitution. The molecular result confirmed clinical diagnosis of 46,XY disorder of sex development (DSD) for the older sister and directed the investigation to other family members. Studies on SRD5A2 protein structure showed severe changes at NADPH binding region indicating that structural modeling analysis can be useful to evaluate the deleterious role of a mutation as causing 5α-reductase type II enzyme deficiency