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Pignatti E, Slone J, Gómez Cano MÁ, Campbell TM, Vu J, Sauter KS, Pandey AV, Martínez-Azorín F, Alonso-Riaño M, Neilson DE, Longo N, du Toit T, Voegel CD, Huang T, Flück CE. FDXR variants cause adrenal insufficiency and atypical sexual development. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e179071. [PMID: 38885337 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.179071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic defects affecting steroid biosynthesis cause cortisol deficiency and differences of sex development; among these defects are recessive mutations in the steroidogenic enzymes CYP11A1 and CYP11B, whose function is supported by reducing equivalents donated by ferredoxin reductase (FDXR) and ferredoxin. So far, mutations in the mitochondrial flavoprotein FDXR have been associated with a progressive neuropathic mitochondriopathy named FDXR-related mitochondriopathy (FRM), but cortisol insufficiency has not been documented. However, patients with FRM often experience worsening or demise following stress associated with infections. We investigated 2 female patients with FRM carrying the potentially novel homozygous FDXR mutation p.G437R with ambiguous genitalia at birth and sudden death in the first year of life; they presented with cortisol deficiency and androgen excess compatible with 11-hydroxylase deficiency. In addition, steroidogenic FDXR-variant cell lines reprogrammed from 3 patients with FRM fibroblasts displayed deficient mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid production. Finally, Fdxr-mutant mice allelic to the severe p.R386W human variant showed reduced progesterone and corticosterone production. Therefore, our comprehensive studies show that human FDXR variants may cause compensated but possibly life-threatening adrenocortical insufficiency in stress by affecting adrenal glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid synthesis through direct enzyme inhibition, most likely in combination with disturbed mitochondrial redox balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Pignatti
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jesse Slone
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - María Ángeles Gómez Cano
- Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology Unit, and
- Unidad de Dismorfología y Genética (UDISGEN), 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Teresa Margaret Campbell
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Jimmy Vu
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Kay-Sara Sauter
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Amit V Pandey
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Francisco Martínez-Azorín
- Grupo de Enfermedades Raras, Mitocondriales y Neuromusculares (ERMN), Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), E-28041 Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), U723, E-28041 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Derek E Neilson
- Division of Genetics and Metabolism, Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Nicola Longo
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Therina du Toit
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Clarissa D Voegel
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Taosheng Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Christa E Flück
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and
- Department of Biomedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Wei X, Li H, Zhu T, Yao F, Sui R. FDXR-associated disease in a Chinese cohort: Unraveling expanded ocular phenotypes and genetic spectrum. Exp Eye Res 2023; 234:109600. [PMID: 37481223 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2023.109600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
FDXR: associated disease is characterized by optic atrophy, acoustic neuropathy, and developmental delays. This study evaluated the ocular phenotypes and genetic features of patients with biallelic FDXR variants. Five individuals from unrelated non-consanguineous Chinese families with biallelic FDXR variants were identified using whole exome sequencing, Sanger sequencing, and co-segregation validation. In addition to optic atrophy and diverse extraocular manifestations, all patients presented with retinal dystrophy, and electroretinogram showed severely impaired cone and rod functions in their first decades. Three of the five patients showed attenuated retinal vessels that appeared as white lines on the fundus, and fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) further revealed vascular abnormalities including delayed filling, completely occluded retinal vasculature, and severe retinal vascular nonperfusion of the peripheral retina. Five novel FDXR variants were identified: c.383C > T (p.A128V), c.963delG (p.R322fs*7), c.1052_1053delTC (p.L351Pfs*12), c.394-11T > G and c.1002+1G > A. Retinal dystrophy with attenuated retinal vessels appearing as white lines was observed in this cohort, and the FFA images revealed that retinal vascular occlusion could be a distinct clinical characteristic of FDXR-associated disease. Probands with FDXR revealed severe early onset ophthalmic features with rapid-progression, indicating the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, this is the first study to report FFA manifestations in an FDXR cohort, expanding the FDXR-associated ocular disease phenotype and genetic spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Wei
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fengxia Yao
- Medical Research Center, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifang Sui
- Department of Ophthalmology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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Masnada S, Previtali R, Erba P, Beretta E, Camporesi A, Chiapparini L, Doneda C, Iascone M, Sartorio MUA, Spaccini L, Veggiotti P, Osio M, Tonduti D, Moroni I. FDXR-associated disease: a challenging differential diagnosis with inflammatory peripheral neuropathy. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:3037-3043. [PMID: 37046037 PMCID: PMC10096094 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06790-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Mutations in FDXR gene, involved in mitochondrial pathway, cause a rare recessive neurological disorder with variable severity of phenotypes. The most common presentation includes optic and/or auditory neuropathy, variably associated to developmental delay or regression, global hypotonia, pyramidal, cerebellar signs, and seizures. The review of clinical findings in previously described cases from literature reveals also a significant incidence of sensorimotor peripheral polyneuropathy (22.72%) and ataxia (43.18%). To date, 44 patients with FDXR mutations have been reported. We describe here on two new patients, siblings, who presented with a quite different phenotype compared to previously described patients. METHODS Clinical, neurophysiological, and genetic features of two siblings and a systematic literature review focused on the clinical spectrum of the disease are described. RESULTS Both patients presented with an acute-sub-acute onset of peripheral neuropathy and only in later stages of the disease developed the typical features of FDXR-associated disease. INTERPRETATION The peculiar clinical presentation at onset and the evolution of the disease in our patients and in some cases revised from the literature shed lights on a new possible phenotype of FDXR-associated disease: a peripheral neuropathy which can mimic an acute inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Masnada
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy.
| | - Roberto Previtali
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Erba
- Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Beretta
- Acquired Brain Injury Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Lecco, Italy
| | - Anna Camporesi
- Division of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Chiapparini
- Neuroradiology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Doneda
- Department of Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Iascone
- Medical Genetics Laboratory, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Luigina Spaccini
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Buzzi Children's Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Pierangelo Veggiotti
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Osio
- Department of Neurology ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Tonduti
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Isabella Moroni
- Department of Pediatric Neurosciences, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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Yi S, Zheng Y, Yi Z, Wang Y, Jiang Y, Ouyang J, Li S, Xiao X, Sun W, Wang P, Zhang Q. FDXR-Associated Oculopathy: Congenital Amaurosis and Early-Onset Severe Retinal Dystrophy as Common Presenting Features in a Chinese Population. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040952. [PMID: 37107710 PMCID: PMC10137360 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Variants in FDXR reportedly cause autosomal recessive auditory neuropathy and optic atrophy, expanding to retinal dystrophy. This study aimed to further clarify associated phenotypes. FDXR variants were selected from our in-house whole-exome sequencing dataset of 6397 families with different eye conditions. The clinical data of the identified patients were summarized. Biallelic pathogenic or likely pathogenic FDXR variants were identified in 11 unrelated patients, including 14 missense variants of which 10 were novel. Fundus observation showed complete optic disc pallor, silver wiring or severe attenuation of retinal vessels, and varying degrees of generalized retinal degeneration. Before the detection of FDXR variants, four patients were clinically diagnosed as congenital amaurosis due to the presence of nystagmus a few months after birth, while seven were diagnosed as early-onset severe retinal dystrophy due to the presence of nyctalopia and/or poor vision in early childhood. Biallelic FDXR variants are a frequent cause of congenital or early-onset severe retinal dystrophy, especially for patients with severe optic atrophy and retinal dystrophy in early childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shutong Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yuxi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Zhen Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yingwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Jiamin Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Shiqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Xueshan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Wenmin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Panfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Qingjiong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, 54 Xianlie Road, Guangzhou 510060, China
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Transcriptional Dynamics of DNA Damage Responsive Genes in Circulating Leukocytes during Radiotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112649. [PMID: 35681629 PMCID: PMC9179543 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study, the transcriptional response of a panel of radiation responsive genes was monitored over time in blood samples after radiation exposure in vivo. For this aim, cancer patients treated by radiotherapy were recruited after consent forms were obtained. Following the first fraction of radiotherapy, 2 mL blood samples were collected at different time points during the first 24h hours (before the second fraction was delivered) and at mid and end of treatment. Amongst the 9 genes studied, the gene FDXR stood out as the most sensitive and responsive to the low dose of radiation received from the localised radiation treatment by the circulating white blood cells. The activation of FDXR was found to depend on the volume of the body exposed with a peak of expression around 8–9 hours after irradiation was delivered. Finally results obtained ex vivo confirmed the results obtained in vivo. Abstract External beam radiation therapy leads to cellular activation of the DNA damage response (DDR). DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) activate the ATM/CHEK2/p53 pathway, inducing the transcription of stress genes. The dynamic nature of this transcriptional response has not been directly observed in vivo in humans. In this study we monitored the messenger RNA transcript abundances of nine DNA damage-responsive genes (CDKN1A, GADD45, CCNG1, FDXR, DDB2, MDM2, PHPT1, SESN1, and PUMA), eight of them regulated by p53 in circulating blood leukocytes at different time points (2, 6–8, 16–18, and 24 h) in cancer patients (lung, neck, brain, and pelvis) undergoing radiotherapy. We discovered that, although the calculated mean physical dose to the blood was very low (0.038–0.169 Gy), an upregulation of Ferredoxin reductase (FDXR) gene transcription was detectable 2 h after exposure and was dose dependent from the lowest irradiated percentage of the body (3.5% whole brain) to the highest, (up to 19.4%, pelvic zone) reaching a peak at 6–8 h. The radiation response of the other genes was not strong enough after such low doses to provide meaningful information. Following multiple fractions, the expression level increased further and was still significantly up-regulated by the end of the treatment. Moreover, we compared FDXR transcriptional responses to ionizing radiation (IR) in vivo with healthy donors’ blood cells exposed ex vivo and found a good correlation in the kinetics of expression from the 8-hours time-point onward, suggesting that a molecular transcriptional regulation mechanism yet to be identified is involved. To conclude, we provided the first in vivo human report of IR-induced gene transcription temporal response of a panel of p53-dependant genes. FDXR was demonstrated to be the most responsive gene, able to reliably inform on the low doses following partial body irradiation of the patients, and providing an expression pattern corresponding to the % of body exposed. An extended study would provide individual biological dosimetry information and may reveal inter-individual variability to predict radiotherapy-associated adverse health outcomes.
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