Rare variant of the epigenetic regulator SMCHD1 in a patient with pituitary hormone deficiency

Sci Rep. 2020 Jul 3;10(1):10985. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-67715-x.

Abstract

Isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD), and septo-optic dysplasia (SOD) constitute a disease spectrum whose etiology remains largely unknown. This study aimed to clarify whether mutations in SMCHD1, an epigenetic regulator gene, might underlie this disease spectrum. SMCHD1 is a causative gene for Bosma arhinia microphthalmia syndrome characterized by arhinia, microphthalmia and IHH. We performed mutation screening of SMCHD1 in patients with etiology-unknown IHH (n = 31) or CPHD (n = 43, 19 of whom also satisfied the SOD diagnostic criteria). Rare variants were subjected to in silico analyses and classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Consequently, a rare likely pathogenic variant, p.Asp398Asn, was identified in one patient. The patient with p.Asp398Asn exhibited CPHD, optic nerve hypoplasia, and a thin retinal nerve fiber layer, and therefore satisfied the criteria of SOD. This patient showed a relatively low DNA methylation level of the 52 SMCHD1-target CpG sites at the D4Z4 locus. Exome sequencing for the patient excluded additional variants in other IHH/CPHD-causative genes. In vitro assays suggested functional impairment of the p.Asp398Asn variant. These results provide the first indication that SMCHD1 mutations represent a rare genetic cause of the HH-related disease spectrum.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amino Acid Substitution*
  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / genetics*
  • Computer Simulation
  • DNA Methylation*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Testing
  • Humans
  • Hypogonadism / genetics*
  • Hypopituitarism / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pedigree
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
  • SMCHD1 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency