Monogene und syndromale Krankheitsbilder bei morbider Adipositas: Selten aber wichtig

A Comprehensive Review of Syndromic Forms of Obesity: Genetic Etiology, Clinical Features and Molecular Diagnosis

Syndromic obesity refers to obesity occurring with additional clinical findings, such as intellectual disability/developmental delay, dysmorphic features, and congenital malformations. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To present a narrative review regarding the genetic etiology, clinical description, and molecular diagnosis of syndromic obesity, which is a rare condition with high phenotypic variability and genetic heterogeneity. The following syndromes are presented in this review: Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, Pseudohypoparathyroidism, Alström, Smith-Magenis, Cohen, Temple, 1p36 deletion, 16p11.2 microdeletion, Kleefstra, SIM1-related, Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann, WAGRO, Carpenter, MORM, and MYT1L-related syndromes. RECENT FINDINGS: There are three main groups of mechanisms for syndromic obesity: imprinting, transcriptional activity regulation, and cellular cilia function. For molecular diagnostic, methods of genome-wide investigation should be prioritized over sequencing of panels of syndromic obesity genes. In addition, we present novel syndromic conditions that need further delineation, but evidences suggest they have a higher frequency of obesity. The etiology of syndromic obesity tends to be linked to disrupted neurodevelopment (central) and is associated with a diversity of genes and biological pathways. In the genetic investigation of individuals with syndromic obesity, the possibility that the etiology of the syndromic condition is independent of obesity should be considered. The accurate genetic diagnosis impacts medical management, treatment, and prognosis, and allows proper genetic counseling.

A novel MYT1L mutation in a boy with syndromic obesity: Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND

Pathogenic variants involving the MYT1L gene lead to an autosomal dominant form of syndromic obesity, characterized by polyphagia, intellectual disability/developmental delay, and behavioral problems, and that a characteristic facial phenotype does not seem to be recognizable.

METHODS

Trio whole exome sequencing was performed in a 10-year-old Brazilian male presenting polyphagia, severe early-onset obesity, intellectual disability, speech delay, macrocephaly, frontal bossing, telecanthus, strabismus, and hypogenitalism. Additionally, we performed a literature review of patients carrying non-copy number MYT1L variants.

RESULTS

A de novo genetic variant not previously reported in MYT1L (NM_015025.4:c.2990C>A) was identified in the proband and classified as pathogenic. From a literature search, 22 further patients carrying non-copy number MYT1L variants were identified, evidencing that although the associated phenotype is quite variable, intellectual disability/developmental and speech delays are always present. Further, most patients have obesity or overweight due to polyphagia. Macrocephaly, strabismus, behavioral problems, and hand/feet malformations are also recurrent features.

CONCLUSIONS

We described the first Brazilian case of MYT1L related syndrome and highlighted clinical characteristics based on the literature. Other syndromic forms of obesity such as Prader-Willi, Bardet-Biedl, Börjeson-Forssman-Lehmann, MORM, Cohen, Alstrom, and Kleefstra type 1 syndromes should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Further, although obesity is frequent, it is not an obligatory feature of all carriers of MYT1L mutations.

Early childhood BMI trajectories in monogenic obesity due to leptin, leptin receptor, and melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether early childhood body mass index (BMI) is an appropriate indicator for monogenic obesity.

METHODS

A cohort of n = 21 children living in Germany or Austria with monogenic obesity due to congenital leptin deficiency (group LEP, n = 6), leptin receptor deficiency (group LEPR, n = 6) and primarily heterozygous MC4 receptor deficiency (group MC4R, n = 9) was analyzed. A control group (CTRL) was defined that consisted of n = 22 obese adolescents with no mutation in the above mentioned genes. Early childhood (0-5 years) BMI trajectories were compared between the groups at selected time points.

RESULTS

The LEP and LEPR group showed a tremendous increase in BMI during the first 2 years of life with all patients displaying a BMI >27 kg/m² (27.2-38.4 kg/m²) and %BMI_P95 (percentage of the 95th percentile BMI for age and sex) >140% (144.8-198.6%) at the age of 2 years and a BMI > 33 kg/m² (33.3-45.9 kg/m²) and %BMI_P95 > 184% (184.1-212.6%) at the age of 5 years. The MC4R and CTRL groups had a later onset of obesity with significantly lower BMI values at both time points (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

As result of the investigation of early childhood BMI trajectories in this pediatric cohort with monogenic obesity we suggest that BMI values >27.0 kg/m² or %BMI_P95 > 140% at the age of 2 years and BMI values >33.0 kg/m² or %BMI_P95> 184% at the age of 5 years may be useful cut points to identify children who should undergo genetic screening for monogenic obesity due to functionally relevant mutations in the leptin gene or leptin receptor gene.

Frühkindlicher BMI-Verlauf bei monogener Adipositas

Hintergrund

Monogene Adipositasformen haben eine geschätzte Prävalenz von 1–5 % in der Gruppe der extrem adipösen Patienten. Bereits im frühen Kindesalter zwischen monogener Adipositas und anderen Adipositasformen zu unterscheiden, stellt eine Herausforderung für Kinderärzte dar. Insbesondere stellt sich die Frage, wann weiterführende Diagnostik indiziert ist.

Fragestellung

Können Body Mass Index (BMI) und BMI-Verlauf als Parameter herangezogen werden, um eine monogene Adipositas auf Basis einer Mutation des Leptin- oder Leptinrezeptorgens frühzeitig zu diagnostizieren?

Material und Methoden

Frühkindliche BMI-Verläufe (0–5 Jahre) von n = 21 Patienten mit monogener Adipositas aufgrund von Leptindefizienz (LEP, n = 6), Leptinrezeptordefizienz (LEPR, n = 6) und MC4-Rezeptordefizienz (MC4R, n = 9) wurden analysiert. BMI-Werte im Alter von 2 und 5 Jahren, Zeitpunkte der Vorsorgen U7 und U9 in Deutschland, wurden zwischen den Gruppen verglichen.

Ergebnisse

Patienten mit funktionellem Leptinmangel oder Leptinrezeptordefekt zeigen den stärksten BMI-Anstieg in den ersten beiden Lebensjahren. Ihr BMI ist im Alter von 2 Jahren >25 kg/m2 [27,2–38,4 kg/m2] und im Alter von 5 Jahren >30 kg/m2 [33,3–45,9 kg/m2]. Bei Patienten mit MC4R-Defekt manifestierte sich die Adipositas zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt mit signifikant niedrigeren BMI-Werten im Alter von 2 bzw. 5 Jahren (p < 0,01).

Diskussion

Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein BMI > 25 kg/m2 im Alter von 2 Jahren und ein BMI > 30 kg/m2 im Alter von 5 Jahren Hinweis auf das Vorliegen einer monogenen Adipositas auf Basis einer Mutation des Leptin- oder Leptinrezeptorgens ist. Bei diesen Patienten sollte eine weiterführende Diagnostik (Bestimmung von Leptin, bioaktivem Leptin, Molekulargenetik) frühzeitig erfolgen.