CYP11 beta 1 (11-beta-hydroxylase) deficiency in congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Clinical and molecular characterization of 10 Chinese children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency

BACKGROUND

The clinical manifestations of nonclassical 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency are very similar to those of non-classical 21-hydroxylase deficiency. For this study, we investigated the relationship between the clinical and molecular features of congenital adrenal hyperplasia caused by 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency and reviewed the related literature, which are expected to provide assistance for the clinical diagnosis and analysis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

METHODS

Clinical data for 10 Chinese patients diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia in our hospital from 2018 to 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. We examined the effects of gene mutations on protease activity and constructed three-dimensional structure prediction models of proteins.

RESULTS

We describe 10 patients with 11beta-hydroxylase gene mutations (n = 5, 46,XY; n = 5, 46,XX), with 10 novel mutations were reported. Female patients received treatment at an early stage, with an average age of 2.08 ± 1.66 years, whereas male patients received treatment significantly later, at an average age of 9.77 ± 3.62 years. The most common CYP11B1 pathogenic variant in the Chinese population was found to be c.1360C > T. All mutations lead to spatial conformational changes that affect protein stability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study found that there was no significant correlation between each specific mutation and the severity of clinical manifestations. Different patients with the same gene pathogenic variant may have mild or severe clinical manifestations. The correlation between genotype and phenotype needs further study. Three-dimensional protein simulations may provide additional support for the physiopathological mechanism of genetic mutations.

Multiplexed Serum Steroid Profiling Reveals Metabolic Signatures of Subtypes in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Context

Altered metabolic signatures on steroidogenesis may characterize individual subtypes of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), but conventional diagnostic approaches are limited to differentiate subtypes.

Objective

We explored metabolic characterizations and identified multiple diagnostic biomarkers specific to individual subtypes of CAH.

Methods

Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based profiling of 33 adrenal steroids was developed and applied to serum samples obtained from 67 CAH patients and 38 healthy volunteers.

Results

Within- and between-run precisions were 95.4% to 108.3% and 94.1% to 110.0%, respectively, while all accuracies were <12% and the correlation coefficients (r2) were > 0.910. Metabolic ratios corresponding to 21-hydroxylase characterized 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD; n = 63) from healthy controls (area under the curve = 1.0, P < 1 × 10-18 for all) and other patients with CAH in addition to significantly increased serum 17α-hydroxyprogesterone (P < 1 × 10-16) and 21-deoxycortisol (P < 1 × 10-15) levels. Higher levels of mineralocorticoids, such as corticosterone (B) and 18-hydroxyB, were observed in 17α-hydroxylase deficiency (17α-OHD; N = 3), while metabolic ratio of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate to pregnenolone sulfate was remarkably decreased against all subjects. A patient with 11β-hydroxylase deficiency (11β-OHD) demonstrated significantly elevated 11-deoxycortisol and its metabolite tetrahydroxy-11-deoxyF, with reduced metabolic ratios of 11β-hydroxytestosterone/testosterone and 11β-hydroxyandrostenedione/androstenedione. The steroid profiles resulted in significantly decreased cortisol metabolism in both 21-OHD and 17α-OHD but not in 11β-OHD.

Conclusion

The metabolic signatures with specific steroids and their corresponding metabolic ratios may reveal individual CAH subtypes. Further investigations with more substantial sample sizes should be explored to enhance the clinical validity.

Classical 11β-Hydroxylase Deficiency Caused by a Novel Homozygous Mutation: A Case Study and Literature Review

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is an uncommon condition and 11β-hydroxylase deficiency (11βOHD) accounts for 0.2-8% of cases. In this study, we report a three-year-old girl with a known diagnosis of classical CAH on maintenance treatment with hydrocortisone who presented with abnormal genitalia and persistent hypertension. Genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of autosomal recessive CAH due to 11βOHD as a result of a novel homozygous pathogenic mutation, c.53dup p.(Gln19Alafs*21), in the CYP11B1 gene. Physicians should consider the possibility of classical 11βOHD in CAH patients presenting with persistent hypertension, even if other laboratory biomarkers are equivocal.

Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular morbidity in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Since the introduction of glucocorticoid (GC) replacement therapy, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is no longer a fatal disease. The development of neonatal screening programs and the amelioration of GC treatment strategies have improved significantly life expectancy in CAH patients. Thanks to these achievements, CAH patients are now in their adulthood, but an increased incidence of cardiovascular risk factors has been reported compared to general population in this stage of life. The aim of CAH treatment is to both prevent adrenal insufficiency and suppress androgen excess; in this delicate balance, under- as well as overtreatment might be equally harmful to long-term cardiovascular health. This work examines the prevalence of metabolic features and cardiovascular events, their correlation with hormone levels and GC replacement regimen in CAH patients and focuses on precocious markers to early detect patients at higher risk and new potential treatment approaches.

Selective LC-MRM/SIM-MS based profiling of adrenal steroids reveals metabolic signatures of 17α-hydroxylase deficiency

Adrenal steroids are generated in the adrenal cortex and metabolized by various enzymes such as hydroxylases, dehydrogenases, and reductases. Determining the comprehensive metabolic signatures of adrenal steroids can provide insight into their metabolic functions and roles in the pathophysiology of adrenal diseases, including Cushing's syndrome (CS) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). To this end, we developed an advanced quantitative profiling method of serum adrenal steroids with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) under molecular-specific scan modes. Twenty-seven steroids were separated on a 1.9-μm particle C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm) at a flow rate of 250 μL/min and quantified via triple-quadrupole MS with electrospray ionization. During validation, linearities ( r²) were higher than 0.940 with a limit of quantification of 0.1-5.0 ng/mL, and precision (coefficient of variation) and accuracy (%bias) of 3.7-14.3 % and 96.3-113.1 %, respectively. In contrast with the significantly increased serum levels of mineralocorticoids (P <  0.001), the present LC-MS assay revealed remarkably decreased levels of all glucocorticoids and androgens in a patient diagnosed with 17α-hydroxylase deficiency CAH (P <  0.001) compared to those of age- and sex-matched healthy and CS subjects. In the CAH patient, the metabolic ratios for 17α-hydroxylase were significantly decreased, whereas there was no reduction in the metabolic ratio of 17-hydroxyprogesterone to androstenedione, indicating 17,20-lyase activity. In particular, both pregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfates, and their metabolic ratio, were identified as potential biomarkers for 17α-hydroxylase deficiency (all P <  0.001), which were also distinct from those of CS patients. The devised LC-MS assay clearly revealed the metabolic signatures of 17α-hydroxylase deficiency, as a rare phenotype of CAH, compared to both healthy and CS subjects, indicating its utility for screening adrenal diseases.

Clinical perspectives in congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11β-hydroxylase deficiency

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is caused by reduced or absent activity of 11β-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) enzyme and the resultant defects in adrenal steroidogenesis. The most common clinical features of 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency are ambiguous genitalia, accelerated skeletal maturation and resultant short stature, peripheral precocious puberty and hyporeninemic hypokalemic hypertension. The biochemical diagnosis is based on raised serum 11-deoxycortisol and 11-deoxycorticosterone levels together with increased adrenal androgens. More than 100 mutations in CYP11B1 gene have been reported to date. The level of in-vivo activity of CYP11B1 relates to the degree of severity of 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency. Clinical management of 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency can pose a challenge to maintain adequate glucocorticoid dosing to suppress adrenal androgen excess while avoiding glucocorticoid-induced side effects. The long-term outcomes of clinical and surgical management are not well studied. This review article aims to collate the current available data about 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency and its management.

Successful pregnancy in a patient with severe 11-beta-hydroxylase deficiency and novel mutations in CYP11B1 gene

11 beta-Hydroxylase deficiency is a rare form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, resulting in virilization, glucocorticoid deficiency and hypertension. There have been no previous reports in the literature of a successful pregnancy in a severely affected female. We report the first successful pregnancy resulting in a live birth for a female with 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency and outline management issues from preconception to successful birth. We also report 2 novel mutations in the CYP11B1 gene leading to 11 beta-hydroxylase deficiency.

Donor splice mutation in the 11beta-hydroxylase (CypllB1) gene resulting in sex reversal: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Mutations in the gene encoding 110-hydroxylase (CYPI]BJ) are the second most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), a disorder characterized by adrenal insufficiency and virilization of female external genitalia.

OBJECTIVE

We describe a new case of 1113-hydroxylase CAH caused by donor splice site mutation in the CYPllB1 gene.

PATIENT

A 46,XX patient of Pakistani descent was identified with severe virilization soon after birth. The karyotype was negative for SRY. Pelvic ultrasound showed normal uterus and cervix. Periniogram revealed a 3-cm long urogenital sinus, ACTH stimulation test showed normal 17-hydroxyprogesterone, low cortisol, elevated 11-deoxycortisol and deoxycorticosterone (DOC) levels, consistent with 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency. Glucocorticoid treatment was started on the basis of a low baseline cortisol and severely virilized external genitalia. The patient did not develop salt wasting and/or hypertension.

RESULTS

Analysis of the CYPllBlgene revealed homozygosity for a codon 318+1G--C substitution at the 5'-splice donor site of intron 5 resulting in a missense mutation. The parents of the patients are consanguineous and are heterozygous for the same mutation.

CONCLUSIONS

In a previous reported case a donor splice mutation was identified for the first time at the same position codon 318 of the CYPIIB1 gene. We present this case in detail along with a literature review of 11beta-hydroxylase deficiency CAH.