Mutações ativadoras do gene do receptor do hormônio luteinizante em meninos com testotoxicose

Abstract

RESUMOA testotoxicose é uma forma rara de puberdade precoce familial em meninos com herança autossômica dominante. Os caracteres sexuais secundários ocorrem geralmente antes dos 4 anos de idade. Nesta condição, níveis puberais de testosterona estão associados a níveis suprimidos ou pré puberais de gonadotrofinas. ABSTRACTTestotoxicosis is a rare form of familial precocious puberty in boys with autossomal dominant inheritance. Secondary sexual features usually occur before 4 years of age. In this condition, testosterone are elevated with suppressed or prepubertal gonadotropin levels. Several germline activating mutations in exon 11 of the LH receptor gene have been described in boys with testotoxicosis. The molecular analysis of 8 Brazilian boys with testotoxicosis revealed 5 different mutations, 3 of them identified exclusively in Brazil: Ala568Val, Leu457Arg, and Leu368Pro, located in the third intracellular loop and in the III and I transmembrane helices, respectively. The Ala568Val mutation was found in 42.8% of the Brazilian families. Women with activating mutations, mother or sisters of boys with testotoxicosis, did not develop precocious puberty and showed normal reproductive function. Two Brazilian women, including a prepubertal girl with activating mutations, were asymptomatic and had normal hormonal profile. Somatic activating mutations of the LH receptor gene were recently identified in 3 boys with Leydig cell tumors. However, a recent report did not find such mutations in 4 Leydig tumors, 3 tecomas and 4