Mutations of the thyroperoxidase (TPO) gene have been reported as being the most severe and frequent abnormality in thyroid iodide organification defect (IOD) causing goitrous congenital hypothyroidism. The objective of this study was to screen and subsequently identify TPO gene mutations in patients with congenital hypothyroidism with evidence of total iodine organification defects (TIOD) or partial iodine organification defect (PIOD) as defined by the perchlorate discharge test. Seven goitrous patients with TIOD and seven patients with PIOD, from three and five unrelated families, respectively, were studied. We were able to detect different TPO genes mutations in patients with TIOD and PIOD. In TIOD families the results were as follows: (1) a homozygous GGCC insertion at exon 8, position 1277 (family 1); (2) compound heterozygosity with a GGCC insertion at exon 8 (1277) and a nucleotide substitution in exon 11 (2068G>C) (family 2); (3) compound heterozygosity with the mutation 2068G>C in exon 11 and a C insertion in exon 14 between positions 2505-2511 (family 3). In patients with PIOD we have detected: (1) only one heterozygous mutation in two families (4 and 5), in exons 11 and 10 (2084G>A and 1780C>A); (2) a compound heterozygous condition in one family (family 6), with mutations, respectively in exons 8 and 10 (1242G>T and 1780C>A); (3) only polymorphisms (family VII) and (4) a heterozygous mutation in the first base of the border exon/intron 9 +1G>T (family VIII). We did not detect inactivating mutations in exons 11, 16, and 21 of the THOX2 gene where mutations have been previously described. We concluded that homozygous and compound heterozygous mutations found in TIOD characterized the autosomal recessive mode of inheritance and will translate a nonfunctional protein or a protein that may not reach the apical membrane. As for PIOD, the majority of the studied kindreds had only heterozygous mutations and/or polymorphisms. It is conceivable that these TPO gene sequence alterations may partially affect the functional state of the translated protein or affect its transport to the apical membrane.

These results could support the hypothesis for a putative compound heterozygosity pattern in the affected patients. The altered phenotype (goitre and hypothyroidism since birth) seems justifiable in view of the possible inactivating character of this novel mutation in exon 11.

RESUMOO hipotireoidismo congênito (HC), detectado em recém-nascidos rastreados ao nascer, é causado por anomalias na organogênese (agenesia, tireóide ectópica, hipoplasia tireóidea) ou por defeitos específicos na hormonogênese. Mais raramente, o hipotireoidismo congênito tem origem em defeitos genéticos centrais, localizados no eixo hipotálamo-hipófise ou em mutações do gene do TSH-beta ou no receptor de TSH. Defeitos específicos da hormonogênese são causados por mutações no gene codificador para a proteína transportadora de iodeto (NIS), no gene da peroxidase (TPO), no gene traduzindo a pendrina (síndrome de Pendred), no gene da tireoglobulina, além de mutações que afetam o receptor de hormônio tireóideo (resistência genética ao HT) ou aos vários defeitos no transporte de HT na circulação periférica. Na maioria dos casos, os defeitos genéticos indicados criam condições para fenótipo com bócio e grau variável de hipotireoidismo, podendo a mutação genética ter expressão variável durante a vida adulta. Congenital hypothyroidism (CH), as seen in the neonatal period, is predominantly caused by defects in the organogenesis (athyreosis, ectopic thyroid, thyroid hypoplasia) or by specific defects in hormonogenesis (dyshormonogenesis). Central hypothyroidism is rare, being linked to specific transcription factors involved in the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis or by mutations in the TSH-beta gene. Dyshormonogenesis may be caused by mutation coding for thyroid proteins such as the TSH receptor, the sodium-iodide symporter (NIS), the pendrin (Pendred's syndrome), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), thyroglobulin (Tg), thyroid dehalogenase, the receptor for thyroid hormone (TR-beta) or thyroid transport proteins (TBG, transthyretin). Usually, most of these defective genes will induce a phenotype with goiter and variable degree of hypothyroidism that may be present in the neonatal period or will gradually develop during post-natal life. Moreover, the genetic expression may be partial or total according to the specific mutation occurring in the involved genes.