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Zhao Q, Li Y, Shao Q, Zhang C, Kou S, Yang W, Zhang M, Ban B. Clinical and genetic evaluation of children with short stature of unknown origin. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:194. [PMID: 37605180 PMCID: PMC10441754 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01626-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Short stature is a common human trait. More severe and/or associated short stature is usually part of the presentation of a syndrome and may be a monogenic disease. The present study aimed to identify the genetic etiology of children with short stature of unknown origin. METHODS A total of 232 children with short stature of unknown origin from March 2013 to May 2020 were enrolled in this study. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed for the enrolled patients to determine the underlying genetic etiology. RESULTS We identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in 18 (7.8%) patients. All of these variants were located in genes known to be associated with growth disorders. Five of the genes are associated with paracrine signaling or cartilage extracellular matrix in the growth plate, including NPR2 (N = 1), ACAN (N = 1), CASR (N = 1), COMP (N = 1) and FBN1 (N = 1). Two of the genes are involved in the RAS/MAPK pathway, namely, PTPN11 (N = 6) and NF1 (N = 1). Two genes are associated with the abnormal growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor 1 (GH-IGF1) axis, including GH1 (N = 1) and IGF1R (N = 1). Two mutations are located in PROKR2, which is associated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone deficiency. Mutations were found in the remaining two patients in genes with miscellaneous mechanisms: ANKRD11 (N = 1) and ARID1A (N = 1). CONCLUSIONS The present study identified pathogenic or likely pathogenic genetic variants in eighteen of the 232 patients (7.8%) with short stature of unknown origin. Our findings suggest that in the absence of prominent malformation, genetic defects in hormones, paracrine factors, and matrix molecules may be the causal factors for this group of patients. Early genetic testing is necessary for accurate diagnosis and precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhao
- School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, P.R. China
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
| | - Yanying Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
| | - Qian Shao
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
| | - Chuanpeng Zhang
- Medical Research Center, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Kou
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China
| | - Wanling Yang
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, 21 Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, 999077, P.R. China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China.
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China.
| | - Bo Ban
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining Medical University, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China.
- Chinese Research Center for Behavior Medicine in Growth and Development, 89 Guhuai Road, Jining, Shandong, 272029, P.R. China.
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Sodero G, Cipolla C, Pane LC, Sessa L, Malavolta E, Arzilli F, Leoni C, Zampino G, Rigante D. Efficacy and safety of growth hormone therapy in children with Noonan syndrome. Growth Horm IGF Res 2023; 69-70:101532. [PMID: 37084633 DOI: 10.1016/j.ghir.2023.101532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Patients with Noonan syndrome typically have a target height <2 standard deviations compared to the general population, and half of the affected adults remain permanently below the 3rd centile for height, though their short stature might result from a multifactorial etiology, not-yet fully understood. The secretion of growth hormone (GH) following the classic GH stimulation tests is often normal, with baseline insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels at the lower normal limits, but patients with Noonan syndrome have also a possible moderate response to GH therapy, leading to a final increased height and substantial improvement in growth rate. Aim of this review was to evaluate both safety and efficacy of GH therapy in children and adolescents with Noonan syndrome, also evaluating as a secondary aim the possible correlations between the underlying genetic mutations and GH responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Sodero
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Clelia Cipolla
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Celeste Pane
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Linda Sessa
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Malavolta
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Arzilli
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Leoni
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Zampino
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Donato Rigante
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy; Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Stagi S, Ferrari V, Ferrari M, Priolo M, Tartaglia M. Inside the Noonan "universe": Literature review on growth, GH/IGF axis and rhGH treatment: Facts and concerns. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:951331. [PMID: 36060964 PMCID: PMC9434367 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.951331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Noonan syndrome (NS) is a disorder characterized by a typical facial gestalt, congenital heart defects, variable cognitive deficits, skeletal defects, and short stature. NS is caused by germline pathogenic variants in genes coding proteins with a role in the RAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, and it is typically associated with substantial genetic and clinical complexity and variability. Short stature is a cardinal feature in NS, with evidence indicating that growth hormone (GH) deficiency, partial GH insensitivity, and altered response to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) are contributing events for growth failure in these patients. Decreased IGF-I, together with low/normal responses to GH pharmacological provocation tests, indicating a variable presence of GH deficiency/resistance, in particular in subjects with pathogenic PTPN11 variants, are frequently reported. Nonetheless, short- and long-term studies have demonstrated a consistent and significant increase in height velocity (HV) in NS children and adolescents treated with recombinant human GH (rhGH). While the overall experience with rhGH treatment in NS patients with short stature is reassuring, it is difficult to systematically compare published data due to heterogeneous protocols, potential enrolment bias, the small size of cohorts in many studies, different cohort selection criteria and varying durations of therapy. Furthermore, in most studies, the genetic information is lacking. NS is associated with a higher risk of benign and malignant proliferative disorders and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and rhGH treatment may further increase risk in these patients, especially as dosages vary widely. Herein we provide an updated review of aspects related to growth, altered function of the GH/IGF axis and cell response to GH/IGF stimulation, rhGH treatment and its possible adverse events. Given the clinical variability and genetic heterogeneity of NS, treatment with rhGH should be personalized and a conservative approach with judicious surveillance is recommended. Depending on the genotype, an individualized follow-up and close monitoring during rhGH treatments, also focusing on screening for neoplasms, should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Stagi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Vittorio Ferrari
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Marta Ferrari
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Anna Meyer Children’s University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Manuela Priolo
- Medical Genetics Unit, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano “Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli”, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Libraro A, D’Ascanio V, Cappa M, Chiarito M, Digilio MC, Einaudi S, Grandone A, Maghnie M, Mazzanti L, Mussa A, Patti G, Scarano E, Spinuzza A, Vannelli S, Wasniewska MG, Ferrero GB, Faienza MF. Growth in Children With Noonan Syndrome and Effects of Growth Hormone Treatment on Adult Height. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:761171. [PMID: 35002956 PMCID: PMC8730290 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.761171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Growth impairment is a common manifestation in Noonan syndrome (NS). Recombinant human GH (rhGH) treatment has been shown to increase growth and adult height (AH) in a few studies. We aimed to evaluate the growth trajectory towards the AH, and the effects of rhGH treatment in a large cohort of NS children. METHODS Retrospective, multicenter, cohort study including subjects with genetic diagnosis of NS. A total of 228 NS patients, 154 with PTPN11 mutations, 94 who reached AH, were recruited. Auxological data were collected at 2, 5, and 10 years, at pubertal onset, at AH. Sixty-eight NS subjects affected with GH deficiency (GHD) were treated with rhGH at a mean dose of 0.24 mg/kg per week until AH achievement. RESULTS ANOVA analysis showed a significant difference between birth length and height standard deviation scores (HSDS) at the different key ages (p<0.001), while no significant differences were found between HSDS measurements at 2, 5, and 10 years, at pubertal onset, and at AH. HSDS increased from -3.10 ± 0.84 to -2.31 ± 0.99 during rhGH treatment, with a total height gain of 0.79 ± 0.74, and no significant difference between untreated and treated NS at AH. CONCLUSIONS rhGH treatment at the standard dose used for children with GH idiopathic deficiency is effective in improving growth and AH in NS with GHD. Further studies are needed to assess genotype-specific response to rhGH treatment in the different pathogenic variants of PTPN11 gene and in the less common genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annachiara Libraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pediatric Unit, University of Bari “A. Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Vito D’Ascanio
- National Research Council–Institute of Sciences of Food Production (CNR-ISPA), Bari, Italy
| | - Marco Cappa
- Unit of Endocrinology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Mariangela Chiarito
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pediatric Unit, University of Bari “A. Moro”, Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Digilio
- Genetics and Rare Diseases Research Division, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Einaudi
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Regina Margherita Children Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Anna Grandone
- Department of Woman, Child and General and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Department of Pediatrics, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health–University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Laura Mazzanti
- Pediatric Rare Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, St. Orsola University Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mussa
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giuseppa Patti
- Department of Pediatrics, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health–University of Genova, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emanuela Scarano
- Pediatric Rare Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, St. Orsola University Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonietta Spinuzza
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood Gaetano Barresi, Gaetano Martino University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Silvia Vannelli
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Regina Margherita Children Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Malgorzata Gabriela Wasniewska
- Department of Human Pathology of Adulthood and Childhood Gaetano Barresi, Gaetano Martino University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | | | - Maria Felicia Faienza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, Pediatric Unit, University of Bari “A. Moro”, Bari, Italy
- *Correspondence: Maria Felicia Faienza,
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