1
|
Saglia C, Arruga F, Scolari C, Kalantari S, Albanese S, Bracciamà V, Corso Faini A, Brach Del Prever G, Luca M, Romeo C, Mioli F, Migliorero M, Tessaris D, Carli D, Amoroso A, Vaisitti T, De Sanctis L, Deaglio S. Functional evaluation of a novel nonsense variant of the calcium-sensing receptor gene leading to hypocalcemia. Eur J Endocrinol 2024; 190:296-306. [PMID: 38561929 DOI: 10.1093/ejendo/lvae035] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The calcium-sensing receptor (CASR) gene encodes a G protein-coupled receptor crucial for calcium homeostasis. Gain-of-function CASR variants result in hypocalcemia, while loss-of-function variants lead to hypercalcemia. This study aims to assess the functional consequences of the novel nonsense CASR variant [c.2897_2898insCTGA, p.(Gln967*) (Q967*)] identified in adolescent patient with chronic hypocalcemia, a phenotype expected for a gain-of-function variants. DESIGN AND METHODS To functionally characterize the Q967* mutant receptor, both wild-type (WT) and mutant CASR were transiently transfected into HEK293T cells and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) protein expression and functions were comparatively evaluated using multiple read-outs. RESULTS Western blot analysis revealed that the CaSR mutant protein displayed a lower molecular weight compared with the WT, consistent with the loss of the last 122 amino acids in the intracellular domain. Mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and serum responsive element luciferase assays demonstrated that the mutant receptor had higher baseline activity than the WT. Extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase phosphorylation, however, remained consistently high in the mutant, without significant modulations following exposure to increasing extracellular calcium (Ca2+o) levels, suggesting that the mutant receptor is more sensitive to Ca2+o compared with the WT. CONCLUSIONS This study provides functional validation of the pathogenicity of a novel nonsense CASR variant, resulting in an abnormally hyperfunctioning protein consistent with the patient's phenotype. Functional analyses indicate that mutant receptor is constitutively active and poorly sensitive to increasing concentrations of extracellular calcium, suggesting that the cytoplasmic tail may contain elements regulating signal transduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Saglia
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Francesca Arruga
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Caterina Scolari
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Silvia Kalantari
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Serena Albanese
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Regina Margherita Childrens' Hospital, Torino 10126, Italy
| | - Valeria Bracciamà
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Angelo Corso Faini
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Giulia Brach Del Prever
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Maria Luca
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Carmelo Romeo
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Mioli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | | | - Daniele Tessaris
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Regina Margherita Childrens' Hospital, Torino 10126, Italy
| | - Diana Carli
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Antonio Amoroso
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Tiziana Vaisitti
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| | - Luisa De Sanctis
- Department of Public Health and Pediatric Sciences, University of Torino, Torino 10126, Italy
- Pediatric Endocrinology, Regina Margherita Childrens' Hospital, Torino 10126, Italy
| | - Silvia Deaglio
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin 10126, Italy
- Immunogenetics and Transplant Biology Unit, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin 10126, Italy
| |
Collapse
|