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Jüppner H. Pseudohypoparathyroidism: complex disease variants with unfortunate names. J Mol Endocrinol 2024; 72:e230104. [PMID: 37965945 PMCID: PMC10843601 DOI: 10.1530/jme-23-0104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Several human disorders are caused by genetic or epigenetic changes involving the GNAS locus on chromosome 20q13.3 that encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and several splice variants thereof. Thus, pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ia (PHP1A) is caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations involving the maternal GNAS exons 1-13 resulting in characteristic abnormalities referred to as Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO) that are associated with resistance to several agonist ligands, particularly to parathyroid hormone (PTH), thereby leading to hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. GNAS mutations involving the paternal Gsα exons also cause most of these AHO features, but without evidence for hormonal resistance, hence the term pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP). Autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP1B) due to maternal GNAS or STX16 mutations (deletions, duplications, insertions, and inversions) is associated with epigenetic changes at one or several differentially methylated regions (DMRs) within GNAS. Unlike the inactivating Gsα mutations that cause PHP1A and PPHP, hormonal resistance is caused in all PHP1B variants by impaired Gsα expression due to loss of methylation at GNAS exon A/B, which can be associated in some familial cases with epigenetic changes at the other maternal GNAS DMRs. The genetic defect(s) responsible for sporadic PHP1B, the most frequent variant of this disorder, remain(s) unknown for the majority of patients. However, characteristic epigenetic GNAS changes can be readily detected that include a gain of methylation at the neuroendocrine secretory protein (NESP) DMR. Multiple genetic or epigenetic GNAS abnormalities can thus impair Gsα function or expression, consequently leading to inadequate cAMP-dependent signaling events downstream of various Gsα-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Danzig J, Li D, Jan de Beur S, Levine MA. High-throughput Molecular Analysis of Pseudohypoparathyroidism 1b Patients Reveals Novel Genetic and Epigenetic Defects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e4603-e4620. [PMID: 34157100 PMCID: PMC8677598 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1b (PHP1b) show disordered imprinting of the maternal GNAS allele or paternal uniparental disomy (UPD). Genetic deletions in STX16 or in upstream exons of GNAS are present in many familial but not sporadic cases. OBJECTIVE Characterization of epigenetic and genetic defects in patients with PHP1b. DESIGN AND PATIENTS DNA from 84 subjects, including 26 subjects with sporadic PHP1b, 27 affected subjects and 17 unaffected and/or obligate gene carriers from 12 PHP1b families, 11 healthy individuals, and 3 subjects with PHP1a was subjected to quantitative pyrosequencing of GNAS differentially methylated regions (DMRs), microarray analysis, and microsatellite haplotype analysis. SETTING Academic medical center. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Molecular pathology of PHP1b. RESULTS Healthy subjects, unaffected family members and obligate carriers of paternal PHP1b alleles, and subjects with PHP1a showed normal methylation of all DMRs. All PHP1b subjects showed loss of methylation (LOM) at the exon A/B DMR. Affected members of 9 PHP1b kindreds showed LOM only at the exon A/B DMR, which was associated with a 3-kb deletion of STX16 exons 4 through 6 in 7 families and a novel deletion of STX16 and adjacent NEPEPL1 in 1 family. A novel NESP deletion was found in 1 of 2 other families with more extensive methylation defects. One sporadic PHP1b had UPD of 20q, 2 had 3-kb STX16 deletions, and 5 had apparent epigenetic mosaicism. CONCLUSIONS We found diverse patterns of defective methylation and identified novel or previously known mutations in 9 of 12 PHP1b families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Danzig
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dong Li
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Suzanne Jan de Beur
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael A Levine
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, and The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Abstract
Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) are caused by mutations and/or epigenetic changes at the complex GNAS locus on chromosome 20q13.3 that undergoes parent-specific methylation changes at several differentially methylated regions (DMRs). GNAS encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and several splice variants thereof. PHP type Ia (PHP1A) is caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations involving the maternal exons 1-13. Heterozygosity of these maternal GNAS mutations cause PTH-resistant hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia because paternal Gsα expression is suppressed in certain organs thus leading to little or no Gsα protein in the proximal renal tubules and other tissues. Besides biochemical abnormalities, PHP1A patients show developmental abnormalities, referred to as Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Some, but not all of these AHO features are encountered also in patients affected by PPHP, who carry paternal Gsα-specific mutations and typically show no laboratory abnormalities. Autosomal dominant PHP type Ib (AD-PHP1B) is caused by heterozygous maternal deletions within GNAS or STX16, which are associated with loss of methylation at the A/B DMR alone or at all maternally methylated GNAS exons. Loss of methylation of exon A/B and the resulting biallelic expression of A/B transcript reduces Gsα expression thus leading to hormonal resistance. Epigenetic changes at all differentially methylated GNAS regions are also observed in sporadic PHP1B, which is the most frequent PHP1B variant. However, this disease variant remains unresolved at the molecular level, except for rare cases with paternal uniparental isodisomy or heterodisomy of chromosome 20q (patUPD20q).
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine and Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Correspondence: Harald Jüppner, MD, Endocrine Unit, Thier 10, 50 Blossom Street, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Luo D, Qi X, Liu L, Su Y, Fang L, Guan Q. Genetic and Epigenetic Characteristics of Autosomal Dominant Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1B: Case Reports and Literature Review. Horm Metab Res 2021; 53:225-235. [PMID: 33513624 DOI: 10.1055/a-1341-9891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism 1B (AD-PHP1B) is a rare endocrine and imprinted disorder. The objective of this study is to clarify the imprinted regulation of the guanine nucleotide binding-protein α-stimulating activity polypeptide 1 (GNAS) cluster in the occurrence and development of AD-PHP1B based on animal and clinical patient studies. The methylation-specific multiples ligation-dependent probe amplification (MS-MLPA) was conducted to detect the copy number variation in syntaxin-16 (STX16) gene and methylation status of the GNAS differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Long-range PCR was used to confirm deletion at STX16 gene. In the first family, DNA analysis of the proband and proband's mother revealed an isolated loss of methylation (LOM) at exon A/B and a 3.0 kb STX16 deletion. The patient's healthy grandmother had the 3.0 kb STX16 deletion but no epigenetic abnormality. The patient's healthy maternal aunt showed no genetic or epigenetic abnormality. In the second family, the analysis of long-range PCR revealed the 3.0 kb STX16 deletion for the proband but not her children. In this study, 3.0 kb STX16 deletion causes isolated LOM at exon A/B in two families, which is the most common genetic mutation of AD-PHP1B. The deletion involving NESP55 or AS or genomic rearrangements of GNAS can also result in AD-PHP1B, but it's rare. LOM at exon A/B DMR is prerequisite methylation defect of AD-PHP1B. STX16 and NESP55 directly control the imprinting at exon A/B, while AS controls the imprinting at exon A/B by regulating the transcriptional level of NESP55.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Luo
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiangyu Qi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Luna Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Su
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Li Fang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qingbo Guan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Shandong Academy of Clinical Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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Davidson BA, Hassan S, Garcia EJ, Tayebi N, Sidransky E. Exploring genetic modifiers of Gaucher disease: The next horizon. Hum Mutat 2018; 39:1739-1751. [PMID: 30098107 PMCID: PMC6240360 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Gaucher disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from mutations in the gene GBA1 that lead to a deficiency in the enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Accumulation of the enzyme's substrates, glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine, results in symptoms ranging from skeletal and visceral involvement to neurological manifestations. Nonetheless, there is significant variability in clinical presentations amongst patients, with limited correlation between genotype and phenotype. Contributing to this clinical variation are genetic modifiers that influence the phenotypic outcome of the disorder. In this review, we explore the role of genetic modifiers in Mendelian disorders and describe methods to facilitate their discovery. In addition, we provide examples of candidate modifiers of Gaucher disease, explore their relevance in the development of potential therapeutics, and discuss the impact of GBA1 and modifying mutations on other more common diseases like Parkinson disease. Identifying these important modulators of Gaucher phenotype may ultimately unravel the complex relationship between genotype and phenotype and lead to improved counseling and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brad A. Davidson
- Section on Molecular Neurogenetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shahzeb Hassan
- Section on Molecular Neurogenetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric Joshua Garcia
- Section on Molecular Neurogenetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nahid Tayebi
- Section on Molecular Neurogenetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Section on Molecular Neurogenetics, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Tafaj O, Jüppner H. Pseudohypoparathyroidism: one gene, several syndromes. J Endocrinol Invest 2017; 40:347-356. [PMID: 27995443 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-016-0588-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) and pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) are caused by mutations and/or epigenetic changes at the complex GNAS locus on chromosome 20q13.3 that undergoes parent-specific methylation changes at several sites. GNAS encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) and several splice variants thereof. Heterozygous inactivating mutations involving the maternal GNAS exons 1-13 cause PHP type Ia (PHP1A). Because of much reduced paternal Gsα expression in certain tissues, such as the proximal renal tubules, thyroid, and pituitary, there is little or no Gsα protein in the presence of maternal GNAS mutations, thus leading to PTH-resistant hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia. When located on the paternal allele, the same or similar GNAS mutations are the cause of PPHP. Besides biochemical abnormalities, patients affected by PHP1A show developmental abnormalities, referred to as Albrights hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Some, but not all of these AHO features are encountered also in patients affected by PPHP, who typically show no laboratory abnormalities. Autosomal dominant PHP type Ib (AD-PHP1B) is caused by heterozygous maternal deletions within GNAS or STX16, which are associated with loss-of-methylation (LOM) at exon A/B alone or at all maternally methylated GNAS exons. LOM at exon A/B and the resulting biallelic expression of A/B transcripts reduces Gsα expression, thus leading to hormonal resistance. Epigenetic changes at all differentially methylated GNAS regions are also observed in sporadic PHP1B, the most frequent disease variant, which remains unresolved at the molecular level, except for rare cases with paternal uniparental isodisomy or heterodisomy of chromosome 20q (patUPD20q).
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Affiliation(s)
- O Tafaj
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Thier 10, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - H Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Thier 10, 50 Blossom Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Schenkel LC, Rodenhiser D, Siu V, McCready E, Ainsworth P, Sadikovic B. Constitutional Epi/Genetic Conditions: Genetic, Epigenetic, and Environmental Factors. J Pediatr Genet 2017; 6:30-41. [PMID: 28180025 PMCID: PMC5288004 DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1593849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
There are more than 4,000 phenotypes for which the molecular basis is at least partly known. Though defects in primary DNA structure constitute a major cause of these disorders, epigenetic disruption is emerging as an important alternative mechanism in the etiology of a broad range of congenital and developmental conditions. These include epigenetic defects caused by either localized (in cis) genetic alterations or more distant (in trans) genetic events but can also include environmental effects. Emerging evidence suggests interplay between genetic and environmental factors in the epigenetic etiology of several constitutional "epi/genetic" conditions. This review summarizes our broadening understanding of how epigenetics contributes to pediatric disease by exploring different classes of epigenomic disorders. It further challenges the simplistic dogma of "DNA encodes RNA encodes protein" to best understand the spectrum of factors that can influence genetic traits in a pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laila C. Schenkel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Rodenhiser
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victoria Siu
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth McCready
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Ainsworth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bekim Sadikovic
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Children's Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
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Cooper DN, Krawczak M, Polychronakos C, Tyler-Smith C, Kehrer-Sawatzki H. Where genotype is not predictive of phenotype: towards an understanding of the molecular basis of reduced penetrance in human inherited disease. Hum Genet 2013; 132:1077-130. [PMID: 23820649 PMCID: PMC3778950 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-013-1331-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 407] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/15/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Some individuals with a particular disease-causing mutation or genotype fail to express most if not all features of the disease in question, a phenomenon that is known as 'reduced (or incomplete) penetrance'. Reduced penetrance is not uncommon; indeed, there are many known examples of 'disease-causing mutations' that fail to cause disease in at least a proportion of the individuals who carry them. Reduced penetrance may therefore explain not only why genetic diseases are occasionally transmitted through unaffected parents, but also why healthy individuals can harbour quite large numbers of potentially disadvantageous variants in their genomes without suffering any obvious ill effects. Reduced penetrance can be a function of the specific mutation(s) involved or of allele dosage. It may also result from differential allelic expression, copy number variation or the modulating influence of additional genetic variants in cis or in trans. The penetrance of some pathogenic genotypes is known to be age- and/or sex-dependent. Variable penetrance may also reflect the action of unlinked modifier genes, epigenetic changes or environmental factors. At least in some cases, complete penetrance appears to require the presence of one or more genetic variants at other loci. In this review, we summarize the evidence for reduced penetrance being a widespread phenomenon in human genetics and explore some of the molecular mechanisms that may help to explain this enigmatic characteristic of human inherited disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- David N. Cooper
- Institute of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN UK
| | - Michael Krawczak
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian-Albrechts University, 24105 Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Chris Tyler-Smith
- The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA UK
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Maheshwari R, Rani RP, Prasad RN, Reddy KTS, Reddy AP. Visual disturbances as a presenting feature of pseudohypoparathyroidism. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2013; 17:S219-S220. [PMID: 24251164 PMCID: PMC3830310 DOI: 10.4103/2230-8210.119577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Visual disturbance as a presenting feature of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is uncommon. Although papilledema is commonly reported with hypoparathyroidism primary or secondary, but not reported commonly with PHP. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE A 10-year-old male child presented to our outpatient service with the complaints of blurring of vision, diplopia, and associated headache. There was no history of seizure episode. Patient had rounded face with a short, stocky built. Shortening of the fourth metacarpal and fifth metatarsal was present. Pitted nails and bilateral cataract. Patient also had clinical signs and biochemical parameters of hypocalcemia, along with normal parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Consistent with pseudohypopathyroidism. CONCLUSION In cases of chronic papilledema, the assessment of the calcium serum level is a safe and simple method to exclude hypoparathyroidism or PHP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rushikesh Maheshwari
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Radha P. Rani
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Rajendra N. Prasad
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Karthik T. S. Reddy
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
| | - Amaresh P. Reddy
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Narayana Medical College and Hospital, Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India
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Almeida Campos T, Moura C, Castro-Correia C, Fontoura M. Seudohipoparatiroidismo tipo 1b: una causa rara de síncope. An Pediatr (Barc) 2013; 78:131-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anpedi.2012.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/27/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
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Izzi B, Francois I, Labarque V, Thys C, Wittevrongel C, Devriendt K, Legius E, Van den Bruel A, D'Hooghe M, Lambrechts D, de Zegher F, Van Geet C, Freson K. Methylation defect in imprinted genes detected in patients with an Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy like phenotype and platelet Gs hypofunction. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38579. [PMID: 22679513 PMCID: PMC3367970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) indicates a group of heterogeneous disorders whose common feature is represented by impaired signaling of hormones that activate Gsalpha, encoded by the imprinted GNAS gene. PHP-Ib patients have isolated Parathormone (PTH) resistance and GNAS epigenetic defects while PHP-Ia cases present with hormone resistance and characteristic features jointly termed as Albright's Hereditary Osteodystrophy (AHO) due to maternally inherited GNAS mutations or similar epigenetic defects as found for PHP-Ib. Pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP) patients with an AHO phenotype and no hormone resistance and progressive osseous heteroplasia (POH) cases have inactivating paternally inherited GNAS mutations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We here describe 17 subjects with an AHO-like phenotype that could be compatible with having PPHP but none of them carried Gsalpha mutations. Functional platelet studies however showed an obvious Gs hypofunction in the 13 patients that were available for testing. Methylation for the three differentially methylated GNAS regions was quantified via the Sequenom EpiTYPER. Patients showed significant hypermethylation of the XL amplicon compared to controls (36 ± 3 vs. 29 ± 3%; p<0.001); a pattern that is reversed to XL hypomethylation found in PHPIb. Interestingly, XL hypermethylation was associated with reduced XLalphaS protein levels in the patients' platelets. Methylation for NESP and ExonA/B was significantly different for some but not all patients, though most patients have site-specific CpG methylation abnormalities in these amplicons. Since some AHO features are present in other imprinting disorders, the methylation of IGF2, H19, SNURF and GRB10 was quantified. Surprisingly, significant IGF2 hypermethylation (20 ± 10 vs. 14 ± 7%; p<0.05) and SNURF hypomethylation (23 ± 6 vs. 32 6%; p<0.001) was found in patients vs. controls, while H19 and GRB10 methylation was normal. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE In conclusion, this is the first report of methylation defects including GNAS in patients with an AHO-like phenotype without endocrinological abnormalities. Additional studies are still needed to correlate the methylation defect with the clinical phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Izzi
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Inge Francois
- Departement of Pediatrics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Labarque
- Departement of Pediatrics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Chantal Thys
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Koen Devriendt
- Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eric Legius
- Center for Human Genetics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | - Chris Van Geet
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Departement of Pediatrics, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kathleen Freson
- Center for Molecular and Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail:
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Puzhko S, Goodyer CG, Kerachian MA, Canaff L, Misra M, Jüppner H, Bastepe M, Hendy GN. Parathyroid hormone signaling via Gαs is selectively inhibited by an NH(2)-terminally truncated Gαs: implications for pseudohypoparathyroidism. J Bone Miner Res 2011; 26:2473-85. [PMID: 21713996 PMCID: PMC3916968 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Pseudohypoparathyroid patients have resistance predominantly to parathyroid hormone (PTH), and here we have examined the ability of an alternative Gαs-related protein to inhibit Gαs activity in a hormone-selective manner. We tested whether the GNAS exon A/B-derived NH(2)-terminally truncated (Tr) αs protein alters stimulation of adenylate cyclase by the PTH receptor (PTHR1), the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor (TSHR), the β(2)-adrenergic receptor (β(2)AR), or the AVP receptor (V2R). HEK293 cells cotransfected with receptor and full-length (FL) Gαs ± Tr αs protein expression vectors were stimulated with agonists (PTH [10(-7) to 10(-9) M], TSH [1 to 100 mU], isoproterenol [10(-6) to 10(-8) M], or AVP [10(-6) to 10(-8) M]). Following PTH stimulation, HEK293 cells cotransfected with PTHR1 + FL Gαs + Tr αs had a significantly lower cAMP response than those transfected with only PTHR1 + FL Gαs. Tr αs also exerted an inhibitory effect on the cAMP levels stimulated by TSH via the TSHR but had little or no effect on isoproterenol or AVP acting via β(2)AR or V2R, respectively. These differences mimic the spectrum of hormone resistance in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP-1a) and type 1b (PHP-1b) patients. In opossum kidney (OK) cells, endogenously expressing the PTHR1 and β(2)AR, the exogenous expression of Tr αs at a level similar to endogenous FL Gαs resulted in blunting of the cAMP response to PTH, whereas that to isoproterenol was unaltered. A pseudopseudohypoparathyroid patient with Albright hereditary osteodystrophy harbored a de novo paternally inherited M1I Gαs mutation. Similar maternally inherited mutations at the initiation codon have been identified previously in PHP-1a patients. The M1I αs mutant (lacking the first 59 amino acids of Gαs) blunted the increase in cAMP levels stimulated via the PTHR1 in both HEK293 and OK cells similar to the Tr αs protein. Thus NH(2)-terminally truncated forms of Gαs may contribute to the pathogenesis of pseudohypoparathyroidism by inhibiting the activity of Gαs itself in a GPCR selective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Puzhko
- Endocrine Research Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Cynthia Gates Goodyer
- Endocrine Research Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mohammad Amin Kerachian
- Calcium Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Lucie Canaff
- Calcium Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Madhusmita Misra
- Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Pediatric Endocrine Unit, MassGeneral for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harald Jüppner
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, MassGeneral for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Murat Bastepe
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey N Hendy
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Calcium Research Laboratory, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Hormones and Cancer Research Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Fernández-Rebollo E, Pérez de Nanclares G, Lecumberri B, Turan S, Anda E, Pérez-Nanclares G, Feig D, Nik-Zainal S, Bastepe M, Jüppner H. Exclusion of the GNAS locus in PHP-Ib patients with broad GNAS methylation changes: evidence for an autosomal recessive form of PHP-Ib? J Bone Miner Res 2011; 26:1854-63. [PMID: 21523828 PMCID: PMC3814169 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Most patients with autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (AD-PHP-Ib) carry maternally inherited microdeletions upstream of GNAS that are associated with loss of methylation restricted to GNAS exon A/B. Only few AD-PHP-Ib patients carry microdeletions within GNAS that are associated with loss of all maternal methylation imprints. These epigenetic changes are often indistinguishable from those observed in patients affected by an apparently sporadic PHP-Ib form that has not yet been defined genetically. We have now investigated six female patients affected by PHP-Ib (four unrelated and two sisters) with complete or almost complete loss of GNAS methylation, whose healthy children (11 in total) showed no epigenetic changes at this locus. Analysis of several microsatellite markers throughout the 20q13 region made it unlikely that PHP-Ib is caused in these patients by large deletions involving GNAS or by paternal uniparental isodisomy or heterodisomy of chromosome 20 (patUPD20). Microsatellite and single-nucleotide variation (SNV) data revealed that the two affected sisters share their maternally inherited GNAS alleles with unaffected relatives that lack evidence for abnormal GNAS methylation, thus excluding linkage to this locus. Consistent with these findings, healthy children of two unrelated sporadic PHP-Ib patients had inherited different maternal GNAS alleles, also arguing against linkage to this locus. Based on our data, it appears plausible that some forms of PHP-Ib are caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutation(s) in an unknown gene involved in establishing or maintaining GNAS methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Fernández-Rebollo
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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14
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Klenke S, Siffert W, Frey UH. A novel aspect of GNAS imprinting: higher maternal expression of Gαs in human lymphoblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, mammary adipose tissue, and heart. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 341:63-70. [PMID: 21664251 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2011.05.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2011] [Revised: 05/11/2011] [Accepted: 05/11/2011] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The human GNAS gene is imprinted in a tissue-specific manner, being expressed primarily from the maternal allele in pituitary, thyroid, renal proximal tubules, and gonads, but is supposed to be biallelically expressed with an equal allelic expression in most other tissues. We analysed allelic expression of Gαs using Pyrosequencing. By genotyping the GNAS T393C polymorphism we quantified mRNA transcripts in lymphoblasts (Ly, n=11), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n=18), mammary adipose tissue (MAT, n=23) and heart tissue (HT, n=44). Allelic expression analysis revealed an unequal allelic expression (ratio maternal/total×100±SEM: 55.7±1% (95% CI 53.4-58.1%) in Ly, 56.1±0.8 (95% CI 54.5-57.7%) in PBMC, 54.5±0.8% (95% CI 53-56.1%) in MAT and 54.1±0.6% (95% CI 53-55.3%) in HT). Maternal ratio differed significantly from the mean (p<0.0001). This phenomenon may be a general feature existing in all tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Klenke
- Institut für Pharmakogenetik, Universität Duisburg-Essen and Universitätsklinikum Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
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15
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Bastepe M. The GNAS Locus: Quintessential Complex Gene Encoding Gsalpha, XLalphas, and other Imprinted Transcripts. Curr Genomics 2011; 8:398-414. [PMID: 19412439 PMCID: PMC2671723 DOI: 10.2174/138920207783406488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2007] [Revised: 09/22/2007] [Accepted: 09/28/2007] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The currently estimated number of genes in the human genome is much smaller than previously predicted. As an explanation for this disparity, most individual genes have multiple transcriptional units that represent a variety of biologically important gene products. GNAS exemplifies a gene of such complexity. One of its products is the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory heterotrimeric G protein (Gsalpha), a ubiquitous signaling protein essential for numerous different cellular responses. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations within Gsalpha-coding GNAS exons are found in various human disorders, including Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy, pseudohypoparathyroidism, fibrous dysplasia of bone, and some tumors of different origin. While Gsalpha expression in most tissues is biallelic, paternal Gsalpha expression is silenced in a small number of tissues, playing an important role in the development of phenotypes associated with GNAS mutations. Additional products derived exclusively from the paternal GNAS allele include XLalphas, a protein partially identical to Gsalpha, and two non-coding RNA molecules, the A/B transcript and the antisense transcript. The maternal GNAS allele leads to NESP55, a chromogranin-like neuroendocrine secretory protein. In vivo animal models have demonstrated the importance of each of the exclusively imprinted GNAS products in normal mammalian physiology. However, although one or more of these products are also disrupted by most naturally occurring GNAS mutations, their roles in disease pathogenesis remain unknown. To further our understanding of the significance of this gene in physiology and pathophysiology, it will be important to elucidate the cellular roles and the mechanisms regulating the expression of each GNAS product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Bastepe
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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16
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Effects of deficiency of the G protein Gsα on energy and glucose homeostasis. Eur J Pharmacol 2011; 660:119-24. [PMID: 21208600 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2010.10.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2010] [Revised: 09/24/2010] [Accepted: 10/12/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
G(s)α is a ubiquitously expressed G protein α-subunit that couples receptors to the generation of intracellular cyclic AMP. The G(s)α gene GNAS is a complex gene that undergoes genomic imprinting, an epigenetic phenomenon that leads to differential expression from the two parental alleles. G(s)α is imprinted in a tissue-specific manner, being expressed primarily from the maternal allele in a small number of tissues. Albright hereditary osteodystrophy is a monogenic obesity disorder caused by heterozygous G(s)α mutations but only when the mutations are maternally inherited. Studies in mice indicate a similar parent-of-origin effect on energy and glucose metabolism, with maternal but not paternal mutations leading to obesity, reduced sympathetic nerve activity and energy expenditure, glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, with no primary effect on food intake. These effects result from G(s)α imprinting leading to severe G(s)α deficiency in one or more regions of the central nervous system, and are associated with a specific defect in melanocortins to stimulate sympathetic nerve activity and energy expenditure.
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Crane JL, Shamblott MJ, Axelman J, Hsu S, Levine MA, Germain-Lee EL. Imprinting status of Galpha(s), NESP55, and XLalphas in cell cultures derived from human embryonic germ cells: GNAS imprinting in human embryonic germ cells. Clin Transl Sci 2010; 2:355-60. [PMID: 20443919 DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-8062.2009.00148.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
GNAS is a complex gene that through use of alternative first exons encodes signaling proteins Galpha(s) and XLalphas plus neurosecretory protein NESP55. Tissue-specific expression of these proteins is regulated through reciprocal genomic imprinting in fully differentiated and developed tissue. Mutations in GNAS account for several human disorders, including McCune-Albright syndrome and Albright hereditary osteodystrophy, and further knowledge of GNAS imprinting may provide insights into variable phenotypes of these disorders. We therefore analyzed expression of Galpha(s), NESP55, and XLalphas prior to tissue differentiation in cell cultures derived from human primordia germ cells. We found that the expression of Galpha(s) was biallelic (maternal allele: 52.6%+/- 2.5%; paternal allele: 47.2%+/- 2.5%; p= 0.07), whereas NESP55 was expressed preferentially from the maternal allele (maternal allele: 81.9%+/- 10%; paternal allele: 18.1%+/- 10%; p= 0.002) and XLalphas was preferentially expressed from the paternal allele (maternal allele: 2.7%+/- 0.3%; paternal allele: 97.3%+/- 0.3%; p= 0.007). These results demonstrate that imprinting of NESP55 occurs very early in development, although complete imprinting appears to take place later than 5-11 weeks postfertilization, and that imprinting of XLalphas occurs very early postfertilization. By contrast, imprinting of Galpha(s) most likely occurs after 11 weeks postfertilization and after tissue differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet L Crane
- Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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18
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Kelsey G. Imprinting on chromosome 20: Tissue-specific imprinting and imprinting mutations in the GNAS locus. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART C-SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2010; 154C:377-86. [DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.30271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Chillambhi S, Turan S, Hwang DY, Chen HC, Jüppner H, Bastepe M. Deletion of the noncoding GNAS antisense transcript causes pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib and biparental defects of GNAS methylation in cis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2010; 95:3993-4002. [PMID: 20444925 PMCID: PMC2913043 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2009-2205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT GNAS encodes the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein as well as additional imprinted transcripts including the maternally expressed NESP55 and the paternally expressed XLalphas, antisense, and A/B transcripts. Most patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHP-Ib) exhibit imprinting defects affecting the maternal GNAS allele, which are thought to reduce/abolish Gsalpha expression in renal proximal tubules and thereby cause resistance to PTH. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to define the genetic defect in a previously unreported family with autosomal dominant PHP-Ib. DESIGN AND SETTING Analyses of serum and urine chemistries and of genomic DNA and lymphoblastoid-derived RNA were conducted at a tertiary hospital and research laboratory. PATIENTS Affected individuals presented with muscle weakness and/or paresthesia and showed hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and elevated serum PTH. Obligate carriers were healthy and revealed no obvious abnormality in mineral ion homeostasis. RESULTS A novel 4.2-kb microdeletion was discovered in the affected individuals and the obligate carriers, ablating two noncoding GNAS antisense exons while preserving the NESP55 exon. On maternal transmission, the deletion causes loss of all maternal GNAS imprints, partial gain of NESP55 methylation, and PTH resistance. Paternal transmission of the mutation leads to epigenetic alterations in cis, including a partial loss of NESP55 methylation and a partial gain of A/B methylation. CONCLUSIONS The identified deletion points to a unique cis-acting element located telomeric of the NESP55 exon that is critical for imprinting both GNAS alleles. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying PHP and GNAS imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Chillambhi
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 50 Blossom Street Thier 10, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
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20
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Abstract
Human imprinting disorders can provide critical insights into the role of imprinted genes in human development and health, and the molecular mechanisms that regulate genomic imprinting. To illustrate these concepts we review the clinical and molecular features of several human imprinting syndromes including Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome, Silver–Russell syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Prader–Willi syndrome, pseudohypoparathyroidism, transient neonatal diabetes, familial complete hydatidiform moles and chromosome 14q32 imprinting domain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek HK Lim
- Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham UK
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Eamonn R Maher
- Birmingham Women’s Hospital, Birmingham UK
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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21
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Weinstein LS, Xie T, Qasem A, Wang J, Chen M. The role of GNAS and other imprinted genes in the development of obesity. Int J Obes (Lond) 2009; 34:6-17. [PMID: 19844212 DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon affecting a small number of genes, which leads to differential expression from the two parental alleles. Imprinted genes are known to regulate fetal growth and a 'kinship' or 'parental conflict' model predicts that paternally and maternally expressed imprinted genes promote and inhibit fetal growth, respectively. In this review we examine the role of imprinted genes in postnatal growth and metabolism, with an emphasis on the GNAS/Gnas locus. GNAS is a complex imprinted locus with multiple oppositely imprinted gene products, including the G-protein alpha-subunit G(s)alpha that is expressed primarily from the maternal allele in some tissues and the G(s)alpha isoform XLalphas that is expressed only from the paternal allele. Maternal, but not paternal, G(s)alpha mutations lead to obesity in Albright hereditary osteodystrophy. Mouse studies show that this phenomenon is due to G(s)alpha imprinting in the central nervous system leading to a specific defect in the ability of central melanocortins to stimulate sympathetic nervous system activity and energy expenditure. In contrast mutation of paternally expressed XLalphas leads to opposite metabolic effects in mice. Although these findings conform to the 'kinship' model, the effects of other imprinted genes on body weight regulation do not conform to this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- L S Weinstein
- Signal Transduction Section, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Rm 8C101, Bethesda, MD 20892-1752, USA.
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Abstract
Epigenetic silencing of a gene vital for motor neuron function could underlie sporadic ALS. We therefore examined the methylation status of two genes, SOD1 and VEGF, which are implicated in ALS. Methylation in the promoters of these genes was determined in white cell DNA (10 ALS patients) and brain DNA (six ALS patients). The promoter regions were largely unmethylated in all patients. Transcriptional silencing of these genes is therefore unlikely to be a common mechanism in ALS. However, in view of the potential for treatment of epigenetic disorders, promoter methylation in other genes required for motor neuron survival needs to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Oates
- School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences, The University of Sydney, Australia
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Weinhaeusel A, Thiele S, Hofner M, Hiort O, Noehammer C. PCR-based analysis of differentially methylated regions of GNAS enables convenient diagnostic testing of pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib. Clin Chem 2008; 54:1537-45. [PMID: 18617581 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2008.104216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (PHPIb) is characterized by parathyroid hormone (PTH) resistance, which can lead to hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and increased serum PTH. The disorder is caused by mutations in regulatory regions of the GNAS gene (GNAS complex locus) that lead to interferences in the methylation status of alternative GNAS promoters, such as exon A/B, NESP55, and XL alpha-s. PHPIb comprises disorders that show distinctive changes in methylation status but share the same clinical phenotype: (a) loss of methylation only at exon A/B of the GNAS gene and involving no other obvious epigenetic abnormalities [e.g., those caused by heterozygous microdeletions in the STX16 (syntaxin 16) region and found in many patients with autosomal dominant (AD) PHPIb]; (b) methylation abnormalities at several differentially methylated regions (DMRs), which are observed in most patients with sporadic PHPIb and some families with AD PHPIb. METHODS To permit early and reliable diagnosis of suspected PHPIb, we designed methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme-based and bisulfite deamination-based PCR tests for exon A/B and NESP55 DMRs. RESULTS Both PCR strategies permit proper methylation testing of GNAS and NESP55 DMRs and elucidate different disease subtypes. We have identified a novel microsatellite repeat polymorphism within GNAS exon A/B, and pedigree analyses have shown its presence to be conclusive evidence for familial disease. CONCLUSIONS We provide a simple diagnostic test for PHPIb, an imprinting disorder caused by different molecular changes within the GNAS complex locus. PHPIb, a complex and diagnostically challenging clinical phenotype, can be treated successfully by taking steps before the manifestation of symptoms to avoid clinical complications in affected patients or asymptomatic members of affected families who show positive results in genetic tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Weinhaeusel
- Austrian Research Centers GmbH-ARC, Molecular Diagnostics, Seibersdorf, Austria.
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24
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Bastepe M. The GNAS locus and pseudohypoparathyroidism. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2008; 626:27-40. [PMID: 18372789 DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-77576-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) is a disorder of end-organ resistance primarily affecting the actions of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Genetic defects associated with different forms of PHP involve the alpha-subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsalpha), a signaling protein essential for the actions of PTH and many other hormones. Heterozygous inactivating mutations within Gsalpha-encoding GNAS exons are found in patients with PHP-Ia, who also show resistance to other hormones and a constellation ofphysical features called Albright's hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). Patients who exhibit AHO features without evidence for hormone resistance, who are said to have pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP), also carry heterozygous inactivating Gsalpha mutations. Maternal inheritance of such a mutation leads to PHP-Ia, i.e., AHO plus hormone resistance, while paternal inheritance of the same mutation leads to PPHP, i.e., AHO only. This imprinted mode of inheritance for hormone resistance can be explained by the predominantly maternal expression of Gsalpha in certain tissues, including renal proximal tubules. Patients with PHP-Ib lack coding Gsalpha mutations but display epigenetic defects of the GNAS locus, with the most consistent defect being a loss of imprinting at the exon A/B differentially methylated region (DMR). This epigenetic defect presumably silences, in cis, Gsalpha expression in tissues where this protein is derived from the maternal allele only, leading to a marked reduction of Gsa levels. The familial form of PHP-Ib (AD-PHP-Ib) is typically associated with an isolated loss of imprinting at the exon A/B DMR. A unique 3-kb microdeletion that disrupts the neighboring STX16 1ocus has been identified in this disorder and appears to be the cause of the loss of imprinting. In addition, deletions removing the entire NESP55 DMR, located within GNAS, have been identified in some AD-PHP-Ib kindreds in whom affected individuals show loss of all the maternal GNAS imprints. Mutations identified in different forms of PHP-Ib thus point to different cis-acting elements that are apparently required for the proper imprinting of the GNAS locus. Most sporadic PHP-Ib cases also have imprinting abnormalities of GNAS that involve multiple DMRs, but the genetic lesion(s) responsible for these imprinting abnormalities remain to be discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Bastepe
- Endocrine Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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25
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Linglart A, Bastepe M, Jüppner H. Similar clinical and laboratory findings in patients with symptomatic autosomal dominant and sporadic pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib despite different epigenetic changes at the GNAS locus. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2007; 67:822-31. [PMID: 17651445 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2007.02969.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Most patients with autosomal dominant pseudohypoparathyroidism type Ib (AD-PHP-Ib) carry an identical maternally inherited 3-kb microdeletion up-stream of GNAS (STX16del4-6(mat)), which is associated with a methylation loss restricted to exon A/B. STX16del4-6(mat) is not found in sporadic PHP-Ib (sporPHP-Ib) patients, who show broad GNAS methylation changes. Because of the epigenetic differences between both groups, we searched for clinical and/or laboratory differences. PATIENTS AND METHODS Age at diagnosis, calcium, phosphorus and PTH were analysed in 43 patients with AD-PHP-Ib due to STX16del4-6(mat) and in 22 patients with sporPHP-Ib. RESULTS All AD-PHP-Ib patients with STX16del4-6(mat) showed only loss of exon A/B methylation. Of the 43 individuals, 26 were symptomatic when diagnosis was established at age 12.1 +/- 1.34 years (mean +/- SEM); laboratory findings at presentation were calcium 1.69 +/- 0.06 mmol/l, phosphorus 2.25 +/- 0.12 mmol/l and PTH 442 +/- 54.1 pg/ml. The remaining 17 individuals with STX16del4-6(mat) were asymptomatic when diagnosed at age 23.5 +/- 3.93 years (calcium 2.18 +/- 0.05 mmol/l, phosphorus 1.63 +/- 0.10 mmol/l, PTH 222 +/- 40.3 pg/ml). Patients with sporPHP-Ib showed methylation changes at two or more GNAS exons, presented at age 10.0 +/- 1.01 years and had, as a group, similar laboratory findings as patients with symptomatic AD-PHP-Ib (calcium 1.51 +/- 0.06 mmol/l, phosphorus 2.65 +/- 0.10 mmol/l, PTH 634 +/- 162.1 pg/ml). However, sporPHP-Ib females appeared to be more severely affected. CONCLUSIONS Patients with symptomatic AD-PHP-Ib due to STX16del4-6(mat) and sporPHP-Ib have similar changes in calcium, phosphate and PTH. STX16del4-6(mat) often leads to asymptomatic disease and screening of all siblings of affected individuals is therefore advised. The cause of the apparent sexual dimorphism in patients with sporPHP-Ib remains uncertain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnès Linglart
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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26
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Weinstein LS, Xie T, Zhang QH, Chen M. Studies of the regulation and function of the Gs alpha gene Gnas using gene targeting technology. Pharmacol Ther 2007; 115:271-91. [PMID: 17588669 PMCID: PMC2031856 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2007.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2007] [Accepted: 03/27/2007] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The heterotrimeric G protein alpha-subunit G(s)alpha is ubiquitously expressed and mediates receptor-stimulated intracellular cAMP generation. Its gene Gnas is a complex imprinted gene which uses alternative promoters and first exons to generate other gene products, including the G(s)alpha isoform XL alpha s and the chromogranin-like protein NESP55, which are specifically expressed from the paternal and maternal alleles, respectively. G(s)alpha itself is imprinted in a tissue-specific manner, being biallelically expressed in most tissues but paternally silenced in a few tissues. Gene targeting of specific Gnas transcripts demonstrates that heterozygous mutation of G(s)alpha on the maternal (but not the paternal) allele leads to early lethality, perinatal subcutaneous edema, severe obesity, and multihormone resistance, while the paternal mutation leads to only mild obesity and insulin resistance. These parent-of-origin differences are the consequence of tissue-specific G(s)alpha imprinting. XL alpha s deficiency leads to a perinatal suckling defect and a lean phenotype with increased insulin sensitivity. The opposite metabolic effects of G(s)alpha and XL alpha s deficiency are associated with decreased and increased sympathetic nervous system activity, respectively. NESP55 deficiency has no metabolic consequences. Other gene targeting experiments have shown Gnas to have 2 independent imprinting domains controlled by 2 different imprinting control regions. Tissue-specific G(s)alpha knockout models have identified important roles for G(s)alpha signaling pathways in skeletal development, renal function, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Our present knowledge gleaned from various Gnas gene targeting models are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis of human disorders with mutation or abnormal imprinting of the human orthologue GNAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee S Weinstein
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20854, USA.
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Jüppner H, Bastepe M. Different mutations within or upstream of the GNAS locus cause distinct forms of pseudohypoparathyroidism. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 2006; 19 Suppl 2:641-6. [PMID: 16789629 DOI: 10.1515/jpem.2006.19.s2.641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The term pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) refers to different disorders that are caused by mutations within GNAS or upstream of this complex genetic locus. GNAS gives rise to several different transcripts, including Gs alpha (alpha-subunit of the heterotrimeric stimulatory G protein), XL alpha s (extra-large variant of Gs alpha), and several additional sense and antisense transcripts. The complexity of the GNAS locus is furthermore reflected by a parent-specific methylation pattern of most of its different promoters. PHP can be divided into two major groups, PHP type Ia (PHP-Ia) and PHP type Ib (PHP-Ib). PHP-Ia is caused by heterozygous mutations affecting one of the 13 GNAS exons encoding Gs alpha. In contrast, PHP-Ib is caused by heterozygous deletions within STX16, the gene encoding syntaxin 16, which is located more than 220 kb upstream of GNAS, or by deletions within GNAS involving exon NESP55 and two of the antisense exons. In either form of PHP, hormonal resistance develops only after maternal inheritance of the mutation, while paternal inheritance of the same molecular defect is not associated with endocrine abnormalities. In most familial cases of PHP-Ib, there is a loss of exon A/B methylation combined with active A/B transcription from both parental alleles, which leads to suppression of Gs alpha transcription in the proximal renal tubules and, therefore, PTH resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Jüppner H, Linglart A, Fröhlich LF, Bastepe M. Autosomal-Dominant Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type Ib is Caused by Different Microdeletions Within or Upstream of the GNAS Locus. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006; 1068:250-5. [PMID: 16831926 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1346.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The term pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP) refers to the different disorders that are caused by mutations within GNAS or upstream of this complex genetic locus. GNAS gives rise to several different transcripts, including Gsalpha (alpha-subunit of heterotrimeric stimulatory G protein), XLalphas (extra-large variant of Gsalpha), and several additional sense and antisense transcripts. The complexity of the GNAS locus is furthermore reflected by a parent-specific methylation pattern of most of its different promotors. PHP can be divided into two major groups, PHP type Ia (PHP-Ia) and PHP type Ib (PHP-Ib). PHP-Ia is caused by heterozygous mutations affecting one of the 13 GNAS exons encoding Gsalpha or by large intragenic deletions. In contrast, PHP-Ib is caused by heterozygous deletions within STX16, the gene-encoding syntaxin 16, which is located more than 220 kb upstream of GNAS, or by deletions within GNAS involving exon NESP55 and two of the antisense exons. In either form of PHP, hormonal resistance develops only after maternal inheritance of the mutation, while paternal inheritance of the same molecular defect is not associated with endocrine abnormalities. In most familial cases of PHP-Ib, there is a loss of exon A/B methylation combined with active A/B transcription from both parental alleles, which leads to suppression of Gsalpha transcription in the proximal renal tubules and, therefore, PTH resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Jüppner
- Endocrine Unit, Thier 5, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Germain-Lee EL, Schwindinger W, Crane JL, Zewdu R, Zweifel LS, Wand G, Huso DL, Saji M, Ringel MD, Levine MA. A mouse model of albright hereditary osteodystrophy generated by targeted disruption of exon 1 of the Gnas gene. Endocrinology 2005; 146:4697-709. [PMID: 16099856 DOI: 10.1210/en.2005-0681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Albright hereditary osteodystrophy is caused by heterozygous inactivating mutations in GNAS, a gene that encodes not only the alpha-chain of Gs (Galphas), but also NESP55 and XLalphas through use of alternative first exons. Patients with GNAS mutations on maternally inherited alleles are resistant to multiple hormones such as PTH, TSH, LH/FSH, GHRH, and glucagon, whose receptors are coupled to Gs. This variant of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy is termed pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a and is due to presumed tissue-specific paternal imprinting of Galphas. Previous studies have shown that mice heterozygous for a targeted disruption of exon 2 of Gnas, the murine homolog of GNAS, showed unique phenotypes dependent on the parent of origin of the mutated allele. However, hormone resistance occurred only when the disrupted gene was maternally inherited. Because disruption of exon 2 is predicted to inactivate Galphas as well as NESP55 and XLalphas, we created transgenic mice with disruption of exon 1 to investigate the effects of isolated loss of Galphas. Heterozygous mice that inherited the disruption maternally (-m/+) exhibited PTH and TSH resistance, whereas those with paternal inheritance (+/-p) had normal hormone responsiveness. Heterozygous mice were shorter and, when the disrupted allele was inherited maternally, weighed more than wild-type littermates. Galphas protein and mRNA expression was consistent with paternal imprinting in the renal cortex and thyroid, but there was no imprinting in renal medulla, heart, or adipose. These findings confirm the tissue-specific paternal imprinting of GNAS and demonstrate that Galphas deficiency alone is sufficient to account for the hormone resistance of pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily L Germain-Lee
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Park Building, Suite 211, 600 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-2520, USA.
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Jüppner H. Different Forms of Pseudohypoparathyroidism: Imprinted Disorders Caused by Different Coding and Non-coding Mutations in GNAS. Clin Pediatr Endocrinol 2005. [DOI: 10.1297/cpe.14.s23_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Liu J, Nealon JG, Weinstein LS. Distinct patterns of abnormal GNAS imprinting in familial and sporadic pseudohypoparathyroidism type IB. Hum Mol Genet 2004; 14:95-102. [PMID: 15537666 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddi009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudohypoparathyroidism type IB (PHPIB) is associated with abnormal imprinting of GNAS, the gene encoding the heterotrimeric G protein Gsalpha and other alternative products. The gene contains three differentially methylated regions (DMRs) located upstream of the Gsalpha promoter (from upstream to downstream): the paternally methylated NESP55 promoter region, the maternally methylated NESP antisense (NESPAS)/XLalphas promoter region and the maternally methylated exon 1A region located just upstream of the Gsalpha promoter. We have now performed a detailed analysis of the GNAS methylation profile in 20 unrelated PHPIB probands. Consistent with prior results, all have loss of exon 1A imprinting (a paternal epigenotype on both alleles). All five probands with familial disease had a deletion mutation within the closely linked STX16 gene and a GNAS imprinting defect involving only the exon 1A region. In contrast, the STX16 mutation was absent in all sporadic cases. The majority of these patients had abnormal imprinting of the more upstream regions in addition to the exon 1A imprinting defect, with eight of 15 having a paternal epigenotype on both alleles throughout the GNAS locus. In virtually all cases, the imprinting status of the NESP55 and NESPAS/XLalphas promoters is concordant, suggesting that their imprinting is co-regulated, whereas the imprinting of the NESPAS/XLalphas promoter region and XLalphas first exon is not always concordant even though they are closely linked and lie within the same DMR. Familial and sporadic forms of PHPIB have distinct GNAS imprinting patterns that occur through different defects in the imprinting mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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